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The 2024 college football season is just over a month away with the Florida State Seminoles and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets kicking it off in Week 0 from Dublin, Ireland. As the days pass by the time for the unveiling of the preseason US LBM coaches poll draws closer.
As expected, the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns should be among the top three teams in the country. Georgia has lost just two games in three seasons and Texas is on the rise after earning a trip to the College Football Playoffs last season.
With the preseason poll set to come out early in August, here is what the initial preseason poll could look like:
1
Georgia Bulldogs
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The Georgia Bulldogs are 42-2, with two national championships over the last three years. With Kirby Smart leading this team and a top NFL talent under center, they are poised to build the next college football dynasty.
2
Ohio State Buckeyes
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After a strong offseason, the Ohio State Buckeyes are looking to start the new CFP era in the same way the last one began with a national championship. Despite losing top WR talent Marvin Harrison Jr. to the NFL, this offense is loaded and added one of the top running backs in the country. This might be the best chance for Ryan Day to get over the hump.
3
Texas Longhorns
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The Texas Longhorns are preparing for life in the SEC for the upcoming season. They return quarterback Quinn Ewers, who led them to a Big 12 title in 2023. The team lost their top five offensive players but added former Alabama WR Isaiah Bond to be the top passing option. Defensively they added a talented edge rusher in Trey Moore of UTSA. Now it is about surviving the week-to-week grind in the toughest football conference.
4
Oregon Ducks
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The rich got richer this past offseason. Despite losing WR Troy Franklin and QB Bo Nix to the Denver Broncos through the NFL draft, the Oregon Ducks added gunslinger Dillon Gabriel and former five-star WR Evan Stewart. After a strong offseason, head coach Dan Lanning has this team dreaming big as they enter the Big Ten.
5
Ole Miss Rebels
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Welcome to the Sip. The Ole Miss Rebels are coming off the best season in school history and this roster is absolutely loaded with talent. Jaxson Dart was much improved last season, with the additions of Juice Wells at WR and a plethora of talent on the defensive side the Rebels are ready to contend in the SEC.
6
Alabama Crimson Tide
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The Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off another appearance in the CFP but ultimately the Wolverines were too much for them in the Rose Bowl. With Nick Saban retiring in the offseason, the team will have a different feel under Kalen DeBoer. Jalen Milroe returns to run the offense and finish what he started following the benching against South Florida.
7
Utah Utes
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The Utah Utes made the move from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 along with the three other four corner schools. They might have the best path to a conference title next season, especially with the return of quarterback Cam Rising. One of the best aspects of joining the Big 12 is the return of the “Holy War” on Nov. 9 against the BYU Cougars in Salt Lake City.
8
Missouri Tigers
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The Missouri Tigers were a major surprise team last year earning a bid to the Cotton Bowl Classic against the Ohio State Buckeyes. With the first 10+ win season since Gary Pinkel ran the program, can the Tigers do it in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2013 and 2014? The team returns quarterback Brady Cook and standout wide receiver Luther Burden III.
9
Michigan Wolverines
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There is a lot of change for the Michigan Wolverines. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter left for the NFL after the national championship run. The team still has quite a defense despite the losses and longtime NFL assistant Don Martindale is set to run the unit. Donovan Edwards will likely be the workhorse on the offensive side fo the ball.
10
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have missed out on the College Football Playoffs each year since 2020. With the expanded field and a new quarterback, the Golden Domers look to take advantage of one of the seven at-large bids. Mike Denbrock returns to Notre Dame to run the offense, the success will fall on the health of quarterback Riley Leonard who transferred in from Duke.
11
Florida State Seminoles
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The Florida State Seminoles went undefeated in the 2023 regular season and missed out on the College Football Playoffs due to an injury at quarterback. With a bevy of transfer talent, they hope to contend in the extended field this year. They are likely the favorite to win the ACC but they will have to prove there won’t be much of a dropoff with the loss of Jordan Travis, Johnny Wilson, and Keon Coleman all gone. It will be up to former Clemson QB D.J. Uiagalelei to lead them back to the CFP.
12
LSU Tigers
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The LSU Tigers lost their offensive coordinator and top three offensive weapons in the offseason. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has waiting patiently and now gets his opportunity. He won’t be the dual threat that Jayden Daniels was but he will have some weapons including former Liberty wideout CJ Daniels, Kyren Lacy, and tight end Mason Taylor. With a change at defensive coordinator, the big question is how much will that unit improve after a horrendous showing in 2023.
