10 College Football Predictions For 2024
After watching the Week 0 college football games, I can’t stop thinking about this upcoming season. The conference changes and playoff expansion are going to make this season unlike any other we’ve seen before. Add in the release of the College Football 25 game and the excitement heading into the season is unlike any other in recent memory. Thankfully, the wait is over. Week 1 will start this week and before we know it we’ll be in the midst of some heated division battles.
I wanted to quickly go over 10 Predictions I have for this season. As you all know, I’m not a fan of hot takes. So don’t view these predictions as hot takes for clicks, these are genuinely what I believe will happen in the 2024 season. Forewarning, since the College Football Playoff was expanded to 12 this season, a handful of my predictions are Playoff related. So if you are already sick of Playoff talk, consider yourself warned. I am excited to revisit these at the end of the season and see how our predictions fared. Go easy on me if these come back wrong, but please enjoy for now and let’s hope my crystal ball for the 2024 season was working its magic.
Ohio State ends losing streak to Michigan
The Wolverines have beaten their hated rivals three years in a row. These games have been among the most anticipated games of each season with Ohio State and Ryan Day coming out on the wrong side of history. I believe that is going to change this year. Ohio State has a stacked roster and is ready to turn the tides in 2024. Per the normal at Ohio State they are absolutely loaded at the skill positions due to a plethora of wide receiver recruits and the addition of Quinshon Judkins via the transfer portal. Defensively the Buckeyes return several key performers from last season and added Caleb Downs. The Buckeyes have one of the most complete teams in all of college football. I have mixed feelings on transfer quarterback Will Howard, but he proved at Kansas State that he is a more than capable signal caller. I expect Ohio State to expand on Howard’s strengths, dominate in the trenches, and take advantage of a Michigan team that lost a lot of their production from 2023 to end their losing skid to the Wolverines.
2 or more 3 loss teams make CFB playoff
This prediction honestly sounds more shocking than it truly is. I went back and reviewed the final season rankings over the past couple of seasons and at least one 3 loss team would have made the playoff over the past few years. If we look back to the prior format of the College Football Playoff, if you lost 2 games you were essentially eliminated immediately and if you had three losses there was a 0% chance. Now almost all Power 5 teams with 2 losses will make the playoffs and a handful of 3 loss teams will make it as well. Another change that makes this point even more relevant is the conference shake up that is happening in college football. Teams in the Big 10 and SEC might have 3 losses but still clearly be one of the best 12 teams in the country. While I don’t see a 3 loss team winning the playoff anytime soon, everyone should be prepared to see those teams playing in playoff games this season.
A newcomer wins a championship in their new conference
As I said above, the movement in the conferences is really shaking up the conference landscape. As we are all aware, there were major changes across the board. There were some college football powerhouses heading to new conferences that each have a chance of making major noise. The ACC is the only Power 4 conference that is exempt from this as I don’t see any of their new teams making a huge splash. For the Big 12, I think Utah and Arizona both have a shot. The Big 12 doesn’t have any clear cut favorite so it’s open season and both the Wildcats and Utes bring back some huge performers from last season. In the SEC you have Texas and Oklahoma looking to surprise some people in their new conference. Both teams have a chance due to the talent they have but I think Texas is the team in the SEC to potentially win. Finally, the Big 10 has several teams that were added to it, but all eyes are on the Oregon Ducks as they are one of the best teams in the country and will be in both Big 10 and National Championship contention this year. I’m excited to see what happens when the old school teams face the newcomers in their conference this season.
Notre Dame makes the CFB playoff
This might not be popular because the general public are not fans of the Fighting Irish. Despite that, Notre Dame can quite possibly make the 12 team playoff this year. The first reason is due to the talent of this Notre Dame roster. More specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Star performers Xavier Watts, Howard Cross, and Benjamin Morrison all returned for the Irish on defense. Notre Dame looks to have playmakers at all levels defensively to make life miserable for opposing offenses. This might be one of the best defenses they’ve had in recent years, but the X-Factor this year will be their offense. Look at their games versus Ohio State the past two years as prime examples where the offense let the defense down. The Duke transfer, Riley Leonard, will lead a talented group of pass catchers that look to improve where the Irish have lacked in recent years. Leonard’s ability to run and pass will make him a sneaky Heisman contender and a problem for opposing defenses. Notre Dame also has a friendly schedule as they only play 3 teams ranked in the preseason Top 25. This perfect storm could lead Notre Dame to a playoff birth for the first time in the Marcus Freeman Era.
Colorado does not make a bowl game
I normally stray away from being a hater on here, but I think Colorado will struggle again this year. There is certainly talent there that will be enjoyable to watch. Both Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter have the potential to be lottery picks this season. Sanders is a dynamic threat that can make any throw on the field, while Travis Hunter is a throwback player as he plays on both sides of the ball. Hunter is truly unlike anything we’ve seen in recent memory talent wise, with the film to match. I just don’t think the rest of the team will be able to perform to that of a winning record. Colorado also did not do themselves any favors with their schedule this season. They open the season against Division II powerhouse North Dakota State and then play road games against both Nebraska and Colorado St. While I don’t think they run through the first three games winless, I also think it would be tough for them to go 3-0. They also have a tough conference schedule in Big 12 terms to go along with the target that Coach Deion and his players have put on their back. At the end of the day, I truly hope I’m wrong. However, I just don’t see this Colorado team winning 6 games, much less competing for a National Championship.
