Photo by Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State beats Notre Dame to complete an epic College Football Playoff run and is on top of the final Power Rankings for the 2024 college football season.
1. Ohio State (14-2) (Last Week #2) (#6 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #1 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Vindication for Ryan Day and his Ohio State Buckeyes! Coach Day decided he didn’t need any Big Ten Championships or wins against the rival to go out there and win a national championship. In fact, by winning this way, his way, he redefined The Game! Ryan Day has changed the culture at Ohio State. Rivals and conference crowns are just bells and whistles, winning it all makes those irrelevant. Congratulations to Ryan Day, the Buckeyes, and the entire state of Ohio!
2. Notre Dame (14-2) (Last Week #1) (#5 College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #2 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
A third loss to Ohio State in as many seasons and this one for a national title is brutal for Notre Dame. But the silver lining for Fighting Irish has to be that despite the loss they are in a great place as a program. Brian Kelly and most Notre Dame detractors said that what they just did couldn’t be done. And they did it in only year three of the Marcus Freeman Era. This is only Marcus Freeman’s third year as a head coach ever! He just turned 39, he loves it in South Bend and will be there for a very long time. I predicted he’d finish 11-1 after the loss to NIU, and he did that and finished in the top two. Mark it down, he’ll win a national championship at Notre Dame before the decade is over.
3. Oregon (13-1) (Last Week #5) (#1 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #3 and #4 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
No doubt that Oregon was a top five team with Dillon Gabriel in their first year in the Big Ten. I think how good they were this year gets lost outside of Big Ten fans. Oregon was at the top of the best conference in the country for 13 straight games. They’re poised to stay there too. Dan Lanning is stacking up Oregon with talent. He’s getting it done both in the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail. He’s poised to keep the momentum from the 2024 season going into 2025. If Oregon can develop Dante Moore into a good quarterback they’ll be back in the Big Ten race and back in the College Football Playoff.
4. Penn State (13-3) (Last Week #3) (#4 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #5 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
After their loss to Ohio State, I don’t think anyone expected Penn State to finish the way they did this season. They challenged two top five teams in Notre Dame and Oregon and beat two top 15 teams in SMU and Boise State. They made the final four and were clearly one of the top four teams in the nation. Penn State is set up to be a top team in the 2025 season. With Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, and Kaytron Allen all returning, the Nittany Lions are going to be a national favorite, not just a Big Ten favorite. James Franklin is now in the spot Ryan Day found himself in going into the 2024 season. Pressure, but he’s had enough success that Nittany Lions fans know he can win in big games. He has elite talent on the roster. Will Franklin and Penn State take the next step? Penn State will find out in 2025, and they have to feel good about things with their solid end to 2024.
5. Texas (13-3) (Last Week #4) (#3 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #4 and #3 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Longhorns are getting hit hard with draft declarations this offseason. It’s proof that there is no doubt that they were a top five team in 2024. They’re losing a lot, especially on offense. They’re losing linemen, receivers, and quarterback Quinn Ewers. The good news is Arch Manning has some good experience and will step right in for Ewers almost without missing a beat. The further bad news is they start their 2025 season this fall at the same Ohio State team that beat them in the Cotton Bowl. Still, Texas should be a final-four team again in 2025 for the third straight year.
6. Indiana (11-2) (Last Week #6) (#8 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #10 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
A playoff berth and an 11-2 record at Indiana is like if the Columbus Blue Jackets (who I love, by the way) made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. That’s how good this season was for the Hoosiers even with their tough losses to long time foes Notre Dame and Ohio State. It speaks volumes that their only losses were to the two teams that won a combined seven playoff games this season. Curt Cignetti is a good coach, and I’d put this team up against all of the 9-3 teams in the SEC that were whining about Indiana being in the playoff. It’ll be tough for Indiana to repeat their 2024 success this Fall, especially with five Big Ten road games, two of them being at Penn State and at Oregon. But I can’t wait to see what the Hoosiers do in year two of this new era.
