The 2024 College football season kicks off in 11 days on Saturday, August 24, with Florida State at Georgia Tech (11:00 a.m. on ESPN) in this year’s “Aer Lingus College Football Classic”. ISU of course plays against Kansas State in the 2025 contest.
There are three other games later that day involving Mountain West teams, including SMU at Nevada (7:00 p.m. CBSSN).
Then it’s on to the first full weekend. Here are some notes I put together on higher profile non-conference games the first four full weeks of the season:
Thursday, August 29:
North Carolina at Minnesota (7:00 p.m. Fox)—a chance for the ACC to beat the Big 10
Friday, August 30:
TCU at Stanford (9:30 p.m. ESPN)—Big 12 vs. ACC.
Saturday, August 31:
Georgia plays Clemson in Atlanta (11:00 a.m. ABC). The good news is that one of these teams will lose.
Penn State at West Virginia (11:00 a.m. Fox)—First of four opportunities this regular season for the Big 12 to beat the Big 10.
Miami (FL) at Florida (2:30 p.m. ABC). A decent shot for ACC to beat SEC. (On a side note, Florida hosts UCF in October…a chance for the Big 12 to beat SEC.)
Notre Dame at Texas A&M (6:30 p.m. ABC). Notre Dame’s schedule is fairly soft this season. A&M is picked for 9th in the SEC, but this might be an opportunity for Notre Dame to lose. So, if you’re an Irish hater…root hard for A&M in this game.
UCLA at Hawai’i (6:30 p.m. CBS)—a very average (at best) UCLA starts their miles and miles of travel heading in the wrong direction.
Sunday, September 1:
LSU plays USC in Las Vegas (6:30 p.m. ABC)—one of those “at least someone has to lose” games.
Friday, September 6:
BYU at SMU (6:00 p.m. ESPN2). With huge donor money in tow, $MU plays it’s first of two Big 12 teams as they host BYU. Would be nice for the Big 12 to take the Mustangs down a notch (or two) this non-conference season.
Duke at Northwestern (8:00 p.m. FS1). ACC vs. Big 10…not a lot on the line in terms of proving conference superiority, but a small nugget for the ACC if the Blue Devils win.
Saturday, September 7:
Texas at Michigan (11:00 a.m. Fox). Another “at least someone will lose” game.
Arkansas at Oklahoma State (11:00 a.m. ABC). A chance for Big 12 to beat SEC
ISU at Iowa (2:30 p.m. CBS). Second of four opportunities for Big 12 to beat Big 10. And of course, the national game of the year!
Baylor at Utah (2:30 p.m. Fox)—two Big 12 teams, BUT this one is a non-conference game to fulfill an existing contract.
Kansas at Illinois (6:00 p.m. FS1)—third shot for Big 12 to beat Big 10
Colorado at Nebraska (6:30 p.m. NBC). Last of four chances for Big 12 to beat Big 10
Houston at Oklahoma (6:45 p.m. SEC Network). Houston is picked for last in Big 12, so OU will likely go 4-0 in non-conference (remaining home games vs. Temple, Tulane & Maine). Sidebar—game is on SEC Network, trying to pilfer Houston fans.
Texas Tech at Washington State (9:00 p.m. Fox). First of two consecutive weeks where the Cougars will play P4 teams. They’ll be psyched to prove to the country they belong.
Mississippi State at Arizona State (9:30 p.m. ESPN)—another “can the Big 12 beat the SEC?” opportunity.
Friday, September 13:
Arizona at Kansas State (7:00 p.m. Fox). Two Big 12 teams, BUT this one is a non-conference game to fulfill existing contract.
Saturday, September 14:
Alabama at Wisconsin (11:00 a.m. Fox). Living in Wisconsin, I complained for years that Barry Alvarez scheduled weak non-conference schedules. In recent times, they’ve played LSU, Notre Dame, and now Alabama. If there ever was a time for the Badgers to get Alabama, it’s now—post Nick Saban with several players gone.
Oregon at Oregon State (2:30 p.m. Fox) and (see next bullet point)--
Washington State at Washington (Seahawks Stadium) (2:30 p.m. Peacock). A chance at payback for the two “State’s”. These games used to be played at end of the season.
Notre Dame at Purdue (2:30 p.m. CBS). A rivalry road game that potentially Notre Dame could lose? Likely not: Phil Steele has Purdue tied for last in the Big 10.
Colorado at Colorado State (6:30 p.m. CBS). Even though Colorado is now Big 12, it’s hard to cheer for Deion. Go Rams.
UNI at Nebraska (6:30 p.m., Big 10). Any chance the Panthers can pull the upset?
Saturday, September 21:
Purdue at Oregon State (7:30 p.m., the CW Network). I give Purdue props as they have tended to annually schedule a couple P5/P4 schools. A week after the Notre Dame/Purdue game, the Beavers should have an excellent shot here. Beavers new head coach Trent Bray has stated that their goal is to win 11-12 games and make the CFP playoff.
Michigan State at Boston College (Time/TV TBD). Another chance for a Big 10 team to fall to a conference they thumb their nose to.
TCU at SMU (Time/TV TBD). Second consecutive home game for SMU vs. Big 12 (week off after the BYU/SMU game on September 6).
UCLA at LSU (Time/TV TBD)—the second “LA” school that LSU plays in non-conference.
