Predicting College Football's Sweet 16 in 2024
With the Sweet 16 set to tip-off today, let's predict college football's early postseason
March has traditionally been one of the busiest months on the sports calendar, with the customary Madness of the basketball tournaments, the start of baseball, and for college football fans, the practical kickoff of yearly spring practice and a look at the very early team rankings.
The 2024 college football season projects to be one of the most historic and consequential in the long history of the sport, with a wave of massive conference realignment forever re-writing the national map, and an expanded playoff format that moves from four teams to a 12-team field.
Now, with the Sweet 16 set to tip off in March Madness, let's make some early predictions of our own, and project what college football's version would look like this year.
Predicting College Football's Sweet 16 in 2024
16. Liberty. Granted, the Flames aren't actually our 16th best team in college football, but our favorite to win the Conference USA title, and thus be the highest-ranked Group of Five team that earns a place in the expanded playoff, especially after the re-commitment of quarterback Kaidon Salter.
15. Arizona. A contender in the expanded Big 12 race this fall, the Wildcats lost their head coach but notably retained their star QB/WR duo, as Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan return to a talented offense, buoyed by transfers brought in by new coach Brent Brennan.
14. Oklahoma State. Mike Gundy retains important coaches and production on the offensive side of the ball, most importantly star tailback Ollie Gordon, who should be in Heisman contention to start this fall, and put the Cowboys in the crowded Big 12 title chase.
13. Michigan. It may sound unfair to drop college football's defending champions so far down these rankings, but the Wolverines are undergoing tremendous turnover both at head coach and on the roster amid major on-field talent losses, principally at quarterback, O-line, and receiver, but there's a lot of skill to work with, too.
12. Oklahoma. Important returning talent on defense will stabilize that side of the ball as the Sooners move into the SEC, and what looks like a loaded schedule, while quarterback Jackson Arnold looks to get acclimated behind an entirely new-look offensive line.
11. Penn State. James Franklin loses both coordinators, but attracted solid replacements, still has college football's reigning top defense, and offensive personnel that includes both star rushers, a 5-star quarterback in Drew Allar, and OSU transfer receiver Julian Fleming.
10. Missouri. Cody Schrader is out of the picture, as is defensive coordinator Blake Baker, but Eli Drinkwitz retains quarterback Brady Cook and elite targets Luther Burden and Theo Wease, plus what might be the best schedule in the SEC looking forward.
9. Notre Dame. Marcus Freeman enters Year 3 with one of college football's best pass defenses, transfer quarterback Riley Leonard, and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock. ND loses two key blockers, and games against Texas A&M, the Seminoles, and USC stick out, but otherwise, this is a very winnable schedule for the Irish.
8. Alabama. The post-Saban era is finally here for the Crimson Tide, and while Kalen DeBoer, a proven player developer in his career, has lost notable pieces, he's also retained many, including quarterback Jalen Milroe, whose markedly improved play over the course of last year helped lead Bama to an SEC title and CFP bid.
7. Ole Miss. Proactive in the transfer portal once again, Lane Kiffin has built a roster that can contend in the SEC and potentially beyond after making notable additions on defense and keeping quarterback Jaxson Dart.
6. Oregon. Dan Lanning secured two monster quarterback acquisitions in veteran Dillon Gabriel and newcomer Dante Moore, a former five-star recruit, in addition to 5-star wideout transfer Evan Stewart, all building up an offense that can compete for the expanded Big Ten title right away.
5. Texas. We predict the Longhorns will place No. 2 in the expanded SEC title race in their conference debut with Quinn Ewers at quarterback and key wide receiver pickups like Matthew Golden and especially Isaiah Bond from Alabama.
4. Utah. Our favorite to win the expanded Big 12 with veteran quarterback Cameron Rising making his return after a year-long ACL recovery, and another strong Utes defense.
3. Clemson. An expanded playoff should be welcome news for Dabo Swinney and the Tigers, who missed out on the last three straight semifinals, but first they have to replenish lost defensive talent in the front seven and get more from Cade Klubnik and this offense under play-caller Garrett Riley.
2. Ohio State. Key transfers like safety Caleb Downs, quarterback Will Howard, and tailback Quinshon Judkins, who led the SEC in rushing the last two seasons, are huge for Ryan Day, in addition to notable defensive contributors who elected to stay on, especially on the line.
1. Georgia. Still college football's title favorite at the Vegas sports books, the Bulldogs have quarterback Carson Beck and another strong defense packed with young talent ready to make a statement, but their schedule got a lot harder, with dates against Alabama and Texas.
-
More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams