As the sun rises over Atlanta, excitement is brewing for college football fans as the 2024 season is about to kick off. After a brief hiatus from the College Football Playoff, the Georgia Bulldogs are back and sitting comfortably at the top of the preseason USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-134. This rankings places them as the team to beat for both the SEC crown and the national championship.
Following Georgia in the rankings is the Ohio State Buckeyes, who have set their sights firmly ahead as quarterback Will Howard transfers from Kansas State. At No. 3 is the Texas Longhorns, fresh off their Big 12 title and playoff appearance last season. Rounding out the top five are the Oregon Ducks at No. 4 and the Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 5.
The excitement continues with the top ten featuring No. 6 LSU, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 8 Clemson, No. 9 Penn State, and No. 10 Mississippi. Both the SEC and Big Ten dominate this year’s rankings, with eight and six teams respectively inside the top 25. The ACC secured five spots while the Big 12 picked up four. Notably, the only Group of Five team breaking into the top 25 is Memphis, positioned at No. 19 and aiming for a spot in the newly formatted 12-team playoff.
However, not all teams are basking in the limelight. Defending champion Michigan finds itself at No. 16 after losing crucial players, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy and head coach Jim Harbaugh, during the offseason. Surprisingly, Washington has dropped significantly to No. 47, bringing back only two of last season’s starters on both sides of the ball.
As the Bowl Subdivision increases to 134 teams with the addition of Kennesaw State, the anticipation for the season builds. Teams just outside the top 25, such as No. 28 Texas A&M and No. 30 Boise State, will be hoping to make a statement as the game days approach. Fans are eager to see how this season unfolds and which teams will rise or fall in the ranks as they strive for glory.
