
The college football season is starting with several high-profile non-conference matchups, but which would also make for great NCAA Basketball games?
The NCAA Basketball season is still months away but college sports return to the spotlight this weekend with the full return of college football.
Several high-profile non-conference games highlight that slate, some of which would make for more intriguing basketball matchups than football contests. Actually, a couple of those teams will face off on both the field and the hardwood this season, which will make for some great games.
But, if we had our pick, which of the early season non-conference football games would we also put on the basketball calendar? Here are our top five:
Who wouldn’t love this matchup between two teams that will likely be ranked in the preseason top 20?
That’s the case on the football field as well. Oregon, led by a Heisman candidate at quarterback in Justin Herbert, comes into the new season ranked No. 11 in the country and will meet the No. 16 Auburn Tigers at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Saturday. Many think the Ducks need this win to become a viable player in the College Football Playoff race. The same goes for Auburn, but they have more chances for big wins in the SEC.
The stakes wouldn’t be that high if these two met on the basketball court, yet it would be one of the better games of the season.
Auburn is fresh off the first Final Four berth in school history. Head coach Bruce Pearl is hoping to keep the momentum rolling with a deep and talented recruiting class joining a solid core of returners, headlined by star big man Anfernee McLemore. However, the Tigers have plenty to prove after losing their three best players from last season’s historic team (Bryce Brown, Jared Harper, Chuma Okeke).
Oregon had to replace a lot from their Sweet 16 team as well, but they have reloaded in a huge way. The Ducks will have 11 newcomers on the roster, headlined by the nation’s No. 4 recruiting class.
How “for real” are both teams? We’d get a chance to find out in they played this fictional matchup.