The 2024 college football season is here. Sort of.
The season doesn’t officially kick off until Thursday, August 29, but we won’t have to wait until then to see our first real games of the season. Saturday’s schedule includes four games involving six FBS teams. Here’s a look at what’s in store for the unofficial first weekend of the season.
(All times are Eastern Time.)
Noon, ESPN: No. 10 Florida State (-10.5) vs. Georgia Tech
We’ll have an ACC game to kick things off as the Seminoles and Yellow Jackets face off in Ireland. This is the second straight season Dublin has hosted the first game of the year, and that trend will continue next season when Kansas State and Iowa State head across the Atlantic.
This game is our first chance to see DJ Uiagalelei at Florida State. The former Clemson and Oregon State quarterback is playing his final season of college football in Tallahassee as the Seminoles look to make the College Football Playoff this season after being snubbed a year ago. Georgia Tech is a good test for Uiagalelei and Florida State’s revamped offense. In addition to QB Jordan Travis, the Seminoles must replace RB Trey Benson and WRs Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson.
Georgia Tech isn’t going to surprise anyone this season after going from 3-9 in 2021 to 5-7 in 2022 and 7-6 a season ago under coach Brent Key. The Yellow Jackets return QB Haynes King after he threw for over 2,800 yards and ran for over 700 with 37 total touchdowns a season ago. RB Jamal Haynes is also back after rushing for over six yards per carry last year. GT returns its top two tacklers on defense but must replace the majority of its pass rush starting in 2023.
4 p.m., Fox Sports 1: Montana State (-11.5) at New Mexico
Could we see our first FCS vs. FBS win of the season in Week 0? Montana State enters the season ranked fourth in the FCS preseason poll behind South Dakota State, North Dakota State and Montana. QB Tommy Mellott is back and leads a dynamic rushing attack. Mellott averaged 8.1 yards per carry over nine games in 2023 while splitting time with former Wyoming QB Sean Chambers. DE Brody Grebe is also back after posting 9.5 sacks in 2023.
New Mexico is entering its first season of the Bronco Mendenhall era. The former BYU and Virginia coach is back in college football and looking to take New Mexico to its first bowl game since the 2016 season.
This game could be a year or two away, as the chart above shows. New Mexico has a lot to replace from last season’s 4-8 team, and the schedule isn’t very kind. After hosting Montana State, the Lobos visit Arizona and Auburn before Fresno State and New Mexico State finish out September.