Way too Early 2024 Playoff Predictions
Let’s see how wrong we can be!
I have been working on this piece since the day after the National Championship game. And every day I think I’m ready to post! And then the day unfolds and some other amazing moment happens and throws everything you think you know off (really looking at you Nick Saban!).
I dislike preseason rankings for just this reason. Every year “experts” think they know something and every year the apple cart gets upset. So my goal here is to base things off the facts we have at the moment. So let’s dive in and guess the conference champs who will get automatic bids.
Georgia Bulldogs - SEC Champions - It pains me to say but this is the only team I am fairly confident in. This team should be a three time defending National Champ but slipped up against Alabama and had to watch from the sidelines. They’re a scary good team. I’ve said it already and will say it again. This is your 2024 National Champion if for nothing else they’ll be out for vengeance against everyone.
Oregon Ducks - Big 10 Champion - Welcome to the Big 10 Oregon! I expect big things. Dillon Gabriel makes them dangerous even with losing Bo Nix. Dan Lanning had one of the best teams in the country last year and just couldn’t find a way to beat Washington. But learn for failure and get better.
Utah Utes - Big 12 Champions - Cam Rising returns for his 12th year of college football and if he even closely resembles the QB of 2022 they will be a good football team with an as usual terrific defense.
Clemson Tigers - ACC Champions - I like Cole Klubinuk at QB. And ever since Tyler from Spartanburg called in and poked the bear in Dabo this team has completely changed. They look sharp and have an edge to them that’s been lacking.
University of South Florida Bulls - AAC Champions - I know I’m shocked too. But this team has turned into the little engine that could and has gotten better week after week. And someone has to win, why not USF?
Boise State Broncos - Mountain West Champions - Another classic winner who’s fallen on a bit of hard times. But they turned a corner mid season last year too. I like them to continue to get better.
On to the at large teams:
Ole Miss Rebels - SEC - This team may be the biggest threat to Georgia in the country if the transfer portal defense they’ve collected meshes. They were a scary good team by the end of the year.
Miami Hurricanes - ACC - What not FSU? Nope, not when the Canes got Cam Ward to transfer to them instead of chasing NFL dreams. I think he’s the better QB than DJ Uiagalelei. And he’s already beaten him heads up at Washington State. And if Mario Cristobal doesn’t figure it out he could be on the hottest seat by the end of the year.
Ohio State Buckeyes - Big 10 - Truthfully this one scares me the most. Something smells fishy in Columbus to me. So Ryan Day needs to find a way to win. Kansas State transfer QB Will Howard I do t think is the answer. But in more trickle down from Saban’s retirement, it looks like freshmen QB Julian Sayin may be rejoining new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, a man who heavily recruited him to Alabama when he had the same job under Saban.
Missouri Tigers - SEC - Another team that just seems to be getting started. They have a returning QB and great line play on both sides of the ball. They’re a good team and a huge threat.
Texas Longhorns - SEC - I think they make noise and not because of Quinn Ewers. Because of Arch Manning. He makes noise and becomes the starter at some point. They have a good team and can make a run.
Penn State Nittany Lions - Big 10 - Why? Because they have to. The fan base is disenfranchised by the realization they can’t win the big game. They better figure it out or figure out a new head coach.
Teams left out:
Alabama Crimson Tide - This one was unfathomable a little while ago. And it’s not about Nick Saban or Kalen DeBoer. It’s about the lack of faith in the players. How quickly an empire can crumble. This is college footballs foundation. But the evidently the whole foundation was Saban. This team can still be dominant but they have to figure out a way to stop the bleeding and soon.
Florida State Seminoles - Forget the QB, the his is about the defensive losses and the WR room losses. They have too much to replace to get to where they were. And Uiagalelei still isn’t the answer.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish - I like Riley Leonard but again he isn’t the answer.
Michigan Wolverines - Too many losses personnel wise. With Jim Harbaugh to come.
So there you have it. My blind, shot in the dark look at the upcoming season before anyone has even practiced in the spring yet! What’s the over / under of the teams u picked getting in?
Don't know how Penn State makes it with three loses. I like Kentucky or Tennessee to emerge from the SEC.