Big 12 football: Ranking the five best non-conference games
By Brian Spaen
Aug 31, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) runs for a touchdown after catching a pass against TCU Horned Frogs safety Chris Hackett (1) in the fourth quarter of the game at Cowboys Stadium. LSU Tigers beat TCU Horned Frogs 37-27. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
If you’re a Big 12 football fan, there’s a handful of games that will keep you interested throughout the non-conference season.
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The conference will be tested against both teams that were in the national championship last year along with contenders from the SEC and Pac-12 conferences. We’ve ranked the top five games in the conference this season, and to start here are some games that just didn’t make the cut.
Honorable mentions
West Virginia vs Alabama (Aug 30, 2:30 PM CT) – It’s an important game for the Big 12, but this one is expected to be a landslide in favor of the SEC’s biggest juggernaut. If the Mountaineers do keep this close, you can fully expect the SEC Network to have week long coverage on what’s wrong with the Crimson Tide.
Iowa State at Iowa (Sep 13, 2:30 PM CT) – Time to put the biases aside. Yes, this game more often than not is exciting, but the Cyclones are obviously not among the Big 12’s elite. Generally, the rivalry gets more interesting when the Hawkeyes play in Jack Trice Stadium. But let’s hope there’s a little more action than the snoozefest from two years ago.