With the start of the 2024 college football season just over a month away, I thought it would be fun to look over the schedules of Texas’ most prominent programs and highlight a few matchups to keep an eye on.
With the new 12-team playoff format and teams switching conferences left and right, teams have more to play for than ever before. The State of Texas has multiple teams with serious aspirations beyond the regular season, and these matchups could decide whether or not those dreams are realistic.
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Texas @ Michigan
In their inaugural season of SEC play, the Longhorns’ first test will come in about the furthest geographical place from the south: Ann Arbor, Michigan. After hosting Colorado State to open the 2024 season, Texas will have its shot to dethrone the reigning champions. Aside from his two matchups against Alabama in 2022 and 2023, this will arguably be the toughest defense that the Longhorns have faced in the Steve Sarkesian-era.
This will be an early gut check for Texas, which is coming off of its first conference title since 2009. Quarterback Quinn Ewers has everything to prove in his third year as Texas’ Week 1 starter, especially with fan-favorite Arch Manning breathing down his neck.
Baylor @ Utah
We’ll get a sneak peek into the new-look Big 12 conference in this early-season matchup, as founding member Baylor visits conference newcomer Utah. The teams met in Waco last season, and a big fourth quarter lifted the Utes over the Bears after Baylor led for a majority of the contest. This time around, it feels like a must-win game for Baylor Head Coach Dave Aranda, who enters the 2024 campaign with serious pressure after an underwhelming 2023 campaign.
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Georgia @ Texas
If Texas thought Michigan was a tough matchup, they’re in for a doozy in Week 8. The Longhorns have home-field advantage, but the Georgia Bulldogs will be a headache on their schedule regardless. The Bulldogs, led by preseason Heisman Trophy contender Carson Beck at quarterback, should be able to pick up right where they left off in regular season play. Georgia has won two of the last three national championships and boasts a 42-2 combined record over the last three seasons.
Notre Dame @ Texas A&M
In a matchup dubbed “Catholics vs. Cultists,” the Aggies will open their 2024 season with a huge test in their out-of-conference slate. The Aggies and Fighting Irish boast two of the most passionate fanbases in college sports, and Kyle Field will certainly be alive on August 31. This will be the first game for A&M Head Coach Mike Elko, and he’ll be against a familiar opponent. Last year, Elko’s Duke Blue Devils hosted Notre Dame, and the Irish left Durham with a 21-14 win.
Colorado @ Texas Tech
In the most crucial stretch of its season, Texas Tech will be hosting the most talked-about team in college football: the Colorado Buffaloes. The Buffs entered the 2023 season with a ton of hype from first-year Head Coach Deion Sanders, but they sputtered to just a 4-8 record. The Red Raiders also finished last year below expectations, starting 3-5 before finishing strong with a 7-6 record. Tech Head Coach Joey McGuire is entering his third season, and a win over a talent-rich squad like Colorado would be a thrill for Lubbock’s faithful.
Florida State @ SMU
One of the more underrated moves in the trend of conference realignment was Group-of-5 powerhouse Southern Methodist University moving up into the ACC. In their first year in a more robust conference, they’ll be hosting one of the elite teams across all of college football: Florida State. The Seminoles are coming off of a 13-1 season that saw them narrowly (and controversially) left out of the four-team College Football Playoff. SMU is coming off of a solid year in their own right, as they finished 11-3.
SMU starting quarterback Preston Stone will be returning for his fourth season for the Mustangs, and he’s surely hoping to build off of a strong 2023 that saw him toss 23 touchdown passes.
Texas @ Texas A&M
At last, the Lone Star Showdown is back! A game that hasn’t been played since 2011 is finally back on the schedule, with Texas joining A&M in the SEC. The return of one of college football’s most storied rivalries will take place in College Station on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. These two teams have had their ups and downs in their years apart, but everyone wearing both orange and maroon is excited to get this game back on the calendar.
The implications of a win are not yet certain, as this will be both teams’ final game of the regular season, but it’s safe to assume that both teams will be desperate for a win here, even if it’s somehow only about bragging rights.