FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt has mapped out a slate of ten contests that he says will set the tone for the 2026 college football season, contests that could decide conference crowns and shape the road to the playoff.
The games that will shape 2026
The early test comes in Week 2, when Michigan travels to face Oklahoma. The matchup is being billed as a litmus test for Michigan’s playoff aspirations, while Oklahoma’s offense will be on display through quarterback John Mateer, a player expected to drive the Sooners’ push toward the top of the Big 12.
Michigan and Oklahoma's early test
Both programs arrive with ambitions of being top‑tier contenders in their respective conferences, making the result a potential indicator of which team will dominate its league and secure a favorable playoff seed.
Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford
Another storyline centers on Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford, where he will attempt to reshape the SEC landscape. The move is expected to reverberate across the conference, especially as Ole Miss and Mississippi State jostle for at‑large playoff positioning.
Cross‑country marquee matchups
Further afield, USC and Penn State meet in a clash that could prove pivotal for both programs’ playoff hopes, while the historic Red River rivalry will see Texas and Oklahoma collide in a game that could reverberate through the SEC and the national picture.
Conference battles and playoff positioning
The SEC also features a marquee duel between Alabama and Texas A&M, a battle that many expect to determine conference dominance, while in the Big Ten Ohio State will host Indiana in a contest that could decide supremacy in that league. Additional games on the list include a Notre Dame versus Miami showdown that could sway playoff positioning, and a Texas versus Texas A&M rematch that will test the Longhorns’ ability to rebound after a turbulent year.