The 2024 college football season is one of the most anticipated in recent years, thanks to conference realignment, transfer portal transactions, and the introduction of the 12-team College Football Playoff. With spring practices wrapped up and rosters nearly complete, it’s time to update the 2024 CFN College Football Top 25 Power Rankings, and there is a new top dog.
College Football Top 25: CFN’s Official Power Rankings
25) Memphis Tigers
With SMU off to the ACC and Tulane undergoing a coaching staff change, Memphis is the cream of the AAC crop. Ryan Silverfield and Co. have overhauled the offensive line and added South Carolina’s Mario Anderson to replace star RB Blake Watson.
More importantly, QB Seth Henigan returns for his fourth year as the starter alongside his top three pass catchers from last season: Roc Taylor, Demeer Blankumsee, and Koby Drake.
24) USC Trojans
The Trojans underperformed despite having No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams under center the last two years. A large reason for their failures was the defense, which new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn has overhauled this offseason.
USC’s schedule is riddled with momentum killers (LSU, Notre Dame, Michigan, and Washington), but QB Miller Moss has the physical tools and weapons around him to score points in Lincoln Riley’s offense.
23) Arizona Wildcats
Jedd Fisch jumped ship for the Washington job, taking several coaches and players with him. Yet, QB Noah Fifita, OT Jonah Savaiinaea, WR Tetairoa McMillan, and CB Tacario Davis all decided to stay for new head coach Brent Brennan.
That’s a talented foundation to build on, and with bouts against Kansas State (Week 3) and Utah (Week 4) early in the season, we’ll get to see just how competitive Arizona will be in the expanded Big 12.
22) Clemson Tigers
The Tigers added *checks notes* zero players from the transfer portal this offseason, which isn’t exactly a positive after they posted their worst record since 2011. Now, T.J. Parker, Peter Woods, and Barrett Carter lead a talented defense, but Dabo Swinney is putting all his chips on Cade Klubnik exploding in Year 2 under OC Garrett Riley.
It’s a gamble that either results in a conference title bid or another lackluster season.
21) Liberty Flames
Liberty stormed to an undefeated regular season and the CUSA title in its conference debut. With QB Kaidon Salter and RB Quinton Cooley returning and a soft schedule on deck, the Flames should have a repeat performance in 2024.
20) Texas A&M Aggies
There was a bit of a mass exodus out of College Station at the end of the 2023 season, but new head coach Mike Elko has relinquished his talent pool via the portal, including potential future first-round pick Nic Scourton. Conner Weigman looked like a top SEC QB before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.
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If he can remain healthy, he has the weapons to compete in the strongest conference in the nation (nine SEC teams crack the top 20 in the 2024 CFN College Football Top 25 Power Rankings).
19) Boise State Broncos
Boise State will have a chance to earn a top-20 placement with Oregon and Oregon State on the schedule. The roster is loaded with playmakers, namely QB Malachi Nelson, RB Ashton Jeanty, WRs Cam Camper, Chris Marshall, Latrell Caples, DE Ahmad Hassanein, LB Andrew Simpson, and CB A’Marion McCoy.
If Spencer Danielson can continue the Broncos’ momentum from the end of last season, they’ll challenge for a CFP spot.
18) Kansas State Wildcats
Avery Johnson. DJ Giddens. Dylan Edwards. Need I say more? The Wildcats have one of the most explosive backfields in the country, but we’ll need to see Johnson perform over a longer period of time as the QB1 before placing the Wildcats any higher. Nevertheless, Chris Klieman runs a well-coached program primed for its fourth straight 8+ win season.
17) Oklahoma Sooners
In Year 2 of Brent Venables’ tenure, the Sooners improved by four victories. And while momentum could stall out a bit in Year 1 in the SEC, especially with turnover at QB and OC, those around the program believe Jackson Arnold is a future star, and new play-caller Seth Littrell knows a thing or two about generating offensive production.
Plus, the unit has no shortage of versatile pass catchers in Purdue transfer Deion Burks, Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony, Jalil Farooq, and Jayden Gibson. And don’t forget about the defense anchored by LB Danny Stutsman and S Billy Bowman Jr.
16) North Carolina State Wolfpack
The quarterback room hasn’t exactly been the modicum of consistency for the Wolfpack, but Dave Doeren has rectified the issue by bringing in Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall. The three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year is surrounded by 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year WR Kevin Concepcion, UConn’s 2023 receiving yards leader TE Justin Joly, and Duke transfer RB Jordan Waters.
And although the defense lost some veteran leaders, EDGE Davin Vann and CB Aydan White can generate turnovers all on their own.
