Yes, it's March, and we're still months away from the 2024 college football season kicking off. But everyone loves upsets, and as March Madness approaches, it's only fitting to start looking ahead at potential college football upsets next season.

College football in 2024 will look a lot different thanks to conference realignment and an expanded 12-team playoff. While it's a bit tricky to predict what constitutes an upset with the conference shuffling, we did our best to pick some here.

Sure, these picks are way too early, and a lot of them may not hold up come kickoff. But based on winter and spring coaching changes, roster additions and returning personnel from last season, here are some upset picks for the 2024 season.

Out-of-Conference, Mid-Major/Power Conference Matchups to Keep an Eye on

Penn State at WVU, Aug. 31

Penn State's taken a back seat to both Michigan and Ohio State inside the Big Ten in recent years. Still, finishing 10-3 last season gave the Nittany Lions a Top-25 finish. As PSU looks to compete inside an expanded Big Ten in 2024, it gets a tough road test in Week 1, traveling to West Virginia.

Coming off of two consecutive seasons below .500, the Mountaineers went 9-4 last season, including a 5-1 record at home. WVU gets 70 percent of its returning production back from last season, per SP+, and it looks poised to build in 2024. The Mountaineers pulling off an upset here wouldn't be too surprising.

Alabama at Wisconsin, Sept. 14

During a normal college football season, this matchup wouldn't move the needle much. But 2024 will be far from normal without Nick Saban roaming the Alabama sidelines. As Kalen DeBoer replaces a legend in 2024, the Tide will also take an uncommon out-of-conference road trip to Wisconsin in Week 3.

Alabama has gone on the road to play a non-conference opponent just four times in the past 15 years. Most recently, the Tide barely edged out Texas and USF in 2022 and 2023, respectively. DeBoer inherits a Tide team that returns just 44 percent of its production from last season. Wisconsin should improve offensively with transfer quarterback Tyler Van Dyke incoming. Second-year head coach Luke Fickell would love to make some noise by pulling off an upset here.

UCF at Florida, Oct. 5

Back in 2018, then-Group of Five UCF had a very public back-and-forth scheduling attempt with the Florida Gators. At the time, Florida didn't see the benefit of scheduling a home-and-home series against a non-Power Five opponent.

Three years later, cooler heads prevailed, (and Knights athletic director Danny White left for Tennessee) and the schools will play twice in Gainesville and once at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Florida is still in rebuilding mode entering Billy Napier's third year. Losing at home to a less-decorated in-state opponent early in the season just might set Napier's hot seat on fire.

Mid-Major vs. Power Conference games with upset potential

Clemson vs. App State, Sept. 7

Look, I'm not ready to say this will definitely happen, but 2024 is a very important year for Dabo Swinney and Clemson. The Tigers are looking to return to the playoff for the first time in three seasons and be a contender again in the ACC.

App State is no stranger to giving some schools scares. The Mountaineers have narrowly lost to UNC in each of the past two years, losing 63-61 in 2022 and falling 40-34 in double-overtime last season. Coming off a 9-4 campaign and ranking 33rd in returning production, I can see App State keeping this one close against the Tigers.

JMU at North Carolina, Sept. 21

We've seen the Tar Heels struggle against a Sun Belt opponent early in the year (see App State above). Although the Dukes, which finished 11-2 last season, will have a new head coach in Bob Chesney, I like James Madison to play well on the road early in the season. It sure feels like the Tar Heels are due for a September upset here soon.

Colorado Can Pull off Some Upsets This Year

Colorado got off to a hot 3-0 start last season before imploding to lose eight of its last nine games. It was a disappointing end to the year under first-year Buffs head coach Deion Sanders. But there's room for optimism in Boulder heading into 2024.

For starters, star playmakers in quarterback Shedeur Sanders, receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and running back Dylan Edwards are all returning. Colorado also added six offensive linemen this offseason, including Houston transfer Tyler Johnson and 5-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton this offseason.

The Buffs also added six defensive linemen from the transfer portal, so the line play on both sides of the ball—a big issue for Colorado in 2023—should improve.

Let's take a look at some upsets Colorado could pull off next season as the Buffs move to the Big 12.

-Colorado at Nebraska, Sept. 7: The Buffs beat the Cornhuskers 36-14 at home in this one last season. This one could be an interesting quarterback battle between Sanders and Nebraska true freshman signal-caller Dylan Raiola.

-Utah at Colorado, Oct. 12: The Utes enter the Big 12 looking to rebound from a down 8-5 year last season. Quarterback Cam Rising returns, but he's a bit of a question mark after missing the entire 2023 season because of an injury he suffered last January in the Rose Bowl.

