25 college football games you need to watch in the 2016 season

Both the Bruins and Aggies have high hopes for this season, and it will be important for both teams to get off on the right foot. Texas A&M turns to Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight at quarterback after an eventful offseason, while UCLA sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen is a dark horse for the Heisman.

This game would be a treat for fans in Austin if the Longhorns weren't expected to lose. They were clobbered by Notre Dame 38-3 in South Bend last season, and who will start at quarterback for the Fighting Irish is probably a bigger question than who will win this game. The visit still has historical significance for the teams.

Arkansas and TCU are reshuffling at quarterback, but they each have the talent to be competitive in their power conferences this season. Their rare matchup could spark some fireworks as the first big game of the year for the two teams.

Undoubtedly the best early game of the year, Ohio State and Oklahoma are strong College Football Playoff contenders this season. This matchup could determine which team gets to the CFP, or it could just be a preview to a future game.

Notre Dame's first real test of the year will be against the Spartans, who made the College Football Playoff last season and are now searching for their new starting quarterback. At this point, it's expected that the Fighting Irish will settle at quarterback with either DeShone Kizer or Malik Zaire.

Are the Cardinals ready to take the next step? Quarterback Lamar Jackson is a long shot for the Heisman and has the physical tools to give the Seminoles problems. The early season matchup will put Florida State on upset alert.

Alabama is attempting to avenge consecutive losses to the Rebels, and both teams are also in the College Football Playoff conversation. The matchup is also the SEC opener for both teams.

Who will be the team to beat in the SEC East this season? Most expect the Vols to emerge, but we could find out early on when Florida and Tennessee square off. The Gators need to answer their quarterback questions, which have haunted them for multiple seasons.

The Kansas football program went an unfathomable 0-12 last season and allowed 40-plus points eight times. So why do you need to watch this game? The easy matchup could be what Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes needs to spark his Heisman candidacy after throwing for 4,653 yards last season. 

The Cougars are sleepers in the Pac-12, led by quarterback Luke Falk. This matchup will test both teams and comes in the middle of a rough three-game stretch for the Cougars in which they play Oregon, Stanford and UCLA. The schedule is no easier for Stanford, who will be coming off a visit to Washington. The track meet between Falk and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey will be worth the price of admission.

After facing Washington State, Stanford gets the honor of visiting South Bend. The Cardinal edged Notre Dame 38-36 at home last season, so this game will be one to watch.

It will be a battle of quarterbacks between Josh Rosen and Luke Falk as UCLA visits Washington State. The Bruins were upset at home by the Cougars 31-27 last season.

The annual rivalry game between Florida and Georgia could have huge implications in the SEC East for both teams. The Bulldogs were embarrassed 27-3 at the hands of the Gators last season.

The most memorable game of the 2015 season goes to East Lansing this year. The rivals both have Big Ten and College Football Playoff aspirations in 2016.

Clemson and Florida State are major contenders for the ACC and the College Football Playoff. The Tigers won the matchup easily last season 23-13.

Always a tough Pac-12 matchup, Stanford and Oregon will face off in a game that could determine much in the conference standings. Oregon upset the Cardinal 38-36 last season.

South Carolina is entering what many consider to be a rebuilding year, but this game is as big as any on the schedule because of new Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp. He will be returning to Gainesville, where he coached from 2011-14.

A huge out-of-conference game late in the year, Louisville and Houston feature two of the most dynamic quarterbacks in football in Louisville's Lamar Jackson and Houston's Greg Ward Jr.

The Stanford/Cal rivalry has been dominated by the Cardinal in recent years, but it's still a game to watch. As the past games have shown, we never know what to expect, including a band on the field.

The Ivy League rivalry between Yale and Harvard is as heated as any, even if it doesn't get the national attention of some other games. Harvard owns the rivalry recently, winning the last nine contests and 14 of the last 15.

This rivalry has gotten much more competitive recently with both programs making comebacks. It's not out of the realm of possibility that the matchup could help determine a Pac-12 Championship representative.

One of the great rivalries in college football, the Yellow Jackets and Bulldogs conclude their regular seasons facing off again this year. Georgia edged the Tech option offense 13-7 last season.

Mississippi State looks like a wild card this season as it tries to replace quarterback Dak Prescott. If it's able to find a viable replacement, the rivalry game against Ole Miss should be must-see theater again. The Bulldogs fell 38-27 last season.

Arguably the biggest rivalry of them all, this year's Michigan-Ohio State game could determine a Big Ten Championship Game berth as well as a seat in the College Football Playoff. The battle between Jim Harbaugh and Urban Meyer has never been more anticipated.

Army and Navy first played in 1890, and it's been one of football's best rivalries ever since. Navy owns the series recently, but there could be turnover this season as Navy tries to replace star quarterback Keenan Reynolds.