College football’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2024: Reloaded Georgia back on top
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Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Writer
The curtain fell on the four-team College Football Playoff in Houston on Monday night, and it more than delivered in its last season with two nail-biting semifinals that weren’t decided until the final play and enough controversy to make even Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh raise an eyebrow.
The 2024 season will arrive with a seismic shift that includes even more conference realignment and a bigger (and supposedly better) 12-team CFP format. That will surely make everyone in Florida happy, right?
As we bid adieu to college football’s familiar landscape and embark on an even more uncertain future, let’s take a sneak peek at the inaugural edition of the 2024 Way-Too-Early Top 25:
2023 record: 13-1, 8-0 SEC
Expected key losses: TE Brock Bowers, OT Amarius Mims, WR Ladd McConkey, C Sedrick Van Pran, LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, RB Daijun Edwards, S Tykee Smith, CB Kamari Lassiter, S Javon Bullard
Expected key additions: RB Trevor Etienne, WR London Humphreys, DL Xzavier McLeod, S K.J. Bolden, CB Ellis Robinson IV, LB Justin Williams, TE Jaden Reddell
2024 outlook: After narrowly missing out on the College Football Playoff for the third straight season, the Bulldogs reloaded with another No. 1-ranked recruiting class and blasted Florida State 63-3 in the Capital One Orange Bowl. Georgia has won 30 of its past 31 games and 46 of 48. The winning might not slow down with starting quarterback Carson Beck opting to return for his senior season. His experience will be invaluable during a 2024 schedule that kicks off with a high-stakes opener against Clemson in Atlanta. Georgia’s demanding slate includes SEC road games at Kentucky, Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss. Replacing Bowers and McConkey presents a challenge, but the Bulldogs have stockpiled tight ends and receivers. Adding Etienne, who ran for 1,472 yards with 14 touchdowns at Florida the past two seasons combined, was important with Edwards and Kendall Milton departing. Developing depth in the interior defensive line and in the secondary will be a priority in the spring.
2023 record: 12-2, 8-1 Big 12
Expected key losses: WR Adonai Mitchell, WR Xavier Worthy, RB Jonathon Brooks, TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, OT Christian Jones, DT T’Vondre Sweat, NT Byron Murphy II
Expected key additions: WR Matthew Golden, S Andrew Mukuba, WR Ryan Wingo, DE Colin Simmons, RB Jerrick Gibson, CB Kobe Black, S Xavier Filsaime
2024 outlook: The Longhorns are back. Texas turned the corner under coach Steve Sarkisian in 2023, winning the Big 12 in its last season in the league and reaching the CFP for the first time. The Longhorns could return as many as four starting offensive linemen, reinforcing the team’s strength up front. The task of identifying capable replacements for key players like Sweat and Murphy on the defensive line takes center stage in the spring. Quarterback Quinn Ewers has a decision to make regarding the NFL draft. If he returns, Ewers will have to find new go-to targets with Mitchell, Worthy and Sanders all expected leaving for the NFL. The Longhorns play at Michigan on Sept. 7 and face Oklahoma in Dallas and Georgia at home in consecutive weeks in October, before closing the regular season at Texas A&M on Nov. 30. Welcome to the SEC.
2023 record: 12-2, 8-1 Pac-12
Expected key losses: QB Bo Nix, RB Bucky Irving, WR Troy Franklin, C Jackson Powers-Johnson, G Steven Jones, CB Khyree Jackson, S Steve Stephens IV, S Evan Williams
Expected key additions: QB Dillon Gabriel, QB Dante Moore, RB Jay Harris, S Kobe Savage, OT Matthew Bedford, OT JacQawn McRoy, DE Elijah Rushing, DT Aydin Breland
2024 outlook: Oregon’s Dan Lanning has done a commendable job in his first two seasons as a head coach, guiding the Ducks to a 21-5 record and signing ESPN’s No. 3-ranked recruiting class in 2024. But three of Oregon’s five losses under Lanning came against rival Washington, and with both programs transitioning to the Big Ten, Lanning and his staff have to figure out how to get over that particular hump. Adding Gabriel, who threw for 3,660 yards with 30 touchdowns and six interceptions at Oklahoma in 2023, was big after losing Nix. UCLA transfer Moore, the No. 2 pocket passer in the 2023 ESPN 300, might be Oregon’s quarterback of the future. Savage, who had 115 tackles and six interceptions at Kansas State the past two seasons, will help offset the loss of three starters in the secondary. Oregon plays at Michigan on Nov. 2 and gets Ohio State and Washington at home.
2023 record: 12-2, 8-0 SEC West
Expected key losses: LB Dallas Turner, OT JC Latham, C Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB Terrion Arnold, LB Chris Braswell, DL Justin Eboigbe, WR Jermaine Burton, K Will Reichard
Expected key additions: DL LT Overton, CB Domani Jackson, QB Julian Sayin, CB Jaylen Mbakwe, WR Ryan Williams, LB Cayden Jones, RB Kevin Riley, TE Caleb Odom
2024 outlook: Just when it seemed the Alabama dynasty might be fading, Nick Saban pulled off one of his better coaching jobs and guided the Crimson Tide to another SEC championship and CFP appearance. Quarterback Jalen Milroe, benched in the third game of the season, became one of the better dual-threat passers by season’s end. He needs to continue to develop as a decision-maker. The offensive line, to which guards Tyler Booker and Jaeden Roberts and left tackle Kadyn Proctor are expected to return, remains a liability at times. There’s a lot of firepower expected to depart on defense, especially Turner, Braswell and Eboigbe. The transfer portal additions of Overton (Texas A&M) and Jackson (USC) might help fill some of those holes. Alabama plays road games at Wisconsin, Tennessee, LSU and Oklahoma in 2024. A Sept. 28 home game against Georgia will loom large.
