10 Games that will shape the 2024 College Football Season | Joel Klatt Show

Intro what happens if Michigan beats Texas that would be pretty wild I think people aren't expecting that what happens if they do it you know the boa constrictor what happens if the boa constrictor is still around college football's never been better interest has never been higher believe that we are at the dawn of the golden age of college football it was an epic day of college football it was one of those days where you fall in love with the sport all over again [Music] what's up everybody welcome into the Joel class show I am Joel clatt and welcome to uh another Edition here in the offseason there's no offseason in college football certainly not anymore uh I'm happy that you are with us we have got a great episode here today uh I'll get into that in just a moment but first follow us on YouTube make sure to subscribe to the channel um I'm there you need to be there as well I comment down below I try to jump in those comments and conversations and we'll continue to do that on almost every single episode that we release on YouTube so make sure to subscribe there uh and then like the show comment below and do all the things just a quick update we are really close to 150,000 subscribers that would be great if we got there uh fairly quickly we are going to do a little prize at some point when we get to the 150,000 an update on the hats those of you that did do the 22520 Reps the challenge I've got hats for you coming we were just looking uh me and the the folks here at the Joel class show we were just looking at the design custom logo hats for you that did 225 so that's coming up soon here's what we want to do though today for the show 10 games that will shape the college football season okay I didn't say the 10 most important games or or most impactful games or biggest rivalries these are the games that are really going to shape the season shape the playoff shape everything that we've got going in college football because there's so much going on just think about what we're going to encounter once we start kicking things off here uh this fall we've got conference realignment we got a new playoff those things are going to be wild we're going to have matchups that we've never really seen before in conference play and we're going to have conferences like the big 10 in the SEC vying for that fourth maybe even fifth spot in the college football playoff we're going to have conferences like the ACC and the Big 12 vying to get obviously their Champion but also like a second can we get a second in to the playoffs so all of these games that I'm about to talk about are going to shape all of those things the college football season let's get into it um I'm going to go in chronological order okay so this is not level of shaping or interest or so on and so forth this is just chronological order as we move through the season here's the games that are going to shape everything that we talk about week one Sunday September 1st USC and LSU in in Las Vegas that's the first matchup an early Big 10 SEC matchup that USC vs. LSU could have huge ramifications obviously in the Su two super conferences in their Battle For Those few playoff spots that are Ely going to pop up in terms of those at llarge spots I think USC and LSU are pretty similarly positioned within their conferences which is a bit of an unknown okay we believe in their coaches they've got great track record and history we believe in their locations got great track record and history at each of those schools and programs and yet we still don't know in this new iteration of these conferences where are they going to be at where are they going to be at are they going to be a top three team in their conference four five six where do they fall in this new conference each of these teams are in that predicament so let's just think about this for a moment shaping the season what happens if USC goes out there and wins this game all right well then you start thinking about changes the complexion of the Big 10 Race now you start thinking about the Big 10 as a four five6 Team league a deep conference all of the sudden the perception not that it's one way now but the perception would start to build for the Big 10 they would have that Marquee win in the non-conference that would be really important if you're getting down to those few playoff spots at the end we've always said and I continue continue to say it during the course of this this off season Lincoln Riley that guy right there over my right shoulder those of you watching on YouTube if he gets a defense how good can he be how good can he be I know that they're losing Caleb Williams I understand that but it hasn't mattered who's been the quarterback for Lincoln Riley that quarterback is going to be one of the better players in the country and I saw firsthand Miller moss in that Holiday Bowl I thought he was pretty good I really did and he's got excellent players around him Zachariah Branch I mean my goodness right like they're going to be fine offensively so it comes down to deanon Lynn he brings that Ravens background to USC he was excellent at UCLA last year if they get any bit of Defense they will be a tough out now you ask yourself like LSU what happens if they win well they've got to replace Jaden Daniels two first round receivers Malik neighbors and Brian Thomas and their offensive coordinator Mike Den Brock so they 's a lot going on at LSU these two defenses by the way USC and LSU they were not very good they were horrible defenses they both changed coordinators if LSU wins then you start to play out their schedule they should be 5-0 when ol Miss comes to Death Valley in October their third hardest game on the schedule then are at home miss their three hardest games sorry Miss Bama and U in the finale so now if you if you can beat USC now all of a sudden LSU starts