Football is coming. Just a few more weeks until the Aer Lingus Classic kicks off the 2024 college football season. Let’s take a look at the top games to watch this fall, shall we?

Of course, we have a lot of change this year. The 12-team playoff has been pushed forward and will make its debut. Nick Saban retired. The SEC and Big Ten devoured more programs. Speaking of which on the latter point, today’s list is going to be quite sad for the smaller programs. We knew this has been coming for many years and 2024 really seems to hammer it home. RIP to the small programs.

PJ is going to have his hands full with the 18S Mid-Major Top 10 rankings this year. I took a peek at the ESPN College Football Power Index for 2024 (flawed as it may be of course) and the highest rated mid-major is Boise State in 48th followed by James Madison (51st) and UTSA (56th). Being in 3 separate leagues, neither of those teams face each other in the regular season.

Liberty is in most predictions for a playoff spot and is ranked 79th.

The Top 50 Games of 2024

#50 Army vs. Navy [Landover, MD], Dec. 14th

We are Constitutionally required to include this game in the countdown. Army has joined the AAC this year but this game will NOT count as a league game. Nothing makes sense with conferences anymore.

#49 North Dakota State at Colorado, Aug. 29th

Last year, the Coach Prime era got off to a hype-filled opener against TCU and a 3-0 start. This time, they’ll face one of the best FCS teams in the nation, in primetime, on the first opening Thursday of the season. Insert big eye emojis here.

#48 Florida State vs. Georgia Tech [Dublin, Ireland], Aug. 24th

The annual game in Ireland could be pretty good this year. Georgia Tech showed some feistiness last year and the Bees have a pretty decent modern track record against Florida State in the upset department.

#47 Oregon at Oregon State, Sept. 14th

The game formerly known as the Civil War is going to try and keep this rivalry alive. At least for now. With Oregon fleeing to the Big Ten and the Pac-12 collapsed, you can imagine the crowd in Corvallis is going to ultra intense. This might also be the earliest this rivalry game has ever played and the Beavers have won 3 out of the last 4 at home in the series.

#46 Auburn at Alabama, Nov. 30th

The Iron Bowl was the no. 1 game of the 2023 season according to ESPN this off-season, and it’s difficult to argue with the drama that ensued. Last year, we had this game at #31 in the pre-season but this year it feels less enticing. I mean, the Iron Bowl does have a tendency to get crazy like last year but Auburn lost by a combined 39 points to New Mexico State and Maryland between their soul-crushing loss to the Tide. I’m not sure Auburn is a decent team.

#45 Florida State at SMU, Sept. 28th

We’ve already included one possible stumbling block early in the season for the Noles, and here’s another option. SMU will play the Iron Skillet Battle against TCU the week prior and then hosts Florida State in the first ACC game in Mustangs history.

#44 Utah at Oklahoma State, Sept. 21st

Utah switches from the Pac-12 to the Big 12, and while they’ll host a tricky second week home game against Baylor, this will be one of the biggest games for the league, especially in the first half of the season. These teams have only met once in the past, a 46-6 win for Oklahoma State all the way back in 1946.

#43 Miami at Florida, Aug. 31st

Last year, we admitted there were probably too many Florida games featured and that turned out correct as the Gators finished an underwhelming 5-7. Miami lost 6 games last year, too. This game is pretty much included just for tradition sake as well as being the opener for both programs. No one wants to lose this one. This is also the first meeting since 2019.

#42 Michigan at Washington, Oct. 5th

Should this game be included? A re-match of last year’s National Championship would almost always be in a top 50 list the following year and the Wolverines going up to Seattle for the first time since 2001 adds some excitement. But, many don’t believe either of these teams will be especially good in 2024, so there’s that.

#41 UCLA at LSU, Sept. 21st

It’s possible that UCLA, coming off a quiet 8-5 season, is able to take a step forward in a post-Chip Kelly era. This will be their first big test of the season going down to the Louisiana Death Valley. With super conference realignment it’s kind of funny that this likely won’t even be LSU’s hardest Big Ten-SEC matchup of the season. See below.