2023 record: 11-2, 8-1 Big Ten
Expected key losses: QB Kyle McCord, DT Michael Hall Jr., WR Marvin Harrison Jr., LB Steele Chambers
Expected key additions: QB Will Howard, WR Jeremiah Smith, QB Air Noland, CB Bryce West, DE Eddrick Houston, WR Mylan Graham, CB Aaron Scott
2024 outlook: Ryan Day has done solid work as Ohio State’s coach since taking over for Urban Meyer in 2019. The Buckeyes are 53-8 the past five seasons, winning two Big Ten titles and reaching the CFP three times. But after a third consecutive defeat to rival Michigan, followed by a listless 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the pressure is building. McCord transferred to Syracuse, and Day went into the portal to land former Kansas State starting quarterback Howard, who threw for 48 touchdowns and 5,786 yards over four seasons with the Wildcats. Noland, from Fairburn, Georgia, was the No. 2 pocket passer in the 2024 ESPN 300. Improving the offensive line is also a priority. Ohio State’s schedule in 2024 includes home games against Iowa and Michigan and road contests at Oregon and Penn State.
2023 record: 15-0, 9-0 Big Ten
Expected key losses: QB J.J. McCarthy, RB Blake Corum, RB Donovan Edwards, OT LaDarius Henderson, G Trevor Keegan, G Zak Zinter, C Drake Nugent, WR Roman Wilson, LB Michael Barrett, CB Mike Sainristil
Expected key additions: QB Jadyn Davis, LB Jaishawn Barham, TE Brady Prieskorn, LB Jaden Smith, RB Jordan Marshall
2024 outlook: After returning to the CFP for the third straight year, there will be a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Michigan program heading into the offseason. Will coach Jim Harbaugh sign a contract extension at his alma mater or jump back to the NFL? The Wolverines have already received a notice of allegations from the NCAA regarding alleged recruiting violations and there’s a separate NCAA investigation into the program’s alleged sign stealing. Harbaugh might face another suspension in 2024 if he returns. On the field, the Wolverines are going to lose a boatload of talent, especially if McCarthy and Edwards leave for the NFL draft. The offensive line will have to be rebuilt and key pieces will also have to be replaced on defense. The Wolverines play one of the most difficult schedules in the FBS next season with home games against Texas, USC and Oregon and road games at Washington and Ohio State.
2023 record: 11-2, 6-2 SEC
Expected key losses: RB Quinshon Judkins, G Quincy McGee, OT Victor Curne, DE Cedric Johnson, CB Deantre Prince, CB Zamari Walton, S Daijahn Anthony, LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste
Expected key additions: DT Walter Nolen, DE Princely Umanmielen, WR Antwane Wells Jr., DE Tyler Baron, G Gerquan Scott, S Key Lawrence, LB Chris Paul Jr., CB Tahveon Nicholson, S Louis Moore, WR Deion Smith
2024 outlook: After taking Ole Miss to the first 11-win campaign in the 118-year history of the program, Lane Kiffin’s team might be poised to run it back in 2024, especially with quarterback Jaxson Dart deciding to return for another season. Unexpectedly losing Judkins to the transfer portal hurts, and a couple of receivers also have decisions to make on whether or not they’ll enter the NFL draft, but the Rebels should be explosive again on offense either way. There will be some key losses on defense: Johnson (5½ sacks) announced he’s leaving, along with three starters in the secondary. But Kiffin, the self-proclaimed “Portal King,” has added a dozen transfers (and counting). Umanmielen had seven sacks at Florida in 2023; Nolen was the No. 1 prospect in the 2022 ESPN 300 when he signed with Texas A&M. The Rebels will play their two toughest opponents, Oklahoma and Georgia, at home in 2024.
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Luther Burden III makes great catch on 42-yard Missouri TD
Brady Cook throws a 42-yard touchdown pass to Luther Burden.
2023 record: 11-2, 6-2 SEC
Expected key losses: RB Cody Schrader, CB Kris Abrams-Draine, LB Ty’Ron Hopper, CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., DL Darius Robinson
Expected key additions: RB Marcus Carroll, OT Cayden Green, LB Corey Flagg Jr., DL Chris McClellan, CB Toriano Pride Jr., LB Darris Smith, DE Williams Nwaneri, WR Courtney Crutchfield
2024 outlook: After the Tigers went 6-7 in 2022, coach Eli Drinkwitz seemed to be on the hot seat entering 2023. Not anymore. Missouri’s patience was rewarded with an 11-win season and a victory over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. With quarterback Brady Cook and receiver Luther Burden III returning, the Tigers figure to be a legitimate CFP contender in 2024. They’ll have to replace some key starters on defense — Harper was a Butkus Award finalist and Abrams-Draine and Rakestraw were two of the best cornerbacks in the SEC. The Tigers will also lose Schrader, the leading rusher in the FBS with 125.2 yards per game. Carroll ran for 1,350 yards with 13 touchdowns at Georgia State last year. Pride (Clemson), Smith (Georgia) and McClellan (Florida) were key pickups through the portal as well. Nwaneri was the No. 1 defensive end prospect in the country, according to ESPN recruiting. Losing defensive coordinator Blake Baker to LSU hurts.
2023 record: 10-3, 7-2 Pac-12
Expected key losses: OT Jordan Morgan, WR Jacob Cowing, RB Michael Wiley, TE Tanner McLachlan, DT Tyler Manoa, DE Taylor Upshaw
Expected key additions: OL Alexander Doost,, DL Chubba Maae, CB Jordan Shaw, S Jack Luttrell, QB Demond Williams Jr., RB Jordan Washington, TE Dylan Tapley, DT Bryce Butler
2024 outlook: It has been quite a turnaround for the Wildcats under coach Jedd Fisch. After going 1-11 in 2021, Arizona won 10 games by defeating Oklahoma 38-24 in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Wildcats will take a seven-game winning streak into 2024, when they jump from the Pac-12 to the Big 12. They’ll be among the favorites in their first season in their new league. The bulk of Arizona’s starters this past season were underclassmen, so there’s plenty of talent returning. Noah Fifita was one of the top freshman quarterbacks in the FBS, and one of his favorite targets, receiver Tetairoa McMillan, is also coming back. Four starters could also return on the offensive line, although left tackle Morgan will be missed. Upshaw had 8.5 sacks in 2023 and left a big hole on the edge. Arizona’s 2024 schedule is manageable with Big 12 road games at BYU, Utah, TCU and UCF.