One school missing: Ohio State is not listed here. Their non-conference schedule is daunting--Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall.
There are three other games later that day involving Mountain West teams, including SMU at Nevada (7:00 p.m. CBSSN).
Then it’s on to the first full weekend. Here are some notes I put together on higher profile non-conference games the first four full weeks of the season:
Thursday, August 29:
North Carolina at Minnesota (7:00 p.m. Fox)—a chance for the ACC to beat the Big 10
Friday, August 30:
TCU at Stanford (9:30 p.m. ESPN)—Big 12 vs. ACC.
Saturday, August 31:
Georgia plays Clemson in Atlanta (11:00 a.m. ABC). The good news is that one of these teams will lose.
Penn State at West Virginia (11:00 a.m. Fox)—First of four opportunities this regular season for the Big 12 to beat the Big 10.
Miami (FL) at Florida (2:30 p.m. ABC). A decent shot for ACC to beat SEC. (On a side note, Florida hosts UCF in October…a chance for the Big 12 to beat SEC.)
Notre Dame at Texas A&M (6:30 p.m. ABC). Notre Dame’s schedule is fairly soft this season. A&M is picked for 9th in the SEC, but this might be an opportunity for Notre Dame to lose. So, if you’re an Irish hater…root hard for A&M in this game.
UCLA at Hawai’i (6:30 p.m. CBS)—a very average (at best) UCLA starts their miles and miles of travel heading in the wrong direction.
Sunday, September 1:
LSU plays USC in Las Vegas (6:30 p.m. ABC)—one of those “at least someone has to lose” games.
Friday, September 6:
BYU at SMU (6:00 p.m. ESPN2). With huge donor money in tow, $MU plays it’s first of two Big 12 teams as they host BYU. Would be nice for the Big 12 to take the Mustangs down a notch (or two) this non-conference season.
Duke at Northwestern (8:00 p.m. FS1). ACC vs. Big 10…not a lot on the line in terms of proving conference superiority, but a small nugget for the ACC if the Blue Devils win.
Saturday, September 7:
Texas at Michigan (11:00 a.m. Fox). Another “at least someone will lose” game.
Arkansas at Oklahoma State (11:00 a.m. ABC). A chance for Big 12 to beat SEC
ISU at Iowa (2:30 p.m. CBS). Second of four opportunities for Big 12 to beat Big 10. And of course, the national game of the year!
Baylor at Utah (2:30 p.m. Fox)—two Big 12 teams, BUT this one is a non-conference game to fulfill an existing contract.
Kansas at Illinois (6:00 p.m. FS1)—third shot for Big 12 to beat Big 10
Colorado at Nebraska (6:30 p.m. NBC). Last of four chances for Big 12 to beat Big 10
Houston at Oklahoma (6:45 p.m. SEC Network). Houston is picked for last in Big 12, so OU will likely go 4-0 in non-conference (remaining home games vs. Temple, Tulane & Maine). Sidebar—game is on SEC Network, trying to pilfer Houston fans.
Texas Tech at Washington State (9:00 p.m. Fox). First of two consecutive weeks where the Cougars will play P4 teams. They’ll be psyched to prove to the country they belong.
Mississippi State at Arizona State (9:30 p.m. ESPN)—another “can the Big 12 beat the SEC?” opportunity.
Friday, September 13:
Arizona at Kansas State (7:00 p.m. Fox). Two Big 12 teams, BUT this one is a non-conference game to fulfill existing contract.
Saturday, September 14:
Alabama at Wisconsin (11:00 a.m. Fox). Living in Wisconsin, I complained for years that Barry Alvarez scheduled weak non-conference schedules. In recent times, they’ve played LSU, Notre Dame, and now Alabama. If there ever was a time for the Badgers to get Alabama, it’s now—post Nick Saban with several players gone.
Oregon at Oregon State (2:30 p.m. Fox) and (see next bullet point)--
Washington State at Washington (Seahawks Stadium) (2:30 p.m. Peacock). A chance at payback for the two “State’s”. These games used to be played at end of the season.
Notre Dame at Purdue (2:30 p.m. CBS). A rivalry road game that potentially Notre Dame could lose? Likely not: Phil Steele has Purdue tied for last in the Big 10.
Colorado at Colorado State (6:30 p.m. CBS). Even though Colorado is now Big 12, it’s hard to cheer for Deion. Go Rams.
UNI at Nebraska (6:30 p.m., Big 10). Any chance the Panthers can pull the upset?
Saturday, September 21:
Purdue at Oregon State (7:30 p.m., the CW Network). I give Purdue props as they have tended to annually schedule a couple P5/P4 schools. A week after the Notre Dame/Purdue game, the Beavers should have an excellent shot here. Beavers new head coach Trent Bray has stated that their goal is to win 11-12 games and make the CFP playoff.
Michigan State at Boston College (Time/TV TBD). Another chance for a Big 10 team to fall to a conference they thumb their nose to.
TCU at SMU (Time/TV TBD). Second consecutive home game for SMU vs. Big 12 (week off after the BYU/SMU game on September 6).
UCLA at LSU (Time/TV TBD)—the second “LA” school that LSU plays in non-conference.
One school missing: Ohio State is not listed here. Their non-conference schedule is daunting--Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall.
