By Ty Scheiner
I’m not one to put much weight into preseason polls, but they give us a starting point for debate and discussion. With the first Top 25 preseason poll recently dropping, I’m sure there are teams you would have rated higher and others lower. Here are three teams I believe will be in the Top 25 at the end of the season.
Virginia Tech
The Hokies are coming off their first winning season since 2019, and I believe Head Coach Brent Pry has this team heading in the right direction. 2024 might be the season where they break out. Returning 91% of their offensive production, including star quarterback Kyren Drones, Virginia Tech’s offense will continue to improve under third-year offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen. Running Back Bhayshul Tuten, who can also be a receiving threat out of the backfield, returns, along with their top four wide receivers from last year, including Da’Quan Felton, who had 667 receiving yards and averaged 17.6 yards per catch.
Defensively, the unit did lose a few key players to the portal, but they also brought in talent to fill the void, including defensive linemen Kelvin Gilliam Jr. (Oklahoma) and Aeneas Peebles (Duke). Their schedule is manageable, with the two tough games being at Miami and at home against Clemson. They could start the season 4-0 heading to Coral Gables.
I think this team should be a minimum nine-win team with the potential to reach double digits. In addition to the returning production, the staff continuity is there, with Brent Pry and his staff entering their third year together. I think there’s something to be said for returning talent and coaching staff continuity, which can equate to a good culture and, ultimately, on-field success and a Top 25 finish.
UCF
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The Big 12 might be the most entertaining conference to watch this year, given its variance and the absence of a clear alpha team. I think UCF’s offense could be even better this year with the addition of KJ Jefferson (Arkansas) at QB and Peny Boone (Toledo and Louisville) in the backfield, along with returning all-conference WR Kobe Hudson and RJ Harvey for Gus Malzahn. Their offense has the talent and playmakers to be even better than last year’s unit, which was 41st in scoring.
The defense will be the major question, as it was inconsistent at times last year. Malzahn brought in Ted Roof to run the defense, who worked alongside Gus during Auburn’s 2010 run. Additionally, the Knights hit the portal and brought in a top 25 transfer class, according to 247Sports, including edge Nyjalik Kelly (Miami), LB Zavier Carter (UNLV), and Bryon Threats (Cincinnati) in the secondary. These transfers should help plug some holes on defense and complement this explosive offense. The schedule, I think, shapes out pretty favorably for this team. They get their two toughest opponents, Utah and Arizona, at the Bounce House.
With the talent and offensive weapons they have, I’m not sure how many Big 12 teams will be able to stop the Knights. I’m buying the upside that this team should be a double-digit win team with the potential to even compete for a Big 12 championship.
Boise State
No G5 team was ranked in the preseason poll, but I believe there will be multiple who finish in the final Top 25, one of them being the Broncos. I also think they will be the G5 representative in the CFB Playoff. They return arguably the best G5 player, running back Ashton Jeanty, and a true freshman in Sire Gaines who adds depth to the running back position. Both will have an experienced line to run behind. Speaking of depth, their wide receiver room added two transfers in Cam Camper (Indiana) and Chris Marshall (Texas A&M and Ole Miss), while Latrell Caples is coming off injury. So, whoever earns the starting QB spot between Maddux Madsen and USC transfer Malachi Nelson will have plenty of weapons to distribute the ball to. Let’s not forget that first-year head coach Spencer Danielson also brought in veteran offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter for his third stint at Boise. Fun fact: Kicker Jonah Dalmas is returning and will enter his final year of eligibility needing only four field goals to break the Mountain West record and 18 field goals to set the NCAA career record.
The Broncos may have one of the best pass rushes in the conference, led by defensive end Ahmed Hassanien, who could compete for conference defensive player of the year. Additionally, they added some talent through the portal to help out Hassanien, and A’Marion McCoy, a 2024 Mountain West Preseason All-Conference selection, is part of a secondary that has experience and depth. The schedule sets up nicely for a double-digit win season and a potential 11-1 mark. I’m marking the Oregon game as a loss, and the rematch of last year’s Mountain West Championship game against UNLV on Friday, October 25, will be a challenge.
Still, I think Boise is talented and experienced enough to get the victory, win the Mountain West, and be in the conversation to represent the G5 in the CFB Playoff, which should be good enough to have them in the Top 25 by the end of the season.
