Georgia-Texas! Oregon-Ohio State! UCLA-Rutgers? Breaking down the new reality of realignment
The 2024 college football season will be full of changes, including new coaches, big-name transfers who have switched schools and the expanded, 12-team playoff.
Perhaps the most sweeping changes of all will be in the makeup of the remaining power conferences: the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC. To review, Texas and Oklahoma will be in the SEC; USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington will be in the Big Ten; Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State will be in the Big 12, and Stanford, Cal and SMU will be in the ACC.
We asked our college football reporters to share their thoughts on the new-look conferences: what new matchups they’re most excited to see, which ones they’re struggling to come to grips with, and which teams will be most impacted by the realignments.
Other roundtables:
Most excited to see | 12-team playoff
What new conference matchup are you most eager to see?
Georgia-Texas
After falling short of a third consecutive national title, Georgia will go into the season favored to claim a third championship in four seasons. But the team’s schedule away from Athens isn’t easy, and features Clemson (neutral), Alabama (road) and Ole Miss (road), in addition to its first visit to Texas since 1958. Texas seems as prepared for entry into the SEC as a team could possibly be, after reaching its first CFP, beating Alabama on the road last year and taking the Tide to the brink in 2022 at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Carson Beck–Quinn Ewers quarterback matchup could carry Heisman Trophy implications. — Adam Rittenberg
Ohio State-Oregon
Both Ohio State and Oregon could be in the preseason top 10 and both will come into the season very motivated after falling short of the College Football Playoff in 2023. A pair of new quarterbacks — Will Howard from Kansas State to the Buckeyes and Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma to the Ducks — should have the offenses humming when they meet for the first time as Big Ten foes Oct. 12 in Eugene. As the playoff expands to 12 teams, recall these programs met for the first CFP crown in 2014 and likely aren’t leaving the national stage anytime soon. — Blake Baumgartner
Tennessee-Oklahoma
Oklahoma makes its SEC debut at home Sept. 21 against Tennessee, and much of the storyline will revolve around Josh Heupel, who brings the Vols back to his old stomping grounds. Heupel quarterbacked the Sooners to a national championship in 2000 and was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. He was later the offensive coordinator at OU, but was fired by Bob Stoops following the 2014 season. So there aren’t a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings surrounding Heupel’s exit from his alma mater. A lot of eyes will also be on both quarterbacks. This will be Nico Iamaleava‘s first true road game as Tennessee’s starter and the first marquee game for Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold as he takes over for Dillon Gabriel. And in a lot of ways, this could be a playoff elimination game. The loser would have a huge mountain to climb to claw its way back into the playoff picture with a loss so early in the season and so many difficult games ahead. — Chris Low
Oklahoma-LSU
I’ll steer clear of old-turned-new rivalries for this — Texas-Texas A&M, Texas-Arkansas, Oklahoma-Missouri — and point out that it’s noteworthy that Oklahoma’s first SEC campaign ends in Baton Rouge. Playing in Death Valley is the ultimate “You’re in the SEC now!” moment, and the stakes could be pretty high as well. While neither OU nor LSU will be the SEC favorite in 2024, both could be within reach of a CFP at-large bid heading into the season’s home stretch. In fact, there’s a nonzero chance this one’s an elimination game of sorts. Playing in Death Valley in a must-win situation? Welcome to the SEC, indeed. — Bill Connelly
Texas-Texas A&M
OK, this isn’t exactly a “new” matchup, but if you’re college-aged or younger, it’s probably new to you. The overarching complaint about realignment for the better part of the past 20 years is that it has destroyed old rivalries, and this latest round appears to have at least temporarily upended some good ones (RIP Bedlam). But it also reunites Texas and A&M in the same league, giving them a head-to-head matchup for the first time since the Aggies left for the SEC after the 2011 season. There were several attempts over the past 12 years to get the game going again, but none came to fruition, leaving the state — and the college football world — without one of its most intense rivalry games. Well, thanks to realignment, Aggies-Longhorns is back for 2024, and we couldn’t be more excited. That the game might also have genuine playoff and SEC championship implications only adds to the appeal. And with this year’s game played in College Station, that enthusiasm should lead to massive ticket sales, which will help A&M pay some small portion of all the money it owes Jimbo Fisher. Win-win. — David Hale
Which new matchup will be the hardest for you to wrap your brain around?
Ohio State-USC
With the four Pac-12 schools coming into the Big Ten, I could have gone a few directions with this. But the pull of having Ohio State and USC — two traditional college football powerhouses — competing inside the same conference is too intriguing to pass up. The Buckeyes travel to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2026 before the Trojans go to Columbus in 2027. Two programs with a combined 14 Heisman Trophy winners and 19 national championships locking horns for the first time as Big Ten compatriots will take a minute or two to digest. — Baumgartner
Stanford-Syracuse and Cal-Wake Forest
The recent realignment will make a lot of matchups feel odd, but it will really hit home when Cal and Stanford travel across the country to play Friday night games within the league. Stanford makes its ACC debut Sept. 20, as it goes all the way to Syracuse for its first-ever game with the Orange. Seven weeks later, Cal makes its cross-country voyage to face Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The new-look ACC has a ton of bizarre games — Florida State at SMU, Miami at Cal, Stanford at Clemson — given its new coast-to-coast footprint. — Rittenberg
Colorado-UCF
Colorado and Coach Prime travel to UCF on Sept. 28 in the Buffaloes’ first road game in the new-look Big 12. It’s just under 1,900 miles to get from Boulder, Colorado, to Orlando, Florida, and the idea of Colorado and UCF playing in a Big 12 game (in the shadow of Disney World, no less) is going to take some getting used to. But for Buffs coach Deion Sanders, it could have the feel of a home game. He played at Florida State and grew up in Fort Myers, Florida. — Low
UCLA-Rutgers
UCLA is 2,800 miles away from Rutgers. The Bruins are only 2,700 miles away from Guatemala! I’m not sure I will ever get used to this. — Connelly
All of the regionally challenged matchups
Let’s be real. Many of them have been listed above, whether it’s one of the former Pac-12 schools competing in the ACC, or something as stark as UCLA-Rutgers. The rivalries and tradition of college football, a huge part of the sport’s appeal, were built in large part on regionality. We will always take our college football however it is served to us, but that doesn’t mean these matchups aren’t weird. — Harry Lyles Jr.
Which team’s fortunes will change the most under the new alignment?
UCLA
UCLA last won a conference championship in 1998, when Bob Toledo guided the Bruins to the Pac-12 title, and they haven’t come close to a College Football Playoff appearance since its inception in 2014. Now toss them into the Big Ten with some of their old rivals in Oregon, USC and Washington (the Bruins went a combined 12-18 against those teams over the past 10 years) along with the likes of Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, and it’s not far-fetched to think UCLA will become even less relevant over the next decade. — Low
Wisconsin
The school hired coach Luke Fickell primarily to make the 12-team CFP, which the Badgers would have already reached a few times had it existed earlier. Fickell had an uneven first season, especially on offense, as Wisconsin adjusted to the Air Raid-style scheme run by coordinator Phil Longo. But Fickell is taking steps to prepare Wisconsin for a Big Ten with greater depth, especially on offense, in part by being aggressive in the transfer portal. If Longo’s offense can click behind quarterback transfer Tyler Van Dyke, Wisconsin should take a step forward. While other teams in the former Big Ten West have maintained the status quo in their structure, Wisconsin is modernizing to contend in the new league. — Rittenberg
Penn State
Under James Franklin’s stewardship, Penn State has had five 10-win seasons, four 11-win seasons and a Big Ten title in 2016 since his arrival from Vanderbilt in 2014. But given the stability Franklin has provided, the program has yet to take the next step. The Nittany Lions’ conference fortunes might not get dramatically better because they haven’t been able to consistently beat Ohio State or Michigan, but the opportunity to finally reach the CFP for the first time is there with the expansion to 12 teams. — Baumgartner
Oklahoma
Back to the Sooners. OU fans wanted bigger home games, and they’re going to get them, starting with a home finale against Alabama in 2024. But they also drew a ridiculously stiff set of conference opponents this time around. Even without a marquee nonconference opponent, they have the third-hardest schedule in the country in 2024, according to my SP+ strength-of-schedule ratings. You ask for it, you get it. — Connelly
SMU
The best answer is probably Oklahoma, but what’s the fun in agreeing with Connelly? Instead, let’s go with SMU, which is moving to the ACC and forgoing all conference revenue distribution for the foreseeable future, all so it can have a seat at the big-boy table (at least for as long as the ACC keeps its invite to the party). SMU is 43-19 since 2019, and the Mustangs won the American championship last year. Their reward? A bowl game against 6-6 Boston College, which they lost. So what happens when SMU transitions full time to the ACC? This year’s schedule includes Florida State and Louisville (the teams that played in last year’s ACC championship game) as well as road trips to Duke and a home game against the aforementioned Eagles, plus nonconference games against BYU and TCU. It’s entirely possible SMU follows in the footsteps of programs such as TCU and Utah, who transitioned to the Power 5 and blossomed, but even those schools took a year or two to adjust. Building depth to handle the rigors of a 12-game power conference slate takes time and resources, and the Mustangs might be in for a few growing pains along the way. — Hale
The Big 12 conference
Sorry for being broad again, but in a conference that is losing two teams in Texas and Oklahoma that won a combined 12 of the past 14 conference championship games (yes, I know the Longhorns had only three of those), now is a great time to establish yourself as the new leader of the pack. The incumbent teams of years past don’t have to worry about the two biggest roadblocks along their path to greatness. And for last season’s newcomers — BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF — and the Pac-12 additions in Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah, this league feels more wide open than it has in a long time. — Lyles
There’s lots to love about the 12-team playoff (unless you’re Alabama), but at the top of the list is this: We get three times as much star power this year.