15) Tennessee Volunteers
Those in Knoxville have seemingly named Nico Iamaleava the chosen one, and with Josh Heupel running the show, it’s hard to knock them. There are solid starters at every position on offense, and the defense returns many of its first-teamers from 2023, including game-wrecking EDGE James Pearce Jr.
Tennessee went 9-4 with Joe Milton at the helm — if Iamaleava lives up to the hype, a 10+ campaign is well within reach.
14) Miami Hurricanes
After going 12-13 in his first two years, Mario Cristobal needs results, and he tapped into the transfer portal to get them. Washington State’s Cameron Ward and Oregon State’s Damien Martinez form a lethal backfield duo, and Mark Fletcher Jr. and Ajay Allen proved to be more than competent depth pieces last season.
Meanwhile, Houston’s Sam Brown bolsters a receiving corps returning its top two playmakers in Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George. And defensively, EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., LB Francisco Mauigoa, and DBs Daryl Porter Jr. and Jaden Davis lead their respective units, each of which has received at least one transfer infusion this offseason.
13) LSU Tigers
Heisman-winning QB Jayden Daniels and WRs Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. left for the first round of the NFL Draft, and OC Mike Denbrock fled for a reunion in South Bend. But the Tigers’ cupboard isn’t bare. Garrett Nussmeier has some collegiate experience and one of the strongest arms in the game. Zavion Thomas (Mississippi State) and CJ Daniels (Liberty) transfer in to bolster the WR room.
Meanwhile, HC Brian Kelly has filled the vacant OC position with in-house promotions for QBs coach Joe Sloan and WRs coach Cortez Hankton. And as for the 81st-ranked scoring defense and 118th-ranked passing defense, former Missouri DC Blake Baker has the pieces to right the ship, primarily EDGE Bradyn Swinson, LB Harold Perkins Jr., and CB Sage Ryan.
12) Penn State Nittany Lions
The first-team offense’s struggles during the spring game didn’t help quell fans and analysts’ reservations about the unit’s projection. Regardless, Drew Allar is a toolsy QB who may have out-thought himself at times last season. Questions surrounding the WR corps are warranted, but returning both Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton was a major win.
While Penn State’s offense is under the microscope, everyone knows what to expect from the defense: dominance. Abdul Carter, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Kobe King, Kevin Winston Jr., Zakee Wheatley — the list goes on and on. If Georgia transfer A.J. Harris and Cam Miller live up to their potential, the Nittany Lions will have no issue limiting their opponents.
11) Utah Utes
Kyle Whittingham, Cam Rising, and Brant Kuithe — a college trio as old as time (or at least the last seven seasons). Following back-to-back 10-4 campaigns, the Utes fell to 8-5 last year without the services of their starting QB and TE. They return with WRs Money Parks and Mycah Pittman, TE Landen King, and RBs Micah Bernard and Jaylon Glover.
Speaking of returners, the defense will have eight 2023 starters back in 2024, and CB transfers Cameron Calhoun (Michigan) and Kenan Johnson (Georgia Tech) shined during the spring.
10) Florida State Seminoles
Mike Norvell has used the transfer portal as well as anyone in the FBS, and he needed to in an offseason full of turnover. QB Jordan Travis, RB Trey Benson, WRs Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman, and several other starters on both sides of the ball departed for the NFL or graduation.
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In comes Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei, who spent a year in the Pac-12 to remake his image after playing his way out of Clemson. He should mesh well with FSU’s offense, which now includes Alabama transfer WR Malik Benson and RB Roydell Williams. The Seminoles likely won’t go undefeated again, but they have the talent to challenge for a CFP spot.
9) Missouri Tigers
Missouri is fresh off their best season (11-2) in a decade, and they return most of their offensive production. Doak Walker finalist Cody Schrader’s departure hurts, but the Tigers nabbed App State’s Nate Noel and Georgia State’s Marcus Carroll to dampen the impact.
Yet, the real star of the show is QB Brady Cook and the passing offense, as potential top-10 pick Luther Burden III and the other top WRs from last season return. There are no major holes on the depth chart, but we’ll need to see how Eli Drinkwitz’s squad performs defensively with an entirely new secondary and DC Blake Baker gone.
8) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Marcus Freeman’s hiring of Mike Denbrock from LSU was a power move, as was bringing in Riley Leonard from Duke. The Fighting Irish are pushing for a CFP bid in 2024, and scoring more points will only help their endeavor.
Clemson transfer Beaux Collins and FIU transfer Kris Mitchell give Leonard versatile weapons to target, and RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are ready for bigger workloads with Audric Estime now a Denver Bronco.
However, as the foil to Missouri, Notre Dame’s real strength lies in its defense. The Irish have one of the top players in the country along the defensive line (DT Howard Cross III), in the box (LB Jack Kiser), out on the boundary (CB Benjamin Morrison), and in the deep third (S Xavier Watts).
