College football will look very different in 2024, with major conference realignments that will permanently alter the league map and the expansion of the College Football Playoff from four teams to 12 teams for the national championship, and history will be packed into it even before the ball goes up in the air.
RELATED: 2024 college football strength of schedule rankings
And… the top 10 non-conference games in college football in 2024
With fall camp just a few weeks away, let's preview the 12 most intriguing games on the 2024 college football schedule.
It's early August and a test time for the Swamp's in-state rivals. For Miami, it's the first look at big-name transfers like quarterback Cameron Ward and tailback Damien Martinez, who are trying to help Mario Cristobal, who is 12-13 in two seasons, and for Florida, it's a chance to take some of that immense pressure off Billy Napier, who is 11-14 in that span and facing one of the toughest schedules in college football.
It's one of the must-watch game in the new-look Big 12, and one with major implications for a potential conference title and ultimately the playoffs. The Cowboys will have Ollie Gordon, who led college football in yards last year, back in the backfield, while Utah will have a key skill threat and another strong defensive presence in Cam Rising returning under center.
In one of the new and intriguing matchups in the Big Ten, the Ducks will travel across the country at the end of the year to face the defending college football champions. Michigan leads the series 3-2 and will hope to have home field advantage and remain in the B1G title race at this point. Oregon's elite receivers, arguably the best in the nation, will struggle against the Wolverines' excellent secondary coverage.
Last year's matchup saw 14 touchdowns and 1,300 yards of total offense, and both the Rebels and Tigers should be in the running for the SEC title this year. The addition of yet another strong transfer roster in wide receiver Juice Wells, running back Henry Parish and defensive backs Princely Umanmillen and Walter Nolen makes this even more so for the Rebels. LSU's defense remains a big question mark, and while the ultra-talented Garrett Nussmeyer is joining the team at quarterback, the Tigers need help at wide receiver.
The first Red River Shootout with the SEC logo on the field will pit a Sooners team facing a tough schedule against a Texas side that has already played Michigan and will host Georgia the following week, and this time around, Oklahoma will make some OL changes and bring in a young quarterback while the Longhorns return Quinn Ewers and some elite skill talent to test OU's improved defense.
The Seminoles ended a seven-game losing streak to Clemson last year and went undefeated en route to an ACC title season. Now they've replaced a lot of talented players on both ends of the floor and defense and will have to contend with a great Tigers defense, but it remains to be seen if Clemson, with center Cade Klubnick, can make a breakthrough offensively. This matchup has big implications for the title in a more open ACC.
Georgia has lost just two games in the past three seasons, so it would be a miracle to get through this stretch undefeated. The trip to Ole Miss marks their third tough road game after trips to Alabama and Texas, and they open the season against Clemson in Atlanta. The Rebels have the offensive firepower to test the Bulldogs at home, and this game will be a big test to see if they truly deserve to compete for the SEC title.
The longest winning streak in college football is on the line as the Longhorns visit the Big House. In what could be the biggest non-conference game on the 2024 calendar, these two big-name teams need a quality win this early to earn points from the selection committee, and the loser will have less room for error down the road in the season ahead.
This could be the most important game in the Big Ten this year, as the Ducks and Buckeyes are expected to be the favorites to win the league. Oregon boasts dynamite receiving talent, two physical lines to beat opponents and a veteran quarterback who brings mobility. Ohio State counters well with its pass-rushing return skills and a blue-chip roster of transfer students all over the field.
The Longhorns re-emerged as a proving ground in the SEC's first year of expansion, beating Alabama on the road a year ago to prove they could hold their own against the league's powerhouses. Now they'll take on a rising powerhouse in college football. That makes a bit of sense considering Georgia's schedule, but Texas will need to prove itself to its new conference buddies by taking on this powerhouse at home against two playoff contenders.
A must-watch late in the season, “The Game” has given Michigan a decisive advantage the past three years and helped the school win the national title last season. Now, the Wolverines are undergoing major structural changes on the sideline and on the field, while the Buckeyes return to the Horseshoe with a dynamic roster filled with experienced players and top transfers. Ryan Day desperately needs this game.
Alabama may be the underdog at home for the first time in a while. Karen DeBoer will have his first epic test as the GOAT, facing two-time champion Kirby Smart at home. Smart has a solid roster with several returnees on both the defensive and defensive lines. Alabama returns Jalen Milroe at quarterback and should be better defensively, but the Bulldogs bring more continuity to this matchup.
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