2024 College Football Rankings: Brett McMurphy’s AP Top 25 Ballot for the Preseason
Cyriel Klitsie/Action Network.
Congrats, you made it! If you’re reading this, we’ve both survived another dreadful seven-month stretch without college football.
During that time there were no games played, other than EA Sports College Football 25. Just non-stop babbling about House settlements, NIL, collectives, revenue sharing, roster limits, lawsuits, private equity, super leagues, conference realignment, hot seats, transfer portal, player arrests and potential NCAA violations (too soon, Michigan?).
But no more.
In only three weeks — at noon ET on Aug. 24 — the season begins in that college football hotbed of, checks notes, Dublin, Ireland? Who cares if it’s Ireland or Iowa? It’s college football. The game we love.
And what do we love as much as the games? Arguing who should be ranked in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll.
Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here's my AP preseason Top 25 ballot. The preseason Top 25 will be released Monday, Aug. 12, at noon ET. Quick reminder: this is only my opinion on the best 25 teams — not how I think they will finish the season.
In advance, thank you for agreeing with every single one of my 2024 college football rankings.
2024 College Football Rankings: Brett McMurphy's AP Top 25 Ballot
1
Oregon Ducks
- 2023 Record: 12-2
- Last Season: Defeated Liberty in Fiesta Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 7 vs. Boise State
- Sept. 14 at Oregon State
- Sept. 28 at UCLA
- Oct. 12 vs. Ohio State
- Nov. 2 at Michigan
- Nov. 30 vs. Washington
Of the last three coaches at Oregon with double-digit victories in consecutive seasons (Chip Kelly, Mark Helfrich and Dan Lanning), Lanning is the only one who has not reached a BCS title game or College Football Playoff.
That changes this season.
With 11 returning starters bolstered by a top-six national recruiting class, plus transfer quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma and Dante Moore from UCLA, the Ducks should be flying high again in 2024.
Wide receiver Tez Johnson returns, while Oregon also added running back Jay Harris, a Division II All-American from Northwest Missouri State, and Kansas State transfer safety Kobe Savage.
With Lanning’s emphasis on the trenches — which are anchored by offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius and defensive lineman transfer Jamaree Caldwell — expect Oregon to continue the dominance it showed last year.
Excluding the two losses to Washington, Oregon averaged a 32-point winning margin per game and 250 yards more on offense per game against its other 12 opponents last season.
2
Georgia Bulldogs
- 2023 Record: 13-1
- Last Season: Defeated Florida State in Orange Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Aug. 31 vs. Clemson (in Atlanta)
- Sept. 28 at Alabama
- Oct. 5 vs. Auburn
- Oct. 19 at Texas
- Nov. 2 vs. Florida (in Jacksonville)
- Nov. 9 at Ole Miss
- Nov. 16 vs. Tennessee
In the last three years, Georgia has as many national titles (two) as regular-season losses (two). Number of players arrested, you ask? Infinity.
The Bulldogs missed last year’s playoff because of a single loss, but missing the expanded playoff will be the least of Georgia’s concerns — especially with the Dawgs Kirby Smart keeps bringing to Athens.
Their 2024 recruiting class ranked No. 1, and they’ve had four top-four classes in the past four years. All of that incoming talent helps offset the revolving door of Dawgs annually exiting to the NFL.
Quarterback Carson Beck, guard Dylan Fairchild and safety Malaki Starks are among those returning.
Awaiting UGA this fall is a much tougher schedule, including five teams on my preseason Top 25 ballot. If Georgia doesn’t get pulled over for reckless driving on the way to the national title game in nearby Atlanta, the Bulldogs could claim their third national title in four seasons.
3
Ohio State Buckeyes
- 2023 Record: 11-2
- Last Season: Lost to Missouri in Sugar Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 28 at Michigan State
- Oct. 5 vs. Iowa
- Oct. 12 at Oregon
- Oct. 26 vs. Nebraska
- Nov. 2 at Penn State
- Nov. 30 vs. Michigan
When Bo Pelini frequently finished 9-4, Nebraska fans referred to Sept. 4 as "Bo Pelini Day." Has Nov. 2 become "Ryan Day Day?"
Three consecutive 11-2 records would be celebrated in most college towns — just not Columbus.
