Hours after the release of the preseason AP Top 25 poll Monday, Fox Sports unveiled its “Ultimate 134” rankings of every FBS team ahead of the 2024 college football season.
Fox Sports’ rankings differ from the AP’s because they’re compiled by only one individual analyst instead of the cable of sportswriters who make up the AP poll. To that end, Fox analyst RJ Young sees a much bigger discrepancy between the ACC’s two premier programs, Clemson and Florida State, entering 2024.
The Seminoles are No. 5 in Young’s rankings, as opposed to No. 10 in both the preseason AP and US LBM Coaches Polls . Clemson is further back in Young’s rankings at No. 19, five spots below whey landed in the AP and coaches polls.
As part of his rankings criteria, Young uses strength of schedule, coaching staff continuity, returning starters, class of 2024 recruiting, “star” players, and results/success in the transfer portal.
Young praises Clemson for its continuity and stability under Dabo Swinney, now entering his 17th season as Tigers coach, but it’s the Tigers’ schedule that worries him about the 2024 team.
Per Young:
“Dabo Swinney has made the College Football Playoff six out of the last nine years. He has had four national title appearances during that span, and has won two of them. With the playoff expanding and no Nick Saban to worry about, Swinney and Clemson have a program that might take full advantage of its continuity.
“Getting past Florida State, Georgia and a Virginia Tech team that might turn heads this season, are the obvious obstacles for the Tigers. But they’ll be the first to tell you FSU was lucky to escape Death Valley with a victory last year, and no one has the goods on DJ Uiagalelei quite like Swinney. The Tigers’ linebacking corps might be the best in the country with Barrett Carter and five-star freshman Sammy Brown, and they’ll get after the quarterback.”
Clemson opens the 2024 season against Georgia with a “neutral site” game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in Week 1 (noon ET, ABC). Just over a month later, the Tigers head to Tallahassee for their annual showdown against Florida State. In early November, they visit Lane Stadium and Virginia Tech.
As for Florida State, Young says he believes Mike Norvell is capable of having a run similar to Bobby Bowden in the 90s when FSU won two national titles and played for three more between 1993-2000.
“Mike Norvell is close to putting FSU back where Bobby Bowden had them for the better part of the 1990s, replacing 10 NFL Draft picks with players of equal talent. The only returning skill player who started on offense for the Seminoles last year is tight end Kyle Morlock, so Norvell went shopping and came back with a former five-star QB in DJ Uiagalelei, as well as Alabama transfers Terrence Ferguson, Malik Benson and Roydell Williams.
This season looks like a gauntlet-run for the Noles, who play at Southern Methodist on Sept. 28, host Clemson on Oct. 5, and go on the road against Miami on Oct. 26.”
No other ACC teams made Young’s Top 25 rankings, although Miami landed at No. 26. NC State was No. 30, SMU was No. 32, and Louisville was No. 35.
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