Greg McElroy, Paul Finebaum, Tim Tebow discuss most exciting games on 2024 SEC schedule
The 2024 season is still a long way away — we still have the College Football Playoff in a few weeks, after all — but the SEC kickstarted the conversation by announcing its 2024 schedule on Wednesday. It featured some intriguing matchups, and the ESPN crew broke them down.
During the reveal show, the panel of Greg McElroy, Paul Finebaum, Tim Tebow and Joey Galloway listed some of the games they’re most excited to watch. There was a common theme, though. Three of them included Texas, starting with the Longhorns’ rivalry matchup vs. Texas A&M.
Texas and Texas A&M haven’t played since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012. That will change on Nov. 30, 2024, and Finebaum said he’s already looking forward to it.
“I think at least to the Aggies, nothing means more,” Finebaum said. “This is just the most important game in the world to them. Texas has so many of these games. Forget the trip to Michigan. I mean, they go to Arkansas, they have so many that will pile up. But for the Aggies, this game will be circled. It will be almost a religious experience.”
The Longhorns’ Week 2 game against Michigan will surely be circled. Both teams are in the CFP this year, and the rankings could create a matchup in the national championship. To Galloway, the idea of a Big Ten power taking on a now-SEC power adds to the hype around the matchup, and he’s excited to learn about both teams early on in their respective 2024 schedules.
“I think when you look at the Big Ten and what it’s been the last three years, it’s been Michigan and Michigan’s gotten to the playoffs and been that kind of football team,” Galloway said. “We now get a chance to see what they are early in the season. No more waiting like we did this season. … We get to find out early on against a Texas team that is completely different this year than what they’ve been in past years with what Steve Sarkisian has been.
“So now, here’s a team getting to the SEC, worrying about that schedule. But they’re going to Michigan early in that season. I can’t wait to see it.”
In mid-October, though, Texas has one of the more notable matchups in the league. The Longhorns will welcome Georgia to DKR Texas Memorial Stadium, and it will put Steve Sarkisian up against Kirby Smart.
There’s still plenty left to figure out about who’ll be on both teams that day — particularly at quarterback. But Tebow said the coaching showdown will be worth the price of admission.
“I’m so excited, when Georgia goes to Austin, this matchup between Steve [Sarkisian] — who I believe is one of the best OC, play-callers in the game — and Kirby Smart, who will have another amazing defense. I just think it’s a matchup of great on great, juggernaut against juggernaut,” Tebow said. “If Quinn [Ewers is] coming back, that’s gonna be a fantastic game. I mean, so many stars and studs. But I can’t wait to watch the coaching matchup. That’s why it’s my favorite game.”
Greg McElroy: LSU vs. USC is going to be ‘massive’ in Week 1
McElroy, however, went a different direction. He chose the opening week matchup between LSU and USC as his most interesting game. The two teams will square off at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and it will feature two teams looking to replace Heisman Trophy winners.
Both Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are expected to declare for the NFL Draft, meaning USC and LSU will debut new offenses. It will also be the start of the new era in college football as the Trojans play their first game as a member of the Big Ten. Add in the scenery in Las Vegas, and McElroy said the Big Ten vs. SEC showdown is one of the most notable matchups of the 2024 schedule.
“When you think about where things are with the college football world, we’re not gonna have a ton of Big Ten-SEC matchups,” McElroy said. “USC doesn’t feel like a traditional Big Ten power, kind of weird still. I like it, I’m excited about it, it doesn’t feel like that. But to have Lincoln Riley against Brian Kelly, to me, is really interesting. I think you get this matchup in Vegas, which is becoming more and more a part of sports and kind of an epicenter of big events.
“So I just think that matchup there, Week 1, Sunday, is gonna be massive. It’s gonna have a ton of eyeballs, there’ll be Big Ten-SEC implications on the line. Obviously, I mean, Lincoln Riley really nosedove at the end of that season. Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams — two Heisman Trophy winners — both gone. It’s just a fascinating game with a lot of different tentacles to it.”