Earliest Test for College Football's Top Contenders in 2022 Season

Michigan is the early favorite to win the 2022 title. The team plays four home games in September. Iowa City hasn't been kind to Michigan in recent years. Michigan steamrolled Iowa 42-3 in last season's Big Ten Championship Game.

Oklahoma is the favorite to win the national championship. The Sooners play their first game on September 17 against Nebraska. Nebraska won the last meeting 23-16 in Norman. Nebraska has a new quarterback in Casey Thompson.

Sam Houston is a successful FCS team on the brink of joining the FBS. Texas A&M opens the season at home against Appalachian State and Miami. The game is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on September 17.

Lincoln Riley's first game with USC is against Rice on September 10. The pressure ramps up the next Saturday when USC goes to Stanford. Stanford beat USC 42-28 last season.

Clemson opens the season against Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The Tigers have won seven straight games against their ACC rival. They play Furman and Louisiana Tech next. After that, they travel to Wake Forest for a critical conference game on Sept. 24.

Georgia and Oregon are playing each other in the 2022 season opener on September 3. Georgia is a heavy favorite. Dan Lanning left Athens to become the head coach at Oregon.

Ohio State and Notre Dame are going to play each other in the season opener. The Buckeyes are the defending champions. Georgia plays Oregon. The Irish are ranked No. 5 in preseason Coaches Poll.

The title game between Alabama and Utah State is the first big test for the 2022 season. The following weekend, on September 10, the Crimson Tide travel to Texas. Texas is trying to move past a 5-7 record in Steve Sarkisian's debut season after he arrived from Alabama. Quinn Ewers could be making his first career start as a college quarterback.