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Ranking the 10 best ESPN college football games on 2016 opening weekend

By Jason Parker

Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) looks to throw a pass against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second quarter of the 2016 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) looks to throw a pass against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second quarter of the 2016 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong celebrates winning the game against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Texas won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong celebrates winning the game against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Texas won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 5 – Notre Dame at Texas (Sunday, September 4th at 7:30 PM on ABC)

For the second straight season, two of the most historic programs in all of college football will get together on the gridiron to start things off. Hopefully for the Longhorns, their offense will actually be inside the stadium to make up for last year’s abysmal performance in South Bend.

For head coach Charlie Strong and Texas, this may be the most important game in recent program history, dating back to the two BCS championship game appearances in 2005 and 2009. Another loss on the national stage will further turn the heat up on that seat in Austin.

At the same time, head coach Brian Kelly had the Fighting Irish  within a game of making the College Football Playoff last year and seems to have Notre Dame back in the conversation for being in the four-team system this year. The quarterback position will be key as Malik Zaire is going to be healthy after suffering a leg injury in the opening weeks of the 2015 season.

With a schedule that includes Texas, Miami, Notre Dame, Stanford and Michigan State, it’s going to be interesting to see just how far they can go in 2016.

Next: LSU vs. Wisconsin

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