Preseason Power Rankings: Top 25 heading into the season
In just five days, college football will be back on your television screens to kick off Week 0, but a lot of change has occurred since early January. With offseason movement between the transfer portal, coaching changes, injuries and players drafted to the NFL, which teams have enhanced their rosters for this upcoming season? And which teams might have dropped?
Can Georgia make an appearance back in the national championship game after missing the College Football Playoff last season? With new faces on the field and a new head coach, what can Michigan bring this season coming off a national championship?
Here’s how our college football experts have ranked the top 25 teams heading into the season.
All times Eastern.
The Bulldogs had won 29 straight games, including back-to-back national championships, before losing to Alabama in last season’s SEC championship game. Kirby Smart insists his team won’t need that loss, not to mention being left out of the playoff, for motivation. He said every team and every season is different. What’s not different is that Georgia will again be one of the most talented teams in the country with one of the best quarterbacks (Carson Beck), perhaps the best offensive line Smart has had at Georgia, and a defense that will again be deep with new faces ready to emerge. This could be Mykel Williams‘ breakout season at defensive end, and three-year starter Malaki Starks is one of the best safeties in college football. The road schedule, in particular, isn’t easy. The Bulldogs have to play at Alabama, at Texas and at Ole Miss. They open the season against Clemson in Atlanta on Aug. 31. But even with that gauntlet, Georgia has all the pieces in place to be back in the playoff for the fourth time under Smart. — Chris Low
Week 1 matchup: vs. Clemson on Aug. 31 (noon, ABC)
The stakes could not be higher for coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes, who try to end a three-year losing streak against archrival Michigan and win their first national title since 2014. Ohio State has one of its most talented rosters ever, after retaining almost every non-senior NFL draft hopeful and making key portal additions such as running back Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss), safety Caleb Downs (Alabama) and quarterback Will Howard (Kansas State). Few teams will have more depth than Ohio State at defensive line, running back, secondary, wide receiver and quarterback. Offensive line will be an area to watch after some shakiness last season. The schedule includes no nonleague games against major conference competition, trips to Oregon (Oct. 12) and Penn State (Nov. 2), and a finale against Michigan at Ohio Stadium. Anything less than a win over Michigan and a deep CFP run would be deemed disappointing. — Adam Rittenberg
Week 1 matchup: vs. Akron on Aug. 31 (3:30 p.m., CBS)
Despite losing a Heisman Trophy-level quarterback to the NFL and switching conferences, the Ducks are primed for yet another big year under Dan Lanning. Oregon has shored up the quarterback position by bringing in Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma and Dante Moore from UCLA, while adding a ridiculous amount of talent at both skill and strength positions. Players such as former Texas A&M wide receiver Evan Stewart should thrive alongside returning players such as wide receiver Tez Johnson, while defensive additions such as cornerback Jabbar Muhammad from Washington and defensive lineman Derrick Harmon from Michigan State should complement the young talent that’s already part of the Ducks’ defense. If the quarterback fit is as seamless as it was for Bo Nix, reaching the title game is well within reach for one of the Big Ten’s new additions. — Paolo Uggetti
Week 1 matchup: vs. Idaho on Aug. 31 (7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network)
The Longhorns went on a revenge tour in their last season in the Big 12, making their first College Football Playoff appearance before falling short against Washington in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. They’ve got the QB in Quinn Ewers, with Arch Manning right behind him along with a stout offensive line, to make another run. But Ewers will have a nearly all-new supporting cast at receiver and running back — where Texas has already lost RB CJ Baxter with a knee injury — but Steve Sarkisian has a deep roster and still has four options in the backfield. The schedule takes a leap with the SEC slate and a Week 2 nonconference trip to Michigan, before Georgia visits in October. Two of the past three games are road trips to hostile environments at Arkansas and Texas A&M, two teams eager to revisit their rivalries. — Dave Wilson
Week 1 matchup: vs. Colorado State on Aug. 31 (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
Saying it’s a new era at Alabama might be the biggest understatement in football since saying the forward pass might change the game. Nick Saban is gone after winning six national championships in 17 seasons at Alabama, and Kalen DeBoer takes over after guiding Washington to the national championship game last season in his second year in Seattle. Following a legend like Saban is not for everyone, but DeBoer hasn’t flinched. He knows what he’s getting into, and he inherits a talented roster.