2023 record: 10-3
Expected key losses: QB Sam Hartman, OT Joe Alt, RB Audric Estime, OT Blake Fisher, LB Marist Liufau, CB Cam Hart, LB JD Bertrand, S Thomas Harper
Expected key additions: QB Riley Leonard, DE R.J. Oben, WR Kris Mitchell, WR Beaux Collins, WR Cam Williams, OT Guerby Lambert, QB C.J. Carr
2024 outlook: The Fighting Irish won 19 games in coach Marcus Freeman’s first two seasons, and big changes are coming on offense in 2024. Offensive coordinator Gerad Parker left to become Troy’s coach. Freeman replaced him with LSU’s Mike Denbrock, whose Tigers unit led the FBS in scoring and yards per game in 2023. Leonard, who accounted for 43 touchdowns the past three seasons at Duke, was added to replace Hartman. The Irish landed Mitchell (Florida International) and Collins (Clemson) to shore up what was an underwhelming receiver corps. Mitchell led Conference USA in receiving yards last season, while Collins had 510 receiving yards and three touchdowns with the Tigers. Finding replacements for both starting offensive tackles and Estime (1,341 rushing yards with 18 touchdowns) will be priorities in the spring. The good news: Several defensive starters, including tackles Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills, linebacker Jack Kiser and safety Xavier Watts, announced they’re coming back.
2023 record: 14-1, 9-0 Pac-12
Expected key losses: QB Michael Penix Jr., WR Rome Odunze, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, OT Troy Fautanu, DE Bralen Trice, LB Alphonzo Tuputala, LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, S Jabbar Muhammad, S Dominique Hampton
Expected key additions: QB Will Rogers, WR Jeremiah Hunter, TE Tre Watson, DL Sebastian Valdez, OT Drew Azzopardi, DL B.J. Green, LB Ethan Barr
2024 outlook: There’s no question the Huskies are going to take a step back after a magical season in 2023, but there’s no way Washington’s program is going to fall off a cliff under coach Kalen DeBoer, who seemingly does nothing but win. Losing Penix and perhaps his top three receivers will leave a Lake Washington-sized hole on offense. The Huskies added Rogers, who is Mississippi State’s all-time leading passer with 12,315 yards and 94 touchdowns. Hunter had 143 receptions for 2,056 yards with 13 touchdowns the past three seasons at California. Green, a transfer from Arizona State, had 11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2023. His pass-rushing skills will be needed with Trice probably departing. The Huskies play road games at Iowa, Penn State and Oregon and face Michigan, USC and UCLA at home during their maiden Big Ten campaign.
2023 record: 10-3, 7-2 Big Ten
Expected key losses: CB Kalen King, CB Johnny Dixon, OT Olu Fashanu, DE Chop Robinson, DE Adisa Isaac, OT Caedan Wallace, LB Curtis Jacobs, TE Theo Johnson, C Hunter Nourzad
Expected key additions: WR Julian Fleming, RB Quinton Martin, G Donovan Harbour, QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, OT Cooper Cousins, G Liam Andrews, K Chase Meyer
2024 outlook: It seemed the Nittany Lions missed a chance in 2023 to challenge Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten East with one of the better defenses in the FBS. But Penn State’s passing game wasn’t good enough — it ranked 80th in the FBS with 215 passing yards per contest. Coach James Franklin brought in former Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to jump-start his attack. There are some nice pieces coming back in quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen and tight end Tyler Warren. Both starting offensive tackles will have to be replaced, and the receiver room needs a serious upgrade. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz left to become Duke’s head coach and was replaced with former Indiana coach Tom Allen. The Nittany Lions will miss their two departing lockdown cornerbacks, but there’s enough talent returning for Allen to be successful in his first season.
2023 record: 8-5, 5-4 Pac-12
Expected key losses: CB Miles Battle, G Keaton Bills, S Sione Vaki, S Cole Bishop, WR Devaughn Vele, CB JaTravis Broughton, RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, QB Bryson Barnes, QB Nate Johnson
Expected key additions: RB Anthony Woods, CB Kenan Johnson, TE Carsen Ryan, OT Isaiah Garcia, QB Isaac Wilson, LB Hunter Andrews, S Maurice Evans
2024 outlook: Injuries derailed the Utes this past season, as quarterback Cameron Rising and tight end Brant Kuithe missed the entire campaign while recovering from knee injuries and tailback Micah Bernard missed all but two games with an injury. The Utes struggled with consistency on offense and lost four of their last six games, including a 14-7 defeat against Northwestern in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl. There’s hope that Kuithe and Bernard might return with Rising in 2024, when Utah jumps to the Big 12. Four sophomores and one freshman started on the offensive line in the bowl game. Jackson, the team’s leading rusher with 797 yards, entered the transfer portal, as did backup quarterbacks Barnes and Johnson. Three starters will have to be replaced in the secondary.
2023 record: 10-3, 6-2 SEC
Expected key losses: QB Jayden Daniels, WR Malik Nabers, WR Brian Thomas Jr., C Charles Turner III, S Andre’ Sam, LB Omar Speights, DT Jordan Jefferson
Expected key additions: QB A.J. Swann, WR Zavion Thomas, S Jardin Gilbert, OT Dominick McKinley, TE Trey’Dez Green, ATH Jelani Watkins
2024 outlook: The Tigers won 10 games in each of Brian Kelly’s first two seasons in Baton Rouge. They didn’t take advantage of having Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels this past season, as the defense allowed at least 42 points in three losses. Now, Daniels is off to the NFL draft. He accounted for 95% of LSU’s passing yards and 44.3% of its rushing yards before its bowl game. Daniels was responsible for 50 total touchdowns. The good news for Kelly is that heir apparent Garrett Nussmeier, who waited three years for the starting job, seems more than ready to take over. He was MVP of the ReliaQuest Bowl after passing for 395 yards with three scores in a 35-31 victory over Wisconsin. He won’t have Nabers and Thomas, who are potential first-round picks. Shoring up LSU’s defense will be a focus in the spring. Kelly cleaned house by moving on from coordinator/linebackers coach Matt House, safeties coach Kerry Cooks, cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples and defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey. Hiring Baker from SEC opponent Missouri was a boss move.
