The college football season has come to a close, and what a year it was. The final chapter of an ordered and logical college football landscape brought us more chaos and controversy than anyone could have imagined. As we move into the 12-team playoff era and mourn the loss of the PAC-12, let’s take a look at what programs deserve to have their names emblazoned in history as the top 25 teams of the 2023-24 FBS season.
(NOTE: This is not going to be the same teams in the same order as the AP Poll or the CFP rankings. This is what I think the ranking should be and a justification for what my ballot will look like in the final r/CFB poll.)
1. Michigan (15-0, AP #1)
This Michigan team will likely go down as the most complicated champion in the four-team playoff era. Their head coach was not on the sideline for half of the regular season. Allegations of illegal scouting shook the college football world. But even with the whirlwind that surrounded them all year, the Wolverines endured. As the opponents got better, so did Michigan. They won in different ways throughout the latter half of the season but seemed to find their rhythm once their ground game came into its own.
The Wolverines’ flaws were put on display for the last two months of the year, and there weren’t all that many of them. Their line play was incredible on both sides of the football and the running backs room found a new gear. Their win over Alabama was significantly more dominating than the score shows. Jim Harbaugh wanted his team to play like a pack of hungry wolves and they delivered.
Michigan showed us time and again that they were the most complete team in the country. Whether you want to hear it or not, Michigan deserves to be champions.
2. Washington (14-1, AP #2)
I’ll admit it. I fell for the “Michigan has never seen anything like the Washington offense” line of thinking. If the Huskies were going to win, their passing game had to be picture-perfect. Instead, Michael Penix overshot his targets on numerous occasions. When he got the chance to show off his incredible arm talent, the Washington receiving corps dropped the ball… literally. If they could have repeated what they did against Texas a week ago, there is little doubt in my mind that we would watch the Pac-12 ride off into the sunset with one final championship. Instead, the conference dies off with a whimper.
When it comes to ranking the Huskies, #2 is their rightful place. It is incredibly hard to comprehend how anyone would put them any lower. Based on their 14-1 record alone, they should be ranked #2. They played one of the most difficult schedules in the nation and passed every test except for one. Had they won, they would be a worthy champion. They were a very good team, just not good enough.
3. Texas (12-2, AP #3)
Even though they didn’t get over the hump, I think it’s safe to say that Texas is officially back. This is one of those squads that feels like it’s one piece away. If they can solve their quarterback situation, you could be looking at a terrifying team for the next few years. There were questions as to whether or not the Longhorns had a place in the SEC. This season proved that they will be just fine in their new home.
4. Alabama (12-2, AP #5)
Dread it. Run from it. The tide rolls all the same. I don’t think anyone would say that this was a particularly “good” year for Alabama standards. They lost in the playoff, got taken out at home by Texas, and had heart attack games against USF, Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Auburn. The thing that saved their season was getting the best win by any team in the last three years. Beating Georgia was an earth-shattering achievement. Many of the main weapons will likely still be there when they kick off against Western Kentucky on August 31, but some holes still need to be filled. For the first time in a decade, Alabama looks mortal. Now, we wait to see whether or not perception matches reality.
5. Georgia (13-1, AP #4)
Georgia’s season was incredibly boring and chaotic at the same time. The Dawgs looked significantly weaker than the squads that went back-to-back, but it took until the last possible moment for the other shoe to drop. This is not to say there weren’t moments of panic. South Carolina had the Bulldogs on the ropes in the first half of their week three contest and Brock Bowers willed the Georgia offense to the win against Auburn just 14 days later. But every time you thought the Dawgs were finally going to be taken down, they’d drop 50 on an unsuspecting conference opponent like it was nobody’s business.
Even with their loss in the conference championship to Alabama, their case for a playoff bid never felt too far-fetched. Many people still believe that Georgia would have dismantled any of the CFP teams had they gone in place of Alabama. While the world may never know whether or not the Dawgs would have three-peated had they gone to the playoff, we know one thing for certain: Georgia is going to be scary for a long time.
6. Florida State (13-1, AP #T6)
What is there to say that hasn’t been said already? The Seminoles were robbed of a chance at the national championship. There is no way around it. As a result, a staggering 29 FSU players opted out of the Orange Bowl, and rightfully so. Due to the massive number of opt-outs, I view the 63-3 beating that Georgia laid on FSU as basically a no-contest. FSU all but forfeited the game and I do not blame them at all. Had they played at full strength and beaten Georgia, I would have ranked them #2— if Michigan or Washington didn’t win it all, the Seminoles would be my national champions.
7. Oregon (12-2, AP #T6)
Right now, things don’t look great in Eugene. Oregon had two shots at glory and flamed out spectacularly both times. The one thing the Ducks did exceptionally well this year was putting teams in their place. Running roughshod on Colorado and Liberty gave us at least some clarity in this crazy season. How they handle the loss of Bo Nix is going to be very interesting. If the transition doesn’t go well, dark skies could await the Ducks as they head into the Big Ten.
8. Missouri (11-2, AP #8)
If the national championship were based on which team is the most fun, Mizzou would win by a country mile. This team was just an absolute joy to watch and is proof positive that, sometimes, the good guys win. Eliah Drinkwitz seemed to be having the time of his life every time his team stepped onto the field and Cody Schrader was an absolute dawg down the stretch. None of this is to say that Mizzou’s play wasn’t enough to warrant their ranking. They stunned Kansas State and Tennessee and put up a valiant fight against Georgia. The best part about this team is that they look poised to run it back next year. Mizzou has made its presence known in the SEC and, with a new era about to get under way, it once again feels good to be a football fan in Columbia, Missouri.
9. Ohio State (11-2, AP #10)
Look. This was a weird year in Colombus. There does, however, appear to be a main culprit here: Ryan Day. It’s becoming more and more clear that Day is simply not what Ohio State needs right now. We’re five years into his tenure and nothing appears to be going right. It might be time for a shakeup for the Buckeyes. The reason they’re above Ole Miss is because they played significantly better opponents by and large (i.e. Notre Dame, Penn State, and Michigan).
10. Ole Miss (11-2, AP #9)
Do the new look Rebels look scary or what? This was a great season for Ole Miss and the sun has continued to shine on Oxford as the offseason gets underway. They are using the portal to an unprecedented extent. If this team is anywhere close to as good as they look on paper, Ole Miss is going to be a serious contender for the natty next season.
Well, I won’t bore you any longer. We’ll have a part two to round out the rest of the top 25 later this week!
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