15 non-conference games that will shape the 2019 College Football Playoff

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 09: Georgia Bulldogs nose tackle John Atkins (97) waits for the snap during the college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Georgia Bulldogs on September 9, 2017, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 09: Georgia Bulldogs nose tackle John Atkins (97) waits for the snap during the college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Georgia Bulldogs on September 9, 2017, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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BOULDER, CO – OCTOBER 06: Quarterback Steven Montez #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes throws in the first quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Folsom Field on October 6, 2018 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO – OCTOBER 06: Quarterback Steven Montez #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes throws in the first quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Folsom Field on October 6, 2018 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

14. Colorado vs Nebraska

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are getting a lot of ambition predictions thrown their way ahead of the upcoming season. With what should be a top-25 team to start the year thanks to some key returning players, Scott Frost could make a serious impact in his second year as the Nebraska head coach.

Nebraska returns dynamic playmaking quarterback Adrian Martinez, and even though they lost top-rusher Devine Ozigbo to graduation, they return their second-leading rusher Maurice Washington, who could see great improvement as the lead ball-carrier in his second year.

Frost also pulled in the fourth-best recruiting class in the Big Ten for the Class of 2019, and signee Wandale Robinson could come in and feature immediately for this Cornhusker offense. Frost has stated on many occasions that he likes to push the pace, and it’s time to see if the Huskers do that effectively in the second year of his tenure.

On the other side of the field, Colorado comes into this match-up after besting Nebraska 33-28 on the road, but have some serious issues to work out after dropping a massive seven games to end last season. Colorado returns quarterback Steven Montez, who threw the touchdown pass to win last year’s rivalry match-up. Montez should serve as a sturdy building block for new head coach Mel Tucker, who was named the new Buffs head coach after three years as the defensive coordinator at Georgia.

Amid the turmoil of a coaching hire, and ending the last season on a rough note, a big win against a Big Ten opponent could do wonders for the trajectory of this Colorado team.