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For some teams, the make-or-break game on the schedule is pretty clear -- a nonconference matchup against a big-name program or a showdown with a hated rival.
But sometimes the season-defining game sneaks up on a team. Maybe it's an unexpected loss that sends a team into a tailspin, or a last-second win that sparks a hot streak.
Either way, there always are certain games that fans circle on the calendar with a heightened sense of anticipation. (We suspect players and coaches do too, but good luck getting them to admit it.)
With that in mind, we asked our college football reporters to predict what will be the season-defining game for each team in our Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the 2025 season.