having that path towards those atar large playoff spots that game is going to be a huge game when we're talking about shaping the college football season so that's week one September 1st USC and LSU week number two this is a big one huge huge huge huge Texas at Michigan by the way that game's going to be on big noon on Fox Gus jinny and I will be there to call the game the fellas will be there with big noon kickoff and we're going to have Texas at Michigan Steve sarkeesian Texas vs. Michigan be brings the Texas Longhorns up to face the defending national champion who barely resembles themselves at least as the Personnel goes remember everybody is different nothing has changed at Michigan at least that's what they hope this is another big 10 SEC Conference matchup by the way there's four of these this year if you're looking towards uh these these matchups in these conferences for let's say that fourth or even fifth spot in the playoff you've got uscl LSU which I just talked about this game Texas Michigan you've got Alabama Wisconsin by the way that's a big noon game as well we'll be there for that one in Madison and you've also got LSU and UCLA you can see like these first two that I'm talking about they're the ones that are really going to carry the weight this Texas Michigan game like for number one it's going to shape the season because we're going to figure out what Michigan is all about we're going to we're going to find out they have run the Big 10 now for three years they just won the National Championship they are at the top of college football and we will find out if they're even close to that at that day with Chiron Moore their new head coach now I really like Chiron Moore I've known him for a long time and this is the guy for the job there's not a doubt in my mind but they have got to replace so many great leaders on that team selfless players like Mike sril you just saw hugging Chiron Moore like Blake corm the running back who was just incredible not only on the field but off they've recruited pretty well but they've developed even better can they continue to develop what what is their offense going to look like is it going to be Alex Orgy at quarterback we might not know even at that point Donovan Edwards is back Kell mullings is back in the Run game coulston Loveland is back at tight end their defense has one of the best defensive lines in the country Kenneth Grant up there with Mason Graham they they are combined the two best defensive tackles in college football so it's not going to be easy for Texas I think that the narrative right now in the offseason is that Texas is going to roll up there they're more talented they're they're they got their quarterback quinnn ERS and they're just going to beat Michigan all right let's just pose this question for a moment what happens if Michigan beats Texas that would be pretty wild I think people aren't expecting that what happens if they do it you know the boa constrictor what happens if the boa constrictor is still around and they still can run the football and they still play great defense and they Rush the quarterback you know all of those things I think would be interesting and then that would reshape the college football year as we are thinking about it now cuz right now and I'm including myself in this I don't hold miching in my top four in college football right now in the off season now if they were to beat Texas that changes immediately again shaping the season and then if Texas is able to go in there and defeat the the defending national champion we would again know that they are at the top of the sport just like their win against Alabama last year in Tuscaloosa it would be eerily similar at that Point kind of announcing it's like hey we're not going anywhere Texas is back they're going to have an incredible offensive line maybe one of the best in the country great skill positions obviously and Quinn ERS now I've got questions about their defense losing their defensive tackles and losing those defensive tackles what happens if Michigan runs it 52 times it's going to be a great game again shaping the college football season early statement opportunity for both programs early statement opportunities for both the SEC and the Big 10 Let's uh stay in week two September 7th and we we move to a different Big 10 game this one in the non-conference as well Colorado at Nebraska that's my third game shaping Colorado vs. Nebraska the college football season this one's really important for the Big 12 namely because we're questioning right now in the new iteration of this playoff with the power of the SEC in the Big 10 is there going to be room for a second team out of the Big 12 in the playoff is there going to be room room for a second ACC team in the playoff I'm not sure I'm not sure games like this will go a long way in shaping what we think about who's included in the playoff and what conference they play in Colorado Nebraska it's really important for the Big 12 in particular because they need those types of head-to-head matchup victories just like the ACC will need when they face teams out of the SEC this is going to be a night game in Lincoln uh NBC's got the call if Colorado wins then we're right back in this scenario that we were early last season and it might have even more stay power to be honest with you last year Colorado early in the season tough to beat they were healthy the depth issues were not showing up yet Travis Hunter hadn't gotten hurt yet and they were tough to beat if they protect shador Sanders they're really good he's a heck of a player this is the old school rivalry that I grew up on by the way you know I grew up in Colorado like this is this is the game that I dreamt of every single year this is the game that I dreamt of playing in when I went to Colorado so like everything about this game is awesome for me and it's going to shape the season if Colorado