In the four-team era, the country wouldn’t get to see the explosiveness of Ashton Jeanty or the brute force of Cam Skattebo or the all-around brilliance of Tyler Warren. The stage is bigger, so the stars can shine brighter.
With that in mind, ESPN’s Bill Connelly, David Hale, Chris Low, Adam Rittenberg and Paolo Uggetti combed through the rosters of all 12 playoff teams to rank the top 50 players of the College Football Playoff.
This isn’t a ranking of the stars who accomplished the most in the regular season, per se, though that plays a part. It’s also not necessarily a ranking of the players who will put up the biggest numbers over the next seven weeks. Consider it more of a viewer’s guide: When you tune in for the College Football Playoff, these are the 50 players you won’t want to miss. — David Hale
WR, Clemson, sophomore
2024 stats: 838 yards, 10 TDs
After a breakout freshman season in 2022, Williams missed all but five games last year. The time away did little to hamper his development, however, and he returned in 2024 with a vengeance. He finished the season as the only player in the country with at least 800 receiving yards, 100 rushing yards and 100 punt return yards, and he also added a passing touchdown to his résumé, too. Williams was Clemson’s most consistent receiver, catching 10 touchdown passes and hauling in at least five passes in each of the Tigers’ final six games. His 18-yard grab on the final scrimmage play of the ACC championship game set up the game-winning field goal that launched Clemson into the playoff. — Hale
OL, Arizona State, senior
2024 stats: No sacks allowed
ASU’s offensive MVP in 2023, the center returned to Tempe for his senior season and became one of the rocks of the Big 12’s surprise team. Starting all 13 games, he was credited with only eight blown blocks all season — five pressures and three blown run blocks — and he will finish his career having earned all-conference votes in three separate conferences: the Mountain West (with UNLV), Pac-12 and Big 12. He’s a modern success story. — Bill Connelly
DB, Georgia, senior
2024 stats: 46 solo tackles, 1 FF, 3 PDs, 2 INTs
While Bulldogs safeties Malaki Starks and KJ Bolden were five-star recruits, Jackson had zero stars as a senior at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia. Jackson wasn’t even an invited walk-on when he joined the Bulldogs in 2019. Remarkably, on a defense littered with future NFL players the past few seasons, Jackson started 18 games. This season, the hard-hitting safety had 60 tackles, 1½ tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery. The sixth-year senior made one of the biggest plays of the season when he forced Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King to fumble with about two minutes left in regulation. Georgia won 44-42 in overtime. — Mark Schlabach
DE, Boise State, senior
2024 stats: 23 solo tackles, 8.5 sacks
After spending much of his childhood in Egypt, Hassanein has blossomed into one of the best defensive players in college football. He was named first-team All-Mountain West for a second straight year after finishing the regular season with 8.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. — Kyle Bonagura
DB, Indiana, sophomore
2024 stats: 35 solo tackles, 2 INTs, 9 PDs
Ponds delivered one of the more memorable plays in Indiana’s breakthrough season, a 65-yard pick-six against Washington before a raucous crowd on a weekend where ESPN’s “College GameDay” went to Bloomington for just the second time. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Ponds had two interceptions against Washington and finished the season with 53 tackles, which ranked fourth on the team. Ponds, a first-team All-Big Ten selection who joined Curt Cignetti at IU from James Madison, led the Hoosiers with nine pass breakups and also blocked a punt against Michigan State that resulted in a safety. — Adam Rittenberg
S, Penn State, senior
2024 stats: 43 solo tackles, 1 FF, 3 INTs, 3 PDs
He has lined up as a safety, a nickelback, an outside linebacker and an inside linebacker. He leads Penn State’s defense in tackles and has generated 6 pressures and 1.5 sacks in 30 pass rushes. He also has made seven run stops (at or behind the line of scrimmage) and has picked off three passes with three breakups in coverage. He is the kind of senior leader every good defense needs. — Connelly
QB, Arizona State, freshman
2024 stats: 2,663 yards, 24 TDs, 5 INTs
As important as Cam Skattebo was, Leavitt wasn’t far behind. The Sun Devils were 11-1 with him as the starter and have not lost a game he has played since Sept. 21, a span of eight games to end the regular season. Leavitt threw for 2,663 yards with 24 touchdowns to five interceptions and his QBR (81.6) ranked No. 11 in college football. — Bonagura
QB, Notre Dame, senior
2024 stats: 2,092 yards, 16 TDs, 5 INTs
At first, his tenure as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback was defined by a dismal loss to Northern Illinois. But since Week 3, he has been the seventh-best quarterback in college football (and third best in the CFP) based on Total QBR. He has topped 80 non-sack rushing yards four times, he has completed 68% of his passes with 16 TDs and only three interceptions since NIU, and most importantly, Notre Dame is 10-0 since then, too. — Connelly
