After a crazy couple of months of coaching changes mixed in with the chaos of the transfer portal, teams are now starting to get a good picture of what their roster will look like heading into spring ball. With the dust being settled at the moment, let’s look at the teams that should be better going into the 2024 season.
Ohio State Buckeyes
If the return of 1st-round talents Emeka Embuka and J.T. Tuimoloau wasn’t enough to position Ohio State as title contenders, the acquisition of standout players Caleb Downs and Quinshon Judkins from the portal solidifies their place among the favorites for the 2024 season. Other additions like proven quarterback Will Howard and top 2024 recruit Jeremiah Smith further strengthen their roster, leaving Coach Ryan Day with no excuses not to be in title contention at the end of the year.
Ole Miss Rebels
Similar to Ohio State, Ole Miss also adopts a championship-or-bust approach for 2024. Despite the setback of losing Quinshon Judkins, portal additions such as Juice Wells, Logan Diggs, and Dae’Quan Wright will be more than enough to compensate for his offensive production. The defensive side of the ball is where Ole Miss really got active. Securing talents like Walter Nolan and Princely Umanmielen should greatly enhance their defensive line presence, and they added plenty in the secondary as well. Adding all that to what’s also returning, Ole Miss should be taken as a serious threat in the SEC.
Colorado Buffs
Coach Deion Sanders wasted no time fortifying that O-line acquiring six offensive linemen from the transfer portal early this offseason. He also shocked the world by landing the top offensive tackle of the 2024 class, Jordan Seaton. Adding offensive weapons like Will Sheppard, Cordale Russell, and Lajohntay Wester should also boost Colorado’s offensive firepower. Addressing defensive needs, the Buffs strengthen the trenches with players like Chidozie Nwankwo and Quency Wiggins. With improvement on both sides of the ball, Deion should be well on his way to reaching a bowl game in year 2.
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Miami Hurricanes
In a surprising move, Cam Ward’s decision to undeclare from the NFL draft and transfer to Miami sparks high expectations for the 2024 season. Ward will be happy to hear that Miami’s top 2 receivers from the 2023 season, Xavier Resptrepo and Jacolby George, will also be returning for 2024. On the defensive front, the Canes address needs on the line with key additions like Elijah Alston, Marley Cook, and C.J. Clark. Miami’s success on the recruiting trail landed them a top 5 recruiting class, which could signal the return of “The U” to college football prominence.
Syracuse
Has any 1st-year head coach been as impressive as Fran Brown early this offseason? Within just three months of being on campus, Brown secured the highest-rated recruiting class in Syracuse history. Brown also hit the portal hard, adding 11 transfers, positioning himself for a competitive debut in the ACC. Among those transfers is quarterback Kyle McCord, who started all last year for the Buckeyes and won 11 games. Brown is also bringing over some receivers from Georgia with him in Yazeed Haynes and Jackson Meeks. With new hype surrounding the program, The Orange may just be a team to watch in 2024.