wins all of a sudden we're right back into Dion Mania just like we were a year ago it's Prime Time all over again if Nebraska wins that's a very different type of shaping let me just take you into a Nebraska win that would be their toughest test I think by a substantial margin on the way to being 7-0 heading into to play Ohio State and Columbus later in the year that would be a game in October if you look at their first four games they're all at home UTEP Colorado Northern Iowa Illinois then their next three are at Purdue home against Ruckers and at Indiana they beat Colorado there's a real likelihood that they're seven and0 remember this this team was much better than their record indicated this team was decimated by both injuries and turnovers and those turnovers specifically showed up from the quarterback position what happens if rayola their freshman quarterback comes out and plays really well in particular early and beats Colorado at night at home with that fan base you're talking about shaping the college football season all of the sudden the Big 10 now starts to think boy we've got six legitimate teams that could be in the hunt and by the way even after a potential loss to Ohio State let's just say they go to Ohio State and lose they could be 8- one when the first playoff rankings come out because they play UCLA at home after Ohio State so that's why this game against Colorado is so important we're either going to plunge headlong into prime time time Mania again coach Prime Mania or Nebraska is going to be for real so that game is highly interesting and and a game that will definitely shape the season uh let's move on okay week five let's go all the way to week five so we skip a couple of weeks September 28th huge one out of the SEC Georgia at Alabama and we Georgia vs. Alabama get to find out everything we need to know about the new Alabama Georgia is to be either number one or number two I would probably suspect number one in the preseason they're going to be facing Alabama for the first time since obviously Bama ended that 29 game winning streak in last year's SEC Championship Game knocked the dogs out of the playoff by the way I know that Bama won their last meeting but Georgia has won the more recent national championships and the legend has stepped down so this is no longer Kirby smart as the Protege against the master Nick sabbin this is a Sabin Les Alabama program that's why this game is so interesting I would argue that the new standard in college football even with Michigan as the defending national champion is Georgia they're the program that is still intact as far as a program that is a recent National Champion winner a recent 29 game win streak they're a few snaps away from being back in the playoff and going for a threee right like we know how Kirby has recruited Kirby at this point I think it's safe to say is the standard in college football so now all of the sudden it's no longer Georgia trying to measure up take down Alabama the Protegé reaching after and trying to beat his mentor it's in some ways the opposite even though kayin dbor is not the the the mentee in this case Alabama will be measuring themselves against Georgia now that's why this game is so important and impactful and will shape not only the season but all of college football it will shape exactly what we think of the sport in terms of who holds the standard in the sport this is a huge test for kayin dbor in the post Sabin era that fan base is going to be expecting them to be competitive in this game obviously now it it pays that it's at home and listen kayin dbor is a hell of a coach if he went to anywhere except for Alabama I'd be like that's a home run but Kaylin debor went to a place where he has replacing the best greatest in history college football coach that we've ever seen that's a tall task it's a tall task you talk about shaping college football not just the playoff race not just the SEC race but also the overarching sport who holds the standard that's on the line in that game week six October oober 5th let's go to the ACC Clemson at Florida State the ACC is going to be fighting for a play a second Clemson vs. Florida State playoff spot just like the big 12 is and the winner of this game likely puts themselves in in a firm I would say seat path control of a birth in the ACC Championship Game it gives him some cushion as it relates to playing for that conference title which then would get them the automatic birth into the college football playoffs I do not think that the Big 12 in the SC in the ACC excuse me should rely on hey we think we're going to get two they can't rely on that you've got to get into the game so that's why this game will shape the season so dramatically is because the winner of Clemson Florida State I believe will have a firm hold on a birth in the game that could potentially put them into the college football playoff so this game is absolutely impactful when it comes to shaping the season shaping the conferences in shaping exactly what this playoff is going to look like Florida State beat Clemson last year finally knocking them off by the way after losing seven straight would a second straight win over Clemson make FSU the new leaders in the ACC I'm not sure I'm not sure I don't know exactly what to expect out of Clemson but the winner of this game is certainly in control of that conference week seven October 12th Oregon State or excuse me Ohio State sorry travels to Oregon and you talk about a massive game Ryan Day Travels With A team that a lot of people think Ohio State vs. Oregon could be number one or number two in the preseason I think I'm probably going to put them at number one I think it's a toss up but man when you look at what they kept when you look at the value of veteran players in particular on the defense I think Ohio State could have the best defense in college football and you look at the