2023 record: 10-3, 7-2 Big 12
Expected key losses: QB Dillon Gabriel, OT Tyler Guyton, C Andrew Raym, NT Isaiah Coe, OT Walter Rouse, WR Drake Stoops, G McKade Mettauer, DE Rondell Bothroyd
Expected key additions: DT David Stone, RB Taylor Tatum, TE Davon Mitchell, OT Spencer Brown, CB Dezjhon Malone, WR Deion Burks, RB Samuel Franklin, TE Bauer Sharp, G Febechi Nwaiwu, DE Caiden Woullard
2024 outlook: The Sooners made good progress in coach Brent Venables’ second season, improving from 6-7 to 10-3 and knocking off Texas 34-30 in the Red River Rivalry. Losing Gabriel, a two-year starter who threw for 6,828 passing yards and 73 total touchdowns in Norman, was a big blow. Freshman Jackson Arnold, a former five-star recruit, is next in line. He has all the tools but needs to cut down on mistakes. Four of five starting offensive linemen will have to be replaced, along with Stoops, the leading receiver. The Sooners added Brown, a two-year starter at Michigan State, and Nwaiwu, a starter at North Texas, to help fill holes up front. Malone was an honorable mention All-Mountain West selection at San Diego State and might shore up a pass defense that needs help. Venables parted ways with defensive coordinator Ted Roof and replaced him with Jacksonville State’s Zac Alley.
2023 record: 13-1, 8-0 ACC
Expected key losses: QB Jordan Travis, RB Trey Benson, WR Keon Coleman, WR Johnny Wilson, TE Jaheim Bell, DE Jared Verse, LB DJ Lundy, S Akeem Dent, LB Kalen DeLoach
Expected key additions: QB DJ Uiagalelei, CB Charles Lester III, TE Landen Thomas, RB Kameron Davis, OT Jonathan Daniels, LB Marvin Jones Jr., CB Jamari Howard
2024 outlook: The Seminoles will have to do some self-examination after their 60-point loss in the Orange Bowl, the worst defeat in program history. The Seminoles were missing 30 players who were injured, opted out or entered the transfer portal. The sting of going undefeated and being left out of the CFP will probably linger for a while. Coach Mike Norvell and his staff have to pick up the pieces with many of their best players moving on. Uiagalelei will have the unenviable job of replacing Travis. DJU started 40 career games at Clemson and Oregon State and had a 30-10 record with 8,319 passing yards and 57 touchdowns. The Seminoles picked up a big addition on defense in Jones, a former Georgia linebacker whose father was an All-American at FSU. There are going to be many new faces on both sides of the ball in 2024.
2023 record: 9-4, 4-4 SEC
Expected key losses: QB Joe Milton III, RB Jaylen Wright, DE Tyler Baron, LB Aaron Beasley, S Jaylen McCollough, CB Doneiko Slaughter, DB Tamarion McDonald, S Wesley Walker, WR Ramel Keyton
Expected key additions: WR Chris Brazzell II, S Jakobe Thomas, CB Jermod McCoy, TE Holden Staes, WR Mike Matthews, DE Jordan Ross, OT Bennett Warren
2024 outlook: Volunteers fans got a sneak peek into the future in a 35-0 rout of Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. With Milton opting out of the bowl game, freshman Nico Iamaleava got the start. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 151 yards with one touchdown and three more scores rushing. The Los Angeles native was the No. 4 pocket passer in the 2023 ESPN 300. There are solid receivers returning in Squirrel White, Bru McCoy and Brazzell, who was Tulane’s leading pass-catcher in 2023. It will also help that center Cooper Mays and tackles John Campbell Jr. and Gerald Mincey are coming back. Shoring up the secondary will be a priority in the spring after six defensive backs entered the transfer portal.
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Ollie Gordon breaks off 25-yard rush
Ollie Gordon breaks off 25-yard rush
2023 record: 10-4, 7-2 Big 12
Expected key losses: LB Xavier Benson, DE Anthony Goodlow, TE Josiah Johnson, WR Leon Johnson III, DE Nathan Latu, WR Jaden Bray
Expected key additions: OL Isaia Glass, S Kobe Hylton, QB Maealiuaki Smith, RB Rodney Fields, LB Temerrick Johnson, S Landyn Cleveland, TE Tyler Foster
2024 outlook: The Cowboys got the last laugh on rival Oklahoma in the Sooners’ final season in the Big 12. The Pokes won the last Bedlam game for the foreseeable future, reached the Big 12 championship game and defeated Texas A&M 31-23 in the TaxAct Texas Bowl. With Oklahoma and Texas moving on, Oklahoma State could challenge Arizona and Utah for supremacy in the revamped league. Tailback Ollie Gordon II, FBS’ leading rusher with 1,732 yards in 2023, is coming back. So are all five starting offensive linemen, leading receiver Brennan Presley and quarterback Alan Bowman, who was given an NCAA waiver to play a seventh season. The Pokes play Big 12 road games at Baylor, BYU, Colorado, Kansas State and TCU in 2024.
2023 record: 9-4, 4-4 ACC
Expected key losses: RB Will Shipley, LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., CB Nate Wiggins, DT Tyler Davis, DT Ruke Orhorhoro, WR Beaux Collins, S Andrew Mukuba, DE Xavier Thomas, C Will Putnam
Expected key additions LB Sammy Brown, WR Bryant Wesco, WR T.J. Moore, S Corian Gipson, TE Christian Bentancur, S Ricardo Jones
2024 outlook: The current state of Clemson football can be perceived as both a glass half-full and half-empty. The Tigers won nine games in 2023 for the 13th season in a row, and they’ll probably finish in the top 25 of the final AP poll for the 13th consecutive season as well. That being said, they were 4-4 at the end of October and out of the CFP race for the third straight season. If the Tigers are going to return to the sport’s upper echelon in 2024, quarterback Cade Klubnik must continue to improve, and coach Dabo Swinney needs to find some weapons. Shipley entered the NFL draft, and Collins, the team’s second-leading receiver, transferred to Notre Dame. Hiring former Ole Miss coach Matt Luke to coach the offensive line should help an inconsistent unit. The Tigers lost a handful of players to the transfer portal but haven’t added any yet.