Day has had an incredible run at Ohio State, going 56-8 with six of those losses to top-three teams. However, three of those Ls occurred in the last three seasons to hated rival Michigan, and the natives are getting restless.
This year’s goal: beat (the hell out of) TTUN, win the Big Ten and win the national title.
“We owe it to the guys that came back [and bypassed the NFL],” Day said. “We’re thinking big. We’re not going to shy away from that.”
Ohio State is loaded: running back TreVeyon Henderson, guard Donovan Jackson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, defensive end JT Tuimoloau and cornerback Denzel Burke all return.
Add in transfers Will Howard at quarterback, Quinshon Judkins at running back, Caleb Downs in the secondary and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, and it’s national title or bust.
4
Texas Longhorns
- 2023 Record: 12-2
- Last Season: Lost to Washington in College Football Playoff semifinal
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 7 at Michigan
- Sept. 14 vs. UTSA
- Oct. 12 vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas)
- Oct. 19 vs. Georgia
- Nov. 16 at Arkansas
- Nov. 30 at Texas A&M
Under Steve Sarkisian, Texas improved from five wins to eight to 12 last year — the Longhorns’ best season since 2009.
There’s a drastic difference from when Sarkisian arrived. In 2021, he said it was “almost like kind of prodding cattle” to get everyone doing what was required. Now?
“There’s an obsession in our locker room," Sarkisian said. "They got a taste of what it can taste like last year, and we fell short. Now they can’t wait to get back to work.”
In 2024, the job will be tougher than a $2 steak — or Lincoln Riley’s brisket — as UT joins the SEC.
To prepare for the move, Sarkisian grabbed more toys from the portal (wide receivers Isaiah Bond, Silas Bolden and Matthew Golden) for quarterback Quinn Ewers.
Defensively, seven starters return after limiting eight teams to three touchdowns or less last season.
Texas is also the only Power 4 school that has had the same head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator (Kyle Flood, Pete Kwiatkowski) for the past four years.
Is Texas (really) back? Perhaps. But only if the Horns can hook back-to-back playoff berths.
5
Alabama Crimson Tide
- 2023 Record: 12-2
- Last Season: Lost to Michigan in College Football Playoff semifinal
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 14 at Wisconsin
- Sept. 28 vs. Georgia
- Oct. 19 at Tennessee
- Oct. 26 vs. Missouri
- Nov. 9 at LSU
- Nov. 23 at Oklahoma
- Nov. 30 vs. Auburn
The season is still a couple of weeks away, and new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is already feeling the heat. Not from having to replace Nick Saban, but the actual temperature of coaching in the South.
“It’s hot,” said DeBoer, who’s never had a coaching job any further south than Illinois.
What’s even hotter than a humid Alabama summer day is DeBoer’s insane head coaching record: 104-12, including two magical seasons in Washington (25-3).
DeBoer built a national contender in only two years in Seattle, so what are the possibilities for him at one of the nation’s most prominent programs? I’m not ready to crown DeBoer as the next Bear at Bama, but I wouldn’t be surprised if quarterback Jalen Milroe has a Michael Penix-like improvement this fall.
Since Saban’s retirement, the national narrative is how much of a drop-off there will be — heck, even Saban doesn’t predict Bama will reach the SEC title game. That’s just fine with DeBoer and the Tide. They can stand the heat.
6
Ole Miss Rebels
- 2023 Record: 11-2
- Last Season: Defeated Penn State in Peach Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Oct. 5 at South Carolina
- Oct. 12 at LSU
- Oct. 26 vs. Oklahoma
- Nov. 9 vs. Georgia
- Nov. 30 vs. Mississippi State
For only the second time in 53 years, Ole Miss is expected to be among the top 10 in the AP preseason rankings. After all, the Rebels are coming off their first 11-win season in school history.
They return a ton of talent, and Lane Kiffin brought in even more through the transfer portal. These are heady times in Oxford.
Kiffin’s response to the unprecedented expectations: “Rat poison. We’re all humans. You read stuff. You start to believe it when you see it enough. I’ve got to continue to remind them it really means nothing.”
Kiffin — aka the Portal King — hauled in the nation’s No. 1 transfer class, including an incredible 11 potential starters from Power 5 teams. Ole Miss did lose running back Quinshon Judkins to the portal, but it brings back quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Can Ole Miss live up to the hype? The Rebels named their football stadium after the last Ole Miss coach to have consecutive double-digit win seasons (John Vaught).
