Updated Early College Football Rankings for 2024
While getting an early look at the college football rankings is always fun for fans after the end of the season and looking ahead, the simple fact is that those early predictions are indeed too early, thanks to the advent of the college football transfer portal and when considering the annual offseason coaching carousel.
This offseason figures to be historic in its own right, too, as the College Football Playoff prepares to expand from four to 12 teams and with another tidal wave of conference realignment set to become official this summer as the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 all expand, and the Pac-12 basically ceases to exist.
Where does that all leave things after some major coaching turnover and the winter window of the transfer portal? Let's update the 2024 college football power rankings.
10. Penn State
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James Franklin looks to finally make that push in the Big Ten with two new coordinators: Manny Diaz departs for the Duke head coaching job, but his defense should still be a force to reckon with. Andy Kotelnicki inherits a five-star quarterback in Drew Allar who is yet to play like one, but two skilled backs in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen return.
9. Florida State
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Even when considering the rebuild Mike Norvell has in front of him after an exodus of talent to the NFL, the Seminoles are still in position to contend in 2024 thanks to the addition of transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, two good lines of scrimmage, and five incoming transfers from Nick Saban-less Alabama.
8. Notre Dame
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Defense will be the strength of this Irish team looking forward, especially in the back seven when defending against the pass, while incoming offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock looks to get the most out of Duke transfer quarterback Riley Leonard — a skilled rusher who could improve as a passer — and a new-look line that loses two critical edge blockers.
7. Missouri
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The departure of tailback Cody Schrader and some key defensive personnel is something to watch, but Missouri brings on top-five edge rushing recruit Williams Nwaneri and returns quarterback Brady Cook in tandem with star receivers Luther Burden and Theo Wease as one of college football's better passing attacks.
6. Alabama
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The moment many Alabama fans had been dreading is here: life after Saban. His replacement, Kalen DeBoer, has shown he can win — he's 104-12 in his career — but the SEC is another ballgame altogether. Outgoing transfers are notable, but so are those who stayed on, including quarterback Jalen Milroe, and what figures to be another stout defense, even with the loss of safety Caleb Downs.
5. Ole Miss
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Portal King Lane Kiffin pulled off another strong transfer class — the Rebels are the consensus No. 1 team in this year's portal rankings — with elite pickups like defensive lineman Walter Nolen, edge rusher Prince Umanmielen, and wide receiver Juice Wells, among others. Losing tailback Quinshon Judkins hurts, but otherwise Jaxson Dart should be surrounded by enough playmakers to make up for it.
4. Oregon
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Their first year in the Big Ten, and the Ducks are already getting serious play as a conference champion favorite, and with good reason. Veteran quarterback Dillon Gabriel is a vital addition to an offense that looks loaded with receiver Evan Stewart coming over to help an already-talented unit. And they're working behind another strong offensive line. A home date against Ohio State is a crucial early test.
3. Texas
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Quinn Ewers returns at quarterback, with Arch Manning in reserve, another strong offensive line is back, and the Longhorns picked up key receiving talent like Isaiah Bond from Alabama and Matthew Golden from Houston, who caught 10 touchdowns between them a year ago. Texas, now in the SEC, gets another early non-con road game in 2024, this time at a Michigan team that's reigning champion but undergoing huge changeover on the field and the sideline.
2. Ohio State
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Major roster additions and retention, some coaching moves, and all that change at Michigan: this is the year Ryan Day has to restore order. Transfers like quarterback Will Howard, running back Quinshon Judkins, and former Alabama players like center Seth McLaughlin and five-star safety Caleb Downs are important pickups, and the likes of receiver Emeka Egbuka, back TreVeyon Henderson, edge rushers JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, and defensive back Denzel Burke put the Buckeyes in contention right away.
1. Georgia
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Kirby Smart's defense will be a little younger, but the unit never lacks in high-quality replacements from year to year, while the Bulldogs' top-ranked recruiting class should offer some early contributors, and Carson Beck returns under center buoyed by the addition of Florida transfer back Trevor Etienne, who had over 750 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns a year ago. But this schedule is much tougher than in 2023.
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