Jalen Milroe is back at quarterback after finishing sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting last season and should flourish in DeBoer’s system. Washington transfer Parker Brailsford adds to a big, physical offensive line, and Alabama fans are eager to see freshman sensation Ryan Williams at receiver. The middle of the defense should be strong, but there are questions in the secondary. The Crimson Tide lost three elite defensive backs to the NFL and the transfer portal. Georgia visits Alabama on Sept. 28 in one of the more anticipated games of the season, and four of the Tide’s last six games are against teams ranked in the preseason Top 25. At Alabama, no matter who the coach is, it’s always going to be playoff-or-bust — at the very least. — Low
Week 1 matchup: vs. Western Kentucky on Aug. 31 (7 p.m., ESPN)
The Irish have a roster that looks playoff-caliber. On defense, Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner Xavier Watts returns alongside potential first-round draft picks Benjamin Morrison and Howard Cross. On offense, Notre Dame returns one of the nation’s top tight ends (Mitchell Evans) and made some strong upgrades in the receiving corps with transfers Kris Mitchell and Beaux Collins. Much will come down to the performance of quarterback Riley Leonard, who arrives from Duke following a 2023 campaign mired by an injury that came against Notre Dame. Leonard’s upside is significant, however, and if the offensive line develops as head coach Marcus Freeman hopes, the Irish figure to be primed for a playoff run. — David Hale
Week 1 matchup: At Texas A&M on Aug. 31 (7:30 p.m., ABC)
If not now, when for Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss? Kiffin believes the Rebels look the part of an elite SEC program for the first time in his five seasons in Oxford. That’s primarily down to Ole Miss’ offseason work in the transfer portal, where the Rebels beefed up their offensive line with 15-game Washington starter Nate Kalepo and retooled on defense with additions from across the SEC, led by defensive tackle Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), edge rusher Princely Umanmielen (Florida), linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (Arkansas) and cornerback Trey Amos (Alabama). That group will bolster a rising defense under coordinator Pete Golding. On offense, quarterback Jaxson Dart returns for a third season at Ole Miss, and the Rebels bring back Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins, who combined for 107 receptions last season, to go with the addition of South Carolina‘s Antwane Wells Jr. Ole Miss has a Quinshon Judkins-sized hole to fill in the backfield this fall, but otherwise the Rebels have all they need to finally push to the very top of the SEC. — Eli Lederman
Week 1 matchup: vs. Furman on Aug. 31 (7 p.m., ESPN+)
The Nittany Lions boast the top returning quarterback in the Big Ten who actually played in the Big Ten last season. Drew Allar quietly had a promising first season, throwing for 25 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He also finished 26th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten in Total QBR (73.7). Penn State, however, is hoping that new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki can help unlock Allar as a downfield passing threat; Allar ranked just 92nd in yards per passing attempt (6.76) and 109th in air yards per attempt (7.05). With Kotelnicki calling plays, Kansas ranked third in yards per attempt (10.04) and 10th in air yards per attempt (11.20) last year. The Nittany Lions have the talent on both sides of the ball to make a run to the playoff — if the passing attack takes another step forward. — Jake Trotter
Week 1 matchup: At West Virginia on Aug. 31 (Noon, FOX)
The defending champs don’t go through as hard of a reset as the team they beat for the title (Washington), but there will be new faces on the field and the sideline. Still, Michigan has arguably the best players at three different positions in cornerback Will Johnson, defensive tackle Mason Graham and tight end Colston Loveland. Johnson, Graham, Kenneth Grant and others lead a defense that should remain elite under veteran coordinator Wink Martindale. Michigan will need to figure out its quarterback situation, where both Jack Tuttle and Alex Orji are likely to play early on. The Wolverines return running back Donovan Edwards, Loveland and a receiving corps that is generating some internal optimism. First-time coach Sherrone Moore doesn’t face overwhelming pressure right away, and Michigan’s toughest games are at home — Texas (Sept. 7), Oregon (Nov. 2) and USC (Sept. 21) — before finishing the regular season at Ohio State (Nov. 30). — Rittenberg
Week 1 matchup: vs. Fresno State on Aug. 31 (7:30 p.m., NBC)
