Phil Steele predicts Preseason AP Poll Top 10 to open 2024 college football season
College football analyst Phil Steele predicted the Preseason AP Poll Top 10 teams to open the 2024 season, giving an inside look at the fall.
Steele is 95.3% accurate over the last 15 years, per his release. If it’s that accurate, this should be a great look at the upcoming poll.
You can see Steele’s projected AP Preseason Top 10 rankings below.
1. Georgia
Arguably the consensus No. 1 team in the country this year. The Bulldogs were nearly competing for a third straight national title, but a little team named Alabama beat them in the SEC Championship.
Carson Beck returns at QB as the Heisman favorite, not to mention an elite defense once again. Sure it’s an expanded SEC, but the Bulldogs are still the, well, top dog.
2. Ohio State
The Buckeyes reloaded across the board. From the offense to the defense to even the coaching staff, Ohio State is the Big Ten favorite and Steele’s No. 2.
Will Howard comes in at quarterback, Quinshon Judkins at running back, Caleb Downs at defensive back and Chip Kelly at offensive coordinator. It might be an all or nothing type of season.
3. Texas
Fresh off winning a Big 12 title, Texas moved to the SEC for a new era of Longhorns’ football, and near the top of the AP Poll. Bringing back QB depth with Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning gives them one of the best rooms in the nation.
CJ Baxter should dominate out of the backfield and Kelvin Banks Jr. is likely a top 10 pick at offensive tackle. In what could be Steve Sarkisian’s best team, Texas could see a return to the CFP while competing for the SEC title.
4. Oregon
Oregon is in a similar boat as Texas, meaning the Ducks are extremely talented and set up quite well to compete in its new conference. Other than Ohio State, Oregon seems like the best team in the Big Ten, and in this AP Poll prediction.
Dillon Gabriel comes in at quarterback and Dan Lanning cooked on the recruiting trail. Washington took some hits, as well as followed Oregon to the Big Ten, so this could be a big prove it year for Oregon.
5. Alabama
Steele has Alabama in the top five of the AP Poll predictions despite losing head coach Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide went out and got Kalen DeBoer, who just wins wherever he goes.
With more resources at his disposal in Tuscaloosa, and a solid quarterback in Jalen Milroe, don’t rule out the Crimson Tide winning the SEC again. There could be some growing pains, but it won’t take long for Alabama to be the college football force it’s been for nearly two decades this century.
6. Notre Dame
This could be the highest preseason prediction in the AP Poll for the Fighting Irish. Marcus Freeman went the way of a veteran QB in the portal, this time Duke’s Riley Leonard.
Still an Independent, Notre Dame can’t finish higher than No. 5 in potential CFP rankings. However, Freeman might be set up for his best year as coach in South Bend when it’s all said and done.
7. Michigan
The defending national champions move on to 2024 with a new head coach (Sherrone Moore) and new quarterback (presumably Alex Orji). Still, Steele loves them in the preseason AP Poll top 10 rankings.
Mason Graham and Will Johnson highlight elite defenders on the Wolverines this season. Michigan might be behind Ohio State and Oregon right now, but you can’t rule out the Wolverines in 2024.
8. Penn State
The AP Poll stays in the Big Ten with the Nittany Lions, who should be a CFP contender. James Franklin needs to get the team over the hump, according to many critics.
Drew Allar is back, but he’s dealt with his own criticism. Still, the collection of talent in State College this year is very enticing.
9. Ole Miss
OIe Miss could have its best team under Lane Kiffin and maybe ever right? That’s what Kiffin’s selling based on the players that returned, the ones recruiting and the transfers into the program.
Heck, the Rebels are a sleeper in the SEC but they’re no sleeper in the preseason AP Poll predictions. College football needs this team in the playoff.
10. Missouri
The Tigers stood out at the end of last season with a Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State. A deadly QB-WR combo is back with Brady Cook and Luther Burden.
A preseason top 10 AP Poll team? Yeah that seems about right. The question is, can Eli Drinkwitz improve upon a breakout season in 2023?
So accurate do you think Steele’s AP Poll top 10 predictions will be? Chances are, based on history, this is a pretty solid look to the fall.