It doesn’t matter if a game is in the first week of September or the last week of November, with the right recipe, any matchup can have substantial effects on the formation of the four-team College Football Playoff. Just ask Oklahoma last year, a team that was playing like one of the best in the country at the end of the season but suffered two early losses that removed them from viable playoff contention.
As the 2021 college football season quickly approaches, though, we should have a much better slate of highly impactful games in relation to the College Football Playoff than we did last season. That, of course, is just by the virtue of playing a traditional schedule as opposed to most teams playing a conference-only slate in 2020.
That isn’t to say that conference games won’t matter, though. There are several high-profile matchups of that ilk that make the cut for the 12 major games that will determine the 2021 College Football Playoff. So let’s dive into those matchups to see which games fans of any team should be circling on the calendar.
12. USC at Notre Dame, Oct. 23
Rivalry games are going to be a theme of this list as we run down what, ostensibly, could also be considered the best games of the 2021 college football season. But it’s going to be special to see USC and Notre Dame renew their bad blood with one another as the two historic programs were unable to play last season due to the scheduling restrictions brought on by COVID-19.
However, it stands to reason that the renewal of the rivalry in the 2021 campaign has some big-time implications for two teams with, at the very least, an outside chance of making it to the College Football Playoff.
Notre Dame enters the year having to replace Ian Book at quarterback and some key offensive linemen. However, the Fighting Irish have one of the best defenses in the country, Wisconsin transfer Jack Coan coming in to take over under center, and an impressive stable of running backs. With the right wins, they can make a run at another CFP trip.
On the contrary, USC has found itself well outside the playoff picture despite their immense talent on the roster. As the Trojans have hopefully improved their effectiveness in the trenches on both sides of the ball to help make Kedon Slovis and a loaded offense even more dangerous, they could finally put it all together.
With that said, these are two teams with flaws heading into the year that would like to have things figured out by late October. And if either has done so, then winning the rivalry game will be crucial for their playoff chances.