There are myriad questions Florida State must answer this season — chief among them, how do the Seminoles respond after the heartbreak of last season? Coach Mike Norvell says they have left their disappointment over their College Football Playoff snub in the past, but several players have said they want to prove that their undefeated run to an ACC championship was no fluke. They enter the season with a completely revamped offense, starting at quarterback, where Clemson/Oregon State transfer DJ Uiagalelei takes over for Jordan Travis. Will this be his best season yet? Then there are the receivers, largely unproven, tasked with replacing Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson. Florida State returns an experienced offensive line and deep running back room, so expect a different look on offense. Defensively, Florida State once again has depth on the defensive line — watch for Georgia transfer Marvin Jones Jr. — and a top-tier secondary. The talent is there for the Seminoles to make their long-anticipated return to the playoffs. — Andrea Adelson
Week 0 matchup: vs. Georgia Tech on Aug. 24 (Noon, ESPN)
There hasn’t been this much momentum surrounding Missouri’s football program since the Tigers were coming off a 12-win season in 2013 and SEC championship game appearance in only their second year in the league. It all starts with the pass-catch combination of quarterback Brady Cook and receiver Luther Burden III. Both will be in their third year as starters. Missouri lost several productive players to the NFL, including first-round pick Darius Robinson on the defensive line. But coach Eliah Drinkwitz hit the transfer portal hard and brought in players at key spots on both sides of the ball. Among them: running backs Marcus Carroll and Nate Noel, offensive tackle Marcus Bryant and defensive end Zion Young. Missouri lost its defensive coordinator, Blake Baker, to LSU and replaced him with Corey Batoon. The Tigers are fortunate to have one of the SEC’s more favorable schedules, including a cushy nonconference slate. In the league, Missouri avoids Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss, LSU and Tennessee. Another season of double-digit wins certainly looks doable, which could include a playoff trip. — Low
Week 1 matchup: vs. Murray State on Aug. 29 (8 p.m., SEC Network)
It was a big offseason for the Utes as the program officially announced that defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley would be taking over as head coach when Kyle Whittingham (whose contract runs through 2027) retires. It’s unclear whether this could be Whittingham’s last hurrah, but it will be Cam Rising‘s final shot at taking Utah to the College Football Playoff and beyond. After sitting out last season due to his recovery from knee surgery, Rising, who has already won two Pac-12 titles for the program, decided to return to Salt Lake City. Now in the Big 12, the Utes are one of the favorites to win the conference and have added key talent like former USC wideout Dorian Singer to bolster an offense that was without an identity last year. The defense, like any under Whittingham, should also be back to its typical form. — Uggetti
Week 1 matchup: vs. Southern Utah on Aug. 29 (9 p.m., ESPN+)
As Brian Kelly enters his third season at LSU, the Tigers will have a different look on defense, and with good reason. They couldn’t stop anybody a year ago, wasting an offense that led the country in scoring (45.5 points per game) and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels. Kelly brought in Blake Baker from Missouri as defensive coordinator along with three new assistants on defense. It’s that side of the ball that has to improve significantly if the Tigers are going to make a playoff run. On offense, Garrett Nussmeier gets his shot at quarterback after waiting his turn behind Daniels. Nussmeier passed for 395 yards and three touchdowns last season in the ReliaQuest Bowl. And while first-round draft picks Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. have departed at receiver, LSU is excited to see what Kyren Lacy can do in an expanded role. The Tigers have the best offensive tackle tandem in the country in Will Campbell and Emery Jones. The Sept. 1 season opener against USC in Las Vegas will be key. If the Tigers can win that one, they have an excellent chance to be 5-0 going into a home date with Ole Miss on Oct. 12. — Low
Week 1 matchup: vs. USC in Las Vegas on Sept. 1 (7:30 p.m., ABC)
Tennessee’s 27 wins in three seasons under Josh Heupel represents the program’s best three-year run since Phil Fulmer won 28 games from 2002 to ’04. Still, pressure hangs over the Volunteers, who enter 2024 with College Football Playoff expectations. Nico Iamaleava takes over under center, tasked with rejuvenating an offense that dipped from its historic 2022 levels last fall, while Dylan Sampson (5.7 yards per carry in 2023) returns in the backfield. There should be stability on the offensive line as LSU transfer Lance Heard settles in next to three returning starters, but Tennessee’s strength lies with a defensive line that led the SEC in tackles for loss in 2023, a group set to be powered again this fall by potential first-round draft pick James Pearce Jr. A Week 2 neutral-site meeting with NC State will be a litmus test for the Volunteers. Can Tennessee navigate a relatively favorable SEC schedule on the way to the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance? — Lederman
Week 1 matchup: vs. Chattanooga on Aug. 31 (12.45 p.m., SEC Network)
