Preseason CFB Top 25
College football season is finally here and I felt that it is only appropriate to rank the top 25 teams heading into the season. Week one is just a few days away at the time of this article being written so let’s jump right into the list starting from the bottom.
- Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets shocked the college football world in Dublin, Ireland, by taking down the 10th-ranked Florida State Seminoles and for that reason, they deserve a mention in the top 25.
- Florida State
Speaking of FSU, I have them at 24 because while I do believe they were extremely overhyped during “talking season,” there is still undeniable talent on the roster that can still squeak in the playoffs. I would like to see them open up the offense a little more, though.
- Kansas State
K-State comes in at 23 simply due to my confidence in quarterback Avery Johnson. Johnson did a great job last year protecting the football and limiting turnovers, while also flashing his ability to use his legs to extend plays and take off and run.
- Miami
I’ll be honest. I’m not as high on the Miami bandwagon as some people, but much like Florida State, Miami has plenty of talent via the transfer portal. It’s a huge year for Mario Cristobal and his Canes who should have a lot to prove.
- Texas A&M
The Aggies take the 21 spot under first-year coach Mike Elko, who is inheriting a better than good roster. This is now Connor Weigman’s team after coming off a season-ending injury in 2023. He has a chance to let that be known in week one when Notre Dame comes to town.
- USC
I like what I saw from Miller Moss in SC’s bowl game last year. His job this year will be to distribute the football to USC’s talented receiving weapons such as Zachariah Branch. Hopefully the defense will be improved under D’Anton Lynn because there’s really nowhere else to go other than up.
- Kansas
Kansas has a lot coming back, particularly in the backfield with quarterback Jalon Daniels and running back Devin Neal. If this offense is just half as good in real life as they are in College Football 25, this Jayhawks team will be just fine.
- NC State
The Wolfpack offense, on paper, looks to be explosive with new quarterback Grayson McCall. Everyone around the program seems to be high on NC State and specifically the ability to score that the team could potentially have. Good enough for me.
- Oklahoma State
I’m gonna make this one short: Ollie Gordon.
- Arizona
I, myself, am pretty high on the Wildcats this year because they have so much coming back from last year. The two guys that will get the most attention, though, will be quarterback Noah Fifita and preseason All-American wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. I expect Arizona to compete for a Big 12 championship this year or at least a playoff spot.
- LSU
LSU has, undoubtedly, the best offensive tackle tandem in the nation. Will Campbell and Emory Jones Jr. are locks for first round picks. Outside of that, fans HOPE that Garrett Nussmeier can perform at a playoff level and the defense is still something that remains to be seen.
- Oklahoma
The Sooners quarterback future hangs in Jackson Arnold’s hands, and I have heard mixed reports about how he is performing in fall camp. What I do know is that Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman alone can win some games for Oklahoma. Should be interesting to see how they fare in the SEC.
- Tennessee
Nico this and Nico that. What about the receivers? Bru McCoy, Squirrel White, Chris Brazzell, and I’ll add tight end Ethan Davis into that mix. And that’s not to mention their best position group which is, by far, the defensive line. James Pearce and an array of interior lineman will make their presence felt in 2024. Give me the vols to finish just outside the playoffs.
- Notre Dame
Riley Leonard transfers in from Duke and everyone has the Irish finishing in the top 8. I think the roster is talented and I think this team will earn a playoff spot, but it will be just barely.
- Clemson
Dabo is still stuck in his ways with the transfer portal and the old way of doing things, which will bite Clemson in the rear eventually. However, the defense is still loaded and they can compete with most teams in the country. The Tigers better strap up for week one against the Dawgs, though.
- Utah
Cam Rising comes back for his 40th year of college football and I’m really interested to see how this team plays in 2024. Utah is just one of those tough-to-beat teams that never seem to give you anything easy. I respect that about the program that Kyle Whittingham has built and I expect Utah to be the Big 12 champions at the end of the season.
- Missouri
The Tigers had a dream-like season last year and they return not only their starting quarterback in Brady Cook, but also the best receiver in the entire county, Luther Burden. Combine all that with a few transfer portal additions and a cakewalk SEC schedule, you get a recipe for the playoffs in 2024.
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Penn State
The Nittany Lions are just too talented to be put anywhere outside the top 10 in my opinion. Drew Allar is coming back along with two very good backs in Kaytron Allen and Nic Singleton. The defense looks to be up to par as well with Abdul Carter leading the defensive line.
- Michigan
The defending national champions have lost a lot of talent to the NFL. However, the Wolverines are still bringing back some of the best players at their respective positions. Will Johnson could be the best corner in the nation, while Mason Graham could be the most disruptive player in college football. On the offensive side of the ball, Michigan returns Colston Loveland and Donovan Edwards, two more potential all-americans.
- Alabama
The Kalen Deboer era will begin with a stacked roster and a winning culture that is already established thanks to a fella named Nick Saban. I think it will be interesting to see how Deboer and the offensive staff handle Jalen Milroe’s skill set as well as what the team will play like physically.
- Ole Miss
Ole Miss has plenty of skill players coming back, which is something that they haven’t lacked under Lane Kiffin. The difference this year is the line of scrimmage and how dominant they can be up front. If this team is as good as advertised, the sky’s the limit.
- Texas
The Longhorns would have been competing for the number two spot on this list if they hadn’t lost two potential starting running backs due to injury. If they’re able to get past that, Texas can be really good. I’m a big fan of Quinn Ewers and the offensive weapons they have accumulated such as Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond. Texas has been there and done that from last year, and I fully expect them to do it again.
- Oregon
Dillon Gabriel is looking to have his best year yet in Eugene and he’ll have some serious firepower to help him. Tez Johnson returns from last year and Evan Stewart, the former Aggie, is looking to contribute big right away. The Ducks are also better than most give them credit for up front, and that is liable to pay off in the postseason.
- Ohio State
It is one hundred percent national championship or bust for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. With the roster they have acquired, there’s simply no excuse not to be playing for a title in January. If they were to get eliminated early in the playoffs this year or, dare I say, lose to Michigan again, there’s a good chance Ryan Day could be elsewhere in 2025.
- Georgia
No shocker here. Kirby Smart has built a program that, unfortunately for the rest of the college football world, has strong similarities to what Nick Saban had in Tuscaloosa. Georgia has arguably the best quarterback in the country in Carson Beck, and I don’t expect the defense to drop off much with the way the Bulldogs have been able to recruit recently. Georgia’s schedule will be tough, but if any program in the country can maintain composure through the SEC gauntlet, it’s Kirby and the Dawgs.