#40 Florida State at Miami, Oct. 26th

After losing 4 straight, Florida State have now won 3 consecutive in this series. The Noles will have played Clemson a few weeks before this matchup while Miami has to travel to Louisville the prior week. Miami kept the game close last year (27-20 loss) and if the Seminoles can’t re-load really well this might be the Hurricanes moment to enter the ACC title chase.

#39 Oregon at Wisconsin, Nov. 16th

These teams have actually played each other 4 times since 2000 which is more than I would’ve guessed. Wisconsin won the last meeting in Madison back on September 9, 2000. If Oregon is one of the Big Ten favorites they have this road trip prior to a bye week and a regular season finale hosting rival Washington to finish things off.

#38 Louisville at Kentucky, Nov. 30th

The Governor’s Cup to end the regular season. Louisville won 5 straight from 2011-14 and now Kentucky are on their own 5-game winning streak since 2018. For what it’s worth, Louisville has the much easier run in (bye, Stanford, Pitt) whereas Kentucky will be coming home from new league-mate Texas the prior week.

#37 NC State at Clemson, Sept. 21

The Wolfpack won this game last year and bounced Clemson down to 4-4 when it looked like the golden era was over for Dabo Swinney. Then, Clemson beat Notre Dame and haven’t lost since the visit to Raleigh. This year, Clemson’s 2 games prior to this ACC opener (Georgia, App State) are no joke while we’ll see NC State challenged by Tennessee in week 2, as well.

#36 Florida at Florida State, Nov. 30th

This used to be a premier rivalry in the country, maybe even the premier rivalry across the country. Instead, we haven’t seen the Noles and Gators ranked while facing each other since the 2016 matchup. Florida’s schedule is ridiculously brutal and odds are they are a bloody mess by the regular season finale. However, if they’re roughly 9-2 or better coming in then it could be a huge game again.

#35 Alabama at Wisconsin, Sept. 14th

Another Big Ten vs. SEC offering. The Badgers play scrimmages (Western Michigan, South Dakota) before this and won’t be tested. The same goes for Alabama (Western Kentucky, USF) although the Tide had a heck of a time in Tampa last year against the Bulls. These 2 teams opened the 2015 season against each other in Arlington (35-17 Bama win) and the only other meeting was in Madison back in 1928. An Alabama game this far north is a rare sight.

#34 NC State vs. Tennessee, Sept. 7th [Charlotte, NC]

The storied tradition of the Duke’s Mayo Classic returns with another ACC vs. SEC matchup. I would’ve thought these teams–only a 5-hour drive from each other–have played each other more throughout history but not so. This will be the 4th overall meeting and just the 2nd since 1939. Both teams will play week 1 tune ups before facing each other for their first challenge of 2024.

#33 Arizona at Utah, Sept. 28th

Moving from the Pac-12 we now have our 2nd Big 12 league game of the list so far. Both will face one big test (game #44 above for Utah, see below for Arizona) but in the pre-season this is lining up to be a fun ranked matchup. The Cats and Utes have played each other in 12 out of the last 13 seasons with only the 2020 Covid season being the exception. Utah leads 7-5 over that timeframe but Arizona smoked Utah last year 42-18 in one of the more impressive wins of 2024.

#32 Louisville at Clemson, Nov. 2nd

Clemson’s schedule softens up considerably later in the season and this might be their last real big test of the regular season. This will be the 2nd of 3 really tough road games in 2024 for Louisville. They’ve also never beaten Clemson and are 0-8 against the Tigers since joining the ACC back in 2014.