2023 record: 9-4, 6-2 ACC
Expected key losses: LB Payton Wilson, LB Jaylon Scott, CB Shyheim Battle, CB Aydan White, TE Trent Pennix, QB Brennan Armstrong, OT Anthony Belton, C Dylan McMahon
Expected key additions: QB Grayson McCall, TE Justin Joly, RB Jordan Waters, WR Noah Rogers, CB Tamarcus Cooley, CB Corey Coley Jr., WR Wesley Grimes, OL Zeke Correll
2024 outlook: The Wolfpack navigated their way through a quarterback mess throughout the 2023 season, but still had a chance to win 10 games. NC State coach Dave Doeren may have found an answer to his quarterback problem next season by bringing in former Coastal Carolina starter McCall, who passed for more than 10,000 yards with 106 total touchdowns with the Chanticleers. The Wolfpack also signed Waters, who was Duke’s leading rusher with 819 yards and 12 scores in 2023. Correll was a three-year starting center at Notre Dame. The Wolfpack will have to find replacements for Wilson and Scott, who combined to make 213 tackles last season. There are also holes to fill in the secondary.
2023 record: 9-4, 6-3 Big 12
Expected key losses: QB Will Howard, G Cooper Beebe, S Kobe Savage, TE Ben Sinnott, WR Phillip Brooks, DE Nate Matlack, RB Treshaun Ward, CB Will Lee III
Expected key additions: OL Easton Kilty, DE Travis Bates, S Jordan Riley-Scott, G Navarro Schunke, ATH Jake Stonebraker, DT Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder, S Dante Thomas
2024 outlook: The Wildcats came painfully close to putting together another magical run under coach Chris Klieman. They lost four games by a total of 21 points, including a 30-27 loss at Missouri and 33-30 defeat in overtime at Texas. Now, Kansas State will have to move forward without Howard, who left for Ohio State, and former offensive coordinator Collin Klein, who left for Texas A&M. Klieman promoted offensive line coach Conor Riley to co-offensive coordinator and hired former Texas Tech coach Matt Wells to work with him. The offense seems to be in good hands with quarterback Avery Johnson, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for another one in a 28-19 victory over NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Four starting offensive linemen will have to be replaced, including Beebe, an All-American.
2023 record: 10-4, 7-1 ACC
Expected key losses: RB Jawhar Jordan, OT Willie Tyler, QB Jack Plummer, OT Eric Miller, C Bryan Hudson, WR Jamari Thrash, S Cam’Ron Kelly, CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
Expected key additions: DL Thor Griffith, QB Tyler Shough, CB Jalen Kimber, DL Jordan Guerad, OT Monroe Mills, WR Ja’Corey Brooks, WR Caullin Lacy, TE Mark Redman, TE Tanner Koziol, RB Peny Boone
2024 outlook: Kiffin might be the “king of the transfer portal,” but Louisville’s Jeff Brohm isn’t doing too bad in landing impact transfers, either. The Cardinals will add at least 17 transfers, including several on offense who might jump-start their inconsistent passing game. Shough turns 25 in September and will be playing his seventh season of college football. He is 13-7 as a starter at Oregon and Texas Tech. Brooks (Alabama) and Lacy (South Alabama) were big additions at receiver, as were Redman and Koziol at tight end. Boone was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, rushing for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns. Much of the defense is expected to return intact, led by ends Ashton Gillotte (11 sacks) and Mason Reiger (five sacks). Griffith, an FCS All-America defensive tackle at Harvard, had 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2023.
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Jalon Daniels connects with Jared Casey for Jayhawks TD in OT
Jalon Daniels connects with Jared Casey for Jayhawks TD in OT
2023 record: 9-4, 5-4 Big 12
Expected key losses: OT Dominick Puni, C Mike Novitsky, G Ar’maj Reed-Adams, DE Austin Booker, DL Gage Keys, S Kenny Logan Jr., LB Rich Miller, LB Craig Young
Expected key additions: S Devin Dye, DE Dylan Wudke, TE DeShawn Hanika, DE Deshawn Warner, LB Dakyus Brinkley, CB Austin Alexander, CB Jalen Todd
2024 outlook: Lance Leipold has done tremendous work at Kansas, leading the Jayhawks to consecutive bowl games and their first postseason victory since 2008, a 49-36 win against UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Now, Kansas could be on the verge of even bigger things in 2024 — if quarterback Jalon Daniels can recover from a back injury. The Jayhawks will have to do some work in the trenches, with three starting offensive linemen departing, along with Booker, the top pass-rusher. However, leading rusher Devin Neal, top receivers Lawrence Arnold, Quentin Skinner and Luke Grimm are all returning. Former BYU and Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes was hired to replace Kotelnicki.
2023 record: 11-3, 8-0 AAC
Expected key losses: NT Jordan Miller, DT Elijah Chatman, LB Nelson Paul, CB Charles Woods, CB Chris Megginson, OT Hyrin White
Expected key additions DL Mike Lockhart, CB Deuce Harmon, OT Savion Byrd, DE Omari Abor, DL Jonathan Jefferson, OL Nate Anderson, LB Justin Medlock, WR Ashton Cozart, DE Jahfari Harvey
2024 outlook: The Mustangs had quite a swan song in the American Athletic Conference, winning a conference title and putting together their best season since Eric Dickerson and Craig James were part of the “Pony Express” backfield in 1982. Now, the Mustangs will try to transition that success to the ACC. Starting quarterback Preston Stone, who broke his left leg and didn’t play in the AAC championship game or bowl game, is coming back. So are running back Jaylan Knighton and potentially four starting offensive linemen. Getting defensive end Elijah Roberts (9.5 sacks in 2023) to return was also another coup for coach Rhett Lashlee. The Mustangs will need to find two new starting cornerbacks in the spring and shore up the interior defensive line.
