Before you know it, the 2024 college season is going to be here. With so much excitement on the horizon, this is the time to dive deep into rosters and schedules to project what the season could bring.
Every year teams overachieve and some will regress. When it comes to the 2024 season, there are several highly ranked teams that could be due for a big regression. Here are some to keep a close eye on.
Missouri Tigers
What a season it was for the Tigers in 2023, finishing with a 11-2 overall record while finishing at No. 8 ranking in the final AP poll. It was an impressive season, improving from the 6-7 record the year prior. Some thought that it could be trouble for head coach Eli Drinkwitz heading into 2023, but obviously, the team took a massive step to instill confidence.
That type of season has seriously raised expectations for Missouri now moving forward. They are ranked steadily inside the top 15, suggesting that there would be a level of sustainability from last season. While that could be the case, several defections does make a slight cause for concern.
The team’s identity was as a physical football team in 2023, led by All-SEC running back Cody Schrader who went for over 1,600 yards during the season. Not only is Schrader gone, but so is left tackle Javon Foster, who was an underrated member of the squad for some time.
Add in defensive defections such as defensive end Darius Robinson, linebacker Ty’ron Hopper, safety Jaylon Carlies, and cornerbacks Ennis Rakestraw and Kris Abrams-Draine, and you have the potential for a step back. That isn’t even factoring in defensive coordinator Blake Baker leaving for LSU this offseason as well.
Florida State Seminoles
Of these three programs, this is the one to feel less confident about. The Seminoles are coming off of a tremendous season, ending with an ACC Championship and 13-0 record entering bowl season. They were one injury to Jordan Travis away from a playoff berth, and a legitimate chance to contend for the national championship. Everything looked like it was aligning, but unfortunately, one injury ended a great season.
Mike Norvell has been building a tremendous program in Tallahassee but 2024 will be a great indicator about just how strong the foundation is. Not many schools could replace a starting quarterback, leading rusher, three leading pass catchers, two leading tacklers, a first round pass rusher, top 35 selection at defensive tackle, and two of their best defensive backs and make a seamless transition. That would be quite the reload.
The Seminoles will be depending on a lot of impact transfers in 2024, including quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to soften the losses, as well as continued improved recruiting . There’s a chance it could work, but the odds tell you more can go wrong than right.
Oklahoma Sooners
Welcome to the SEC, young Sooners. The schedule makers certainly weren’t nice to Oklahoma, giving them an extremely difficult schedule. They have to tangle with Auburn, Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU all on the road. The Sooners will also have to play Alabama and Tennessee at home, as well as an out of conference game with Houston. That’s a pretty firm welcome to the conference.
From a roster perspective, there is certainly talent for the Sooners. The staff is extremely high on Jackson Arnold, who some recruiting platforms considered a five-star player coming out of Denton (Texas) Guyer. He also has plenty of talent to throw to, including Purdue transfer Deion Burks, Nic Anderson and Andrel Anthony.
The defense also brings back some prominent performers, including linebacker Danny Stutsman, defensive end Ethan Downs, and safety Billy Bowman. That group is also bolstered by transfer defensive linemen Damonic Williams and Caiden Woullard. On paper, this could be a very good defensive unit under Brent Venables.
Here’s the problem, this might be one of the least talented offensive line groups the Sooners have had in quite some time. Arnold has also shown the propensity to turn the football over in a limited sample size. That has the makings of a transitional year, especially with that gauntlet of a schedule.
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