MARLER: Five best SEC non-conference games for 2025

By Chris Marler

It’s never too early to look ahead to the 2025 season. Week 0 doesn’t officially kick off until Aug. 23, but with way-too-early rankings, projections, and even Heisman odds for the 2025 season flooding feeds and social media timelines, it’s only fitting to join in. Here’s an early look at the five best SEC games for the 2025 season. 

Honorable Mention. Michigan at Oklahoma – September 6

This should just be labeled as The Optics Bowl or the Optics Bowl by Gasparilla presented by Bad Boy Mowers. Something along those lines. Neither team is currently projected to be a national championship contender, but after 6-6 and 7-5 seasons each team will want a win over a blue blood program to avoid the narratives of regression that will most likely come with a loss. 

5. Kansas at Missouri – September 6

This may not seem like a sexy pick, but there are few fanbases that hate each other more in college sports than Missouri and Kansas. The series was discontinued in 2011, when Misosuri went to the SEC. However, prior to that it was the second most played rivalry in Division 1 history. 

4. Texas A&M at Notre Dame – September 13 

What a way to kick off the 2024 season with the slugfest between these two teams in College Station. That was Mike Elko’s first game as the Aggies head coach and the difference between that team in Week one versus the next two months was more than evident. 

This year the Aggies won’t have Conner Weigman starting at quarterback and they won’t have the homefield advantage. Texas A&M will become the fifth SEC team to play in South Bend in the last 40 years. 

3. Clemson at South Carolina – November 29

For the second consecutive season this rivalry should have College Football Playoff implications. South Carolina beat Clemson last year in fake Death Valley. However, despite the loss, Clemson still made the 12 team playoff, thanks to an automatic bid they earned by beating SMU in the ACC Championship Game a week later. 

The end of the regular season meeting between the Gamecocks and Tigers in Williams-Brice Stadium could potentially be the first of two meetings next year, if both teams make the CFP field. 

2. Texas at Ohio State – August 30

This matchup will be at No. 1 on a lot of these lists and rankings for non-conference matchups. From a brand standpoint it’s hard to have anything bigger than Texas visiting the Horseshoe to play Ohio State. If it were this season, it would be higher on this list. However, both of these teams will look drastically different in 2025 than they did in 2024. Regardless of what familiar faces are left on next year’s roster, this should be one of the best young quarterback matchups we see all year with Arch Manning and–most likely–Julian Sayin. 

1. LSU at Clemson – August 30

The Battle of Tigers. The Battle of Death Valleys. Most importantly, a battle between what will almost certainly be two top ten teams in the preseason next year. LSU has lost five straight season openers and Brian Kelly will absolutely need a win over Dabo Swinney to keep the fanbase calm after what has already been an offseason of high expectations. 

This game will also feature two of the best, if not the best, quarterbacks in the nation. Garrett Nussmeier is a Heisman favorite for 2025, while Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, who finished last season with 43 touchdowns and seven interceptions, somehow remained under the radar.