2023 record: 10-4, 7-2 Big Ten
Expected key losses: CB Cooper DeJean, P Tory Taylor, G Rusty Feth, DT Logan Lee, DE Joe Evans, WR Nico Ragaini
Expected key additions: G Cody Fox, LB Preston Ries, LB Cam Buffington, QB James Resar, OT Will Nolan, K Rhys Dakin
2024 outlook: Hear me out: Iowa averaged 15.4 points per game in 2023, which ranked 132nd out of 133 FBS teams (only Kent State was worse) in scoring offense. The Hawkeyes somehow managed to win 10 games and capture a Big Ten West title. Sure, they were shut out in their final two games, falling to Michigan 26-0 in the Big Ten championship game and to Tennessee 35-0 in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. It was the first time Iowa had been shut out in consecutive games since 1966. Don’t forget Iowa played its final nine games without starting quarterback Cade McNamara, who tore an ACL on Sept. 30. So, if coach Kirk Ferentz can hire the right offensive coordinator to replace his son, Brian, things have to get better, right? A handful of six-year seniors, including cornerback Jermari Harris and linebacker Jay Higgins, have already announced they’re coming back. The bad news: Taylor is departing after setting an NCAA record for punting yards in a season with 4,479.
HOUSTON — Astros starter Framber Valdez said he apologized to catcher Cesar Salazar after hitting him in the chest with a pitch Tuesday night, but the left-hander insisted it wasn’t intentional.
Valdez appeared to shake off Salazar on a 1-0 pitch with the bases loaded and Trent Grisham of the New York Yankees at the plate in the fifth inning. Salazar then urged Valdez to step off the mound, but he proceeded with the pitch, which Grisham launched to deep left field to give New York a 6-0 lead in an eventual 7-1 win.
On the second pitch to the next batter, Valdez hit Salazar in the chest with a 93 mph pitch, raising questions about whether he was upset about what happened in the Grisham at-bat and if it was intended.
Valdez said it was not.
“What happened with us, we just got crossed up,” Valdez said in Spanish through an interpreter. “I called for that pitch, I threw it and we got crossed up. We went down to the dugout and I excused myself with him and I said sorry to him and I take full responsibility for that.”
Valdez was then asked directly if he did it on purpose.
“No,” he said. “It was not intentional.”
Valdez and Salazar were talking when reporters entered the clubhouse after the game, and Valdez said they had sorted things out.
“We were able to talk through it,” he said. “We spoke after the game … at his locker and everything’s good between us. It’s just stuff that happens in baseball. But yeah, we talked through it and we’re good.”
Salazar also was asked about what happened on the pitch where he was hit.
“The stadium was loud,” he said. “I thought I pressed the button, but I pressed the wrong button. I was expecting another pitch, but it wasn’t it.”
Salazar said Valdez didn’t hit him on purpose.
“No, me and Framber we actually have a really good relationship,” he said.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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David Schoenfield
With each postseason expansion throughout MLB’s history, the value of division races has diluted. In the wild-card era, you can finish in second place — or even third or fourth — and still win the World Series.
Does that make September less exciting? There’s no doubt it brings more teams and more fans into the mix. And a big game is still a big game, even if there is slightly less tension in a Red Sox-Yankees or Mets-Phillies series than there otherwise might be if both teams already know they’re going to make the playoffs.
Thus, we’re mostly left with wild-card races and battles for seeding to occupy our time and scoreboard watching. That still offers plenty of fun, still makes September the best month on the baseball calendar, and there’s still a lot of sweating going on when your closer walks two batters in the ninth trying to protect a one-run lead. The 12 postseason slots aren’t completely locked up, so if you’re a fan of the Mets or Mariners, you can’t breathe easily just yet — not until a playoff spot is clinched and the champagne uncorked.
September is here, believe it or not. We have races to decide. Let’s rank their potential excitement level over the final month.
1. National League West race
Standings: Los Angeles Dodgers up 2 games on San Diego Padres
What’s at stake: This is the best rivalry going on in the majors right now. The teams don’t like each other, the fans don’t like each other, and there’s still that element of David trying to knock out Goliath as the Padres seek their first division title since 2006 and their first World Series title ever. The teams have met three times in the NL Division Series since 2020 — with the Dodgers winning in 2020 and 2024 and the Padres victorious in 2022 — and with another rematch possible, home-field advantage could be key.
Do the Dodgers need to win the division? No, they will still be more focused on getting the pitching staff healthy and ready for October than on getting consumed in the race to win the division. It would probably mean more to the Padres, who want to finally beat their I-5 rivals in something besides that one playoff series. On the other hand, San Diego is probably a little better equipped for a short wild-card series, as it can ride its bullpen for the two or three games.
Series to watch: Somehow, the schedule-makers thought it would be a good idea to not have the Dodgers playing the Padres in September. The Dodgers finish with a road trip to Arizona and Seattle while the Padres end at home against Milwaukee and Arizona. The Dodgers won the season series, so they own the tiebreaker.
Dodgers player to watch: Blake Snell has been a notable second-half pitcher in his career and has a 2.54 ERA since returning from the injured list in August, but he hasn’t been quite as dominant as when he gets on one of his patented hot streaks (such as the second half last year, when he had a 1.45 ERA and .130 average allowed). The Dodgers won last season despite a beat-up rotation that wasn’t even all that effective in the playoffs. But the bullpen has been nowhere near as strong this season as in 2024, so they’ll need that dominant version of Snell down the stretch and in October.
Padres player to watch: Ramon Laureano has been the team’s best hitter since he was acquired at the trade deadline, slashing .305/.354/.581 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs in 28 games. He helped keep the offense afloat in August as Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. each hit just one home run on the month and Jackson Merrill has been injured. Laureano’s production has been great, but the Padres need more power from their big two.
