College football schedule: Week 1 games you should be watching

Mark your calendars: These are the most important college football games to watch on the Week 1 schedule to kick off the 2024 season.

The best games you should be watching in Week 1 of the 2024 college football schedule. / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The first full Saturday slate of games kicks off a historic 2024 college football schedule this weekend with premier non-conference matchups between ranked teams helping set the stage for what will be an impactful year of football leading into an expanded playoff.

What are the most important games on this opening weekend? Here's your guide for the best matchups you should be watching on Saturday and Sunday.

College football schedule 2024: Week 1 games you should watch

All times Eastern

(14) Clemson vs. (1) Georgia

The national title favorite plays close to home in Atlanta boasting returning skill on both sides of the ball, going against a strong Clemson defense, but there are still questions about the Tigers' attack as it lines up against a stout Bulldog pass rush.

12 p.m. on ABC

(8) Penn State at West Virginia

Neal Brown was on the hot seat a year ago, but his Mountaineers won nine games to help save his job. Now he brings back Garrett Greene at quarterback to lead an offense good for over 400 yards per game against an elite PSU defense and hoping to contain the Lions' top-flight rushing duo.

12 p.m. on ABC

(19) Miami at Florida

A major Week 1 test for two coaches under serious pressure. Mario Cristobal scored blue-chip transfers to this Hurricanes offense, led by dual-threat quarterback Cam Ward. While the Gators also brought in a solid transfer group, they need to make a statement early at home facing the nation's toughest schedule going forward.

3:30 p.m. on ABC

(7) Notre Dame at (20) Texas A&M

A fun matchup under the lights in the SEC introducing Mike Elko to the conference at the helm of an Aggies program in need of a statement victory. Notre Dame is playing strong defense, but debuts a new quarterback coming off injury behind an unproven line going against A&M's good front seven.

7:30 p.m. on ABC

Fresno State at (9) Michigan

Our first look at college football's defending champs under new management, with Sherrone Moore stepping in for Jim Harbaugh, and with program-defining questions to answer at key positions like quarterback and offensive line, and with a monster matchup against Texas coming up in a week's time.

7:30 p.m. on NBC

(23) USC vs. (13) LSU

This is now an SEC vs. Big Ten game thanks to realignment, with both schools hoping for major improvements on defense and each introducing new quarterbacks after losing their respective Heisman winners. A slip-up in this game could have very negative effects for the loser of this opening weekend tilt.

Sun., Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

College football rankings 2024

According to AP top 25 poll

1. Georgia (46 first-place votes)
2. Ohio State (15)
3. Oregon (1)
4. Texas
5. Alabama
6. Ole Miss
7. Notre Dame
8. Penn State
9. Michigan
10. Florida State
11. Missouri
12. Utah
13. LSU
14. Clemson
15. Tennessee
16. Oklahoma
17. Oklahoma State
18. Kansas State
19. Miami
20. Texas A&M
21. Arizona
22. Kansas
23. USC
24. NC State
25. Iowa

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