The 2024 college football season begins soon. Week 0 is this Saturday, while Week 1 for the Big 12 and the rest of college football begins the following week. For the Big 12, every game begins in Week 1, including some of the most important non-conference games of the entire season.
As the 16-team Big 12 enters a new era, here are the top 5 non-conference games to watch ahead of the 2024 season.
1. West Virginia vs. Penn State (August 31)
It’s Week 1 and it’s the Big Noon Kickoff game as the Big 12 begins a new era without its “blue bloods” in Oklahoma and Texas. The Big 12 will look to make a statement early, and there’s no better opportunity than in this West Virginia vs. Penn State. West Virginia is unranked while Penn State is in the top 10. If West Virginia puts on a strong performance and potentially pulls off the upset, that changes history for the rest of the season in the Big 12 and potentially the rest of college football. The Mountaineers are coming off a nine-win season in 2023, but this team was largely overlooked in the offseason. A win in Week 1 would change that very quickly.
2. Oklahoma State vs. Arkansas (September 7)
Honestly, this game is at No. 2 because the Cowboys just can’t lose it. Arkansas has a coach on the hot seat and is projected to finish near the bottom of the SEC. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State is one of the favorites to land in Arlington for the Big 12 championship. Mike Gundy is known for his slow starts, but it can’t get that far this year. If Oklahoma State is competitive in the Big 12, it can’t get into a tough fight against a likely SEC bottom-place finisher or lose. I understand the “Any Given Saturday” mantra, but the Big 12 has a perception problem right now compared to the SEC and Big Ten and can’t give the haters much ammunition. A Cowboys loss in this game would do just that.
3. UCF vs. Florida (Oct. 5)
Meanwhile, the UCF-Florida game may be pivotal for the Big 12. UCF doesn’t have the prestige of Florida, Miami or Florida State. And that’s fine and not yet deserved. But UCF might be one of the biggest sleeping giants in college football right now, and a win over an in-state rival like Florida would be an incredible start to changing history. Florida has one of the toughest schedules in the country (Miami, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State), but if UCF can surprise the Gators, who are looking to take a week off, the Knights have a chance to get the job done and secure a spot in the Big 12.
4. Iowa State vs. Iowa (September 7)
For all of his success, this game continues to gnaw at Matt Campbell. Campbell beat the Hawkeyes once during his time in Ames (2016). Paul Rhoads couldn’t win a Big 12 game to save his life, but has beaten Iowa three times in four seasons. Go figure. No one would trade Campbell’s track record for Rhoads’, but it’s frustrating for Cyclone Nation nonetheless. Iowa is ranked No. 25 in the preseason AP Poll, while Iowa State is receiving votes in the AP Poll. Expect another close game, but getting chances and then beating teams from the supposed “Power 2” conferences in the SEC and Big Ten is especially important for the Big 12 this season.
5. Colorado vs. Nebraska (September 7)
It’s an early-season matchup between two teams hoping to be their conference’s “surprise team.” Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes beat Nebraska last year, but Matt Rhule is a program builder and will have his team better in year two than in year one. For Deion, it could set the tone for his program early in the season. And for the Big 12 Conference, a win by one of the expected mid-major teams against a mid-major Big Ten team will help solidify the Big 12’s position as a conference that may not be as top-heavy as the Big Ten and SEC, but has the competitive depth it needs from top to bottom.