The 2023 college football season may still be a ways out, but it's truly never too early to start looking ahead. And there are a number of intriguing neutral-site games on the calendar.

While some are opening-weekend matchups, others are traditional rivalries played in neutral sites, like Texas-Oklahoma and Army-Navy.

Let's take a look at 2023's slate of neutral-site games, played at some pretty cool venues, including one that's in another country. While this isn't the full list of neutral-site games during the 2023 season, we tried to pick the ones that are played in unique venues or have College Football Playoff or conference title implications, and it's an added bonus if seem like they'll be close games. We'll go in chronological order.

Aug. 26: Navy vs. Notre Dame

Where: Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland

For the second season in a row, we'll have a Week Zero game played in Dublin, Ireland. Last season, Northwestern came from behind to beat Nebraska 31-28.

As a matter of fact, college football has been played in Ireland quite a few times. 2023's matchup between the Irish and Midshipmen will mark the fifth time in the last 11 years that college football teams have played in Dublin.

Georgia Tech beat Boston College 17-14 in 2016. Due to COVID-19, the Nebraska-Illinois game that was supposed to be played in Ireland in 2021 was moved to Champaign, Illinois. 2023's matchup between Navy and Notre Dame is actually a makeup game of sorts—the Irish were supposed to play the Midshipmen there in 2020. But thanks to COVID, the game was moved to this year.

Notre Dame should enter as heavy favorites. The Irish finished 9-4 in head coach Marcus Freeman's first season in South Bend. Freeman landed one of the most talented quarterbacks in the transfer portal this offseason in former Wake Forest signal-caller Sam Hartman.

Navy, meanwhile, has a new head coach for the first time in 15 seasons, as the Midshipmen chose to move on from Ken Niumatalolo following back-to-back 4-8 seasons. Former Navy defensive coordinator Brian Newberry will have his first season as the Midshipmen's head coach in 2023.

The game will be held at Aviva Stadium, which is home to the Irish rugby union team and Republic of Ireland national football (soccer) team. After a long offseason, it'll be pretty fun to have college football kicked off in Ireland for a second consecutive year.

Sept. 2: North Carolina vs. South Carolina

Where: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina

These two Carolina schools, located about 200 miles from each other, have played each other a couple of times in Charlotte, North Carolina, in recent years. In 2019, they met during Week 1, with UNC winning 24-20. And just two seasons ago, they played in the Duke's Mayo Bowl, with South Carolina winning 38-21.

These teams had pretty opposite endings to their seasons in 2022. South Carolina finished the regular season with two wins over Top 10 opponents, upsetting Tennessee and then Clemson. The Gamecocks lost a close one to Notre Dame 45-38 in the Gator Bowl in December. North Carolina, meanwhile, was 9-1 through mid-November. But the Tar Heels lost their last four games, including to Clemson in the ACC title game and to Oregon in the Holiday Bowl.

Both teams return their starting quarterbacks. UNC gets back star quarterback Drake Maye, who finished with 4,321 yards passing, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Tar Heels will have to replace two of his biggest weapons, though, as receivers Josh Downs and Antoine Green are headed to the NFL.

South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler—who finished with 3,026 yards passing, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions—returns for the Gamecocks. Like Maye, Rattler will have to play without a couple of key weapons from last season. Tight end Jaheim Bell transferred to Florida State, and starting running back MarShawn Lloyd transferred to Southern Cal.

It looks like this will be a pretty evenly matched game, so it should be a fun one.

Sept. 3: LSU vs. Florida State

Where: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida

This will be a rematch between two teams that played each other last season at the Superdome in New Orleans. Florida State will have the advantage of having more of a home crowd, with this one being played in its home state of Florida.

Last year, LSU rallied late to make it a game at the end. Although the Noles took a 17-3 lead with 4:17 left in the third quarter, LSU's Noah Cain made it a one-score game with a touchdown late in the third.

FSU responded on the next possession with a score of its own, capped off by a DJ Lundy one-yard touchdown run. But LSU scored two touchdowns in the game's final five minutes. The Tigers' second touchdown, a two-yard pass from Jayden Daniels to Jaray Jenkins, came as time expired. All that was needed to force overtime was to make the extra point. Incredibly, kicker Damian Ramos' extra point attempt was blocked, giving FSU the win.

The Noles went on to go 10-3, capped off with a Cheez-It Bowl win over Oklahoma. FSU looks primed to make a run at the College Football Playoff in 2023—the Noles rank first overall in ESPN's S&P returning production rankings. Most notably, quarterback Jordan Travis, leading receiver Johnny Wilson and running back Trey Benson will be back.

Although the loss to FSU put a damper on new head coach Brian Kelly's start at LSU, it didn't stop the Tigers from having a successful season. The Tigers went on to win the SEC West, most notably upsetting Alabama and knocking the Tide out of the playoff. LSU finished 10-4. The Tigers get back quarterback Daniels, leading receiver Malik Nabers and star linebacker Harold Perkins Jr.

Both of these teams are expected to compete for a playoff spot in 2023, so this is an important game. Whoever wins this one will be able to add it to their playoff resume come December.

Sept. 30: Texas A&M vs. Arkansas

Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

These two teams have played each other from AT&T Stadium eight of the last nine years. As the 2023 matchup approaches, they will be looking to improve from down seasons in 2022.

Although Texas A&M was upset by Appalachian State at home in Week 2 of the season, the Aggies beat Arkansas 23-21 in this game last season. At that point, TAMU was 3-1 with wins over then-No. 13 Miami and then-No. 10 Arkansas.