QB, Ohio State, senior
2024 stats: 2,860 yards, 27 TDs, 8 INTs
A transfer from Kansas State, Howard stepped into a high-profile role and generally handled himself well. He completed 72.3% of his passes for 2,860 yards and 27 touchdowns. Howard had some tough moments in Ohio State’s losses to Oregon and Michigan, and even in a win at Penn State, but his accuracy stands out, and he rushed for touchdowns in seven games. A third-team All-Big Ten selection, Howard had multiple touchdown passes in 10 of 12 games and has 66 touchdown passes over the past three seasons. — Rittenberg
LB, Notre Dame, senior
2024 stats: 37 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF
No player in Notre Dame’s storied history has appeared in more games wearing an Irish uniform than Kiser, who is up to 66 in his sixth year with the program. A team captain this fall, he leads Notre Dame with 66 tackles, including three for loss and one sack, and he has added a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and three quarterback hurries. The 6-2, 231-pound Kiser anchors a Notre Dame defense that ranks third nationally in fewest points allowed and has fueled the team’s CFP run. — Rittenberg
S, SMU, junior
2024 stats: 51 solo tackles, 3 INTs, 3 PDs
An all-around ball hawk, Nwokobia emerged as one of the best defensive players in the ACC in the Mustangs’ first season in the league. Nwokobia took the next step after being selected MVP in the American championship game a year ago, finishing second on the team with 96 total tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups and 2 quarterback hurries. His interception in the end zone late against Louisville helped seal one of their best wins of the season. — Andrea Adelson
DL, Tennessee, junior
2024 stats:17 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 FFs
The 6-3, 245-pound junior edge rusher is the highest-graded defender in the SEC (minimum 150 snaps), according to Pro Football Focus. Josephs is second on Tennessee’s team with nine tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries, and he leads the team with three forced fumbles. Josephs had some of his best games in two of the Vols’ biggest wins, including a career-best three quarterback hurries in the win over Alabama and a career-best seven tackles (1.5 for loss) in an overtime win against Florida. — Chris Low
QB, Penn State, junior
2024 stats: 2,894 yards. 21 TDs, 7 INTs
A year ago, the knock on Allar was a lack of big-play performance. His overall numbers were impressive — 25 touchdown passes and only two picks — but after he completed less than half of his passes against Ohio State and Michigan, the enthusiasm was diminished. In the offseason, Penn State brought in new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, and the results have been encouraging. Allar’s yards-per-attempt went from 6.8 in 2023 to 8.9 in 2024, while his completion percentage ballooned from 60% last seaosn to nearly 70% this season. — Hale
RB, Oregon, junior
2024 stats: 1,253 yards, 15 TDs
James was a was a second-team All-Big Ten selection after rushing for 1,253 yards with 15 touchdowns. James was a model of consistency rushing for between 83 and 121 yards in 11 of the Ducks’ 13 games and was held out of the end zone in only two games. — Bonagura
DE, Oregon, sophomore
2024 stats: 23 solo tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 INT
Many expected a breakout sophomore season from Uiagaleielei, who showed plenty of flashes of greatness during limited action in his freshman campaign, and he did just that. Uiagaleilei totaled 10.5 sacks, nearly one per game, and good for eighth-most of any player in the country. The sophomore added 23 solo tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception, solidifying himself as one of the best defenders in the forthcoming playoff field, and in the country. — Paolo Uggetti
DL, Clemson, sophomore
2024 stats: 15 solo tackles, 3 sacks, 1 FF
He’s 315 pounds of pure O-lineman-eating machine, and this season, Clemson lined him up on the edge. The results were mixed. Woods finished the regular season with only three sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss, battling some injuries along the way and sitting out two games. But the upside remains incredible. Woods moves like a player half his size, and even when he’s not making the sack, he’s commanding the attention of opposing offenses, often freeing up rush lanes for his partner in crime, T.J. Parker. In the opener against Texas, he’ll probably have his share of head-to-head battles with Kelvin Banks, setting up one of the most intriguing matchups of the postseason. — Hale
OL, Oregon, junior
2024 stats: 1.4% pressure pct
A first-team All-Big Ten tackle, Conerly was the standout member of an Oregon offensive line that ranked No. 7 nationally in points per drive (3.05). No Power 4 quarterback with as many dropbacks as Ducks QB Dillon Gabriel (439) was sacked fewer times than he was (13), leading a balanced offensive attack. — Bonagura
DE, Boise State, sophomore
2024 stats: 20 solo tackles, 10 sacks, 1 FF
With so much attention on Ashton Jeanty and the Broncos’ offense this season, what has gone under the radar is Boise’s defense and more specifically, the play of defensive end Virgin-Morgan, who has been a force. The sophomore from San Diego didn’t have a single sack in his first season in Boise, but this season he turned the backfield into his playground and recorded 10 sacks. At 6-3, 245 pounds, Virgin-Morgan is one of the more dynamic players in the playoff and certainly one who deserves more of the spotlight. — Uggetti
DE, Ohio State, senior
2024 stats: 20 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 INT
Sawyer nearly came up with the game-changing play, intercepting a pass at the goal line in the fourth quarter against Michigan, but the Wolverines wound up winning anyway 13-10. Sawyer has had an impactful senior season, with 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles on the way to earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. — Jake Trotter
LB, Clemson, senior
2024 stats: 39 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks
Carter opted to return to Clemson for one season, and the move paid off. A Butkus Award finalist and first-team All-ACC selection, Carter again made an impact on defense. Carter racked up 76 total tackles — including 10.5 tackles for loss while adding seven pass breakups and seven passes defended. There’s a reason coach Dabo Swinney calls him “one of the best pure football players I’ve had in 20 years.” — Adelson
QB, SMU, sophomore
2024 stats: 3,050 yards, 22 TDs, 8 INTs
When coach Rhett Lashlee decided to elevate Jennings as his starter midway through the BYU game in Week 3, you could say the decision changed the trajectory of the Mustangs’ season. Jennings went 9-1 as the starter, coming up just short in a 34-31 loss to Clemson in the ACC title game. On the season, Jennings threw for 3,050 yards, 22 touchdowns and 8 interceptions while adding 529 yards rushing and six scores. — Adelson
LB, Ohio State, senior
2024 stats: 31 solo tackles, 5 sacks, 1 FF
Simon can be overshadowed by Ohio State’s other big-name players, but he is quietly having a fantastic senior season. Though only a third-team All-Big Ten selection, the team captain is second on Ohio State with 74 tackles and five sacks. Simon came up with several huge plays late to help the Buckeyes stave off an upset bid from Nebraska in a 21-17 victory in late October. — Trotter
LB, Indiana, junior
2024 stats: 44 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks
Fisher became the engine of Indiana’s improvement on defense under coordinator Bryant Haines. He finished third in the Big Ten with 108 tackles, recording eight or more in eight games. Fisher earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and had four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also became an immediate leader for a defense that led the nation against the run and was No. 6 in fewest points allowed. — Rittenberg
DB, Georgia, junior
2024 stats:48 solo tackles, 1 INT, 3 PDs
Georgia’s coaches asked Starks to wear multiple hats in the secondary this season, as the junior lined up at safety and the star position. He led the Bulldogs with 73 tackles to go with 4 tackles for loss, 1 interception and 3 pass breakups. Starks’ instincts and versatility are a big reason why he’s considered the top safety in next year’s NFL draft. According to PFF, he lined up 252 times in the slot, 190 in the box and 385 on the back end of the defense. He missed six tackles in 843 snaps. — Schlabach
QB, Clemson, junior
2024 stats: 3,303 yards, 33 TDs, 5 INTs
Consistency was the biggest issue for Klubnik in his first season as Clemson’s starter in 2023, but he has been a steady performer week in and week out, particularly when it comes to using his legs. Klubnik rushed for 458 yards and seven touchdowns this season to go with more than 3,300 yards passing. His 33 touchdown throws rank third nationally, his 6.60 TD-to-INT ratio was best in FBS, and his 78.9 Total QBR ranks third among playoff QBs, trailing only Dillon Gabriel and Carson Beck. — Hale
OL, Georgia, senior
2024 stats: 0.4% pressure pct
It was no coincidence that Georgia’s offensive line did a better job protecting quarterback Carson Beck once Ratledge returned to the starting lineup. The 6-6, 320-pound senior sat out four games after undergoing surgery on his right ankle on Sept. 17. He played every snap in the Bulldogs’ 31-17 win over Tennessee on Nov. 16. Georgia didn’t allow the Volunteers’ vaunted defense to record a sack, and Ratledge was selected SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his effort. He gave up one sack and three quarterback hurries in 436 snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus. — Schlabach
DB, Texas, senior
2024 stats: 33 solo tackles, 1 FF, 4 INTs, 5 PDs
The 6-0, 190-pound Austin native, who transferred back to Texas after three years at Clemson, is a physical hitter who helped stabilize the Longhorns’ pass defense, which ranked 116th last season and No. 1 this season (143.1 YPG). He had 52 tackles (four for loss) with four interceptions this season, and led the Longhorns in tackles against Georgia in the SEC championship game with 11. — Dave Wilson
OL, Ohio State, senior
2024 stats: 250 snaps at both LT and LG
Jackson’s versatility helped the Buckeyes weather the season-ending injury to left tackle Josh Simmons. After Jackson slid from left guard to left tackle, the Buckeyes defeated Penn State, then Indiana to earn the home playoff game. Regardless of position, Jackson has given up only seven quarterback pressures and three sacks all season. — Trotter
DL, Indiana, junior
2024 stats: 19 solo tackles, 10 sacks, 2 FFs
The James Madison transfer who followed coach Curt Cignetti to IU filled several roles, including pass rushing, where Kamara thrived. He finished second in the Big Ten in both tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (10), while earning first-team all-conference honors. Kamara became the first Indiana player to record 10 or more sacks since Jammie Kirlew in 2008, and has now recorded a tackle for loss in 30 of 35 career games. Kamara also forced two fumbles and had three fumble recoveries. — Rittenberg
DB, Tennessee, sophomore
2024 stats: 22 solo tackles, 4 INTs, 7 PDs
The Vols picked up McCoy in the transfer portal from Oregon State, and he has been a key addition on a defense that has given up more than 19 points in a game only once this season. The 6-0, 193-pound sophomore was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist as the top defensive back in college football, and he is second in the SEC with 13 passes defended and tied for second with four interceptions. He’s a lockdown cover cornerback who has made several game-changing plays for the Vols. — Low
DL, Tennessee, junior
2024 stats: 20 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 FF
After a slower start, mostly because of added attention from opposing offenses, Pearce played his best football down the stretch and leads all SEC defenders with 52 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. With 110 career pressures in three seasons at Tennessee, the 6-5, 243-pound junior edge rusher leads the Vols with 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks this season. He has registered at least half a tackle for loss in eight straight games. — Low
S, Ohio State, sophomore
2024 stats: 33 solo tackles, 1 INT, 3 PDs
Downs has made an impact in his first season at Ohio State, both on defense and special teams. Downs, the SEC Freshman of the Year last season at Alabama before transferring, is third on the Buckeyes with 61 tackles to go along with two sacks and an interception. He also had a punt return touchdown that ignited a 38-15 rout of Indiana. — Trotter
RB, SMU, senior
2024 stats: 1,270 yards, 14 TDs
Smith made the switch from receiver to running back this season and found a different gear — posting the best season of his career after transferring from Miami. He earned a spot on the All-ACC first team with 1,270 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns, adding 303 yards receiving and four scores. His ability to make explosive plays helped transform the Mustangs’ offense into one of the most dynamic in the country. — Adelson
DE, Clemson, sophomore
2024 stats: 32 solo tackles, 11 sacks, 6 FFs
The sophomore defensive end made a huge impact along the Tigers’ front, with 19 tackles for loss to rank No. 6 in the country, and 11 sacks to rank No. 11. His performance in the second half of the season is where he really made his mark. In his past seven games, Parker has 7 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 16 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage and 32 tackles — including eight and 3.5 tackles for loss in the ACC championship game. — Adelson
QB, Indiana, sophomore
2024 stats: 2,827 yards, 27 TDs, 4 INTs
The Ohio transfer anchored Indiana’s efficient and powerful offense, completing 70.4% of his passes for 2,827 yards with 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He had touchdown passes in 10 of the 11 games he played, and had a 74% or better completion rate six times, while spreading the ball to Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr. and others. Rourke earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and tied a team single-game record with six touchdown passes in a rout of rival Purdue. — Rittenberg
WR, Oregon, senior
2024 stats: 78 receptions, 866 yards, 10 TDs
After a 1,182-yard season while catching passes from Bo Nix last season, it was going to be difficult for Johnson to top that in 2024. Despite not having Nix under center and having to acclimate to a new quarterback while Oregon added transfer wideout Evan Stewart, Johnson didn’t miss a beat. The senior from Alabama was still the Ducks’ leading pass catcher (866 yards and 10 touchdowns) despite sitting out two games because of injury only to have his best game of the season in the Big Ten title game with 181 yards and a touchdown. — Uggetti
DL, Oregon, junior
2024 stats: 24 solo tackles, 5 sacks, 2 FFs