#31 Kansas at Kansas State, Oct. 26th

The Sunflower Showdown and battle for the Governor’s Cup saw the first ranked vs. ranked matchup last year since 1995. The 2024 edition happens later in the year where that might not happen again but it could be close. Kansas has the friendlier schedule leading up and 6-1 or 7-0 could be in play. Kansas State won last year’s game and have won 15(!) straight in the series.

#30 Iowa at Ohio State, Oct. 5th

Ohio State has a dreadful early season schedule so this will be the first time we see the Buckeyes challenged. Unless you want to count Michigan State (they lost 38-3 to OSU last year). Iowa also won’t have much to look at coming in either, except their annual rivalry against Iowa State. Bonus points for these teams not playing each other that much, this will be the 3rd meeting in 11 years.

#29 Louisville at Notre Dame, Sept. 28th

Our first Notre Dame game on the list sees the Fighting Irish look to bounce back from last year’s debacle against the Cardinals. We might know a little bit about Notre Dame by this point in this season, but not much. This will be the 5th meeting in 11 years against Louisville.

#28 Arizona at Kansas State, Sept. 13th

Sneaky good game here in our list and it’ll come on a Friday night live from Manhattan as Arizona begins it’s time in the Big 12. Barring catastrophe from either program, this should be a quality ranked vs. ranked matchup, although K-State’s visiting Tulane the week prior which is an interesting upset special opportunity. These programs have not played each other since 1978.

#27 Penn State at USC, Oct. 12th

A cross-country trip for Penn State in the Big Ten, as was foretold. I guess we have to get used to it. These programs have met a few times in the post-season (the last 2 meetings being in the Rose Bowl) but this will be the Nittany Lions’ first visit to the Coliseum since 1991. Penn State has a pretty easy run-in until this game while USC…does not.

#26 Notre Dame at Texas A&M

Notre Dame again! This might feel a touch high given Texas A&M’s recent inconsistency. But, as a season opener in a tough place to play and a lot on the line early in the season for the Irish, we feel it’s appropriate.

#25 Ole Miss at LSU, Oct. 12th

The Magnolia Bowl is coming off a real banger in 2023. A pair of late Jaxson Dart touchdowns allowed Ole Miss to come from behind 55-49 win. It was the Rebels 2nd win in the last 8 meetings, too. I think Ole Miss will come in as the favorite for this game, as well. Notably, LSU has scheduled a bye right before the matchup.

#24 USC at Michigan, Sept. 21st

This is potentially a huge September game IF both of these teams get past their earlier big games prior that will feature down below. If they both lose (not unlikely) then the shine will be quickly off this as the Trojans visit Ann Arbor for the first time since 1958.

#23 Oklahoma at LSU, Nov. 30th

Oklahoma’s first season in the SEC sees them finish (probably at night) in Death Valley. If that’s not bad enough, the Sooners have to play Alabama (probably another night game) the previous week in Norman. Welcome to the SEC! This will be the 4th meeting in this series and the first on one of their campuses.

#22 Oklahoma at Ole Miss, Oct. 26th

Back-to-back Oklahoma games in the countdown. These teams have only played each other once in the 1999 Independence Bowl so we’re getting the first regular season meeting for the new conference mates. Ole Miss scheduled a bye prior to this game but will be coming off a tough run of Kentucky, South Carolina, and LSU.

#21 Oregon at Michigan, Nov. 2nd

Oregon having to visit both the Big House and the Shoe in their first season in the Big Ten is a nice wake up call. Plus, Madison as well mentioned above. If the Ducks win the league they’ll have earned it. On their previous visit to Ann Arbor, Dennis Dixon & Co. smoked the Wolverines 39-7 a week after Michigan’s deeply shameful loss to Appalachian State.

#20 Ohio State at Penn State, Nov. 2nd

One of these Big Ten teams are not going to meet expectations and blow up this list. If it’s not Michigan (God willing) we have our eyes squarely on Penn State and this will be their last game featured today. This is the tough part of Penn State’s middle schedule that will see them face UCLA, USC, bye, Wisconsin, hosting Ohio State here, and then Washington. Will they do better than 3-2?

