Neutral-site games are becoming a more and more popular option amongst college football programs. The opportunities are varied, from the slew of season kickoff games to old and new rivalry games.

With the recent rules that SEC teams must play at least one non-conference foe from another power conference, the marquee matchups are on the rise as well as teams hope to improve their strength of schedule. On top of knocking out a required game, these games provide lucrative paydays and a chance for added exposure for the programs involved, not to mention a solid test.

This coming season, the SEC will take part in eight neutral-site games. Two of them — Georgia vs. Florida and Arkansas vs. Texas A&M — are conference tilts, while the others are non-conference games, four of which come against power conference opponents. That count, of course, doesn’t include the SEC Championship, played annually in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome.

There are still more than 100 days until kickoff, but those matchups have begun to take shape. Here’s how we rank the SEC’s neutral-site games as we head into summer.

8. Tennessee vs. Bowling Green, Nashville, Tenn., Week 1 — The Volunteers open up their season with a game in their home state against this MAC opponent. While Bowling Green is only two years removed from a conference title and coming off a bowl win last year, Tennessee should have no problem handling a lesser team as they hope to make a big splash in Butch Jones’ third year.

7. South Carolina vs. North Carolina, Charlotte, N.C., Week 1 — A border rivalry being played for the third time since 2007, this year’s game is a matchup between two solidly mediocre teams. The two Carolina schools went a combined 13-13 last year, and both could be fighting for bowl eligibility again this year. The most interesting part of this matchup is whether the Gamecocks’ revamped defense will be able to handle the Tarheels’ up-tempo attack.

6. Florida vs. Georgia, Jacksonville, Fla., Week 9 — The 2014 matchup between these two long-time rivals provided a major upset as the Gators ran all over Georgia, but the tables appear to be even more slanted toward Bulldogs heading into 2015. Everyone will be predicting a Bulldogs romp yet again in 2015, but last year was proof that anything can happen at the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

5. Missouri vs. BYU, Kansas City, Mo., Week 11 — Playing at Arrowhead Stadium, we’ll get more of an idea of how real Mizzou is. They’ve romped through the SEC East the last two years and could well have eight wins by the time this game rolls around. Mizzou will have to make up for a head-scratching non-conference loss to Indiana last year, and the Tigers are often perceived as the beneficiary of a weak division. BYU is a very strong non-power conference team, and they’ll provide the toughest non-SEC test on Missouri’s schedule.

4. Texas A&M vs. Arkansas, Arlington, Texas, Week 4 — Last year, this on-paper mismatch ended up being one of the most thrilling games the SEC played all year, with Texas A&M rallying in the fourth quarter to win in overtime. It should present another intriguing clash of styles again in 2015 — Texas A&M’s lightning-strike pass offense against the Razorbacks’ thundering run game.

3. Auburn vs. Louisville, Atlanta, Ga., Week 1 — Jeremy Johnson and the Tigers start their season where they’d like to end it — in the Georgia Dome. They do it against an old SEC foe, Bobby Petrino and his Louisville Cardinals in a showdown against the ACC. We’ll get our first real glimpse of any changes to the offense and what Will Muschamp has done to revamp the defense.

2. Texas A&M vs. Arizona State, Houston, Texas, Week 1 — Do you like points? This Pac-12 vs. SEC showdown will provide plenty of them, with two explosive offenses squaring off in NRG Stadium. Arizona State is coming off consecutive 10-win seasons and will be a Pac-12 contender again, a level Texas A&M is trying to get back to this year in the SEC. The Aggies’ opener provides a tough test for the John Chavis-led defense in its debut.

1. Alabama vs. Wisconsin, Arlington, Texas, Week 1 — Alabama’s greatest strength, it’s run defense, will be put to the test against a big, physical Wisconsin rushing attack. While Alabama is an early double-digit favorite, but the tough Badgers have what it takes to put a serious damper on the Crimson Tide’s quest to get back to the playoffs.