Technically the college football season is already underway, with a spattering of teams getting an early start last Saturday during the somewhat awkwardly titled Week 0. Week 1 gets an early start with a fair number of Thursday and Friday contests in the books.
But this is the first full weekend of the campaign, with multiple games available throughout the day. Once again, we’re here to help you prioritize your viewing options.
Standard disclaimer: this is simply a ranking of what we think will be the best contests, based on national interest, championship impact and entertainment potential. As always, there are sure to be surprising developments in games not listed here, so keep one eye on the scoreboard and one hand on the remote to keep up with all the exciting plays and fantastic finishes.
With all that out of the way, here are the five must-see games for Week 1:
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 14 Clemson in Atlanta
Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ABC.
Why watch: The first of three Top 25 matchups on opening weekend is the clear headliner of the bunch. The preseason No. 1 team hasn’t dropped its season opener since Miami (Fla.) lost a road date at Brigham Young in its 1990 debut, a streak the Bulldogs hope will continue and Clemson looks to snap. The game features a pair of playoff regulars from the four-team era, although both were absent from the quartet last season. Georgia came a lot closer, coming up short in the SEC title game, while the Tigers were eliminated from the picture early and hope to avoid that same fate in 2024. Points could be at a premium in this one despite both teams having incumbent quarterbacks in place. Georgia’s Carson Beck must get on the same page with a number of new pass catchers, while the Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and his group need to improve in their explosive plays. The defense figures to be the stronger side of the ball for both teams, with linebacker Smael Mondon in the middle of what should again be a stout unit for the Bulldogs and defensive lineman TJ Parker set to pick up where he left off leading the Tigers’ pass rush.
Why it could disappoint: It might be a punting contest early on if the offenses are indeed slow out of the gate, which would make for an intense football game if not an aesthetically pleasing one. Georgia is the more likely candidate to build a multi-score advantage, so the Tigers must turn any red-zone chances they get into points.
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M
Time/TV: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.
Why watch: The Fighting Irish jump right into the fray against a power conference opponent, hoping to notch a key road win that will carry some weight in December. The Aggies will have plenty of opportunities ahead for quality victories in the SEC but would nonetheless like to start the Mike Elko era on a high note. Notre Dame again opens the season with an incoming transfer from the ACC at quarterback, this time with Riley Leonard from Duke. Keeping him healthy will be the top priority in 2024, and his first assignment matches him against a staff well acquainted with his skillset. Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman was with the program last year but missed significant time with injury. He’ll be working in a new system with a lot of replacement parts.
Why it could disappoint: The intensity will be there, but the execution might not be given all the unknowns for both teams. There are more such mysteries on the Aggies’ side with the new staff in place, but there were offseason changes at Notre Dame as well with Mike Denbrock back in town to coordinate the offense. A rout in either direction seems unlikely, but in this sport the possibility always exists.
No. 12 LSU vs. No. 23 Southern California in Las Vegas
Time/TV: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.
Why watch: The third major intersectional clash of the weekend gets the Sunday prime-time slot. Coincidentally, it also happens to feature the alma maters of the two most recent Heisman winners who were just drafted first and second overall in April. As such, fans of both are accustomed to seeing high-octane offenses, and that seems likely to continue with new quarterbacks running the offenses. Succeeding Caleb Williams for the USC will be Miller Moss, who staved off a challenge from UNLV transfer Jayden Mayava to earn the gig. He’ll have plenty of playmakers with him, but the flashiest might be WR Zachariah Branch. Taking the helm from Daniels is Garrett Nussmeier, the rare veteran backup who waited his turn in the age of the portal. Working behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation, anchored by tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones, should ease his transition to the starting role.
Why it could disappoint: It shouldn’t. It might in fact turn out to be the most entertaining game of the weekend. It’s possible the offenses will struggle to establish a rhythm right away, but neither squad has been exactly lights out on the other side of the ball. In short, this feels like a potential track meet. Enjoy.
No. 19 Miami (Fla.) at Florida
Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.
Why watch: This is an important non-conference showdown for both these Sunshine State rivals for somewhat different reasons. The Hurricanes, always facing outsized expectations, can’t afford an early slip, even against an SEC opponent on the road. Florida, with a coach on the hot seat and facing a nasty league slate in the coming weeks, needs every win it can get to avoid a second consecutive losing campaign. The Miami offense, productive if not elite last season, could be even better with quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez arriving via the transfer portal. The Gators are going to need more from quarterback Graham Mertz, especially once conference competition rolls around, but his protection should be better with a more experienced line in front of him.
Why it could disappoint: The Gators ranked 59th nationally in scoring and 47th in total offense in 2023, not exactly bad but hardly explosive. If Miami is indeed quicker out of the chute, a Florida comeback could be difficult.
No. 9 Penn State at West Virginia
Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, Fox.
Why watch: Theoretically, Penn State is among the programs best positioned to take advantage of both Big Ten and playoff expansion. First, however, the Nittany Lions must take care of their non-conference business. WVU, pegged by some as a potential dark horse in the Big 12, would like to reinforce that perception with a positive performance in this high-profile home opener. QB Drew Allar is back for the Nittany Lions after throwing for 25 scores with just two picks in 2023, and he’ll likely look to stretch the field a bit more this year. The Mountaineers also return their quarterback Garrett Greene, a two-way threat who should again get plenty of ground help from working behind an experienced line.
Why it could disappoint: In truth, you probably hope it does if you’re a Penn State fan. If the Mountaineers are within shouting distance at all after halftime, the revved up home crowd will become even more of a factor. It will be incumbent upon the visiting Nittany Lions to remove said crowd from the equation as soon as possible.
