College football rankings: Preseason top-25 poll arrives ahead of training camp (2024)

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 1

Ohio State garnered four first-place votes on six ballots, a second and a third to accumulate 147 points — one point higher than the second-place team in our preseason poll. This team has the look of a juggernaut with decorated, multi-year veterans on defense, a couple high-end portal additions and the No. 1 player in the country from the 2024 recruiting cycle — wideout Jeremiah Smith — set to be impactful. There's substantial pressure on the Buckeyes to not only end their three-year losing skid to Michigan, but win the Big Ten and capture a national championship for the first time under Ryan Day. He mentioned the expectation level throughout the offseason and has a team capable of running the gauntlet and winning it all.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 2

The other two first-place votes went to the Bulldogs, who were slotted no lower than No. 2 on the other ballots. Georgia's reign atop the sport ended last season after Alabama's win in the SEC Championship kept this program out of the playoff. That will never happen in the expanded era if the Bulldogsare able to getback to Atlanta, especially given the brutality of the schedule in the expanded SEC. Georgiatrudged its way through a tumultuous offseason away from the gridiron and there's no coach nationally ready for actual football to be played more than two-time national champion Kirby Smart.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 3

Speaking of SEC expansion, it's time to welcome Texas to the mix as the Longhorns hope to carry the torch under Steve Sarkisian after finishing one play shy of a national title game appearance in 2023. Only a single point separated the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the preseason rankings, but Texas gets the nod over another playoff hopeful joining a new league as well. Steve Sarkisian's team is built to last in the SEC with an elite offensive line, vast weaponry and the most-talented quarterback room in the nation.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 4

Built through strong recruiting and elite transfer portal acquisitions, Oregonseeks to make the Big Ten leap as a worthy national championship hopeful. Dan Lanning replaced outgoing star quarterback Bo Nix with former Oklahoma star Dillon Gabriel and acquired UCLA's Dante Moore as the next-man-up behind him. There's a powerful core ofplaymakers around both of those guys on the outside and in the backfield and the Ducks' defense is built from the trenches outward — just as Lanning managed to help Smart accomplish previously at Georgia. Oregon has the depth to be one of the last teams standing at year's end.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 6

There is no overlooking the Rebels. This Ole Miss roster is elite and Lane Kiffin knows it. His team opened practice with arguably the highest expectations in program history -- playoff appearance or bust.Ole Miss grabbed a couple high-end defensive starters out of the portal, coaxed South Carolina's top-returning playmaker Juice Wells to switch sides and feel good about their backfield despite the loss of Quinshon Judkins moving to Ohio State. The Rebelsare one of the offseason's poster boys for "teams to watch" and have an impressivetrajectory based on what Kiffin has accomplished in Oxford.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 5

Alabama hasn't appeared as a preseason top-five team in most polls and the Crimson Tide just missed out on the honor within our own. Projected as the fourth-best SEC team to start the season according to our experts, Alabamahas to endure one of the league's toughest slates with first-year coach Kalen DeBoer to ultimately meet program expectations in its first campaign without legend Nick Saban. The return of Jalen Milroe promises fireworks offensively given DeBoer's previous success with quarterbacks and a new-look secondary through the portal and star-studded 2024 freshman class promises intrigue.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 9

It's next-level time for the Nittany Lions, who enjoyed several top-10 finishes during James Franklin's tenure, but haven't appeared in the playoff yet. Penn State is confident that opportunitywith an elite backfield, a new offensive play caller and a defense highlighted by potential All-American Abdul Carter. Given their depth and expected dominance at the line of scrimmage, Penn State moved up two spots to No. 7 in the preseason poll from its previous post-spring position.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 10

Marcus Freeman has his best team — on paper — in South Bend and leading the way is former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, one of a couple vital transfer portal signees this cycle. His job will orchestrating the Fighting Irish offense while the other side of the football determines its value overall in the playoff picture. If Notre Dame's potential rising stars at wide receiver are impactful at the highest level, this team has double-digit wins written all over them given the favorable slate. The opener at Texas A&M is one everyone will be watching for this preseason top-10 squad.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 7

The belief Sherrone Moore can get Michigan back to the playoff and ultimately in contention to try and defend its unbeaten season and national championship continues to wane the closer we move to kickoff. Part of the reason for that is the newcomers offensively with the Wolverines replacing a great deal of their production there. However, with Mason Graham and Will Johnson leading the defense as All-American candidates, there's something about this team that could shed the underrated label and get to November with all of their goals still out front.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 12

One could surmise Tennessee as a under-the-radar team, but not any longer according to our preseason rankings. When you're inside the top 10, you're essentially being picked as a playoff team. Josh Heupelsaid repeatedly in recent weeks that first-year starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava has 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 with James Pearce Jr. returning, Tennessee could be in for a special season.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 8

