The 2023 college football season has come to an end. The Michigan Wolverines ran the table, going 15-0 as they won the Big Ten, the Rose Bowl and the national championship. Along the way, we saw upsets and disappointments, and we witnessed games that we will remember forever. The 10th year of the College Football Playoff marks the end of the four-team playoff era, and we saw one of the best sets of semifinal games since its inception. Some teams got hot toward the end of the season, while others fizzled out. But what kind of momentum will they build in the offseason?
The 2024 college football season is months away, and we are only a day removed from the end of 2023 season — but that does not mean we can't look ahead and see which will be the top teams next fall. So, here's my Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2024.
1. Georgia Bulldogs
The Bulldogs had their 29-game win streak snapped in the Southeastern Conference title game and missed out on a chance to win their third straight national title. But after their Orange Bowl victory, Georgia will look to start a new streak in 2024 as the favorites to win it all this time next year.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
2023 was one of the worst seasons we have seen from the Alabama Crimson Tide, and yet they still made the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Jalen Milroe will be a Heisman favorite heading into the season, as he looks to end Alabama's three-year title drought.
3. Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns are back and, despite losing some of their best offensive weapons, should reload fairly easily as they embark on their new adventure in the SEC to make a second straight appearance in the College Football Playoff in 2024.
4. Oregon Ducks
The only thing that got in Oregon's way this season was Washington, as the Ducks' only two losses were to the Huskies. In 2024, the Ducks should be the favorite to win the Big Ten in their inaugural year of the now-18-team conference and a favorite to win a national title.
5. Michigan Wolverines
The current national champions could potentially lose their quarterback and head coach along with a handful of others, making their run at a second consecutive title pretty tough. However, there is still a lot to unfold; and if they can get some players to return, it will make things very interesting in 2024.
6. Ole Miss Rebels
Although its defense had a handful of opt-outs, the Ole Miss Rebels' offense gave us a preview of what we could see next season. The surprise transfer of running back Quinshon Judkins to Ohio State hurts, but the Rebels have a crowded running back room to fill that hole.
7. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes had one of their best defenses in years in 2023, but their offense took a major step back despite all their weapons at running back and wide receiver. With a much-anticipated quarterback battle this offseason, the Buckeyes could see their offense get back to its old ways to pair with that defense.
8. Missouri Tigers
One of the most improved teams of this past season was the Missouri Tigers, who capped off their first 10-win season in 10 years with a Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State. The Tigers are led by Brady Cook, a quarterback everyone needs to get familiar with, as they will be a legitimate title contender in 2024.
9. Penn State Nittany Lions
2023 was a disappointing season for the Nittany Lions, largely in part due to their offense. But with a new offensive coordinator and the transfer of wide receiver Julian Fleming, Penn State should have high expectations for next season, although it will need to replace a handful of defensive starters.
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had one of the toughest schedules of the 2023 campaign and fared pretty well, finishing with nine wins. Quarterback Sam Hartman is gone but will be replaced by Riley Leonard, and the Irish will look pretty similar next season to how they were this past season.
11. Arizona Wildcats
After a 3-3 record to start the 2023 season, the Wildcats are currently on a seven-game win streak and are entering 2024 coming off their first 10-win season since 2014. Now a member of the Big 12, Arizona will look to use this momentum to make a statement in its new conference in 2024.
12. Washington Huskies
2023 was a wild and magical ride for the Washington Huskies, but they are going to lose a lot of players, particularly quarterback Michael Penix Jr. However, the Huskies have one of the top coaches in the game in Kalen DeBoer and have quarterback Will Rogers from Mississippi State transferring in.
13. Clemson Tigers
It seems that the decline of the Clemson Tigers has come and gone. In 2024, we will see the Tigers not only back at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference but also back to where we are used to seeing them — in the College Football Playoff competing for a third national title in nine years.
14. Utah Utes
Injuries, especially at the quarterback position, made 2023 very difficult for the Utah Utes. But the return of Cam Rising next season will bring high expectations for Utah as it enters its first year in the Big 12, and will more than likely have the conference's best defense.
15. Oklahoma Sooners
The 2023 Red River game was the Sooners' Super Bowl, as Oklahoma fell flat for the rest of the season but should still be considered as a team on the rise. Oklahoma joins the SEC next season, and it could be a bumpy ride; but the Sooners' defense should fit in just fine in their new conference.
16. LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers' offense was great this season, but their defense was one of the worst in 2023. For next season, expect the offense to regress some but also expect the LSU defense to make strides forward to make the Tigers a true SEC contender.
17. Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Oklahoma State Cowboys have an opportunity to become the top team in the Big 12 in 2024 following the departures of Oklahoma and Texas. The Cowboys have one of the nation's top running backs in Ollie Gordon II, who will look to not only win his second straight Doak Walker Award but also to be a Heisman candidate.
18. Florida State Seminoles
The Florida State Seminoles did what they were supposed to in 2023 by going undefeated and winning a Power Five conference, but they were left out of the playoff because their quarterback was injured. Well, now he is gone and so are a lot of other players, so an unblemished regular season may not be in the cards for them in 2024.
19. Tennessee Volunteers
A third quarterback in three years will be taking control of the Tennessee offense next season, and Nico Iamaleava might just be the best of them all. The Vols took a slight step back from their stellar season in 2022 but should be right back at the top of the country next season.
20. North Carolina State Wolfpack
Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As weird as it may sound, the North Carolina State Wolfpack might have had the best offseason thus far thanks to the transfer portal. Highlighted by adding talent to their receiving corps and their offensive line, the Wolfpack will contend for an ACC title in 2024.
21. Kansas Jayhawks
The Kansas Jayhawks lost their offensive coordinator but will return star quarterback Jalon Daniels in 2024 and will look to be a true contender in the new-look Big 12 that is as wide open as any conference in the nation.
22. Kansas State Wildcats
Just like their in-state rival, the Wildcats will be a contender in a wild and open race in the Big 12, However, they not only lost their offensive coordinator but also lost their quarterback to the transfer portal. Avery Johnson should be QB1 in 2024, but look out for incoming freshman Blake Barnett to be on his heels for the starting job.
23. West Virginia Mountaineers
I think the West Virginia Mountaineers are a dark horse to win the Big 12 in 2024 and be a playoff contender. Quarterback Garrett Greene and running back CJ Donaldson Jr. are both underrated and will be a tough one-two punch for defenses to face next season.
24. SMU Mustangs
Do not let the Mustangs' bowl result fool you as to how good they are, as they were without their starting quarterback. SMU will be the favorite heading into the season to grab an at-large bid for Group of Five programs.
25. Wisconsin Badgers
It was a very up-and-down season for the Badgers in 2023, but there was a lot of good to take away for Wisconsin as it looks to get back atop the best-of-the-best in the Big Ten conference. With 11 transfer-commits and counting, the Badgers could be very scary next year in Luke Fickell's second season as head coach.
