This year in college football, just like any other, there were countless memorable games throughout the season; whether it was during the regular season, bowl games, or the playoffs, there are many matches to be remembered for a long time. But lets take a look at the top matchups: the best of the best: the games that will be remembered forever. Here are 10 of the best matches from the 2023-2024 college football season:
On September 9, 2023, the Alabama Crimson Tide faced off against the Texas Longhorns in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in an exciting regular season matchup. The Longhorns prevailed, 34-24, winning their first game in Tuscaloosa since they last played there in November of 1902. Texas now leads the all-time series between the two powerhouses 7-2-1.
On September 16th, 2023, in a game that started after 10:00 pm EST in Folsom Field, Colorado, and ended after 1:00 am EST, the #18 Colorado Buffaloes outlasted the Colorado State Rams, 43-35, after overtime ensued not once, but twice. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a son of Head Coach and former NFL superstar Deion Sanders, delivered in many clutch moments to keep his team alive and away from being upset by their rival. The win pushed the Buffaloes to 3-0, while setting the Rams back to 0-2.
One of the highest scoring games throughout the entire college football season, the #20 Ole Miss Rebels fought the #13 LSU Tigers on September 30th, 2023, in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in the University, Mississippi. The Rebels won the offensive masterpiece of a game, 55-49, upsetting the Tigers and their heisman trophy-winning quarterback, Jayden Daniels,.
Also known as the "Red River Rivalry", the #12 Oklahoma Sooners took down their arch rivals, the #3 Texas Longhorns, in Fair Park Stadium, located in Dallas, Texas, on October 7th, 2023. The score of the game ended 34-30, after Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel rifled a touchdown pass to receiver Nic Anderson with 15 seconds left in the 4th quarter. With the Sooners win, the all-time rivalry record sits at 63-51-5, with the Longhorns in the lead by 12 total wins. The two historic football programs are set to meet again in the 2024-2025 season in another Red River Rivalry showdown in Fair Park Stadium, once again.
On October 14, 2023, the Washington Huskies battled with the Oregon Ducks for a highly anticipated regular season matchup in Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Both teams were 5-0 heading into the game. The Huskies took down the Ducks, 36-33, after Oregon missed a game-tying field goal to send the game to overtime.
One of the most highly anticipated and heavily watched games every season, the #2 Michigan Wolverines took on the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes on November 25th, 2023, in Michigan Stadium, otherwise known as "The Big House" in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines would end up pulling through, winning 30-24, after Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord threw a game-ending interception with 27 seconds left in the 4th quarter. The big win would place Michigan yet again at the #2 spot in the College Football Playoff, while the loss for Ohio State would place them at #7 and out of the playoffs. The decorated rivalry record now sits at 60-51-6, with the Wolverines holding 9 more all-time victories over the Buckeyes.
On November 25, 2023, the Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Auburn Tigers in Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. In the 4th quarter on 4th and Goal from the 31 yard-line, on a desperate last attempt to win the game, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe delivered a touchdown pass to receiver Isaiah Bond with 32 seconds left on the clock. Without this crucial score, Alabama most likely would not have made the College Football Playoffs. The Crimson Tide now lead the all-time series in the Iron Bowl rivalry, 50-37-1.
On December 1st, 2023, the Oregon Ducks battled with the Washington Huskies for another highly anticipated matchup in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. This time, both teams were playing for a potential spot in the College Football Playoff. The Huskies took down the Ducks, 34-31, after Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. drove his team down the field through a game-ending drive.
On December 2nd, 2023, The undefeated #1 Georgia Bulldogs went head to head with their number one competitor, the #8 Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban's Crimson Tide ended up taking home the victory in a close, one possession game, 27-24. The win placed Alabama at #4, just making it into the College Football Playoff, where they would be placed in the Rose Bowl to face off against the #1 Michigan Wolverines. Meanwhile, Head Coach Kirby Smart's Bulldogs were placed at #6, outside of the playoff. They would be placed into the Orange Bowl, where they would run through the undefeated #5 Florida State Seminoles, 63-3.
The most watched college football semi-final game of all time and a highly anticipated matchup, the #1 Michigan Wolverines took on the #4 Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, on January 1st, 2024. Being 2 of the most decorated football programs ever, and the 2 teams with the most wins of all time, the game pulled in over 27.2 million viewers, along with over 92,000 in-person viewers. The Wolverines ended up on top, winning 27-20 in overtime after they stopped Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe from running up the middle of the field on 4th and goal with 3 yards to go. Michigan's impressive victory placed them a spot in the National Championship game in NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on New Years Day 2024, where they won their first national championship since 1997.
