It’s all eyes on new quarterback Jackson Arnold in Norman as the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for their opening season in the SEC. Oklahoma had a solid 2023 run, but a lot has changed with this program since. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel has transferred, offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby has taken over as head coach at Mississippi State and defensive coordinator Jeff Roof has also left the program. Amid all these unanswered questions, we do know that this season will be tough. The SEC is not a conference that you can just show up and dominate in your first season. 

Hugh Freeze’s first year on The Plains was quite disappointing. Is it time to run him out of Auburn? Not yet. Slight improvement can be expected this year. Coach Freeze has been putting in work over the off season retooling his staff and bringing in some legit recruits and transfers. Road games against Georgia, Missouri, Kentucky, and Alabama will prove difficult for the Tigers. A 9 win season for the first time in what feels like forever for Auburn fans is within reach. While Payton Thorne is likely to start at quarterback, Freeze has said that the competition for the spot is “wide open.” Auburn needs a strong leader on offense and there is a lot of doubt in Thorne’s ability to do that.

What’s to like:

The Tigers are in arguably the weakest of the Power 4 conferences.

Dabo Swinney is still your head coach and he has proven in the past that he knows what it takes to turn a program into champions.

Cade Klubnik will likely take another step as he has improved in each of the last 2 seasons at QB.

Last year’s leading rusher Phil Mafah decided to return for his senior season.

Your defense was uncharacteristically one of the best in the nation last year and has the potential to career that over.

If incoming transfer QB Riley Leonard comes back fully healthy, which he is expected to, he has the potential to be one of the best QBs in the country next season. He played extremely well in his time at Duke with less talent. 

Coach Marcus has consistently improved as a coach in his 2 full seasons as head coach. After losing his first game as the interim coach, Freeman won 9 games for the Irish in 2022, followed by 10 wins in 2023.

Retained key players like TE Mitchell Evans, who was 1st in 2023 team receptions and 2nd in yards, WR Jordan Faiser, who was 4th in reception yards as a freshman, and S Xavier Watts, who led the team in INT last season.

Has one of the easiest schedules among playoff caliber teams, the Irish has 6 home games and 2 neutral site games, allowing them to only play 4 on the road this season.

Tennessee retained Josh Heupel, one of the top coaches in the country. His wide split, tempo, balanced offensive attack has been very successful in Knoxville during his tenure.

This will be the first year with former #1 QB in the country Nico Iamaleava under center. He has played well in his limited action with a TD every 22.5 attempts, a 62% completion percentage, and a career 135.5 QBR.

Tennessee also kept last year’s leading receiver Squirrel White as he returns for his junior season.

Utah comes into the Big 12 as one of the most talented teams in the conference. They lost Cam Rising in Week One last season and still managed to get 8 wins.

Coach Kyle Whittingham is among the top coaches in college football and has shown that he has no problem leading the Utes in a conference change as he did in 2011. That season Utah left the Mountain west to join the Pac-10, making it the Pac-12. That season the Utes won 7 regular season games and the Sun Bowl.

Penn State has been able to put together 5 10-win seasons over the last 8 years. While 10 wins is attainable this year, this team wants more. A 10-2 record just might be enough for them to contend for a Big Ten title and a shot at the College Football Playoff in 2024. 

Expectations are high as Brian Kelly heads into his third year at LSU and the season opener against USC in Las Vegas will set the tone for their season. If they can beat USC, 9, maybe even 10 wins and a bowl appearance is well within reason. Kelly has done well getting homegrown talent as well as dipping into the transfer portal. It’s looking like LSU’s defense will be in much better shape heading into 2024 than last year.

College football in 2024 has changed and changed forever. From NIL, the transfer portal, roster churn, conference realignment and an expanded College Football Playoff; long gone are the days of the BCS and the old college football that we knew.

It’s a new era in college football and 2024 looks to be one of new brands, mixed with some blue bloods – lots of drama on and off the field and, oh yea – an expanded playoff.

Mississippi State has taken action this season in the transfer portal by grabbing WR Kevin Coleman and OT Jacoby Jackson. Quarterback Blake Shapen is coming into Mississippi State this season as a starting quarterback from Baylor. 

Grayson MCall finally hit the transfer portal and went from one Carolina to another. The Coastal Carolina transfer has put up massive numbers during his college career, and the Wolfpack hope that continues in 2024.

The Pack ranks fourth in the HG overall ACC power rankings as Dave Doeren continues to recruit well and put out a quality ball club at NC State.

Georgia missed a shot at a three-peat last year and were left out of the College Football Playoff, but things are far from over for the Bulldogs. The program has thrived under Kirby Smart and in the rapidly-changing landscape of college football, they have the potential to adapt and continue a winning tradition.

North Carolina has acquired solid talent from the transfer portal. Quarterback Max Johnson, running back Darwin Barlow, and Tight End Jake Johnson. All of these transfers will be factors on the field in 2024. Per the Hourglass, Tarheels ranks 28th nationally in recruiting. 

Michigan has a notoriously tough defense. Last year they ranked 1st nationally in defensive efficiency. If they keep a similar scheme in 2024, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten. Michigan has hired Wink Martindale as its new defensive coordinator. 

The Longhorns are BACK! Coming off their first ever playoff appearance this winter, Texas is gaining momentum at just the right time coming into the SEC.

Texas has one of best QBs in all of college football with Quinn Ewers returning for one more year.

Coach Steve Sarkisian has returned despite rumors of him replacing Nick Saban after the legend retired.

Of the top teams in the SEC, like Ole Miss, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Oklahoma, Texas has one the easiest schedules.

The Longhorns hit the portal hard, signing 8 transfers and ranking higher than Alabama and Georgia.

Ohio State has acquired solid talent from the transfer portal. Quarterback Will Howard, defensive back Caleb Downs, and running back Quinshon Judkins will be factors on the field in 2024. Per the Hourglass, the OSU ranks 7th nationally in recruiting. Former UCLA head coach Chip Kelly will be joining the program as offensive coordinator, adding to an already talented coaching staff.

Alabama has a winning tradition. 

Jalen Milroe has improved exponentially. Going into the 2023 season, Milroe was ranked 37th in the Power 5, he is now 9th per CFB Hourglass. 

Although Alabama has lost some top talent to the transfer portal, they still rank just above Texas and Georgia in recruiting.  

The Tide is ranked fifth in the HG Power 5 power rankings. Kalen Deboer is one of the best football coaches in the country, ranking at 4th in the 2024 HG coaching metrics. Deboer was also able to put Washington in the running for a national championship in 2023. 

Florida State has acquired a talented roster with some amazing players who are ready to make an impact on the field. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is a strong quarterback who can make accurate throws as well as leading his team down the field. Per the Hourglass, the FSU ranks 10th nationally in recruiting. 

The Oregon Ducks have many aspects about them that a person would like. One outstanding aspect being their explosive offense, as well as having a dynamic quarterback such as Dillon Gabriel. They also have a group of playmakers who can make big plays and put points on the board. 

Coach Prime has been busy in the portal yet again this offseason. He’s signed the 2nd most total commits, tied for 3rd most 4-star transfers, and is currently a top 5 ranked team in the portal for the second year in a row. While it’s not last year’s historic 51 transfers, it should still show signs of progress.