As we enter summer, we will look at which College Football teams can make a push and run in the playoff. Let’s dive in!
Ohio State Buckeyes
After another year of losing to Michigan which has torn at their chances of a college football playoff opportunity, the Buckeyes reloaded heavy in regards to recruiting, transfers and returning talent. With all the talent that this team has and if they don’t win a national championship, there may be some discussions for head coach Ryan Day to be put on the “hot seat”. Ohio State has had a tremendous reputation of producing the NFL’s top wide receivers and recruiting the great ones.
Their new stud this fall looks to be Jeremiah Smith, he is seen as the number one high school player in the class of 2024 and looks to make an immediate impact on the field. The Buckeyes hit the transfer portal hard, headlined by star sophomore safety, Caleb Downs along with plenty of other stars such as Julian Sayin, Quinshon Judkins and their new starting quarterback, Will Howard.
Notable opponents look to be Michigan, Penn State and a road game against Oregon. This 2024 Ohio State team may be the most talented roster in the last few years with plans to return to a playoff and hopefully winning a national championship.
Georgia Bulldogs
After missing last years playoff, Georgia looks to rebound with plenty of returning players and star high school recruits. With Heisman contending quarterback, Carson Beck, this Bulldogs offense shouldn’t have many problems with putting up points on the scoreboard despite a new receiving look due to losing Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey to the NFL Draft.
Star transfer, Trevor Etienne looks to be the lead running back on this team which should help the offense create a threat of attack at all points of the field, Etienne rushed for 753 yards with 8 touchdowns last year. With talented recruiting, especially on the defensive side of the ball, this Georgia team has plenty of talent especially returning star safety, Malaki Starks.
Again, being a team in the SEC, nothing is easy, as they may have the toughest schedule in the country, playing Clemson, Alabama, Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee and Ole Miss, jus to name a few. Under head coach, Kirby Smart, Georgia has won some big games over the years and this is and extremely talented roster who could overcome a lot who looks to get back to win their third national championship in the last four years.
Texas Longhorns
After a heartbreaking loss to Washington in the College Football Playoff this past season, Texas looks to take over that spot under head coach, Steve Sarkisian. As Quinn Ewers is top quarterback projected in next years NFL draft, he looks to throw to new top targets after the departure of Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell. Lucky for him he has a star transfer receiver, Isaiah Bond coming from Alabama along with possible breakout star Johntay Cook II and freshmen Ryan Wingo.
Texas also lost star running back, Jonathon Brooks to the NFL Draft but the stud sophomore, CJ Baxter looks to continue what he started last year with a great offensive line to block for him. The longhorns defense is also elite with plenty of players looking to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. It is the secondary that headlines all the problems for opposing offenses, but it will be hard going into a new conference with tough receivers, thankfully for Texas, guys like Derek Williams Jr. and Jahdae Barron will create a difficult time for those receivers to create separation. Texas has high expectations going into the SEC but I believe with their coaching and the amount of talent that’s on this team, they should be a threat to be at the top of that conference.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Going into Marcus Freeman’s third season being the head coach of Notre Dame he has had some big game experience under his belt, especially including last season with a win against USC and a road win against Duke. He has also coached against Ohio State in a heartbreaking loss for the Irish and a loss on the road against the Clemson Tigers. With him being a couple seasons in, there are bigger expectations for him and this Notre Dame team, additions of quarterback, Riley Leonard, wide receiver, Kris Mitchell and edge rusher, R.J Oben, the Irish have plenty of talent to make an undefeated run to the playoff.
Since the Irish are an independent team, their path to the playoff will come a bit easier due to the expansion of teams making it to the post season. They have plenty of winnable games on their schedule, but some tough ones including a trip into College Station to play Texas A&M, USC and Florida State.
With the expansion, the Irish can only afford one loss on their schedule depending on how other teams season’s pan out, they sure have an improved receiving core with a great secondary headlined by Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts but will this be the season the Irish can push through? That will be for them to answer but in the meantime, they have a great roster with winnable game on their schedule and look to make a run into and in the playoff.
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