-Kansas State at Colorado, Nov. 16: We'll touch on the big roster losses the Wildcats will have this season later, but trust us when we say they exist. By November, this Colorado team could be hitting its stride with all the roster changes it made this offseason. Beating the Wildcats at home doesn't seem too far off.

Georgia Tech over Florida State, Aug. 24

Look, I know Florida State fans will be upset with me for this one, and it could be a bit of a reach, but hear me out! The Noles got snubbed from the playoff last season after losing star quarterback Jordan Travis to injury. Although the Noles have to replace most of that team from last season (83rd in SP+ returning production), FSU is in a great spot to rebuild with Mike Norvell at the helm.

But this Georgia Tech team has a lot of momentum entering Tech alumnus Brent Key's second year. Coming off a bowl victory for the first time since 2016, the Yellow Jackets will return starting quarterback Haynes King as well as leading wide receiver Eric Singleton. GT ranks seventh in returning production on offense overall. The Noles will have quarterback DJ Uiagalelei under center, but some young stars will have to step up to be weapons around him.

This game in Week Zero will be played in Dublin, Ireland, and Florida State fans are expected to travel well for it. But this Tech program is headed in a great direction under Key—the Yellow Jackets lost to Georgia by just one score last season and came from behind to beat UCF in their bowl game. Give me Tech to pull off a shocker of an upset here in a close one.

Texas A&M over Notre Dame, Sept. 1

What a fun matchup we have in store for Week 1. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is eager to lead this Fighting Irish team to a playoff bid in 2024. Texas A&M, meanwhile, looks poised to have a big season in new head coach Mike Elko's first season in College Station.

This one has an interesting storyline under center, too. Coach Elko will be calling the defense against his former starting quarterback at Duke. Former Blue Devil signal-caller Riley Leonard has since transferred to Notre Dame. Over three seasons at Duke, he threw for 4,450 yards passing with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while rushing for another 1,224 yards and 19 scores.

Aggies starting quarterback Conner Weigman is expected to have a breakout season in 2024. He played in TAMU's last five games as a true freshman in 2023. Despite being named the starter last season, a foot injury he suffered in Week 4 last year sidelined him for the rest of the year.

Coach Elko led Duke to a 9-4 record his first season with the Blue Devils. I think he can similarly have a big season with the Aggies in 2024, starting off with a big upset over the Fighting Irish at home. As long as Notre Dame doesn't drop too many more games, it should still earn a bid in the 12-team field.

South Carolina over LSU, Sept. 14

South Carolina and LSU are coming off of seasons that went below expectations. The Gamecocks finished 5-7 to miss a bowl game for the first time under head coach Shane Beamer. LSU lost 45-24 to Florida State in its season opener, then failed to be a contender inside the SEC West despite having Heisman winner Jayden Daniels under center.

So it's pretty fitting that both of these teams return 63 percent of their returning production from last season. They both will also have some new faces under center. LSU is expected to name Garrett Nussmeier the starting quarterback.

He had an impressive outing in the Tigers' bowl game win over Wisconsin, throwing for 395 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. South Carolina will decide between redshirt freshman LaNorris Sanders and true freshman Dante Reno.

This will be Nussmeier's first true SEC road test in his career, which I think the Gamecock defense can capitalize on. I like South Carolina to win this one at home. Plus, you can bet Williams-Brice Stadium will be rocking.

USC over Michigan, Sept. 21

Both of these programs enter 2024 in some interesting spots. USC has failed to make the playoff in two seasons with Lincoln Riley at the helm, and he has to replace Caleb Williams this offseason. Michigan, meanwhile, is without Jim Harbaugh, and longtime Wolverine assistant Sherrone Moore is tasked with replacing him.

Although both programs will have new quarterbacks this fall, I think USC will have the edge here. The Trojans will likely start fourth-year quarterback Miller Moss, who threw for 372 yards, six touchdowns and an interception in USC's bowl win over Louisville.

With J.J. McCarthy heading to the NFL, Michigan has a big question mark under center. Moore will choose between Jack Tuttle, Alex Orji or true freshman Jadyn Davis. Tuttle, despite getting a sixth year of eligibility, has completed just 119 passes for 1,031 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. Orji has just one completion his whole career.

Sure, it'll be a bit of a challenging road trip for USC, but I like Lincoln Riley to get a big statement win on the road in this one. Not to mention Michigan will be two weeks removed from playing Texas leading up to this game.

