With Conference re-alignment making big moves during the 2023-24 offseason, there will be 69 schools competing in the Power 5 conferences in 2024. The Notable movers include Cal, Stanford, and SMU heading to the ACC. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah joined the Big 12. Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington joined the Big 10 after departing the Pac 12. Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC.
Among those teams that changed conferences, six games made today's Top 20 Most Important Games. Arizona and Kansas State is a matchup we haven't seen since 1978. Texas and Texas A&M will reignite a long-standing rivalry dating back to 1894. Texas won 3 of the last 4 matchups from 2008-2011. Ohio State and Oregon have played 3 times over the past 15 years, two of those matchups came after the new year. One game that narrowly missed the Top 20 was Iowa and UCLA, a game that sees the Hawkeyes traveling to Los Angeles in the regular season game for the first time since 1977.
Tier 1
1) Michigan @ Ohio State (November 30th)
- "The Game" - After Ohio State ran off an 8-year streak of wins against Michigan from 2012-2019, the Wolverines are defending National Champions and winners of each of the last 3 matchups, each have come with both Michigan and Ohio State ranked in the Top 5 nationally.
- The Winner of this game has played in the CFP Final Four in each of the past five seasons.
- The Biggest Question: Big 10 Championship?
2) Texas @ Michigan (September 7th)
- Michigan finds itself with both the Top and 2nd Most Important Game of the Season. Before the Wolverines have to travel to Columbus, they have a daunting task coming to Ann Arbor in Week 2, the National Semi-Finalist Texas Longhorns. Texas returns 4 of 5 offensive linemen from 2023 and Starting Quarterback Quinn Ewers.
- Despite Texas(11) and Michigan(13) leading the country in total players drafted in 2024, both schools enter the season as Top 10 favorites to win the National Championship. Michigan is +2500, while Texas is +800, according to FanDuel.
- The Biggest Question: What is Michigan in 2024?
3) Ohio State @ Oregon (October 12th)
- The rematch of the 2015 and Inaugural CFP National Championship, Ohio State won that matchup 42-20 on the back of Ezekiel Elliott's 246 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns.
- Oregon and Ohio State finished with the highest star rating average in the 2024 transfer portal, Ohio State getting 7 total players, 2 five-stars and 2 four-stars, while Oregon added a single five-star and 7 four-stars.
- This game happens in the middle of the season, so it carries enough weight to change the trajectory of both teams, however there is still a strong possibility we see a rematch in Indianapolis on December 7th.
- The Biggest Question: Will Ohio State win by double digits in Eugene?
Tier 2
4) Colorado @ Nebraska (September 7th)
- In 2023, Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes started the season red hot, however, it was Matt Rhule in his first season as the Cornhuskers Head Coach that finished with a better record, nearly vaulting Nebraska to an above .500 record by the end of the season.
- The national expectation is that Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Deion Sanders will stroll into Lincoln on Saturday Night and walk to a victory, but that is not the Matt Rhule that I know or have grown accustomed to watching at the College level.
- The Biggest Question: Will Dylan Railoa Start?
5) Texas vs. Oklahoma (October 12th)* - Cotton Bowl
- Not a ton needs to be said about Texas and Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl. Both teams enter the SEC as bitter rivals with the higher ranked team holding a record of 6-5 since 2013. It's a toss-up, however, Texas does lead the All-Time series 63-51-5.
- The Biggest Question: Can Jackson Arnold shock the world?
6) Georgia @ Texas (October 19th)
- I expected Georgia at Texas to be a bit higher on the list, though 6th overall is up there. Texas will be coming off of a matchup with Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in Week 6, while Georgia finishes up a home vacation against Auburn and Mississippi State. There is a good chance that one of Texas or Georgia is staring down the barrel of a 5-2 start to the season, after this matchup in Austin. Georgia plays Clemson at Home in Week 1 and travels to Alabama in Week 4. Texas travels to Michigan in Week 2 before a natural site game with Oklahoma in Week 5.
- The Biggest Question: Is this a National Championship Primer?
Tier 3
7) Georgia @ Alabama (September 28th)
- Kalen DeBoer is now in Tuscaloosa, what does that mean for the SEC? We will find out by the end of September as Alabama has a slow roll to the schedule with Western Kentucky in Week 1, followed by South Florida and Wisconsin before hosting Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs.
- This game may have lost some helium with the retirement of Nick Saban but let's not forget Kalen DeBoer's career coaching record is 104-12 with a dynasty of his own at the NAIA level just 15 years ago.