13
Penn State Nittany Lions
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Once again the expectations are high for the Penn State Nittany Lions. They finished 10-3 with losses to Ohio State, Michigan, and Ole Miss. The team returns Drew Allar at quarterback and will have a new playcaller with Andy Kotelnicki, who comes over from Kansas. Can he give the offense the bump they need in major matchups?
14
NC State Wolfpack
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After a strong finish in the 2023 regular season with five straight wins, the NC State Wolfpack is looking to build upon that run in 2024. They improved the quarterback situation adding former Coastal Carolina gunslinger Grayson McCall. The three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year comes in with 10,005 career passing yards to go with 88 touchdowns. The ACC should keep its eyes on the Pack this upcoming season.
15
Tennessee Volunteers
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Another five-star quarterback is getting his chance to take over in 2024. Nico Iamaleava saw the field plenty in the 35-0 bowl win over the Iowa Hawkeyes for the Tennessee Vols. With Joe Milton III gone, it will be his turn to run the Josh Heupel offense in 2024. This offense should put up big numbers once again. Defensively, teams will have to slow down James Pearce Jr., who looks like a top-five draft pick according to the latest mocks.
16
Kansas State Wildcats
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Two seasons removed from a Big 12 championship, Chris Klieman and the Kansas State Wildcats are ready to make another run. Quarterback Avery Johnson earned some starting experience last season and with Will Howard gone, it will be his team in 2024. He will be joined by Dante Cephas at wide receiver and former Colorado Buffaloes running back Dylan Edwards.
17
Clemson Tigers
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This is the year that offensive coordinator Garrett Riley needs to take a major step forward. The Clemson Tigers have been a shell of their former selves and now the Florida State Seminoles look to take the ACC crown for a second straight season. Can quarterback Cade Klubnik and standout freshman Bryant Wesco Jr. return the Tigers to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference?
18
Arizona Wildcats
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The Wildcats of Arizona took a major step forward in year three under head coach Jedd Fisch. After he left to take the job with the Washington Huskies, quarterback Noah Fifita and wideout Tetairoa McMillan opted to stay in Tucson. The success in year one under Brent Brennan will likely fall on these two budding stars.
19
Oklahoma Sooners
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A new era begins for the Oklahoma Sooners. Not only are they moving to the SEC, but they will turn to highly-touted quarterback Jackson Arnold. Don’t let his poor showing in the Alamo Bowl fool you, he has all of the tools to be successful. The schedule won’t be easy but this defense should be ready to wreak havoc.
20
Virginia Tech Hokies
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The Va Tech Hokies took a major step forward in 2023 under head coach Brent Pry. The team was 3-8 in year one and improved to 7-6 and ended the year with a Military Bowl victory over Tulane. With Kyron Drones returning at quarterback, perhaps the Hokies can return to their former glory they achieved under Frank Beamer.
21
Kansas Jayhawks
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The 2024 success for the Kansas Jayhawks will depend on the health of quarterback Jalon Daniels. He missed most of the season with a lingering back issue but appears poised to make another run of it this season. Running back Devin Neal also returned to Lawrence to chase the elusive Big 12 championship.
22
Iowa Hawkeyes
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The Iowa Hawkeyes are known for their defense and punting the ball. They have been relied on for the last several years but with Brian Ferentz now out, can they join the 21st century offenses? Tim Lester returns to the collegiate landscape after one season in the NFL as a senior analyst. His offenses at Western Michigan were among the top 40 from 2018 to 2021.
23
Miami Hurricanes
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There is a bit of projection with the Miami Hurricanes landing at No. 23 on this preseason list. The team added one of the top quarterbacks from the transfer portal, Cam Ward, but is that enough to turn their misfortunes around? Head coach Mario Cristobal can ill afford a slow start in 2024 and they face off with the Florida Gators in Week 1 in what you can call the “Anxiety Bowl.”
24
Oklahoma State Cowboys
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The 2023 season started in the worst way possible with a demoralizing 33-7 loss at home to South Alabama in Week 3. They headed into the bye with a 2-2 record and didn’t look like a team ready to compete. However, eight straight wins put them in the Big 12 title game, and in 2024 they want to finish what they started. Alan Bowman and Ollie Gordon II return to lead the offense.
25
USC Trojans
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It was a letdown year for the USC Trojans in 2023 after watching their defense hemorrhage to the tune of 34.4 points per game and 432.8 total yards per game. The offense just couldn’t overcome the poor defensive play that ultimately cost Alex Grinch his job. D’Anton Lynn hopes to have much better success in 2024. The team also replaces their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback with redshirt junior Miller Moss, who has one start under his belt.
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Courtesy : https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/lists/college-football-coaches-poll-predictions-2024-preseason/