Welcome to Glass Slipper! I still can’t believe Gerrit Cole didn’t cover first; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

**NOTICE: Glass Slipper will arrive on Thursday next week.

We’re 85 days away from college football. Thankfully, that’s not a very long time. Let’s run through five mammoth matchups that people aren’t talking about.

1. Michigan vs. Oklahoma (Week 2, September 26)

Sherrone Moore got hit with a two-game ban, and yet he will be wearing a headset for his team’s second contest of the season. I’m an Ohio State diehard, but I would hope that even innocent bystanders can recognize how stupid that is. It’s just such an unbelievably pathetic decision from the higher-ups in Ann Arbor. Look, everyone! We’re taking accountability for this cheating scandal by forcing our head coach to sit out a couple games! Our toughest road test of the year happens in Week 2, though. It sure would be nice to have him around for that one. Thus, we’ve decided to delay the suspension so that it’s enforced during an easier stretch of our schedule. Hope that’s okay!

Regardless, this battle should be a ton of fun. Sherrone returning to his alma mater. Extreme pressure on Brent Venables. The first big stage for both Bryce Underwood and John Mateer. In all likelihood, College GameDay will be on-site in Norman. I can’t wait.

2. Ohio State vs. Illinois (Week 7, October 11)

Those who plan to write off the Illini because they haven’t been nationally relevant in a long time are making a mistake. These guys are really, really good. Bret Bielema’s crew finished 10-3, won the Citrus Bowl, and is now bringing almost every important contributor back for another run. Barring something unexpected, Illinois is going to stay firmly within playoff discussions throughout the entirety of the season.

This is the most important sporting event in Memorial Stadium in 36 years, and the crowd will be absolutely rabid. I think my Buckeyes may very well find themselves in serious danger in the fourth quarter.

3. South Carolina vs. LSU (Week 7, October 11)

LaNorris Sellers and Garrett Nussmeier. Could the Heisman Trophy be hanging in the balance? What about the No. 1 pick in the draft? Should we present the winner with a Browns helmet, just to see how it’ll look on them in 2026?

We got 815 yards of total offense and nine touchdowns the last time these two schools clashed. Let’s cross our fingers for more fireworks.

4. Texas Tech vs. Arizona State (Week 8, October 18)

This is the first truly dangerous Red Raiders group since the Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree era. Joey McGuire has pieced together a ridiculous transfer class; the vibes are so immaculate that the biggest recruit in program history came racing back to town four months after leaving.

Meanwhile, Arizona State needs to be taken completely seriously. That team was one 4th-and-13 stop away from battling Ohio State for a spot in the national championship game. Cam Skattebo is gone, but everything else remains intact. I think the Sun Devils are going to be even better this season.

Both groups should roll into this thing undefeated. Whoever emerges victorious earns a direct path to a playoff spot, and sends its fan base into a chest-puffing social media frenzy. The uniform combinations will look fantastic, as well. It can’t come soon enough.

5. Miami (FL) vs. SMU (Week 10, November 1)

As long as Clemson goes 1-1 against LSU and South Carolina, an invitation to the bracket is in order. The ACC is awful, but you’d think at least one other team will appear on Selection Sunday. Here are the only two realistic candidates, in my opinion.

The Mustangs were embarrassingly ill-prepared for their first-round contest in Happy Valley. All of us that fought for them to be included in the field over Alabama had to walk around with egg-splattered foreheads, even though our reasoning was still correct. What did that afternoon do to Kevin Jennings psychologically? Will the humiliation bog down his confidence, or make him hungrier?

I have similar questions about Carson Beck. The dude had pole position to be the top selection in this past draft once upon a time. After a rough campaign, he’s now tasked with reversing the fortunes of a program that hasn’t experienced noteworthy success since I was two years old. How badly does he want this?

There isn’t a university in America more starved for a CFP berth than Miami. Beating SMU is essentially a prerequisite.

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