NCAAF · 1 year ago

The Most Exciting Renewed CFB Rivalries

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

5. Florida State at Miami - October 26
The Florida State Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes first played each other in 1951 and have met annually since 1969. The Hurricanes led the overall series 35 to 33, and there was a time when this game was the biggest in the country nearly every season. That time has passed, and it has faded from relevance on the national stage. This season will rekindle some of those old feelings as both teams are ranked and considered favorites to win the ACC crown. Florida State has won three meetings in a row in the series, but they have to travel to Coral Gables. If Miami gets off to a hot start, Hard Rock Stadium might be rocking with a rare strong crowd for “The U.” This game will go a long way toward determining who is in the ACC Championship Game.

Florida State (-1.5) at Miami
1. Texas at Texas A&M - November 30
Younger fans might be unaware of the passion and outright hatred between the fanbases and alum of Texas and Texas A&M. The Aggies left for the SEC primarily to get out from underneath the shadow of the Texas Longhorns, and they were staunch in their opposition to Texas joining the SEC. Texas A&M was unsuccessful, and of course, Texas is now in the SEC and, wouldn’t you know it, the Longhorns and Aggies matchup in 2024. There will be no atmosphere that surpasses what Texas will encounter in College Station when the two meet on November 30. This will be the first meeting between the two since 2011, and it will be an absolute spectacle, especially if there is a possible CFP bid on the line.

Texas (-3.5) at Texas A&M
2. Michigan at Ohio State - November 30
Two rivalries routinely get mentioned as the best in college football: Auburn versus Alabama and Ohio State versus Michigan. The annual “Big Game” between Michigan and Ohio State happens in Columbus this season, and the Buckeyes are under immense pressure to halt Michigan’s three-game winning streak. This rivalry enters a new era as Sherrone Moore takes over as the head coach in Ann Arbor, while Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have gone all-in to grab the Big Ten back from their rivals in the North. The stakes for this game are as high as any game in the country, and the fanbases and teams intensely dislike each other. This one rarely disappoints, and the 2024 version should be another classic.

Ohio State (-9.5) vs. Michigan
3. Auburn at Alabama - November 30
Like Ohio State and Michigan, the Iron Bowl is entering a new era. Nick Saban has retired, but Alabama will not disappear from the nation’s elite as they turn to Kalen DeBoer to lead the Tide. Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers are building in high school recruiting and appear to be one quarterback away from being a threat to make the College Football Playoff. Auburn was one miracle play from Alabama away from shocking the Tide and winning the Iron Bowl in 2023, and they enter 2024 with hopes of turning this rivalry around with Saban gone. Alabama will still be favored, but the young Auburn Tigers will not back down to a big game under Freeze.

Auburn at Alabama (-13.5)
4. Texas vs. Oklahoma - October 12
The coolest neutral site game in college football is undoubtedly Texas versus Oklahoma, contested annually at the Texas State Fair. This rivalry will stay the same, but the conference patches on the uniforms will be different this time, as Oklahoma and Texas are now in the SEC. That adds a bit of extra spice to this incredible scene as burnt orange clashes with maroon at a 50/50 split in the stands, routinely forming one of the best atmospheres in the sport. Oklahoma is loaded on offense, and they have the weapons to challenge the presumed weak point of the Texas defense: the secondary. Despite the ballyhoo around Texas, the Oklahoma Sooners have won this rivalry game in five of the past six meetings, including a surprise win for Brent Venables last season.

Texas (-8.5) vs. Oklahoma
5. Florida State at Miami - October 26
The Florida State Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes first played each other in 1951 and have met annually since 1969. The Hurricanes led the overall series 35 to 33, and there was a time when this game was the biggest in the country nearly every season. That time has passed, and it has faded from relevance on the national stage. This season will rekindle some of those old feelings as both teams are ranked and considered favorites to win the ACC crown. Florida State has won three meetings in a row in the series, but they have to travel to Coral Gables. If Miami gets off to a hot start, Hard Rock Stadium might be rocking with a rare strong crowd for “The U.” This game will go a long way toward determining who is in the ACC Championship Game.

Florida State (-1.5) at Miami
1. Texas at Texas A&M - November 30
Younger fans might be unaware of the passion and outright hatred between the fanbases and alum of Texas and Texas A&M. The Aggies left for the SEC primarily to get out from underneath the shadow of the Texas Longhorns, and they were staunch in their opposition to Texas joining the SEC. Texas A&M was unsuccessful, and of course, Texas is now in the SEC and, wouldn’t you know it, the Longhorns and Aggies matchup in 2024. There will be no atmosphere that surpasses what Texas will encounter in College Station when the two meet on November 30. This will be the first meeting between the two since 2011, and it will be an absolute spectacle, especially if there is a possible CFP bid on the line.

Texas (-3.5) at Texas A&M

The Most Exciting Renewed CFB Rivalries

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