SEC fans are the most passionate in college football. There can be little argument about that.

But sometimes that can lead to a bit of tunnel vision in that fans don’t pay attention to what’s going on outside the conference. So I’m here to help.

Here are some updates on key non-conference foes for SEC clubs in the early part of the season.

LOUISVILLE (vs. Auburn, Sept. 5)

The ACC’s Cardinals open the season at No. 6 Auburn in Atlanta on Saturday night. I don’t want to call it a must-win game for the Tigers, but it’s a must-win game because they aren’t going unbeaten in the SEC. The schedule is just too difficult. It could be tough for a two-loss team to reach the College Football Playoff.

As of this writing, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, whom SEC fans know well from his Arkansas days, hasn’t named a starting quarterback among sophomores Reggie Bonnafon and Kyle Bolin, junior Will Gardner and freshman Lamar Jackson. Petrino has hinted that Auburn might not know who it is until the Cardinals offense takes the field at the Georgia Dome.

I think it will be Gardner. He was 5-2 as a starter in 2014, though, completing better than 57 percent of his passes for 1,669 yards and 12 touchdowns with three interceptions. Gardner suffered a serious knee injury late in the season and missed spring ball.

WISCONSIN (vs. Alabama, Sept. 5)

The No. 20 Badgers face No. 3 Alabama on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in the marquee matchup of Week 1.

Wisconsin has really been banged up during camp. But new UW head coach Paul Chryst, formerly the coach at Pittsburgh, said he anticipates getting several players back in time for the opener. That includes offensive linemen Hayden Biegel (head), Walker Williams (head) and Ray Ball (arm), along with defensive end Alec James (ankle).

Also, Bama fans may recognize Badgers receiver Tanner McEvoy. In 2014, he won the starting quarterback job over Joel Stave but struggled and was benched in the fifth game. Now with Joel Stave locked in as the starting quarterback, McEvoy will play mostly at receiver but also some at safety, where he excelled in 2013. McEvoy suffered a leg injury in camp last week but should be fine.

ARIZONA STATE (vs. Texas A&M, Sept. 5)

There isn’t any major injury or quarterback news for the No. 15 Sun Devils, who face Texas A&M in Houston on Saturday. But Aggies fans should keep their eyes on receiver D.J. Foster.

Foster was one of the Pac-12’s best running backs last year, rushing 194 times for 1,081 yards and nine scores. He also was a terrific receiver out of the backfield, catching 62 passes for 688 yards and three scores. Foster is the only active FBS player to have racked up more than 1,500 rushing and 1,500 receiving yards in his career.

Because ASU has depth at running back but not as much at receiver, Foster will play receiver full time. Expect a few handoffs on reverses and misdirections, however.

OKLAHOMA (at Tennessee, Sept. 12)

The Sooners visit Tennessee in Week 2 in a matchup of currently-ranked teams.

Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield beat out Travis Knight, OU’s starter the previous two seasons, and Cody Thomas as the starting quarterback. Mayfield was the 2013 Big 12 Freshman of the Year at TTU. He threw for 2,315 yards with 12 touchdowns and nine picks but opted to transfer before the school’s bowl game because he didn’t receive a scholarship that he was promised. Mayfield should be the best fit in the OU offense because it’s going more up-tempo — i.e. what Texas Tech runs —  under new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, who held the same job at East Carolina last year.

Vols fans are probably fine not seeing Knight. In Oklahoma’s 34-10 home win over Tennessee last season, Knight threw for 308 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score.

EAST CAROLINA (at Florida, Sept. 12)

East Carolina visits Florida in Week 2. It’s a rematch of last season’s Birmingham Bowl, which the Gators won 28-20.

ECU’s two best offensive players in 2014 were Shane Carden and receiver Justin Hardy, both of whom broke numerous single-season and career school records. Kurt Benkert had been named the guy to replace Carden, but the sophomore was lost for the season last week. Benkert had beaten out JUCO transfer Blake Kemp and junior Cody Keith. So it will be one of those two vs. the Gators. 

TEXAS TECH (at Arkansas, Sept. 19)

Texas Tech visits Arkansas on Sept. 19 in what could be a bit of a trap game for the Hogs as it comes ahead of the start of SEC play.

The Red Raiders hadn’t named a stating quarterback for their Air Raid offense as of this writing, but it’s expected to be sophomore Patrick Mahomes. He didn’t play much until taking over as the starter late last season. And Mahomes showed what he’s capable of by throwing for 598 yards and six touchdowns — both Big 12 freshman records — in a near-upset against Baylor in TTU’s season finale.

The Texas Tech-Arkansas game will feature polar opposites with the Red Raiders throwing all day and the Hogs pounding the ball on the ground.