7. Arizona State (11-3) (Last Week #7) (#12 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #7 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The only top-four-seeded team to make their contest a competitive game, Arizona State could be on the verge of building something in the Wild West that is the Big 12. It was a special year for ASU and they’re rightly a top eight team. They’ll miss Cam Skattebo. They’ll have to contend with BYU, Colorado, and Iowa State again. But Kenny Dillingham took them from 3-9 and a postseason ban to 11-3, a conference championship, and a top four seed. He also returns a signal caller who’s only going to get better in Sam Leavitt. ASU is poised to continue its 2024 success in 2025.
8. BYU (11-2) (Last Week #8) (#17 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #13 and #14 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Don’t let the fact that no team outside of the playoff this year made a better case that they deserved a spot than BYU distract you from what a good season the Cougars had. Like ASU, they had a losing season the year before (5-7) and improved to 11 wins. And in their case, it was their second year in a Power 4 Conference. Going from 5-7 to the top eight is great for anyone but especially for a team that was without a conference three years ago. They will be in contention for the Big 12 and the playoff again this Fall as they return most of their offensive skill players. Their ability to develop good players in the trenches on both sides of the ball will determine how good they can be in 2025. The standard at BYU has always been good, but Kalani Sitake is working hard and leading teams that are raising it to even greater heights.
9. Boise State (12-2) (Last Week #9) (#9 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #8 and #9 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Boise makes history all the time and 2024 was no exception. They absolutely wanted more. They wanted the Heisman for Ashton Jeanty, and to make a run in the playoff, but what they got was still historic. A Heisman runner-up, and the first team currently in a Group of Five Conference to make the playoff, and a top ten finish. Expect more of the same for Boise in 2025 in their final year of the Mountain West. 2026 will test Boise State as they move to a different conference. They’ll go from the top two in the Group of Five to the bottom two in the Group of Six. But don’t expect that to keep the Broncos down.
10. Army (12-2) (Last Week #10) (#22 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #21 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Bryson Daily was a record setter for Army. Daily’s 32 rushing touchdowns is third behind only Barry Sanders 42 in 1988 and Montee Ball’s in 2011. Jeff Monken and Daily led Army to their highest number of wins in a season in program history. That’s worthy of being a top ten team. Monken now faces the tall task of replacing Daily and maintaining the success Army had in their first year in the American Athletic Conference. Their success though helped the conference and will help Army and all the other teams in the AAC going forward as it looks to be the best Group of Five (soon to be Six) conference and send its champions to the playoff on a regular basis.
11. Georgia (11-3) (Last Week #11) (#2 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #6 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
It says a lot about the state of the Georgia program this decade that going 11-3 and winning the SEC is arguably the worst season the Dawgs have had since 2016 in Kirby Smart’s first year. I ranked Georgia this far down because with no more Nick Saban to trouble them, the college football world was theirs for the taking. They did well in beating Texas and staying atop the SEC, but they had a rough bowl season like the rest of their conference outside of Texas. Look for the Bulldogs to be a big factor in the college football world in 2025.
12. Tennessee (10-3) (Last Week #12) (#7 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #9 and #8 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Tennessee is building something with Josh Heupel. If he stays there (hopefully Oklahoma doesn’t come calling) then Tennessee will play for a championship under Heupel. He, Marcus Freeman, Dan Lanning, and Steve Sarkisian will be the next coach to win their first national championship. When Heupel gets his, they’ll point to the 2024 season as a season of steps in that direction. In 2025, the Vols and Nico Iamaleava look to pick up where they left off in the SEC and make the College Football Playoff again.
13. SMU (11-3) (Last Week #14) (#10 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #12 and #11 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The only team that had a better case for the playoff than SMU was BYU. SMU was a good team who earned their playoff berth, even if Penn State emphatically knocked them out. They were a good team, and while I would have selected BYU over them, they earned their playoff spot and had a fantastic season. But year two of Kevin Jennings as the starting quarterback looks to be even bigger for the Pony Express.
14. Iowa State (11-3) (Last Week #13) (#18 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #15 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
ISU didn’t make the College Football Playoff, but they played for a berth and for the Big 12 Championship and got to 11 wins with their victory over Miami. While that’s good for Cyclone fans, Iowa State will be aiming even higher in 2025. With the return of quarterback Rocco Becht in his third year as a starter, and Matt Campbell entering 10th season as head coach, Iowa State will look to compete for the Big 12 and College Football Playoff again this Fall.
15. Memphis (11-2) (Last Week #15) (#25 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #24 and #23 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Memphis had a fantastic season. 11 wins and a record setting career from quarterback Seth Henigan. He had over 14,000 passing yards and over 100 passing touchdowns in his four years as a starter. Memphis is still playing for an invitation from a Power Four conference and are doing well. 2025 will be tough for the Tigers without Henigan but an invite from the ACC or Big 12 should still be pending.
16. Ohio (11-3) (Last Week #16) (Unranked in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
The Bobcats got their first MAC title since 1968, and a program record 11 wins. They won the MAC and beat the Conference USA champs in the Cure Bowl. An absolutely fantastic finish for Ohio. While they have a new coach in 2025, if they can build off of their 2024 success, they can enter the conversation about the Group of Five team in the College Football Playoff.
17. Illinois (10-3) (Last Week #17) (#20 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #16 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Coach Bielema and Illinois were a win against Minnesota away from being 10-2 and maybe another Big Ten team in the College Football Playoff. They humbled South Carolina in a bowl game that was good for them and the Big Ten. The Illini’s schedule is very favorable in 2025 with the only team that will be a clear favorite over them on their schedule being Ohio State. The Buckeyes come to Champaign too. Bielema will be looking to recreate his 2010 Wisconsin team, competing for the Big Ten title. Illinois could and should be a playoff team in 2025.
18. UNLV (11-3) (Last Week #18) (#24 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #23 and #24 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
UNLV had a great season and was one win against Boise State from a possible College Football Playoff berth. With the wild way things are going with the Group of Five conferences in the west, UNLV is looking for consistency going forward. Getting Dan Mullen, a proven coach, to lead after the departure of Barry Odom will help UNLV stay at the top when the dust settles in the conference chaos of the west.
19. Navy (10-3) (Last Week #19) (Unranked in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
2025 was special for Navy. They got 10 wins, they beat Army, and they beat an SEC team in Oklahoma in their bowl game. Truly worthy of a top 20 finish. They’re poised to have an even better year in 2025. Their rival Army kind of showed them the path. If Blake Horvath can have a season like Bryson Daily, watch out for Navy in 2025.
20. Syracuse (10-3) (Last Week #20) (#21 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #20 and #22 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
10-3 in year one of the Fran Brown Era is pretty great for the Orange. The beat good teams like Georgia Tech, UNLV, Miami and Washington State. It’s one that Syracuse fans hopefully enjoyed. While Brown is a good coach and their program is in a good place and going forward, their 2025 schedule is brutal. They play Tennessee, SMU, Clemson, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Miami. In 2025, the Orange will play 4 of the 12 teams in the College Football Playoff in 2024, all on the road.
21. Missouri (10-3) (Last Week #21) (#19 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #22 and #20 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
11-2 and 10-3 aren’t bad for Mizzou. Easily a top 25 finish for Mizzou. But the Tigers and Eli Drinkwitz want more and are making an early push to be great in 2025. They made a lot of noise in the transfer portal. The defense got Josiah Trotter, a linebacker from West Virginia. They got Damon Wilson an edge player from Georgia and Jalen Catalon from UNLV. To bolster their offense they got Ahmad Hardy, a 1,000 yard rusher from Louisiana-Monroe and Beau Pribula from Penn State. Watch out for Mizzou in 2025.
22. Sam Houston State (10-3) (Last Week #22) (Unranked in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)
3-9 to 10-3 is a pretty good turnaround. SHSU was a big team in the FCS and are working their way forward in the FBS. That kind of turnaround and the long-term sustaining of success is something to watch out for with the Bearkats. Keep an eye on Sam Houston State as the Group of Five (soon to be Group of Six) landscape changes.
23. Clemson (10-4) (Last Week #23) (#16 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #14 and #11 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Winning your conference title and getting to the College Football Playoff is very good. But I think Clemson fans want more than a conference title every other year, and to be good. They want to be elite like they were in the 2010s. 0-3 against the SEC with losses to rivals Georgia and South Carolina and bounced from the playoff by Texas is not enough for Clemson. The very good news is that they should be atop the ACC again in 2025 and will have a Heisman candidate at quarterback in Cade Klubnik. With a field general with over 7,100 passing yards and 57 touchdown passes, Clemson will be a force this Fall.
24. Ole Miss (10-3) (Last Week #24) (#14 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #11 and #13 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Ole Miss is a good team and had a good 2024. But how their leadership handled their 10-3 season is what dragged them down this far. All Lane Kiffin has done since the College Football Playoff field was announced is make his program look bad. He griped about the transfer portal and NIL when he’s done a great job in using those to the advantage of Ole Miss. His hypocrisy knew no bounds when he complained about players having so many options in the portal and being able to go wherever they’re best served. Ironic from a man who has had five different head coaching jobs in the past 15 years. To top it all off, he’s still sore about Quinshon Judkins going to Ohio State. When someone was praising the good season and key that Judkins was to Ohio State’s championship, Kiffin had to join a player from his USC and downplaying Judkins season.
It’s a good lesson in how it’s a fine line between talking your talk and not knowing when to hush.
25. Miami (10-3) (Last Week #25) (#13 in the College Football Playoff Rankings) (Ranked #18 in the AP and Coaches Polls)
Losing three of their last four was tough for Miami. Yet, it’s still one of the best seasons they’ve had in about a decade. That spiraling finish with those losses is why I had them this low. If Ward had helped them beat Iowa State and they got their first 11-win season in over 20 years, they’d be a lot higher, and would’ve had a much more successful season. That said, it was still a solid season, and in the right direction as far as the rebuild Mario Cristobal is doing. Landing a two-year starter in Carson Beck in the portal should help them to keep going in the right direction. Nothing short of at least 11 wins will be acceptable for The U in 2025.
Actual First Round
5. Texas (11-2) defeated 12. Clemson (10-3)
4:00 PM Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – Austin, Texas
6. Penn State (12-2) defeated 11. SMU (11-3)
Noon Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – State College, Pennsylvania
7. Notre Dame (12-1) defeated 10. Indiana (11-2)
8:00 PM Friday, December 20th, 2024 – South Bend, Indiana
8. Ohio State (11-2) defeated 9. Tennessee (10-3)
8:00 PM Saturday, December 21st, 2024 – Columbus, Ohio
Actual Quarterfinals
8. Ohio State (12-2) defeated 1. Oregon (13-1) in the Rose Bowl
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 – Pasadena, California
7. Notre Dame (13-1) defeated 2. Georgia (11-3) in the Sugar Bowl
Thursday, January 2nd, 2025 – New Orleans, Louisiana
5. Texas (13-2) defeated 4. Arizona State (11-3) vs. in the Peach Bowl
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 – Atlanta, Georgia
6. Penn State (12-2) defeated 3 Boise State (12-2) in the Fiesta Bowl
Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 – Phoenix, Arizona
Actual Semifinals
8. Ohio State (13-2) defeated 5. Texas (13-3) in the Cotton Bowl
Friday, January 10th, 2025 – Dallas, Texas
7. Notre Dame (14-1) defeated 6. Penn State (13-3) in the Orange Bowl
Thursday, January 9th, 2025 – Miami, Florida
Actual Championship
Monday, January 20th, 2025 – Atlanta, Georgia
8. Ohio State (14-2) defeated 7. Notre Dame (14-2)
The 14-2 Ohio State Buckeyes are the 2024 National Champions!
Thanks for checking in on my Power Rankings and my college football playoff projections! If you like my work at all please follow me on X and give me feedback! Thank you!
My Criteria for the Power Rankings
Winning Matters: If you’re undefeated, you’ll not be ranked below a team with one or more loss. If you have a better record but play an easier schedule, you’ll still be ahead because you will have completed the objective of winning more.
Expectations And Exceptions: If you’re Indiana and Georgia and having similar seasons, Indiana is going to be ranked higher because being in playoff contention is the expectation for Georgia and it’s above and beyond exception for Indiana.
Indisputable Evidence: Rarely have teams with the same record jump one another but if done, make clear why.
