1. Ohio State: What an offseason
I love what the Buckeyes have done this offseason. Many stud players return, most notably JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, TreVeyon Henderson and Emeka Egbuka. Ryan Day struck gold in the portal with Alabama safety Caleb Downs and Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins. He also has the nation’s best recruit, WR Jeremiah Smith, a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder who has folks inside the program thinking he’s the most gifted wideout the Buckeyes have ever had. Obviously a huge statement given the NFL talent they’ve developed in the past decade.
The QB spot is a concern. The hunch here is that ex-Kansas State QB Will Howard, a smart, experienced leader, will be the starter. This team is so talented; the Buckeyes don’t need Howard to be CJ Stroud, but he’s a good enough running threat to keep defenses honest, and he should be able to exploit the talent around him. Expect a more physical Buckeyes attack in 2024 as OSU reclaims the top spot in the Big Ten. The schedule is challenging, especially with a trip to Oregon right after hosting a physical Iowa team and a trip to Penn State shortly thereafter. Ohio State hosts Michigan this year. I’ll be surprised if the Buckeyes don’t end the streak this year. (Then again, I did think they’d beat Michigan the last time the Wolverines came to Columbus.)
2. Georgia: A murderous schedule, but too talented and too deep to not make a go
The Bulldogs missed the CFP last year and took it out on a depleted FSU team in the Orange Bowl. Their schedule is one of the hardest in the country: road trips to Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss and Kentucky, which has beaten four Top-25 teams at home in the past three years. They host a good Tennessee team and open the season with a neutral-site matchup against Clemson. But the Bulldogs return 16 starters, including Mykel Williams and Malaki Starks, plus a potential top-10 pick at QB in Carson Beck. Georgia added a big playmaking WR from Miami in Colbie Young. Georgia is too deep and too talented not to make it deep into the postseason.
3. Florida State: Ready to reload with a chip on its shoulder
Even with a ton of guys gone to the NFL, Mike Norvell has a squad ready to reload and make the expanded postseason — especially after
last season’s drama. Only eight starters return, but the buzz inside the program is high about how ready some of the new starters are to break out. Patrick Payton leads a very talented defensive front and has Marvin Jones Jr., the Georgia transfer, across from him; I’m told he’s ready to have a monster season. Miami transfer Darrell Jackson is a massive presence. Watch out for CB Azareye’h Thomas, who could make a run at All-American honors.
The big question: How potent will DJ Uiagalelei be? He’s back in the ACC after making some strides at Oregon State. His ability to run should fit well in Norvell’s system. Transfers Malik Benson and Roydell Williams (both from Alabama) and Jaylin Lucas (Indiana) will add a spark. The Noles get Clemson at home and have trips to Miami and Notre Dame, and also will play a good Memphis team after a bye. A 10-2 run sounds about right, unless DJ U takes another big step.
4. Utah: A return to form
Last year’s Utes were gutted by injury, notably with QB Cam Rising, all-conference TE Brant Kuithe and versatile back Micah Bernard. All are back; Rising — entering his seventh season — is one of the best QBs in the country. Dorian Singer, who put up big numbers in 2022 for Arizona, has transferred in from USC. Singer’s not a burner but he has terrific ball skills and should be a good addition. The defense, even without stars Jonah Elliss and Cole Bishop, should still be one of the best in the Big 12. The Utes don’t play two of the Big 12’s top teams, Kansas State and Kansas — but they do visit Oklahoma State and UCF. But this very seasoned team led by Rising should handle the road well.
5. Texas: Don’t be surprised
The Longhorns came within one play of making the title game last year. Don’t be surprised if they get there this season. Quinn Ewers will continue to blossom in Steve Sarkisian’s system. Texas did lose two elite wideouts, but added a bunch of talent in the portal in Oregon State’s Silas Bolden, Alabama’s Isaiah Bond and Houston’s Matthew Golden. DeAndre Moore, Johntay Cook and Ryan Wingo are all gifted young receivers.
Texas will miss the talented interior DT combo of Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat, but Texas’ pass rush on the edge will be even better with the arrival of former UTSA star Trey Moore, who had 14 sacks in 2023 and has generated a lot of buzz inside the program. The schedule is interesting early with a trip to a reloading Michigan with a still-nasty defense. Texas plays Oklahoma and Georgia back-to-back.
6. Oregon: Best of the Big Ten’s newcomers
The Ducks are the most talented of the four Pac-12 additions to the Big Ten. Incoming QB Dillon Gabriel should be a great fit in offensive coordinator Will Stein’s system. Gabriel’s really accurate, has a quick trigger and can do some damage with his wheels. Oregon added talented Texas A&M transfer Evan Stewart to join Tez Johnson, in addition to adding Washington CB Jabbar Muhammad. The Ducks get Ohio State in Autzen before visiting Michigan and Wisconsin; they have a very good shot of going at least 11-1 in the regular season.
7. Ole Miss: Key returners and great portal additions
The Rebels capped an 11-win season with a No. 9 finish and return a lot of key pieces, led by QB Jaxson Dart. He’s got first-round talent if he can continue his growth, especially in taking care of the football. Ole Miss added a bunch of beef on both lines from the portal, nabbing, among others, Texas A&M’s Walter Nolen and Florida’s Princely Umanmielen on the D-line and Washington’s Nate Kalepo and Julius Buelow on the O-line. Ole Miss visits LSU and Florida and should be favored in both. It gets a week off before Oklahoma comes to town; Georgia plays in Oxford as well. A 10-2 season seems very realistic.