- The Biggest Question: Is this a Kalen DeBoer prove it game?
8) Texas A&M @ Florida (September 14th)
- Texas Fall Heat meets Florida Fall Heat, this one is scheduled for 3:30 pm in Gainsville and figures to be a direction game for both schools. Texas A&M plays Notre Dame in Week 1 before Cupcake McNeese State goes to College Station, and Florida hosts Miami in Week 1 before Cupcake Samford goes to Gainsville.
- Graham Mertz has played in 45 career games at Quarterback for Wisconsin and Florida, he enters his sixth and final season at the helm, while Conner Weigman looks to vault the Aggies back to the promised land of 10+ wins for the first time since 2012.
- The Biggest Question: Will you watch the Aggies and Gators in Week 3? 🤧
9) Clemson @ Florida State (October 5th)
- THE ACC Game. Since 2011, Florida State and Clemson have won 12 of 13 ACC Conference Championships. Clemson has been a National Finalist 4 times while Florida State won in 2013.
- The Biggest Question: Will the real Cade Klubnik and D.J. Uiagalelei please stand up?
10) Georgia @ Ole Miss (November 9th)
- Can Lane Kiffin finally do the thing... can Ole Miss and the #1 overall transfer class vault the Rebels to the Top of the SEC? Jaxon Dart returns for his third season at the Q, with 43 touchdowns and 16 interceptions over the past two seasons, the Rebels return a Top 15 Wide Receiver unit featuring Biletnikoff Award Watch List player Tre' Harris on the outside.
- The Biggest Question: Can Lane finally do the thing?
11) Alabama @ LSU (November 9th)
- Late season SEC matchup, Jayden Daniels may not be in Baton Rouge but all of the buzz around Garrett Nussmeier leads me to believe that Brian Kelly and the staff at LSU will bounce back and stay in contention. Due to schedule strength, and Georgia playing Texas during the regular season, Alabama and LSU could prove to be a pivotal game for advancing to the SEC Championship once again.
- The Biggest Question: Is Brian Kelly on the hot seat after losing to Kalen DeBoer?
12) Oregon @ Michigan (November 2nd)
- The first weekend in November doesn't carry many big games, with almost 20 Power-5 schools on Bye Weeks, including Alabama, LSU, Texas, Colorado, and Utah.
- Dillon Gabriel and the new-look Oregon Ducks will travel to Ann Arbor for their first true Big 10 road test. With the addition of Jamaree Caldwell from Houston, the Ducks look to not only beat teams up through the air on offense but slow them on defense. One source about the Ducks defense said "Oregon should be near the league's best teams and be viewed as one of the elite defenses within the Big 10. They have filled their holes by bringing in four Power 5 starters."
- The Biggest Question: Who has the best defense in the Big 10?
Tier 4
13) Florida State @ Notre Dame (November 9th)
14) Tennessee @ Oklahoma (September 21st)
- Jackson Arnold vs. Nico Iamaleava, both 5-star Quarterback prospects with just one start under their respective belts. Iamaleava's came in the Citrus Bowl and Arnolds in the Alamo Bowl.
- The Biggest Question: Who is competing with Arch Manning in 2025 for the Heisman Trophy?
15) Texas @ Texas A&M (November 30th)
- A Rivalry renewed, for the first time since 2011 and the 119th matchup all-time. As much as the Michigan-Ohio State game receives publicity and is featured on Big Noon Kickoff, I will attentively wait for the numbers to compare viewership between these two games on the last weekend of November.
- The Biggest Question: Thanksgiving?
16) Clemson @ Virginia Tech (November 9th)
- Dabo Swinney may be strategically not using the transfer portal, but his teams are extremely competitive, young, and currently built to undertake another 3-year run, in his way... an old friend. Virginia Tech, whose last 10-win season came in 2016 during Justin Fuente's first season. The Hokies focused their offseason on building depth on the Defensive Line, adding three players from Duke, Alabama, and Oklahoma respectively.
- I know this game is late in the season, but keep an eye on Kyron Drones at Quarterback, early in the season if VT is going to have success. Drones is from Pearland, TX, and a former Baylor Bear.
- The Biggest Question: Is Virginia Tech officially back?
