The 2024 college football preseason AP Poll has been released! My college football AP Poll reaction dives into the plummeting of the Michigan Wolverines, who dipped from the No. 1 defending champions to No. 9 ahead of the 2024 kickoff. Then, I rant about why Dabo Swinney and No. 14 Clemson continue to be overrated.
What are the 2024 AP Poll Preseason Rankings?
Some of these rankings are to be expected based on last season's performances. But, others come as a surprise based on where they fall. Take a look:
| 2024 AP Poll Ranking | 2023 Overall Record | Where They Ranked In Final AP Poll In 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Georgia | 13-1 | No. 4 |
| 2. Ohio State | 11-2 | No. 10 |
| 3. Oregon | 12-2 | No. 7 |
| 4. Texas | 12-2 | No. 3 |
| 5. Alabama | 12-2 | No. 5 |
| 6. Ole Miss | 11-2 | No. 9 |
| 7. Notre Dame | 10-3 | No. 14 |
| 8. Penn State | 10-3 | No. 13 |
| 9. Michigan | 15-0 | No. 1 |
| 10. Florida State | 13-1 | No. 6 |
| 11. Missouri | 11-2 | No. 8 |
| 12. Utah | 8-5 | Not Ranked |
| 13. LSU | 10-3 | No. 12 |
| 14. Clemson | 9-4 | No. 20 |
| 15. Tennessee | 9-4 | No. 17 |
| 16. Oklahoma | 10-3 | No. 15 |
| 17. Oklahoma State | 10-4 | No. 16 |
| 18. Kansas State | 9-4 | No. 18 |
| 19. Miami (FL) | 7-6 | Not Ranked |
| 20. Texas A&M | 7-6 | Not Ranked |
| 21. Arizona | 10-3 | No. 11 |
| 22. Kansas | 9-4 | No. 23 |
| 23. USC | 8-5 | Not Ranked |
| 24. NC State | 9-4 | No. 21 |
| 25. Iowa | 10-4 | No. 24 |
Only four teams that finished unranked last year cracked in the AP Poll's preseason rankings -- Utah, Miami, Texas A&M and USC. The Hurricanes and Aggies finished with the worst records, 7-6 SU, last season of all the programs that cracked into the Top 25.
With the conference realignment shaking things up, the SEC leads the preseason poll with nine programs featured. A member of the SEC has played in every CFP since 2014, the conference has appeared 12 times with a whopping 16-6 record and snagging six national championships.
michigan falls on preseason aP Poll
This is the first time in the CFP era that the defending champion isn't in the top five for preseason rankings. But, a glimpse at all futures odds, where the Wolverines are +3500 to win the championship and -180 to miss the playoffs, shows that this is the norm for No. 9 Michigan ahead of this year.
After losing Jim Harbaugh, starting QB JJ McCarthy and key offensive players like RB Blake Corum, the Wolverines are buckling up for a massive transition. Not to mention, the Big Ten has gotten tougher with threats like Oregon and USC joining.
In my Michigan season preview, I call a handful of losses for the group happening as early as Week 2 when Texas comes to the Big House. The Wolverines will continue to work their way slipping down the ladder of the AP Poll rankings.
stop believing in clemson!
Have we not learned our lesson? No. 14 Clemson will continue to disappoint. Last season, the Tigers entered the preseason poll ranked No. 9 and by Week 2 fell down 16 spots to barely sit at No. 25.
Cade Klubnik isn't seemingly capable of consistency. The Texas native saved his best performances last year against low-caliber groups like Charleston Southern, where he earned his season-high 75.7 completion percentage, 315 yards and four touchdowns.
The Tigers kick off their season against No. 1 Georgia, bound to be a loss. Then, they have to meet No. 24 NC State (Week 3) and No. 10 Florida State (Week 5) and I wouldn't put a sprinkle of upsets past their remaining unranked schedule.
Finishing 9-4 SU last season, its worst record since 2010, I know Clemson will be booted out of this ranking quickly -- why even bother putting them there in the first place?
notre dame is in a good spot
Ranked for the seventh straight season, I've been jumping on the Notre Dame bandwagon all offseason. Being an independent school during the first season of a conference realignment is a bonus.
With a win total set at 10 and favored to go OVER (-115), an easier schedule thanks to being a non-conference threat should help Marcus Freeman collect wins and stay steady within the AP Poll rankings throughout the season.
For the “Notre Dame is always overrated ever year” crowd:
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) August 12, 2024
Notre Dame’s recent preseason and postseason AP poll rankings.
• 2023: Started #13, finished #14
• 2022: Started #5, finished #18
• 2021: Started #9, finished #8
• 2020: Started #10, finished #5
• 2019: Started #9,… pic.twitter.com/rjvJNrmERH
