Fansided

College football’s 15 most compelling non-conference games to watch in 2018

By Connor Muldowney

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: The USC Trojans face off at the line of scrimmage against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: The USC Trojans face off at the line of scrimmage against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 28: Running back J.K. Dobbins #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rungs the ball during the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 28, 2017 at the Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 28: Running back J.K. Dobbins #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rungs the ball during the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 28, 2017 at the Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

6. Ohio State vs. TCU (Sept. 15)

Although Ohio State is dealing with some off-field issues and Urban Meyer may not be reinstated for this game, the Buckeyes are still one of the top three teams in America.

The Buckeyes are starting a new quarterback in Dwayne Haskins and they have the best one-two punch at running back in the Big Ten. On top of that, their receiving corps is scarying and that defense will reload once again. There’s no doubt about it, the Buckeyes are the clear Big Ten favorites and a team that everyone would be shocked to see left out of the playoff.

What about TCU, you ask? The Horned Frogs may not have as high expectations heading into the 2018 season as they did a year ago with Kenny Hill gone, but Shawn Robinson provides some excitement to the quarterback position. That and Gary Patterson knows how to win.

While this contest looks to be all Buckeyes, on paper, it’ll be much closer than expected as it’s a “neutral” field matchup in Arlington, Texas.

Ohio State will have to show up with its offense clicking on all cylinders to avoid an upset in Week 3. We’ve learned in the past that early-season losses for the Buckeyes don’t exclude them from playoff contention.