Much like his QB Dillon Gabriel, Harmon has made the most of his transfer decision. After three years at Michigan State, Harmon arrived in Eugene with the expectation he would wreak havoc on the Ducks’ defensive line. He has done exactly that and more. In 13 games, Harmon has 42 tackles, 24 solo tackles, 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles — all of them career highs. Oregon’s defense hasn’t been underrated, but it’s worth noting that its consistency has been largely anchored by Harmon’s play. — Uggetti
S, Notre Dame, senior
2024 stats: 31 solo tackles, 1 FF, 5 INTs, 8 PDs
A year ago, Watts won the Bronko Nagurski trophy as the nation’s best defender, and yet in 2024, he was almost certainly better. Though his interception total dipped from seven to five, that was still tied for third most nationally. Meanwhile, Watts gave up only nine completions — and no TDs — as the primary defender in coverage this season, while racking up 14 passes defended, 11th most in the country. He also tallied 49 tackles, three QB hurries and a forced fumble as the centerpiece of Notre Dame’s exceptional secondary. — Hale
LB, Georgia, junior
2024 stats: 35 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks
The junior won the Butkus Award as the sport’s top linebacker after totaling 57 tackles, 10½ tackles for loss, 6½ sacks and 2 fumble recoveries this season. Texas will probably be happy to see the projected NFL first-round pick turn pro. Walker had seven tackles and three sacks in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 30-15 win at Texas on Oct. 19, then had three tackles for loss and one sack in a 22-19 overtime victory against the Longhorns in the SEC championship game. — Schlabach
RB, Notre Dame, sophomore
2024 stats: 949 yards, 15 TDs
He shares a backfield with the almost equally brilliant Jadarian Price, so his carry totals don’t match those of other backs, but college football’s 2024 hurdles champion proves his awesomeness with every touch, averaging 7.1 yards per carry and scoring a touchdown on every 9.2 carries or receptions. And of the 46 players with at least 900 rushing yards, Love’s 4.1 yards per carry after contact are second to only Ashton Jeanty. — Connelly
WR, Ohio State, freshman
2024 stats: 57 receptions, 934 yards, 10 TDs
The Big Ten Freshman and Receiver of the Year shattered all of Cris Carter’s Ohio State true freshman receiving records set in 1984. On a Buckeyes offense loaded with playmakers, Smith is the most dangerous, highlighted by an ability to bring down one-handed catches or break off big runs after the catch. — Trotter
LB, Texas, sophomore
2024 stats: 47 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks, 4 FFs, 1 INT
The 6-3, 235-pound sophomore linebacker is an every-down, sideline-to-sideline star. He led Texas in tackles (90), tackles for loss (16), forced fumbles (4), and he was second in sacks (7.5). He added an interception, four hurries and a fumble recovery to his stat line this fall. — Wilson
RB, Tennessee, junior
2024 stats: 1,485 yards, 22 TDs
Sampson has been the cornerstone of Tennessee’s offense and one of the more consistent running backs in the country. The 5-11, 201-pound junior has 1,485 rushing yards and set the school record with 22 rushing touchdowns. Sampson became the second Tennessee player to have 10 rushing games of 100-plus yards in a season, and 1,051 of his yards came against SEC competition. He was selected as the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year by the conference’s coaches. — Low
DB, Texas, senior
2024 stats: 32 solo tackles, 5 INT, 9 PDs
Barron, a fifth-year senior, won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. He has 36 career starts for the Longhorns, and he led the SEC in interceptions this season with five, while leading Texas in passes broken up (nine). He added 47 total tackles, a sack and a forced fumble for the nation’s best pass defense that gave up only 143.1 yards per game and 5.1 yards per pass attempt, with just four passing TDs allowed all season. — Wilson
DE, Penn State, junior
2024 stats: 37 solo tackles, 10 sacks, 2 FFs
It’s sometimes hard to stand out on a really good defense. Carter doesn’t have that problem. The junior from Philadelphia ranks first on the Nittany Lions’ defense in tackles for loss (20), sacks (10), pressures (49), run stops (14) and is second in both tackles against the run and tackles against the pass. He’s third nationally in TFLs and fifth in pressures, too. He’s a do-everything star for a do-everything defense. — Connelly
OL, Texas, junior
2024 stats: gave up only 1 pressure
The 6-4, 320-pound junior won the Outland Trophy and started 39 straight games at left tackle. He helped three Texas running backs record 100-yard games this season, and he was the centerpiece for an offense averaging 6.2 yards per play, 164.4 rushing yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry with 21 TDs, while also ranking 13th in passing offense (281 YPG). — Wilson
TE, Penn State, senior
2024 stats: 88 receptions, 1,062 yards, 6 TDs
