After a dark, cold, dreary offseason, the 2024 college football season is zipping around the corner.

Fall camps are almost open, competitions will be decided and programs are looking ahead to their opening games in August or September.

And we certainly are excited about the last point.

From a showdown between Clemson and Georgia, rivalry games and key early conference tilts, the opening three weekends of the 2024 season have several important clashes on the calendar.

Week 1: Top Game

Who doesn't love an opener with a couple of national powers?

Beyond fans of the losing team, of course. Nevertheless, this clash in Atlanta pits Clemson against Georgia. The teams squared off in Charlotte during the 2021 season, and UGA pulled out an ugly 10-3 victory to kick off a campaign that ended with a national championship.

Thanks to the expanding College Football Playoff, the impact of this result won't necessarily be as harsh. Clemson gave up its margin for error in that 2021 setback, but a loss instead will mildly sting here.

On the other hand, the winning team is likely to secure an impactful early victory for its eventual CFP resume.

Week 1: Best Storylines

Aug. 31: Miami at Florida

Since the in-state programs don't meet regularly, any matchup is highly anticipated. This contest also arrives at a perfectly bad moment for whichever team leaves The Swamp unhappy. Miami's Mario Cristobal and Florida's Billy Napier are both entering the third season of a so-far-underwhelming tenure, so it's safe to assume hot-seat conversations will be following the losing coach.

Aug. 31: Notre Dame at Texas A&M

On paper, Notre Dame has a pretty favorable slate in 2024. Kicking off the season with a victory in College Station would be a terrific boost as Duke transfer Riley Leonard takes over the ND offense. Texas A&M, meanwhile, is ready for the debut of head coach Mike Elko—who coached Leonard for the last two seasons.

Sep. 1: USC vs. LSU

Two years ago, USC's Caleb Williams won the Heisman Trophy. Last season, LSU's Jayden Daniels hoisted the prestigious award. And now, their replacements—Miller Moss and Garrett Nussmeier, respectively—will be under a Sunday night spotlight in Las Vegas.

Week 2: Top Game

Texas is loaded with storylines.

After winning the Big 12 during its farewell year in the conference, the Longhorns enter the SEC with an experienced roster and championship aspirations. Veteran quarterback Quinn Ewers is back, and Texas is ready to unleash a transfer-infused group of receivers.

But in Week 2, the Horns are headed to the Midwest for a battle with Michigan's potentially elite defense.

Michigan, too, is stacked in the narrative department. This contest will be head coach Sherrone Moore's—and a rebuilt offense's and new quarterback's—first notable test in the post-Jim Harbaugh era.

Much of the college football world's attention will be locked onto Ann Arbor for this noon ET kickoff.

Week 2: Best Storylines

Sep. 7: Tennessee vs. North Carolina State (in Charlotte)

With a deserved nod to Iowa State and Iowa in the afternoon, the rest of the most intriguing games fall in the evening. Tennessee is shifting to start recent top prospect Nico Iamaleava at quarterback this season, and NC State brought in Coastal Carolina star Grayson McCall. Neither team is a top-tier conference contender, but both schools at least open the season on the fringe of the CFP discussion.

Sep. 7: Colorado at Nebraska

On one hand, you have Deion Sanders. He'll attract eyeballs, naturally. For me, though, this is about the resumption of a classic Big 12 rivalry for programs that are trying to regain national relevance. Colorado is back in its former conference with slightly rising expectations, while Nebraska is poised to unveil true freshman Dylan Raiola at quarterback.

Sep. 7: Boise State at Oregon

Oregon opens the campaign as a prime national threat, so its first big challenge of the season is notable. In addition, I'm also ready to see if Boise State—the reigning Mountain West champion and the early favorite in 2024—plays well against top competition. Boise may start USC transfer Malachi Nelson, another recent top prospect, as the team pursues the Group of Five's spot in the CFP.

Week 3: Top Game

You might want to reserve this Friday night.

Arizona and Kansas State are key contenders in the expanded Big 12, but there's a twist here. Because this had been scheduled before the latest wave of realignment, it remains a nonconference game.

In other words: We get a legitimate preview of the Big 12 race, yet the result won't affect the league standings.

Arizona lost coach Jedd Fisch to Washington yet returns a dynamic QB/WR tandem in Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan. Kansas State, meanwhile, is shifting to dual-threat quarterback Avery Johnson after he impressed mostly as a part-time player in his freshman season.

Even though the stakes aren't as high as possible, it's a valuable game for the dueling Wildcats.

Week 3: Best Storylines

Sep. 14: Alabama at Wisconsin

Alabama eases into the post-Nick Saban era with home games opposite Western Kentucky and South Florida. Week 3, however, sends the Crimson Tide to a different kind of raucous environment at Camp Randall Stadium. Bama is certainly the favorite, but Wisconsin is always stingy on defense and could make it interesting in Kalen DeBoer's first road test.

Sep. 14: Pac-2 Rivalries

One major downside of realignment is that traditional rivalries can fall apart. Fortunately for fans in the Pacific Northwest, that's not happening. (Yet, at least.) Saturday's second window of games includes Oregon at Oregon State and Washington State at Washington.

Sep. 14: SEC Openers

First up, LSU travels to South Carolina for a noon ET kickoff. During the mid-afternoon, Texas A&M hosts Florida in another big game for Napier. The narrative around UF's coach will be much sharper—either way—if the Gators sweep Miami and A&M or lose to both. Georgia then heads to Kentucky in what has been a thorny environment lately.