While Michigan and Washington pursued a national championship, most of the sport spent the last five weeks reshaping their 2024 rosters. My first ranking simply judges who comes and goes. I wasn't trying to predict season records.
1. Georgia (13-1 in 2023)
Georgia will once again be under heavy pressure, particularly on defense. The entire front seven that started the Orange Bowl is back, led by defensive linemen Mykel Williams and Nazir Stackhouse as well as linebacker Smael Mondon and defensive back Malaki Starks.
Quarterback Carson Beck shined in his first year as a starter. Georgia loses star tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Ladd McConkey but returns WR Dominic Lovett and TE Oscar Delp. Kirby Smart added Florida running back Trevor Etienne, Miami WR Colbie Young and Vanderbilt WR London Humphreys.
Star QB Jalen Milroe returns, along with WRs Isaiah Bond and Kobe Prentice and TEs CJ Dippre and Amari Niblack. Even if RB Jase McClellan turns pro, rookie Justice Haynes is ready for his moment. Three O-line starters return, but the unit needs improvement.
The defense loses OLBs Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell and cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, but freshman safety Caleb Downs was sensational and LBs Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell are expected back. The secondary adds USC CB Domani Jackson.
Dan Lanning brought in the Portal's top QB, Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma, to replace Bo Nix. Star WR Troy Franklin is heading to the NFL, but Tez Johnson (1,182 yards) and Traeshon Holden are returning. No more RB Bucky Irving, but Division II All-American Jay Harris joins Jordan James. Left tackle Josh Conerly Jr. leads one of the best offensive lines in the country.
The defense loses some big names, but defensive linemen Jordan Burch, LB Jeffrey Bassa and DB Tysheem Johnson return, as do promising freshman pass rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti.
GO DEEPER
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Since the Cotton Bowl, Ryan Day has signed veteran Kansas State QB Will Howard to replace Kyle McCord, who transferred to Syracuse; star Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins (2,725 yards in two seasons); and Alabama OL Seth McLaughlin. Even with Marvin Harrison Jr. explaining it, this is a strong receiver group with Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate and three former five-stars.
The Buckeyes' top-five defense could be even stronger. Defensive end Jack Sawyer, DT Tyleik Williams and DBs Lathan Ransom have announced their returns, and DE JT Tuimoloau, CB Denzel Burke and DB Jordan Hancock could do the same.
Howard will replace Kyle McCord, who will play at Syracuse next season. (Scott Sewell/USA Today)
Assuming QB Quinn Ewers returns, Texas will field another potent offense with RBs CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue and a strong O-line. Houston transfer WR Matthew Golden will help soften the blow if Adonai Mitchell declares for the draft along with Xavier Worthy.
Standout DTs T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy are moving on, but UTSA transfer Trey Moore (14 sacks last season) joins Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke as edge rushers. LB Anthony Hill Jr. shined as a freshman. Transfer S Andrew Mukuba made 31 starts at Clemson.
6. Michigan (15-0)
Consider these a placeholder rankings given the uncertainty surrounding Jim Harbaugh and about a dozen players with NFL decisions. For now, let's assume QB JJ McCarthy, RB Blake Corum and possibly RB Donovan Edwards leave. Michigan will also lose at least four O-line starters.
Star DB Mike Sainristil and LB Michael Barrett are gone, while DT Kris Jenkins and possibly LB Junior Colson will turn pro. But the defense should still be excellent behind CB Will Johnson, DT Mason Graham, LB Ernest Hausmann and S Rod Moore.
7. Washington (14-1)
Will Rogers, a four-year starter at Mississippi State, has the unenviable task of replacing Heisman runner-up Michael Penix Jr. Star WR Rome Odunze is expected to turn pro, as are Jalen McMillan and Ja'Lynn Polk. Next up are sophomore Germie Bernard and Cal transfer Jeremiah Hunter (731 yards). Standout LT Troy Fautanu and possibly RT Roger Rosengarten could also turn pro.
The defense was stacked and star DE Bralen Trice is a projected first-rounder, but LB Carson Bruener and CB Elijah Jackson are expected to be back.
8. Ole Miss (11-2)
Quarterback Jaxson Dart, WRs Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins, and TE Caden Prieskorn headline a likely College Football Playoff contender. Star RB Quinshon Judkins was a surprise portal entry, but Ulysses Bentley IV will be back.
Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin has called up proven defensive starters, adding DL Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), Princely Umanmielen (Florida) and Tyler Baron (Tennessee), as well as CB Decamerion Richardson (Mississippi State) and Key Lawrence (Oklahoma) with returning players like the D -Linemen Jared Ivey and JJ Pegues.
The Irish should return much of their top-five defense, led by All-American S Xavier Watts, DT Howard Cross and CB Benjamin Morrison. Marcus Freeman has had some big success on offense, gaining LSU (and former Notre Dame) offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, Duke QB Riley Leonard and FIU WR Kris Mitchell (1,118 yards).
Running back Audric Estime is a big loss, but Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love shined as freshmen.
10. Clemson (9-4)
The Tigers, who finished the year with a five-game winning streak, lose RB Will Shipley but bring back QB Cade Klubnik, RB Phil Mafah, WRs Tyler Brown and Antonio Williams and most of the O-line. Star LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. turned pro, but Barrett Carter returned. Freshman All-Americans TJ Parker and Peter Woods showed up on the D-line. Safeties RJ Mickens and Khalil Barnes lead the secondary.
11. Utah (8-5)
Injuries doomed the Utes in 2023. Quarterback Cam Rising, RB Micah Bernard, WR Mycah Pittman and TE Brant Kuithe are all likely to return after missing most or all of the season. Kyle Whittingham added Idaho RB Anthony Woods (1,131 yards, 16 TDs) and UCLA TE Carsen Ryan. Most O-lines return.
The defense should return eight starters, led by LBs Levani Damuni and Karene Reid. UTEP DE Kanious Vaughn and Georgia Tech CB Kenan Johnson could fill holes.
The Big 12 runners-up welcome back virtually their entire offense — Doak Walker RB Ollie Gordon II (1,732 yards), QB Alan Bowman (granted a seventh season), top WRs Brennan Presley and Rashod Owens and all five O-line starters . Oklahoma State needs to improve its 89th-ranked scoring defense. All-Big 12 LBs Collin Oliver and Nick Martin (140 tackles) return and UTEP CB Kobe Hylton was a nice addition.
What does the 12-man field look like in these rankings? Remember, first round games will be played on the campus of the higher seeds.
After their best season in 25 years, the Wildcats are bringing back QB Noah Fifita, star WR Tetairoa McMillan (1,402 yards) and top RB Jonah Coleman. Stud LT Jordan Morgan turned pro, but the other four O-line starters return. Jedd Fisch has to replace DC Johnny Nansen, but the defense returns most of its linebackers and secondary. Fisch also added UC Davis DT Chubba Maae.
Five-star QB Nico Iamaleava had a promising first start in the Citrus Bowl, as did RB Dylan Sampson (20 carries, 133 yards vs. Iowa). WRs Squirrel White and Bru McCoy, who missed most of last season, return, as does C Cooper Mays. All-SEC DE James Pearce Jr. (10 sacks), LBs Keenan Pili and Elijah Herring lead the defensive front and DE Tire West flashed in the bowl. Oregon State CB Jermod McCoy is helping a depleted secondary.
Jackson Arnold moved up to QB1 in the bowl game. Running back Gavin Sawchuk returns, as do WRs Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq and Andrel Anthony, along with All-Big Ten Purdue WR Deion Burks. Transfer O-linemen Spencer Brown (Michigan State), Michael Tarquin (Florida/USC) and Febechi Nwaiwu (North Texas) are all experienced starters. New DC Zac Alley will inherit two All-Americans, LB Danny Stutsman and S Billy Bowman, as well as DE Ethan Downs and CB Woodi Washington.
Louisville loses QB Jack Plummer, star RB Jawhar Jordan and top WR Jamari Thrash, but Jeff Brohm has already acquired a new QB1, Tyler Shough (Texas Tech). He was also named MAC Offensive Player of the Year: RB Peny Boone (Toledo), RB Don Chaney Jr. (Miami), WR Caullin Lacy (South Alabama) and WR Ja'Corey Brooks (Alabama). The defense returns All-American DE Ashton Gillotte, DE Mason Reiger and LB TJ Quinn. Brohm added All-Ivy League DT Thor Griffith (Harvard) and Tennessee S Tamarion McDonald.
