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The upcoming college football is almost here. There are going to be a whole lot of football games to play this season, far too many for you to watch them all, or even to watch most of them.
That's where this article comes in handy. Want to know which game you should prioritize watching each week of the 2024 season? We've got you covered.
Below is the top game for each week of the 2024 college football season. Times for many games are still TBA, so make sure to check your schedules so you don't miss any of these games.
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Week 1 - Notre Dame at Texas A&M
Saturday, Aug. 31
"That's why I'm picking A&M." 🗣️@PeteFiutak explains why he likes the Aggies to beat Notre Dame in Week 1 💪🏈 pic.twitter.com/bBDFglx2fH
— TexAgs Radio (@TexAgsRadio) August 19, 2024
We've got some bangers in Week 1, including a meeting of No. 1 Georgia and No. 14 Clemson. But that one feels like a game with a known outcome, as no matter how well Clemson plays, Georgia's going to pull out the win.
Notre Dame and Texas A&M, though? This is a chance to see two high-upside teams and get a quick answer to which might be for real. Can Riley Leonard take this Irish offense to a new level? Can Mike Elko do what Jimbo Fisher couldn't and make this Aggies team into a contender?
Week 2 - Texas at Michigan
Saturday, Sept. 7
Since we're now in the expanded playoff era, Texas can afford to lose this game and still make the postseason. But this game is going to tell us a lot about the ceiling for the Longhorns. Michigan is breaking in a new QB this season, but it'll still be a really tough team to beat. If Texas can do that with relative ease, we'll know it is ready for the grind of an SEC season.
Week 3 - Arizona at Kansas State
Friday, Sept. 13
The new-look Big 12 is going to be a lot of fun and here we get a look at the old Big 12 and the new Big 12 going at it. Arizona is one of the most intriguing teams in the country as it returns QB Noah Fifita but will have a new head coach this year.
Kansas State is handing the reins of its offense to the electric Avery Johnson. This has a chance to be a high-scoring affair, but it also can answer questions about whether these teams are contenders in a wide-open Big 12.
Week 4 - Tennessee at Oklahoma
Saturday, Sept. 21
I'm just so intrigued by the quarterback matchup here. Nico Iamaleava and Jackson Arnold are both largely mysteries at this point. By Week 4, we should be getting a good idea of whether or not they're ready to quarterback a top-10 team, which is the upside for both of these programs if the QB play lives up to expectations.
And then there's the conference implications of this game. If one of these teams wants to steal a playoff spot and finish at or near the top of the SEC, this is the exact kind of game you have to win.
Week 5 - Georgia at Alabama
Saturday, Sept. 28
Looking at last year’s TV data and this year’s packed schedule, I did my best at predicting what the 10 most-watched games of the college football season will be.
Note that Texas-Oklahoma and USC-LSU are neutral site games.
More: https://t.co/moVzdWzqBb pic.twitter.com/e9CiutOsGz
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) August 18, 2024
Will this be the game that decides the SEC champion? With divisions eliminated, there's a good chance that the winner of this game takes the regular-season crown.
Of course, that also depends on Alabama maintaining its previous success under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. The return of quarterback Jalen Milroe should allow the team to remain national contenders even without Nick Saban on the sidelines.
Week 6 - Iowa at Ohio State
Saturday, Oct. 5
We know what Iowa will bring on defense, but will the team have any offense in 2024? Freed from the ineptitude of Brian Ferentz, the Hawkeyes have Tim Lester calling the shots now and Cade McNamara back at QB.
Ohio State destroyed Iowa 54-10 last season, so this Iowa team will have a chip on its shoulder. For Ohio State, it's a chance to see if the one-two punch at running back of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson can run all over a stout D.
Week 7 - Ohio State at Oregon
Saturday, Oct. 12
Oregon might have had the best offseason of any team at QB. Replacing Bo Nix is an almost impossible task, but poaching Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma might have been the best possible move it could have made. Gabriel is going to shine in this Ducks offense and this has a chance to go down as one of the highest-scoring games of the season.
Week 8 - Miami at Louisville
Saturday, Oct. 19
Sure, you could watch Georgia play Texas, but I don't want to recommend those teams for the second time each this early. Instead, turn to the ACC for this meeting between Miami and Louisville. Miami quarterback Cam Ward has a chance to play his way into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft while Louisville looks to make a run this season behind a stellar defense.
Week 9 - Boise State at UNLV
Friday, Oct. 25
#BoiseState RB Ashton Jeanty (# 2). 5’9 215.
Blend of vision, contact balance, acceleration, & toughness w/ a pro frame. P4P best in the nation.
1347 rush yards & 14 TD’s (6.1 ypc) + 43 catches 569 rec yards & 5 TD’s (13.2 ypr) in ‘23. https://t.co/dJVC2XiEAI pic.twitter.com/TtOqKsZfML
— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) August 12, 2024
At some point, you're going to get tired of watching the power conferences, so here's an intriguing Mountain West game for you in Week 9. Boise State is my pick to be the G5 representative in the playoffs because of the overall talent on this team and the expected strong play of Ashton Jeanty, one of the nation's best running backs.
But UNLV is coming off a strong season and could get the upset here, as long as whoever wins the QB competition can keep up the momentum of last year.
Week 10 - Oregon at Michigan
Saturday, Nov. 2
I'm not sure I'll ever get used to these teams being conference foes. Two programs that have played just five times ever are now set to meet in Big Ten play in 2024. Both teams enter the season with plenty of expectations, and there's a good shot that this game has major playoff implications.
Week 11 - Oklahoma at Missouri
Saturday, Nov. 9
Two former Big 12 opponents meet in 2024 as members of the SEC after the Sooners joined the conference. The Tigers enter the season ranked No. 11 in the AP poll, led by Brady Cook, who is one of the nation's best quarterbacks. That he'll have Luther Burden III to throw the ball to is going to make this Tigers team so much fun to watch.
Week 12 - Utah at Colorado
Saturday, Nov. 16
We had to have one Deion Sanders game, right? Colorado was the most fascinating team in the country last year. Some of that intrigue has worn off, but you should still take as many chances as you get to watch Shedeur Sanders play football. This is a great late-season QB battle as Utah should have Cam Rising under center.
Week 13 - Alabama at Oklahoma
Saturday, Nov. 23
Honestly, this isn't my favorite week. Several top teams are set to play lower-tier opponents, like Florida State facing Charleston Southern, Clemson taking on The Citadel, and Georgia facing UMass.
So if you're following this watch list, then you've already seen both of these teams, though this is another chance to watch two good football teams in a game where there are likely playoff stakes.
Week 14 - Texas at Texas A&M
Saturday, Nov. 30
Texas AD Chris Del Conte and Texas A&M AD Trev Albert’s will make a joint announcement regarding the Lone Star Showdown next Tuesday in Houston. pic.twitter.com/YGIOwRmXZV
— Eric Henry (@EricCHenry_) August 15, 2024
We're back. I could talk about the on-field implications here, but I'd rather just revel in the fact that this game is happening again. I grew up looking forward to this game every year, but after realignment back in the early 2010s split the former Big 12 rivals up, we haven't seen this matchup since 2011.
The Lone Star Showdown has finally returned. I could cry right now.
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