My Preseason Top 25. Teams 19-15
I’m realizing if I continue to do a daily countdown, the season will start before I finish so let’s expedite this.
#19 The NC State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack are consistently one of the top teams in the ACC and I think this year is no different. Obviously, they don’t have the same ceiling as a Miami or Clemson team but I think coaching and discipline are what makes NC State so good. They snagged transfer QB Grayson McCall in the portal and I expect him to carry this offense. New transfer TE Justin Joly should also play a big role this year. Defensively they’re returning about half of their 2023 production. I think this unit should be good overall.
#18 The Arizona Wildcats
Arizona has a top 5 QB/WR duo in college football this year. QB Noah Fafita did not enter the portal and instead decided to stay at Zona for another season. After a great year last year, look for him to have continued success, especially with new OC Dino Babers. WR Tetairoa McMillan was a 1400-yard receiver last season and he looks to explode once again. The Wildcats lost some key pieces on the offensive line, but I think the unit is still solid. Defensively they are returning some key starters headed up by LB Justin Flowe. I think Arizona is a serious Big 12 contender this year.
#17 The Oklahoma Sooners.
Oklahoma is a hard team to predict this season. There is a chance this squad could finish near the bottom of the SEC if they have a similar season to last year, however, they have all the talent in the world. QB Jackson Arnold should have a solid year as a starter this year. Gavin Sawchuk is the feature back in the offense after rushing for 700 yards on a 6-yard per carry clip. Defensively is where Oklahoma should excel. This unit returns 86% of their production from 2023- the third-best in the country. I expect Coach Venables to have this defense rocking in the SEC this season.
#16 The Oklahoma State Cowboys
It’s boom or bust this year for Oklahoma State. They return 21 of 22 starters this season- the second most in CFB. They have a super talented roster that has already played a ton of snaps together- something that bodes very well in CFB. The offense is headed up by Heisman favorite Ollie Gordon. Gordon has been productive year in and year out at OSU and looks to explode once again in 2024. QB Alan Bowman returns for his second straight year at Ok State and if he limits turnovers, this offense should be elite. I think they have everything they need to make a playoff run this year, it’s just a matter of execution now.
#15 The Clemson Tigers
Clemson had a disappointing 2023 finishing with under 10 wins for just the third time in the Dabo Sweeney era. I think after back-to-back missed playoffs for the Tigers, it’s safe to say Dabo is officially on the hot seat. Clemson of course did not bring in any transfers this offseason (perhaps another reason Dabo could be on the hot seat), but they do return 68% of their 2023 production. The ACC feels wide open this season with Florida State having a much more unproven roster than they did in 2023, and Clemson could very well take it. Cade Klubnik looks to continue to improve this season and hopes to carry this Clemson offense back up to the numbers were used to seeing. Defensively, like always Clemson looks to have a strong unit.