If Kiffin delivers a double-digit win season again, how about Portal King Field at Vaught Hemingway Stadium?
7
Penn State Nittany Lions
- 2023 Record: 10-3
- Last Season: Lost to Ole Miss in Peach Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Aug. 31 at West Virginia
- Oct. 12 at USC
- Oct. 26 at Wisconsin
- Nov. 2 vs. Ohio State
- Nov. 9 at Washington
James Franklin has had a successful run in 10 seasons at Penn State. He has finished every year with a winning record and bowl trip (except for the COVID-shortened 2020 season), plus five New Year’s Six bowls, including two Rose Bowls.
But … the Nittany Lions never made the four-team playoff and struggled against Big Ten bullies Ohio State and Michigan. So much so that at Big Ten Media Days, Franklin mentioned three times in a 15-minute press conference when Penn State “wins 10 or 11 games, people are unhappy.”
Franklin’s struggles against the Buckeyes and Wolverines (4-16) and top-10 opponents (3-17) are no secret, so there were staff changes.
Andy Kotelnicki, who was a wizard at Kansas working with Lance Leipold, will be Franklin’s sixth offensive coordinator in 11 seasons. And after losing his last two defensive coordinators to head-coaching jobs (Manny Diaz to Duke and Brent Pry to Virginia Tech), Franklin went with a former head coach in Tom Allen as DC.
Will those changes be enough for Penn State to win at least 10 or 11 games and make an expanded playoff? If so, will it cheer up all those unhappy people in Happy Valley?
8
Miami Hurricanes
- 2023 Record: 7-6
- Last Season: Lost to Rutgers in Pinstripe Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Aug. 31 at Florida
- Sept. 27 at Virginia Tech
- Oct. 19 vs. Louisville
- Oct. 26 vs. Florida State
In Mario Cristobal’s third season at Oregon (his second year as the Ducks’ head coach), Oregon won 12 games, the Pac-12 title and the Rose Bowl. Can Cristobal have similar success in Year 3 at Miami, where the once-proud program still seeks its first ACC title since joining the league 21 years ago?
Based on the amount of talent Cristobal has accumulated, it could be a breakout season.
UM signed its best recruiting class in 15 years, the offensive and defensive lines will both be among the nation’s best and the Hurricanes added a plethora of impact transfers, most notably quarterback Cam Ward from Washington State and running back Damien Martinez from Oregon State.
“Cam Ward can either win the Heisman, or you’ll finish 6-6,” an ACC coach told me.
There’s no way UM is headed for 6-6, but I’m not ready to give Ward the Heisman just yet. However, the talented playmaker, who was named the ACC’s preseason player of the year, should be the perfect remedy for what was one of the nation’s worst red-zone offenses a year ago.
9
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- 2023 Record: 10-3
- Last Season: Defeated Oregon State in Sun Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Aug. 31 at Texas A&M
- Sept. 28 vs. Louisville
- Nov. 9 vs. Florida State
- Nov. 30 at USC
Year 3 for Notre Dame head coaches have been either very, very good — Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz each won a national title and Brian Kelly lost in the BCS title game — or very bad. Bob Davie went 5-7, Charlie Weis finished 3-9 and Tyrone Willingham was fired after his third year.
What’s in store for Marcus Freeman’s third season leading the Irish? It looks promising.
Notre Dame has a ton of defensive talent returning, including tackles Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills, linebacker Jack Kiser and safety Xavier Watts.
Offensively, Notre Dame tries its luck with another ACC transfer QB — this time, Duke’s Riley Leonard, who should flourish under new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.
The schedule, featuring only three teams on my preseason Top 25 ballot and three true road games, is set up to give Notre Dame a berth in the expanded 12-team playoff.
That is, if it avoids the head-scratching home losses like the games against Marshall and Stanford in Freeman’s first season. It would also help if it didn't have 10 men on the field in critical late-game situations, such as last year’s loss to Ohio State.
