Whether you love it or hate it, conference realignment is a prominent storyline in college football.

While you may have a hard time getting used to saying, "Texas is an SEC juggernaut," or "I wonder just how big of a factor Stanford and California are going to be in the Atlantic Coast Conference," practice makes perfect.

So, while geography majors and mathematicians shake their heads at the Big Ten and Big 12 having more teams than their names suggest, or teams on the Pacific coast being in a conference named after that other ocean on the other side of the country, college football fans are going to have to prepare for this brave, new world.

Hey, at least there are some outstanding, intriguing matchups provided by conference realignment.

Some of these have gargantuan national championship ramifications, and others may emerge if teams like Boston College and SMU go from "nice little stories" to potential destiny-breakers.

Let's take a look at the top (new) conference games we get to watch thanks to realignment in 2024.

12. SMU at Louisville, Oct. 5

The ACC's additions of SMU, Stanford and California are far and away the least sexy of the bunch of updates to the Power Four.

But there is still the potential for some Cinderella matchups.

Last year, Louisville came from nowhere in Jeff Brohm's first season as head coach of his alma mater after moving over from Purdue, and the Cardinals wound up in the ACC championship game.

Could SMU be the next out-of-nowhere team? It's not out of the question. It's still way too early to tell if the Mustangs' high-octane offense will play in a major conference, and they still probably need more defensive upgrades. But coach Rhett Lashlee is one of the up-and-coming names in the coaching business, and he has some horses on offense.

SMU is already 2-0 this season with wins over Nevada and Houston Christian. With quarterback Preston Stone back from suffering a season-ending injury late last year and a running back room built off transfers like Brashad Smith (Miami) and LJ Johnson Jr. (Texas A&M), there are weapons.

They head to Louisville in early October to take on Brohm's team, which has plenty of firepower in its own right behind transfer quarterback Tyler Shough. Can SMU compete in a wide-open ACC with Florida State and Clemson looking susceptible?

This game has some intrigue and may tell the tale.

11. Washington at Penn State, Nov. 9

If anybody tells you they know what to expect from the Washington Huskies this year, they're either guessing or a incarnation of Nostradamus.

Yes, they finished runner-up in the national championship race a season ago, losing to Michigan. But a near-complete facelift of both sides of the ball left the Huskies with question marks abounding. Oh, by the way, Kalen DeBoer left to be the new coach at Alabama, too.

The cupboard isn't bare, though.

Jedd Fisch is the new coach in Seattle after resurrecting Arizona's program, and he brought with him a bunch of the Wildcats talent on both sides of the ball, such as running back Jonah Coleman. Though Mississippi State quarterback transfer Will Rogers left Starkville to play for DeBoer, he gladly hung around for QB guru Fisch.

By the time their trip to Happy Valley rolls around in November, we'll know exactly what they are. By then, they are apt to be much more dangerous, too, as they jell and mesh together under Fisch's system.

Penn State, on the other hand, looked like a true contender in a Week 1 dismantling of West Virginia, advancing the ball downfield in the passing game much more adeptly than a season ago with Drew Allar beginning his second year as the Nittany Lions' QB.

What will this game mean at this point of the season? There are a lot of storylines that could unfold including the possibility it will hold playoff ramifications.

10. Tennessee at Oklahoma, Sep. 21

We may have to wait and see if the Washington-Penn State game is going to cause more than just a muted ripple on the national college football radar, but Tennessee's trip to Norman comes very soon.

As a matter of fact, the Volunteers head to the Midwest to take on the Sooners during the third week of September in a game that will go a long way in determining which "fringe" team is an SEC contender and which one should be content with just having a nice season.

Everybody is buzzing about second-year redshirt freshmen quarterbacks Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee) and Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma). They were two of the top five signal-callers in the '23 recruiting class, and both have immense potential.

Not only do both of these teams have a lot of intriguing pieces that put them on the cusp of playoff conversations, but they also have plenty to prove.

For the Sooners, it's about whether they can replicate the national noise as hated rival Texas joining the SEC and if their rebuilding defense can play in the nation's toughest league. Just how good of a coach is Brent Venables?

Then, on Tennessee's side, you've got a Josh Heupel-led program that should have made the playoffs two seasons ago with Hendon Hooker at the helm before taking a bit of a step back last year. Expectations are soaring with Iamaleava, but what's the ceiling?

Of course, the underlying plot thickens as Heupel heads back to his alma mater where he led a national championship run as a quarterback and was fired as an offensive coordinator. There are tons of reasons to love this showdown.

9. Texas at Texas A&M, Nov. 30

This one is going to be a ton of fun.

The Texas-Texas A&M rivalry is one rife with bad blood and even worse potshots in print. The Aggies probably thought they'd gotten away from the Longhorns for good when they moved to the SEC, and they haven't played since 2011.

But now the rivalry that had been going on since 1894 will be renewed with the 'Horns coming to the SEC. There is likely lots of "harrumphing" going on in College Station.

If a Week 1 futile offensive effort is any indication, the Aggies have a long way to go this season before being on level playing field as defending College Football Playoff participant Texas, which looked sharp in a Game 1 dismantling of Colorado State and could be poised to go again.