Jalon Daniels returns to Kansas, as does most of the Jayhawks' offense. (Jay Biggerstaff/Getty)
The Jayhawks should be legitimate Big 12 contenders behind star QB Jalon Daniels after missing most of last season. Running back Devin Neal (two-time 1,000-yard back) and backfield mate Daniel Hishaw Jr. return. The O-line needs some retooling. Corners Cobee Bryant, a first-team All-Big 12 pick, and Mello Dotson lead an experienced secondary. But Kansas needs to improve its 89th-ranked rushing defense.
Despite 10 wins, Penn State's season was disappointing. Quarterback Drew Allar needs to take a big leap under new OC Andy Kotelnicki. Running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen are entering their third season. Ohio State WR Julian Fleming was a huge success. New defensive coordinator Tom Allen will have to replace numerous big names like DE Chop Robinson and CB Kalen King, but LBs Abdul Carter and Kobe King, DT Dvon Ellies and CB Cam Miller are returning.
FSU could take a significant step backwards with nearly all of its top 2023 players headed to the NFL. Former Clemson and Oregon State starter DJ Uiagalelei is the new QB1. All-ACC OL Darius Washington is a key piece. Lawrance Toafili will be the top defender. Young WRs need to emerge. Defensive tackle Joshua Farmer, DB Shyheim Brown and CB Fentrell Cypress II lead a defense that is losing stars Jared Verse, Kalen DeLoach and Braden Fiske.
GO DEEPER
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20. LSU (10-3)
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier takes over after a strong bowl game. Star WRs Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. are NFL-bound, but Kyren Lacy and Mississippi State pickup Zavion Thomas are proven, as is TE Mason Taylor. Running back Logan Diggs has entered the portal. New DC Blake Baker must revitalize a unit that ranked 81st nationally. He will work with LBs Harold Perkins Jr. and Greg Penn as well as S Major Burns.
Quarterback Brady Cook and WR Luther Burden III return, but All-American RB Cody Schrader is a big loss. Eli Drinkwitz picked up Georgia State RB Marcus Carroll (1,350 yards) and Appalachian State RB Nate Noel. All-SEC LT Javon Foster is gone, but the O-line has experience. The defense loses several key pieces: DE Darius Robinson, LB Ty'Ron Hopper and CB Kris Abrams-Draine. Miami LB Corey Flagg Jr. adds 24 career starts.
22. Iowa (10-4)
As Kirk Ferentz sets out to revitalize his woeful offense, he brings back QB Cade McNamara and TE Luke Lachey from injuries, followed by RB Leshon Williams (821 yards) and the entire O-line. He needs to add some WRs. The Hawkeyes' stingy defense loses All-American DB Cooper DeJean, but gets back LB Jay Higgins (171 tackles), DE Deontae Craig, DT Yahya Black and S Sebastian Castro. Punter Tory Taylor is a notable loss.
The young Cyclones went 6-3 in Big 12 play, with ranked wins over Oklahoma State and K-State, and are expected to return 18 starters. Quarterback Rocco Becht, RB Abu Sama III and TE Benjamin Brahmer stood out as newcomers. Top WRs Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel return, as do all five O-line starters. Iowa State's league-leading defense returns All-Big 12 safeties Jeremiah Cooper and Beau Freyler as well as the entire two-deep forward line.
24. Kansas State (9-4)
The Avery Johnson era began with K-State's bowl win over NC State, now under new OC Matt Wells. The former top-100 recruit takes over an offense that returns RB DJ Giddens (1,226 yards) and WR Jayce Brown. North Dakota T Easton Kilty could bolster an O-line and replace four starters. All-Big 12 S Kobe Savage transferred to Oregon, but standout LB Austin Moore and S Marques Sigle (leading tackler) return.
The Mountaineers were one of the most surprising performers of the season, fielding a top-30 offense. Quarterback Garrett Greene, top RBs Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson, TE Kole Taylor and three O-line starters return. The defense will have to replace six starters, led by CB Beanie Bishop Jr., but will get back S Anthony Wilson (80 tackles) and LB Trey Lathan (injured). Cornerback Montre Miller, a former transfer from Kent State, was granted a seventh year.
Narrowly missed: NC State, USC, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech
Mandel's best Group of 5 team: Freedom
(Top photo: Nick Tre. Smith / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)