10
Utah Utes
- 2023 Record: 8-5
- Last Season: Lost to Northwestern in Las Vegas Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 21 at Oklahoma State
- Sept. 28 vs. Arizona
- Nov. 9 vs. BYU
- Nov. 16 at Colorado
- Nov. 30 at UCF
In the past 13 seasons, there have been 16 schools that have changed or moved up to a Power 5 conference. Of that group, no school has come close to matching Utah’s success.
After moving from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 in 2011, the Utes had a winning record in conference play in nine of their 13 seasons. Now, it’s off to the Big 12, where Utah was voted the preseason favorite.
To do so, the Utes must remain healthy. Last season, they resembled a MASH unit.
Among their projected starters and backups, they lost more than 150 games because of injuries. The biggest was quarterback Cam Rising, who missed all season recovering from his ACL injury suffered in the 2022 Rose Bowl.
Even though Rising is eligible to return for an eighth season at Utah in 2025, he told me this will be the final one.
“Seven years is more than enough,” he said.
Tight end Brant Kuithe, Rising’s favorite target, is also back from injury for a seventh season.
Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley, who was named coach-in-waiting when Kyle Whittingham retires, will also have another elite unit with eight starters returning.
11
Kansas State Wildcats
- 2023 Record: 9-4
- Last Season: Defeated NC State in Pop-Tarts Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 14 vs. Arizona
- Sept. 28 vs. Oklahoma State
- Oct. 12 at Colorado
- Oct. 19 at West Virginia
- Oct. 26 vs. Kansas
- Nov. 30 at Iowa State
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson isn’t faster than a speeding bullet — or is he? — but the true freshman was a blur at times last year. His five rushing touchdowns at the midway point of last season even created a quasi-QB controversy.
After the regular-season finale, Will Howard, who led K-State to the 2022 Big 12 title, entered the transfer portal, eventually landing with Ohio State. After Howard’s exit, Johnson made his first start in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against NC State and earned bowl MVP honors.
Head coach Chris Klieman believes there’s a “higher ceiling” with Johnson at quarterback.
As impressive as Johnson was last season, the offense will look different with new co-offensive coordinator and QBs coach Matt Wells.
“I’m excited about some of the things that Coach Wells will bring to K-State, especially the pass game,” Klieman said. “And everybody wants to know what the heck we’ll do, but we’ll wait until the fall to unveil that.”
Johnson and running back DJ Giddens will have to work behind an offensive line that lost four seniors, but Klieman notes KSU is still expected to have four senior starters on the O-line.
12
Oklahoma State Cowboys
- 2023 Record: 10-4
- Last Season: Defeated Texas A&M in Texas Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Aug. 31 vs. South Dakota State
- Sept. 7 vs. Arkansas
- TBA vs. Utah
- Sept. 28 at Kansas State
- Oct. 5 vs. West Virginia
- Nov. 30 at Colorado
Before last season, Oklahoma State had top-line players, such as quarterback Spencer Sanders, departing for supposedly greener pastures. How’d that work out?
Now, no one wants to leave Stillwater.
Star running back Ollie Gordon II delayed the NFL for another season in “Olliewood,” while quarterback Alan Bowman received a seventh year of eligibility. In all, the Cowboys return 19 starters, including stud linebacker Collin Oliver.
It’s been a great ride for head coach Mike Gundy, who has quietly guided the Cowboys to 18 consecutive winning seasons, the eighth-longest streak in college football history at one school.
After some agonizingly close calls to reaching the national title game or playoff (2011 and 2021), can Gundy and the Pokes finally make college football’s biggest stage for the first time?
Historically under Gundy, the Cowboys have performed better when they started the season overlooked — the last two times OSU began the year unranked, it finished No. 16 and No. 7 in the final AP rankings.
With nearly the same cast of Pokes back from last year, Oklahoma State won’t sneak up on anyone. Buckle up, Cowboys.
13
Clemson Tigers
- 2023 Record: 9-4
- Last Season: Defeated Kentucky in Gator Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Aug. 31 vs. Georgia (in Atlanta)
- Sept. 21 vs. NC State
- Oct. 5 at Florida State
- Nov. 2 vs. Louisville
- Nov. 9 at Virginia Tech
- Nov. 30 vs. South Carolina
Clemson’s program is to the point where last year’s 9-4 record was its worst in 13 seasons. Midway through the year, Dabo Swinney (deservedly) went ballistic on “Tyler from Spartanburg,” who questioned Swinney’s salary and the 4-4 start on his radio show.