7) Alabama Crimson Tide
Much of Alabama’s ranking rests in your belief in Kalen DeBoer. Filling a living legend’s shoes (Nick Saban) is no easy task and places unachievable expectations on the former Washington head coach’s shoulders. Nonetheless, DeBoer knows how to coach, brought over much of his staff from the Huskies, and tasked former South Alabama HC Kane Wommack to call the defense.
Despite several players jumping ship, the Crimson Tide are not bereft of talent. Jalen Milroe is an athletic marvel and should take well to DeBoer’s QB whispers. Tyler Booker, Parker Brailsford, and Jaeden Roberts are arguably the best interior in the nation.
Kendrick Law, Germie Bernard, and Kobe Prentice are a talented, if inexperienced, WR corps. And there is a CVS receipt-sized list of defensive players to know, including transfers Keon Sabb (Michigan), Domani Jackson (USC), and LT Overton (Texas A&M).
6) Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines will go as far as their QB situation takes them. RB Donovan Edwards is back to carry the offense, and TE Coleston Loveland will be the top target.
The offense will have time to mesh their all-new offensive line and young QBs/WRs thanks to a championship-caliber defense led by DTs Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, EDGEs Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore, LBs Jaishawn Barham and Ernest Hausmann, and DBs Will Johnson, Makari Paige, and Ja’Den McBurrows.
5) Ole Miss Rebels
HC Lane Kiffin, QB Jaxson Dart, WRs Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins, TE Caden Prieskorn, EDGE Jared Ivey, and safeties Trey Washington and John Saunders Jr. all return in 2024, and expectations are through the roof. Not only do the Rebels have a strong foundation of homegrown talent, but they attacked the transfer portal better than most in the country.
EDGE Princely Umanmielen (Florida), DT Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), CB Trey Amos (Alabama), WR Antwane Wells Jr. (South Carolina), OT Diego Pounds (UNC), Gs Julius Buelow and Nate Kalepo (Washington), and two standout RBs (Henry Parish Jr., Miami-FL and Rashod Amos, Miami-OH) highlight a massive transfer haul that Kiffin hopes pushes his team over the edge.
4) Texas Longhorns
Can Steve Sarkisian keep the ball rolling in the SEC after guiding the Longhorns to 12 wins and a CFP berth in 2023?
Having Quinn Ewers back certainly helps, as does landing WRs transfers Isaiah Bond (Alabama), Matthew Golden (Houston), and Silas Bolden (Oregon State). Plus, CJ Baxter, who was the starter before an injury knocked him out last year, will run behind one of the best offensive lines in the conference.
UTSA EDGE Trey Moore and Clemson S Andrew Mukuba were brought in to enhance their units, and they’ll need to as Texas’ pass defense struggled last season.
3) Oregon Ducks
Dan Lanning has gone 22-5 with consecutive boal victories in his two years in Eugene, but it’s time for the next step. Dillon Gabrial meshes perfectly with OC Will Stein and will have no issue getting the ball to playmakers Evan Stewart and Tez Johnson. Jordan James is one of the most explosive backs in the country and has an elite offensive line in front of him.
Lanning will have the defense thriving once again, and he used the transfer portal more than ever to ensure his unit lives up to standards in the Big Ten. An October bout with Ohio State will test the Ducks’ ceiling, but their November schedule will determine whether they make the playoffs or not: at Michigan, vs. Maryland, at Wisconsin, and vs. Washington.
2) Georgia Bulldogs
Turnover is usually an issue for top collegiate teams, as many of their players leave for the NFL, but Georgia has a stockpile of four-to-five-star reserves waiting to be unleashed. Carson Beck will conduct the offense once again, and he’s the favorite to hear his name called as the first QB off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.
A loss in the 2023 SEC Championship Game to Alabama snapped the Bulldogs’ school-record 29-game winning streak, and Kirby Smart’s team will be seeing red all season long. Georgia may be the current betting favorite to win the natty, but there’s one team I believe could unseat them.
1) Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State has defeated every Big Ten opponent in the regular season the past three years except one — Michigan. That changes in 2024. Jim Harbaugh is gone, and the Wolverines are in a state of flux offensively — not the Buckeyes.
QB Will Howard and RBs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson form the deadliest collegiate backfield, Emeka Egbuka and true freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith lead an elite WR corps, and Ryan Day hired his mentor Chip Kelly to call the plays. Yeah, OSU will generate points in droves.
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But the offense isn’t the only championship-quality unit. The defense is battled-tested and comes equipped with an experienced, skilled, and athletically gifted front four (Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloa, Tyleik Williams, and Ty Hamilton) and secondary (Caleb Downs, Lathan Ransom, Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock, and Davison Igbinosun).
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