value of veteran players like what we saw at Michigan a year ago this team is going to be incredible and now they've got a travel to face an Oregon team that I would also hold in the regard of a top four team in college football I think there are four great teams in college football maybe some more and listen I want to leave myself open for that because obviously it's very early Georgia and Ohio State Texas and Oregon I think those four teams right now are pretty clearly the four best teams in college football at least right now okay and obviously things can change but Oregon gets their first measuring stick in their new conference Ohio state is the standard in a lot of ways in the Big 10 them in Michigan now Michigan's replacing their coach they're replacing almost their entire roster and Ohio State is still there so in order to win the Big 10 you know you've got to beat one of those two teams or both of those teams Michigan and Ohio state Oregon's going to have a chance to do both of those they're going to travel to the big house later in the season but this is their first measuring stick what are we in the Big 10 are we going to compete at the highest level in the Big 10 now you know how I feel about Dan Lanning I have said this and I will continue to say it if I had to buy stock and a young coach right now in college football it would be Dan Lanning I love what he does I love his energy he has recruited very well they've got the resources that's a tough place to play you know you you think about these teams that are going to need to get themselves in a position to maybe get the Buy in the playoff to win the conference in the SEC or the uh uh excuse me SEC or the the Big 10 in order to get to that game you've probably got to win this game because of the way the schedules are going to be imbalanced in these conferences it's not going to shock me if a team like Penn State or a team like Missouri can kind of get themselves into that second position with all the ti Breakers that are going to happen in these these kind of open formats it's not going to surprise me if teams like that can kind of I don't want to say sneak but get themselves in position to be in the conference Championship game now we all think that Oregon and Ohio State are the odds on favorite to be in that game we think Texas and the odds on favorite to be in that game in the SEC but without a win in those head-to-heads it's not a guarantee so that's why those games in the regular season are going to be so important and we're going to get to see Ohio state with a new quarterback with a new offensive coordinator and really what I would deem as their first real test of the season the next week week Georgia vs. Texas eight it's a game that I just referenced Georgia at Texas and all for all the same kind of reasons that I was just talking about Oregon and Ohio State now Texas moves into a conference after being in the playoff thinking that they you know we put ourselves on the upper echelon of college football Steve sarkeesian has done an incredible job and now bam you get the standard in college football two national championships in the last three years Kirby Smart is there no one's recruited better than Georgia and you're going to host Georgia and again because of the schedules that these two teams play versus the schedule like let's say Missouri plays there's a chance that you're going to get Missouri into the SEC Championship Game based on who they play and win and then the loser of this game Georgia at Texas is going to have a very difficult road to get back and qualify in for the SEC Championship Game makes this a monster matchup between I would contend two national title contenders Georgia has a beast of a schedule so in a lot of ways I think that they've got to go win this game they play the three toughest teams in the SEC all on the road at Alabama at Texas and at at miss that makes this game very important that makes this game vital Georgia and Tex Texas are favorites to be in that championship game but it's not a guarantee it's not a guarantee so if you want a first round by if you're Texas or if you're Georgia if you want to make your path to a national championship as easy as possible winning that game is going to be important week N9 October 26th and this is one of those games Mizz at Bama that's it's kind of sneaky and it wouldn't I don't think it would pop up on a game that's like most important most impactful blah you talking about shaping the season Missouri at Alabama October 26th in week nine Missouri at Alabama Missouri is the team that could take advantage of a Georgia or Texas dropping a game or two in the SEC they're in a perfect position they bring bra back Brady cook as a third-year starter one of the best wide receivers by the way in the country Luther Burton he's fantastic Missouri's schedule is set up for them to find a way to that championship game they do not play they do not play in their conference Georgia they do not play Texas they do not play Ol Miss they do not play LSU and they do not play Tennessee this is their toughest SEC game if they can beat Alabama they're going to be in Atlanta so like wrap your minds around that like we just think that it's like oh you know like Texas and Georgia and Ohio State Oregon maybe Ohio State Michigan there are teams that can spoil that in particular with the way that these conference schedules are imbalanced again I'm just going to say that again Missouri with a third-year starting quarterback one of the best wide receivers in the country and coming off a really good year do not play Georgia do not play Texas do not play Miss do not play LSU and do not play Tennessee they're going to be what's you can get by if they beat like let's say A&M in their fifth game they should be S and0 when they go to Tuscaloosa I think they should beat Texas A&M win against Bama and they're in a good position be what