The new women’s college basketball season has arrived. The Pac-12 holds its place as one of the nation’s toughest, deepest conferences, boasting talent that belongs atop the NCAA marquee.

But the time for preparation has passed and now it’s time to produce. The non-conference schedule is going to include matchups that will test the Pac-12’s top programs and define their prospects as championship contenders heading into what will be a very competitive conference schedule come 2019.

Let’s look at the top 12 non-conference matchups in the Pac-12 this season.

Baylor vs. Arizona State
Date: November 11
Location: Fort Defiance, Ariz. (ESPN2)
The Sun Devils take on a top 5 foe at an Indian reservation, several hours drive away from campus in Tempe. The “Showdown on the Rez” takes place on Veterans Day weekend and serves as a celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

Baylor, led by National Player of the Year candidate Kalani Brown, went 33-2 last season. This will be the third all-time meeting between the programs. The Lady Bears have won both matchups, including the last one in 2009.

Ohio State vs. Stanford
Date: November 18
Location: Maples Pavilion (Pac-12 Network)
The Cardinal lost a pair of games last season to Ohio State, and hope that home court advantage makes the difference this season against a rebuilding Buckeyes team moving forward without standouts Kelsey Mitchell and Stephanie Mavunga. Stanford returning standouts Alana Smith and Kiana Williams will remember those tough losses and will be looking to atone on their home floor.

Arizona State vs. Arkansas
Date: November 18
Location: Fayetteville, Ark. (SEC Network)
This is a big road game against a SEC foe, and a familiar face at that, as Arkansas is now coached by former Washington coach Mike Neighbors. The Razorbacks are an up-and-coming team in the powerful SEC, picked to finish in the back half of the conference but rebuilding under Neighbors, who brought the Huskies to their first NCAA Final Four four years ago.

North Carolina vs. UCLA
Date: November 23
Location: U.S. Virgin Islands
The Bruins, led by guard Kennedy Burke, are coming off their first NCAA Elite Eight appearance since 1999, but times have changed. Jordin Canada and Monique Billings have moved on to the WNBA and UCLA has to find a new identity. After a tough home game against Georgia just days earlier, Cori Close’s team will travel far for the Thanksgiving Tournament in the Caribbean to face off against ACC power UNC, who will be led by Janelle Bailey and Paris Kea, both players picked to the Preseason All-ACC team.

Louisville vs. Arizona State
Date: November 23
Location: Las Vegas, Nev.
This neutral site game will expose Arizona State’s defense to one of the best players in the country in Louisville’s Asia Durr. The Cardinals are looking for a return trip to the NCAA Final Four this season, so this game will be another great barometer for Arizona State’s squad in the first couple of weeks of the season.

Oregon vs. Michigan State
Date: November 23
Location: East Lansing, Mich. (ESPN2)
The Pac-12 favorite Ducks, who have their sights set on a NCAA Final Four behind Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard, will be tested on the road against Big Ten power Michigan State. The Spartans will be led by junior guard Shay Colley. These two programs have met twice, Oregon winning both matchups in Eugene. Will it be a different story on the road?

Oregon State vs. Notre Dame/South Carolina
Date: November 23
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
The Vancouver Showcase tournament will put the Beavers in a position to play one of the two most recent national champions. Oregon State hasn’t beaten Notre Dame, the defending national champs and preseason-ranked No. 1 team in the country, in two previous matchups and faced South Carolina, the 2017 NCAA Champs, in the 2014 NCAA Tournament second round.

Baylor vs. Stanford
Date: December 15
Location: Maples Pavilion
In what could be an early-season top-10 tilt, the Cardinal and the Lady Bears will be matching up for the seventh time, Baylor holding a 4-2 lead in the series, having played only one game at Maples Pavilion back in 2007. Last season, in Waco, Stanford fell 81-57, playing without its leading scorer Brittany McPhee.

Texas A&M vs. Oregon State
Date: December 15
Location: Lahaina, Hawai’i
The Beavers’ biggest known game of the non-conference season is a matchup against Gary Blair’s team, picked to finish third in the SEC after reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 last season. The Aggies featured Chennedy Carter, the reigning National Freshman of the Year, who averaged 23 points a game last season.

Stanford vs. Tennessee
Date: December 18
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Three days after taking on Baylor at home, the Cardinal will make the trip for Knoxville for its annual matchup with the Lady Vols, a series that dates back to 1988. The Cardinal have lost three of the last four games in this series and haven’t won at Thompson-Boling Arena since 2012. Tennessee is picked to finish third in the SEC this season.

Mississippi State vs. Oregon
Date: December 18
Location: Eugene, Ore.
This will be the toughest preseason matchup of the season for the Ducks against a Mississippi State team rebuilding after two straight trips to the NCAA title game. The Bulldogs return one starter in center Teaira McCowan – who will match up inside against Oregon center Ruthy Hebard - but also return eight other players. The Bulldogs are picked to win the SEC.

Connecticut at California
Date: December 22
Location: Berkeley, Calif.
The powerhouse Huskies come to Berkeley for the first time since 1991, a game, for what it’s worth, they lost 76-50 back in the day. But the Bears, who are looking to challenge for the Pac-12 title with new depth, versatility and the leadership of Kristine Anigwe, are still going to have their work cut out for them. Connecticut has a trio of stars in Katie Lou Samuelson, Napheesa Collier and Crystal Dangerfield. But what the Huskies lack is a dominant post presence and Anigwe might be able to exploit that to Cal’s advantage.

Michelle Smith is a contributing writer for pac-12.com. She has covered pro and college sports for espnW, the San Francisco Chronicle and AOL Fanhouse. For previous Michelle Smith features on pac-12.com, visit the archives page.