Few sports are as rankings-obsessed as college football. There are committees, television specials, and any number of fans dedicated to crafting the perfect list of NCAA football teams, only to do it all again the following week.
College football is also an ever-changing landscape. There are 134 FBS teams taking the field on a weekly basis, all of which builds up to the College Football Playoff.
This year, I’ll be building out my list of the top 50 teams in college football. We know which schools have been included in the AP Top 25, but that poll excludes a sizable group of teams that can wreak havoc and provide us with massive upsets.
Here are my top 50 college football rankings — plus some teams to keep an eye on as the weeks progress.
All NCAAF odds are current as of Monday, Aug. 19 and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
College Football Power Rankings Index
| Rank | School |
|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia |
| 2 | Texas |
| 3 | Oregon |
| 4 | Ohio State |
| 5 | Alabama |
| 6 | Notre Dame |
| 7 | Ole Miss |
| 8 | Penn State |
| 9 | Missouri |
| 10 | Utah |
| 11 | LSU |
| 12 | Florida State |
| 13 | Michigan |
| 14 | Oklahoma State |
| 15 | Tennessee |
| 16 | Miami (FL) |
| 17 | Clemson |
| 18 | Kansas State |
| 19 | Oklahoma |
| 20 | Texas A&M |
| 21 | Southern California |
| 22 | Iowa State |
| 23 | NC State |
| 24 | Kansas |
| 25 | Louisville |
| 26 | Boise State |
| 27 | Iowa |
| 28 | Arizona |
| 29 | Wisconsin |
| 30 | SMU |
| 31 | West Virginia |
| 32 | Washington State |
| 33 | Virginia Tech |
| 34 | Nebraska |
| 35 | Auburn |
| 36 | Memphis |
| 37 | Appalachian State |
| 38 | Kentucky |
| 39 | Florida |
| 40 | Tulane |
| 41 | TCU |
| 42 | UTSA |
| 43 | NC State |
| 44 | Texas Tech |
| 45 | Maryland |
| 46 | Washington State |
| 47 | Colorado |
| 48 | South Carolina |
| 49 | Cincinnati |
| 50 | BYU |
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College Football Teams to Watch
Oregon (No. 3)
The Oregon Ducks come in at No. 3 in my initial college football power rankings. The team finished sixth in the final AP poll in 2023, and this group looks well-positioned to earn a first-round bye in its first season as a member of the Big Ten.
QB Dillon Gabriel is a big part of what makes this team so intriguing. The Oklahoma transfer and 2024 Heisman favorite has thrown for 55 touchdowns to 12 interceptions over his last two seasons with the Sooners, and he’s coming to an Oregon team that ranked second in points per game (44.2) in 2023.
Standout WR Tez Johnson also looks poised to thrive as a fifth-year senior, and Jordan James, who logged nearly 900 yards and 12 touchdowns from scrimmage in 2023, is a strong RB1.
The Ducks will be tested this year — they’ll host Ohio State on October 12 and visit Michigan on November 2 — but this offense has the potential to overcome anything in its way. Oregon is a top choice in our CFP National Championship odds.
Alabama (No. 5)
It goes without saying that there will be a lot of eyes on the Crimson Tide in 2024. Nick Saban is out after an illustrious career, and Kalen DeBoer — who coached the Washington Huskies to a CFP National Championship appearance in 2023 — is set to take over.
Unfortunately for the many enemies this program made under Saban’s rule, Alabama will still be dominant. DeBoer is inheriting a terrific roster headlined by QB Jalen Milroe, who finished sixth in Heisman voting in 2023 after passing for 23 touchdowns and rushing for another 12.
The Crimson Tide should cruise to easy victories in Weeks 1 and 2, but their Week 3 matchup at Wisconsin looks intriguing. Alabama will face a gauntlet from there, hosting Georgia on September 28 before taking on Tennessee, Missouri, LSU, Oklahoma, and Auburn in five of its final six games.
Michigan (No. 13)
It’s a new year for the defending champions, and with that comes plenty of new personnel. The Wolverines have a first-year head coach (Sherrone Moore) taking over and an interesting situation at quarterback, where Jack Tuttle and Alex Orji will compete for the position.
Fortunately, either player will have the rock-steady legs of Donovan Edwards to rely on, who’s back for another year after a standout performance in the national championship (six carries, 104 yards, two scores). The defense also remains elite.
I’m not completely sold on what Michigan has to offer just yet, but this team can prove itself with a strong start. After hosting Fresno State in Week 1, the Wolverines get Texas and USC in Weeks 2 and 4. I’m eager to see where this group stands heading into October.
Southern California (No. 21)
The Trojans no longer have Caleb Williams under center, but there’s still room to be optimistic about USC as it enters its first year in the Big Ten.
QB Miller Moss certainly held his own in the Trojans’ Holiday Bowl win over Louisville to cap off the 2023 campaign (six touchdowns, one interception, 372 yards), and there’s some captivating young talent around him, including 6-foot-6-inch wideout Duce Robinson.
There’s also been some hype about this team’s improved defense, which will need to show up as soon as the season begins. USC opens the year with LSU and heads to Michigan on September 21, so it won’t take long to figure out if the Trojans are for real.
Florida (No. 39)
Expectations are relatively low for the Gators, who finished 5-7 in 2023. Still, this team could raise eyebrows by picking up a few upsets, and it’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so: Florida plays eight ranked teams this season.
Here’s how it all shakes out:
- Aug. 31: vs Miami (FL)
- Sept. 14: vs Texas A&M
- Oct. 12: @ Tennessee
- Nov. 2: vs Georgia
- Nov. 9: @ Texas
- Nov. 16: vs LSU
- Nov. 23: vs Ole Miss
- Nov. 30: @ Florida State
Considering their strength of schedule, finishing above .500 would be a monumental achievement for this Gators team. Week 1 should tell us a lot.
How We Create NCAA Football Power Rankings
There will be some constants between power rankings, but ultimately, no two lists are the same. I like to focus primarily on the data, but you can’t avoid inserting opinion, either. It’s never just about wins and losses or how a team looks.
Not All Wins Are Created Equally
A victory in the MAC simply isn’t going as far as a win in the SEC, which is why metrics like strength of schedule are so important. That doesn’t mean we should always sleep on programs outside of the Power 5 conferences, but it’s why you’ll sometimes see a one- or two-loss team ranked ahead of an undefeated one.
Don’t Get Caught Up In The Hype
Anything can happen in college football. Upsets and improbable moments are a huge part of what makes the sport so beautiful. However, it’s important to stay as level-headed as possible when evaluating how much a team should rise — or fall — based on one or two results.
It’s rare to see drastic movement in the most reputable college football polls, and I stick to a similar set of principles. A big win or loss will certainly affect your standing, but it takes consistency to truly find out what a team is made of.
Power, Not Record
Let’s say a top-10 team sees their star quarterback suffer a season-ending injury. They may still go on to win the game, and thus, improve their standing in the polls, but you can’t deny that the team likely doesn’t have as high a ceiling as it did before.
Situations like these factor into my decisions. Rankings must be based on the bulk of a team’s work, but they should also be indicative of what’s to come.
