ESPN circles 8 can’t-miss games on 2024 college football schedule

The 2023 college football season culminated with the Michigan Wolverines hoisting their long-awaited national championship trophy.

While the Wolverines are enjoying their victory, the 2024 season will be here before we know it and there are some massive, must-see matchups slated for the upcoming regular season.

Thanks to conference realignment presenting some unique matchups we wouldn’t otherwise get to see — ESPN has released the top-eight games that have been announced for the 2024 college football season.

Miami at Florida, Aug. 31

This Week 1 matchup features two coaches in Mario Cristobal and Billy Napier that are heading into pivotal third years with their respective programs. Cristobal is 12-13 during his first two years as Miami coach while Napier is 11-14.

With almost identical records, both coaches still have something to prove to their fanbases to ensure they’re still the right man for the job. Florida boasts the hardest strength of schedule in the country in 2024, while Miami‘s personnel will look a bit different from 2023. Regardless of what happens throughout the rest of the season, both teams are sure to feel the pressure to win this in-state rivalry game to start the season.

Texas at Michigan, Sept. 7

The only regular season game that will feature two of last year’s College Football Playoff team comes as early as Week 2 between Texas and Michigan. It will also be Sherrone Moore’s first test as Wolverines head coach.

What Michigan will look like come September is anyone’s guess as Jim Harbaugh moves back to the NFL. There is an expectation of Moore keeping the standard that Harbaugh set in Ann Arbor, and a win against Texas will go a long way to silence the doubters. Meanwhile, Texas will be in the SEC by September and is the only team from last season’s CFP field whose coach is returning to their program.

Georgia at Alabama, Sept. 28

Typically reserved for the SEC Championship game, or even a College Football Playoff game — Georgia and Alabama will square off during the regular season for the first time since 2020. It’s only the fifth time the two schools have played during the regular season in two decades.

What this game looks like, however, remains to be seen. Nick Saban is out and Kalen DeBoer is in. What DeBoer does with his first staff and personnel will be put to test early going up against what will likely be another strong, top-ranked Georgia team.

Ohio State at Oregon, Oct. 12

One of the earliest examples of conference realignment, the Big Ten Conference matchup between Ohio State and Oregon. Both teams will feature new personnel thanks to big transfer portal wins for either side.

Ohio State went all-in on the portal after the season ended, snagging top-ranked transfer Caleb Downs, star tailback Quinshon Judkins and new QB1 Will Howard. Oregon has done a bit of the same as former Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel will be slinging it out of the backfield in Eugene this season.

Georgia at Texas, Oct. 19

The next new matchup — an SEC battle between Georgia and Texas — will see the Bulldogs travel to Austin to play in the most hostile environment they will see since their road trip to Bryant-Denny Stadium in September.

In years past, a game like that is expected to have massive College Football Playoff implications down the line. With the expanded CFP field reaching 12 teams, both programs have a decent shot at still making the postseason tournament regardless of the game’s outcome. Still, it is expected to be one of the most exciting matchups of the 2024 calendar year.

Florida State at Notre Dame, Nov. 9

Notre Dame can only make the College Football Playoff through an at-large bid as a conference-less team. Aside from Louisville, Florida State is the only team on the Irish’s record that finished 2023 in the final CFP rankings.

At the same time, Florida State is hungry for a CFP bid in 2024 after finishing at No. 5 in the final rankings despite being 13-0 ACC champions. To the Seminoles, a win over Notre Dame would add nicely to their resume when the final rankings come out next year — unless FSU repeats as ACC Champions and are automatically in the tournament as a Power Five conference champion.

Michigan at Ohio State, Nov. 30

The Game is going to look at lot different in 2024. As mentioned above, Ohio State has hit the transfer portal hard this offseason in the hopes taking down Michigan for the first time in three seasons.

For the Wolverines, no one knows quite what Michigan will look like in 2024. The expectations remain, and no matter how Michigan fares this coming season — fans expect to beat Ohio State and wice versa.

Utah at Oklahoma State, TBD

The new Big 12 Conference has undergone the biggest makeover of any conference over the past few seasons. As Texas and Oklahoma exit the conference before the 2024 season, they welcome in four new teams: Utah, Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado.

Some are even picking Kyle Whittingham’s Utes to run through the Big 12 and win the whole thing in 2024. With Cam Rising returning to the program after missing 2023 with an injury, the Utes could be the team to beat coming in from the outside. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State has bring back Ollie Gordon, who just won the 2023 Doak Walker Award after rushing for over 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns.