The SEC is regarded as one of the best conferences in college football. They made waves by announcing a couple of years ago that they planned to add the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners in 2024.
Now, the SEC has revealed their full 2024 schedule. What matchups are we now getting with the new teams and new format? Here are five of the biggest games due to these changes.
1. Tennessee Volunteers at Oklahoma Sooners
One of the main reasons that this game made the list is due to when it is being played. It is scheduled to take place during Week 4 of the 2024 college football season on September 21st.
Why is this relevant? Because this is Oklahoma’s first conference game as a member of the SEC. The Sooners have a heck of a home game for such occasion.
The latest College Football Playoff rankings had both of these teams in the Top 25. Oklahoma was ranked 12th and Tennessee was ranked 21st. Both teams should have eyes on them in 2024.
Tennessee has climbed back into relevancy the last two years. As for Oklahoma, they look like they are recovering from the departure of Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams after the 2021 season. However, they recently lost QB Dillon Gabriel to the transfer portal. This should be a great game to welcome Oklahoma to the SEC.
2. Georgia Bulldogs at Alabama Crimson Tide
Despite both of these powerhouses being longtime members of the SEC, regular season meetings feel rare. These two teams have had just two regular season meetings in the last decade. Alabama won both of those meetings.
Now, these two get set to clash in Tuscaloosa in Week 5 of the 2024 college football season. Georgia will be looking for revenge against Alabama. The Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs in this year’s SEC Championship. As a result, Georgia missed out on a spot in the College Football Playoff. This will be the first meeting since that game.
3. Georgia Bulldogs at Texas Longhorns
Arguably the most anticipated matchup involving Texas or Oklahoma in 2024 takes place during Week 8 of the 2024 college football season. At this time, Georgia will have to go on the road to take on Texas.
This game could have bigger implications by the time we get to this. The reason is that at the time of writing, the College Football Playoff has not played out.
Why is this relevant? Georgia and Texas could have ended up clashing in this year’s championship in an expanded playoff format. However, Georgia got left out of the College Football Playoff in controversial fashion. Regardless, this should be a ticket with very high demand in Austin next year.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide at Oklahoma Sooners
This next matchup is set to take place during Week 13 of the 2024 college football season. Oklahoma will have another big home game on their schedule late in the season. Do these two teams meet up often?
Sort of. The last time these two teams played each other was in the 2018 College Football Playoff. Alabama ended up defeating Oklahoma in that game before losing to Clemson in the national championship.
There have only been two regular season meetings between these two programs. Those took place in 2002 and 2003. Alabama lost both of those games. With the 2024 game taking place late in the season, it could have major College Football Playoff implications.
5. Texas Longhorns at Texas A&M Aggies
Finally, we have what should be the most emotional matchup on this list. That is becomes this Week 14 game in the final week of the 2024 regular season reignites a rivalry.
Texas A&M used to play in the Big 12 with Texas and the two teams met annually. However, the Aggies left for the SEC back in 2012. The two programs have not played each other since 2011.
Not only does this reunite a rivalry, but there may also be some bad blood between the programs. That is because Texas A&M has tried to block Texas from joining the SEC in the past. While they may have been able to stop past attempts, it finally became too much to overcome. Now, Aggies fans will have a chance to express how they feel about this.
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