Many ways to do this. #1 IsFirst, is this the main panel? If so, SEU is the wire needed. Two hots And a ground.
If you have a meter main, or Breakerbreaker outside .Then, then the panel is a sub-panel and you need 4 wire ser. Don notI don't see why you can not nipple through meter into panel.And And remove the short studs in the way. Use pvc as it's a little easier to work with. SEU
SEU is aloudallowed and is done all the time with outwithout conduit. Just have to watch length of wire. And you could sleeve it to protect or not .
Make sure you bond the panel if a main, which should come with bond screw, or you have to get ground bar to add to panel and not bond panel.White White or neutral to bar on panel .Bare Bare grounds to added ground bar. Also check the ground rods . and wire to them.
If this the main panel run water bond to it. If sub-panel water bond goes to meter main outside.Cover hole bay with plywood, screw on so easy to add wires later. And re,id mark the ground wire ,green green tape or bare. By doing this you do not have to run romexcable in conduit. Only were they are open in the garage witchwhich should be done were thewhere they come down to outlets or switches. Up high on joist is ok as long as nothing stored up there.