The Big 12 Conference reinstituted a football conference championship game in part to ensure they don't miss the College Football Playoff for the third time in four seasons.
Still, that guarantees nothing, especially if playoff contenders don't take care of business during non-conference play.
Of the 12 teams who've made the playoff the last three years, only one has suffered a non-conference loss (Ohio State, 2014). While we are just three years in and sample size is miniscule, clearly non-confernece losses — specifically early-season ones — are devastating.
MORE: Most Terrifying Game on Each Big 12 Team's 2017 Schedule
With that in mind, here are the 10 best non-conference games for Big 12 teams in 2017, ranked.
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10. Baylor at Duke
Date: Saturday, Sept. 2
Baylor and Duke will meet for just the second time ever, and their first time since 1958.
While this matchup would've been an elite can't-miss one in 2013 or 2014, it's still an intriguing one. It will be the first Power Five opponent for new Bears' head coach Matt Rhule and a chance for Duke to start 3-0 if they beat Northwestern a week earlier.
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9. Iowa State vs Iowa
Date: Saturday, Sept. 9
Iowa and Iowa State have played 64 times, including each year since 1977. After winning three of four in the series from 2011-14, the Cyclones have dropped the last two by a combined 53 points.
Last year's blowout loss to Iowa came one week after Iowa State lost to Northern Iowa at home in Matt Campbell's first game as head coach. They host the Panthers in Week 1 in 2017.
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8. TCU vs SMU
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
TCU and SMU are separated by just 46 miles, though the two football programs have been separated by light years the last few decades.
The Horned Frogs have dominated the annual series since 1989, winning 22 of the last 28 matchups, including a 33-3 victory last September. The Mustangs are trying to take another big step forward under third-year head coach Chad Morris, who has one of the country's best receivers in Courtland Sutton.
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7. Kansas State at Vanderbilt
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
Kansas State visits Vanderbilt in their first half of a home-and-home series that will conclude in Manhattan in 2020. Their lone meeting came in 1958, a 26-14 Commodores' victory.
The Wildcats can only be a darkhorse playoff contender if they take care of business in Nashville on Sept. 16.
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6. Texas Tech at Houston
Date: Saturday, Sept. 23
There's a lot to unpack here.
Texas Tech and head coach Kliff Kingsbury — mayor of Hot Seat city — need a big win. After hosting Eastern Washington and Arizona State in their first two games, they could be 0-2, 1-1 or 2-0 entering the trip to Houston.
Houston lost head coach Tom Herman to Texas and three defensive players to the NFL Draft. However, they return big talent at nearly every position, including All-American defensive tackle Ed Oliver.
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5. Oklahoma State at Pittsburgh
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
Their 2016 meeting was a beauty. Oklahoma State prevailed 45-38 on a late three-play touchdown drive that culminated with a one-yard plunge from Ronnie Childs with 1:28 remaining.
The home-and-home series shits to Pittsburgh this year, where Pat Narduzzi is replacing a quarterback, running back and a lot of other starters.
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4. West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech
Date: Sunday, Sept. 3
The former Big East foes are finally renewing their rivalry. Though this game should've been played in Blacksburg or Morgantown instead of the cavernous FedEx Field in Landover, Md., it's still a fantastic season opener.
Both teams will be debuting new quarterbacks. A lot of eyeballs will be on new Mountaineers' starter Will Grier, the Florida transfer.
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3. TCU at Arkansas
Date: Saturday, Sept. 9
If this matchup is half as good as their 2016 double-overtime game, we're in for a treat.
The old Southwest Conference rivals met last September for the first time since 1991 and it was spectacular. They combined for 79 points, 975 yards and 45 first downs.
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2. Texas at USC
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
Ignore the "Rose Bowl rematch!" promotions and appreciate this game for what it is: A playoff contender hosting a once-elite program with a new coach who inherited a talented but overachieving roster capable of pulling an upset.
After opening with Western Michigan and Stanford, USC will be a little more battle tested come Sept. 16 than the Longhorns, who host Maryland and San Jose State before visiting the Coliseum.
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1. Oklahoma at Ohio State
Date: Saturday, Sept. 9
Oklahoma has been waiting a long time for another shot at Ohio State after the Buckeyes embarrassed them in Norman last September. That game wasn't remotely close to what the modest 21-point margin suggests.
Though this one won't have any impact on conference standings and teams can recover from early-season losses to legit teams, it's still a massive opportunity for game-changing résumé win.
