The preseason US LBM college football coaches poll is out. The initial Top 25 for this year is dominated by teams from the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference, but there is also strong representation from the Big 12.
With all of the uncertainty and change entering this season, it’s worth analyzing the schools that find themselves starting in the rankings. What are the strengths and potential trouble spots ahead for the contenders? Who are the potential standouts worth keeping an eye on?
Here are season outlooks for all of the teams that begin their campaigns in the preseason poll:
1. Georgia (13-1)
Points: 1,364 (46 first-place votes). Previous ranking: 3. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Clemson (Atlanta)
A run for a historic three-peat ended in the SEC championship game last season. Now the Bulldogs will try to get back to the top of the mountain with one of the nation’s top rosters. QB Carson Beck should be a Heisman contender and will have the advantage of a receiving group that includes Dominic Lovett and Miami (Fla.) transfer Colbie Young. Great defense is a constant for Kirby Smart’s team, and this year will be no exception with DL Mykel Williams, LB Smael Mondon and DB Malaki Starks, all future NFL draft picks.
2. Ohio State (11-2)
Points: 1,302 (seven first-place votes). Previous ranking: 10. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Akron
The pressure is on Ryan Day to beat Michigan after three consecutive losses. This could be the best defense in the country, and easily Day’s best group since the 2019 unit that led the Bowl Subdivision in several major categories. While headlined by All-America picks, led by JT Tuimoloau, what separates the Buckeyes is potentially unmatched depth across the board, with five-star talent sitting behind established starters at every level and itching to get a shot in the lineup. What might ultimately determine the team’s success is how Day sorts out the quarterback competition, with Kansas State transfer Will Howard the presumed favorite.
3. Oregon (12-2)
Points: 1,228. Previous ranking: 7. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Idaho
Among the four teams joining the Big Ten from the Pac-12, the Ducks look to be the most prepared for life in the conference. The offense should continue to put up eye-opening numbers behind new QB Dillon Gabriel, who tossed 30 scores for Oklahoma last season and will be at or near the top of every preseason Heisman Trophy watch list. What makes Oregon capable of winning its conference debut is the strength on both lines of scrimmage.
4. Texas (12-2)
Points: 1,223 (one first-place vote). Previous ranking: 4. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Colorado State
The Longhorns are really back. Now the question is whether they can stay there after making their first College Football Playoff. QB Quinn Ewers and OL Kelvin Banks are two of the SEC’s best at their positions. CJ Baxter should slot in at running back, while significant wide-receiver losses were addressed with transfers Isaiah Bond (Alabama), Silas Bolden (Oregon State) and Matthew Golden (Houston). The defense also got into the portal, notably to address defensive line departures after having one of the top rush defenses in the country.
5. Alabama (12-2)
Points: 1,077. Previous ranking: 5. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Western Kentucky
Transitions don’t get any bigger than the Crimson Tide dealing with the loss of this generation’s greatest college football coach. But thinking there will be a huge drop from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer would be unwise. DeBoer took Washington to the national title game and has veteran QB Jalen Milroe and enough offensive talent to be among the top groups in the country. The defense again looks stout with LB Deontae Lawson and DB Malachi Moore leading the way.
6. Mississippi (11-2)
Points: 1,019. Previous ranking: 9. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Murray State
Expectations are at a five-decade high for the Rebels, who are one of the top contenders for the SEC title. The offense is expected to be prolific. QB Jaxson Dart returns for his third year as a starter with a veteran offensive line. Tre Harris and South Carolina transfer Juice Wells give Ole Miss the best receiver combination in the conference. Walter Nolen arrives from Texas A&M, along with Princely Umanmielen from Florida to bolster the defensive line. The back half of the defense is where the Rebels need improvement.
7. Notre Dame (10-3)
Points: 969. Previous ranking: 14. Opens: Aug. 31 at Texas A&M
Another year, another transfer quarterback to lead Notre Dame. Riley Leonard was a breakthrough player with Duke in 2022 and was having a solid 2023 before leg and foot injuries derailed it. Leonard should get plenty of help from a defense that boasts one of the best secondaries in the country with Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts as the ringleaders. The first game against Texas A&M could prove whether the Fighting Irish are a legit College Football Playoff contender.
8. Michigan (15-0)
Points: 944 (one first-place vote). Previous ranking: 1. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Fresno State
Losing coach Jim Harbaugh is painful. So is losing an ocean of contributors from last year’s national champions to the NFL draft, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Can the Wolverines repeat? The odds are against it, though the continuity provided by the transition from Harbaugh to former offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore should help keep things rolling at a high clip. They’ll run the ball effectively, but concerns about the passing game and whether the defense can stay elite remain.