The Tigers return a ton of production despite filling a void through the portal after losing Doak Walker finalist Cody Schrader in the backfield.Unexpectedly having to replace defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who departed for LSU, was a headache Eli Drinkwitz may not have been all that prepared for this spring. Missouri has two former five-stars on its roster in wideout Luther Burden and freshmanWilliams Nwaneri, a returning starter at quarterback in Brady Cook coming off a statistically-noteworthy season and filledseveral major needswithtransfer market signings.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 13

Brian Kellyfielded a litany of questions about his defense, the changes he made and the new personnel he brought in. Who could blame the media considering last season's showing was abysmal and negated a Heisman-season from the team's quarterback. Garrett Nussmeier is the new face of an offense that's not going to change its press the issue through the air philosophy with Joe Sloan calling the shots. Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. mustproduce at a high level for that unit to be where it needs to be and that's in contention for a spot in the SEC title game entering November.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 11

Can another transfer-laden roster lead to a conference championship for the Seminoles under Mike Norvell? That's the plan as the ACC's predicted champion. Florida State comes 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.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 16

Clemson sits just inside the top 15 ready to pounce on several ranked foes. Dabo Swinney could see his stock significantly rise if his Tigers take out Georgia and 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 on Cade Klubnik and his abilities at quarterback.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 18

There is no consensus on Utah heading into the season with the Utes appearing inside the top 10 of two ballots and outside the top 15 of several others. Cameron Rising is the headliner as a team leader at quarterback now entering Year 7 of college football and Kyle Whittingham shouldn'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.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 14

Projected to be one of two ACC teams in the College Football Playoff according to summer bowl projections, Miami actually 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 under Mario Cristobal, who has the most-talented group he's coached in Year 3 at the program. Quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez are the headliners for a high-powered offense.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 15

Not that he ever left the good graces of Oklahoma fans, but winning 10 games last season and bouncing back from a dreadful Year 1 in Norman was great news for Brent Venables ahead 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 includes Alabama, Texas, Tennessee and others.Linebacker Danny Stutsman says this team is ready to surprise as a top league contender. We'll see.

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 17

One of four Big 12 teams ranked inside preseason polls, Kansas State could be electrifying offensively with Avery Johnson taking over at quarterback and the dual-headed beast of DJ Giddens and Colorado transfer Dylan Edwards in the backfield. It's the defense for Chris Klieman that 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.

247Sports post-spring ranking:No. 21

There's not a ranked team in the Big Ten more mysterious than the Trojans entering the season with LSU looming in Las Vegas during opening weekend. ExpectMiller Moss to produce at quarterback provided Lincoln Riley's expertise there and as a unit, this offense has notable speed at all skill position. But the program overhaul came on defense where new coaches lead a group that is portal-heavy at the back end and takes the field soon with a new mindset and philosophy. Can USC endure the style of play necessary to win in the Big Ten? It'll be up to its defense.

20. Texas A&M Aggies

247Sports post-spring ranking: No. 19

Conner Weigman has talent around him at quarterback and Purdue edge rusher Nic Scourtonsoftened the blow of a couple defensive line departures that had left a sizable hole in the plan up front. Ahead of Mike Elko's first season, this portal-laden roster is in the top-half of the SEC we expect in terms of talent.

21. Oklahoma State Cowboys

247Sports post-spring ranking:No. 23

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

22. NC State Wolfpack

247Sports post-spring ranking:No. 20

Dave Doeren knows his Wolfpack team is capable of another finish inside the national rankings, perhaps this time getting to the program's first playoff appearance if NC State's defenses remains elite despite a couple departures. Few teams checked every box in the transfer portal like the Wolfpack, whose headline addition was Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall.

23. Iowa Hawkeyes

247Sports post-spring ranking:N/A

Phil Parker's defense should be one of the Big Ten's best and Iowa's shot at getting to the Big Ten Championship have steadily improved the closer we get to the opener according to oddsmakers. Perhaps it's the favorable schedule compared to other league titans or maybe there's a belief that the Hawkeyes' offense will take a major step forward.

24. Virginia Tech Hokies

247Sports post-spring ranking:No. 24

Virginia Tech ended as one of the hottest teams in the country and nearly all of those starters (21) return under coach Brent Pry, including dynamic dual-threat quarterback Kyron Drones.

25. Arizona Wildcats

247Sports post-spring ranking:N/A

Previously unranked,this Big 12 newcomer found the final spot at No. 25 this time around, much of that due to the promised high-end production that should come from returning star signal caller Noah Fifita.

Other teams receiving votes: Auburn, Louisville, Kentucky, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Liberty