2. American League East
Standings: Toronto Blue Jays up 3 games on New York Yankees, 3.5 games on Boston Red Sox
What’s at stake: This has been the wildest division race all season. The Blue Jays were eight games back in late May when they fell under .500 but have now held first place since July 3. The Yankees fell as many as 6.5 games back in August before cleaning up against the Washington Nationals and Chicago White Sox this past week to draw closer. The Red Sox were 41-44 on June 30, but only the Brewers have a better record since that date. The Yankees have a plus-134 run differential, whereas it’s plus-56 for the Blue Jays and plus-102 for the Red Sox, so you wonder why they’re even in this position. However, New York is 5-8 in extra-inning games (the Blue Jays are 8-4) and hasn’t played well against Toronto and Boston (5-15).
Series to watch: Blue Jays at Yankees (Friday-Sunday); Red Sox at Blue Jays (Sept. 23-25); Yankees at Red Sox (Sept. 12-14). All three season series have already been clinched: The Blue Jays over the Red Sox and Yankees and the Red Sox over the Yankees. That will leave the Yankees on the short end of any tiebreaker.
Blue Jays player to watch: Toronto acquired Shane Bieber at the deadline even though he was still completing his minor league rehab from Tommy John surgery. He has allowed three runs in two starts for the Blue Jays, striking out 15 with no walks in 11⅓ innings. It’s just two starts, but he looks like he did when he was the Cleveland ace, plus he has allowed the Jays to go to a six-man rotation. Don’t be surprised if he ends up as the Game 1 starter in the postseason.
Yankees player to watch: Aaron Judge is still probably the MVP favorite, but after missing 10 days with a flexor strain in his right elbow, he hasn’t been quite the same, hitting .241/.417/.506 with six home runs and 12 RBIs in 24 games in August. Though those are still good numbers, it seems fair to call it a slight slump by Judge’s recent historic standards — and it’s not the same level of production as before his injury. He also still hasn’t played the field, which limits the red-hot Giancarlo Stanton to pinch-hitting duties when the Yankees are on the road (manager Aaron Boone has been willing to play Stanton in right field at Yankee Stadium, where there’s less ground to cover).
Red Sox player to watch: Sixty-nine games into his career, 21-year-old rookie Roman Anthony has made it clear: He’s going to be a big star. Sure, he can cut his strikeout rate a bit, but he already has A-plus plate discipline and has the second-highest hard-hit percentage in the majors behind only Kyle Schwarber. And Anthony is also quickly learning to lift the ball, slugging six home runs in August after hitting one each in June and July.
3. National League race for No. 2 seed
Standings: Milwaukee Brewers hold No. 1 seed with 5.5-game cushion; Philadelphia Phillies up 1 game on Dodgers, 3 games on Padres
What’s at stake: The Phillies hold a comfortable lead over the Mets in the NL East, so they have about a 90% chance of winning the division, but Philadelphia is neck and neck with the pair of NL West rivals for the second-best record in the NL. Home-field advantage isn’t a must to win a World Series — we’ve seen wild-card teams take it all, such as the Rangers in 2023 when they were the fifth seed in the AL — but the Phillies have an extreme home/road split this season, going 45-23 in Philadelphia and 34-35 elsewhere. They’re hitting .275 with an .808 OPS at home, .239 with a .693 OPS on the road.
Series to watch: Phillies at Dodgers (Sept. 15-17). The Phillies finish with a six-game homestand against the Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins, which looks like a favorable way to end the season.
Phillies player to watch: Kyle Schwarber, of course, and Cristopher Sanchez as he takes over the role of staff ace from the injured Zack Wheeler. But the bullpen has been the issue the past two postseasons for the Phillies, which puts Jhoan Duran on the spot as well. Acquired from the Twins at the trade deadline to take over as closer, Duran has mostly done the job, but he blew one save against the Nationals, picking up the loss, and then lost another game against the Mets when he allowed four straight hits without getting an out.
4. American League race for top two seeds
Standings: Detroit Tigers hold No. 1 seed and are up 0.5 games on Blue Jays, 3.5 games on Yankees, 4 games on Red Sox and 4.5 games on Astros
What’s at stake: Bragging rights? Momentum heading into the postseason? Home-field advantage? Sure, all those things are nice, and the Tigers have a notable home/road split (44-25 versus 36-33), so securing that top seed, which they’ve held much of the way in the AL, would be the final touch on an excellent regular season. Still, if you’re manager A.J. Hinch, you’re not going to burn out your rotation in September just to get that top seed. If the Astros climb closer to the Tigers and Blue Jays, however, it will get more interesting as teams want to avoid that wild-card series if possible.
Series to watch: Tigers at Yankees (Sept. 9-11); Tigers at Red Sox (Sept. 26-28); Yankees at Astros (Tuesday-Thursday); Astros at Blue Jays (Sept. 9-11)
Tigers player to watch: The Tigers have been searching for a No. 2 starter behind Tarik Skubal all year. Jack Flaherty has been inconsistent all season and had three starts in August where he allowed five or more runs. Casey Mize has a 7.20 ERA over his past eight starts. Chris Paddack? No. Maybe it’s 41-year-old vet Charlie Morton, who has a 4.61 ERA in his five starts with Detroit, as he has mixed in three excellent outings with two bad ones (although he fanned 10 in one of the bad ones). No matter what, there are going to be a lot of bullpen games for the Tigers in the playoffs when Skubal isn’t pitching, especially since the pen was much better in August after struggling in June and July (and adding some depth at the deadline).
5. American League West
Standings: Houston Astros up 2 games on Seattle Mariners
What’s at stake: The Mariners haven’t won a division title since … hold on here, scrolling through the years on Baseball-Reference.com … that’s right, the 116-win season in 2001. The Mariners made some weird pact with the baseball gods that season, which for some reason didn’t include them making the World Series after their historic regular season but did include them not making the postseason again until 2022. That’s right: They remain the only franchise never to appear in the Fall Classic. Winning the division would increase their odds just a bit and allow them to set their rotation for the ALDS.
Series to watch: Mariners at Astros (Sept. 19-21). The season series is tied 5-5, so the winner of this series gets that crucial tiebreaker edge. Of note: The Mariners have lost five consecutive road series and are 1-6-1 (they split a four-game series) in their past eight. The Astros have managed to keep their grip on first place despite going 12-13 in July and 13-15 in August. They’ve won every full-season AL West title going back to 2017.
