Most important college football games of 2017

What a way to open the season. While neither Michigan nor Florida is the favorite to win its respective conference, both teams have a shot to win and enter the College Football Playoff conversation. They also look to repeat their standing as top defenses, ranking in the top six in points allowed vs. FBS opponents last season.

Could this be a College Football Playoff preview? Florida State is coming off a disappointing 10-3 season, but young quarterback Deondre Francois could make a big jump with a year under his belt. Meanwhile, the College Football Playoff Final loss to Clemson still stings for Alabama, but sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts leads what's likely to be an elite unit this year.

Clemson won't be the same without Deshaun Watson and company, but Dabo Swinney still has plenty of talent at his disposal as the Tigers try to return to the College Football Playoff. Of course, the Tigers on the other side of the field also have high hopes under Gus Malzahn, finishing at 8-5 with an elite defense last season.

New Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley gets a brutal early-season challenge against the Buckeyes, though the return of quarterback Baker Mayfield should help the transition. J.T. Barrett and Ohio State clobbered Oklahoma 45-24 early last season and get to play this game at Columbus.

Stanford's offense is in transition after Christian McCaffrey's departure, and it'll have to gel quickly. USC has high hopes after its 2016 run and the emergence of top pro prospect Sam Darnold at quarterback.

The Cowboys and Panthers are understated contenders in their respective conferences. Oklahoma State returns plenty of offensive firepower, including quarterback Mason Rudolph and wideout James Washington, while Pitt has USC transfer Max Browne at quarterback.

One of the biggest games of the ACC schedule was a thriller last season, when the Tigers escaped with a six-point victory. Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson returns to face the defending national champs in a game that should have plenty of hype.

The ACC rivalry brings extra significance with both schools optimistic about their football futures. The Seminoles will already be battle-tested after facing Alabama in Week 1, while the Canes have a chance to establish themselves under Mark Richt in his second season.

Young quarterback battles don't get much more exciting than this one. Texas signal caller Shane Buechele is a legitimate Heisman candidate in his sophomore season, the first with head coach Tom Herman, while Sam Darnold is one of the favorites for the award. The game will be a great litmus test for Herman's Texas team.

If you like throwing offenses, the Trojan-Cougars matchup will be a treat. Sam Darnold will face Luke Falk, who has thrown for more than 4,400 yards in consecutive seasons. The visit to Washington State will be yet another big test for the Trojans.

One of the first hard-nosed SEC matchups of the year features two contenders in their respective divisions. LSU returns plenty of talent, including running back Derrius Guice in a new offense, while Florida is set to finally get strong quarterback play out of either Notre Dame transfer Malik Zaire or young redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks.

The Wildcats consistently bring a difficult matchup under head coach Bill Snyder and return the key parts of their offense, including quarterback Jesse Ertz. The visit to Texas is never easy, as the Longhorns hope to establish their offensive identity under Tom Herman by Week 6.

A key SEC West battle that doesn't include Alabama, the Auburn-LSU matchup features two teams that finished 5-3 in the division last year. As usual, the Tigers clash is expected to include two strong defenses with effective running games.

The annual Red River Showdown features two new head coaches and fan bases that both have reason to be optimistic. Despite the recent struggles for the Longhorns football program, the two schools have gone back and forth in this rivalry since 2013. Oklahoma won 45-40 last year.

This matchup could decide the ACC Atlantic Division at midseason. Last year's game was a coming-out party for Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, who ran for four touchdowns in a dominating 63-20 win.

The Cowboys-Longhorns matchup could have large Big 12 standings implications for both sides between two offense-inclined squads. The visit to Austin could be Oklahoma State's biggest test of the year to this point.

Michigan's feared defense will face what's likely to be one of the top offenses in college football with the returns of quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Saquon Barkley. The Nittany Lions face limited tests before their matchup against the Wolverines and could very well head into their matchup 6-0.

It's a huge year for Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, who needs statement wins after last year's struggles. USC's visit to South Bend will be one of his biggest opportunities, though the Trojans clobbered the Fighting Irish 45-27 late last season.

After hosting Michigan in Week 8, Penn State will visit the Buckeyes. This matchup could be for all the marbles in the Big Ten East, especially if James Franklin's squad is able to knock off the Wolverines. Penn State had a shocking 24-21 win over Ohio State last season.

One of the biggest rivalry games of the season could decide the winner of the SEC East again this year. Georgia expects to take a big step forward this season with the second year of head coach Kirby Smart and quarterback Jacob Eason. The Gators won last year's game 24-10.

LSU's inability to topple the Crimson Tide was one of the biggest reasons for the demise of Les Miles. The Tigers were at least competitive in a 10-0 loss last season, but the Tigers last won this matchup in 2011.

The rivalry game between the Sooners and Cowboys will likely have huge Big 12 implications between two excellent offenses. The Sooners have won four of the last five head-to-head matchups, including a 38-20 victory last season. Quarterback Baker Mayfield will try to finish his Oklahoma career 3-0 against the Cowboys.

Washington's final road game of the year will be at Stanford, usually one of the stiffest defenses in the Pac-12. The Huskies hope to return to the College Football Playoff this season with the return of quarterback Jake Browning.

The Bulldogs and Tigers both could be playing to stay in contention for their division titles. Georgia has won the last three head-to-head matchups, including a 13-7 upset at Athens last year.

The ACC has claimed the National Championship in two of the last four seasons, with Clemson winning last year and the Seminoles winning in 2013. Both teams are in the conversation again this year in a game that could decide the ACC Atlantic Division. Clemson has won the last two matchups, winning 37-34 last season.

This game looks like an old-fashioned defensive battle on paper, as the Wolverines and Badgers both allowed less than 16 points per game against FBS opponents last year. Michigan was able to win at Ann Arbor last season 14-7, the first game between the schools since 2010. Of course, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh will be careful to keep his team focused with the much-anticipated matchup vs. rival Ohio State the following week.

The Huskies absolutely clobbered the Cougars last season 45-17 on the road and have won the last four matchups and seven of the last eight. Mike Leach's team could still be in the Pac-12 title conversation this year, and the Huskies will almost certainly be in that spot if Jake Browning can stay healthy.

The Iron Bowl has been almost uncompetitive over the last two years due to Alabama's dominant teams. Auburn returns significant talent this year, however, as the Tigers hope to win their first Iron Bowl since the miraculous 2013 "Kick Six" win.

Could the Sunshine Showdown decide a College Football Playoff invitation? It's certainly a possibility if the quarterback play of both teams improves like fans are hoping. The Seminoles have won the last four matchups and six of the last seven.

The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry has rarely been more fierce than it is now with coaches Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh. Wolverines fans are especially bitter about last year's 30-27 double-overtime loss that was arguably decided by the refs' spotting of the ball on a Buckeyes' successful fourth-down conversion.