One benefit of college football realignment that sports betting enthusiasts and other fans of the game can appreciate is the renewal of some Top College Football Rivalries that had lapsed in recent years.
The battle between the University of Texas and Texas A&M is back on as the schools are reunited in the SEC.
The Colorado-Nebraska rivalry is back on tap for 2024. We did lose the Bedlam rivalry, as Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has refused to schedule the Oklahoma Sooners after their departure for the SEC.
However, there are some rivalry games set for this year for us to be excited about, so let’s look at some of them.
Expert Analysis: Top College Football Rivalries in 2024
Colorado Buffaloes at Nebraska Cornhuskers
When: September 9, 7:30 PM
Where: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE
These teams both exited the Big 12 in 2011, with Nebraska heading to the Big Ten and Colorado heading to the Pac-12. After that, the teams didn’t meet until a two-game series in 2018 and 2019.
They played again last year with Colorado rolling over Nebraska, 36-14, in Coach Prime’s home debut with the Buffaloes.
This year, the series shifts to Lincoln, and Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule has praised Colorado’s revival. This is a rivalry that Nebraska leads handily, 49-21-2, but the Buffaloes have a three-game winning streak in the series.
Last year, it didn’t help that Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims lost a pair of fumbles and threw an interception among four turnovers for the Cornhuskers.
For Colorado, Shedeur Sanders went 31 of 42 for 393 yards and two scores. After that, though, Colorado would only win two more games en route to a 4-8 finish.
Now the Buffaloes are among the contenders to win the Big 12. Can they stop a Cornhuskers team with a new quarterback, Dylan Raiola?
Their defense was 13th in the nation in yards permitted and has seven starters back.
^Top College Football Rivalries Georgia Bulldogs at Alabama Crimson Tide
When: September 28, 7:30 PM
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscalosa, AL
Two of the most successful college football programs in recent years meet in a somewhat rare regular-season matchup.
Before realignment, they had resided in different divisions of the SEC, but the changes have included eliminating divisions.
Alabama no longer has Nick Saban on the headlines, as the school brought in Kalen DeBoer to replace Saban after his retirement.
Alabama beat Georgia in the SEC Championship last year, 27-24, a loss that apparently meant Georgia, formerly the top-ranked team in the CFP standings, didn’t deserve a shot at a national championship, so expect the Bulldogs to come in with plenty of motivation.
The Tide still have Jalen Milroe at quarterback; in the win over Georgia last year, Milroe ripped off run after run and also threw for 192 yards and a pair of scores.
Carson Beck returns at quarterback for Georgia; he threw for 243 yards in the SEC Championship but also coughed up a fumble in the second half that helped Alabama grow its lead.
Since 2008, the teams have met 10 times – four in the regular season and six in the College Football Playoff.
Alabama has a 9-1 record in those games, although Georgia’s win did come in a national championship game.
^Carson Beck ranks among returning college QBs
— 704 Dawg (@FSFRecruits) July 7, 2024
Yards – 3949 – 1st
1st Downs – 197 – 2nd
Adj Comp % – 81.9% – 2nd
PFF Pass Grade – 90.8 – 2nd
YPA – 9.4 – 4thpic.twitter.com/dDxrtSeI1w
Top College Football Rivalries Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners
When: October 12, 3:30 PM
Where: Cotton Bowl in Dallas
One of the coolest environments in college sports, this game takes place on the second Saturday of October each year against the backdrop of the State Fair of Texas.
The game fills the venerable Cotton Bowl (the original stadium, not Jerry Jones’ stadium out in the suburbs), putting over 100,000 fans in high-banked seats that offer a close view of the field.
Texas almost ran the table with a perfect regular season last year, but their only loss came here as Dillon Gabriel led Oklahoma 75 yards down the field to score a touchdown.
Gabriel has transferred to Oregon, leaving Jackson Arnold to take the reins of the offense.
Most of the Oklahoma receivers are back for 2024, so this should be a competitive team.
Texas went to the CFP last year before losing to Washington in the national semifinal, but quarterback Quinn Ewers is back to see if he can get a national title.
Two quality receivers departed Austin, but Isaiah Bond (Alabama), Silas Bolden (Oregon State) and Matthew Golden (Houston) all came through the transfer portal and should contribute.
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Top College Football Rivalries
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