Top 5 Bold Predictions for the 2024 College Football season

There are surprises in every college football season, and today, we will look at some possible surprises that you may not expect.

1. The SEC will get at least four teams into the college playoff

Georgia, Texas, and Alabama all boast formidable rosters that should finish among the Top Six teams—at worst, they should reach a top 12 position and earn themselves playoff bids. You can add a fourth, Ole Miss. All four should meet preseason projections as Top-six squads and likely finish at least in playoff position, guaranteeing an invite into playoff contention. Check out all of our College Football news.

That’s not all, as another handful of SEC teams could compete for a playoff berth.

Missouri could emerge as a favorite this season with its ideal schedule or LSU could show signs of improvement on defense. Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas A&M all debut among the Top 20 teams.

Wait for this season if you thought you were sick of the SEC the last few decades.

2. Oklahoma State will win the Big 12

Although not the nation’s strongest conference, I believe Oklahoma State may emerge as one of its most intriguing members and could win this championship outright. As new and talented teams join its ranks, I predict Oklahoma State to claim this crown.

I considered Utah, Kansas State, and even Arizona as my options.

However, I decided on the Cowboys due to their experienced offense and Ollie Gordon II, who might just be one of the most significant overall football players in America.

Mike Gundy has seen great success leading experienced teams, and OSU certainly fits that bill. Now that the Big 12 has secured itself a playoff berth, OSU may finally make its next step up the ladder.

3. Coach Prime goes down in flames

Coach Prime is imploding right before our very eyes! He cannot handle the heat that his words have brought since he got this job. He has been found out to be nothing but a hypocrite who puts his own self-interests before his team.

Prime begins the season against North Dakota State, a team that the Buffs easily out-talent. However, don’t be surprised if Colorado struggles; a trip to Lincoln, Nebraska, will lead to an embarrassing loss for the self-absorbed Coach Prime. At the end of this season, he will be fired or resign in shame.

4. Washington Huskies win at least eight games

Most expect the Huskies to drop off the face of the earth after losing their head coach Kalen DeBoer and starting Quarterback Michael Penix; I am not one of those guys. Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies should enjoy an outstanding year. I understand it might initially seem intimidating, with an inexperienced coach taking charge in a new conference with young players; but hear me out!

At their core, the Huskies boast a proven quarterback in Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers, who amassed 12,315 passing yards over four seasons at Starkville while throwing for 94 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. Fisch also recruited Arizona transfers in receiver Kevin Green Jr. and running back Jordan Washington, along with solid depth on their offensive line.

On defense, the Huskies return 56 percent of returning production, led by cornerback Elijah Jackson. To bolster this group, Fisch selected several projected starters from the transfer portal.

Washington’s schedule as part of the Big Ten doesn’t appear too daunting at first glance. I wouldn’t be too shocked if they went 5-0 through September, winning games against Weber State, Eastern Michigan, Wazzu, Northwestern and Rutgers.

The Huskies will face Michigan and USC at home, then travel to Penn State and Oregon and host UCLA for their final November matchup.

Believe it or not, I think Washington could reach nine wins and have an outside shot at making the playoffs.

5, Nebraska returns to National prominence

The Nebraska Cornhuskers football program was an annual title contender throughout the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s but has experienced an ongoing slide toward mediocrity since.

The last time they appeared in an Associated Press poll was 2019, when they began the season at No. 24. They lost to unranked Colorado in their second game and remained unranked for the rest of 2019. As such, they ended the year at 5-7 with six wins overall and eight losses.

Their last winning season came in 2016 under head coach Mike Riley and quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., who led them to an 8-4 record and an appearance at the Music City Bowl; that year marked their final bowl game appearance as well.

So what’s new this year?

Dylan Raiola stands out as a 5-star quarterback who stands to become college football’s next great playmaker at quarterback.

Raiola will benefit from working behind an experienced offensive line and having Gabe Ervin Jr. back healthy in the backfield. Still, Raiola must elevate the passing game overall and push this offense to new heights. Meanwhile, their 11th-ranked total defense should again prove an asset with multiple key players returning.

Based on this season’s schedule, an undefeated start could be in reach. While things will become tougher down the stretch—starting with Ohio State on Oct 26—Oregon, Michigan, and Penn State should remain out of reach during regular season play. Check out our bold, big ten predictions for 2024.

Even if Nebraska fails to qualify for the College Football Playoff, this year will mark its return to national relevance and set it on a path toward a bright future.