By Skeeter Smith
2023 was a big year for a lot of teams across the country trying to get over the hump. However, with a new season, there will be new challenges. Here are five teams that I think will be worse in 2024.
Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines face a major rebuild in the upcoming season, with key offensive talents like JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, and Roman Wilson departing for the NFL Draft. Adding to the shake-up, Head Coach Jim Harbaugh’s departure for the NFL adds even more uncertainty. With the loss of so much talent and coaching changes, coupled with the natural hangover from winning a national championship, it’s likely Michigan will experience some regression in 2024.
Alabama Crimson Tide
When the greatest coach in the history of the sport retires from your school, you best believe that there will be some questions surrounding your team going into next season. The departure of 29 players since the announcement, including rising stars like Caleb Downs and Kaydn Proctor, further complicates matters. While new head coach Kalen DeBoer showcased his prowess by leading Washington to the title game, navigating the SEC will certainly be a tough challenge.
Washington Huskies
Also seeing a mass exodus from the roster after the 2023 season, Washington finds itself in rebuilding mode. Husky fans had already prepared themselves to lose players such as Rome Odunze and Michael Penix Jr. to the NFL prior to Deboer leaving. I don’t think they were expecting 24 more players to leave via portal after all the dust settled.
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The cherry on top is that the Huskies are set to join the Big Ten this upcoming season. In addition to playing former Pac-12 foes Oregon, UCLA, and USC, Jedd Fisch‘s team will take on Michigan and Penn State.
Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles are also set to lose a lot of production on both sides of the ball from last season. Despite some gains in the transfer portal, replacing standout performers like Keon Coleman and Jared Verse, both projected first-round draft picks, will be a tall order.
The good news for Florida State is that even with all that’s leaving, the schedule is pretty manageable for them. I don’t expect FSU to be the team we saw get throttled in the Orange Bowl, but it wouldn’t shock me to see them dropping a game or two in 2024.
Oklahoma Sooners
Joining the SEC brings a daunting schedule for Oklahoma, with six matchups against AP top 25 teams from the previous season, half of which are on the road. Tough out-of-conference opponents like Houston and Tulane further compound the challenges.
While excitement surrounds former 5-star QB Jackson Arnold, the team faces uncertainties, especially on the O-line where the Sooners will be fielding a completely new unit. Scoring points may prove difficult, making for a challenging 2024 season for the Sooners.
