20+ games remaining that will help decide the College Football Playoff

An epic Oregon win over Ohio State takes us into the halfway point of the college football season, and there's just so much to play for all across the country. A lot of the new changes will make this one of the most entertaining stretches in history. Conference realignment has put unique matchups on our schedule, like the Oregon-Ohio State game. The inflated leagues have also meant divisions have been scrapped, which opens up the races.

The expanded College Football Playoff has added new intrigue as four conference champions will receive byes, making winning a league title so important. It also means there are seven at-large bids up for grabs, so more teams are in the hunt and more games have meaning. Plus, at least one Group of 5 champion will make the playoff, so each one of those leagues is not only jockeying to win their league but differentiate themselves as the best of the champions.

That means we have big games from Los Angeles to Athens, with stops in Salt Lake City, Bloomington, Pittsburgh, and Annapolis. Welcome to college football in 2024.

Here are the biggest games that will help decide the College Football Playoff.

Georgia at Texas, Oct. 19 (1 of 22)

Georgia has already suffered a loss at Alabama, and while a loss at top-ranked Texas wouldn't be the end of the Bulldogs playoff hopes, it would mean that they have no more room for error. Two losses to the Tide and Horns don't eliminate the Dawgs, but with their remaining schedule is tough (as you will see) and they'd need to run the table. A win would be a huge boost and keeps them in the race for an SEC championship. For Texas, they have already won at Michigan and drubbed Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry but this would be their biggest opportunity to take hold of their destiny. A win over the Dawgs and the Longhorns have a relatively easier schedule before their finale against Texas A&M.

Alabama at Tennessee, Oct. 19 (2 of 22)

What a week in the SEC! Both Tennessee and Alabama have recently suffered embarrassing road losses that put a huge dent in their seasons, then followed it up with closer-than-expected wins. Both can climb out of that hole with a win here in Knoxville. Remember two years ago this was the game of the season when the Vols upset the Crimson Tide, 52-49, in one of the wildest shoot-outs in recent memory. That's also the only time in the last 17 meetings that the Volunteers have won in this rivalry. With both teams remaining schedules, a loss here could be devastating.

Miami at Louisville, Oct. 19 (3 of 22)

Louisville may be the most important school in the ACC race. The Cardinals face Miami, Clemson and Pitt and has already lost at home to SMU. Remember, Louisville was so close to winning the ACC title last year and, even though they've had some hiccups in 2024, they are talented enough to make another run and have the opportunities to climb the standings. As for the Hurricanes, this is their biggest game of the season until their finale at Syracuse. A win here, and the Canes are likely headed to the ACC title game.

Boise State at UNLV, Oct. 25 (4 of 22)

This has the chance to be a massive game. Remember that at least one of the Group of 5 champions will get a College Football Playoff berth and the winner here likely has the inside track Many people feel Boise State is the best G5 team right now -- they average 46.8 ppg and played Oregon tight in a 37-34 loss in Eugene. UNLV is emerging. The Rebels' offense has been one of the Mountain West's best, and they have one of the best run offenses in the country (262 rush yards per game).  They're also the highest-scoring offense in the nation. This should be one of the most exciting games of the season.

LSU at Texas A&M, Oct. 26 (5 of 22)

Who knew after their first games of the season that this will be a vital game in the SEC race? Texas A&M lost at home to Notre Dame while LSU was upended by USC on opening weekend, but since then neither team has lost. During that time, A&M blasted Missouri while LSU is coming off a big win over Ole Miss. As of this writing, both teams ... along with Texas ... are the only undefeated teams in the conference. For the Aggies, a win here, coupled with the win over Missouri, puts them in a prime spot for a berth in the SEC title game, even if they lose their finale to Texas. LSU needs another big win to offset their weak non-conference wins and before a showdown with Alabama two weeks later.

MIssouri at Alabama, Oct. 26 (6 of 22)

Missouri came into the season as a dark horse to make a run for an SEC championship, but a loss to Texas A&M has put a major stop to that. Having said that, that is just one loss and with the standings as they are now, there's a lot for the Tigers to play for. That means they need to go into Alabama and beat the Crimson Tide. Alabama hasn't looked very Alabama-like. After a huge win over Georgia, they lost to Vanderbilt and then barely took care of South Carolina. As you've already read, they Tide have to go to Knoxville before this game, making this a great opportunity for Mizzou to sneak a win and get back into the playoff hunt.

