Ranking College Football's Actual Title Contenders in 2024

These are the college football teams that actually have a chance to win the national championship in 2024.

Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks (24) celebrates with Georgia linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson. / Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

Never mistaken for a game that evenly distributed its resources or talent, college football is about to get a little more competitive in what should prove to be a historic 2024 season. With major conference realignment and especially an expanded playoff format, from four teams to 12, we should see more teams involved in the race for the national championship.

But there's still a crop of elite programs and talent at the top of this sport, and that hasn't changedespite the changes around college football recently. What schools have a realistic chance at making a run for the national title this season?

Georgia

College football's best defense the last few seasons gets a little younger, but there still isn't any lack of talent going from last year to this, and the Bulldogs' offense figures to repeat much of its success with quarterback Carson Beck returning, aided by experienced transfer back Trevor Etienne to help balance things out. But Georgia plays a much tougher schedule this time out.

Ohio State

After three straight losses to Michigan, the Buckeyes got very aggressive in the transfer portal, picking up major additions at key positions like Will Howard at quarterback, Quinshon Judkins at tailback, and Caleb Downs at safety, among others, including several key returners on defense, and what should be college football's most promising wide receiver group once again.

Texas

The Longhorns' move to the SEC came at a good time, with quarterback Quinn Ewers under center again, aided by two key receiver transfers in Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond, a pair of huge upgrades at the position, and a strong back seven defensively.

Related: Ranking SEC Football Schedules in 2024, Easiest to Hardest

Oregon

Dan Lanning has maintained the Ducks' lofty recruiting standard, especially in the trenches, an area of strength for his 2024 team, which includes notable transfers in quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore and wide receiver Evan Stewart, working behind another solid line heading into the expanded Big Ten this fall.

Ole Miss

This is about as close as the Rebels have come to the national title convo since the early 1960s, thanks to Lane Kiffin's roster-building program that includes a heavy emphasis on the transfer portal. Ole Miss ranks No. 1 in our early transfer team rankings with key additions on defense.

Clemson

Florida State's changeover and an expanded playoff help the Tigers, which come into 2024 boasting another credible defensive front seven loaded with highly-promising playmakers, tailback Phil Mafah ready to take over RB1 duties, and quarterback Cade Klubnik getting more time to develop with play-caller Garrett Riley. But Clemson still lacks for a game-breaking option at wide receiver.

Alabama

Thanks in part to the legacy of Nick Saban's recruiting machine, Kalen DeBoer heads into Year 1 boasting a strong roster with experience and depth in the front seven, the return of quarterback Jalen Milroe, and likely transfer tackle Kadyn Proctor, as well. But he has questions to answer at receiver and in the secondary.

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