Family disputes are best handled behind closed doors. When families argue in public, everyone else tends to turn away as the uncomfortable and deeply personal secrets come to light. That is, unless you’re talking about the reality TV of the 2024 college football season… where everyone is significantly invested in how each other’s family squabbles unfold.

It’s Rivalry Week in college football, traditionally a time when programs, much like family members, reunite with their oldest enemies. And much like a Thanksgiving dinner where you’re asked why you’re not as successful as your cousin, Rivalry Week has a strong local impact.

In most years outside of Georgia, it doesn’t particularly matter who Georgia-Georgia Tech wins; Outside of Tennessee, the Tennessee-Vanderbilt score is just a crawl across the bottom of the screen and nothing more.

In most years.

One of the many happy unintended consequences of the expanded College Football Playoff is the new importance of rivalries outside its state borders. In the old days, a loss in a rivalry game could eliminate a school from contention for the championship. Now, a loss in a rivalry game can trigger a cascade that opens up playoff spots, championship game spots and even first-round byes.

Consider how much the CFP picture could change depending on who wins the family fist fight this weekend:

The Palmetto Bowl (Clemson vs. South Carolina): A win here keeps Clemson in the hunt for an ACC championship and a playoff spot. A win for South Carolina would legitimize the Gamecocks’ season, provide hope for the future… and cause some regret over missing out on the LSU game. It would also clear a hurdle for Alabama or Ole Miss to sneak back into the CFP.

Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt: The Tennessee-Vanderbilt game, irrelevant at best before this year, now carries significant weight. Vanderbilt has shown it has the ability to knock out top-tier SEC teams, and Tennessee can’t afford another loss to stay comfortably in the CFP.

Notre Dame vs. USC: Finally, the Jeweled Shillelagh Trophy is as important as its participants believe. What’s at stake here: Notre Dame’s place in the CFP field. The strength of the Irish’s schedule is already telling, and the loss to Northern Illinois earlier in the season is just waiting to ruin Notre Dame’s season. A loss to 6-5 USC would end Notre Dame’s playoff chances. No pressure, Irishman.

Indiana vs. Purdue: Undoubtedly another of the most important games of the weekend. Ohio State put the finishing touches on Indiana’s flawless season last week; Purdue could throw it completely into the ditch. If Georgia, Tennessee or Ohio State suffer two losses, they could make the playoffs. a two-loss Indiana probably wouldn’t do that. And like Clemson, Notre Dame and Tennessee above, a loss at Indiana would raise hopes for several other programs.

Texas vs Texas A&M: It’s resuming for the first time since 2011, and the stakes couldn’t be higher: CFP or bust. Whichever team loses this game is almost certainly out of the playoff hunt; Whoever wins will have a chance at a bye in the first round of the SEC Championship. Now that is how to restart a rivalry.

Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate (Georgia vs. Georgia Tech): Georgia has already secured a spot in the SEC Championship, meaning its path to the CFP is clear. But a loss to the Yellow Jackets would make Georgia’s task in the SEC championship imperative: win or else.

Duel in the desert (Arizona State vs. Arizona): The stakes for Arizona State are clear: win, and the Sun Devils are in the Big 12 championship and playing for a CFP spot. (There is a remote scenario in which an Arizona State win doesn’t result in a championship berth, but that’s a narrow path.) One loss, and suddenly BYU, Iowa State and Colorado have new playoff hopes.

The Iron Bowl (Auburn vs. Alabama): Whatever the faint hopes, Alabama still needs to get the CFP field to rest in this game. Alabama needs to win, and preferably win big, to maintain its slim chances. Good thing nothing strange has ever happened in an Iron Bowl.

The Game (Ohio State vs. Michigan): For Ryan Day, this is more of a job security issue than playoff seeding, as Ohio State could afford to lose this one and still make the CFP field. But Day is 1-3 all-time against Michigan, including three straight losses, and if his Buckeye battleship can’t shut down a struggling Michigan this year, the murmurs will grow louder.

The Egg Bowl + Florida State vs. Florida: Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Florida State and Florida all played out of contention this year, be it last weekend (Ole Miss) or before September (Florida State). But these two rivalries are likely to soon have a significant impact on two separate conferences when these teams come together again. The chaos that comes from these games – remember the dog pee penalty that changed college football? – deserves national playoff implications.

Worth noting: Rivalry games have greater significance because there are no mandated conference slots outside of opening round byes. The SEC could only have two spots this year… and there wouldn’t be such drama if the league got four spots. That’s all the more reason why preseason predictions and conference chest-thumping are fine, but on-field results are of utmost importance… and the drama they create should be preserved.

All of this combined means that Rivalry Week means more overall this year than ever before. So yes, we are all paying attention to your family disputes now. Act accordingly… and don’t lose.