The road to the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship officially began Aug. 29, but with only a handful of teams taking the field, Week 1 will mark the true beginning of the national championship race for most programs.
Here are five top-25 matchups to keep an eye on as Week 1 gets underway.
No. 11 LSU vs. No. 9 Clemson
Two top-11 programs will meet in the weekends premier matchup, as both LSU and Clemson will have an early opportunity to make a statement in the national championship race.
With plenty of talent on both sides and the coaching debut of Lane Kiffin following his eye-catching exit from Ole Miss, this matchup could set the tone for two programs while garnering national attention.
No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss
Louisville enters the season ranked for the first time since 2023, but the Cardinals will immediately face a major test on the road against an Ole Miss program looking to reestablish themselves as a national championship contender.
The matchup offers Louisville a chance to make an early statement and quickly climb the rankings while giving the Rebels little room for error under coach Pete Golding, who took over the program following Kiffin’s departure before the 2025 playoffs.
No. 2 Oregon vs. Boise State
Oregon enters the season with some of the highest expectations in the country, but Boise State has proven in previous years that it can give Power Four opponents problems. That was evident in 2024, when the Ducks needed a last-second field goal to survive against the Broncos at home.
Boise State will look to pull off another upset against a national contender, while Oregon will try to avoid an early stumble in its pursuit of a national championship with Heisman Trophy candidate Dante Moore commanding the offense.
No. 17 Washington vs. Washington State
While the Apple Cup often carries bragging rights, this year’s matchup has added interest with the Huskies entering the season ranked inside the top 20 in the first College Football AP poll.
Washington State will have an opportunity to spoil its rival’s season early while claiming a significant road win, while the Huskies can prove their preseason ranking was justified.
Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Notre Dame
Notre Dame begins the season among the national championship favorites, but Wisconsin has an opportunity to pull off an early-season upset as the program looks to rebound from a 4-8 season in 2025.
The Badgers are looking to secure their first road win since 2024 while knocking off a top-five opponent. If that happens, the playoff picture could shift drastically.
