College football rankings: ESPN reveals SP+ top 25 for 2024 season

A look at the early college football rankings from ESPN's famous metric

As the calendar turns to spring, the attention of college football fans moves to the first practices in preparation for what should be a historic 2024 season, one defined by landmark conference realignment that finds big-time names making moves, and our first look at a playoff format that will expand from four to 12 teams. That makes it a perfect time to get a look at the updated early top 25 rankings.

Where do things stand in the ESPN SP+ poll this preseason? The metric seeks to slot teams based on three important measurements: returning production, recruiting efforts, and a team's most recent history on the field.

25. Wisconsin

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Things didn't go according to plan in Luke Fickell's debut season, and the Badgers have questions to answer both at quarterback, with Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke coming over, and on the offensive line.

24. Louisville

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Jeff Brohm was active again in the transfer portal, acquiring veteran quarterback Tyler Shough to lead the offense, which now also includes former Alabama wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks going deep.

23. USC

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Lincoln Riley loses key pieces on the offense heading into the Big Ten, including quarterback Caleb Williams, while defensive coordinator Alex Grinch is out, replaced by D'Anton Lynn, who called UCLA's defense to some acclaim last year.

22. Iowa State

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Matt Campbell has some replacements to make on his roster entering a 2024 season that finds the Cyclones playing in an expanded Big 12, and though they miss three of the four new teams coming into the league, they do play at Utah late in the year.

21. Miami

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Mario Cristobal secured a top-10 ranked recruiting class and scored highly-productive quarterback Cam Ward in the transfer portal after he elected to not enter the NFL Draft.

20. Oklahoma State

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Coming off a 10-win season, Mike Gundy gets top rusher Ollie Gordon back to lead this offense, in tandem with veteran signal caller Alan Bowman, who got a waiver for a 7th year of eligibility.

19. Arizona

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Although the Wildcats lost coach Jedd Fisch, who left for Washington, they kept quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to stabilize the offense for new coach Brent Brennan in the expanded, and potentially wide-open, Big 12.

18. Kansas State

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Former five-star quarterback prospect Avery Johnson takes the reins for good now after a pair of impressive postseason efforts, earning QB1 honors after Will Howard's transfer from the program.

17. Utah

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Playing its typically physical style of defense and getting quarterback Cameron Rising back on the field after missing all of last season puts the Utes in contention for the expanded Big 12 conference title.

16. Clemson

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Dabo Swinney loses another batch of key defensive personnel to the NFL Draft, but he retains enough talent to make a run at the ACC, but can quarterback Cade Klubnik and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley take that big leap forward? They'll need some improved receiver play.

15. Tennessee

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New quarterback Nico Iamaleava made a very good first impression in the bowl game win over Iowa, and he is set to take over for good with the likes of Bru McCoy, Squirrel White, and transfer Chris Brazzell as his targets in what could be another great Vols air attack.

14. Oklahoma

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Five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold takes over as the starter after Dillon Gabriel's transfer, but the Sooners have to maintain and build on their defensive improvements and rebuild the offensive line as they head into a serious SEC schedule.

13. Texas A&M

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Mike Elko makes his coaching debut for the Aggies armed with a physical, experienced defensive front seven, Collin Klein calling plays for quarterback Conner Weigman, and a somewhat more favorable schedule than A&M has had to deal with in the SEC West, but divisions are no more.

12. Florida State

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Coming out of a historic College Football Playoff snub as undefeated ACC champs, the Seminoles retool a roster losing a ton of production, but have added key transfers, including quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to lead the offense as Jordan Travis departs.

11. Missouri

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Brady Cook returns at quarterback with wide receivers Luther Burden and Theo Wease, and although Mizzou loses top rusher Cody Schrader and defensive coordinator Blake Baker, it has also made important recruiting gains coming off an 11-win season.

10. LSU

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Missouri's loss is LSU's gain as Baker comes over to rebuild these Tigers' atrocious defenses from a year ago. In the meantime, Brian Kelly has to also refashion his offense with Garrett Nussmeier at quarterback and losses at wide receiver.

9. Notre Dame

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Marcus Freeman moves into Year 3 with one of college football's premier pass defenses, while new coordinator Mike Denbrock makes the Irish offense in his image, needing to replace elite edge blockers while installing Duke transfer quarterback Riley Leonard.

8. Ole Miss

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Losing lead back Quinshon Judkins was tough for the offense, but Lane Kiffin worked the transfer portal again by bringing on important defensive additions and retaining quarterback Jaxson Dart.

7. Penn State

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Tom Allen takes over for Manny Diaz and this defense while the offense looks to make improvements with quarterback Drew Allar returning alongside backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen and Ohio State transfer receiver Julian Fleming. An expanded playoff helps the Nittany Lions, but there are also tougher road games against USC and Wisconsin.

6. Alabama

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The post-Saban era is here for the Crimson Tide, with expected departures but plenty of retention, too, especially that of quarterback Jalen Milroe, giving Kalen DeBoer some needed stability to build around.

5. Michigan

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Jim Harbaugh is finally out after a few offseasons of rumors he would leave for the NFL. Sherrone Moore is in, giving the defending champions needed stability, but he has major holes to fill on the roster.

4. Texas

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The defending Big 12 champs head to the SEC equipped with their best roster in the last several years, led by quarterback Quinn Ewers and some notable wide receiver pickups like Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden in the transfer portal.

3. Oregon

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An early favorite to win the expanded Big Ten championship, the Ducks have one of college football's most promising offenses, led by veteran quarterback Dillon Gabriel, wide receiver transfer Evan Stewart, and one of the nation's best lines to protect them.

2. Ohio State

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Whatever the Buckeyes lost, they also gained quite a lot: tailback Quinshon Judkins and former five-star Alabama safety Caleb Downs, among them. And they keep plenty of defensive production from a year ago in addition to back TreVeyon Henderson. This is the year Ryan Day has to put it back together.

1. Georgia

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The favorites at most sports books to win their third national championship in four seasons, the Bulldogs bring in another No. 1 ranked recruiting class, a solid transfer group, and retain quarterback Carson Beck to lead what looks like a skilled offense, now buoyed by Florida transfer back Trevor Etienne.

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