Tier 5
17) Central Florida @ Florida (October 5th)
18) Ole Miss @ LSU (October 12th)
19) Arizona @ Kansas State (September 13th)
20) Virginia Tech @ Miami (FL) (September 27th)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a Chuckle for your Friday, coming from the BMW Pro-AM where a reporter mistakes Everette Sands for Vince Young
Among those teams that changed conferences, six games made today's Top 20 Most Important Games. Arizona and Kansas State is a matchup we haven't seen since 1978. Texas and Texas A&M will reignite a long-standing rivalry dating back to 1894. Texas won 3 of the last 4 matchups from 2008-2011. Ohio State and Oregon have played 3 times over the past 15 years, two of those matchups came after the new year. One game that narrowly missed the Top 20 was Iowa and UCLA, a game that sees the Hawkeyes traveling to Los Angeles in the regular season game for the first time since 1977.
Tier 1
1) Michigan @ Ohio State (November 30th)
- "The Game" - After Ohio State ran off an 8-year streak of wins against Michigan from 2012-2019, the Wolverines are defending National Champions and winners of each of the last 3 matchups, each have come with both Michigan and Ohio State ranked in the Top 5 nationally.
- The Winner of this game has played in the CFP Final Four in each of the past five seasons.
- The Biggest Question: Big 10 Championship?
2) Texas @ Michigan (September 7th)
- Michigan finds itself with both the Top and 2nd Most Important Game of the Season. Before the Wolverines have to travel to Columbus, they have a daunting task coming to Ann Arbor in Week 2, the National Semi-Finalist Texas Longhorns. Texas returns 4 of 5 offensive linemen from 2023 and Starting Quarterback Quinn Ewers.
- Despite Texas(11) and Michigan(13) leading the country in total players drafted in 2024, both schools enter the season as Top 10 favorites to win the National Championship. Michigan is +2500, while Texas is +800, according to FanDuel.
- The Biggest Question: What is Michigan in 2024?
3) Ohio State @ Oregon (October 12th)
- The rematch of the 2015 and Inaugural CFP National Championship, Ohio State won that matchup 42-20 on the back of Ezekiel Elliott's 246 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns.
- Oregon and Ohio State finished with the highest star rating average in the 2024 transfer portal, Ohio State getting 7 total players, 2 five-stars and 2 four-stars, while Oregon added a single five-star and 7 four-stars.
- This game happens in the middle of the season, so it carries enough weight to change the trajectory of both teams, however there is still a strong possibility we see a rematch in Indianapolis on December 7th.
- The Biggest Question: Will Ohio State win by double digits in Eugene?
Tier 2
4) Colorado @ Nebraska (September 7th)
- In 2023, Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes started the season red hot, however, it was Matt Rhule in his first season as the Cornhuskers Head Coach that finished with a better record, nearly vaulting Nebraska to an above .500 record by the end of the season.
- The national expectation is that Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Deion Sanders will stroll into Lincoln on Saturday Night and walk to a victory, but that is not the Matt Rhule that I know or have grown accustomed to watching at the College level.
- The Biggest Question: Will Dylan Railoa Start?
5) Texas vs. Oklahoma (October 12th)* - Cotton Bowl
- Not a ton needs to be said about Texas and Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl. Both teams enter the SEC as bitter rivals with the higher ranked team holding a record of 6-5 since 2013. It's a toss-up, however, Texas does lead the All-Time series 63-51-5.
- The Biggest Question: Can Jackson Arnold shock the world?
6) Georgia @ Texas (October 19th)
- I expected Georgia at Texas to be a bit higher on the list, though 6th overall is up there. Texas will be coming off of a matchup with Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in Week 6, while Georgia finishes up a home vacation against Auburn and Mississippi State. There is a good chance that one of Texas or Georgia is staring down the barrel of a 5-2 start to the season, after this matchup in Austin. Georgia plays Clemson at Home in Week 1 and travels to Alabama in Week 4. Texas travels to Michigan in Week 2 before a natural site game with Oklahoma in Week 5.
- The Biggest Question: Is this a National Championship Primer?
Tier 3
7) Georgia @ Alabama (September 28th)
- Kalen DeBoer is now in Tuscaloosa, what does that mean for the SEC? We will find out by the end of September as Alabama has a slow roll to the schedule with Western Kentucky in Week 1, followed by South Florida and Wisconsin before hosting Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs.
- This game may have lost some helium with the retirement of Nick Saban but let's not forget Kalen DeBoer's career coaching record is 104-12 with a dynasty of his own at the NAIA level just 15 years ago.
- The Biggest Question: Is this a Kalen DeBoer prove it game?
