The great thing about college football is the season changes so much from week to week that the games believed to be the best heading into the season often turn out to be much further down in the pecking order as the year progresses. Still, there are enough games in the schedule to allow CFB 24/7 to pick out some of the best ahead of time.
With that in mind, here are the three must-see games each week of the college football season:
Week 1
Texas A&M at South Carolina, Aug. 28: How will the Aggies fare in the post-Johnny Manziel world? We'll find out early on in the FBS and SEC opener against SEC East favorite South Carolina and the Head Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier.
Clemson at Georgia, Aug. 30: Only one other game on the first Saturday of the season aside from this one features a pair of ranked teams, and we've already seen some classics in this matchup in the past.
Wisconsin vs. LSU, Aug. 30: We don't know who the quarterbacks will be in this game, but that's OK because the running backs take center stage in this matchup in Houston.
Week 2
USC at Stanford, Sept. 6: Both top-15 teams have high hopes this season, and we'll find out early on which team is a true Pac-12 contender up on the Farm.
Michigan State at Oregon, Sept. 6: Easily the biggest non-conference game of the year, this one pits the Big Ten and Pac-12 favorites against each other in a clash of offensive styles.
Michigan at Notre Dame, Sept. 6: This is slated to be the last game between college football's two winningest programs, and it will be done in style under the lights in South Bend.
Week 3
Georgia at South Carolina, Sept. 13: This is a pivotal battle in the SEC East and features a fascinating tailback matchup between Mike Davis, Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall.
Tennessee at Oklahoma, Sept. 13: It's not often you'll see these two major powers play each other, so soak it up while you can -- even if the game isn't super competitive.
UCLA vs. Texas: Sept. 13: AT&T Stadium hosts UCLA and star quarterback Brett Hundley against a Texas team that should be tough to beat under new head coach Charlie Strong.
Week 4
Auburn at Kansas State, Sept. 18: We've seen top-10 teams go on the road on Thursday nights and have difficulty winning, so don't expect anything less in what should be a top-15 matchup.
Clemson at Florida State, Sept. 20: Easily the ACC game of the year, the Tigers hope this isn't a repeat of last season's romp by the Seminoles.
Florida at Alabama, Sept. 20: This matchup has produced some classics in the past, and while the Gators won't be great this year, they'll be much improved and a big test for the Crimson Tide.
Week 5
UCLA at Arizona State, Sept. 25: A huge battle that will help determine the Pac-12 South, these two teams should produce an entertaining offensive show if nothing else.
Stanford at Washington, Sept. 27: The Cardinal didn't find too much success on their last trip to Seattle to face the Huskies, and new coach Chris Petersen is hoping it stays that way in his first major test at Washington.
Duke at Miami (Fla.), Sept. 27: This contest should have a huge impact on the division race and could feature a pair of top-25 teams from the ACC.
Week 6
Alabama at Ole Miss, Oct. 4: These two SEC West rivals should clash in a matchup between one of the best offenses in the division against one of the best defenses.
LSU at Auburn, Oct. 4: Another key game in the SEC West, Les Miles' young Tigers team heads to the Plains to face the defending league champion.
Nebraska at Michigan State, Oct. 4: One of the biggest games in the Big Ten season features two of the best pass rushers in the country.
Week 7
Oregon at UCLA, Oct. 11: Marcus Mariota vs. Brett Hundley in what might be a defacto Heisman and College Football Playoff knockout game.
Texas vs. Oklahoma, Oct. 11: There's just something great about the line down the 50 at the Cotton Bowl and hearing Texas Fight and Boomer Sooner way too many times.
Auburn at Mississippi State, Oct. 11: The Bulldogs are sneaky good, and it's never easy to win on the road in the SEC West, even if Auburn has a talent advantage.
Week 8
Notre Dame at Florida State, Oct. 18: Sure, the suspension of four Notre Dame players takes some luster off this matchup, but it's still the Irish on the road at the defending national champion.
Texas A&M at Alabama, Oct. 18: There's no Johnny Manziel this time as the Aggies return to the site of their greatest SEC win to date.
Kansas State at Oklahoma, Oct. 18: The Big 12 might come down to a tie-breaker, and Oklahoma better watch out for a pesky -- and good -- Kansas State coming to town.
Week 9
BYU at Boise State, Oct. 24: A primetime, Friday-night lights matchup between a pair of likely double-digit win teams? Sure, why not.
South Carolina at Auburn, Oct. 25: This game could be a case of the SEC East's best against the top team in the West in a preview of what's to come in Atlanta.
Michigan at Michigan State, Oct. 25: This has been somewhat one-sided since Mark Dantonio rolled into East Lansing, and Brady Hoke needs this rivalry game bad to keep the heat off his seat.
Week 10
Florida State at Louisville, Oct. 30: This is a marquee home game for the Cardinals in their inaugural ACC season, and they're pulling out all the stops with a blackout on Thursday night.
Stanford at Oregon, Nov. 1: This has been the Pac-12 game of the year several times as of late, and there's no reason to think it won't be again in 2014.
Auburn at Ole Miss, Nov. 1: Another big game in the race to win the sport's toughest division; there just might be a few points put up in this one.
Week 11
Alabama at LSU, Nov. 8: The Crimson Tide will head to Baton Rouge once again with national title aspirations hanging in the balance. Plenty of future NFL talent will be on the field.
Baylor at Oklahoma, Nov. 8: Big 12 game of the year. Enough said.
Ohio State at Michigan State, Nov. 8: Maybe not quite as huge as it was with Braxton Miller in the fold, but still a contest with massive Big Ten ramifications.
Week 12
East Carolina at Cincinnati, Nov. 13: This Thursday-night game could be the determining factor in the AAC race and which team gets an invite to play a "Power 5" team in one of the major bowl games.
Florida State at Miami (Fla.), Nov. 15: Typically a fun game, the Hurricanes are closer talent-wise to FSU this year than they had been.
Nebraska at Wisconsin, Nov. 15: The Badgers have a fairly easy Big Ten slate, but the Cornhuskers coming to Camp Randall represents one of their biggest tests.
Week 13
USC at UCLA, Nov. 22: The crosstown rivalry might end up deciding the Pac-12 South in addition to representing bragging rights in Los Angeles.
Oklahoma State at Baylor, Nov. 22: Two high-flying offenses should produce another entertaining Big 12 game.
Wisconsin at Iowa, Nov. 22: A Big Ten game late in the year between some heavyweights? If you want some good old-fashioned football, tune in to this one.
Week 14
LSU at Texas A&M, Nov. 27: A new Thanksgiving tradition pits these border rivals against each other with loads of young talent on both sides.
Stanford at UCLA, Nov. 28: This tussle between California powers has huge implications as to who plays in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Auburn at Alabama, Nov. 29: Well, you remember what happened last time these two teams played.
Week 15
SEC Championship Game, Dec. 6: Can the SEC get two teams into the final four? This game will help answer that question.
Pac-12 Championship Game, Dec. 5: A berth to the College Football Playoff is likely on the line for some big names.
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma, Dec. 6: Bedlam has been, well, bedlam the past few seasons, and there's no reason to think 2014 will be different.
Week 16
Navy vs. Army, Dec. 13: Nothing like this amazing rivalry game with the best pageantry around.
Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.