third in the country second in the country at that point at 80 and then their final four games after Alabama are as follows they are at home to OU they're at South Carolina they're at Mississippi State and then they've got Arkansas at Home Folks that's an that is an incredibly manageable schedule and that's why I think Missouri could be a sneaky team that gets to Atlanta and that's why that game against Alabama is going to be so important all right week 10 November 2nd Ohio State at Penn State Ohio State vs. Penn State this is a similar game to what I just talked about with Missouri and Alabama this has been the hurdle for oh uh for Penn State is trying to beat Ohio State and Michigan to be fair by the way they don't play Michigan this year so now they've got Ohio State they've got them at home I think it's one of the great home environments in all of college football I really do a win in Happy Valley over Ohio state would put Penn State in the absolute prime spot to go play for the Big 10 title the 2022 class they're all now Juniors that is Drew Aller Nick Singleton KRON Allen Abdul Carter like we've pointed at this class this is a really talented class this is a good football team Andy codal Nikki comes in as their offensive coordinator Tom Allen the the the former head coach at Indiana he's now the defensive coordinator their schedule at Penn State is manageable maybe not quite as easy I don't want to say easy as missoui but like missoui is the that you look at their schedule you're like wow that's that's crazy and you can see the path Penn State is similar although not quite as as as smooth they open with a really tricky game at West Virginia by the way that's going to be on big noon that'll be a fox game Gus jinny and I will be there big noon kickoff will be there West Virginia won nine games last year three games stretch that will go a long way in determining their season Penn State they're at USC which that game looks totally different based on the first game that I talked about LSU and USC but they're at USC they've got a bye then they're at Wisconsin and then they're home to Ohio state that three-week stretch right there is going to tell you everything that you need to know about James Franklin and the nitty lions and by the way if Ohio state is just rolling through if they're able to beat Oregon on the road if they're able to beat Penn State on the road then it's like yep that's a national title Contender that is a national title Contender and maybe favorite at that point and then the last game that I would talk about and you Michigan vs. Ohio State can't talk about games that shape College col football without talking about this game week 13 November 30th that's right it's the game Michigan at Ohio State you just think of the ramifications and this is the one that's similar to like Georgia and Alabama it's like this this game in so many ways is going to shape the sport for the foreseeable future like Alabama now trying to measure themselves against Georgia and Kirby Smart now all of the sudden Ohio state is having to measure up against Michigan Michigan is the one that has won the national championship and been 15-0 Michigan is the one that is 3-0 in the last 3 years against Ohio State Michigan is the one that is the three-time defending Big 10 Champion Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have to win this game they're hosting this game they've lost three straight and they need it they need it badly and I think that their activity this off season signals that Ryan Day gave up play calling duties he brings in Chip Kelly he goes out raises an incredible amount of money and they retain a veteran roster in particular on defense and great players on the offensive side AA abuka is back trayon Henderson is back JT tuy mooa is Back Jack Sawyer is back I mean you go down the list they get premium transfers quinan Judkins is now a running back for them Caleb DS is now a safety for them the roster is incredible the defense is incredible there's an in there's an insane amount of pressure on the coaching staff in Columbus right now there just there just is this could be a rematch for the following week in Indianapolis and Ohio State could be looking to spoil a potential playoff birth for Michigan Michigan's got a really tough schedule they've got to play USC they've got to play Texas they've got to they've got to play Ohio State they've got to play Oregon you know you're not getting into the playoff with four losses and so depending how quickly Chiron Moore gets all these new players going Ohio State could be playing to knock Michigan out of the playoff you talk about shaping the season that game is about as important as any game in college football this year so those are the 10 games um all right hey coming up next week it is returning I am so proud to Special Announcement announce that big noon conversations is coming back I am thrilled we have had an unbelievable spring recording a lot of these interviews with the best and brightest biggest names in college football we've had some great conversations I am am incredibly fortunate um and appreciative for these guys taking time to sit down and talk about themselves their programs so big noon conversations with the Joel clat show is coming back next Monday Monday June June 10th we will be debuting the Chiron Moore episode the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines will be with us next Monday as we will start to drop every Monday after that for the next eight Mondays we will drop a new conversation and I couldn't be more proud of our team we've worked incredibly hard this spring I think you're going to really enjoy it uh so those are coming next week I cannot wait for those I appreciate you listening remember to go subscribe on YouTube leave a comment below like the video and do all the things we'll see you next week when big noon conversations return