College football rankings: Coaches Poll Top 25 released for 2024 season (2024)

Georgia snapped Alabama's two-year streak of holding the title of preseason No. 1 in the Coaches Poll last August and hopes to make good on the title this time around under Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs have won two of the last three national championships, but face a schedule that is one of the SEC's most difficult in the expanded playoff era. That said, Carson Beck returns at quarterback, along with a veteran-heavy offensive line and transfer-heavy arsenal of weapons around him. This team's bread is buttered on defense, where a plethroa of former five-star recruits will start.

The opportunity for Ryan Day to win his first national championship with the Buckeyes is here and every Ohio State fans — and those around the expanded Big Ten — hammered that point throughout the offseason. Not only did the Buckeyes sign an elite recruiting class to pair with an already-talented roster, but picking up a couple of the highest-rated transfers from the portal during the 2024 cycle further bulked the two-deep. Former Alabama safety Caleb Downs is one of the new faces tabbed to lead, along with ex-Ole Miss star Quinshon Judkins in the backfield.

The Ducks keep getting better.Oregon narrowly missed a playoff appearance last fall after losing for a second time to Washington, but the progress was noticeable. Dan Lanning has developed strength in the trenches and appears to have his quarterback rotation set for the next several seasons with Oklahoma'sDillon Gabrielin 2024 and another transfer, UCLA'sDante Moore, waiting in the wings for the future. Built like Georgia from the line of scrimmage out, a deeper look at Oregon's roster reveals ateam worthy of top-five merit.

For most SEC newcomers, this is a league that chews you up and spits you out given the breadth of top-to-bottom quality. Not the Longhorns. Texas is on the national title shortlist for good reason.Quinn Ewersreturns, along with a massive front, a reload of sorts at wide receiver and afront seven on defense that should be a team strength. Texas plays at Michigan early and considering the Wolverines aren't among oddsmakers' top-10 title teams despite winning last season's crown, it feels like a signature win is comingin September for the Longhorns on their road to a playoff berth. Maybe that's one of the reasons why the coaches love Texas.

Alabama, which hasn't been ranked this low in the preseason Coaches Poll since 2009 (No. 5), absorbed some of its heavy portal losses with its own grab bag of talent on the transfer market includingIowa'sKadyn Proctor, who started at tackle for the Crimson Tide as a freshman, and former Michigan safety Keon Sabb.Alabama'sschedule is brutal.Things are different in Tuscaloosa without Nick Saban, including fellow coaches' opinions on the Crimson Tide entering this season.

Speaking ofthe Rebels, this team under Lane Kiffin is loaded with talent and has no signs of potential weakness entering the season following an 11-win campaign. Not only did Kiffin sign the nation's top-ranked transfer class, he was able to convince several of his top returning starters to stay put for another season and should benefit from a favorable schedule given his talent advantage over most opponents. It's not hyperbole to say this Ole Miss roster is the best in program history. Now, the Rebels shouldered elite expectations and go prove it as a perceived contender.

Marcus Freemanlikes his chances ahead of Year 3 at Notre Dame with an opportunity to make the playoff annually as an at-large given the Fighting Irish's recruiting strengths as an independent. FormerDuke transfer quarterbackRiley Leonardappears to be full go for fall camp and his arrival brings excitement to an offense that has reloaded around him and expects to be dominant at the point of attack up front. Notre Dame opens at Texas A&M against former coachMike Elkoand takes on FSU along with USC in November — the two mos important games on the slate for getting to the playoff.

Like much of the national media, coaches aren't sold on Michigan as the defending national champions given the talent losses and the departure of Jim Harbaugh. Facing one of the toughest schedules in the country this fall, first-year Michigan coach Sherrone Moore has hit work cut out for him despite returning an elite roster in Ann Arbor. Michigan wasnot one of the 10 programs to appear in recenty-updated playoff title odds, so contending for a spot in the playoff would be a surprise to most.

Penn State is in the hunt for a title under James Franklin.There's a small belief in the expansion era that the Nittany Lions will be one of the teams who benefit from the new playoff format since the Big Ten slate changed considerably. That's not to say the 2024 slate will be easy, but Franklin's group does bring back a ton of firepower from a team coming off a New Year's Six appearance including two elite ballcarriers, a former five-star quarterback and pass rusherAbdul Carter, a future first-rounder.

