By Rock Westfall
The 2024 season marks the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff . The next seven highest-ranked teams will join the five highest-ranked conference champions. The race will be captivating, especially for the final spots, with the potential for numerous surprises.
In Like Flynn
Georgia
The Bulldogs have been the nation’s top recruiter for several years and are the class of the SEC . Georgia does have to contend with the nation’s 15 th -ranked schedule but has the depth and experience to endure it, as they have for the past several years. With Nick Saban retired, UGA is tabbed as college football’s new aspiring dynasty .
Ohio State
The Buckeyes are the most talented team in the Big Ten and have a mediocre schedule to contend with. Ohio State should win the Big Ten, but even if they don’t, they’ll qualify as one of the extra seven teams. Ohio State has been the Big Ten’s top recruiter for several years. The roster is loaded and deep. And arch-nemesis Jim Harbaugh has moved on to the NFL.
Oregon
The Ducks are joining the Big Ten at a reduced pay rate this season. By the end of the 2024 campaign, the Big Ten might want to pay the Ducks more than its other programs. Oregon is loaded thanks to the recruiting of coach Dan Lanning . The Schedule ranks in the middle of the pack. After nearly missing the 2024 College Football Playoff, Oregon won’t this year.
Highly Probable Teams
Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish will have their best team under third-year head coach Marcus Freeman . Their schedule is below average, and they have the brand cache to get the call if there are any doubts. Freeman has made his share of mistakes , but there is too much in the cupboard for Notre Dame to miss.
Clemson
Coach Dabo Swinney has taken a lot of heat for his stubborn ways regarding the transfer portal, but the Tigers still have a tremendous culture in a relatively weak ACC conference. The defense should be among the nation’s elite. The return of Dabo World will not surprise.
Boise State
The Group of Five gets one CFP slot, and the Broncos are the best of the bunch. The Broncos are the class of the Mountain West Conference and are its defending champion. Head coach Spencer Danielson proved to be the missing link, rallying Boise State from the dead after taking over during what appeared to be a lost 2023 campaign.
LSU
The Tigers' defense was so atrocious that the entire 2023 defensive coaching staff was fired. Certainly, the D can’t get any worse and should be better. Talent is never a problem in Baton Rouge, and there is enough to make LSU a contender in the SEC. Love him or hate him, coach Brian Kelly knows what he is doing. Despite all their problems last year , LSU still won ten games. This year could be epic, especially with Saban gone.
Teams Who Could Make the CFP
Tennessee
The Volunteers' offense will improve with Nico Iamaleava taking over at quarterback. The defense looks solid, and the schedule ranks as one of the least difficult in college football. Consider that UT went 9-4 without a credible quarterback in 2023. That bodes well for 2024.
Penn State
The Nittany Lions have the talent to contend but can coach “Big Game” James Franklin get out of his own way? The schedule sets up nicely for the Nits to bust through and perhaps collect some marquee wins along the way. But Franklin must stop constantly interfering with the offense to ensure success.
On the Bubble
Texas
The Longhorns are coming off a College Football Playoff season and will be better in 2024. However, Texas is now in the SEC. But the nation’s 31 st ranked schedule should help ease the transition. Still, there is the outside chance that Texas may suffer from SEC culture shock. Is entitled Texas man enough for the challenge?
Alabama
Yes, the Crimson Tide enter the season on the bubble. Kalen DeBoer is an excellent hire to replace the GOAT, Nick Saban, but coaching transitions are never easy, especially with an outsider. While Alabama has a quality roster, it also had a lot of turnover and departures. The nation’s sixth toughest schedule and the SEC gauntlet will make things perilous.
Missouri
The Tigers are coming off an 11-2 Cotton Bowl win season but are without graduated superstar running back Cody Schrader. But quarterback Brady Cook returns with the best supporting cast in the coach Eli Drinkwitz era. However, Mizzou will not catch anyone napping this year after ambushing opponents in 2023. The nation’s 65 th -ranked schedule sets this season up as an “if not now, when” scenario. It would be nice if the Tigers were not the conventional wisdom darlings of the summer. Indeed, it’s a Show Me season at ‘Ol Mizzou.
Ole Miss
The Rebels are coming off the first 11-win season in school history and have an offense that can light it up. But the defense remains a work in progress. A below-average schedule will help Ole Miss. But the Rebels have to prove they can handle the national spotlight. A CFP spot is historically rarified air for the Rebels. Like Mizzou, Ole Miss is getting too much group-think love in the summer.
Utah
The Utes are now members of the Big 12 Conference, with Cam Rising returning at QB. Coach Kyle Whittingham has previous experience with successful transitions into new leagues, and the Utes will be among the nastiest in the Big 12. Before last year, the Utes won consecutive Pac-12 titles.
Kansas State
The Wildcats will be the top challenger to the Utes in the Big 12. Like Utah, K-State is nasty, tough, and disciplined. QB Avery Johnson could quickly emerge as a Heisman Trophy contender. Coach Chris Klieman is perpetually overlooked and underestimated. He is in the elite class. Klieman produced the 2022 Big 12 championship for KSU and could do it again this year.
On the Outs
Michigan
The Wolverines may be the defending national champions, but they lost coach Jim Harbaugh and a host of key players and staff to the NFL. Additionally, the schedule is not a free pass. Finally, the Maize and Blue will likely be suffering from a long national championship hangover. There are too many intangibles against Michigan this year.
Washington
The Huskies made it to the national championship game last year but will be going through the coaching transition of Jedd Fisch replacing Kalen DeBoer as they get acclimated as new members of the Big Ten. QB Michael Penix Jr is gone to the NFL. That is too much to overcome
Florida State
After getting by-passed for Alabama in last year’s CFP, the Seminoles have had massive roster turnover. And is DJ Uiagalelei really the answer at QB? Also, last year's snub was a great example of the damaging ACC brand and its lack of cache.
Dark Horses
Oklahoma
The Sooners begin Year 3 under coach Brent Venables , facing the nation’s fourth toughest schedule. But Oklahoma should have its best defense under Venables and new starting QB Jackson Arnold was one of the most coveted recruits in his class. There is always talent in Norman, and the Sooners have the element of being the power brand underdog. Finally, there is a historical reason for the term "Sooner Magic."
Nebraska
The Cornhuskers are no joke with second-year head coach Matt Rhule quickly building a championship culture led by the flip of 5-star QB recruit Dylan Raiola from the Georgia Bulldogs. Nebraska has one of the lighter schedules of any team. If the Huskers can take advantage of a favorable early schedule, they will gain the confidence and momentum to do big things in 2024.
Kansas
The Jayhawks continue a rapid ascent under head coach Lance Leipold and could pose a threat in the Big 12. Jalon Daniels will prove to be one of the most dynamic QBs in the land if he can stay healthy. Additionally, KU’s schedule ranks a favorable 56 th in the country.
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