Once a top-five mainstay, Clemson has not made the College Football Playoff in three years and won nine games in 2023 — the first time in 12 years the Tigers failed to reach double-digit wins. But coach Dabo Swinney remains unconcerned, firmly believing in the direction the program is headed. Swinney has defended his decisions and his offense, starting with Cade Klubnik, who enters a crucial second season as the starter with Garrett Riley calling the plays. Clemson is banking on a better offensive line and young receivers to step up and show improvement. Meanwhile, the defense is expected to return to form after a bit of a dip a year ago, with Barrett Carter leading the way, along with super sophomores Peter Woods and T.J. Parker. We will know much more about Clemson after the first five games of the season — the Tigers open against Georgia, then have NC State and Florida State in two of their first three league games. Clemson lost to both last year. — Adelson
Week 1 matchup: vs. Georgia on Aug. 31 (Noon, ABC)
All QB transfers are not created equal: Will Howard was a productive starter for the Wildcats before exiting for Ohio State. But Howard’s exit clears a path for Avery Johnson, a Kansas native and four-star recruit who had five rushing TDs off the bench against Texas Tech last year as a true freshman, then started in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, where he was named the MVP. Chris Kleiman’s teams play tough defense, and his offensive system will remain despite the loss of coordinator Collin Klein to Texas A&M. New co-OC’s Conor Riley and former Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells will have to break in an offensive line that returns just one full-time starter but added pieces like Colorado RB Dylan Edwards and Kent State/Penn State WR Dante Cephas. After a 3-2 start last season, K-State finished 9-4 a year after a Big 12 title, losing those four by a combined 21 points, including taking Texas to overtime in Austin. The Wildcats will continue to be one of the toughest outs on the schedule. — Wilson
Week 1 matchup: vs. UT Martin on Aug. 31 (7 p.m., ESPN+)
Oklahoma is 16-10 in two seasons under coach Brent Venables and the stakes are high for the Sooners as they make their SEC debut this fall. Linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman Jr. lead a deep group of returners in a defense finally taking shape in Year 3 of the Venables era, now led by first-year defensive coordinator Zac Alley. On offense, pressure rests on the shoulders of first-year quarterback Jackson Arnold and an offensive line down four starters from a year ago. Around them, the Sooners carry optimism in running back depth that includes Gavin Sawchuk, Jovantae Barnes and freshman Taylor Tatum, and a deep wide receivers group headlined by Purdue transfer Deion Burks. Initial conference meetings with Tennessee (home), Auburn (away) and Texas (neutral) will provide early tests for Oklahoma, while trips to Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU, and a visit from Alabama await in a daunting back half of the season. — Lederman
Week 1 matchup: vs. Temple on Aug. 30 (7 p.m., ESPN)
With Texas and Oklahoma off to the SEC, there is an obvious void atop the Big 12. Oklahoma State is well-positioned to fill it. The Cowboys have been good for nearly all of Mike Gundy’s tenure — this is Year No. 20 as the head coach — but they haven’t won a conference title since 2011 and finished ranked in the top 10 on only one other occasion (2021). This year, they’ll lean heavily on running back Ollie Gordon, who rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns last season and finished seventh in Heisman Trophy votes. He put the NFL on hold to return to school alongside quarterback Alan Bowman, who is entering his seventh season of college football. — Kyle Bonagura
Week 1 matchup: vs. South Dakota St. on Aug. 31 (2 p.m., ESPN+)
It has been a rough start to the Mario Cristobal era, with the Hurricanes going just 12-13 (6-10 in conference play) over the past two seasons. But despite the on-field results, Cristobal has been consistently stockpiling talent, and this offseason, the Canes went all-in, adding a host of big names via the transfer portal, including RB Damien Martinez, DE Tyler Baron and QB Cam Ward. The result is arguably the most talented roster in the ACC and lofty expectations for the 2024 season. Miami will offer some evidence on whether it’s able to match those expectations with a critical Week 1 matchup against Florida, but the rest of the schedule sets up well for a real run. Two of Miami’s three biggest conference games — Virginia Tech (Sept. 27) and Florida State (Oct. 26) — are at home. Miami has never won an ACC title, but 2024 feels like a now-or-never campaign. — Hale
Week 1 matchup: At Florida on Aug. 31 (3:30 p.m., ABC)
NC State has just one 10-win season in program history — all the way back in 2002 with Philip Rivers at QB — but there’s a strong case that this is as talent-rich an offensive unit as any the Wolfpack have had since that season. Along with rising sophomore KC Concepcion, coach Dave Doeren added a host of impact players in the portal this offseason, including center Zeke Correll, tailbacks Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers, receiver Noah Rogers, tight end Justin Joly and QB Grayson McCall. NC State is 17-9 over the past two seasons despite myriad QB issues and an offense that has averaged just 25 points per game (85th in FBS) over that span. Instead, the questions might be on defense — a unit that must replace All-American Payton Wilson. The job likely falls to converted safety Sean Brown, but he’ll be flanked by a solid secondary led by Aydan White and a veteran front. NC State’s schedule is another reason for optimism, but the Wolfpack will need to survive an arduous start with Tennessee in Week 2 and Clemson in Week 4 before enjoying the softer slate in October and November. — Hale