Will anothertransfer-laden roster lead to a conference championship for the Seminoles underMike Norvell? That's the plan as the ACC's predicted champion.Florida Statecomes just ahead of another league team in our preseason poll, but has fallen two spots from its post-spring debut just outside of the top 10. That's not an indictment on the Seminoles, but more indicative of the two programs that moved up this summer.Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is on his third team in three years and he's hoping 2024 is his best season yet as a collegian.

The Tigers return a ton of production despite filling a void through the portal after losing Doak Walker finalistCody Schraderin the backfield.Unexpectedly having to replace defensive coordinatorBlake Baker, who departed forLSU, was a headacheEli Drinkwitzmay not have been all that prepared for this spring.Missourihas two former five-stars on its roster in wideout Luther Burden and freshmanWilliams Nwaneri, a returning starter at quarterback inBrady Cookcoming off a statistically-noteworthy season and filledseveral major needswithtransfer market signings.

No program in the SECmadebetterhires on the defensive side of the ballthan LSU.Brian Kellyhas back-to-back 10-win seasons in Baton Rouge, but this program intends to ascend higherunder his watch.Joe Sloantakes over as the mastermind offensively following Mike Denbrock's departure to Notre Dame and the schedule gets cooking in the national spotlight early thanks to an opener against USC. If Garrett Nussmeier produces at quarterback on the same wavelength as last year's Heisman winner at the position, LSU has a chance to make noise in November.

Cameron Risingis the headliner as a team leader at quarterback now entering Year 7 of college football andKyle Whittinghamshouldn't have to worry about his coach-on-the-field's availability any longer. Most of the two-deep has played together a couple seasons and Utah garnered substantial love from media members picking it to win the Big 12. Expectations haven't changed for the Utes. Utah's schedule in the Big 12, like so many others, will be a weekly grind to get to the league title game.

Are the coaches believers in Clemson?Dabo Swinneycould see his stock significantly rise if his Tigers take outGeorgiaand NC State during the opening month of the season, which would almost ensure his program is going back to the playoff for the first time in several years. His defense will be elite within the front seven, but how far this team goes likely depends onCade Klubnikand his abilities at quarterback. Given the rise of Florida State and Miami (projected), it feels like Clemson is playing with house money inside the preseason top 20.

One could surmiseTennesseeas a under-the-radar team, but not any longer according to our preseason rankings. When you're inside the top 10, you're essentially picked as a playoff team.Josh Heupelsaid repeatedly in recent weeks that first-year starting quarterbackNico Iamaleavahas no limitations and he expects his former five-star signee to carry this offense to its usual production levels with explosive plays. If the offensive line performs and Tennessee's pass-rush is as good as advertised withJames Pearce Jr.returning, Tennessee could be in for a special season.

Not that he ever left the good graces ofOklahomafans, but winning 10 games last season and bouncing back from a dreadful Year 1 in Norman was great news forBrent Venablesahead of the program's jump into SEC play this year. And schedule makers did the Sooners no favors given the wealth of nationally-ranked competition throughout the campaign. Venables and his team is ready to battle what's ahead, which includesAlabama,Texas,Tennesseeand others.LinebackerDanny Stutsmansays this team is ready to surprise as a top league contender.

One of four Big 12 teams ranked inside most preseason polls,Kansas Statecould be electrifying offensively withAvery Johnsontaking over at quarterback and the dual-headed beast of DJ Giddens andColoradotransferDylan Edwardsin the backfield. It's the defense forChris Kliemanthat will be put the test in a league fueled by big-play signal callers and impressive ballcarriers. The good news for Kansas State? Most of the starters defensively will be seniors with heavy experience.

Equipped with the most returning starters of any team in the Big 12 this season,Oklahoma Stateexpects to be a tough out in the expanded league with Doak Walker winnerOllie Gordonreturning in the backfield with his sights set on a 2,000-yard campaign.

Projected to be one oftwo ACC teams in the College Football Playoffaccording to summer bowl projections,Miamiactually fell two spots to No. 16 from previous rankings. Maybe the hype was too high on the Hurricanes for most voters? At any rate, there's not a roster in college football that was strengthened by portal additions more than Miami's two-deep underMario Cristobal, who has the most-talented group he's coached in Year 3 at the program. QuarterbackCam Wardand running backDamien Martinezare the headliners for a high-powered offense.

20. Texas A&M Aggies

21. Arizona Wildcats

22. NC State Wolfpack

23. USC Trojans

24. Kansas Jayhawks

25. Iowa Hawkeyes