Updated post spring top 25 poll for 2024 season

[aubiefifty 16,822]

247sports.com

 

College football rankings  Updated post spring top 25 poll for 2024 season

Brad Crawford

28–35 minutes

---

• 

• 

Polarizing college football rankings coming out of spring practice...

Spring games, transfer portal moves and depth charts begin to materialize. Approaching the end of April a better view of college football's top 25 teams arrives. There are a number of projections and polls this time of year summoning engagement and this one's no different a few months from now when the AP's official preseason top 25 is released.

With one week left in the spring transfer cycle and the tail end of spring practice finishing for various teams, the roster moving and shaking is continuing. The newly-expanded SEC and Big Ten dominate early rankings with Notre Dame seemingly being the only unanimous top 10 team this spring not from one of those two conferences.

The 2024 season offers a ton of intrigue with the debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff and a couple new rules that are now being implemented.

Get football and recruiting scoop on your favorite college team for 60% off today.

Here are the updated early rankings coming out of spring practice...

 

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

 

(Photo: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Sports)

Previous ranking: No. 2

No elite program made more power moves in terms of talent accumulation this spring than the Buckeyes. Ohio State went from College Football Playoff threat to one of the national title favorites given the roster and coaching staff additions accomplished by Ryan Day. On top of securing one of the nation's top transfer classes with Alabama All-American safety Caleb Down, Ole Miss standout ballcarrier Quinshon Judkins and multi-year Kansas State starting quarterback Will Howard, the Buckeyes also quickly replaced newly-hired offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien with UCLA head coach Chip Kelly.

 

2. Georgia Bulldogs

 

(Photo: Kim Klement Neitzel, USA TODAY Sports)

Previous ranking: No. 1

There is plenty of ammunition left in the chamber for the Bulldogs despite Georgia seeing its school-record 29-game winning streak snapped in last year's SEC Championship Game by Alabama. That was the only blemish during another otherwise flawless season at a program with two national titles over the last three seasons. Where are the weaknesses for Georgia in 2024? One would be hard-pressed to find any. After signing another top-ranked recruiting class and convincing quarterback Carson Beck to return, the Bulldogs are one of the favorites to win another title. The schedule is arduous, but this team has enough talent to overcome it.

 

3. Texas Longhorns

 

(Photo: Reese Strickland, USA TODAY Sports)

Previous ranking: No. 3

Equipped with the best quarterback duo in the country, several difference-makers on defense and an offensive line that has a chance to be the SEC's best, Steve Sarkisian's national championship window at Texas is happening right now. The Longhorns' 2024 two-deep might be even better than last season when Texas finished one win short of a title-game appearance. Texas is a recruiting powerhouse and Sarkisian's calculated moves in the transfer portal this cycle should pay immediate dividends in the big-play department.

 

4. Oregon Ducks

 

(Photo: Jason Fairchild, 247Sports)

Previous ranking: No. 4

Most expect Dan Lanning to make his first playoff appearance at Oregon this season. Anything less than that, given this program's rise, resources and offseason work in the portal, would underwhelm. Not only did Oregon button up its quarterback room with portal additions Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore, but the Ducks are being built on the defensive side of the football similar to Georgia in terms of depth, skill and ferocity — from the trenches out is the motto for Lanning. Former Texas A&M wideout Evan Stewart will be a star.

 

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

 

(Photo: Stuart McNair, 247Sports)

Previous ranking: No. 4

How much trust do you have in first-year coach Kalen DeBoer during his first go-around in the SEC? Will Jalen Milroe duplicate last season's success as a now seasoned vet? Can Alabama's secondary, littered with new faces, still produce at an elite level? There's a few questions facing the Crimson Tide in the post-Nick Saban answer we don't know the answers to yet, but given this program's level of prestige and overall talent level sans a few notable portal departures, Alabama gets the benefit of the doubt after spring. 

 

6. Ole Miss Rebels

 

(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

Previous ranking: No. 5

This is the most-talented roster ever assembled in Oxford — on paper. 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 over to Ohio State. The Rebels are one of the offseason's poster boys for "teams to watch" and have an impressive trajectory based on what Lane Kiffin's group accomplished in 2023 with 11 wins. If quarterback Jaxson Dart has another banner season, Ole Miss will be one of the SEC's multiple playoff teams with a chance to win it all.