“People like you all that you do is … the expectation is greater than the appreciation,” Swinney said.
The streak of double-digit win seasons (12) is kaput, and the Tigers' record six consecutive playoff berths (2015-20) — not even Bama did that — ended when quarterback Trevor Lawrence went to the NFL.
In that six-year playoff run — that probably seems light years away — the Tigers lost seven games; they’ve lost 11 in the past three seasons.
Last year was especially frustrating. Despite outgaining three of the four teams they lost to, red-zone miscues (a -6 turnover margin) and missed field goals did the Tigers in.
Swinney is confident and optimistic about this season with 14 returning starters, most notably quarterback Cade Klubnik.
It won’t take long for Clemson — and “Tyler from Spartanburg” — to get a read on this season. The Tigers open against likely preseason No. 1 Georgia.
14
Missouri Tigers
- 2023 Record: 11-2
- Last Season: Defeated Ohio State in Cotton Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Oct. 5 at Texas A&M
- Oct. 19 vs. Auburn
- Oct. 26 at Alabama
- Nov. 9 vs. Oklahoma
At the SEC spring meetings, I jokingly told Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz I couldn’t find it.
“Find what?” he said.
“The bulls-eye,” I said. "Your Tigers could be preseason top-10.”
Drinkwitz laughed and pointed at his forehead.
There wasn’t much to smile about in Columbia after Drinkwitz debuted with three non-winning seasons. However, last year, the Tigers finished 11-2 and ranked ninth nationally.
Expectations are even higher this season with 15 returning starters, including quarterback Brady Cook and wide receiver Luther Burden III.
The Tigers, who haven’t been ranked in the preseason poll since 2014, could have their first preseason top-10 ranking in 16 years. Missouri’s offense should be scary good, and the Tigers’ schedule is, well, not so frightening.
Mizzou will face three teams on my AP Top 25 preseason ballot but may be at least 10-point favorites in their remaining nine games.
Last year’s Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State was monumental for Mizzou. If the Tigers again face the Buckeyes this year, it could mean a deep playoff run.
15
Florida State Seminoles
- 2023 Record: 13-1
- Last Season: Lost to Georgia in Orange Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 28 at SMU
- Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
- Oct. 26 at Miami
- Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
- Nov. 30 vs. Florida
Florida State made college football history last season, but perhaps not in the way it wanted.
The Seminoles became the first 13-0 power conference team to not be selected for the four-team playoff. Then FSU, decimated by injuries and opt-outs, became the first team to lose a bowl by 60 points.
“This is a new opportunity,” head coach Mike Norvell said. “It’s not so much to focus on what happened last year [in the bowl loss] or the good, 13-0, is not going to do any good for us either.”
Even though FSU lost a running back and five skill players to the NFL Draft, Norvell believes the running backs “collectively” and the offensive line “will be as good as we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
That should help transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, formerly of Oregon State and Clemson.
FSU may only have eight returning starters, but Norvell said that’s misleading because of the game experience this roster, including linebacker DJ Lundy and cornerback Azareye’h Thomas, possesses.
The Noles also should benefit from a bevy of transfers, including five from Alabama alone and former Georgia defensive end Marvin Jones Jr.
16
Oklahoma Sooners
- 2023 Record: 10-3
- Last Season: Lost to Arizona in Alamo Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 21 vs. Tennessee
- Sept. 28 at Auburn
- Oct. 12 vs. Texas (in Dallas)
- Oct. 26 at Ole Miss
- Nov. 9 at Missouri
- Nov. 23 vs. Alabama
- Nov. 30 at LSU
Since last season, Oklahoma lost its offensive coordinator to Mississippi State, its starting quarterback to Oregon and fired its defensive coordinator. Welcome to the SEC, y’all!
The Sooners, with Texas, make their debut in the SEC this fall. Awaiting them is a brutal schedule featuring half of last year’s College Football Playoff’s final four (Texas and Alabama), plus four more teams on my AP Preseason Top 25 ballot in Tennessee, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU.
Oklahoma leaves behind its Big 12 roots, where it dominated for so long. Still, OU should make some noise in its new digs.
Jackson Arnold takes over at quarterback under the guidance of offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. The defense, now under new coordinator Zac Alley, should hold its own with several top-line players returning, including linebacker Danny Stutsman, defensive tackle Da’Jon Terry and defensive backs Billy Bowman and Woodi Washington.
