When does the 2024 college football season start?

Here's what you need to know about the 2024 college football season kickoff, including the early schedule and biggest games on tap

When does college football start? What you need to know for the 2024 season

Week 0 is typically when a lot of smaller schools start things out, but three Power Four programs are in on the early action, including two ACC rivals set to play their opener against each other in Dublin on Sat., Aug. 24.

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech. While the Seminoles will have a huge amount of roster turnover, they also return head coach Mike Norvell after keeping him onside with an extension amid rumors around the Alabama coaching vacancy. Brent Key returns to Tech after a 7-6 season and with new defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci on the sideline.

• Montana St. at New Mexico
• Eastern Illinois at Illinois

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Week 1 college football schedule

Clemson vs. Georgia. Two defenses that project to be among college football's best units meet in this SEC vs. ACC matchup, but how far along will Clemson's offense move in Year 2 with Cade Klubnik as the starting quarterback? Sat., Aug. 31

Penn State at West Virginia. Drew Allar returns to PSU with some questions, but he's playing behind one of the nation's top defenses, while the Mountaineers come off a more solid 9-4 effort, pulling Neal Brown off the hot seat, and get this rematch at home to start. Sat., Aug. 31

Notre Dame at Texas A&M. A good early test for the Irish to make a statement in the playoff chase on the road to an SEC team, boasting a credible defense but an attack that is undergoing big changes, while the Aggies debut head coach Mike Elko and offensive coordinator Collin Klein. Sat., Aug. 31

Miami at Florida. Billy Napier needs to stabilize his Gators program right away and this early in-state rivalry game is a good opportunity, but the Hurricanes bring on transfer quarterback Cameron Ward in a major boost for this offense. Sat., Aug. 31

LSU vs. USC. Two marquee programs in dire need of defensive improvement meet in Las Vegas. USC brings on D'Anton Lynn to call the D, and the Tigers lured Blake Baker away from Missouri to the same position. LSU has the apparent advantage at quarterback with Garrett Nussmeier replacing Heisman winner Jayden Daniels and a more skilled offensive line. Sun., Sept. 1

• North Carolina at Minnesota
• Fresno State at Michigan
• Ohio at Syracuse
• TCU at Stanford
• Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt
• Miami (OH) at Northwestern

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College Football Playoff schedule

Dec. 20, 2024 First-Round Game
Dec. 21, 2024 First-Round Game
Dec. 21, 2024 First-Round Game
Dec. 21, 2024 First-Round Game

Quarterfinals

Dec. 31, 2024 Fiesta Bowl
Jan. 1, 2025 Peach Bowl
Jan. 1, 2025 Rose Bowl
Jan. 1, 2025 Sugar Bowl

Semifinals

Jan. 9, 2025 Orange Bowl
Jan. 10, 2025 Cotton Bowl

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Jan. 20, 2025 National Championship Game (Atlanta, Ga.)

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College Football Playoff scores, history

This is the 11th year that college football has a playoff system, which replaced the former Bowl Championship Series (BCS) ahead of the 2014 season, and the first postseason involving the 12-team expanded format. Here is a list of every CFP national champion.

2014 — Ohio State def. Oregon, 42-20

2015 — Alabama def. Clemson, 45-40

2016 — Clemson def. Alabama, 35-31

2017 — Alabama def. Georgia, 26-23

2018 — Clemson def. Alabama, 44-16

2019 — LSU def. Clemson, 42-25

2020 — Alabama def. Ohio State, 52-24

2021 — Georgia def. Alabama, 33-18

2022 — Georgia def. TCU, 65-7

2023 — Michigan def. Washington, 34-13

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Let's look at every final Top-Four College Football Playoff rankings, with the eventual national champion listed in bold.

2014-15

1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. Florida State
4. Ohio State

2015-16

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Michigan State
4. Oklahoma

2016-17

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Washington

2017-18

1. Clemson
2. Oklahoma
3. Georgia
4. Alabama

2018-19

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Notre Dame
4. Oklahoma

2019-20

1. LSU
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Oklahoma

2020-21

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Notre Dame

2021-22

1. Alabama
2. Michigan
3. Georgia
4. Cincinnati

2022-23

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. TCU
4. Ohio State

2023-24

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Texas
4. Alabama

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