2013 College Football Preseason Rankings: Top 5 Conference Games

2013 College Football Preseason Rankings: Top 5 Conference Games: Part of what makes college football great is the rivalries that exist between teams, especially between teams from the same conference that meet on a yearly basis. There is no love lost between fans, players or coaches, and the intensity is only amplified when both teams have a lot on the line. It is one thing to defeat your rival. It is another thing entirely to end your rival’s chances of winning a conference or national title while bolstering your own. Heading into the 2013 college football season, there are a few games on the schedule between conference foes that stand out above the rest, and here is a closer look at the best of the bunch.

1.      Oregon at Stanford, November 7

This late-season meeting between Pac-12 powerhouses will likely have huge implications. The winner will likely win the North Division and earn a spot in the conference title game, and there is a good chance both sides will be in the national title conversation heading into the showdown. Throw in the clash of styles between Oregon’s speedy, high-scoring attack and Stanford’s power game, and this game has a little bit of everything.

2.      Alabama at Texas A&M, September 14

Last year, Johnny Manziel basically won himself the Heisman Trophy by leading the Aggies to an upset win over the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. Of course, Alabama got the last laugh by winning the national title, and both teams have title aspirations in 2013. The winner of this early-season showdown will have a big statement win on its resume, along with a leg up in the SEC West Division. Granted, the game is early enough that the loser could recover to win the division and play for a conference and national titles, but watching Manziel’s follow-up act against a Crimson Tide bunch that will be out for revenge provides enough intrigue even without the larger implications.

3.      LSU at Alabama, November 9

Two years ago, LSU outlasted Alabama 9-6 in overtime in Tuscaloosa, only to fall to the Crimson Tide in the BCS title game. Last year, it was Alabama using a screen pass in the waning minutes to knock off the Tigers in Death Valley 21-17. Overall, the last three regular-season meetings between the SEC West rivals have been decided by a combined 10 points so the games always seem to go down to the wire. There is no shortage of talent on either side and no shortage of bad blood. The SEC West title could hang in the balance and much, much more.

4.      South Carolina at Georgia, September 7

The Gamecocks have reeled off three wins in a row over the Bulldogs, including a complete dismantling last season. The battle between Jadeveon Clowney and the South Carolina defense and Aaron Murray the Georgia offense is the main storyline, and the game could jumpstart a Heisman campaign for either Clowney or Murray. Meanwhile, the winning team will have the inside track to the SEC East title and keep their national titles hopes alive with an early statement victory.

5.      Florida State at Clemson, October 19

These two programs have emerged as the dominant powers in the ACC, and they have split a pair of high-scoring, entertaining matchups the last two years. This year’s battle doesn’t figure to be any different as Tajh Boyd leads Clemson’s explosive offense against Florida State’s stout defense and power running game. Meanwhile, the winner of the matchup has gone on to win the conference’s Atlantic Division and reach the ACC title game. Both teams have an outside shot at playing for a national title if they can run the table, and if both sides enter this matchup undefeated, the atmosphere will be intense.

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