It’s never too early to start preparing for the next college football season. After Michigan won the College Football Playoff title in thrilling fashion last year, the 2024 season will pick up where it left off with exciting action.
Information on the start of the 2024 college football season can be found here. This story will be updated as games and times change.
When does the 2024 college football season start?
The 2024 season begins on Saturday, August 24 in this year’s “Week Zero.” Most Division I programs in the country begin their seasons the following week.
Click or tap here for the full schedule and results. Here are some of the games currently scheduled for Saturday, August 24 in Week Zero:
- Aer Lingus College Football Classics: 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 | 4:00 p.m. ET | FS1
- FCS kick-off: North Alabama vs. Southeast Missouri State (Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama) | 7:00 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 in Nevada | 8pm ET | CBS Sports Network
- Delaware State in Hawaii
The following week marks the start of Week 1 of the 2024 college football season. Most games will take place on Saturday, August 31, Labor Day weekend. Here are some of the matchups to kick off the season.
Thursday, August 29
- North Carolina in Minnesota | 8pm ET | Fox
- North Dakota State at Colorado | 8:00 p.m. ET | ESPN
- Sacramento State at San Jose State | 10:00 p.m. ET | truTV and Max
Friday, August 30
- TCU at Stanford | 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
Saturday, August 31
- Aflac opening 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 | 12pm | Fox
- South Dakota State at No. 17 Oklahoma State | 2:00 p.m. ET | ESPN+
- No. 19 Miami (FL) in 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 | 8pm ET | ACC Network
- Texas A&M-Commerce at San Diego State | 8 p.m. ET | truTV and Max
Sunday, September 1st
- Orange blossom classics: North Carolina Central vs. Alabama State (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida) | 3:00 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, September 2
- Boston College at No. 10 Florida State | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
MORE SCHEDULES: Here are all the 2024 HBCU football home games and classics in the FCS
Here are some other early-season non-conference games to watch:
- Week 2: Saturday, September 7
- Texas vs. Michigan | 12pm ET | FOX
- Arkansas at Oklahoma State | 12pm ET | ABC
- Kansas State at Tulane | 12pm ET | ESPN or ESPN2
- Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati | 12pm ET | ESPN or ESPN2
- Florida A&M at Miami (FL) | 6:00 p.m. ET | ACC Network
- UIW at South Dakota State | 7pm ET
- Colorado in 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 | 12pm ET | FOX
- West Virginia at Pitt | 3:30 p.m. ET | ESPN or ESPN2
HISTORY: The best walk-ons in history | Notable firsts and milestones | Unbeatable records
Schedule of the College Football Playoffs and the six bowl games on New Year’s Day
The 2024 season will be 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, December 21
- Venue: the home stadium of the higher-seeded team or another venue determined by the higher-seeded program.
- Quarterfinals
- Fiesta Bowl | Tuesday, December 31
- Peach Bowl | Wednesday, January 1st
- Rose Bowl | Wednesday, January 1st
- Sugar Bowl | Wednesday, January 1st
- Semifinal
- Orange Bowl | Thursday, January 9
- Cotton Bowl | Friday, January 10
- CFP National Championship Game: Monday, January 20, 2023 (in Atlanta, Georgia)
The title game will be played at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. It will be the first time the CFP National Championship Game will be played twice at one venue.
Michigan won the College Football Playoff National Championship in the 2023-2024 season. Here’s the complete story of the CFP title game.
| Year (Match date) |
Game | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | No. 4 Ohio State 42No. 2 Oregon 20 | Arlington, Texas |
| 2016 | No. 2 Alabama 45No. 1 Clemson 40 | Glendale, Arizona |
| 2017 | No. 2 Clemson 35No. 1 Alabama 31 | Tampa, Florida |
| 2018 | No. 4 Alabama 26No. 3 Georgia 23 | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 2019 | No. 2 Clemson 44No. 1 Alabama 16 | Santa Clara, California |
| 2020 | No. 1 LSU 42No. 3 Clemson 25 | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 2021 | No. 1 Alabama 52No. 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 34No. 2 Washington 13 | Houston, Texas |
🏆: Complete history of college football championships | Schools with most titles | Most CFP appearances
Venues and dates of future national CFP championships
2025-26: Miami (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida) – January 19
- First round | Week of Saturday, December 20
- Venue: the home stadium of the higher-seeded team or another venue determined by the higher-seeded program.
- Quarter-final venues:
- Cotton Bowl | Wednesday, December 31
- Orange Bowl | Thursday, January 1st
- Rose Bowl | Thursday, January 1st
- Sugar Bowl | Thursday, January 1st
- Semi-final venues:
- Fiesta Bowl | Thursday, January 8
- Peach Bowl | Friday, January 9th