Astros player to watch: Yordan Alvarez returned last week after being out since early May with a hand injury. He homered in his second game back and didn’t strike out in his first five games. The Astros have even started him twice in left field, allowing them to give Jose Altuve a DH day. Bottom line: If Alvarez is producing, a below-average offense suddenly looks at least like an average — or better-than-average — offense. With Alvarez, Altuve and Carlos Correa, it’s 2019 or 2021 all over again, two seasons that ended with the Astros playing in the World Series.
Mariners player to watch: How much does Cal Raleigh have left in the tank? He’s sitting on 50 home runs but also hit .194 in July and .173 in August. He’s still doing damage with the long ball and has had 17 home runs and 36 RBIs over the two months, but he’s not carrying the offense as he did in the first half.
6. American League Wild Card
Standings: Mariners hold third wild-card spot and are up 2.5 games on Kansas City Royals, 3 games on Texas Rangers and 4 games on Cleveland Guardians
What’s at stake: By no means are the Mariners out of the AL West race against Houston, but they also haven’t played well enough to pull away in the wild-card fight, even after everyone declared them a sure-thing playoff team following the acquisitions of Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor at the deadline. But given Seattle’s recent history of just missing the playoffs — two wins short in 2021, one short in 2023 and 2024 — Mariners fans are understandably nervous about blowing it, especially with the Royals and the Rangers refusing to go away.
Series to watch: Mariners at Royals (Sept. 16-18); Royals at Guardians (Sept. 8-10); Rangers at Guardians (Sept. 26-28). The Royals finished one game ahead of the Mariners for a wild-card spot last season, so this looks like the key series. The Mariners have one three-game series in Houston starting Sept. 19. If they can survive this current road trip — they just went 1-2 against Cleveland and now head to Tampa and Atlanta — that series looms large as well.
Royals player to watch: Is it too late to toss Bobby Witt Jr. into the Judge/Raleigh MVP debate? He’s making a late run with his outstanding all-around game and just had his best month of the season. With Vinnie Pasquantino mashing home runs and some trade acquisitions chipping in, Kansas City is peaking at the right time. The Royals have played well for two months now and have a pretty soft schedule for the final month.
Rangers player to watch: The Rangers looked out of it, and they’re going to be without Nathan Eovaldi for the rest of the season — and likely Marcus Semien as well — and Corey Seager for some period of time following an appendectomy. But they just won three series in a row. Without Eovaldi, Jack Leiter has to continue to pitch well: He has a 2.88 ERA over his past 11 starts and just tossed back-to-back excellent games.
Guardians player to watch: Cleveland is barely hanging in there, taking two of three against the Mariners as Kyle Manzardo hit big home runs in wins Friday and Saturday. He’s hitting .273/.362/.545 since July 12, giving Cleveland a much-needed power source other than Jose Ramirez.
7. National League East and NL Wild Card
Standings: Phillies up 6 games on Mets in division; Mets up 4 games on Cincinnati Reds in wild card
What’s at stake: The Mets temporarily made the division race interesting again after sweeping Philadelphia early last week but then lost three of four at home to the Marlins. That’s unacceptable if you want to win the division. The Reds continue to falter, so the Mets’ wild-card spot looks reasonably safe, though they are just .500 since May 1.
Series to watch: Mets at Phillies (Sept. 8-11); Mets at Reds (Friday-Sunday). With next week’s four-game series, the NL East remains in play even though it would take an epic New York comeback combined with a Phillies collapse for the Mets to win the division. They’ve already clinched the season series over the Phillies with a 7-2 advantage. Meanwhile, the Reds have a chance to put pressure on the Mets with a three-game series in Cincinnati before New York’s trip to Philadelphia.
Mets player to watch: Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong. The Mets’ rotation has scuffled for a while, so suddenly the season rests heavily on their two prized rookie starters. McLean won his first three starts, allowing just two runs in 20⅓ innings. Tong, who led minor league starters in ERA and strikeouts, beat the Marlins in his debut Friday, striking out six in five innings with no walks while showcasing the changeup that allowed him to dominate the minors.
Reds player to watch: What’s happening with Elly De La Cruz‘s power? He hasn’t homered since July 31 and has just one in his past 58 games.
8. National League Central
Standings: Brewers up 6.5 games on Chicago Cubs
What’s at stake: This is another David vs. Goliath matchup. Milwaukee, of course, is Goliath. The Cubs won the NL Central in the COVID-shortened season of 2020 but haven’t taken a full-season division title since 2017. Given the Brewers’ lead with no signs of faltering, the odds are slim that Chicago can chase them down.
Series to watch: The two teams are done for their season series, and the Cubs took it 7-6, so at least they own the tiebreaker.
Brewers player to watch: Closer Trevor Megill landed on the IL a few days ago with a flexor strain in his elbow after blowing three saves since mid-August, so Abner Uribe takes over. If the Cubs have a chance to catch the Brewers, it might be because the Milwaukee pen, which has been worked hard, burns out in September, especially with the Brewers in the midst of playing 19 games in 18 days.
Cubs player to watch: Kyle Tucker slumped as he played through a hairline fracture in his right hand for two months. He finally broke out with three home runs in two games and has hit over .400 his past nine games. The Cubs’ offense was horrid in August — Pete Crow-Armstrong also struggled — and they’ll need Tucker and the rest of the lineup to rebound in September.
9. American League Central
Standings: Tigers up 9.5 games on Royals
What’s at stake: This one is all but over — though, it’s not impossible for the Royals. The Mets blew a seven-game lead in 2007 with 17 games to play. The 1995 Angels entered September with a 7.5-game lead and lost the division in a tiebreaker game. The 2009 Tigers were up seven games on Sept. 6 and blew it. The 2011 Braves had an 8.5-game lead in the wild-card race at the start of September and missed the playoffs. And during that same season, the Red Sox were leading the Yankees in the AL East and nine games up on the Rays — who would catch them on the final day of the season to win the wild card. So … you never know.
Series to watch: The Tigers and Royals are done playing each other, with Detroit winning the season series 9-4.
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