9. Penn State (10-3)
Points: 889. Previous ranking: 13. Opens: Aug. 31 at West Virginia
Whether new offensive and defensive coordinators can provide a spark will determine whether Penn State competes for a Big Ten crown and books a playoff berth. On defense, former Indiana coach Tom Allen takes over a group that ranked second nationally in yards per play in 2023. Offensively, James Franklin has turned things over to Andy Kotelnicki, who worked some miracles in the same role at Kansas. QB Drew Allar is in his second season as starter and needs to be catalyst for more explosive plays.
10. Florida State (13-1)
Points: 867. Previous ranking: 6. Opens: Sept. 2 vs. Boston College
They’re still a wee bit salty in Tallahassee about how last season ended, and the school has made no secret of its wish to find an exit strategy from the ACC. But for now it’s football as usual, and the Seminoles should again be among the favorites in the expanded conference despite a lot of key personnel losses. The well-traveled QB DJ Uiagalelei arrives from Oregon State with hopes of keeping the offense humming, though nearly every other starter at the ball-handling positions will also be new. The defense has holes to fill that led to several portal acquisitions.
11. Missouri (11-2)
Points: 808. Previous ranking: 8. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Furman
The picture is certainly different for the Tigers coming off an 11-win season and second consecutive offseason with several portal acquisitions. Can they parlay that into a playoff run? QB Brady Cook and WR Luther Burden III might be the best passing combination in the SEC. There’s a hole at running back that a pair of newcomers will try to fill. The larger concerns, however, are on defense. Four of the top five tacklers from last year’s group depart. A comfortable early schedule gives the unit time to jell.
12. LSU (10-3)
Points: 742. Previous ranking: 12. Opens: Sept 1 vs. Southern California (Las Vegas)
Losing Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels might set back some offense, but the Tigers are well-positioned to transition to QB Garrett Nussmeier, a pure passer who threw for 395 yards in the team’s bowl win. The offense faces questions at running back and receiver, but Will Campbell and Emery Jones give them two standouts on the offensive line. The first step in upgrading the defense was hiring coordinator Blake Baker from Missouri. His biggest task will be unlocking LB Harold Perkins, who slumped as a sophomore.
13. Utah (8-5)
Points: 665. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Opens: Aug. 29 vs. Southern Utah
Cam Rising is finally back for his swan song in Salt Lake City. The quarterback led his squad to back-to-back Pac-12 titles before an injury in the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2022 season caused him to miss all of last year’s campaign. The Utes start life in the Big 12 as one of the top contenders. Their defense remains powerful, and most of their tough games will be played at intimidating Rice-Eccles Stadium, making Utah a strong candidate to win the conference.
14. Clemson (9-4)
Points: 657. Previous ranking: 20. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Georgia (Atlanta)
It’s not like the Clemson program has fallen off a cliff, but the last couple of seasons have not lived up to high standards set during the time when the Tigers were College Football Playoff regulars. The defensive side of the ball hasn’t been the issue, though some next-level talent on the front line will have to be replaced this year. The biggest question once again is whether QB Cade Klubnik can take the next step and start making the kinds of plays championship offenses must have in the modern game, and whether the wide-receiver group can finally break out.
15. Tennessee (9-4)
Points: 621. Previous ranking: 17. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. East Tennessee State
The long wait for Volunteers fans is over. The Nico Iamaleava era is finally here. There will be growing pains for the sophomore quarterback, but his consistency throwing the ball should make the offense more functional than last season. Squirrel White is among the receivers who should be productive targets, and Cooper Mays is part of a veteran offensive line that can be counted on. Ultimately, getting into the playoff picture will come down to the defense. DL James Pearce will look to repeat his double-digit sacks. The secondary is the rebuilt and unknown quantity.
16. Oklahoma (10-3)
Points: 609. Previous ranking: 15. Opens: Aug. 30 vs. Temple
In an unanticipated twist, there are more questions about the Sooners on offense as they transition to the SEC. QB Jackson Arnold brings tremendous potential after serving as Dillon Gabriel’s understudy. He will be working behind an offensive line with uncertainty. On the plus side, Oklahoma has a deep receiving group with Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq and Purdue transfer Deion Burks among the standouts. Brent Venables has rebuilt the team’s defense ahead of his third year and is blessed with the return of LB Danny Stutsman and DB Billy Bowman after both considered the NFL draft. It’s a deep and aggressive group at all three levels that forces turnovers.