A top-10 national recruiting class should also help. Brent Venables’ top goal for the Sooners’ first SEC season? Oklahoma wants to be more than OK.
17
Michigan Wolverines
- 2023 Record: 15-0
- Last Season: Beat Washington in College Football Playoff National Championship
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 7 vs. Texas
- Sept. 21 vs. USC
- Oct. 5 at Washington
- Oct. 26 vs. Michigan State
- Nov. 2 vs. Oregon
- Nov. 30 at Ohio State
After Michigan’s National Championship season, it’s a new cast in Ann Arbor. Following three consecutive playoff berths and Big Ten titles, head coach Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL, along with 13 players selected in the NFL Draft.
Fortunately for the Wolverines, Michigan opens the season with five consecutive home games, giving UM fans time to familiarize themselves with the new roster.
It also might take that long to find a replacement for QB J.J. McCarthy. Jack Tuttle, Alex Orji and Davis Warren are among a cast of thousands up for the role.
Sherrone Moore, who did an incredible job as interim coach and offensive coordinator last season, officially takes over for Harbaugh.
The Wolverines return only four starters but still should be solid defensively, especially up front. New DC Wink Martindale becomes the third UM DC who previously worked for the Ravens’ John Harbaugh, but it’s doubtful they can match last year’s unit that held 12-of-15 opponents to 15 points or less.
With so many changes in Ann Arbor — and five games against teams in my Preseason Top 25 — there will be some regression. The question is: how much?
18
Tennessee Volunteers
- 2023 Record: 9-4
- Last Season: Defeated Iowa in Citrus Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 7 vs. NC State (in Charlotte)
- Sept. 21 at Oklahoma
- Oct. 12 vs. Florida
- Oct. 19 vs. Alabama
- Nov. 16 at Georgia
Nico Mania is officially underway in Knoxville. Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava made his first start in Tennessee’s 35-0 rout of Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. He easily lived up to the hype. And to the (Josh) Heupel.
“Nico’s got the ability to throw the football sideline to sideline, vertically down the football field, extremely accurate, loose, quick-triggered arm,” Heupel said about his freshman phenom.
The Vols have won 20 games the past two seasons, their best two-year stretch in 20 years. And now they have Tennessee’s most-hyped QB not named Peyton Manning.
Wide receivers Bru McCoy, who's back after an injury-plagued 2023, Squirrel White, Dont’e Thornton and Chris Brazzell II provide plenty of targets in Heupel’s hyperdrive offense.
The Vols will need all the offense they can muster because the defense must replace nine starters. Heupel isn’t concerned, though.
“Our roster is the deepest that it’s been by far,” Heupel said.
By SEC standards, the schedule is very manageable. Tennessee plays only three teams on my AP Preseason Top 25 ballot, plus a tricky nonconference matchup with NC State.
19
Iowa Hawkeyes
- 2023 Record: 10-4
- Last Season: Lost to Tennessee in Citrus Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 7 vs. Iowa State
- Oct. 5 at Ohio State
- Oct. 12 vs. Washington
- Nov. 2 vs. Wisconsin
- Nov. 29 vs. Nebraska
Kirk Ferentz made headlines with a simple statement at last month’s Big Ten media days: “We have the potential to be a good offensive team.”
This sent shockwaves through social media as everyone posted their favorite Iowa offense joke. Actually, Iowa — no joke — will be a much different and improved offensive team this fall.
Quarterback Cade McNamara is healthy after suffering a torn ACL last season and should prosper under new offensive coordinator Tim Lester.
“Unfortunately for our fan base, nobody’s seen Cade play full speed this far in an Iowa uniform,” Ferentz said. “I’m excited to see him myself.”
With injuries and other issues, Iowa’s offense last year looked like it had two arms tied behind its back. While the offense will be improved — it can’t be worse, right? — the defense might be even better, Ferentz told me.
“Six guys came back [utilizing their extra COVID season]," he said. "If we play at a better level than last year, we can be better.”
That’s quite a statement, considering Iowa held 11 of its 12 opponents to 16 points or fewer last year before running out of gas in the Big Ten title game and Citrus Bowl.
