2024 College Football Preseason Top 25

The college football season starts in less than two months. With that, here is the 2024 college football Preseason top 25.

25-21

25. Iowa State Cyclones

In a year were plenty of players were ineligible due to a gambling investigation, Iowa State went 7-6. They have nine returning starters on each sides of the ball. Quarterback Rocco Becht played well as a freshman and he’ll have plenty of good wide receivers and protection to help the offense increase its production. Defensively the experience should help them improve from their 42nd ranking last season.

24. Boise State Broncos

Boise State has the chance to represent the Group of Five in the CFP. Malachi Nelson transfers in after being a highly-rated quarterback. Running back Ashton Jeanty is one of the best in the country. Six total starters are back on offense, while eight are returning on the defensive side of the ball. The defense improved by the end of last season, so things could be looking better this year.

23. Louisville Cardinals

Jeff Brohm won 10 games in his first season as Louisville’s head coach. The impressive thing was the defense, as they ranked 33rd with the help of Ashton Gillotte, who decided to return to school. Five other starters return on that side of the ball. Tyler Shough is on his third school as the quarterback, but has talent to play well when healthy. Wide receiver transfers should help the offense take a step forward in year two under Brohm.

22. Virginia Tech Hokies

Last season, Virginia Tech looked like a different team with Kyron Drones at quarterback and he is back this season. Seven other starters return and Old Dominion wide receiver Ali Jennings joins the fold, so the offense can be better. The defense also needs to step up, but seven starters return to help them.

21. Kansas State Wildcats

Avery Johnson was a highly-rated recruit who did well in spurts last season, but now takes over the offense that ranked 10th in the country. D.J. Giddens rushed for over 1,200 yards and he’ll be joined by Colorado transfer Dylan Edwards in the backfield. The defense ranked 26th last season, but seven starters return.

20-16

20. Oklahoma Sooners

Jackson Arnold is taking over for Dillon Gabriel and there is some optimism surrounding the offense with Deion Burks transferring in from Purdue to join a lot of other players at the skill positions who have produced. The defense has improved under Brent Venables and they return good players, specifically at linebacker and in the secondary.

19. Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas football is in a really good place under Lance Leipold. Jalon Daniels will need to stay healthy at the quarterback position, but he is one of the conference’s best when he is in. Devin Neal is a great running back who rushed for over 1,200 yards last season. The offense ranked fourth in the country and there is reason to believe they can rank highly again. On defense, five starters return, but improvement is needed if they wish to win the Big 12.

18. Tennessee Volunteers

James Pearce Jr. has the chance to be special as a pass rusher and lead the Tennessee defense. The secondary has some issues that need to be addressed though. On offense, Nico Iamaleava was a highly-rated recruit who played sparingly last season, but now is taking over. He’ll have a talented wide receiver room and running back in Dylan Sampson to utilize. The offensive line also has plenty of talent.

17. LSU Tigers

The Tigers lost a lot of talent and have some real work to do. Will Campbell leads a great offensive line unit at left tackle, but new skill position players need to step up. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is getting his shot to start and has played decently in limited time. The defense was abysmal last season, but Blake Baker is in from Missouri and he’ll have linebacker Harold Perkins, one of the best defenders in the country to deploy.

16. Florida State Seminoles

Mike Norvell continues to use the transfer portal to stock his team. D.J. Uiagalelei is making his third collegiate stop after a decent season with Oregon State. Roydell Williams and Lawrance Toafili will handle the rushing duties, but new wide receivers need to step up in an FSU uniform. The defense lost some talent from their unit that ranked 18th, but defensive end Patrick Payton is a pro prospect and Fentrell Cypress has made some big plays over his collegiate career.

15-11

15. Miami Hurricanes

Miami hit the transfer portal hard and now needs to take the next step forward as a program. Cam Ward is in at quarterback from Washington State and he’ll bring more life to the offense. Xavier Restrepo will help him from the wide receiver position as a great route runner. The defense has to improve as well, but it may be easier with the play of Rueben Bain Jr. who was great as a freshman.

14. NC State Wolfpack

The Wolfpack won nine games last season and have the chance to improve with Grayson McCall transferring in to play quarterback from Coastal Carolina. He’ll be able to utilize wide receiver Kevin Concepcion after a great freshman season, while the offensive line has plenty of experienced talent. Defensively, Devin Vann has been good up front, while Aydan White has a nose for the ball in the secondary.

13. Clemson Tigers

The offense has talent, but Garrett Riley needs to get more out of them in year two as the coordinator. Cade Klubnik is back at quarterback and he’ll have workhorse running back Phil Mafah to lean on. The defense has talent as always, with the defensive front and linebacker Barrett Carter really having the chance to create huge impacts.