But after the win over Arkansas, the Aggies lost their next six games—their longest losing streak since 1972. Their 5-7 finish was their worst since 2008. Entering the season as a preseason playoff contender, it was a shocking finish to the season indeed.

Arkansas, meanwhile, got out to a 14-0 start at the end of the first quarter of this game last season. It looked like the Razorbacks had a great chance to reach consecutive 4-0 starts for the first time since 1988 and '89.

Instead, the Razorbacks gave up 23 unanswered points in the second and third quarters. Arkansas made it a two-point game with a touchdown scored in the final five minutes of the game. The Razorbacks even had a chance to kick a go-head 42-yard field goal, but Cam Little's attempt doinked off the right upright.

Following the loss to A&M, Arkansas went on to lose five of its last eight games of the regular season. The Razorbacks beat Kansas in the Liberty Bowl, but the 7-6 finish was a regression from their 9-4 mark of 2021.

If the Aggies or Razorbacks want to compete inside the SEC West, winning this one in Arlington would be a good first step.

Oct. 7: Texas vs. Oklahoma

Where: Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas

The Big 12 will be able to claim the Red River Rivalry one final time in 2023, as both teams are set to move to the SEC in 2024. To qualify for the Big 12 title game in December, this one is pretty important.

Oklahoma will certainly look to avoid a similar outcome from this game last season. The Sooners, playing without starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel due to a concussion, trailed 28-0 at halftime. The Longhorns didn't let up on the gas in the second half, scoring three more touchdowns to win 49-0.

It helped that Texas had its starting quarterback, Quinn Ewers, back from a sprained clavicle injury he suffered earlier in the season against Alabama. Ewers finished with 289 yards passing with four touchdowns and an interception. The Longhorns snapped a four-game losing streak in the rivalry with the victory.

Texas went on to finish 8-5. Oklahoma, meanwhile, went downhill. The Sooners went 3-4 during the back end of their season, giving them their first losing season since 1998.

Texas enters 2023 as a contender for a Big 12 title with Ewers and 5-star recruit Arch Manning as options under center. The Longhorns look like they are in good shape, ranking 19th in returning production per S&P+.

Oklahoma, meanwhile ranks 77th overall, but quarterback Dillon Gabriel is back. If the Sooners have another losing season, head coach Brent Venables might not have too long of a future in Norman. Turning things around and beating your biggest rival is certainly a good way to get some confidence from your fanbase.

Nov. 11: Pitt vs. Syracuse

Where: Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York

This game being played at Yankee Stadium was just announced in late January. The matchup between these two ACC foes will be played here to commemorate the 100-yard anniversary of the first-ever Yankee Stadium football game. Here's more via the ACC's release:

"Pitt and Syracuse played the first-ever game in the original Yankee Stadium on Oct. 20, 1923, with Syracuse securing a 3-0 victory. The original Yankee Stadium was built in 1923, rebuilt in 1976 and replaced with a new Yankee Stadium in 2009. The Orange are 7-3 in 10 previous football games at either Yankee Stadium with wins in 1923 vs. Pitt, 1940 vs. NYU, 1941 vs. NYU, 1963 vs. Notre Dame, 1964 vs. Army, 2010 vs. Kansas State and 2012 vs. West Virginia."

Yankee Stadium is no stranger to hosting college football games. Since 2010, the Pinstripe Bowl has been played from the stadium. In fact, Syracuse and Pitt have played in the bowl game a combined four times, including as recently as the Orange's 2022 game vs. Minnesota. The Gophers won 28-20.

Pitt has won the last five against Syracuse. Both of these teams had pretty opposite finishes to their seasons in 2022. Syracuse opened the season 6-0 and was ranked as high as 14th in mid-October. But the Orange then lost six out of their last seven games to finish 7-6.

Pitt, meanwhile, was 4-4 through the month of October. But the Panthers won their last five games, including their Sun Bowl win over UCLA, to finish 9-4.

These two playing each other at Yankee Stadium for a regular-season ACC game will be unique.

Dec. 9: Army vs. Navy

Where: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts

Although this game is typically played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, 2023's game will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough for the first time in series history. Philadelphia has hosted the game the most (90 times) out of the rivalry's history, but in recent years it's been held in Metlife Stadium in New Jersey, Baltimore and West Point.

The decision to host the game here was announced just last summer, and 2023 coincides with some other important milestones for the state of Massachusetts. From a Gillette Stadium release:

"The 2023 installment of Army Navy will mark the first time in the 124-year history of America's Game that it will be played in New England, and only the third time it will take place outside of the mid-Atlantic region (Chicago in 1926 and Pasadena, Calif. in 1983). In addition to hosting America's Game, 2023 will feature several notable milestones for Massachusetts and the United States including the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, 225th anniversary of the USS Constitution's maiden voyage and commissioning of the USS Massachusetts as a Navy vessel."

The Army-Navy game has been pretty close the last few years. Last season, the game went into overtime for the first time ever, as Army won 20-17 in double overtime. In 2021, Navy overcame a 13-7 halftime deficit to win 17-13. Navy moving on from Ken Niumatalolo after 15 seasons just shows how important this game is every year—Army had won five out of the last seven meetings.

The tradition and history of the Army-Navy game are unlike anything else, so it will be very cool to see a city so full of history like Boston host this game for the first time ever. If we're lucky, 2023's game will be another close one.