January 9, 2024 7:45 pm ET
Welcome to the day after college football season comes to an end which may as well be better known as National Way Too Early Top 25 for Next Season Day.
I don’t say that to knock any outlet that does it because where do all of our minds go the second the national championship game ends? Assuming we’re not fans of the team that won the title it goes to “how will next year be?”
The 2024 college football season will see major change. The Pac 12 essentially is no-more despite Oregon State and Washington State’s best efforts. That comes after Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC all bolted for the Big Ten.
Elsewhere the Big 12 (Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah) and ACC (Cal, Stanford) pick up the rest of the Pac-12 scraps with SMU leaves the AAC to also join the ACC.
Got it all?
Great.
Oh, and Oklahoma and Texas finally join the SEC as they were the two that kickstarted this whole thing, anyway.
So who will be the favorites to land in the new-look, 12-team playoff next year?
Here is how ESPN ranked their 2024 top 25 in their version of the “Way Too Early” rankings.
Oh, and make sure you don’t forget to check for where Lincoln Riley and USC check in.
25
Iowa Hawkeyes
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-4 overall, 7-2 in Big Ten
One Question: Will it even matter that they’re changing offensive coordinators?
Visit Hawkeyes Wire
24
SMU
Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 11-3 overall, 8-0 in AAC
One Question: Are the Mustangs in for a reality check as the level of competition takes a significant step up?
SMU will play football in the ACC in 2024
23
Kansas
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
2023 Record: 9-4 overall, 4-4 in Big 12
One Question: Will that 4-4 mark in conference play be a building block or a sign of things to come in being able to beat the better conference foes?
22
Louisville
USA TODAY SPORTS
2023 Record: 10-4 overall, 7-1 in ACC
One Question: What can Jeff Brohm do for an encore in year two?
21
Kansas State
Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
2023 Record: 9-4 overall, 6-3 in Big 12
One Question: As someone looks to step up and take command of the Big 12 following the Oklahoma and Texas departures why can’t it be Kansas State?
20
North Carolina State
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 9-4 overall, 6-2 in ACC
One Question: With Florida State likely regressing can this be the year the Wolfpack push to get over the ACC hump?
19
Clemson
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 9-4 overall, 4-4 in ACC
One Question: Can Dabo Swinney find a way to compete for a national championship despite still not using the transfer portal like his rivals?
Visit Clemson Wire
18
Oklahoma State
Nathan J. Fish-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-4 overall, 7-2 in Big 12
One Question: With Oklahoma and Texas out of the conference is this the year Mike Gundy finally gets his roses from the national media for being a great head coach instead of for being the guy from the funny sound byte?
17
Tennessee
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 9-4 overall, 4-4 in SEC
One Question: Can the Vols get their quarterback situation more in line with what they had in 2022 and realistically compete for a national championship again?
Visit Vols Wire
16
Florida State
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 13-1 overall, 8-0 in ACC
One Question: Does anyone outside of Tallahassee believe that DJ Uiagalelei’s third collegiate stop will finally be the one that makes him find magic?
15
Oklahoma
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-3 overall, 7-2 in Big 12
One Question: With games against LSU, Alabama, Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas, what’s a fair expectation for year three of Brent Venables and the Sooners?
Visit Sooners Wire
14
LSU
Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-3 overall, 6-2 in SEC
One Question: In his third year at Notre Dame, Brian Kelly had the Irish playing in the national championship. Is it time to start questioning how this will work out on the Bayou if LSU isn’t a playoff team in his third season there?
Visit LSU Tigers Wire
13
Utah
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 8-5 overall, 5-4 in Pac 12
One Question: It’s impossible to predict health but would could have been if Cam Rising was available all year this year and how good can Utah be if he is next season?
Utah will play in the Big 12 next season
12
Penn State
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-3 overall, 7-2 in Big Ten
One Question: How long until we add in Oregon and Washington to the list of teams James Franklin can’t beat in conference play?
Visit Nittany Lions Wire
11
Washington
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 14-1 overall, 9-0 in Pac 12
One Question: How do you begin to replace Michael Penix and the slew of talented receivers that Washington loses?
10
Notre Dame
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-3 overall
One Question: If the two toughest games of the year are at Texas A&M and home against Florida State then is anything less than a College Football Playoff appearance in the expanded a failure?
9
Arizona
Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 10-3 overall, 7-2 in Pac 12
One Question: If Jedd Fisch does what he did in 2023 again which blueblood job is going to pursue him?
Arizona plays in the Big 12 next season
8
Missouri
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 11-2 overall, 6-2 in SEC
One Question: Who is tougher to replace – running back Cody Schrader (8th in Heisman voting) or defensive coordinator Blake Baker who left for LSU?
7
Ole Miss
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 11-2 overall, 6-2 in SEC
One Question: When Saban retires is there anyone else you’d bet gets offered the job before Lane Kiffin?
6
Michigan
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 15-0 overall, 9-0 in Big Ten (National Champions)
One Question: Who is Michigan’s coach when they open the season?
Visit Wolverines Wire
5
Ohio State
Sam Hodde/Getty Images
2023 Record: 11-2 overall, 8-1 in Big Ten
One Question: If Ohio State makes the College Football Playoff but doesn’t make the semifinals and loses in the regular season to Michigan, is Ryan Day back in 2025?
Visit Buckeyes Wire
4
Alabama
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 12-2 overall, 8-0 in SEC
One Question: Will Nick Saban ever win another national championship at Alabama?
Visit Roll Tide Wire
3
Oregon
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 12-2 overall, 8-1 in Pac 12
One Question: How quickly and well can Dillion Gabriel replace Bo Nix at quarterback after Nix recorded the single most accurate passing season ever by an FBS quarterback?
Visit Ducks Wire
Oregon moves to the Big Ten for 2024
2
Texas
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 12-2 overall, 5-4 in Pac 12
One Question: Is Texas simply back or is Texas back-back to Vince Young levels?
Visit Longhorns Wire
1
Georgia
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Record: 13-1 overall, 8-0 in SEC
One Question: Has any team not named Georgia Tech or Georgia State ever won three games in Atlanta in a single season? The Dawgs have a chance as they open there against Clemson, hope to play in the SEC Championship game there, and hope to win their third national title in four years there in January.
Visit UGA Wire
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