#19 USC vs. LSU, Sept. 1st [Las Vegas, NV]

This is a fun Sunday game on opening weekend because USC and LSU are so similar in that they have the talent to come out flying but are both so chaotic either could look terrible. This is only the 3rd meeting between these teams and the first since 1984.

#18 Tennessee at Oklahoma, Sept. 21st

A pair of Orange Bowl games long ago, and a modern (2014-15) home-and-home series is all these new conference members have played against each other. This will be the SEC opener for both, as well. Tennessee does play NC State in the Duke’s Mayo Classic mentioned above prior to this, while Oklahoma has a slightly tricky Houston-Tulane back-to-back in Norman leading up to this.

#17 Clemson vs. Georgia, Aug. 31st [Atlanta, GA]

A great out of conference Southern rivalry from programs just a little over an hour apart. Of course, in these modern times the game has to be played in Atlanta on opening weekend for the Aflac Kickoff Game. We haven’t seen this game much in recent years (1 meeting in the last 9 years) and the 2021 opener was an ugly 10-3 affair won by Georgia.

#16 Texas at Michigan, Sept. 7th

Fox will be all over this Big Noon kickoff as these two teams play their first regular season game against each other. The only meeting was the Rose Bowl back in 2005 when Vince Young did Vince Young things and a late field goal gave Texas a 38-37 win. We’ll see how the defending champions (puke) open up against a squirrely Fresno State team before hosting the Horns.

#15 Notre Dame at USC, Nov. 30th

I spent 10 minutes researching this and I’m not sure Notre Dame has ever ended the regular season against a Big Ten team. Thanks to conference realignment we get just that in 2024, even though the Irish have been rotating USC in the finale for many years and used to finish the year against the Trojans every year before that. I put this game here on the list in case Notre Dame has something big on the line.

#14 Oklahoma at Missouri, Nov. 9th

The Peace Pipe trophy is so back! These former Big 12 and Big 8 rivals reunite in the SEC and will be playing their first game against each other since 2011 when then no. 1 Oklahoma won 38-28. Missouri won the previous meeting in Columbia in 2010 and that’s where these teams meet in 2024. The Sooners face FCS Maine prior while the Tigers have scheduled a bye. This will be the 97th meeting in the series!

#13 Alabama at Oklahoma, Nov. 23rd

Four of the meetings between these teams have been in bowl games while they played a home-and-home back in 2002-2003, both won by Oklahoma. That’s it for these 2 blue bloods who now play in the same league. The Sooners scheduled a bye before this game but it’s part of perhaps the toughest end to the season for anyone in the nation. Alabama plays Mercer before and has the Iron Bowl afterward.

#12 Florida State at Notre Dame, Nov. 9th

They’re trying their best to leave the ACC but for now the games with Notre Dame will continue for Florida State. After a 2-year break, the minor rivalry is back in South Bend. The Seminoles travel to Miami, then host UNC before this game with their bye week scheduled after Notre Dame, interestingly. The Irish have a pretty easy run-in to this game and also a bye prior. It’s a must win.

#11 Alabama at Tennessee, Oct. 19th

The Third Saturday in October. After breaking Alabama’s 15-game winning streak in 2022, the Vols fell in Tuscaloosa 34-20 last year. This will be the first rivalry game against Tennessee since 2006 that won’t feature Nick Saban coaching the Tide. The Vols play Florida inside Neyland Stadium before this game while Alabama will be hosting South Carolina.

#10 Georgia at Ole Miss, Nov. 9th

Here’s another SEC game that hasn’t been played a ton in recent years. It did pop off last year as the Dawgs throttled Ole Miss 52-17 in Athens. The Rebels have only won once over the last 12 meetings stretching back to 1997. I’m sure Lane Kiffin will want a better showing in 2024. This is stuck in between The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (not included in our list!) and Tennessee for the Bulldogs.

