With the expanded playoff format, twelve teams will make the college football playoff at the end of the season. Here is our prediction for the first six teams that will get selected.
Stay tuned for part two tomorrow, Jul. 2, where we will reveal the final six teams that we believe will make the college football playoffs. Can Clemson sneak their way into the top 12?
1. Georgia Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have won the national championship in two of the last three seasons. Coming off a season in 2023 where they looked like a lock for the playoffs, a loss in the SEC Championship game to Alabama knocked the Bulldogs out. Georgia should be one of the best teams in the country once again in 2024 and have no issue locking up a spot in this year's playoffs. However, they will have a difficult path, as they have one of the hardest schedules in the country. Notable opponents include Clemson, and road games against Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Head coach Ryan Day looks to have another dominant year with his team this season. Since taking over as head coach of the Buckeyes in 2019, Ryan Day and Ohio State have won 86.8% of their games. In the last three years, Ohio State has defeated every Big 10 opponent except for Michigan, who they have lost to three seasons in a row. However, with Michigan's Jim Harbaugh leaving for the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers, Day and Ohio State should be able to get over that hump in 2024.
3. Oregon Ducks
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has quickly established himself as one of the best head coaches in college football. Many had him tied to the Alabama job when Nick Saban announced his retirement. However, Lanning chose to stay loyal to Oregon, and his team should be rewarded this year with their first playoff berth since 2014. Oregon made the move to the Big 10, and the Ducks look to have one of the best offenses in college football this year. They brought in former Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel and Texas A&M transfer WR Evan Stewart.
4. Ole Miss Rebels
With one of the most favorable schedules in the SEC, Ole Miss looks ready to finally make the push that gets them in the playoffs. Head coach Lane Kiffin has hit the transfer portal hard the last three seasons, bringing in notable transfers such as defensive end Princely Umanmielen (Florida), defensive tackle Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), and receiver Antwane Wells Jr. (South Carolina). Ole Miss finally looks like they have all the pieces they need on both sides of the ball to make the 2024 playoff.
5. Texas Longhorns
Texas made the playoffs last season and is looking for repeated success in 2024. Led by Quinn Ewers at quarterback, the Longhorns are just as good, if not better, offensively than any team in the country heading into this season. The Longhorns also have a favorable schedule in their first year in the SEC, with only one tough road test against Texas A&M. However, playing Georgia at home will be a difficult game for Texas this season.
6. Florida State Seminoles
Coming off an undefeated regular season in 2023, many believe that the Seminoles were snubbed of a playoff spot last season by the committee. However, the Seminoles should find themselves in the playoffs this year. The Seminoles will have a difficult schedule where they will play Clemson and Notre Dame. If they can find a way to get past both of them, the Seminoles should find themselves in the playoffs in 2024.
The staff at AllClemsonTigers.com will continue to bring you free access to news stories, features, press conferences, recruiting mailbags and game recaps, but Death Valley Domain offers something else.
Want to know more about what’s going on behind the scenes and get exclusive scoops surrounding the team? Snag that membership today and keep up with everything going on around Clemson athletics, a monthly subscription of $4.99 gets you all this and more.
Want to save $10? Sign up for an entire year for just $49.99 right now.
►LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allclemson
►SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/AllClemson
►FOLLOW All Clemson on Twitter:https://twitter.com/All_Clemson