The 2024 college football season is one of drastic change across the entire landscape. The consolidation of teams has resulted in super conferences finally becoming a reality. And with the College Football Playoff tripling in size from four teams to 12, leagues like the Big Ten and SEC will expect to place multiple teams in the field on an annual basis.
Within this new playoff format is the chance for things to get really strange. Because the top four conference champions will be awarded a first-round bye, it's entirely possible for traditional blue bloods that normally expect to occupy one of the top two or three spots in the four-team CFP to fall all the way down to No. 6 or lower if they do not win their conference championship game. Conversely, programs that have been absent from the CFP in the past may find themselves with a top-four seeding.
The unveiling of the first 12-team CFP remains a few months away. For now, Our team of college football experts at CBS Sports gave their best, educated prediction on how the bracket will look -- and who will win it all. Additionally, our experts made their picks for the most overrated and underrated teams in the country, plus predictions for this year's national coach of the year and Heisman Trophy winner.
Expert picks for all of these categories can be found below as we head into Week 1 of the season.
Overrated Teams
Missouri
The Tigers took two big steps forward last season by going from six wins to 11 with a campaign capped by a Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State. Now comes the step back. The Tigers lost defensive coordinator Blake Baker to LSU and five draft picks from that side of the ball. While a prolific offense should have no problem putting up monster numbers against a weak schedule, Mizzou could be exposed if/when it has to face the SEC's best. -- David Cobb
Ole Miss
When I saw Ole Miss in the top 10 to start the season, I thought that was too high. Don't get me wrong, I think the Rebels will be a pretty good team, but I see them coming up short as a CFP contender. Their schedule gives them a chance to post a high number of wins, but even if their only losses are at LSU and home to Georgia, the competition for playoff spots and their relatively soft schedule will leave them out. I am not ready to trust the Rebels' defense to keep them out of the kind of shootouts they were able to win last season. -- Jerry Palm (Tom Fornelli, Chip Patterson)
Michigan
Michigan certainly deserves some reverence for what it accomplished last year, which is a big reason why it came in at No. 9 in the AP Top 25. But the Wolverines don't look like a traditional preseason top-10 team. They're replacing the coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and 18 starters that led them to that 15-0 record. On top of that, Michigan has to play three of the top four teams in that same AP poll. Even its Week 1 showdown against Fresno State can't be considered a true tune-up game with Texas looming the week after. It seems like it'll be an uphill battle for the Wolverines to maintain their top-10 ranking -- and thus a spot in the College Football Playoff -- like many preseason lookaheads have projected. -- Will Backus (Shehan Jeyarajah, Richard Johnson)
Underrated Teams
SMU
Call me crazy, but I don't think SMU's jump to the ACC is going to be much of one. Sonny Dykes and Rhett Lashlee have carefully built this program up to Power Four level. The Mustangs get Florida State at home. Their toughest road game is at Louisville a week later. No Clemson. Everybody has seemed to have dismissed that Lashlee has kept this thing cooking after Dykes' departure. Last year's 11-3 team that won the American was arguably SMU's best since the 1980s. Fourteen starters return to a program that finished in the top 11 in scoring offense and defense. Watch Miami transfer tailback Brashard Smith, who caught 69 passes in three years with the Hurricanes. Last year, he scored rushing, receiving and special teams touchdowns. -- Dodd
Tennessee
Quarterback remains the most important position in the sport, and I believe Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava has a chance to be the best one in the country. When you combine his skill set with a Tennessee offense that's always prolific, and then mix in a defense that could prove to be excellent itself, and you have the ingredients of a team that could surprise a lot of people. Don't be shocked if the Volunteers are in Atlanta playing for an SEC title come December. -- Fornelli
UCF
It shouldn't take too much imagination to picture how the pieces will come together for Gus Malzahn on offense. KJ Jefferson is the type of dynamic quarterback that Gus can thrive with, and the offensive backfield has real balance with 1,400-yard rusher R.J. Harvey back in the fold and former Toledo standout Peny Boone joining the running back room this summer. While I'm not picking the Knights to contend for a Big 12 title this year, I think they could finish the season in the mix for fifth place, and that's a few spots higher than the media poll from last month. -- Patterson
Playoff Predictions
With the expansion of the College Football Playoff, many experts believe the 2024 season will be one of unprecedented excitement. More teams will be in the running for a playoff spot, leading to a more unpredictable and thrilling season.
12-Team Playoff Predictions
Top Seeds
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Utah Utes
- Virginia Tech Hokies
At-Large Bids
- Oregon Ducks
- Texas Longhorns
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Mississippi Rebels
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Missouri Tigers
Automatic Bid (Group of 5)
- Boise State Broncos
First-Round Matchups
The first round of the playoffs will feature the following matchups:
- Boise State at Oregon
- Missouri at Texas
- Penn State at Alabama
- Mississippi at Notre Dame
Quarterfinals
The winners of each first-round matchup will advance to the quarterfinals. The following is a possible breakdown of the quarterfinals, according to Forde's predictions:
- Oregon vs. Virginia Tech
- Texas vs. Utah
- Alabama vs. Georgia
- Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Semifinals
The winners of each quarterfinal will advance to the semifinals, leading to the following possible matchups:
- Ohio State vs. Oregon
- Georgia vs. Texas
National Championship
The final matchup will be the battle for the national championship:
- Ohio State vs. Georgia
National Champion
Forde predicts the Ohio State Buckeyes will take home the national championship, avenging their loss to Georgia in 2022.
National Coach of the Year Predictions
- Chris Klieman, Kansas State: Dodd believes Klieman could lead the Wildcats to a national championship after a successful run at the FCS level.
- Josh Heupel, Tennessee: Fornelli sees Heupel's team exceeding expectations with a talented quarterback and a strong offense.
- Kalen DeBoer, Alabama: Patterson believes DeBoer, the new head coach of the Crimson Tide, could successfully navigate the pressure of the position and keep Alabama in the running for a national championship.
- Kyle Whittingham, Utah: Jeyarajah believes Whittingham's Utes could have their first 12-win season as a power-conference member and earn a top-four ranking in the College Football Playoff.
- Greg Schiano, Rutgers: Johnson believes Schiano, known for his ability to get the most out of his players, could lead Rutgers to an eight-win season.
- Dan Lanning, Oregon: Cobb believes Lanning, already showing success with the Ducks, will lead Oregon to a special season in the Big Ten.
- Kirby Smart, Georgia: Palm predicts Smart will lead Georgia to another national championship after missing the playoffs last season.
- Ryan Day, Ohio State: Backus expects Day to guide the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff National Championship.
Heisman Trophy Predictions
- Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tennessee: Fornelli believes Iamaleava could rewrite the record books at Tennessee and earn Heisman love.
- Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama: Jeyarajah (Patterson, Cobb) believes Milroe's potential could be unlocked by DeBoer, putting him in a strong position for the award.
- Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado: Johnson believes Hunter's dual-threat prowess could make him a standout player and a Heisman contender.
- Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon: Backus (Dodd, Palm) believes Gabriel's strong performance in a loaded Oregon offense could lead to a Heisman win.
Conclusion: College Football's New Era
The 2024 college football season marks a new era for the sport. With the expansion of the playoffs, more teams are in contention for a national championship, creating excitement and unpredictability. As the season unfolds, it will be fascinating to see how the new format impacts the sport and which teams emerge as the top contenders.