 

8. Missouri Tigers

 

(Photo: Jay Biggerstaff, USA TODAY Sports)

Previous 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 freshman Williams Nwaneri, a returning starter at quarterback in Brady Cook coming off a statistically-noteworthy season and filled several major needs with transfer market signings.

 

9. Penn State Nittany Lions

 

(Photo: Grace Brennan-Lions247)

Previous ranking:  No. 10

Penn State is a unanimous top-10 team for 2024 and it's staying that way despite the spring game performance from the first-team offense leaving much to be desired. By design, sometimes it looks that way in April. The proof of an improvements there come in September when the Nittany Lions take the field with a new play-caller and the promise of explosive plays for the first time in several years. That's what it will take to be an expected force in the Big Ten alongside other elites. James Franklin made changes to a 10-win team he felt were necessary to get over the hump and into the expanded playoff next season. 

 

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

 

(Photo: 247Sports)

Previous ranking: No. 9

The Fighting Irish have been good — but not great — in Marcus Freeman's early tenure in South Bend. Hiring Mike Denbrock from LSU was a power move by Notre Dame, which expects to be much better offensively from a well-rounded standpoints. The Fighting Irish will be difficult to contain on that side of the football in 2024 if Clemson transfer Beaux Collins and others are the immediate stars they were recruited to be. Much of Notre Dame's success will hinge on the shoulders of Duke transfer quarterback Riley Leonard, who missed the spring after recovering from surgery.

 

11. Florida State Seminoles

 

(Photo: Greg Oyster, 247Sports)

Previous ranking: No. 18

Mike Norvell is a transfer portal guru and again ensured the Seminoles have one of the ACC's top-tier rosters. Equipped with an elite signing class to pair with his portal additions, Norvell showcased his offseason expertise with another talent reload and should be one of the coaches who significantly benefits from playoff expansion. Former Oregon State and Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei learned the offense quickly and has a variety of weapons around him. FSU's defensive back seven are extremely athletic, too.

 

12. Tennessee Volunteers

 

(Photo: Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire, Getty)

Previous ranking:  No. 11

Nico Iamaleava leads the Vols at quarterback in a new era of sorts offensively. He was responsible for four touchdowns in his first career start in the Citrus Bowl win over Iowa and last season's sensation at the position, Hendon Hooker, already deemed him "the chosen one" in Knoxville. That's high praise given Hooker's importance to the program and heightened success during his tenure. Like Michael Penix Jr. managed at Washington, Iamaleava is the type of talent that makes everyone around him better. Much of the defense is back, despite losing leading tackler Elijah Herring to the portal recently.

 

13. LSU Tigers

 

(Photo: © SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, USA TODAY Sports)

Previous ranking:  No. 13

Brian Kelly swiped Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker earlier this spring to solve his program's Achilles heel after a 10-win season. It's hard to believe Jayden Daniels winning the Heisman almost played second fiddle to how bad the Tigers performed defensively, which cost LSU a shot at a second consecutive SEC West title and trip to Atlanta. Garrett Nussmeier is the new starter at quarterback in 2024 and he flexed impressive tools in the spring game. He has a blossoming group of lesser-known wideouts to throw to following Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.'s entry into the NFL.

 

14. Miami Hurricanes

 

(Photo: 247Sports)

Previous ranking: No. 12

Mario Cristobal's not done yet in the transfer portal as he continues to bolster what is shaping up to be Miami's best-looking depth chart in years. The addition of several vital pieces up front and at the skill spots, including Washington State quarterback Cam Ward, makes the Hurricanes one of the headliners in the ACC this offseason. There's no excuse why Miami shouldn't be challenging for a spot inside the top 15 entering November. Still have to prove it, however.

 

15. Oklahoma Sooners

 

(Photo: Icon Sportswire, Getty)

Previous ranking: No. 14

Deion Burks is a baller. The Purdue transfer at the wideout spot was one of the spring MVPs for the Sooners, who found their new go-to playmaker in the passing game. Jackson Arnold looked in full control of Oklahoma's offense heading into his first campaign as the starter as Brent Venables and this team heads into the SEC. Following several impact offensive linemen entering the transfer portal, the Sooners loaded up at the position and feel good about what they have up front. With their retooled front and a defense welcoming back a number of key contributors, Oklahoma will be a tough out in its new league despite facing one of college football's toughest schedules.

