College Football Rankings 2024: Way-too-early Top 25 projections for next season
- Michigan not in the Top 5 after national championship
- Trio of SEC powers vie for Top 3 in the rankings
- Oregon, Ole Miss look to crash the party in Top 10
College football rankings 2024, Early Top 25 projections: No. 6-5
6. Alabama Crimson Tide (2023 Record: 12-2)
Well, didn't see that coming. Two days after the conclusion of the national championship bout, Nick Saban has ended his legendary career, at Alabama and otherwise, and the 72-year-old icon is retiring. That necessitates an update in our way-too-early Top 25 with Alabama previously at No. 3 and now dropping to No. 6.
Just to be frank, ranking Alabama that high was largely due to the respect that I have for Saban and the consistency he's shown in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide are going to hire another stud, of that I have no doubt. But it's still a replacement and adds another element of unknown to a roster that, frankly, I'm not fully convinced is going to be up to Bama standards.
For all of the strides that Jalen Milroe made throughout the year, he was somewhat exposed in the Rose Bowl loss to Michigan. With the ramped-up SEC schedule, that could be a big issue if he doesn’t take a step forward. Meanwhile, the skill positions will likely still be unproven, though the upside of Justice Haynes at running back is enticing, and the offensive line will need a ton of work to improve. Throw in some big defensive losses and things are less certain than some seem to believe. Without Saban, that could be magnified tenfold.
5. Michigan Wolverines (2023 Record: 15-0)
There are going to be a ton of unknowns with Michigan for at least some time as they look ahead to the 2024 season. Jim Harbaugh continues to flirt with another trip to the NFL head coaching ranks, many expect J.J. McCarthy to be gone for the 2024 NFL Draft, and this team could lose a dozen or more draft picks overall when it’s all said and done.
For now, though, we’re going to assume that Harbaugh stays and you have to believe that what’s been built in Ann Arbor is wholly sustainable. Quarterback is a question mark, especially since we haven’t seen Michigan really hit the portal yet, but the defense will replenish its talent with more studs in a strong scheme and the Wolverines should compete well in the new Big Ten.