The 2024 college football season will be one of change. No longer will there be just four team vying for the national championship when the College Football Playoffs officially get underway. There are now 12 teams that will battle for the right to hoist the national championship trophy.
The Pac-12 is no longer part of the power conferences as 10 of 12 members found new homes just in time for the 2024 season. Four of those teams joined the Big 12, four more joined the Big Ten, and the remaining two head east to the ACC. As it has been well documented, the chaos in conference realignment began with the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners announcing they would head to the SEC.
When it comes to the SEC, there is no shortage of monumental matchups for the first season with 16 teams in the toughest conference in college football. However, there might be 10 games that will define the upcoming season.
We kick off our list with the matchup in Ann Arbor for Week 2 showdown between Texas and the defending national championships.
10
Texas Longhorns at Michigan Wolverines
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It has been a long time since the Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines met on the football field. Their only meeting came in the Rose Bowl following the 2004 college football season. That last-second victory sparked a run to the BCS title the following season. Perhaps another victory could spark a Texas run to the title two decades later?
For Michigan, this is about setting the tone for their season after head coach Jim Harbaugh departed for the NFL shortly after winning the title. Not to mention a mass exodus of talent to the NFL draft and transfer portal. How does this version of Michigan look as Sherrone Moore takes over as head coach?
9
USC Trojans vs LSU Tigers in Las Vegas, NV
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The LSU Tigers and USC Trojans have plenty of questions ahead of their season-opening clash in Las Vegas. For the Tigers it is all about replacing the reigning Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jaden Daniels and his top two wide receivers. Garrett Nussmeier has waited patiently and it appears to be his time to shine. His bowl performance gives them hope but how does it all look when he is the guy to lead them into 2024?
The Trojans story seems very similar. Lincoln Riley, who is coming off his worst season as a head coach, must replace his Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams. Miller Moss looked good in their final game of the season, but they have plenty of questions of their own. It should be quite the show on Sept. 1 when they get underway.
8
Oklahoma Sooners at Missouri Tigers
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It will be a Big 8/Big 12 rivalry renewed when the Oklahoma Sooners and Missouri Tigers meet in Columbia on Nov. 9. The Sooners will have a new quarterback under center following Dillon Gabriel’s transfer to Oregon. Jackson Arnold gave OU a preview in the Alamo Bowl but it didn’t quite go their way. They still have plenty of talent but they are facing a Missouri team that was on a mission last year.
The Missouri Tigers defeated Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl and they return the top two players on offense. Quarterback Brady Cook and former Oklahoma pledge Luther Burden III at wide receiver. Brent Venables will have his work cut out for him slowing down the Missouri offense.
7
Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Texas A&M Aggies
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish head to College Station to take on the for the first time since 2001. On that September day, the Aggies were victorious snapping an Irish three-game winning streak. Notre Dame brought in former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard to run Mike Denbrock’s offense after he returned to Notre Dame.
New Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko also has ties to the Irish, where he was defensive coordinator before joining Jimbo Fisher in College Station. In this matchup he will look to set the tone for his tenure and ironically enough, he will face his former quarterback Riley Leonard, who was the starter for the two years as Duke’s head coach.
6
Texas Longhorns at Texas A&M Aggies
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Finally we will see a rivalry renewed when the Lone Star Series once again returns to the football field. Texas got the last laugh when Justin Tucker nailed a 40-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Aggies 27-25 in 2011. That was the last time they faced off until 2024 when they close out the regular season. Plenty of fans, outside of Texas have also waited for this matchup.
Overall, Texas has owned this rivalry with a mark of 76-37-5. They split the last six matchups before it ended in 2011 but Texas has won nine of the last 12 games. While those numbers don’t mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, there is plenty on the line in the battle for state supremacy. How will head coaches Steve Sarkisian and Mike Elko do in their first taste of the on-field rivalry?
5
Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns in Dallas, Texas
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When it comes to border wars in college football, the Red River Rivalry is one of the best in the nation. The crowd is split right at the 50-yard line and it is easy to see who roots for who with a sea of Burnt Orange on one side and Crimson on the other.
This season will mark the 120th meeting between this two teams. While Texas owns the overall edge 63-51-5, Oklahoma has been more dominating as of late. The Sooners have won 11 off the last 15 matchups including last year’s 34-30 game. Texas is ready for redemption as they welcome Jackson Arnold to the rivalry.
4
Georgia Bulldogs at Ole Miss Rebels
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This matchup featuring a pair of Nick Saban disciples as head coaches is more about the Ole Miss Rebels than it is the Georgia Bulldogs. UGA has proven their worth with national championship wins in two of the last three years, and another CFP title game berth back in 2017. The Dawgs are poised for another run.
Ole Miss is coming off their best season in school history as Lane Kiffin led them to an 11-2 record. Those two losses came to Alabama and Georgia. For the Rebels to contend for an SEC title for the first time since 1963, Hotty Totty will have to win these types of matchups. Can Lane best Kirby after UGA dismantled them last season, 52-17?
3
LSU Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide
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The last time the Bayou Bengals went into Tuscaloosa, they came out victorious on a last-minute gamble of going for two instead of going to overtime. It paid off in a big way and Brian Kelly and the Tigers headed off to the SEC title game. This time around it will be a little different in this matchup.
Kalen DeBoer is taking over for the legendary Nick Saban, so expect things to look different with the Crimson Tide take the field. They might be a little more explosive on offense but how will the defense look after watching a dominant unit for most of Saban’s tenure? With plenty of questions for both teams, this will be worth a watch.
2
Georgia Bulldogs at Alabama Crimson Tide
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What more can be said about the UGA-Alabama rivalry over the years. They have battled it out for SEC title and national championships. Even with a change in leadership with the Alabama Crimson Tide, this still expects to be a highly contested matchup when the Bulldogs head to Tuscaloosa.
Since 2008 Georgia has defeated Alabama only once, that was the 2022 CFP National Championship game. This game will be about Kirby Smart putting his mark on Alabama and the college football scene. Can the Bulldogs turn the tide on their long-time conference rivals?
1
Georgia Bulldogs at Texas Longhorns
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Was there really any other option at the top than the Oct. 19 matchup in Austin, Texas, between the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns? Both teams have been viewed as the top two teams of the SEC based on the latest projections. While that means very little, this game will be a slugfest between two coaches who are familiar with one another.
Sark’s offense was able to score 41 on Kirby’s defense in their 2020 matchup in Tuscaloosa. Can Quinn Ewers and this offense have similar success against one of the top defensive coaches in college football? Only time will tell but this might be one of the top must-watch games of 2024, not just from an SEC perspective.