20
LSU Tigers
- 2023 Record: 10-3
- Last Season: Defeated Wisconsin in ReliaQuest Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 1 vs. USC (in Las Vegas)
- Oct. 12 vs. Ole Miss
- Oct. 26 at Texas A&M
- Nov. 9 vs. Alabama
- Nov. 16 at Florida
- Nov. 30 vs. Oklahoma
In two years, Brian Kelly has led the Tigers to consecutive 10-win seasons and coached 2023 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels. But for LSU historians, it’s the upcoming season that brings even more intrigue.
It will be Kelly’s third season in Baton Rouge and — no pressure, Brian — the last two LSU coaches won a national title in their third full-time season (Les Miles in 2007 and Ed Orgeron in 2019). Can Kelly make it an LSU three-peat?
It won’t be easy. Daniels is among several starters off to the NFL, and Kelly must replace both coordinators. OC Mike Denbrock went to Notre Dame, and Kelly fired DC Matt House.
LSU does return quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who led the Tigers to a come-from-behind bowl win over Wisconsin.
Kelly also has an impressive Year 3 history. In his three previous coaching stops — Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Notre Dame — Kelly went 33-5 in his third season.
Kelly said this year’s team has a lot of similarities with his other successful Year 3 teams.
“This will be the deepest team that we've had,” Kelly said.
There you go LSU opponents, you’ve been warned.
21
Texas A&M Aggies
- 2023 Record: 7-6
- Last Season: Lost to Oklahoma State in Texas Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Aug. 31 vs. Notre Dame
- Sept. 14 at Florida
- Oct. 5 vs. Missouri
- Oct. 26 vs. LSU
- Nov. 23 at Auburn
- Nov. 30 vs. Texas
Former Duke coach Mike Elko takes over at Texas A&M. The last Duke coach who left to be an SEC coach wasn’t too shabby — it was some guy named Steve Spurrier.
Elko returns to College Station, where he was the Aggies’ defensive coordinator from 2018-21. In those four years, A&M went 34-14 compared to 12-13 after he left.
Now back at A&M, he can’t wait to literally walk on the field. When he was DC, he was always in the press box.
“The biggest thing is being able to actually come out onto the field on game day,” Elko said. “I’ve never actually gotten to experience Kyle Field from field level.”
His first on-field experience at A&M will be a doozy — the season opener vs. Notre Dame, where Elko was DC in 2017.
How that opener and Elko’s first season turn out depends on quarterback Conner Weigman, who has played only six games in two years because of injuries.
“It’s not lost on anybody that our ability to keep our quarterback healthy is going to play a huge role in our ability to have success this year,” Elko said.
If Elko thinks his first on-field game will be crazy, just wait until the regular-season finale when Texas rolls into town.
22
USC Trojans
- 2023 Record: 8-5
- Last Season: Defeated Louisville in Holiday Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 1 vs. LSU (in Las Vegas)
- Sept. 21 at Michigan
- Sept. 28 vs. Wisconsin
- Oct. 12 vs. Penn State
- Nov. 2 at Washington
- Nov. 23 at UCLA
- Nov. 30 vs. Notre Dame
After spending 2017-21 in the Big 12 and 2022-23 in the Pac-12, Lincoln Riley will be coaching in his third conference in four years. What will be the biggest difference in the Big Ten?
“In some ways, we’ll find out,” Riley said. “Compared to the Pac-12, the road venues will be better.”
What USC better be better at is defense. Last year, the terrible-tackling Trojans had the fourth-worst rushing and scoring defense among Power Five schools.
Gone is defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. Riley hired D’Anton Lynn from UCLA, where he directed perhaps the best defensive turnaround of last season. Riley also added former Houston DC Doug Belk and North Dakota State coach Matt Entz to bolster the defensive staff.
Riley’s offenses are annually among the nation’s best. However, this will be the first time in four seasons Caleb Williams is not Riley’s main man.
Quarterback Miller Moss, who threw for six touchdowns in last year’s bowl win vs. Louisville, takes over. Awaiting him and the Trojans is a new, deeper conference and a schedule featuring four teams on my AP Preseason Top 25 ballot.
Fight On, indeed.
