Why These four G5 vs. P4 Showdowns Could Shake Up the College Football Season

By Ty Scheiner

There are always G5 and P4 games scheduled each season, whether it’s an in-state rivalry, an out-of-conference matchup, a G5 team playing a ‘better’ opponent for a paycheck, or simply to see if they can hang with the ‘better’ conferences. As we’ve seen in the past, just because teams are divided by conferences doesn’t mean the P4 team is always going to win or that it won’t be a close game.

Remember when Boise State burst onto the scene and upset Oklahoma in 2007? Or when Appalachian State shocked Michigan in the Big House that same year? Central Michigan took down Oklahoma State in Stillwater in 2016, and a few years ago, Marshall beat Notre Dame in South Bend. Sure, these upsets are outliers, and while I don't have the exact stats, P4 teams generally handle their business against G5. But this unpredictability is what makes college football so great, in my opinion. On any given Saturday, anything can happen.

With that in mind, here are the four G5 vs. P4 games I’m most looking forward to this year. From an entertainment and storyline perspective, these matchups are set to be exciting. And who knows, maybe we’ll get one or two major upsets…

Colorado vs. Colorado State - September 14th

The Rocky Mountain Showdown got a little more heated last year with the jabs between Jay Norvell and Deion Sanders , and Prime made it more personal . Last year, they played in a double-overtime thriller where the Buffaloes prevailed, although they were heavily favored.

This year, the game will be in Fort Collins, where the Buffaloes are looking at a lot of turnover, while the Rams will have more continuity from last year. Coming off last year’s epic game and the history between Norvell and Prime, this should make for another memorable showdown. I think the Rams, who I believe are one of the G5 teams set to surprise this season , have a legit shot at pulling off what they couldn’t do last year.

Miami at USF - September 21st

The Hurricanes have dominated this in-state matchup, winning 5 out of 6 games, with USF’s only win coming over a decade ago in 2010. This is the first time these two schools are playing since 2013, and I think it’s going to be a very intriguing matchup. Mario Cristobal ’s third year comes with high expectations given the recruiting and portal classes he’s brought in, thanks to a generous NIL budget . We should know a lot about this team by this game, as Mario and the Canes will play Billy Napier and the Gators in Week 1, which will have its own storylines.

On the other end, I believe that South Florida is a program on the rise under Alex Golesh and could be a dark horse in the American Athletic Conference this season. With a commitment to a new stadium and program investment, this is a program I am buying stock in, specifically with returning quarterback Byrum Brown , who is one of the better dual-threat playmakers in the G5 . Additionally, they have weapons like Sean Atkins, one of the best wide receivers in the conference, and a true freshman to keep an eye on in pass catcher Brandon Winton . Although Miami will be the more talented team, don’t be surprised if USF pulls off the upset in Tampa, especially given Cristobal's in-game coaching, the uncertainty surrounding Miami, and the momentum the Bulls will be building on from last season.

Appalachian State at Clemson - September 7th

One of the top 5 G5 teams heading into 2024, the Mountaineers, will be looking to do something no previous App State team has done in five attempts, and that’s beat the Tigers. This game will be in Death Valley, at night, which is always a tough atmosphere . A point to consider will be the state of mind for the Tigers as they open the season the week before in Atlanta against Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs. Can Joey Aguilar and the Mountaineers catch Dabo Swinney and company in a letdown spot, either after a huge upset win against the Bulldogs or a devastating loss?

App State is no stranger to pulling upsets, as they did in Ann Arbor back in 2007. If there is a team capable of doing it again, it could be this one, which will be competing not only for the Sun Belt but also for a spot in the first 12-team college football playoff. Getting a signature win at Clemson would certainly help their case and make the committee take notice. Clemson, on the other hand, will be looking to handle their business and prove that they can be an ACC contender and consistent playoff team through recruiting and development, not just by dipping into the portal .

Memphis at Florida State - September 14th

A fun storyline here is that the current head coach for the Seminoles, Mike Norvell , will be playing his former team, Memphis, and his former assistant (now head coach for Memphis) Ryan Silverfield . Norvell coached the Tigers from 2016-2019, with Silverfield by his side for those four years, bringing Memphis to four straight bowl appearances. Now, coming off an undefeated season where there was a bad taste left in their mouth from being left out of the college football playoff , the Seminoles will have something to prove.

The Memphis Tigers will be traveling to Tallahassee looking to improve upon a 7-10-1 record all-time against the Seminoles, but more importantly, they will be looking to make a statement as they are another G5 playoff hopeful as well as the preseason favorite to win the AAC. The Tigers have one of the best G5 quarterbacks in Seth Henigan , and similar to Appalachian State, they will be looking for that signature win against a P4 school to help make their case come the end of the season on which G5 team is most deserving to get that automatic bid into the college football playoff.