Hot topics close

College football schedule: When does the 2024 college football ...

College football schedule When does the 2024 college football
Here's everything you need to know for the start of the 2024 college football season. The first games are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24.
Share

It's never too early to prepare for the next college football season. After Michigan won last year's College Football Playoff title in thrilling fashion, the 2024 season looks to pick up where it left off with exciting action.

You can find information on when the 2024 college football season starts here. This story will be updated if games and times are changed.

When does the 2024 college football season start?

The 2024 season is set to begin on Saturday, Aug. 24 in this year's "Week Zero." Most of the nation's Division I programs will start their seasons the following week.

Click or tap here for the full schedule and scores. Here are some of the games currently scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24 in Week Zero:

  • Aer Lingus College Football Classic: No. 10 Florida State vs. Georgia Tech (in Dublin, Ireland) | 12 p.m. ET | ESPN
  • McNeese at Tarleton State | 2:30 p.m. ET| ESPN2
  • Montana State at New Mexico | 4 p.m. ET | FS1
  • FCS Kickoff: North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri State (Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama) | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
  • MEAC/SWAC Challenge: Norfolk State vs. Florida A&M (Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia) | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
  • SMU at Nevada | 8 p.m. ET |CBS Sports Network
  • Delaware State at Hawaii

The following week begins Week 1 of the 2024 college football season, with most of the games set for Saturday, Aug. 31 during Labor Day weekend. Here are some of the season-opening matchups.

Thursday, Aug. 29

  • North Carolina at Minnesota | 8 p.m. ET | Fox
  • North Dakota State at Colorado | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN
  • Sacramento State at San Jose State | 10 p.m. ET | truTV and Max

Friday, Aug. 30

  • TCU at Stanford | 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN

Saturday, Aug. 31

  • Aflac Kickoff Game: No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia) | 12 p.m. ET | ABC
  • No. 8 Penn State at West Virginia | 12 p.m. | Fox
  • South Dakota State at No. 17 Oklahoma State | 2 p.m. ET | ESPN+
  • No. 19 Miami (FL) at Florida | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC
  • No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M | 7:30 p.m. ET | ABC
  • Georgia State at Georgia Tech | 8 p.m. ET | ACC Network
  • Texas A&M-Commerce at San Diego State | 8 p.m. ET | truTV and Max

Sunday, Sept. 1

  • Orange Blossom Classic: North Carolina Central vs. Alabama State (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida) | 3 p.m. ET | ESPN
  • Vegas Kickoff Classic: No. 13 LSU vs. No. 23 Southern California (Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada) | 7:30 p.m. on ABC

Monday, Sept. 2

  • Boston College at No. 10 Florida State | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN

MORE SCHEDULES: Here's every 2024 HBCU football homecoming and classic in the FCS

Some other early-season nonconference games to watch can be found below:

  • Week 2: Saturday, September 7
    • Texas at Michigan | 12 p.m. ET | FOX
    • Arkansas at Oklahoma State | 12 p.m. ET | ABC
    • Kansas State at Tulane | 12 p.m. ET | ESPN or ESPN2
    • Pittsburgh at Cincinnati | 12 p.m. ET | ESPN or ESPN2
    • Florida A&M at Miami (FL)  | 6 p.m. ET | ACC Network
    • UIW at South Dakota State | 7 p.m. ET
    • Colorado at Nebraska | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBC
    • Duke's Mayo Classic: NC State vs Tennessee (Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina) | 7:30 p.m. ET | ABC
    • Boise State at Oregon | 10 p.m. | Peacock
  • Week 3: Saturday, September 14
    • Alabama at Wisconsin | 12 p.m. ET | FOX
    • West Virginia at Pitt | 3:30 p.m. ET | ESPN or ESPN2

HISTORY: Best walk-ons in history | Notable firsts and milestones | Unbreakable records

College Football Playoff and New Year's Six bowl games schedule

The 2024 season is the 11th edition of the College Football Playoff, and the first in the 12-team format.

