The 2022 college football season will be here before we know it. As we await the beginning of the regular season in late August, it's never too early to start looking ahead at some of the best games on the slate.
2021 gave us some incredible contests, including the Iron Bowl, Baylor-Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game and Michigan-Ohio State, to name a few.
Luckily for us, most of the teams that produced great games from last season will play each other once again. Let's run through some of the best upcoming rematches.
10. Oklahoma State at Baylor, Oct. 1
2021 results:
Oct. 2: Oklahoma State 24, Baylor 14
Big 12 title game: Baylor 21, Oklahoma State 16
Oklahoma State could've made it into the College Football Playoff last season had it not been for a huge goal-line stand from Baylor in the Big 12 title game.
Although Spencer Sanders threw four interceptions, he nearly led a go-ahead touchdown drive in the final minutes of the game. But on 4th-and-goal, Baylor's Jairon McVea stopped Cowboys running back Dezmon Jackson short of the end zone, sealing the Bears' victory.
Baylor will face Oklahoma State at home on Oct. 1 during the regular season next year, and both teams return plenty of talent.
Oklahoma State will get Sanders back, as well as two valuable receivers in Brennan Presley and Blaine Green. The Cowboys' QB finished his season against Notre Dame with a record-setting 496 total yards in the Fiesta Bowl win. Defensive linemen Brendon Evers and Brock Martin will also return for the Cowboys.
For the Bears, starting quarterback Gerry Bohanon, who actually missed the Big 12 title game due to injury, will be returning in 2022. Also back are four starting offensive linemen. On defense, Baylor will replace key players like safeties Jalen Pitre and JT Woods, as well as linebacker Terrel Bernard.
Maybe we'll get lucky and see these two meet again in the Big 12 Championship Game in 2022.
9. Stanford at Oregon, Oct. 1
2021 result: Stanford 31, Oregon 24, OT
Stanford delivered one of the most shocking upsets in Week 5 by defeating Oregon at home. The Ducks were undefeated and had knocked off Ohio State on the road a few weeks prior, giving them the No. 3 ranking in the country. Stanford, meanwhile, was 2-2 on the season and an 8.5-point underdog.
Leading 24-17 with one second left, the Ducks were called for defensive holding on 4th-and-goal, giving Stanford one more chance. Tanner McKee then found Elijah Higgins for a touchdown to send the game into overtime.
Stanford scored a touchdown on the first possession in overtime and then got a stop to win 31-24 and deliver the first blow to Oregon's playoff hopes.
The Cardinal finished 3-9. The Ducks went 10-4 with two losses to Utah, the second coming in the Pac-12 Championship.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning will start a new era for the Ducks next season, replacing Mario Cristobal. One of the biggest transfers Oregon landed was former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix, who will be reuniting with his Tigers offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham.
Stanford, meanwhile, will get McKee back in 2022 but will have to replace its two top backs with Nathaniel Peat and Austin Jones both entering the transfer portal. Cardinal head coach David Shaw will be looking to avoid his third losing season in four years. Beating the Ducks once again is a good start for the Cardinal to try to get back to winning the Pac-12 North.