Notre Dame vs Navy, Oct. 26 (7 of 22)

This might be the most meaningful Notre Dame-Navy meeting in quite a long time. Notre Dame has rebounded well after losing to Northern Illinois and still has that road win over Texas A&M on their resume. And then there's Navy. The Midshipmen are undefeated with only a home game versus Charlotte before the Notre Dame game in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With Navy now in the AAC, they could theoretically be playing for a College Football Playoff spot. They would have to win the AAC and hope they are the highest-ranked Group of 5 champions, but a win over the Fighting Irish on a neutral site would be huge for their case. Navy hasn't beaten the Irish since 2016, the only win in their last 11 meetings.

Ohio State at Penn State, Nov. 2 (8 of 22)

This has typically been a great series, even if Ohio State tends to dominate -- they've won 11 of the last 12 meetings. Of course, this will likely be the highest-ranked Nittany Lions team since 2017 -- a 39-38 Ohio State win. Penn State will likely enter the game undefeated, while Ohio State will still be smarting over its loss to the Oregon Ducks. The winner could feel like the front-runner to face Oregon in the Big Ten title game.

Oregon at Michigan, Nov. 2 (9 of 22)

Oregon has beaten Ohio State and Boise State and hold their destiny in their hands. They do have a two week stretch where they host Illinois before traveling to Michigan to face the defending national champs. The Wolverines may not be playoff contenders this season, but they certainly have their chances to work their way back in, starting with this one against the Ducks. This is Oregon's toughest test before the Big Ten championship game.

Texas Tech at Iowa State, Nov. 2 (10 of 22)

Let's just go ahead and say it: the Big 12 could be one of the most fun conference races in the country. There are no surefire favorites, yet there are plenty of contenders. The Red Raiders and Cyclones are two of those who have a great shot at winning the league, and their matchup on November 2nd will be fascinating to watch. Iowa State has a stingy defense, allowing just 66 points in their first six games of the season. Meanwhile, Texas Tech is averaging 39.3 ppg and has already taken down Arizona State and Arizona. Two strengths will collide in Ames. Look out for an emerging star in Cyclones QB Rocco Becht.

Georgia at Ole Miss, Nov. 9 (11 of 22)

Here is another one of those key SEC matchups where what happens before this game could make this game one of the biggest of the season. Ole Miss has already lost to Kentucky and a heart-breaker to LSU, so there's virtually no room for error for the Rebels. The SEC schedule gives you opportunities to make a statement and Georgia coming to down is one of those. Jaxon Dart has been great this season, but LSU sacked him six times last week and he's thrown just two touchdowns in the last three weeks. Last year when these two met, Georgia destroyed Ole Miss, 52-17.

Alabama at LSU, Nov. 9 (12 of 22)

Alabama-LSU has been one of the best rivalries over the last two decades, especially when LSU is relevant. They are this season, which makes their meeting in Baton Rouge so intriguing. LSU has beaten Ole Miss, but will go on the road to Arkansas and Texas A&M before hosting the Crimson Tide. Meanwhile, Alabama followed up their big win over Georgia win a loss to Vanderbilt and a close win over South Carolina. They'll also have Tennessee and Missouri before they even get to this game.

Michigan at Indiana, Nov. 9 (13 of 22)

Indiana could be 9-0 when they host Michigan in Bloomington. Michigan has already lost two games this season (and one conference game) so this is a must win for the Wolverines. Honestly this is a pseudo-elimination game since both schools must play Ohio State in the coming weeks after this game. If Indiana wins this game and goes to 10-0, that game in Columbus becomes huge. If Michigan wins this one, that finale will be epic.

BYU at Utah, Nov. 9 (14 of 22)

The Holy War has been reignited as BYU and Utah are back in the same conference again. While the scene in Salt Lake City will be live no matter what, the Big 12 championship could be on the line as well. Utah was the preseason favorite but slipped up against Arizona and Arizona State, meaning this is a massive game for the Utes and their postseason hopes. Two physical teams with so much on the line in a raucous atmosphere. This is one of the benefits of conference realignment.

Clemson at Pittsburgh, Nov. 15 (15 of 22)

Here is a strange oddity of the ACC this season: the three favorites at the moment (Clemson, Miami and SMU) don't play each other. If you throw Pitt in the mix, well, they could do some damage in the standings. Two weeks after traveling to SMU, the Panthers host Clemson in what could be the game that earns the Tigers a ticket to the ACC championship game in Charlotte. If things break their way, Pitt could also be looking at competing for a conference title. Pitt, led by QB Eli Holstein. has played extremely well late in close games and is up to the task of toppling the Tigers. The only ACC champion since 2011 that wasn't Clemson or Florida State? The 2021 Pittsburgh Panthers.

Tennessee at Georgia, Nov. 16 (16 of 22)

What a gauntlet for Georgia! In a four-game stretch, the Bulldogs travel to Texas and Ole Miss -- with a date in Jacksonville against Florida -- before finally playing between the hedges against Tennessee. Speaking of the Vols, this will be their first road game since their lackluster loss at Arkansas on October 5th. The road has been tough on Tennessee's offense so far, where they've averaged just 19.5 points (they've scored 191 points in their first three home games). By the time we get to this game, both of these teams' playoff hopes could be on life support ... or this could be a huge matchup with SEC title game implications.

BYU at Arizona State, Nov. 23 (17 of 22)

Again, the Big 12 is wide open. BYU, surprisingly, currently sits atop the standings with a win over Kansas State already in their pockets. Just before Thanksgiving, the Cougars head south to Arizona State. Arizona State just dumped BYU's rival, Utah, last week and will head to K-State a week before this showdown. The Sun Devils are one of the best running attacks in the nation, led by Cam Skattebo, while BYU has one stout defense.

Notre Dame vs Army, Nov. 23 (18 of 22)

Yes, another Notre Dame-versus-service-academy game that actually matters in the playoff race. Right now, Army is 6-0 and atop the AAC (along with Navy), averages 40 ppg and holds opponents to just under 10 ppg ... but doesn't have any wins that point to being a true CFP contender. That could change with a win over Notre Dame in Yankee Stadium. If Army wins this game and wins the AAC, they actually end up with not just a playoff berth but an outside chance at a first-round bye.

Meanwhile, this is an unplanned occasion for Notre Dame to add to their resume. The Irish do own a road win over Texas A&M, but that loss to Northern Illinois follows them. Wins over Navy and Army could be vital to gaining an at-large berth that should be dominated by SEC and Big Ten teams.

Here's another off-the-wall thought: What if both Army and Navy stay atop the AAC and play for the conference championship game on December 6th, a week before the actual Army-Navy game?

Texas at Texas A&M, Nov. 30 (19 of 22)

While many people are disgruntled with conference realignment because it separates rivalries, sometimes it causes rivals to meet once again. You better believe that Kyle Field will be jumping on November 30th when the Longhorns come to College Station to face the Aggies for the first time since 2011 -- which was the last time these two met. As of now, these two teams are atop the SEC standings. While that may not be the case when they face off in the regular season finale, a berth in the SEC championship game could be on the line, as well as one of the CFP at-large berths. Even if no playoff spot was up for grabs, this will be a fantastic college atmosphere.

Notre Dame at USC, Nov. 30 (20 of 22)

Notre Dame doesn't get to play for a conference championship and win an automatic CFP bid, so this game at USC will be their final chance to impress the selection committee and capture a key win against a quality opponent. That is if USC still qualifies as a quality opponent. USC has struggled against top teams this season but would love to put an end to their rivals' playoff hopes.

Kansas State at Iowa State, Nov. 30 (21 of 22)

There's a lot that could happen in the Big 12 before we get here, but it does seem that this Kansas State-Iowa State game could be for a berth in the conference championship game. Iowa State is undefeated while Kansas State's lone loss has come to BYU and both (along with BYU) have the best odds to win the Big 12 title. So this one is huge.

Michigan at Ohio State, Nov. 30 (22 of 22)

This should be a no-brainer to put on this list, but this game may not be as important as it has been of late. Michigan has two losses already with games against Illinois, Oregon and Indiana before they even get to Columbus for the Big Game. The Wolverines could have four or five losses and out of a playoff chase, but that doesn't mean they won't be fired up to play this one. Ohio State hasn't beaten Michigan since 2019 and this game has been pointed to by Buckeyes fans for an entire year. The Buckeyes loss to Oregon earlier this year means Ryan Day is 1-7 against Top 5 ranked teams. Michigan won't be ranked that high, but another loss to Michigan would be a very sore spot for a fanbase that has already been critical of Day.