Here are the five biggest non-conference games on the upcoming 2025 schedule for area college teams like Texas, Texas A&M, SMU and more.
The NCAA season kicks off on Aug. 23.
Related:5 things we learned at Big 12 Media Days: Deion’s Deion, and Texas Tech has people talkingTexas vs. Ohio State
Sports Roundup
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian (right) congratulates Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day following their CFP semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, January 10, 2025. The Longhorns lost to the Buckeyes, 28-14.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
When: Week 1, Aug. 30
Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus
Last played: 2025, College Football Playoff semifinal — Ohio State def. Texas, 28-14
Series history: Tied 2-2
A new face will lead the Longhorns against the defending champion Buckeyes, Texas no doubt entering the Horseshoe with revenge on its mind after Ohio State ended the Horns’ season in the College Football Playoff last year in heartbreaking fashion.
It’ll presumably be Arch Manning behind center for the Longhorns, and highly-touted as the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning is, you couldn’t set him up in a more hostile environment for his debut as Texas’ QB1.
Oklahoma vs. Michigan
When: Week 2, Sept. 6
Where: Memorial Stadium, Norman, Okla.
Last played: 1976 Orange Bowl — Oklahoma def. Michigan, 14-6
Series history: Oklahoma leads series, 1-0
The last time these two teams played, a Barry Switzer-led Sooners team knocked off Bo Schembechler’s Wolverines in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day 1976 and were voted national champions shortly thereafter.
Forty-nine years later, both teams are coming off rough seasons. Sherrone Moore went 8-5 in his first season with the Blue, and Brent Venables has perhaps the hottest seat of any coach in the country after going 6-7 with the Sooners. Needless to say, both teams could use a big win here.
Baylor vs. SMU
When: Week 2, Sept. 6
Where: Gerald Ford Field, Dallas
Last played: 2016 — Baylor def. SMU, 40-13
Series history: Baylor leads series, 39-36 (7 ties)
The Bears and Mustangs play the first leg of a 2025-26 home-and-home series, the teams squaring off for the first time in nine years.
Baylor currently owns a 13-game winning streak against SMU, the Ponies having not taken a game in this dormant rivalry since 1986. This version of SMU, though, behind its first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff, is a little different than the one the Bears saw in 2016.
Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame 
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, front right, argues a non call with an official, front left, during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)(Sam Craft / AP)
When: Week 3, Sept. 13
Where: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind.
Last played: 2024 — Notre Dame def. Texas A&M, 23-13
Series history: Notre Dame leads series, 4-2
The Fighting Irish knocked off the Aggies in a rather stepping-stone-like fashion in 2024 on their way to a national championship run, ultimately settling for runner-up after falling to Ohio State in the title game.
So, needless to say, A&M will have its hands full. Recall last year’s game, however, when A&M’s then-QB Conner Weigman laid an egg with a 100-yard passing, two-interception performance before ultimately losing his starting job a few weeks later. Aggie fans hope his replacement, Marcel Reed, gives them a better shot at the Irish this time around.
SMU vs. TCU
SMU linebacker Kobe Wilson holds the Iron Skillet trophy as the team celebrates its 66-42 victory over TCU in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)(Smiley N. Pool / AP)
When: Week 4, Sept. 20
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth
Last played: 2024 — SMU def. TCU, 66-42
Series history: TCU leads series, 53-43 (7 ties)
The Battle for the Iron Skillet is back, this time in Fort Worth after the Mustangs rolled over the Horned Frogs last season to secure their first Skillet win in Dallas since 2005.
Kevin Jennings and Rhett Lashlee will lead SMU against Josh Hoover and Sonny Dykes for TCU, both teams squaring off in the final game before their 2025 schedule turns to conference play.
From ‘awesome’ to ‘ridiculous’: Big 12 coaches sound off on Texas Tech’s massive NIL haul
In a new report by The Athletic, the conference’s coaches were granted anonymity when speaking about Tech’s $55 million NIL payload.
New college sports agency rejecting some athlete NIL deals with donor-backed collectives
A letter sent to schools on Thursday explained that many deals could not be cleared because they did not conform to an NCAA rule.
Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.