A September to Remember in College Football

Published: Monday, September 30, 2024

by Kyle Ferreira

Somehow, the first month of the 2024 college football season is already over.

It feels like every season accelerates past through the first month into a pivotal part of a team’s schedule. It’s no different this year but something about this season feels particularly strange. College football lore often points to 2007 as the season where chaos emerged and engulfed the sport.

Seventeen years later, college football might find itself in a similar spot—major upsets, classic games, and rising stars becoming household names. With the addition of NIL, the transfer portal, and conference realignment, the start of the season has been a wild rollercoaster.

Take Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, for example, with what might be the game of the season as SEC heavyweights No. 2 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama faced off. The Tide stormed to a 28-0 lead, making it seem almost impossible for the Bulldogs to make a comeback. Yet, Georgia remained unfazed after halftime, eventually taking the lead in the 4th quarter with a 67-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Dillon Bell.

But then, 17-year-old freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams entered Alabama lore, catching a 75-yard touchdown pass. Freshman defensive back Zabien Brown sealed the game with a perfectly timed interception, high-pointing the ball beautifully. Alabama came out on top, head coach Kalen DeBoer earned his first SEC win, and this game should be nominated for Best Picture.

Speaking of Williams, he’s just one of many standout freshmen and underclassmen making a splash this season. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, and Texas linebacker Colin Simmons are among the other young stars. Eventually, they’ll be in contention for major awards, just like the more experienced players who shone in September.

Miami (FL) quarterback Cam Ward, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, and Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe have all been phenomenal for their programs. Colorado’s two-way star, wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, deserves a mention as well, especially with the Buffaloes off to a 4-1 start. All four should be near the top of the Heisman Trophy rankings heading into October.

September also saw historic starts for programs that don’t usually experience them. Army, Navy, Duke, BYU, Indiana, Rutgers, and UNLV are among the teams entering the spooky month undefeated. Meanwhile, Kent State, UTEP, and Kennesaw State will be looking to secure their first wins after a winless September.

On the field, it’s been an incredibly compelling and fun season to watch unfold. Upsets like Northern Illinois beating Notre Dame in week two and Kentucky’s victory over Ole Miss last Saturday show exactly why college football is so thrilling. Unfortunately, off the field, there has been plenty of turmoil.

On September 12th, the PAC-12 seemingly revitalized itself by adding Mountain West teams like Boise State and Fresno State. The conference must secure eight members by 2026 to remain an FBS conference. This move sent shockwaves through the Mountain West, FCS, Conference USA, the American, the Sun Belt, and now the MAC.

Once again, geography sadly no longer matters in this sport—it's all about the dollar sign. Speaking of money, UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka left the program over a reported NIL dispute, highlighting the tricky and divisive nature of these issues. While off-field matters have been chaotic, none of this should discourage fans from tuning in.

Every week brings something extraordinary in this amazing sport. From Texas quarterback Arch Manning stepping up after Quinn Ewers' injury to the unlikely bromance between Pat McAfee and Nick Saban on College Gameday, it's all part of the fun. With the first month behind us, October promises to be a spectacle worthy of blockbuster comparisons.

Kyle Ferreira can be reached at kyle.ferreira@student.shu.edu. 

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