.png)
_edited_edited.png)
I submit a challenge to Phil Steele’s 2024 preseason top five. The guru of college football puts out his preview magazine every summer and I purchase said magazine and his digital packages because they are packed full of information and knowledge spanning almost 30 years. Among those informative pages, Steele submitted his preseason top 40. I respectfully disagree somewhat with his top five teams on that list.
No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide, Steele Ranking No. 7 (Steele No. 5: Penn State)
Legendary coach Nick Saban is gone and former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer replaced him. The Crimson Tide return 13 starters from a 12-2 team last season. They return seven on offense, including QB Jalen Milroe. Milroe can be a difference maker at the position and can make plays with his legs (see the 2023 LSU game) and his arm (see the game-winner on fourth down in the 2023 Iron Bowl).
In 2023, Milroe accounted for more than 3,300 yards of total offense and 35 touchdowns. Milroe should thrive in DeBoer’s high-octane offense. On defense, they return experience at all three levels, Tim Smith and Tim Keenan on the defensive line, LB Deontae Lawson, LB Jihad Campbell and S Malachi Moore.
I have Alabama at No. 5 because of all-around better play at the most important position on the field. Penn State has trouble winning the big games, has lost three of their last five bowl games, and the Nittany Lions have not beaten Ohio State since 2016.
No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs, Steele Ranking No. 1 (Steele No. 4: Texas)
The Bulldogs have a brutal road schedule, facing Texas, Alabama and Ole Miss away from Athens. Georgia returns 14 starters, split evenly on offense and defense. They return QB Carson Beck, who threw for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and just 6 INTs (in 417 pass attempts).
While they do return WR Dominic Lovett, WR Rara Thomas and TE Oscar Delp, the Bulldogs do not have a true deep threat on the perimeter, as evidenced by their 13-yard average per pass play. Steele has the Georgia wide receiver unit ranked No. 15 nationally, so they are not as “complete” a team as one might think. With that said, the Bulldogs still have enough talent to put them in a position to compete for their third national title in four years.
No. 3 Oregon Ducks, Steele No. 3: Oregon
Coach Dan Lanning has 17 starters returning from last year’s squad, and the Ducks are poised for a run at a national title. QB Dillon Gabriel transfers in from Oklahoma as a Heisman Trophy contender and will operate behind an offensive line that returns four starters. Oregon led the FBS in sacks allowed with a minuscule five.
Gabriel will throw to the No. 1 receiver unit in the country, led by WR Tez Johnson (86 catches, 1,182 yards and 10 TDs) and WR Evan Stewart (38 catches, 514 yards and 4 TDs at Texas A&M). Jordan James and his 11 rushing touchdowns also return.
On defense, the Ducks return nine starters from a unit that ranked No. 9 in scoring defense at 16 points per game and No. 11 in rushing defense, allowing just 102 yards on the ground. The Ducks host Ohio State and Washington and travel to Oregon State and Michigan.
No. 2. Texas Longhorns, Steele Ranking No. 4 (Steele No. 2: Ohio State)
The Longhorns have arguably the No. 1 quarterback in the country in Quinn Ewers. Ewers completed 69 percent of his passes and threw for 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns and 6 INTs, and will operate behind an experienced offensive line (121 career starts) that returns four starters. The receiver room consists of transfers Isaiah Bond (Alabama), Matthew Golden (Houston) and Silas Bolden (Oregon State). CJ Baxter returns to tote the rock after rushing for 659 yards and 5 touchdowns.
On defense, Texas returns eight starters, including LB Anthony Hill Jr. (67 tackles, 8 tackles for loss and 5 sacks), and DE Ethan Burke (41 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks). DE Trey Moore transfers in from UTSA as the 2023 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and racked up 45 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 1 INT and 1 forced fumble.
The Longhorns travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on the heavily depleted Michigan Wolverines in Week 2 and host Georgia on Oct. 19.
No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, Steele Ranking No. 2 (Phil Steele No. 1: Georgia)
The Buckeyes are loaded with returning talent and transfers. Ohio State returns RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Emuka Egbuka and three starters on the offensive line. QB Kyle McCord passed for more than 3,000 yards but was shown the door and he moved on to Syracuse. The inbound transfers include QB Will Howard (Kansas State), RB Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss), C Seth McLaughlin (Alabama) and S Caleb Down (Alabama).
Howard is a solid quarterback and game manager, and the two-headed monster of Henderson and Judkins combined for 2,084 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.
The Buckeyes return nine starters on a defense that ranked No. 3 in total defense (265 yards per game), No. 1 in pass defense (145 yards per game) and No. 2 in scoring defense (11 points allowed per game). The road schedule consists of games at Oregon and Penn State. And they host Michigan, the defending national champs and one of the most inexperienced teams in the FBS in 2024.
As we approach the 2024 season and an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, the rankings of these 12 teams will be more important than ever and could spark some controversy as the season progresses.
.png)
.png)