College football AP top 25 poll: 2024 preseason rankings released (2024)

Georgia is still salty over missing the playoff last season coming off consecutive national championships and most believe the road to a playoff title still goes through the hedges of Athens. Quarterback Carson Beck made NFL scouts salivate as one of the top returning players at the position and the Bulldogs' conquests in the transfer portal means Mike Bobo's offense should be electric from all angles. Georgia's calling card remains the tenacity at which this team plays defensively, fueled by more than a half-dozen players expected to be early-round picks next spring. Georgia, once again, is loaded from top to bottom.

The pressure is on Ohio State to win a national championship this season and anything short of that, given the heightened projections around the program, will be a disappointment. Ryan Day knows he needs to end a three-game losing skid to Michigan in the Big Ten rivalry series and perform at maximum potential in the playoff. With most of the defense back and newcomer Caleb Downs (from Alabama) as top dog in the secondary, Jim Knowles' defense should be one of the top units in the country. Transfers decorate Day's offense too with former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard and Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss as headliners in the backfield.

Dan Lanning and the Ducks left the Pac-12 for the Big Ten and with that decision comes elite expectations as a preseason top-five team. Oregon is built from the line of scrimmage out, similar to Kirby Smart's philosophy at Oregon, which Lanning previously studied while on staff in Athens. He replaced outgoing Heisman finalist quarterback Bo Nix with Dillon Gabriel, the odds-on favorite to win this year's award, and surrounded him with weapons at receiver. Oregon's defensive front seven representsanother strength with former South Carolina five-star Jordan Burch leading the charge.

The second of many playoff hopefuls from within the SEC in the AP rankings, Texas joins the conference with intentions on getting to Atlanta thanks to a star-studded roster. The offense hopes it can overcome the loss of former five-star running back CJ Baxter to a season-ending injury in camp. Jaydon Blue will be RB1 with a considerable amount of pressure on his shoulders. Equipped with the top quarterback room in the country and several studs defensively, Steve Sarkisian expects the Longhorns to once again be in the thick of the national championship conversation at year's end.

Often reserved for top billing in the preseason, Alabama has to settle for this spot in the first year of the post-Nick Saban era in Tuscaloosa. Expectations have not changed for the Crimson Tide, who are one of a handful of programs in the SEC with an elite roster and staff capable of getting to the playoff. Jalen Milroe returns at quarterback with an offensive guru of sorts calling the shots in the passing game. Kalen DeBoer brings a very different coaching style to the Capstone, one players have seemingly responded to with open arms during the offseason.

Ole Miss is not backing down from the preseason hype emanating from Oxford. That's what happens after an 11-win season and offseason that captivated most media members thanks to the sheer volume of quality players acquired through the transfer portal. Picking a preferred target won't be easy for Jaxson Dart considering the wealth of options in the passing game. If the offensive and defensive lines perform for the Rebels, this team could get to Atlanta as a conference title game participant under Lane Kiffin.

Notre Dame is one of the programs set to benefit from playoff expansion given the luxury of not playing a brutal conference slate every fall like their comrades in the SEC and Big Ten. That said, this month's season opener at Texas A&M is vitally important for a team expecting to compete in the national championship conversation later this fall. With Duke transfer Riley Leonard set to start under center and a back seven that is comparable to other elites on defense, Notre Dame has staying power inside the top 10.

Getting over the hump is top priority at Penn State, which means taking advantage of the expanded playoff and actually getting there at the end of the year for James Franklin. The blowout loss to Ole Miss in last season's New Year's Six left a mark and the Nittany Lions are trying to erase those remnants with a top-end finish in the Big Ten. No doubt, this team has playoff-potential with a pair of elite ballcarriers returning, pass rusher Abdul Carter and former five-star pass Drew Allar topping the roster in State College.

If Sherrone Moore needed any motivation ahead of his first season at Michigan, the recent murmurs about NCAA sanctions soon to surface for the Wolverines along with the disbelief nationally this team can win another national championship should be plenty of ammunition. The "why not us" mentality seems to work in Ann Arbor for a group that has felt disrespected for years despite winning three consecutive conference titles. This is a new group, however. Michigan will be elite on defense with a couple future Day 1 guys, but ultimately the Wolverines' success hinges on the play of new starters on offense.

The preseason favorite in the ACC, Florida State has unfinished business to attend to under Mike Norvell after being excluded from last season's playoff by the selection committee despite an unbeaten regular season. That said, this is a very different roster in Tallahassee, one that's still portal-infused and followed the script of the past two offseasons for Florida State's recruiting plan. Former Clemson and Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei replaces Jordan Travis as the face of the team and his play is paramount to the Seminoles' overall value in the polls throughout the season.

Coming off an 11-win season under Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri will look very different defensively this fall with several newcomers assuming starting roles. The other side of the football is the team's strength with anchors Luther Burden at wideout and quarterback Brady Cook back to try and post another statistically-noteworthy campaign. Drinkwitz replaced defensive coordinator Blake Baker after he bolted to LSU to assume the same role.

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.

Is LSU undervalued?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 toNotre Dameand the schedule gets cooking in the national spotlight early thanks to an opener against USC. IfGarrett Nussmeierproduces at quarterback on the same wavelength as last year's Heisman winner at the position,LSUhas a chance to make noise in November.

Two-time national champion Dabo Swinney is not concerning himself with preseason rankings. The only focus is winning the conference and getting 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 in the projected AP rankings, it feels like Clemson is playing with house money wherever the Tigers land inside the preseason top 20.

Another SEC team with expanded playoff potential last season, Tennessee took a small step back last fall after nearly getting to the league championship game during the 2022 campaign. The offense should be improved with Nico Iamaleava taking over at quarterback. He's a second-year player and first-year starter with no restrictions, according to Josh Heupel. James Pearce Jr. anchors a pass rush that will need to be elite to help hide several new additions at the back end of the defense.

Not that he ever left the good graces ofOklahomafans, but winning 10 games 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.

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.

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.

There's not a roster in college football that was strengthened by portal additions more than Miami's two-deep. That's a testament to Miami's collective and ability to acquire talent. QuarterbackCam Wardand running backDamien Martinezare the headliners for a high-powered offense. And the front seven on the other side of the ball is among the ACC's best. Miami's opener at Florida will reveal everything we need to know about the Hurricanes and how they handle preseason hype once again.

20. Texas A&M Aggies

21. Arizona Wildcats

22. Kansas Jayhawks

23. USC Trojans

24. NC State

25. Iowa Hawkeyes

Others Receiving Votes:Louisville 111, Virginia Tech 77, Boise St. 47, SMU 33, Iowa St. 33, Liberty 32, Washington 23, West Virginia 17, Memphis 16, Nebraska 16, Wisconsin 15, UTSA 6, Tulane 5, Appalachian St. 4, Kentucky 3, Auburn 2, Colorado 1.