 

16. Clemson Tigers

 

(Photo: Cory Fravel, 247Sports)

Previous ranking: No. 15

Are we still feeling about about the Tigers' chances near the top of the ACC race or is reigning champion Florida State the team to beat with Miami gaining steam? Coming out of spring, the hype seems to have simmered a bit on Clemson — just the way Dabo Swinney likes it. Clemson gets Phil Mafah back, but it's going to have to manufacture production elsewhere in the run game to take some of the pressure off Cade Klubnik, who's back for his second season as the Tigers' QB1. Swinney liked the progress his signal caller made this spring. Clemson's defense should be one of the nation's best.

 

17. Kansas State Wildcats

 

(Photo: Zac Carlson, Scout.com)

Previous ranking: No. 16

You know why the Wildcats are one of the trendy picks to win the expanded Big 12? Avery Johnson is a rising superstar after throwing for two touchdowns and running for another during Kansas State's Pop Tarts Bowl win over NC State. After losing multi-year starting quarterback Will Howard to the transfer portal, this Kansas State offenses showed no ill effects of his departure after Johnson handled the offense with a flare for big plays on the move. Much like Kirk Ferentz's Iowa program in the Big Ten, you know what you're going to get out of a well-coached group from Chris Klieman in Manhattan.

 

18. Utah Utes

 

(Photo: Blair Angulo, Getty)

Previous ranking: No. 17

Quarterback Cam Rising returns, but does he make Utah a championship contender? Utah joins the Big 12 with a couple other former Pac-12 departures in hopes of getting to the expanded playoff.

 

19. Texas A&M Aggies

 

(Photo: Maria Lysaker, USA TODAY Sports)

Previous ranking: No. 22

There was initial roster worries for Mike Elko upon his arrival in College Station at the end of the 2023 season given the rash of transfer exits for the Aggies, but he hit the portal hard and Texas A&M will take the field in September with an arsenal capable of disrupting how many of us thought the SEC title race will look. Conner Weigman has talent around him at quarterback and Purdue edge rusher Nic Scourton has softened the blow of a couple defensive line departures that had left a sizable hole in the plan up front.

(Photo: Ron Jenkins, Getty)

20. NC State Wolfpack

Previous ranking: No. 21

21. USC Trojans

Previous ranking: No. 19

22. West Virginia Mountaineers

Previous ranking: N/A

23. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Previous ranking: No. 24

24. Virginia Tech Hokies

Previous ranking: No. 23

25. Louisville Cardinals

Previous 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. ... Jump on West Virginia's wagon while there's still room. The Mountaineers were flying under the radar this time last season prior to a breakout campaign from several returning difference-makers, including quarterback Garrett Greene. This Big 12 title hopeful isn't getting enough attention this offseason, but that's beginning to change.

[ArgoEagle 1,790]

Wow is this flawed!  Ohio State chokes against much lesser competition at least once every year.

Oregon will not finish in the Top 5 bc they are moving to a conference that actually (plays defense).

I don't see a team ranked at #7; what is that about?

Mizzu at #8. I don't think so!

Penn State & ND at 9 & 10.   What a joke!🤣🤣🤣

Miami at 14, and Clemson at 16.   Prove it.

[aubiefifty 16,822]

1 hour ago, ArgoEagle said:

Wow is this flawed!  Ohio State chokes against much lesser competition at least once every year.

Oregon will not finish in the Top 5 bc they are moving to a conference that actually (plays defense).

I don't see a team ranked at #7; what is that about?

Mizzu at #8. I don't think so!

Penn State & ND at 9 & 10.   What a joke!🤣🤣🤣

Miami at 14, and Clemson at 16.   Prove it.

for the record i do not post it thinking it is legit i post it for the humor, etc. i certainly did not agree with it. but it is fun...........

[ArgoEagle 1,790]

55 minutes ago, aubiefifty said:

for the record i do not post it thinking it is legit i post it for the humor, etc. i certainly did not agree with it. but it is fun...........

I know that brother. O really enjoy & appreciate your posts.

[AU-24 3,104]

I’m happy Texas and Oklahoma are joining the SEC. Both of them are about to find out what it’s like to play an SEC schedule week in and week out! And Missouri… that had to be a typo or a joke, correct? 😂