The 2018 college football season is over — and that means the long wait until the first college football Saturday for the 2019 season begins.

That means we'll spend the next few months talking about the best nonconference games on the August and September schedule. The good news is there are several games that fit that description.

MORE: SN's final Power Rankings for 2018

Sporting News look at the 19 most intriguing early-season nonconference games, leaving off conference games like Alabama at South Carolina and Michigan at Wisconsin.

Here are the games we can't wait to watch:

19. Kansas at Boston College (Sept. 14)

Les Miles should have the Jayhawks at 2-0 heading into their first road game at Boston College. Imagine the buzz around the “Mad Hatter” if Kansas can pull off an upset here.

18. Washington State vs. Houston (Sept. 13)

The Texas Kickoff isn't on opening weekend, but any time Mike Leach is back in the Lone Star State it's going to generate headlines. This battle of the Cougars figures to feature points on top of points.

17. Army at Michigan (Sept. 7)

The Black Knights nearly pulled off an upset at Oklahoma this season. Will they be able to do the same in an early-season trip to the Big House? Michigan, meanwhile, will be a top-10 team under fifth-year coach Jim Harbaugh.

16. TCU at Purdue (Sept. 14)

This should be a fun shootout with the Horned Frogs visiting the Boilermakers. It's a chance for both Gary Patterson and Jeff Brohm to build momentum for their respective teams. Take the over in this one.

15. FAU vs. Ohio State (Aug. 31)

Ryan Day will make his debut at Ohio State's full-time head coach, and the Buckeyes return another team capable of winning a Big Ten championship. Third-year coach Lane Kiffin will try to get the Owls back in bowl contention.

MORE: SN's pre-preseason rankings for 2019

14. Arizona State at Michigan State (Sept. 14)

Arizona State won this matchup 16-13 this year, and the Spartans were never quite right afterward. Herm Edwards brought in a strong recruiting class, too, but it will be a little more difficult to win in East Lansing.

13. Notre Dame at Louisville (Sept. 2)

The Labor Day opener for Scott Satterfield offers a chance to get the Cardinals off to a big start against Notre Dame. The Cardinals won the teams' only other meeting in a 31-28 thriller in South Bend in 2014.

12. Stanford at UCF (Sept. 14)

There has been a call for the Knights to increase their strength of schedule. The Cardinal represent a perennial Pac-12 contender. This is a good start. Will McKenzie Milton be back on the field after a gruesome leg injury in the regular-season finale against South Florida?

11. Pitt at Penn State (Sept. 14)

The last installment of a four-year series between these two in-state rivals, and it's a chance for Pitt to avenge last year's 51-6 loss. The problem with that is this one’s at Beaver Stadium. We wish James Franklin and Pat Narduzzi would keep this going.

10. Boise State vs. Florida State (Aug. 31)

The Seminoles must show improvement in Year 2 under Willie Taggart, and this is a tricky opener in Jacksonville against the Broncos, who have maintained a reputation for playing up against Power 5 opponents.

MORE: College Football Playoff history: List of winners, games

9. Nebraska at Colorado (Sept. 7)

The Buffs won a 33-28 thriller against the Huskers this season, and it will be the first big game under first-year coach Mel Tucker. Nebraska, meanwhile, has a one-year head start under Scott Frost. This is the launch point for sophomore quarterback Adrian Martinez. Can the Huskers finish the job this time?

8. Oklahoma at UCLA (Sept. 14)

The Sooners routed the Bruins 49-21 this season, but this was is on the road and the Bruins have a season under their belt with Chip Kelly. This will be a good early-season measuring stick for both teams.

7. Duke vs. Alabama (Aug. 31)

Duke will be the latest team to open on a neutral site against Alabama, which is 8-0 under Nick Saban in these games. This one will be at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta, and it's a chance for David Cutcliffe and Duke to shock the world.

6. South Carolina vs. North Carolina (Aug. 31)

Mack is back. Mack Brown returns to the sideline, and he will do it at Bank of America Stadium in a Charlotte, N.C. These neighboring states have no love lost for each other, and the Gamecocks cannot afford to lose here under Will Muschamp, who was Brown's defensive coordinator at Texas from 2008-10.

5. Auburn vs. Oregon (Oct. 31)

The Advocare Classic at Jerry World gets a nice SEC-vs.-Pac-12 matchup for two teams that will want to get off on the right foot. Auburn beat Washington in the opener this year, and it didn't end up amounting to much. It's a chance for Mario Cristobal, a former Nick Saban assistant at Alabama, to announce the Ducks are back.

MORE: 2018 bowl winners and losers

4. Miami (Fla.) vs. Florida (Aug. 31)

In-state rivals meet in the Camping World Kickoff game in Orlando. The Gators and Hurricanes have not played since 2013, and it will be imperative for Dan Mullen and Manny Diaz to get their teams off on the right foot.

3. Texas A&M at Clemson (Sept. 7)

The rematch from this year's 28-26 thriller should be thrilling once more. Clemson is 40-2 at home the last six seasons, but Jimbo Fisher led FSU to one of those victories at Death Valley in 2013. The sequel will be riveting.

2. LSU at Texas (Sept. 7)

Huge game between two teams that won New Year's Day Six bowls but are looking to take the next step under Tom Herman and Ed Orgeron, respectively. The neighboring states are no stranger to some recruiting battles, too. The fact it's on campus is a bonus point.

1. Notre Dame at Georgia (Sept. 21)

The Bulldogs' 20-19 victory in South Bend led to a Playoff push in 2017, and the Irish made their Playoff run in 2018. Any time Notre Dame makes the trip into the Deep South, it’s must-see TV. Putting Heisman candidates Ian Book and Jake Fromm on the same field raises those stakes.