In theory, the expanded playoff would give more teams – those outside of the likes of the Georgias and Alabamas of the world – a chance to compete for a national championship. Time will tell if the expanded playoff truly will lead to more Cinderella stories akin to college basketball's annual tournament.
With so many changes in the "Power Four" conferences – the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 – along with the new CFP format, has the hierarchy of college football programs changed? That's another question that will only be answered as this season and the ones that follow continue.
For now, here's how the top teams in college football rank ahead of Week 1 with odds via BetMGM :
College football power rankings: CFP championship odds before Week 1
T-19. Kansas State (+8000)
The 2022 Big 12 champions finished tied for fourth in the conference last year, won the infamous Pop-Tarts Bowl and were ranked 19th in the final US LBM Coaches Poll . This year, they'll rely on a new starting quarterback in (Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP) Avery Johnson after Will Howard's transfer to Ohio State.
T-19. USC (+8000)
Whether head coach Lincoln Riley can create another quarterback development success story with Miller Moss will be one of the biggest things to monitor as USC plays its first season in the Big Ten.
18. Oklahoma (+6600)
The Sooners narrowly missed out on a Big 12 championship appearance in their last season in the conference. Third-year head coach Brent Venables led his team to a 10-2 regular season last year after a 6-6 2022. How will Oklahoma fare in its first year in the SEC?
17. Florida State (+6000)
Florida State is the only team on this list to have played a game already. After their loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin in Week 0, their path to both an ACC championship and CFP appearance got more difficult.
T-15. Miami (FL) (+5000)
Former starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is out. Washington State transfer Cam Ward is in. After two seasons, head coach Mario Cristobal has struggled to bring the Hurricanes more success than his predecessor, Manny Diaz. Vigilant work in the transfer portal in the offseason has given Cristobal and his team higher expectations for 2024.
T-15. Clemson (+5000)
Once an ACC and CFP powerhouse, the Tigers have not been back to the playoff since 2020. This year, they're coming off of a disappointing, 8-4 regular season just one year after their 2022 ACC championship win. Dabo Swinney has some work to do to reach the same heights he once did as he enters his 17th season as Clemson's head coach.
T-12. Utah (+4000)
Quarterback Cam Rising is back after missing the 2023 season recovering from the multiple knee ligament tears he suffered in the Rose Bowl. That's led to high expectations for the Utes as they enter the Big 12 in 2024.
Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) drops back to pass against Florida during the first quarter at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports
T-12. Missouri (+4000)
After winning the Cotton Bowl Classic over Ohio State, Tigers QB Brady Cook is back for his third season as a starter, and top pass-catching target Luther Burden III will also return. Add in the extra talent – particularly at running back – that head coach Eliah Drinkwitz brought in from the transfer portal, and Missouri will look to keep the good times rolling.
T-12. Texas A&M (+4000)
One-time A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko is back in College Station, this time as the head coach. Time will tell if he can bring the Aggies to the heights that Jimbo Fisher couldn't reach in his six seasons at the helm.
11. Tennessee (+3500)
Head coach Josh Heupel has done good work in his first three years in charge, including leading the team to a 2022 Orange Bowl win over then-ACC champs Clemson. In 2023, the first year without top receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, the team's offensive production suffered. This year, the Volunteers hope to return to form with new starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
The reigning college football champions lost 13 players and their head coach to the NFL this offseason. That's led to some diminished expectations for the Wolverines entering the 2024 season. But with some excellent talent still remaining, there's no reason to believe Michigan can't make a playoff berth with the expanded format.
T-7. Notre Dame (+2000)
It's go-time for the Irish and head coach Marcus Freeman after adding quarterback Riley Leonard in the transfer portal. They're also returning excellent talent on defense. The Irish made the CFP in its four-team format before but never advanced past the semifinals.
T-7. Penn State (+2000)
Penn State hopes its new offensive coordinator can help unlock the potential it sees in quarterback Drew Allar. He was one of the top gunslingers in the Big Ten last year and hopes to take a big leap forward in 2024.
T-7. LSU (+2000)
LSU made the CFP one time in its old format, and the Tigers won a national championship that year. Third-year head coach Brian Kelly has yet to reach those heights with his new team after leading Notre Dame to the CFP twice in his old job. We'll see what he can do with a new defensive coordinator but an offense now missing its Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and top receivers.
Head coach Lane Kiffin has worked hard to build this Ole Miss roster during his time in charge, and it seems to have paid off. After adding in plenty of extra talent on the O-line and defense in the transfer portal this offseason, Ole Miss could be an SEC championship contender in 2024.
T-5. Alabama (+1500)
The Crimson Tide might be the team with the biggest range of possible outcomes in all of college football this year. On one hand, Alabama made the CFP last year after defeating back-to-back national champions Georgia in the SEC championship. On the other, it lost Nick Saban . Kalen DeBoer has massive shoes to fill and expectations to reach as he takes over in Tuscaloosa.
4. Texas (+850)
Quarterback Quinn Ewers is returning one year after leading Texas to its first CFP berth. As the Longhorns enter the SEC, Ewers and head coach Steve Sarkisian will have their work cut out for them to make another playoff run.
3. Oregon (+700)
Oregon has some of the most offensive talent in all of college football this season. The Ducks added quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the transfer portal, as well as former Texas A&M wide receiver Evan Stewart to pair with returning standout Tez Johnson.
2. Ohio State (+325)
The Buckeyes have made several trips to the CFP since winning the championship in 2014, the inaugural season of the playoff. But head coach Ryan Day has not been able to bring Ohio State to the same heights as Urban Meyer did with that 2014 title. This year could be different. The team retained almost all of its young talent and added in some more with transfers like quarterback Will Howard and running back Quinshon Judkins.
1. Georgia (+300)
Georgia has one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Carson Beck, one of the best offensive lines it's ever had and another outstanding defense. On top of that, there's the motivation that head coach Kirby Smart and his players will have after having a 29-game win streak – which included two national titles – snapped in the SEC championship game and a perceived CFP snub in 2023. Once again, the picture of national championship contenders in 2024 looks like this: Georgia ... then everybody else.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Most Popular
Comments / 0