Here are the College Football Playoff dates and schedule for next season. All New Year's Six games are also included:

  • First round | Week of Saturday, Dec. 21
    • Location: the home field of the higher-seeded team or another site designated by the higher-seeded program.
  • Quarterfinals
    • Fiesta Bowl | Tuesday, Dec. 31
    • Peach Bowl | Wednesday, Jan. 1
    • Rose Bowl | Wednesday, Jan. 1
    • Sugar Bowl | Wednesday, Jan. 1
  • Semifinals
    • Orange Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 9
    • Cotton Bowl | Friday, Jan. 10
  • CFP National Championship Game: Monday, Jan. 20, 2023 (in Atlanta, Georgia)

The title game will be played at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. This will mark the first time a location will host the CFP National Championship Game twice.

Michigan won the College Football Playoff National Championship during the 2023-2024 season. Here's a complete history of the CFP title game.

Year(Game Date) Game LOCATION
2015 No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Oregon 20 Arlington, Texas
2016 No. 2 Alabama 45, No. 1 Clemson 40 Glendale, Arizona
2017 No. 2 Clemson 35, No. 1 Alabama 31 Tampa, Florida
2018 No. 4 Alabama 26, No. 3 Georgia 23 Atlanta, Georgia
2019 No. 2 Clemson 44, No. 1 Alabama 16 Santa Clara, California
2020 No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25 New Orleans, Louisiana
2021 No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24 Miami Gardens, Florida
2022 No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18 Indianapolis, Indiana
2023 No. 1 Georgia 65, No. 3 TCU 7 Inglewood, California
2024 No. 1 Michigan 34, No. 2 Washington 13 Houston, Texas

????: Complete college football championship history | Schools with the most titles | Most CFP appearances

Future CFP national championship locations and dates

2025-26: Miami (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida) - Jan. 19

  • First round | Week of Saturday, Dec. 20
    • Location: the home field of the higher-seeded team or another site designated by the higher-seeded program.
  • Quarterfinal sites:
    • Cotton Bowl | Wednesday, Dec. 31
    • Orange Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1
    • Rose Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1
    • Sugar Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1
  • Semifinal sites:
    • Fiesta Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 8
    • Peach Bowl  | Friday, Jan. 9

Stan Becton joined NCAA.com in 2021 and has since served as an FCS, track and field, cross country and HBCU beat reporter. He has covered numerous NCAA championship events, including the FCS Championship, DI Track & Field Championships and Men's Frozen Four. Additionally, he has covered the 2022 College Football Playoff's Peach Bowl and HBCU sporting events like the Celebration Bowl and Legacy Classic. Stan graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, earning a degree in Professional Writing and playing football as a five-year letterman. You can follow him on Twitter @stan_becton.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.

Every HBCU player on the initial 53-man 2024 NFL rosters

Here are the HBCU football players that made NFL rosters in 2024.

READ MORE

The longest college football field goal: What we know

On Oct. 16, 1976, Ove Johansson kicked the longest field goal in college football history. Here's what we know about that extraordinary day in Abilene, Texas.

READ MORE

Week 0 preview: 5 DII football matchups to watch

Two top-25 matchups could shake things up right out of the gate of the 2024 DII football season.

READ MORE
Similar shots
News Archive
  • Brian McCardie
    Brian McCardie
    Brian McCardie, 'Line of Duty' actor, dies at 59
    1 May 2024
    4
  • Las Vegas Raiders
    Las Vegas Raiders
    Antonio Pierce, Champ Kelly are the faces of the Las Vegas Raiders ...
    25 Dec 2023
    7
  • 3 From Hell
    3 From Hell
    3 From Hell Did So Well, It's Coming Back To Theaters For One More Night
    23 Sep 2019
    2
  • 4chan
    4chan
    The Christchurch shooting suspect comes from an extreme online culture
    15 Mar 2019
    1
  • Sacha Baron Cohen
    Sacha Baron Cohen
    Sacha Baron Cohen, Isla Fisher divorcing after 13 years wed
    5 Apr 2024
    9
  • Jalen Green
    Jalen Green
    NBA Twitter reacts as Jalen Green posterizes Anfernee Simons
    8 Mar 2024
    5