In any season that didn’t include Travis Hunter, odds are Warren would be considered the clear-cut best all-around player in college football. Penn State used him all over the field offensively, lining him up at tight end, halfback, receiver and even quarterback. Warren finished the regular season with 1,062 receiving yards and six TD catches, 191 rushing yards and four TD runs, and, for good measure, 35 passing yards and a touchdown throw. He’s the first non-QB since Kentucky’s Lynn Bowden to rack up 1,200 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns in a season in which he also threw, ran and caught at least one TD. — Hale
RB, Arizona State, senior
2024 stats: 1,568 yards, 19 TDs
Skattebo was a revelation in Arizona State’s monumental turnaround, becoming the first player in Big 12 history to rush for at least 1,500 yards and have more than 500 yards receiving in the same season. He trailed only Ashton Jeanty in yards from scrimmage this season (2,074) and finished with 22 touchdowns, including nine in his past three games. — Bonagura
QB, Oregon, senior
2024 stats: 3,558 yards, 28 TDs, 6 INTs
The journeyman of college football found his way to Eugene this season and his decision to return to college could not have gone much better. After a stellar year at Oklahoma, Gabriel seamlessly fit into Oregon’s offense and led the Ducks to an undefeated season while completing 73.2% of his passes (the best mark of his college career) for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns. Beyond the numbers, Gabriel has yet to meet a stage too big for him this season — some of his best games have come against Oregon’s toughest opponents, and his experience across six years of college football is bound to be crucial come playoff time. — Uggetti
RB, Boise State, junior
2024 stats: 2,497 yards, 29 TDs
There’s not much more to be said about Jeanty that hasn’t been said this season and yet, it bears repeating, reemphasizing and reiterating just what kind of year Jeanty has put together. Jeanty carried the ball 344 times this season for 2,497 yards (7.3 yards per carry) and 29 touchdowns. It is arguably the best single season by a running back since Barry Sanders in 1988 when he ran for 2,850 yards. His play has been a crucial part for why Boise State finds itself with a place in the College Football Playoff and a first-round bye. Whichever team the Broncos face in the Fiesta Bowl will have to try its best to do what no one else has been able to. Perhaps Jeanty himself said it best, on a recent podcast appearance: “The whole defense, every single week, is geared toward stopping me, and they still couldn’t.” — Uggetti
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Jeff Passan, Senior MLB Insider
Outfielder Max Kepler and the Phillies are in agreement on a one-year, $10 million contract, sources told ESPN, as Philadelphia adds a corner outfielder to its offensive mix as it looks to retool after a disappointing exit in the NL Division Series.
Kepler, 31, spent the first 10 years of his career with the Minnesota Twins, tantalizing with physical tools and providing solid defense. Over the last decade, Kepler has hit .237/.318/.429 with 161 home runs and 508 RBIs in 1,072 games.
The deal, which is pending a physical, was first reported by MLB.com.
Kepler missed time with injuries to both knees in 2024 and hit .253/.302/.380 over 105 games. Expected to spend most of his time with Philadelphia in left field, Kepler had a career-best season in 2019, when he hit .252/.336/.519 with 36 home runs and 90 RBIs.
The Phillies, whose outfield production ranked in the bottom third of Major League Baseball this year, entered the offseason looking to shake up their offense after an NLDS loss to the New York Mets. With Kepler in the fold, Philadelphia could shift Brandon Marsh to center field full time while Nick Castellanos patrols right.
Philadelphia returns the majority of its core, with first baseman Bryce Harper, shortstop Trea Turner, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, catcher J.T. Realmuto and starters Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez. With star outfielder Juan Soto defecting to the Mets and star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. and starter Spencer Strider returning from injuries for the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies’ grip on the NL East — which they won by six games — is tenuous.
They’re banking on rebounding players to help. Philadelphia’s other move thus far this winter was a one-year, $8.5 million contract for closer Jordan Romano, who spent much of this year injured.
Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond faces long odds to play against Clemson in the opening round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday as he continues to recover from a high ankle sprain, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Thursday.
The junior aggravated an ankle injury in Texas’ loss to Georgia in the SEC championship game earlier this month.
Bond has done limited football activity this week and has been focused on rehab work. He will need to significantly improve in next two days to be healthy enough to face the Tigers.
There’s more optimism that Bond will be able to return against Arizona State on Jan. 1 if Texas advances.
Bond is third among Texas receivers with 33 catches for 532 yards. He’s scored five touchdowns on the year.
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