Week one of the 2024 college football season looks like it could be awesome, so clear the schedule, make sure the snacks are ready and let’s check in on what lies ahead this Labor Day weekend.
While some big time teams are opening the season with easy pre-season-like matchups — Ohio State taking on 49-point underdog Akron, for example — there are three games that jump off the schedule as must-see this weekend.
Thankfully, they all land in different watch windows.
First up is an old school ACC-SEC matchup, as the top-ranked UGA Bulldogs take on Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers. UGA is just about a double-digit favorite, as they are the odds-on favorite in Las Vegas to win the National Championship. Clemson isn’t a cakewalk for the Kirby Smart-led Bulldogs — UGA has one of the toughest schedules in America this season, and this kickoff at noon on ABC (Aug. 31) is just the start.
Now while UGA-Clemson is being played at a neutral site (well, as neutral as Atlanta can get for UGA), Saturday night we have a true road game, as Notre Dame will be in College Station, Texas to take on Texas A&M. The Aggies will be rolling out new head coach Mike Elko as they look to take down the 7th-ranked Fighting Irish in front of a wild home crowd. Oh, and former Texas A&M Heisman winner Johnny Manziel will be the Gameday picker! Kickoff is set for 7:30PM on Saturday on ABC.
Craving more college football this holiday weekend? Going into Sunday, there’s good stuff cooking. Typically it’s Carrie Underwood leading you into an NFL match-up, but this Sunday night (Sept. 1) is all about college. Lincoln Riley and his rebuilt USC defense will take on the 13th-ranked LSU Tigers in Las Vegas. Come Sunday evening, all eyes will be on ABC for this clash.
Other great games that didn’t make this rundown? Saturday’s Penn State vs. West Virginia (noon on Fox) and Miami vs. Florida (3:30PM on ABC). Also on Saturday, keep an eye on South Dakota State vs. Oklahoma State (1PM on ESPN+) and Fresno State vs. Michigan (7:30PM on NBC Peacock) for two games that could be closer than the experts think.
College football season 2024 is just getting started, and now you know what three games are can’t miss this weekend.
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Gallery Credit: Wood