12. Oklahoma State Cowboys

College football’s leading rusher Ollie Gordon is back with eight other starters on offense. The offensive line can clear holes for him and protect Alan Bowman after a solid season last year. Oklahoma State’s defense brings back eight starters including Collin Oliver who has plenty of sacks in his career.

11. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State has struggled with Ohio State and Michigan, but only has to play the Buckeyes this season, which opens things up for them. Drew Allar is back at quarterback and will be looking to improve in year two as the starter. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen will look to provide a good running back tandem, while wide receiver Julian Flemming and Tyler Warren are good options for the passing attack. The defense may have a tough time living up to their number three rank last season, but Abdul Carter could help them play extremely well with his pass rushing.

10-6

10. Michigan Wolverines

A hope for a repeat may be a little much, but the Wolverines have plenty of talent. Alex Orji takes over at quarterback after getting some experience over the last few years. Running back Donovan Edwards and tight end Colston Loveland are premier skill position players. Michigan usually has a great offensive line, but will have all new faces starting up front. The duo of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant make the interior of their defensive line fierce, while Will Johnson is one of the best corners in the country.

9. Utah Utes

Quarterback Cam Rising missed all of last season and the Utes won eight games. His return should help them do better. The offensive line returns plenty of experience and with wide receiver Dorian Singer transferring in, they have talent at the skill positions. The defense was a top 20 unit last season and brings back seven starters.

8. Missouri Tigers

Missouri broke out last season and it looks like they could do the same this season. Luther Burden is back at wide receiver as a dynamic playmaker who pairs nicely with quarterback Brady Cook. Eight total starters return on offense, which should help the unit improve. On defense, the Tigers may take a step back after losing their defensive coordinator, Blake Baker, to LSU and only returning five starters.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide

While there were some exits from the program, Kalen DeBoer has settled things down. Quarterback Jalen Milroe is still a game-changer with his deep ball and his legs. The offensive line should be impressive in front of him, but new skill position players need to step up. Defensively, the Crimson Tide have some question marks, but they also have talent. Safety Malachi Moore has plenty of experience, as does their linebacker room.

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame has another transfer quarterback in Riley Leonard, who impressed at Duke. They hit the transfer portal to get him some weapons as well, with FIU’s Kris Mitchell and Clemson’s Beaux Collins entering the fold. The Fighting Irish are good up front, but also have two great secondary players in cornerback Benjamin Morrison and safety Xavier Watts. They ranked seventh in scoring offense and defense last season, with the defense looking like it can match that production this year.

5-1

5. Ole Miss Rebels

Losing running back Quinshon Judkins in the transfer portal was newsworthy, but Ole Miss has been able to get plenty of their own transfers. Jaxson Dart returns at quarterback, while Tre Harris and Juice Wells give him some viable targets to throw to this season. The defense ranked 35th in scoring last season, but they improved in the trenches with the additions of Walter Nolan and Princley Umanmielen.

4. Oregon Ducks

Dillon Gabriel heads into Oregon and seems to be a perfect fit for their offensive system at quarterback. The offense ranked second in the country last season and that seems like a reasonable goal with Gabriel leading the way, wide receiver Evan Stewart transferring in from Texas A&M and an experienced offensive line up front. Defensively, the Ducks addressed the secondary via the transfer portal, but have to see players improve for them to rank in the top 10, as they did last season.

3. Texas Longhorns

Quinn Ewers returning can help the offense find some immediate rhythm and he’ll be behind an experienced offensive line. Isaiah Bond enters from Alabama to replace the receivers who went pro and C.J. Baxter has loads of potential carrying the football. The defense ranked 15th in the country last season and returns seven starters, which should help their transition to the SEC.

2. Georgia Bulldogs

The Bulldogs lost one game last year and missed the CFP, which has to motivate them. They’ll have 15 starters returning, including quarterback Carson Beck, who really improved from the start of the season last year. The defense has playmakers returning at every level including defensive end Mykel Williams, linebacker Smael Mondon and safety Malaki Starks. After ranking top five in offense and defense last season, it is possible they repeat that performance.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State not only retained a lot of talent, they recruited well and saw a lot of talent come in from the transfer portal. Safety Caleb Downs comes in from Alabama to join a defense that features plenty of potential All-Americans, including defensive ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau and cornerback Denzel Burke. Quarterback will be a question, but if Kansas State transfer Will Howard doesn’t work out, they have freshmen to turn to and solid running backs to help support.

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