So, how did you like USC-Michigan and Tennessee-Oklahoma last weekend? Welcome to the true kickoff of conference expansion, specifically in the Big Ten and SEC. Thanks to these two megaconferences, there are still 10 more league games inside these two leagues that will feature matchups between top-13 teams in the current AP poll.
Georgia and Alabama will kick things off in Tuscaloosa this weekend in what is shaping up to be the first of many potential regular season clashes that will shake the playoff landscape and be riveting TV for college football fans.
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Set your calendars for these 10 upcoming SEC and Big Ten games that will tell the story of the 2024 season.
Sept. 28
Georgia at Alabama
The most immediate of the mega-games, this one has some serious momentum if for no other reason than Georgia’s 13-12 squeaker at Kentucky punctured a hole in its aura of invulnerability. Alabama set the table by whipping Wisconsin on the road, and suddenly this one looks more like a toss-up than it did before Week 3. Both teams enter on a bye week and full of energy. Kirby Smart is 1-5 vs. Alabama, but his ex-boss now works for GameDay instead of the Tide. This is the first on-campus (non-2020 version) clash between the two in Tuscaloosa since 2007.
Oct. 12
Ohio State at Oregon, Penn State at USC
Do whatever you need to do for your outdoor fall activities the weekend before Oct. 12, because it will not be safe to go outside. The Big Ten has a pair of games that will undoubtedly set the table for the Big Ten championship game. Ohio State visits Oregon for its first true test of its $20 million offseason player investment. The Ducks beat Ohio State 35-28 in their last meeting in 2021. This is the Buckeyes’ first visit to Eugene since 1967. Penn State-USC is a slight undercard, but with Michigan struggling with the forward pass, the winner of this one will squarely be in the fight for a berth in Indianapolis.
Oct. 19
Georgia at Texas, Alabama at Tennessee
One week after the Big Ten takes center stage, the SEC comes roaring out of the gates. Georgia visits Texas in a potential SEC championship preview. Unless, of course, Alabama at Tennessee is an SEC championship preview. Four national title contenders will battle it out in front of over 100,000 folks at each stadium. Texas may be the most complete team in the SEC, but none of the other three are far behind at this point. All four should make the College Football Playoff, but this doubleheader may end up being more memorable.
Oct. 26
Missouri at Alabama
Missouri hasn’t exactly played like an upper-tier team to date with narrow home wins over Boston College and Vanderbilt. But a lot of preseason hype and a manageable schedule could make this late-October matchup another top-10 battle in the SEC. The Tigers put up a fight in Athens last year against No. 1 Georgia in early November. Maybe they can do it again against the SEC’s other kingpin.
Nov. 2
Ohio State at Penn State
The latest attempt for James Franklin to get over the Ohio State hump. Penn State has a seven-game losing streak against Ohio State, but every game has been decided by 13 points or less, with three one-score games. Quarterback Drew Allar is looking more like the 5-star QB Penn State hoped he’d be as a junior, ranking second in the nation in passer rating through four games. At some point, Penn State has to break through. This looks like it could be the spot.
Nov. 9
Georgia at Ole Miss
Kirby Smart’s first career loss came at Ole Miss in 2016, and the Bulldogs haven’t been back since. His Georgia squad will be looking at one of the nation’s most potent offenses, led by the nation’s leader in passing, Jaxson Dart. The Rebs’ offense against the Dawgs’ defense is three hours of Must-See TV.
Nov. 16
Tennessee at Georgia
At this point, Georgia will have seen Clemson, Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss. How much gas will be still in the tank? Tennessee is looking like a complete team, with a tough defense that matches Josh Heupel’s high-scoring attack. The Vols passed their first road test with a convincing win at Oklahoma. Georgia will be even tougher.
Nov. 30
Michigan at Ohio State
No list is complete without ‘The Game,’ and if Ryan Day loses to the passing-compromised Wolverines this year, his office will be packed by the time he gets back from the press conference. Ohio State has more talent on both sides of the ball, the more experienced coach, and the home-field advantage. The streak can’t stretch to four, can it?