#9 Clemson at Florida State, Oct. 5th

This game came really early last year and was won by Florida State 31-24. It’s early again in 2024, as well. That win last year broke Clemson’s 7-game winning streak in the series. The Seminoles will be coming back from a trip to SMU while Clemson will host Stanford the week prior. Will this game decide the ACC in early October?

#8 Tennessee at Georgia, Nov. 16th

With mighty UMass and Georgia Tech rounding out their regular season, this is probably Georgia’s final test in the 2024 regular season. The Dawgs will be tested coming into this game with Texas, Florida, and Ole Miss all right beforehand. This will be a huge game for Tennessee who has a really soft back third of their schedule and hasn’t beaten Georgia in the last 7 meetings.

#7 Alabama at LSU, Nov. 9th

The Saban Bowl no longer featuring Nick Saban. Surely this will be a night game in Baton Rouge. Brian Kelly won his first game against the Tide but Alabama bounced back last year with a 14-point win. That’s now 11 wins for the Tide in the last 13 meetings. In the first year of the new SEC, first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer will face a brutal stretch leading up to this game with Tennessee and Missouri beforehand.

#6 Missouri at Alabama, Oct. 26th

Missouri’s schedule is really manageable in 2024 compared to other SEC teams. They miss Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas. There’s a decent chance the Tigers come into this game undefeated and/or ranked extremely high. Alabama has only played Missouri 4 times since the latter joined the SEC and the Tide are 4-0 with an average winning margin of 27 points.

#5 Oklahoma vs. Texas, Oct. 12th [Dallas, TX]

The Red River Rivalry, SEC style. Steve Sarkisian has a laughable blowout win over Oklahoma sandwiched in between brutal losses to their main rival. Both teams scheduled byes the week before this game. They also each have one major test before heading to Dallas. Neither side will want to lose this first matchup in their new league.

#4 Ohio State at Oregon, Oct. 12th

This might be the top Big Ten game of the year. For the Oregon Ducks in their first year in their new league this has to be their most circled game on the calendar. I think the Ducks will come into this one at 5-0, too. I would also predict Ohio State will be undefeated too. It’s always tough to get these in any given year but the door is open to a no. 1 vs. no. 2 regular season matchup in Eugene. These teams have played 10 times with Ohio State winning 9 of them, although Oregon won the last matchup 35-28 in 2021.

#3 Georgia at Alabama, Sept. 28th

A re-match of last year’s SEC Championship only at 3rd in this list!? These teams have met in each of the last 4 years, although the previous 3 were all in the post-season. Overall, Alabama has won 8 out of the last 9 meetings. If this game were later in the season it might be in the top spot, but it’s so early. Still, Georgia will have a neutral site against Clemson and road game at Kentucky prior to visiting Tuscaloosa. The Tide have an easier run with the trip to Madison then a bye week before hosting Georgia.

#2 Michigan at Ohio State, Nov. 30th

This is the 5th Michigan game on our list. It’s quite possible the Wolverines come into this game with 4 losses, and maybe more. We’re hoping by this game there’s already a deep regret about hiring Sherrone Moore as the feel good replacement of Jim Harbaugh. This is the 4th game on the list for Ohio State and after 3 straight losses to Michigan I’m not sure Ryan Day can afford a 4th, even if the Buckeyes come in 10-1 or undefeated.

#1 Georgia at Texas, Oct. 19th

For the pre-season this is the most hyped game. In many places, this will pit the top 2 quarterbacks for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft against each other. It won’t be easy for Texas who come immediately from the Red River Rivalry to this matchup. Georgia will play Mississippi State the week prior. The Dawgs will already have played Alabama which gives both teams a top 5 entry on this list in addition to being in the number 1 slot. These teams have only played 5 times, most recently in the 2019 Sugar Bowl (Texas win) and 1984 Cotton Bowl (Georgia beating undefeated Texas).