23
Iowa State Cyclones
- 2023 Record: 7-6
- Last Season: Lost to Memphis in Liberty Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 7 at Iowa
- Oct. 12 at West Virginia
- Oct. 19 vs. UCF
- Nov. 9 at Kansas
- Nov. 23 at Utah
- Nov. 30 vs. Kansas State
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell remembers watching film of quarterback Rocco Becht’s junior year in high school. It was so familiar.
“It looked like Brock [Purdy’s] junior year of high school,” Campbell said.
Will Becht be Purdy-esque during his time in Ames? That’s TBA, but so far, so good. In his freshman year, Becht put up better numbers than Purdy’s freshman season. More importantly, he led ISU to seven wins, as the Cyclones rebounded from a 4-8 record in 2022 (Campbell’s second-worst season of his 13-year head coaching career).
And this season should be even better.
Last year, the Cyclones played the most freshmen of any Big 12 school and return nearly their entire starting lineup. One significant loss for ISU was offensive coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase to the NFL so Campbell promoted tight ends coach Taylor Mouser to OC.
Becht, running back Abu Sama and wide receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins should make Mouser’s transition as a first-time OC somewhat easier.
Led by defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, the defense will remain a strength. In Heacock’s eight years at ISU, the Cyclones have ranked in the Big 12’s top three in scoring defense every season.
24
Virginia Tech Hokies
- 2023 Record: 7-6
- Last Season: Defeated Tulane in Military Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 21 vs. Rutgers
- Sept. 27 at Miami
- Nov. 9 vs. Clemson
Brent Pry made his head-coaching debut just two years ago with Virginia Tech. It wasn’t pretty. The Hokies were upset by Old Dominion, an in-state Group of Five school. Not the best first impression.
Then after two wins, they lost seven consecutive games.
Last season, Tech began 2-4, dropping Pry to 5-12 overall. However, the Hokies finished 5-2, overpowering their opponents by averaging 269 more yards in those wins. That momentum carried over to the offseason with 19 starters returning this fall.
“We've got players that decided to return and spurn the NFL, spurn other opportunities, maybe to make more money,” Pry said. “We have coaches that turned down opportunities to stay at Virginia Tech. There's a belief in our team. There's a belief in our process.”
Quarterback Kyron Drones, who thrived when Tech committed to its running game, has plenty of targets in wide receivers Da’Quan Felton, Jaylin Lane and Stephen Gosnell.
The Hokies should benefit from an ACC schedule that features six teams projected to finish in the league’s bottom half and doesn’t include Florida State.
“We’ve got some good momentum,” Pry said. “But nowhere yet are we the team we can be.”
That may change after this season.
25
Kansas Jayhawks
- 2023 Record: 9-4
- Last Season: Defeated UNLV in Guaranteed Rate Bowl
2024 Schedule Highlights
- Sept. 21 at West Virginia
- Oct. 26 at Kansas State
- Nov. 9 vs. Iowa State (in Kansas City)
- Nov. 23 vs. Colorado (in Kansas City)
Remember the days when Kansas was the laughingstock of college football? When winless or one-win seasons were the norm? That was BLL — Before Lance Leipold. Those days are long gone.
Since Leipold took over at KU in 2021, the Jayhawks have had one of the nation’s top turnarounds, improving from two wins to six to last season’s 9-4 record.
It wasn’t that long ago that Jayhawks players were ashamed of wearing their jerseys on campus. Now, they can’t keep them on the shelves after consecutive bowl trips for the first time in 15 years.
Last season, despite playing most of the year without star quarterback and 2023 Big 12 preseason player of the year Jalon Daniels, Kansas had its best season since 2007 behind QB Jason Bean.
Bean is gone, but Daniels and RB Devin Neal are among 15 returning starters for the Jayhawks, who should be a serious threat in a wild and wide-open Big 12 race.
You’re still here? For sticking it out through my Top 25, here’s an added bonus: the next 15 teams (listed alphabetically) I would have included if there was an AP Top 40 poll.
- Arizona
- Auburn
- Boise State
- Florida
- Kentucky
- Louisville
- Memphis
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- NC State
- SMU
- TCU
- UCF
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Also, click on the link to download the Action Network app (click here). It’s free. Seriously, no charge. Get all my rankings, bowl projections, scoops, news, notes and nonsense. Plus, live scoreboards, odds, predictions, analysis and videos for college football and every professional sport, including the NFL, MLB and NBA.
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