It's never too early to look ahead in college football, especially when you're looking ahead at a drool-inducing opening weekend for the 2018 season.
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The 2017 campaign kicked off with Alabama–Florida State, Michigan–Florida and other big-time, season-defining matchups. That will be the case again next September when some of college football's biggest names and playoff contenders open the year with fireworks.
Here are the five biggest games for Week 1 of the 2018 season, a list dominated by SEC teams.
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Michigan at Notre Dame
Date: Saturday, Sept. 1
Location: South Bend, Ind.
Michigan and Notre Dame renew their rivalry on Sept. 1 in South Bend. They met 30 times between 1978-2014 but did not extend their annual home-and-home agreement following the Irish's blowout win in 2014.
MORE: 2018 Heisman Candidates
Both teams will lose and return a ton of top-end talent, though all eyes will be on Wolverines' quarterback Shea Patterson — if the Ole Miss transfer is given immediate eligibility and wins the starting job. It's only Week 1 but the loser will feel intense heat, which could shove Brian Kelly onto the hot seat.
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Auburn vs. Washington
Date: Saturday, Sept. 1
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
After years of opening the season with a soft non-conference schedule, Washington finally gets an early test in fellow playoff hopeful Auburn.
Assuming both Jake Browning and Jarrett Stidham return for their senior and junior seasons, respectively, this may be one of the premier quarterback matchups of the season and one that launches the Tigers or Huskies to the top of the playoff conversation
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LSU vs. Miami (FL)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 1
Location: Arlington, Texas
LSU and Miami will face off just the second time in the last 30 years (LSU won 40-3 in the 2005 Peach Bowl) when they meet in the 2018 Advocare Classic at AT&T Stadium.
It will be the first look at the Tigers' offense following the departure of offensive coordinator Matt Canada after just one season. Will one of their two highly rated recruits from the 2017 class — Myles Brennan or Lowell Narcisse — be under center when they play the Canes on Sept. 1?
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Tennessee vs. West Virginia
Date: Saturday, Sept. 1
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
This game would've been a heck of a lot more interesting had Tennessee landed a big fish like Mike Gundy or Jon Gruden. But we'll gladly settle for the return of Will Grier and David Sills V to West Virginia.
The pair — who connected for an FBS-high 18 touchdowns in 2017 — will be the first test for Jeremy Pruitt's defense after the revered defensive guru left Alabama for Rocky Top.
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Alabama vs. Louisville
Date: Saturday, Sept. 1
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Can we start a GoFundMe to pay Lamar Jackson to return to Louisville for another season? Watching the 2016 Heisman winner against Alabama would be a real treat.
Despite Jackson's (expected) departure for the NFL, this matchup in Orlando is a still a big one. The Tide will be heavy favorites and there will be a ton of pressure on Bobby Petrino and his staff to prove they can compete against elite competition without Jackson.
