The SEC has added Texas and Oklahoma, making the best college football conference even stronger.
This season’s conference schedule features at least 10 huge games, headlined by Georgia at Alabama on Sept. 28, but the SEC also has an impressive schedule of non-conference games.
Here are the 10 best, ranked in inverse order (rankings from AP preseason poll).
10. UCLA at No. 13 LSU | Sept. 21
UCLA’s first major road test as a Big Ten member will be a trip to Baton Rogue. This meeting will mark the second game between the programs, with UCLA winning 38-27 at the Rose Bowl in 2021 in the last matchup. Head coach Brian Kelly is 20-7 in two seasons at Tigers coach.
9. No. 15 Tennessee at No. 24 North Carolina State | Sept. 7
Tennessee is coming off of a disappointing 9-4 season after an 11-2 record in 2022. Before welcoming Florida and Alabama to Knoxville in weeks 6 and 7, the Volunteers will play the Wolfpack in the Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte, N.C. The programs have played against each other three times, with Tennessee winning the last matchup in 2012. Quarterback Grayson McCall, running back Jordan Waters and receiver Kevin Concepcion will be a major test for Tennessee’s defense.
8. Central Florida at Florida | Oct. 5
This matchup is all about bragging rights in north and central Florida. The Gators are the flagship program in that area, but Central Florida fans won’t let UF fans forget about the Knights’ 29-17 win over Florida in the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl. Florida hasn’t had a winning record since 2020, when it went 8-4.
7. No. 19 Miami at Florida | Aug 31
Florida coach Billy Napier and Miami coach Mario Cristobal are entering their third seasons at their schools, and both are looking for a big year after underwhelming in their first two seasons. Napier is 11-14 at Florida while Cristobal is 12-13 with the Hurricanes.
6. No. 5 Alabama at Wisconsin | Sept. 14
Alabama will open the Kalen DeBoer era with two non-conference games in Tuscaloosa before facing its first major road test in Week 3 against Wisconsin. This could fall into the category of a trap game for Alabama because it hosts Georgia at Bryant-Denny Stadium a week later. HC Luke Fickell needs a signature win after a 7-6 record in his first season at Wisconsin.
5. No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M | Aug. 31
New Aggies head coach Mike Elko will open the season with Texas A&M’s first game against Notre Dame since the 2001 season. The Fighting Irish feature former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, who rushed for 699 yards for the Blue Devils in 2022 before injuries slowed him last season. A&M quarterback Conner Weigman, who completed 82 of 119 passes (68.9 percent) last season, aims to make a strong first impression in the opener.
4. Florida at No. 10 Florida State | Nov. 30
Florida State has won the past two games in this in-state rivalry, including an upset in Gainesville without injured starting QB Jordan Travis last season. The Seminoles still feel the sting of rejection from the College Football Playoff committee for leaving them out of the postseason in 2023 despite a 13-0 record. Florida State surely remembers the vicious late hit Florida’s Jaydon Hill put on its QB, Tate Rodemaker (now with Southern Miss), late in last season’s game.
3. No. 13 LSU vs. No. 23 USC | Sept 1 (Las Vegas)
This is a game that is made for the bright lights of Las Vegas. Kelly and USC coach Lincoln Riley are retooling their offenses for this showdown at Allegiant Stadium. Gone from LSU is 2023 Heisman Trophy-winning QB Jayden Daniels, who has been replaced by Garrett Nussmeier. Miller Moss has replaced 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams as USC QB.
2. No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 14 Clemson | Aug 31 (Atlanta)
Both programs have won two national championships in the past decade, but both are in different positions. Clemson is trying to reestablish itself as a national powerhouse, and beating the Bulldogs in their backyard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium would be a great way to do that. In 2021, the last time these teams played each other, Georgia won a defensive battle 10-3.
1. No. 4 Texas at No. 9 Michigan | Sept. 7
This is perhaps the biggest non-conference matchup of the 2024 season. Texas and Michigan reached the CFP last season, with Michigan winning the national championship, and both should be in the mix for the expanded, 12-team CFP this season. The Longhorns are set with experienced Quinn Ewers at QB (23 games), but Michigan has questions at the position after the departure of star J.J. McCarthy to the Minnesota Vikings. Will the Wolverines starter be Alex Orji, Davis Warren, Jack Tuttle or someone else?