Top 10 college football games in 2024: Athlon releases rankings ahead of season

With the calendar turning to July, anticipation for the upcoming season in college football is building. It’ll be a campaign that comes with all sorts of new but, with it, plenty of top-tier games for programs to play throughout the fall.

In Athlon’s 2024 College Football Preview, they rated the Top-10 games over the course of the 14-week regular season. It includes several that are classic rivalries but also a few more that have changed during the offseason or have come about due to conference realignment.

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Here are the 10 best games this upcoming year as rated by Athlon:

1. Michigan vs. Ohio State – November 30th

This is The Game for a reason, which is why it naturally comes in at No. 1 for Athlon. Michigan and Ohio State have the most heated rivalry in the sport, which has only had more fuel added to it with recent history both in the series and their records on the conference and national levels.

The Wolverines, the defending champions, will be looking for a fourth straight win except now without Jim Harbaugh. As for the Buckeyes, beating That Team Up North could mean everything for the future of Ryan Day, especially if it sends them back into the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff.

2. Georgia vs. Alabama – September 28th

Georgia and Alabama have been two of the sport’s premier programs in recent memory. The retirement of Nick Saban, though, changes the whole dynamic of it and certainly so since they’re meeting in the regular season.

Kirby Smart will be taking the Bulldogs to play his last program but without having to face his former boss. As for Kalen DeBoer, he can really start his tenure in Tuscaloosa well with a win over a team that has only lost two games in the last three seasons with both coming from the Crimson Tide.

3. Georgia vs. Texas – October 19th

As for realignment, this game is likely the best one that came as a result of it. Both Georgia and, as of last year, Texas are competing at a national level and will now both be doing so out of the Southeastern Conference.

The ‘Dawgs will make their way down to The 40 Acres and play another game that could be a preview of the 2024 SEC Championship. The Longhorns will also have a lot on the line in this one too with a victory bolstering their hopes of making their first-ever trip to Atlanta.

4. Texas vs. Michigan – September 7th

The only non-conference matchup on this list is between two teams that made the field last year in the College Football Playoff. Texas will head up to Ann Arbor in the second week of the season to play the reigning champions in the Wolverines.

The Longhorns could feel great about themselves leaving The Big House before diving into league play against comparable competition. It would also be a statement for the maize & blue to start things off under Sherrone Moore with a win over a brand like the burnt orange.

5. Ohio State vs. Oregon – October 2nd

Again, as far as realignment goes, Ohio State at Oregon is also right up there among the best matchups that it generated. The Buckeyes will head west to Eugene and face a foe in the Ducks that they could meet later on in the postseason.

This is another one with an in-conference impact on the line as both of these teams are favorited to make it to Indianapolis. That could then affect the national scene with each of them also being among the top teams in the country coming in.

6. Clemson vs. Florida State – October 5th

The ACC’s one pick of the 10 from Athlon is just as great with two of their best, Clemson and Florida State, meeting in Tallahassee. Both are back contending for titles with them among the best in a more open conference out on the east coast.

This one also has an overall storyline involving DJ Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei, the former quarterback for the Tigers, will face his former coach and program as the starter for the Seminoles after transferring again this offseason to FSU.

7. Oregon vs. Michigan – November 2nd

The last new matchup coming from realignment on this list is just as interesting as the other pair. While Oregon will host the Buckeyes, they, like Texas, will have to go to Ann Arbor and play against last year’s title winner in Michigan.

Most projections have these two coming second and third in the conference standings behind Ohio State. That makes this all the more important as both try to win the league or at least make it to Lucas Oil Stadium rather than the other.

8. Texas vs. Oklahoma – October 12th

The Red River Rivalry is just as bitter as The Game for those at Texas and Oklahoma. However, it’s getting a new look in 2024 with it moving from the Big 12 to the SEC.

The Cotton Bowl will be filled with Southeastern Conference fans as the Longhorns and Oklahoma meet again. That makes this edition all the more exciting as both programs enter this next chapter together, even if they are rivals to the very end.

9. Georgia vs. Ole Miss – November 9th

Georgia is back on this last with them coming to The ‘Sip to play Ole Miss. This is another possible preview matchup of what we could see come the end of the year in the SEC Championship.

For those counting, this is not just the third game featuring the Bulldogs for Athlon but all three will be on the road. Even so, that might put the pressure more on Lane Kiffin and the Rebels as it sets up as a prime opportunity for them to get the massive one in The Grove.

10. Ohio State vs. Penn State – November 2nd

Athlon’s last one in the Top-10 is another usual matchup out of the Big Ten between Ohio State and Penn State. With that said, it has been a lopsided series as of late with the Buckeyes winning nine of the previous 10.

Ohio State will also be battled-tested in 2024 with this also being their third one in these rankings. That, again, may make it more about James Franklin and Penn State, similar to Ole Miss at No. 9, as a game in Beaver Stadium that could finally put them where they want to be in the conference and playoff races respectively.

Nos. 11-20

11. Georgia vs. Clemson – August 31st
12. LSU vs. USC – September 1st
13. Michigan at Washington – October 5th
14. Ole Miss vs. LSU – October 12th
15. Missouri vs. Alabama – October 26th
16. Alabama vs. LSU – November 9th
17. Florida State vs. Notre Dame – November 9th
18. Alabama at Oklahoma – November 23rd
19. Notre Dame vs. USC – November 30th
20. Texas vs. Texas A&M – November 30th