By the time new coach Mike Elko's A&M team gets ready to host the 'Horns at Kyle Field, though, the narrative may change.

There's no question the Aggies have a bunch of talent, and quarterback Conner Weigman is only going to shake off the rust and keep learning under first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein, who was ineffective calling plays after coming over from his alma mater, Kansas State.

The Longhorns may have a top-three roster talent-wise in the nation, and they have a bunch of experience, too. It would be a surprise to see them anywhere but in the top five at the end of the year, and the Aggies would love nothing more than to knock them from their perch and play spoiler.

8. Arizona at Kansas State, Sep. 13

When is a conference game not a conference game? Well, welcome to one of the wild-and-wacky quirks of the 2024 college football season.

For the sake of this exercise, we're calling the Arizona-Kansas State matchup in a little more than a week a conference game because, well, both teams are in the Big 12. So, um, yeah...that seems like a solid prerequisite.

The game, however, won't be counted in either set of Wildcats' conference win-loss tallies. Why? Because this was an out-of-conference game scheduled when Arizona was still a member of the defunct Pac-12, and the programs decided to keep it.

It's the same deal with Utah-Baylor, too.

Still, though, this game will take place between two of the five best teams in a you're-guess-is-as-good-as-mine conference. Nobody really knows what to expect from the new-look Big 12.

With Texas and Oklahoma gone, will perennial powers Kansas State and Oklahoma State rise to the top? Will upstart new kids on the block, Utah and Arizona, show they aren't just beasts in the Pac-12? Can UCF have a sophomore surge in its second year in the league? Don't sleep on Iowa State or West Virginia, either.

A game like Arizona versus Kansas State will help us clear the path to a title. It's also an exciting clash of styles between a high-octane Arizona offense and a rugged K-State defense. Buckle up.

7. Penn State at USC, Oct. 12

Say all you want about the revamped USC defense—and they deserve all the praise you can heap on them after one week—but the entire Trojans football team just looked better against LSU.

For all the talk about top overall pick Caleb Williams the past couple of years, Miller Moss (at least for one game) looked like a better fit in a balanced attack, didn't try to do too much and ran Lincoln Riley's offense while playing within himself.

When you pair that type of showing with D'Anton Lynn's defense, there are reasons to be excited about the Trojans' first year in the Big Ten, whereas they maybe didn't seem like a probable contender just a week ago.

This game against Penn State on October 12 comes at an interesting time, smack-dab at the end of a grueling gauntlet. From a sheer travel perspective, the Trojans' stretch from September 21 through October 12 is daunting.

They will start out with a trip to the Big House to take on Michigan (more on that game later) before returning home to play Wisconsin. Then, they head back across the country to play Minnesota before coming BACK HOME to host the Nittany Lions.

That's just brutal, and how they fare during that stretch will determine their season. Penn State may wind up being the best team they play out of that bunch, and this game has a lot of exciting undertones.

There's no way to predict where both teams will be, but if one week is an indication, they may just both be unbeaten.

6. Utah at Oklahoma State, Sep. 21

Utah got its heart, soul, guts and glory back when Cam Rising returned to the football field in a Week 1 win. The veteran signal-caller started his final season of college football by flinging five touchdown passes.

Now, it's game on in the Big 12 for the Utes.

If they really want to announce their arrival on the scene, there's no better time to do it than a September 21 trip to Stillwater to take on an Oklahoma State team that finished runner-up to Texas a season ago and returns more passing yards and rushing yards than any other conference team.

You may have been underwhelmed by a 44-20 Week 1 win against South Dakota State, but don't be. The Cowboys played the top-ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision, and they handled a very good team.

Should they have won? Absolutely, but there's no shame in how they won or that it wasn't that easy. A game like this will help Oklahoma State be more battle-tested when a game like this rolls around.

All hyperbole aside, this early season game could be a preview of the Big 12 championship game, and nobody would be surprised. Arizona and UCF have a lot of pizzazz, and Kansas State has a great defense, but these may be the two most complete teams in the league.

Plus, both programs are well-coached with Kyle Whittingham (Utah) and Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State) leading the way. Whoever wins this game will have a leg up in a wide-open league.

5. Oregon at Michigan, Nov. 2

Week 1 performances from Michigan and Oregon may have muted the excitement surrounding both of these programs, but they didn't diminish the humongous expectations.

For the Wolverines, they are still the defending national champions until somebody knocks them off, and while they didn't earn any style points against Fresno State, they still beat a good Bulldogs team in the Big House.

The Ducks got plucked by Idaho on both sides of the ball for much of a listless game, and they only beat the FCS Vandals by 10. Was this a puzzling performance? Sure, but don't denounce their talent.

Dan Lanning's team is a legitimate national title contender from a talent perspective, and if they put everything together, it's going to be dangerous.

Much of the season's story will be written by the time the Ducks roll into Ann Arbor the first weekend of November, but this is one of two "new" Big Ten rivalry games Lanning's team is involved in that we can't wait to see.

