2024 College Football Games We Can't Wait to Watch
The excitement around the beginning of the 2024 college football season will have a substantially different feel.
As usual, we'll be eagerly anticipating key SEC battles, Michigan's clash with Ohio State and other massive games.
Conference realignment, however, will be turning Oklahoma and Texas into an SEC contest. Both the Big Ten and Big 12 will be showcasing what had been Pac-12 tilts, and the ACC will feature cross-country flights involving Cal and Stanford, along with SMU's arrival.
And those matchups don't even include the some of the best nonconference or neutral-site clashes on the 2024 schedule.
This list is entirely subjective but focuses on expected top-ranked teams in the preseason, along with conference realignment.
Top Neutral-Site Games
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Florida State vs. Georgia Tech (Aug. 24 in Dublin, Ireland)
In all likelihood, this ACC contest will serve as the official start of the 2024 campaign. Florida State will be aiming for vengeance after controversially being left out of the 2023 College Football Playoff.
Clemson vs. Georgia (Aug. 31 in Atlanta)
Atlanta is very much a faux-neutral site for Georgia, though this contest still fits the category. Nevertheless, the opener against Clemson is an enormous game for both teams, and it's tough to imagine the winner not making the expanded 12-team CFP.
LSU vs. USC (Sep. 1 in Las Vegas)
The last two Heisman Trophy winners, Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams, played at LSU and USC, respectively. Both should be headed to the 2024 NFL draft, leaving new-look offenses at these programs.
Texas vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 12 in Dallas)
Annual matchup, new circumstances. Oklahoma and Texas are departing the Big 12 to join the SEC, so this mid-October clash will be particularly memorable for the context of the showdown.
Nonconference Games
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Notre Dame at Texas A&M (Aug. 31)
The first full weekend of the regular season features Mike Elko making his debut as Texas A&M head coach. Prior to leading Duke over the last two years, he served as the defensive coordinator with the Aggies. Before that? One season in the same role with Notre Dame.
Miami at Florida (Aug. 31)
Yes, it's an in-state rivalry. However, the Hurricanes and Gators don't play regularly. They've squared off just twice in recent-ish memory. Miami won at home in 2013, and Florida took the 2019 clash in Orlando.
Texas at Michigan (Sep. 7)
Speaking of rare matchups, this is the first-ever regular-season tilt between Texas and Michigan. The lone meeting happened in the Rose Bowl to close the 2004 campaign, when the Longhorns clipped the Wolverines 38-37.
Alabama at Wisconsin (Sep. 14)
There's a theme here, apparently. Alabama toppled Wisconsin in Arlington to begin the 2015 season. Other than that, the single clash between the teams occurred back in 1928. The trip to Madison will be Alabama's first road contest in the post-Nick Saban era.
Traditional Conference Games
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Georgia at Alabama (Sep. 28)
Although the teams are familiar foes, September brings the first regular-season contest since 2020—and only the second game since 2015. The five other matchups happened in the SEC or national championship games. Similar to UGA's opener with Clemson, the winner is very likely to secure a trip to the College Football Playoff.
Michigan at Ohio State (Nov. 30)
Ohio State has dropped three straight games to Michigan and just watched its preeminent rival celebrate a national championship. The mood is not joyous in Columbus. Jim Harbaugh may or may not be coaching the Wolverines—pending his potential flirtation with the NFL this offseason—but both programs will have this one circled on the calendar.
Clemson at Florida State (Date TBD)
Miami, North Carolina, NC State and newcomer SMU are worth monitoring in the ACC. Still, it's fair to expect Clemson and Florida State will receive the most preseason attention within the growing league.
Arizona at Utah (Date TBD)
The early front-runners in the new-look Big 12 will likely be Arizona and Utah, a pair of Pac-12 transplants. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita broke out as a freshman star in 2023, and Utah will return veteran signal-caller Cam Rising after he missed the season while recovering from a severe and layered knee injury.
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New Conference Games
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ACC
As with the Big 12, dates are uncertain. Still, the ACC's most interesting clash is Florida State's journey to SMU. Miami has a cross-country trip to Cal, and Stanford goes the opposite way to Clemson.
Big Ten
Oregon's key matchups are home to Ohio State (Oct. 12) and on the road against Michigan (Nov. 2), though a trip to Wisconsin (Nov. 16) is notable for what should be a highly ranked Ducks team.
USC travels to Michigan (Sep. 21) and hosts Penn State (Oct. 12) during the team's conference debut.
Washington has a rematch with Michigan (Oct. 5) before visiting an intriguing trip to Iowa (Oct. 12). Also, the Huskies might be the White Out opponent at Penn State (Nov. 9). UCLA also heads to Penn State (Oct. 5).
Big 12
Since the conference hasn't released its schedule, dates are unofficial. So, here's an overview of the top showdowns.
- Colorado at Texas Tech; Utah at Oklahoma State; Colorado at Kansas; Utah at UCF; Texas Tech at Arizona; Oklahoma State at Colorado; BYU at Utah
SEC
Immediately after the Red River Rivalry, Texas welcomes Georgia to town for a high-pressure Oct. 19 matchup. The Longhorns also rekindle their rivalry with Texas A&M in the regular-season finale on Nov. 30.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, closes the campaign with a gauntlet. Along with trips to preseason top-10 team Ole Miss (Oct. 26) and historic rival Missouri (Nov. 9), the Sooners host Alabama (Nov. 23) and wrap up the regular season with a clash at LSU (Nov. 30).
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