ACC and Big 12 only get one bid in the CFB Playoff
I hope you’re not tired of me talking about the College Football Playoff this year because yes, I have more to say. The change is exciting for everyone but I think the Big 12 and ACC may get left out of the party. Obviously the conference championship from both conferences will get an automatic bid and a first round bye in the playoff. However, I think that will be the only team that each conference gets. If we look at last year’s Big 12 and ACC championship games, I don’t think Oklahoma St. or Louisville would have made the 2023 College Football playoff. Both conferences have several teams with the potential to make the playoff, but I think both conferences lack elite teams. I think both conferences will almost cannibalize each other to the point where only the conference champion is left standing. Unfortunately for these conferences, if my prediction about Notre Dame making the playoff is correct, that would be another spot taken up in the playoff bracket. This is another one where I would love to be wrong. The SEC and Big 10 have incredible teams, but I would prefer to see a balance of conferences in the first edition of the College Football Playoff. I just think as things stand, the committee will favor the two more notables conferences.
A running back is a finalist in the Heisman voting
I think this is a year that a running back finally gets their deserved recognition. I looked at the Top 3 finalists in recent years and there has been a long drought for the running back position. No running back has been a finalist since Bryce Love was 2nd in 2017 and no running back has won the Heisman since Derrick Henry in 2015. Across both college football and the NFL, the running back position is being criminally undervalued. While a star in the position winning the Heisman might be a long shot, I do believe one will be invited to New York for the ceremony. Of course new stars come out of nowhere each year, but I think running backs will benefit from a quarterback class with no clear stars. A handful of running backs have really caught my eye to be Heisman finalists this season. These four ball carriers are Ollie Gordon (Oklahoma State), Omarion Hampton (North Carolina), Devin Neal (Kansas), and Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State). All four of these player’s teams have high hopes for the season ahead. If one of these backs can have a Heisman-level performance in a big game, that could springboard them into the Heisman conversation. We all admire the quarterback position, but we can’t forget how important an elite running back is. I really hope the Heisman committee starts giving the position some love.
Ole Miss makes the CFB playoff
This is a team that I really love, the Rebels. Ole Miss hit the portal hard this offseason and added some of the highest profile players. Most notably Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen getting added to the defensive side of the ball. The Rebels have consistently had an elite offense since Lane Kiffin became their head coach. Adding some Dawgs to the defensive side of the ball should only increase their ability to compete in a competitive SEC this season. On offense Jaxson Dart is another sneaky Heisman contender that will lead the Rebels into their 2024 season. They also have several key pass catchers returning to help make life easy for Dart. The SEC will be no picnic for Ole Miss, but I have confidence in this year’s squad. As already stated, Kiffin always has a dynamic offense that will be among the best in the SEC. If the defense can play smart and timely football while creating turnovers, it’ll make Ole Miss a very hard team to beat.
Dillon Gabriel wins the Heisman
The former UCF Knight and Oklahoma Sooner is currently the Heisman favorite. So forgive me for choosing the lame and obvious pick, but I think Gabriel is set up to be Oregon’s first Heisman winner since Marcus Mariota in 2014. Gabriel has been a productive player since his Freshman year at UCF and that is likely to continue to with Oregon. Dillon Gabriel plays smart football, can make every throw, and can also extend plays with his legs. Not to mention the fact that Oregon almost always has an explosive offense and he has great weapons surrounding him. Both receivers in Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart are dynamic on the outside, while Jordan James returns in the lead running back role. I expect the Ducks to take the Big 10 by storm this season and Gabriel is a massive part of that. His experience is incredibly valuable to a team going to a new conference with a very different play style to the Ducks’ former conference, the PAC 12. There is no question that Gabriel will play smart, efficient, exciting, and explosive football this season. I believe Dillon Gabriel will win the Heisman unless someone unexpected bursts onto the scene to steal it from him.
Georgia wins National Championship
Georgia is very close to solidifying themselves as the dominant team of the 2020s. It is still relatively early in the decade to give them that title, but the Bulldogs will be attacking this season to claim that throne. Georgia ran the table during the 2023 regular season but then lost to a talented Alabama team in the SEC Championship Game. This loss cost them a CFB Playoff birth even though I think the Bulldogs were the best team in the country. However, Georgia will come into this season with renewed energy and vengeance. The Bulldogs return starter Carson Beck to lead an offense that added explosive running back Trevor Etienne via the Transfer Portal. They are still coached by defensive guru Kirby Smart, who looks to have another elite defense on his hands. Malaki Starks returns to the defense and looks to be the next of a long line of 1st Round picks for Georgia. They will be battle tested early in the SEC and the program knows what it takes to win a National Championship. I think they’ll block out all the noise from a disappointing 2023 ending and a tumultuous offseason to dominate this season.
There are my predictions for the upcoming season. One of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory will bring a lot of excitement, but also presents many opportunities for unknown variables to change the game. When the end of the season comes around, we’ll see whether I can brag about my predictions or if I’ll have to eat my words. For now, we’ll just enjoy the long awaited return of college football season. Unfortunately, the season always goes by way too fast. So enjoy every Saturday College Gameday, weeknight MACtion, and all the iconic moments that college football gives us. To put a spin on a quote from our good friend Ferris Bueller, “Football season moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”