Not only are these two of the biggest brands in college football right now, it's last year's title winner against a trendy pick for Georgia's biggest contender this year. This has all the trappings of a classic, and you have to hope both teams are living up to expectations by the time they meet.

4. Alabama at Oklahoma, Nov. 23

Oklahoma plays two absolutely gargantuan SEC games in Norman this year that could define its season and announce the Sooners' arrival onto the league's scene.

We've already discussed the early season matchup with Tennessee that could determine whether the Vols or Sooners are going to be a threat to win the league. Toward the tail-end of the season, the Alabama Crimson Tide visit.

Yes, it's the crimson and white versus the crimson and white, two of the most storied programs in all of college football.

Oklahoma leads the all-time series 3-2-1, and the last time the two teams met was in the College Football Playoff semifinal in 2018 when the Tide won 45-34. The victory set up the eventual come-from-behind national championship win over Georgia where Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench and led the overtime victory with a game-winning touchdown pass.

This year, things are a little bit different, but it's not out of the question these could be two playoff contenders.

Coach Kalen DeBoer's Tide are loaded, even if they're still trying to define their identity behind their first-year coach. The waves of talent showed in a first-weekend dismantling of Western Kentucky.

The Sooners have stacked three quality recruiting classes under Brent Venables and look ready to compete at the top of the SEC this year. By the time these two teams meet, we will know the narrative.

3. USC at Michigan, Sep. 21

Everybody is going to know very soon—like this weekend—whether Sherrone Moore's version of the Michigan Wolverines are a threat to repeat as national champions.

There's so much newness, it's hard to envision a scenario where they are anywhere near as good as last year's team. But don't sleep on them not taking a major step back.

Again, a season-opening win over Fresno State is better than it looks. Now, they will welcome national championship hopeful Texas into the Big House. Then, two weeks later, No. 13 USC heads to the Big House for another epic battle.

If that's not a frying-pan-to-fire opening month of the season, one doesn't exist.

One thing is certain: The Wolverines will be battle-tested, and nobody can scoff at their schedule the way folks did under Jim Harbaugh. The game against the Longhorns is a blue-blood battle everybody will be interested in, and the one against the Trojans will be, too.

USC's much-improved defense is probably the most exciting early-look thing that's happened so far in this football season. If the Trojans are stellar on that side of the ball, coupling it with Miller Moss running Lincoln Riley's offense is tantalizing. Beating LSU in a neutral-site game was a big step forward, but winning in Ann Arbor is another thing altogether.

Right now, everybody wants to know what to expect from the Wolverines and the Trojans. Whoever wins this game will be right in the mix for the conference championship discussion alongside Ohio State, Oregon and possibly Penn State.

2. Ohio State at Oregon, Oct. 12

In the new era of NIL and the transfer portal, perhaps no other teams have embraced the changes and loaded up their rosters more than Oregon and Ohio State.

It seems every time a big-name player enters the portal, the Ducks and Buckeyes are right in the thick of the bidding war. Dan Lanning and Ryan Day are also heavy hitters in the world of recruiting high school kids.

That has led to two championship-caliber rosters and a massive matchup in early October. The Buckeyes head to Eugene to take on the Ducks in a game that could be for the catbird's seat in the Big Ten.

The last time these two teams met was in 2021 in a classic 35-28 win by Oregon, and there's no reason to believe this year's tilt won't be just as entertaining.

Day went out and got Kansas State quarterback transfer Will Howard to lead his team, and infusions like former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins and elite true freshman pass-catcher Jeremiah Smith give the Buckeyes weapons galore.

When Bo Nix went pro, Lanning tabbed Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel to be his one-year stopgap to bridge to the Dante Moore era after he lured the latter from UCLA. Reinforcements followed on both sides of the ball, and Lanning has built what looks like an SEC program in the Pacific Northwest.

The Big Ten is wide open this year, and this is the grudge match of the two favorites. It doesn't get much bigger than this one.

1. Georgia at Texas, Oct. 19

Which game is bigger? The two Big Ten favorites or the two SEC favorites?

It's a difficult decision, and the tiebreaker came down to who I believe is going to win the national championship. That would be the Georgia Bulldogs, who were one bad half against Alabama in last year's conference championship game away from playing for back-to-back-to-back titles.

There's no reason to think Kirby Smart's team will be far from the conversation again this year.

The Dawgs actually have a fairly favorable schedule considering just how grueling the SEC is, but an October trip to Austin is the most daunting, for sure. With Quinn Ewers leading the charge for the Longhorns and with all the playmakers they grabbed from the portal, Texas should be right back in the playoffs again this year.

Smart added some nice pieces to his team, too, but nobody has recruited like Georgia recently, and the Bulldogs have a ton of home-grown talent on this roster. Quarterback Carson Beck is a Heisman Trophy candidate, and few teams can pile up the defensive talent UGA has.

The Dawgs embarrassed Clemson during Week 1 as they are wont to do, and Texas better be on top of its game if it is going to knock them off. This game could wind up being a preview of the national championship game down the road.

All stats courtesy of CFBStats and Sports Reference unless otherwise noted. Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.

Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.