The 2024 season marks the beginning of a new era in college football as we say goodbye to the Pac-12 and four-team playoffs and say hello to the two super conferences, the SEC and the Big Ten, and the 12-team playoff. NIL and the transfer portal have radically changed college football over the past five years, but it feels like all the right changes are being made and like we are almost caught back up to speed.
It might take some time to get used to, but there is a lot to love about these changes. First-round playoff games at road sites will be electric as well as consistently better matchups. Despite all of the moving parts, a few schools like the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs have made it a point to get on the phone and play tough out-of-conference opponents in the past.
This season will be no different as a number of SEC schools have very appealing non-SEC games. Below are the five most intriguing SEC out of conference games of 2024.
5
Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame
Gary Cosby Jr/The Tuscaloosa News via USA TODAY Sports
The Jimbo Fisher era is over and former Duke head coach Mike Elko takes over a Texas A&M Aggies program that is still looking for their first SEC title. Elko won’t have long to get his team ready to go as pre-season top 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be coming to College Station in Week 1.
4
LSU vs. USC (in Las Vegas)
Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Both teams will be replacing their former Heisman trophy-winning quarterbacks in 2024 after USC Trojans QB Caleb Williams was selected No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears and LSU Tigers QB Jayden Daniels was taken No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders. With the game taking place in Week 1 there will certainly be growing pains on both sides, but any time two blue bloods get together like this it’s a notable affair.