The college football season is set to begin in just under two weeks. With major conference realignment happening this offseason along with an expanded College Football Playoff, it is safe to say the 2024 season is highly anticipated. Along with that anticipation, people were wondering who the biggest teams to watch would be entering this season. Now, the Associated Press has revealed their preseason Top 25.
Georgia Tops Preseason Poll, Michigan Ranked 9th
Let’s start with two of the most notable college football programs in the country. This year, it is Georgia who will start out on top. However, they will have an early test to prove they deserve that ranking, as they take on Clemson in the first week of the season.
Georgia won the national championship in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Then, last year, they did not make the playoffs despite having just one loss the entire season. That loss came in the SEC Championship, where they lost to Alabama.
As for Michigan, they start the season ranked ninth in the country. They are the defending national champions and lost notable personnel such as QB J.J. McCarthy and head coach Jim Harbaugh. On top of this, the school received a three-year probation due to violations committed during COVID-19 protocol.
SEC Continues to Dominate Preseason Poll
To no one’s surprise, the SEC once again makes its presence known in the preseason poll. Of 25 teams to receive a ranking, nine of them come from the SEC. As mentioned above, Georgia tops the poll to represent the SEC. Here is the full list of teams in the Top 25 and their ranking:
- Georgia (1)
- Texas (4)
- Alabama (5)
- Ole Miss (6)
- Missouri (11)
- LSU (13)
- Tennessee (15)
- Oklahoma (16)
- Texas A&M (20)
Other Notable Rankings
So, what else jumped out in the preseason poll? Well, the new Big Ten wasted no time jumping out in front with some elite teams. Ohio State received the #2 ranking and Oregon received the #3 ranking respectively.
Florida State will also be a team to keep an eye on. Despite having an undefeated regular season last year, the Seminoles still ended up missing the playoffs. This year, they start with the #10 ranking.
Utah is one of five teams to represent the new Big 12 in the Top 25. They will start the year off with the #12 ranking.
One thing missing from these rankings is Group of Five representation. Not one team from those five conferences is starting this season ranked. We will have to see how that changes throughout the season.
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