Week 1 matchup: vs. Western Carolina on Aug. 29 (7 p.m., ACC Network)
After finishing the season on a seven-game winning streak and with considerable star power returning on both sides of the ball, Arizona moves to the Big 12 with a conference title on its mind. Consider this: The only game the Wildcats lost in regulation last year was a one-score game to Washington — the national title runner-up — and quarterback Noah Fifita and receiver Tetairoa McMillan might be the best duo in college football. Their two best defensive players — cornerback Tacario Davis and linebacker Jacob Manu — are also back. The most unknown variable — and it’s a big one — is how the team will look under first-year coach Brent Brennan, who was hired from San José State after Jedd Fisch left for Washington. Had Fisch remained, the Wildcats would have likely been a more popular pick to win the Big 12 because the talent to do so is there. — Bonagura
Week 1 matchup: vs. New Mexico on Aug. 31 (10:30 p.m., ESPN)
Texas A&M has gone 20-17 since its 9-1 finish under Jimbo Fisher in 2020. What’s a reasonable expectation this fall under new leadership with Mike Elko settling into life in College Station? There’s promise in quarterback Conner Weigman, who impressed in four games last fall before suffering a season-ending foot injury. The Aggies must replace top returning rusher Rueben Owens (season-ending lower-body injury), and first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein will search for production behind wide receiver Jahdae Walker and Noah Thomas, along with stability on the offensive line. On defense, Texas A&M projects to be strong up front with Purdue transfer Nic Scourton — last fall’s Big Ten sack leader — joining Shemar Turner, DJ Hicks and Shemar Stewart on the defensive line. Behind them, Elko has a pair of rising stars in Freshman All-America linebacker Taurean York and safety Bryce Anderson. Between visits from Notre Dame, Missouri, LSU and Texas, the Aggies get all of their toughest games at home, a favorable draw in a foundation-building season for Elko & Co. — Lederman
Week 1 matchup: vs. Notre Dame on Aug. 31 (7:30 p.m., ABC)
It’s a brand-new world for USC this season, which not only joins the Big Ten but will also do so without its star quarterback after former Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams left for the NFL. Backup QB Miller Moss appears more than ready to try to fill Williams’ shoes after a six-touchdown performance in last year’s Holiday Bowl. Yet the biggest question surrounding Lincoln Riley’s team will likely be centered around the defense. Under new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, the Trojans have revamped their staff, their scheme and their physical makeup (Riley said the team collectively added 1,400 pounds of muscle in the offseason) to try to turn what was a clear weakness last season into a strength that allows them to compete against the best teams in the country. Whether that happens this year remains to be seen, but USC flying slightly under the radar might not be such a bad thing for Riley & Co. either. — Uggetti
Week 1 matchup: vs. LSU in Las Vegas on Sept. 1 (7:30 p.m., ABC)
The Jayhawks are coming off a 9-4 season, their best since 2007, with a Guaranteed Rate Bowl win. Lance Leipold’s rebuild now has KU as a legitimate Big 12 contender, a remarkable achievement, and he has stayed in Lawrence despite interest from big programs. The schedule is fortuitous, with no Utah, Oklahoma State or Arizona, but how far KU can go will likely be determined by Jalon Daniels‘ frustrating back issues, which sidelined the preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year last season for all but one conference game. He has averaged only six starts a year in his four years but is one of the most dynamic players in the country when he’s healthy. There are weapons around him: Devin Neal has two straight 1,000-yard seasons at RB and the Jayhawks’ top three WRs return. — Wilson
Week 1 matchup: vs. Lindenwood on Aug. 31 (8 p.m., ESPN+)
The Hawkeyes are banking on an improved offense behind the arrival of coordinator Tim Lester and healthy return of quarterback Cade McNamara. Last season, McNamara started five games before suffering a torn ACL. As a result, Iowa’s offense under then-offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz never got going. The Hawkeyes finished last in the Big Ten in yards per game (235.4), yards per play (3.95) and first downs per game (12.80). Iowa was also last in Total QBR (19.4) by a considerable margin (Nebraska was next-to-last with a Total QBR of 40.9). Iowa always plays hard-nosed defense. If the Hawkeyes can get the version of McNamara that helped quarterback Michigan to the Big Ten title in 2021 — and if Lester can help generate more big plays — Iowa could become a stealthy Big Ten contender. — Trotter
Week 1 matchup: vs. Illinois State on Aug. 31 (Noon, Big Ten Network)