17. Kansas State (9-4)
Points: 416. Previous ranking: 19. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Tennessee-Martin
Chris Klieman has made the Wildcats a constant contender in his tenure, and this could be among his best teams. QB Avery Johnson showed enough promise in limited action to justify high expectations and send last year’s starter, Will Howard, to the portal. The addition of RB Dylan Edwards in the backfield to complement DJ Giddens is a big plus for the top-scoring team returning to the conference. The linebacker duo of Austin Moore and Desmond Purnell should be the foundation of a strong defense.
18. Oklahoma State (10-4)
Points: 359. Previous ranking: 16. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. South Dakota State
With Heisman Trophy contender RB Ollie Gordon leading a team that has most of its starters back, Oklahoma State should be in the mix to push the best teams in the Big 12. Entering his seventh season, Alan Bowman is a seasoned quarterback now. He just needs to avoid injury. The defense is full of returning talent. LB Nick Martin and DBs Kendal Daniels and Trey Rucker all totaled at least 100 tackles last year.
19. Miami (Fla.) (7-6)
Points: 292. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Opens: Aug. 31 at Florida
So what do we make of the Hurricanes, the team with perennially outsized expectations seeking to recapture the glory days? Mario Cristobal’s squad has talent, assembling an accomplished backfield from the remnants of the Pac-12 with QB Cam Ward coming in from Washington State and RB Jacob Martinez from Oregon State to work behind what could be the league’s best offensive line. If the defense that seemingly broke down at the most inopportune moments can be more consistent, Miami should see its win total increase with a manageable slate.
20. Texas A&M (7-6)
Points: 273. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Notre Dame
The biggest factor for the Aggies and new coach Mike Elko this season could be the health of QB Connor Weigman, who missed all but four games in 2023 but showed signs of being the signal-caller the team has been lacking. The offensive line will be anchored by Trey Zuhn and should be improved. Defense is Elko’s specialty, and there’s enough talent on that side of the ball to be a strength after years of recruiting success. DL Nic Scourton is expected to be a big part of the pass rush after leading the Big Ten with 10 sacks at Purdue last season.
21. Arizona (10-3)
Points: 230. Previous ranking: 11. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. New Mexico
After its best finish in the coaches poll since 1998, it looked like Arizona would be back to square one when coach Jedd Fisch bolted for Washington. But new coach Brent Brennan arrived from San Jose State and got off to a solid start by making sure the standouts – QB Noah Fifita, WR Tetairoa McMillan and DB Tacario Davis – all stayed in Tucson, giving Wildcats fans hope that last year’s success wasn’t a one-year wonder The defense is solid, but the question will be if Brennan can build on the success and win the Big 12.
22. North Carolina State (9-4)
Points: 216. Previous ranking: 21. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Western Carolina
For whatever reason, the Wolfpack always seems to be the team on the edge of breaking through and reaching the top of the ACC. It just can’t put it all together for a championship. Last season, it was the early loss to Louisville that wound up keeping them from a shot at the ACC crown. The arrival of QB Grayson McCall following a stellar career at Coastal Carolina and the return of WR Kevin Concepcion could give the offense that extra gear as long as the defense continues to hold up its end.
23. Southern California (8-5)
Points: 199. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Opens: Sept. 1 vs. LSU (Las Vegas)
The Trojans’ defense will again be one of the most heavily scrutinized groups in college football. Under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn, formerly of UCLA, the unit could take a noticeable step forward after finishing last year ranked 121st nationally in scoring. Two transfers in the secondary, Akili Arnold from Oregon State and Kamari Ramsey from UCLA, will help immediately. QB Miller Moss has the unenviable task of following Caleb Williams. He played well in USC’s bowl game. But doing so in Lincoln Riley’s offense in the regular season will be a different challenge.
24. Kansas (9-4)
Points: 186. Previous ranking: 23. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. South Dakota State
The hype for Kansas hasn’t been this high since its last appearance in the preseason poll in 2009. The offense should be one of the best in the Big 12 with QB Jalon Daniels returning from injury alongside RB Devin Neal, who rushed for almost 1,300 yards. Making sure Daniels stays healthy after appearing in just three games last season is critical and likely will determine how far Kansas can go. The defense needs to plug some holes up front, but the secondary should be solid.
25. Iowa (10-4)
Points: 148. Previous ranking: 21. Opens: Aug. 31 vs. Illinois State
Behold, a new offensive coordinator: Tim Lester, formerly the head coach at Western Michigan, replaces the much-maligned Brian Ferentz. After finishing near the bottom in most categories, Lester likely can’t do any worse than his predecessor simply because of the projected return of former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara, who was injured last October and missed the rest of the season. As usual, the Hawkeyes will be stout on defense and special teams. Being great in those areas has been the formula to win games and it won’t change this year.