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Top college football games 2016 season: Alabama vs. LSU, Clemson vs. Florida State, Ohio State vs. Oklahoma

By Anthony Gimino, The Sports Xchange
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban. Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban. Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo

The college football season begins Friday with an appetizer -- Cal and Hawaii play in Australia -- before one of the tastiest opening weekends in memory.

Get a good look at the Associated Press Top 25 now because many of the season's great games take place in the first weekend of September and will quickly shuffle the polls. There are four matchups of ranked teams in the opening week, plus other goodies such as LSU-Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Notre Dame at Texas and North Carolina vs. Georgia.

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But in the chase to earn one of four spots in the College Football Playoff, an "elimination" game can come early in non-conference play or late in a league game. We take a look at when Top 25 teams will face their top test:

1. Alabama, Nov. 5

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Playing at LSU is scary, but the Tide has won five in a row in the series, not allowing the Tigers to score more than 17 points in any of those games.

2. Clemson, Oct. 29

To win the ACC Atlantic, the Tigers likely will have to win at Florida State for the first time since 2006.

3. Oklahoma, Sept. 17

The Sooners play host to Ohio State in only the third-ever meeting of college football bluebloods.

4. Florida State, Sept. 5

The home game vs. Clemson is noted above; how about a Week 1 tilt vs. Ole Miss -- and best-in-the-SEC QB Chad Kelly -- in Orlando?

5. LSU, Nov. 5

It's all about this home game vs. Alabama, but the Tigers also can't afford a hangover, considering a physical tussle at Arkansas a week later.

6. Ohio State, Nov. 26

The Buckeyes crushed Michigan 42-13 in Ann Arbor last year. It won't be as easy this year in Columbus in Round 2 of Urban Meyer vs. Jim Harbaugh.

7. Michigan, Nov. 26

Harbaugh's task is to reclaim The Game. The Wolverines have lost 11 of the past 12 against Ohio State.

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8. Stanford, Oct. 15

After playing USC, at UCLA, at Washington and vs. Washington State in consecutive games, the nation's toughest first-half schedule ends with a trip to Notre Dame.

9. Tennessee, Oct. 1

The surging Vols play host to Alabama on Oct. 15, but this earlier game at Georgia is more important in terms of getting a leg up in the SEC East.

10. Notre Dame, Nov. 26

Assuming games vs. Texas, Michigan State, Stanford, Miami and Virginia Tech have gone well, a big, big bowl could be on the line when the Irish close at USC.

11. Ole Miss, Sept. 17

The Rebels play host to Alabama, having won two in a row over the Tide (and they put up 43 points last season).

12. Michigan State, Oct. 29

The Spartans are looking to make it eight of nine vs. Michigan when they meet in East Lansing.

13. TCU, Oct. 1

Last year, with a gutted defense, the Horned Frogs lost by just a point to Oklahoma. Rematch is in Fort Worth.

14. Washington, Oct. 8

Two-week stretch will define season: home vs. Stanford (Sept. 30) and at Oregon a week later. Huskies have lost nine of past 11 to the Cardinal, 12 in a row to the Ducks.

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15. Houston, Sept. 3

Cougars take on Oklahoma at NRG Stadium, home of the NFL's Texans. With a win, rev the playoff talk.

16. UCLA, Nov. 19

As it was last year, the Pac-12 South title could be on the line when Bruins face cross-town rival USC, this time in the Rose Bowl.

17. Iowa, Nov. 12

The Hawkeyes miss Ohio State and Michigan State in cross-division games, and get Michigan -- which wasn't on the schedule last season -- at home.

18. Georgia, Oct. 29

With a new coach (Kirby Smart) and maybe a new QB (freshman Jacob Eason), it's always about this rivalry against Florida in Jacksonville.

19. Louisville, Oct. 1

With QB Lamar Jackson at the helm, the Cardinals should be scary, first at home vs. Florida State (Sept. 17) and then at Clemson to start October.

20. USC, Sept. 3

Interim no more, coach Clay Helton matches wits with Alabama's Nick Saban as the season opens in Jerry's World in Arlington, Texas.

21. Oklahoma State, Dec. 3

The Cowboys got rolled 58-23 in Bedlam last season, looking for revenge vs. Oklahoma in Norman.

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22. North Carolina, Sept. 3

Heels are favored in ACC Coastal, but an opener against Georgia (in Atlanta) will indicate whether they will be a national topic.

23. Baylor, Nov. 12

With the off-field issues, what shape will the Bears be in when they play host to TCU (Nov. 5) and go to Oklahoma a week later?

24. Oregon, Nov. 12

The Ducks get Pac-12 favorite Stanford in Autzen; Oregon has won the past two meetings.

25. Florida, Nov. 26

Will the Gators have enough offense in their season-ender at Florida State? Florida hasn't scored more than seven points in four of past six meetings vs. Seminoles.

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