Tennessee over Alabama, Oct. 19

We already talked a bit about the tough task Kalen DeBoer has in replacing college football's greatest coach of all time in Nick Saban. That task looks harder having to go on the road to face rival Tennessee this season. The last time these two met in Knoxville, the Vols pulled off a remarkable upset of Alabama, winning 52-49.

Jalen Milroe is returning for the Tide in 2023, whereas Tennessee is reloading under center with new starter Nico Iamaleava. In his debut in a win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl, he went 12-of-19 passing with 151 yards and a touchdown, along with 27 yards rushing with three scores on the ground.

Tennessee will return three starting offensive linemen in 2024 in John Campbell, Gerald Mincey and Cooper Mays, as well as receiver Bru McCoy. Alabama will have a lot of attrition on defense this season, returning just 33 percent of its returning production. I think this one will be close, but I like the Vols to pull one out at home.

Author's note: Prediction made assuming NIL investigation into Nico Iamaleava's recruitment doesn't result in a suspension.

Kansas over Kansas State, Oct. 26

Kansas hasn't been able to beat rival Kansas State in its past 15 tries, with the Wildcats having the longest win streak in the rivalry's history. The Jayhawks came close to snapping that streak last year, until K-State rallied from a 11-point deficit to win 31-27.

The Jayhawks will go into this one with revenge on their minds in 2024. And what might be more fitting than snapping that 15-game losing streak on the Wildcats' home turf? Although K-State head coach Chris Kleiman has done a great job the past few seasons in Manhattan, 2024 looks like more of a rebuilding year. The Wildcats lost longtime starting quarterback Will Howard to Ohio State via the transfer portal and have to replace four offensive linemen, receiver Phillip Brooks and tight end Ben Sinnott.

Kansas' offense should improve, assuming star quarterback Jalon Daniels can stay healthy this season. He's shown flashes of what he can do when healthy, including throwing for a Kansas school and bowl record 544 yards against Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl in 2022.

Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold led Kansas to nine wins for just the third time in school history in his third season in Lawrence. Finally getting past rival Kansas State feels like the next step to take.

Washington over USC, Nov. 2

Nick Saban's retirement also set off major changes at Washington, which hired Jedd Fisch to replace Kalen DeBoer. Fisch comes after coaching the past three seasons at Arizona, leading the Wildcats to a 10-3 record and bowl win for the first time since 2015.

It's a good hire for the Huskies, but Fisch will be rebuilding in Seattle. Washington ranks 130th in returning production, thanks to stars Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk headed to the NFL. Plus, due to the coaching change, players like offensive lineman Parker Brailsford, receiver Germie Bernard and cornerback Jabbar Muhammad were among a notable group that entered the transfer portal.

Fisch has added veteran quarterback Will Rogers from the portal and brought some Arizona players like running back Jonah Coleman, receiver Audric Harris and cornerback Ephesians Prysock. It'll take some weeks for this team to jell in Seattle in Fisch's first year, but I think this team will find its stride come November.

This game against USC is in Seattle, plus, Lincoln Riley's last two USC teams haven't played great late in the season. Last year, USC finished 2-5 on the season and lost back-to-back games to Utah in the Pac-12 title game and to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl to close out 2022. I think USC falls victim to a fresh Husky team finding its stride in November.

Ohio State over Michigan, Nov. 30

OK, sure, I know constituting this as an upset may not be fair for these two heavyweight programs. But I do think Ohio State winning this one for the first time in three seasons would be an upset.

Michigan will obviously benefit from a continuity standpoint from elevating Sherrone Moore as head coach. But we touched on all the losses Michigan will have from its roster. Ohio State, meanwhile, looks in great shape with returning starters and recent transfer portal additions.

For starters, a lot of the guys expected to declare for the NFL draft instead opted to return to Columbus for one more season. The list includes receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson, defensive tackle J.T. Tuimoloau and cornerback Denzel Burke. From the transfer portal, head coach Ryan Day landed Alabama cornerback Caleb Downs, Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins, quarterback Will Howard, and former Alabama signee Julian Sayin.

This year's game will also be played in Columbus. Ohio State should have the talent to get past a reloading Michigan this season. If it doesn't, that will put even more pressure on Day.

Other rivalry week games to keep an eye on:

USC vs. Notre Dame: By this point, we'll know if USC is for real or not. The Trojans beat the Irish 38-27 two years ago but fell 48-20 last season. Depending on where both teams are at for this game, it could have major impacts on playoff seeding.

Texas at Texas A&M: Thanks to the Longhorns moving to the SEC, we get a rivalry renewed between these two. They've played a total of 118 times dating back to 1894.

Washington at Oregon: These two played two incredible games last season. Oregon has the edge with returning talent heading into next year, but this game should be a great one regardless.