College football: Top 15 non-conference games die-hard fans deserve

Jan 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver KD Cannon (9) and running back Corey Coleman (1) celebrates Cannons touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans during the first quarter in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

While there isn’t any history between these programs, as they’ve never played, this match-up would be a fun one to watch simply based on the contrasting styles of play.

Stanford’s mindset is very similar to that of Michigan State — a team that Baylor played in an absolute thriller in last season’s Cotton Bowl. While it would be unfair to expect the same level of drama from start to finish in this one, you can bet these two conference title contenders would put on a good show early in the season.

Stanford could add a game with the Bears to their 2018 schedule to create a very solid non-conference slate that already includes San Diego State and Notre Dame, while Baylor could use any notable non-conference games with Duke and Utah serving as their best future opponents.

Next: Penn State vs. Pitt