Greg McElroy lists top 10 non-conference games in 2024
On his YouTube show, Always College Football, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy broke down what he views as the ten best non-conference matchups of the 2024 college football season.
As per usual, the schedule is front-loaded with a massive slate of non-conference games in Week 1 (and Week 0 too!), with another batch of appetizing non-con meetups in the next couple of weeks as well. So, which of those games should fans have their eyes on most? McElroy delivers an answer.
Check out his full 1-10 list below.
1. Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta)
Given Clemson’s step back out of national title contention the last few years, perhaps this is a surprising pick at No. 1. But if the Tigers are back in the mix as a playoff contender in 2024, this should be an awesome one in Atlanta.
McElroy is predicting a better year for Clemson in ’24 for sure, noting that there is “no team outside of Ohio State that has more capable bodies on their roster” than Clemson. As for UGA, McElroy has a few questions about the roster but still believes “they’re going a team that is no worse than No. 2 in college football coming into the season.”
2. Texas at Michigan
Perhaps snubbed of the No. 1 spot, this is a matchup between the reigning national champion and a Texas program hot off its first College Football Playoff, who’s facing the Big Bad Wolverines before diving head-first into their first full SEC slate. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
With all that Michigan lost, including its head coach, Greg McElroy isn’t all-in on the new-era blue and maize just yet. “I love them, I think they are deserving of a top-10 spot in the preseason, but man, I have my doubts and I have my questions.” On the other hand, he noted that the matchup with Texas perhaps could have been the better title game than the one we got, and now we’ll (sort of) get to see.
3. Notre Dame at USC
Following the blowout Notre Dame administered last season, McElroy thinks USC will walk into this matchup better suited. “Given the conference schedule that USC played, they’re going to be much more well-prepared to handle the bludgeoning along the line of scrimmage that Notre Dame might provide to them like they did last year.”
As for Notre Dame, McElroy notes that a pretty friendly schedule makes the matchup vs. the Trojans monumental for their season — especially if USC turns out good. So we could have major playoff implications with this game.
4. Notre Dame at Texas A&M
Well, McElroy had just noted ND’s lack of significant matchups on the slate, but he does believe their handful of big games are mighty intriguing for the sport at large. “Notre Dame schedule is pretty manageable,” he comments, adding that “their most challenging games are going to come at home” for the most part, save for USC and A&M.
On the Aggie side, a home loss to Notre Dame won’t be met with much applause. But a home win, while very achievable, could be a launching pad for the Mike Elko train down in College Station.
5. Penn State at West Virginia
Late August and early September are littered with top-tier matchups, and Greg McElroy doesn’t want us to forget about this gem. He says “this game is painfully underrated here in the early part of the season” as the Nittany Lions make the return trip to Morgantown following their bout in State College last season.
Obviously, PSU is the heavy favorite, but Neal Brown did good work in the Mountain State, saving his job to the tune of a terrific 9-4 season to set WVU beautifully as the new Big 12 begins. Plus, McElroy believes Brown as “established a possible star at quarterback” with Garrett Greene.
6. Florida State at Notre Dame
Fighting Irish again! McElroy noted that Notre Dame’s schedule isn’t terribly taxing this season but has proceeded to place three of their games in his top six non-conference matchups. But it is important to remember that ALL of Notre Dame’s games are non-conference matchups, so they ought to have several in here.
As for the Seminoles, McElroy likes them but he’s still got to see it with the new pieces, especially at QB. However, if they can go into South Bend and score a victory, that makes FSU a “bonafide playoff contender” in his book.
7. LSU vs. USC (Las Vegas)
Alright now, we’ve got the glitziest non-conference matchup of the entire 2024 season. The party rockers from Baton Rouge meeting up in Las Vegas for a showdown with Lincoln Riley’s USC team? Regardless of outcome, you’re getting three to four hours of surreal entertainment.
Both teams are replacing starting quarterbacks, and not just good starters, but the last two Heisman Trophy winners and the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. The best two players in college football are no longer Tigers and Trojans, but it will be fascinating watching their replacements duke it out in Week 1.
8. Colorado at Nebraska
Obviously, last year’s game was big statement for Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes, launching them strongly into the AP top 25 before they suffered Okonkwo’s fate and things fell apart in Pac-12 play. This year, McElroy expects a different result than a CU blowout.
He says that Colorado does have “great speed and so much weaponry on the perimeter” that they could handle Nebraska last season. May not be true this season. “They were able to out-athlete Nebraska,” said McElroy. “That probably won’t be the case this year.”
9. Alabama at Wisconsin
McElroy says of his alma mater’s trip up north: “This will be week three now. Kalen DeBoer, it’s his first road trip and going against a Big Ten foe that has always been very very disciplined.”
He went on to add that Wisconsin is really showing signs of development under Luke Fickell. With a solid squad, plus the raucousness of Camp Randall in a primetime slot, you can expect pandemonium in the stands and drama on the field.
10. Miami at Florida
The Hurricanes have plenty of hype, and McElroy notes their “revamped roster” and “improved quarterback play” thanks to a stellar transfer haul. Obviously, Cam Ward and Damien Martinez are the two big names, at least offensively, to worry about from that haul for UF.
And Florida, while overlooked, is a bit of a sleeper for McElroy. “I think Florida is painfully underrated coming into the season,” he says, but don’t take that to mean Florida is headed straight to the CFP. “But I also am not going on the limb and saying yeah they can win the SEC.”