8) Texas A&M @ Florida (September 14th)
- Texas Fall Heat meets Florida Fall Heat, this one is scheduled for 3:30 pm in Gainsville and figures to be a direction game for both schools. Texas A&M plays Notre Dame in Week 1 before Cupcake McNeese State goes to College Station, and Florida hosts Miami in Week 1 before Cupcake Samford goes to Gainsville.
- Graham Mertz has played in 45 career games at Quarterback for Wisconsin and Florida, he enters his sixth and final season at the helm, while Conner Weigman looks to vault the Aggies back to the promised land of 10+ wins for the first time since 2012.
- The Biggest Question: Will you watch the Aggies and Gators in Week 3? 🤧
9) Clemson @ Florida State (October 5th)
- THE ACC Game. Since 2011, Florida State and Clemson have won 12 of 13 ACC Conference Championships. Clemson has been a National Finalist 4 times while Florida State won in 2013.
- The Biggest Question: Will the real Cade Klubnik and D.J. Uiagalelei please stand up?
10) Georgia @ Ole Miss (November 9th)
- Can Lane Kiffin finally do the thing... can Ole Miss and the #1 overall transfer class vault the Rebels to the Top of the SEC? Jaxon Dart returns for his third season at the Q, with 43 touchdowns and 16 interceptions over the past two seasons, the Rebels return a Top 15 Wide Receiver unit featuring Biletnikoff Award Watch List player Tre' Harris on the outside.
- The Biggest Question: Can Lane finally do the thing?
11) Alabama @ LSU (November 9th)
- Late season SEC matchup, Jayden Daniels may not be in Baton Rouge but all of the buzz around Garrett Nussmeier leads me to believe that Brian Kelly and the staff at LSU will bounce back and stay in contention. Due to schedule strength, and Georgia playing Texas during the regular season, Alabama and LSU could prove to be a pivotal game for advancing to the SEC Championship once again.
- The Biggest Question: Is Brian Kelly on the hot seat after losing to Kalen DeBoer?
12) Oregon @ Michigan (November 2nd)
- The first weekend in November doesn't carry many big games, with almost 20 Power-5 schools on Bye Weeks, including Alabama, LSU, Texas, Colorado, and Utah.
- Dillon Gabriel and the new-look Oregon Ducks will travel to Ann Arbor for their first true Big 10 road test. With the addition of Jamaree Caldwell from Houston, the Ducks look to not only beat teams up through the air on offense but slow them on defense. One source about the Ducks defense said "Oregon should be near the league's best teams and be viewed as one of the elite defenses within the Big 10. They have filled their holes by bringing in four Power 5 starters."
- The Biggest Question: Who has the best defense in the Big 10?
Tier 4
13) Florida State @ Notre Dame (November 9th)
14) Tennessee @ Oklahoma (September 21st)
- Jackson Arnold vs. Nico Iamaleava, both 5-star Quarterback prospects with just one start under their respective belts. Iamaleava's came in the Citrus Bowl and Arnolds in the Alamo Bowl.
- The Biggest Question: Who is competing with Arch Manning in 2025 for the Heisman Trophy?
15) Texas @ Texas A&M (November 30th)
- A Rivalry renewed, for the first time since 2011 and the 119th matchup all-time. As much as the Michigan-Ohio State game receives publicity and is featured on Big Noon Kickoff, I will attentively wait for the numbers to compare viewership between these two games on the last weekend of November.
- The Biggest Question: Thanksgiving?
16) Clemson @ Virginia Tech (November 9th)
- Dabo Swinney may be strategically not using the transfer portal, but his teams are extremely competitive, young, and currently built to undertake another 3-year run, in his way... an old friend. Virginia Tech, whose last 10-win season came in 2016 during Justin Fuente's first season. The Hokies focused their offseason on building depth on the Defensive Line, adding three players from Duke, Alabama, and Oklahoma respectively.
- I know this game is late in the season, but keep an eye on Kyron Drones at Quarterback, early in the season if VT is going to have success. Drones is from Pearland, TX, and a former Baylor Bear.
- The Biggest Question: Is Virginia Tech officially back?
Tier 5
17) Central Florida @ Florida (October 5th)
18) Ole Miss @ LSU (October 12th)
19) Arizona @ Kansas State (September 13th)
20) Virginia Tech @ Miami (FL) (September 27th)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a Chuckle for your Friday, coming from the BMW Pro-AM where a reporter mistakes Everette Sands for Vince Young
Last edited:
