207 days remain until college football returns.

During that time, we will have to stay listening to Tony Romo give terrible reads, ride Patrick Mahomes’s coattails and maybe watch Taylor Swift kiss Travis Kelce following Super Bowl LVIII while waiting for the UFL begin its merger with the USFL and XFL deciding to merge together.

In the meantime, why not a little preview of what could be the five most anticipated games for 2024 in the SEC. 

Disclaimer: This is only SEC vs SEC matchups. Any other matchups may be discussed later on in the year as we get closer to August. 

Tennessee vs Oklahoma, September 21st

The first game of the new era in the SEC for the Sooners begins when Nico Iamaleava and the Tennessee Volunteers visit Norman. Oklahoma should be a Top 20 team when the first polls come out in August but this is going to be their first test to see if they really belong among the elite in the SEC.

It’ll be a tale of two offenses with elite talent like Bru McCoy and Chris Brazzell II (Tulane transfer), who should be the Vol’s top two receivers. For Oklahoma, look out for Deion Burks (Purdue transfer) who could be the top option at wide receiver for either Casey Thompson or Jackson Arnold.

Safe to say, don't be surprised if this one is a shootout. 

Alabama vs Georgia, September 28th

This is going to be the game of the year in the SEC and it won’t be the last time we see them meet. I'm expecting we'll see Alabama and Georgia three times this year: this game, the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff.

It’s a matchup between two Heisman Trophy contenders in Jalen Milore and Carson Beck and I'm expecting that it’s going to be a game where you will see these two quarterbacks combine for close to 750 yards and get after it as soon as the first snap is taken.

A lot of big time talent may favor Georgia, especially since the retirement of Nick Saban, but that doesn’t bother Alabama one bit, they’ve seen this before and they’ve reloaded as usual. Incoming freshmen Ryan Williams and Jaylen Mbakwe will be freshmen All-American once the season is complete and those that are saying that Alabama’s reign of dominance will end, think again.

Kirby Smart will have the #1 ranked Dawgs ready to travel 80 miles for a 3rd national championship in 4 years. But just like before, they still have to get through Bama. Since 2018, Alabama and Georgia have been a Top 10 matchup and filled with classic moments, nothing changes here.

Ole Miss vs LSU, October 12th

Lane Kiffin has been on a tear, not just with recruiting, but he may be the G.O.A.T. of trolling.

When Ole Miss heads out to Baton Rouge, the chants of “Tiger Bait”, “Neck”, and “Callin’ Baton Rouge” will be ringing by more than 107,000 fans in Tiger Stadium. Jackson Dart is back in Tiger Stadium and the images of Harold Perkins putting plenty of pressure on him as well as his interception in the red zone still roams as he comes back with a vengeance, last year in Oxford, a terrible defensive showing from both teams led to over 1,000 yards of offense and 101 total points.

This year is not the case as Blake Baker, LSU’s new defensive coordinator, is going to help Harold Perkins Jr. get back to his freshman self and not really send him back in coverage as much. You will see him play a standup defensive end and develop more as a TJ Watt type of outside linebacker.

Despite losing Quinshon Judkins to the portal, Ole Miss returns the best receiving corps in the SEC, maybe even in all of college football with Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins for their final years in Oxford. Either way, it’ll be a game of minds between a veteran squad in Ole Miss and an up and coming roster for LSU.

Alabama vs Tennessee, October 19th

The Third Saturday in October is back in Knoxville as the Crimson Tide return to the scene of one of the greatest games so far in the 2020s.

This game will not be 52-49 but it will be a fun one. Nico Iamaleava will face, by far, the second best defense in the SEC. Last year, it was Bama’s defense that shut down Tennessee’s offense. However, I'm expecting this year's matchup to play out much differently.

Tennessee will have their way with what could be a depleted front four and it will be fun to watch the duel between Milore and Iamaleava.

Texas vs Georgia, October 12th

LONGHORN NATION! WHAT’S GOOD!?

I have a question. Are y’all for real? That question is going to be answered when y’all get to October and the Georgia Bulldogs come knocking at DKR. Y’all recruit really well I’ll give you that.

Getting Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden, Silas Bolden and Amari Niblack, capable weapons for Quinn Ewers who could be gone after this season. Plus you’ve got a pretty good defense up front with Trey Moore and Colin Simmons manning the edge. Plus you’ve got most of your offensive line returning, but you’ll likely play the number one team in the nation whenever October 12th comes around.

This may be the biggest game of the 2020s for Texas, even bigger than this past season’s Sugar Bowl. It’ll be a battle between two former coaches who at one point were offensive and defensive coordinator during the 2015 season at Alabama.

But who’s got the upper hand? It’ll be arguably the best offense versus the best defense in the SEC, College GameDay is sure to be there, and it should be a primetime matchup on ABC.

Get ready for a fun matchup.