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

Georgetown, KY

247Sports

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

North Carolina State

It's just about time for Charlotte (NC) Providence Day School five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. to announce his commitment. The 6-6, 290-pounder from the class of 2025 will announce his decision live on the 247Sports YouTube Channel and CBS Sports HQ on Saturday, August 17 at 1:15 pm ET.

Final call on five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. 48 hours from his commitment

Gainesville, FL

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.

South Carolina State

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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

Los Angeles County, CA

Herbie J Pilato

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

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

Tampa, FL

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

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

The Lens

This year’s area of low oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than average, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Thursday. The “dead zone” is approximately 6,705 square miles , as measured last week. Within NOAA’s 38 years of measuring the dead zone, this year’s assessment marks the 12th-largest area of low to no oxygen, which can kill fish and marine life.

Gulf ‘dead zone’ larger than average, larger than expected for 2024, scientists announce

Oklahoma State

Norman, OK

A to Z Sports

Preseason AP Poll is setting up the Oklahoma Sooners to have the best story for the playoff committee by years end

The Florida Gators didn't have any commitments at the cornerback position heading into Friday, but that changed following the addition of Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington Top100 cornerback Ben Hanks Jr. He becomes commitment No. 13 for Billy Napier and his Florida coaching staff, and the second legacy addition to the 2025 recruiting class in Gainesville. Hanks Jr. has been on the recruiting radar since an underclassman, and remains in the Top100 of 247Sports rankings ahead of the start of his senior year. With this commitment now in the books, Swamp247 spoke with different people within the network to get their feedback on this newest addition.

247Sports experts sound off on Florida landing Top100 CB Ben Hanks Jr.

Georgia State

Athens, GA

College Football News

The college football season is right around the corner and last-minute predictions are filtering in. After a long offseason of speculating and reporting, Paul Finebaum finally announces his prediction to win the National Championship this season. During a segment on ESPN's Get Up, Finebaum was asked to predict the team he believes will take home the crown this year. The popular sports analyst was quick to name the Georgia Bulldogs as his pick to win the title. But he does claim it won't be an easy road for the Bulldogs. "I like Georgia," Finebaum said. "I'm not as sold on Georgia as I was last year and the reason I'm a little bit leery is Ohio State may have the best roster... But Georgia is still the pick." Who will win the national championship this season? 👀@finebaum: Georgia@CFBHeather: Georgia@Espngreeny: Ohio State pic.twitter.com/nubh6XlGVq

Who does Paul Finebaum have winning the college football title?

Actor William Talman was born on February 4, 1915, in Detroit, Michigan, and died from lung cancer in Los Angeles on August 30, 1968. He was best known as District Attorney Hamilton Berger on TV's long-running legal series, Perry Mason (CBS, 1957 to 1966). Berger never won a case on the show, and Talman had legal issues with the law behind the scenes. This is his story.

The Scandals and Heartache of 'Perry Mason' Actor William Talman: 5 Decades After His Tragic Death

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

Montana State

Wyoming State

WyoFile

To increase the genetic diversity of an island population of grizzly bears , Wyoming and Montana wildlife managers recently worked together to import fresh bloodlines into the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Two Montana grizzly bears trucked to Wyoming to bolster genetic diversity, help states’ delisting case

The Florida Gators added an important piece to its 2025 recruiting class on Friday afternoon, by landing a commitment from Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington four-star cornerback Ben Hanks Jr. He picked the Gators over several offers, but at the final stretch Hanks Jr. decided between Florida, Louisville, and Miami. The latest addition to the Gators class now gives them three Top100 commitments in the 2025 cycle.

Social media reacts to UF landing a commitment from CB Ben Hanks Jr.

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

Florida State

Republican Donald Trump has a 7-point lead over Democrat Kamala Harris among Florida voters, 49% to 42%, according to a new poll from the University of North Florida. Four percent are backing another candidate, and 6% are undecided or didn’t answer.

New Florida poll: Trump leads; support strong for abortion and recreational weed

Daily Coffee Press

The chances for the tropical wave in the Atlantic developing have now risen to 80% over the next seven days. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has advised that this disturbance could become the next tropical storm or hurricane within the coming days, potentially targeting the U.S. East Coast.

Tropical Wave That Could Impact Georgia Now Has 80% Chance of Development

Alabama State

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

NewsBreak

College football rankings: How the last 12 preseason AP No. 1 teams finished

Recent history suggests being the preseason No. 1 can be as much of a burden as a blessing. Being ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP...

College football rankings: How the last 12 preseason AP No. 1 teams finished

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