Oklahoma State

Norman, OK

Columbus, OH

If you're not from one of these states, sorry. More fun will be had elsewhere. There are 134 FBS teams spread across 41 states, but just a select few of these regions enter the 2024 season as bonafide college football hotbeds. Some states boast multiple teams in the preseason AP Top 25. Others tout backloaded state rosters with several contenders in the Power Four and Group of Five ranks. Combined with its own football culture, it's clear which states are the greatest for college football this fall.

The top 10 greatest states for college football in 2024

Gainesville, FL

247Sports

The Florida Gators continue to have success with legacy targets this cycle, with the latest addition being Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington Top100 cornerback Ben Hanks Jr. He's the son of former UF linebacker Ben Hanks Sr., who played for the team in the 90's under then head coach Steve Spurrier. While the Gators offered much earlier in the process, they never really appeared to be a major player in his recruitment. That feeling started to change after he visited Gainesville twice in the month of June.

Gators land commitment from Top100 CB Ben Hanks Jr.

Alabama State

Tuscaloosa, AL

A few months after accepting the job as Alabama's head coach in January, Kalen DeBoer revealed the head coach's office in the Mal Moore practice facility -- previously occupied by Nick Saban -- was undergoing a summer renovation to showcase a more modern style. That renovation was completed in July,...

Before, after photos of Nick Saban's office at Alabama renovated for Kalen DeBoer

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Herbie J Pilato

In the mid-1970s, Good Timesmade a star of actor/comedian Jimmy 'JJ'/'Dynomite' Walker. However, behind the scenes, the tension between the stars was relatively challenging. According to what Jimmie Walker once relayed, most of the show's cast rarely had any interaction behind the camera. Walker didn't recall having any conversations with actress Esther Rolle, who played his TV mother, Florida Evans, or actor John Amos, who played James Evans, his TV mother.

Actor/Comedian Jimmie "JJ" Walker Behind the Scenes of TV's 'Good Times' in the 1970s

Ohio State

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The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

North Carolina State

Lexington, KY

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are the first blue blood to strike in the 2025 recruiting class. On Friday morning, Malachi Moreno, the No. 25 overall recruit in the country, announced live on 247Sports that he will be staying home and playing for the Kentucky. He is the first commitment for Coach Pope and UK in the 2025 class.

No. 25-ranked Malachi Moreno stays home, commits to Kentucky

Colorado State

David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Georgetown, KY

It's decision day for Georgetown(Ky.) Great Crossing 4-star center Malachi Moreno. Will new Kentucky coach Mark Pope land his first commitment in the 2025 class?. Moreno, who is ranked as the No. 25 overall prospect and No. 3 center in the 2025 class, will announce his college decision at 11:30 AM live from Great Crossing High School on 247Sports.

Decision Day: 4-star center Malachi Moreno

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

A historic marker could be erected to honor the victims of the racist mass shooting at the Dollar General store in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood nearly a year ago. If approved by the Jacksonville City Council, a marker would be installed at Kings Road and Canal Street on Aug. 25, a day before the first anniversary of the shooting, when a white gunman took the lives of three Black people.

Memorial considered to honor Dollar General victims

South Carolina State

Colleton County, SC

Explore Beaufort SC

Some beachgoers were in for a surprise this week when a bizarre looking prehistoric fish washed ashore in Colleton County along Edisto Beach at Edisto Beach State Park. It turned out to be an atlantic sturgeon.

Rare Atlantic sturgeon washes ashore on South Carolina beach

Denver, CO

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

Los Angeles County, CA

In 1981, pop-music sensation Andy Gibb was at the top of the charts. The younger brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice, a.k.a. The Bee Gees, commenced a tumultuous romance with actress Victoria Principle, who played Pam Ewing on Dallas, TV's then-Number 1 prime-time series. But after the relationship ended, Andy's life, already challenged by substance abuse, did as well. This is their tragic story.

The Tragic Death of Pop Star Andy Gibb & His Traumatic Romance with 'Dallas' Star Victoria Principle

Taunton, MA

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Dianna Carney

A nostalgic 1960s drive-in restaurant in Massachusetts has announced that it will be hosting free movies for the community to enjoy throughout the warmer months! From June until September, the Star Drive-In will be bringing back its "Movies Under The Stars" event, which hosts free movies from all different genres. From fun date night flicks to exciting family-friendly blockbusters, there's sure to be something for everyone!

Taunton Drive-In To Host Free “Movies Under the Stars” During August

Chapel Hill, NC

Town Talks

A solid education is crucial, often leading to better job opportunities and higher salaries. While educated individuals can be found across the country, some regions have a particularly high concentration of educated residents.

These 2 North Carolina Cities Are The Most Educated In America

Tampa, FL

Three men and a woman have been arrested on murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Charles Jones , a Jacksonville rapper known as Julio Foolio,” outside a hotel in Tampa.

4 arrested in slaying of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio

Iowa State

Iowa City, IA

Tim Lester speaks on Iowa's offensive philosophy, the quarterback situation, and more. Last week was media day for the Iowa football program, and new Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester was one of the coaches who was surrounded the most during the availability. Lester is entering his first season as Iowa's...

Coach Conversation: Iowa OC Tim Lester on what he has seen from Cade McNamara, Brendan Sullivan in fall camp

Georgia State

Charlotte, NC

Daily Coffee Press

Here we (could) go again.. After making a second landfall in South Carolina, Debby weakened to a tropical storm and now located close to Charlotte, North Carolina. Despite the downgrade, the storm remains a threat, bringing heavy rainfall and tornado watches across North Carolina. Tragically, Debby has claimed six lives, including two in Georgia. Although Debby will soon lose its tropical characteristics, the risk of flooding and tornadoes persists as it moves into other states.

NHC Monitors Potential New Storm That Could Threaten Georgia

AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall in recruit in high school basketball, has scheduled fall official visits to six programs, his father confirmed to 247Sports. A 6-foot-9 scoring wing out of Brockton (Mass.), Dybantsa cut his list down to a top seven that includes Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Brigham Young, Kansas, Kansas State, and North Carolina.

No. 1-ranked AJ Dybantsa locks in six fall official visits

Morgantown, WV

The Big 12 Insiders is a streaming show hosted by former Kansas State football player Brien "Big B" Hanley. It covers everything related to and affecting the new 16-school Big 12 Conference. In today's edition, Brien Hanley is joined by West Virginia beat writer Mike Casazza from EerSports to talk about the preseason in Morgantown, the opportunity that comes along with the Penn State game and what would be the difference between the Mountaineers reaching their goals and falling short of them in 2024.

Big 12 insiders: A fall camp report from WVU

New Jersey State

Ohio State 5-star 2025 wide receiver target Jerome Myles from Draper (Utah( Corner Canyon is in action in his senior season opener tonight as Corner Canyon takes on American Fork (Utah) at American Fork High School. Kickoff for the game is at 9:00 ET. The game can be watched for...

Watch Ohio State 5-star 2025 WR target Jerome Myles in season opener tonight

Washington, OK

Noble, OK

Oklahoma City, OK

Newcastle, OK

Blanchard, OK

Purcell, OK

NewsBreak

Brent Venables talks push to front office model at Oklahoma: 'Helps us be on the front end & the cutting edge'

To say plenty of change has taken place in the college sports landscape would be quite the understatement. So much has been introduced or changed, it's...

Brent Venables talks push to front office model at Oklahoma: 'Helps us be on the front end & the cutting edge'

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