Stewart Mandel’s too early college football Top 25 for the 2024-25 season

While Michigan and Washington pursued a national championship, most of the sport spent the past five weeks reshaping their rosters for 2024. My initial rankings solely assess who’s coming and going. I did not attempt to predict season records.

1. Georgia (13-1 in 2023)Georgia will be loaded yet again, especially on defense. The entire front seven that started the Orange Bowl is back, led by defensive linemen Mykel Williams and Nazir Stackhouse, plus linebacker Smael Mondon and defensive back Malaki Starks.

Quarterback Carson Beck shined in his first year starting. Georgia loses star tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Ladd McConkey, but returns WR Dominic Lovett and TE Oscar Delp. Kirby Smart has added Florida running back Trevor Etienne, Miami WR Colbie Young and Vanderbilt WR London Humphreys.

2. Alabama (12-2)Star QB Jalen Milroe returns, joined by WRs Isaiah Bond and Kobe Prentice and TEs CJ Dippre and Amari Niblack. Even if RB Jase McClellan turns pro, freshman Justice Haynes is ready for his moment. Three O-line starters return, but the unit needs to improve.

The defense loses OLBs Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell and cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, but freshman safety Caleb Downs was sensational, and LBs Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell are expected back. The secondary adds USC CB Domani Jackson.

3. Oregon (12-2)Dan Lanning landed the portal’s top QB, Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel, to replace Bo Nix. Star WR Troy Franklin is off to the NFL, but Tez Johnson (1,182 yards) and Traeshon Holden return. No more RB Bucky Irving, but Division II All-American Jay Harris joins Jordan James. Left tackle Josh Conerly Jr. leads one of the nation’s top offensive lines.

The defense loses some big names, but defensive end Jordan Burch, LB Jeffrey Bassa and DB Tysheem Johnson return, as do promising freshman pass-rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti.

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4. Ohio State (11-2)Since the Cotton Bowl, Ryan Day has landed veteran Kansas State QB Will Howard to replace Kyle McCord, who transferred to Syracuse; star Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins (2,725 yards in two seasons); and Alabama OL Seth McLaughlin. Even assuming Marvin Harrison Jr. declares, it’s a deep receivers group with Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate and three former five-stars.

The Buckeyes’ top-five defense could be even stronger. Defensive end Jack Sawyer, DT Tyleik Williams and DBs Lathan Ransom have announced their returns, and DE JT Tuimoloau, CB Denzel Burke and DB Jordan Hancock may do the same.

Howard will take over for Kyle McCord, who will play at Syracuse next season. (Scott Sewell / USA Today)

5. Texas (12-2)Assuming QB Quinn Ewers returns, Texas will field another potent offense with RBs CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue and a strong O-line. Houston transfer WR Matthew Golden will help soften the blow if Adonai Mitchell joins Xavier Worthy in declaring for the draft.

Standout DTs T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy move on, but UTSA transfer Trey Moore (14 sacks last season) joins Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke as edge rushers. LB Anthony Hill Jr. shined as a freshman. Transfer S Andrew Mukuba made 31 starts at Clemson.

6. Michigan (15-0)Consider this a place-holder ranking, given the uncertainty surrounding Jim Harbaugh and roughly a dozen players with NFL decisions. For now, let’s assume QB J.J. McCarthy, RB Blake Corum and possibly RB Donovan Edwards leave. Michigan will also lose at least four O-line starters.

Star DB Mike Sainristil and LB Michael Barrett are gone, while DT Kris Jenkins and possibly LB Junior Colson will turn pro. But the defense should still be stellar behind CB Will Johnson, DT Mason Graham, LB Ernest Hausmann and S Rod Moore.

7. Washington (14-1)Four-year Mississippi State starter Will Rogers has the unenviable task of replacing Heisman runner-up Michael Penix Jr. Star WR Rome Odunze will presumably turn pro, as could Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk. Sophomore Germie Bernard and Cal transfer Jeremiah Hunter (731 yards) are next up. Standout LT Troy Fautanu and possibly RT Roger Rosengarten could turn pro as well.

The defense was senior-heavy, and star DE Bralen Trice is a projected first-rounder, but LB Carson Bruener and CB Elijah Jackson are expected back.

8. Ole Miss (11-2)Quarterback Jaxson Dart, WRs Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins and TE Caden Prieskorn headline a likely College Football Playoff contender. Star RB Quinshon Judkins was a surprise portal entry, but Ulysses Bentley IV could be back.

Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin has loaded up on proven defensive starters, adding DL Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), edges Princely Umanmielen (Florida) and Tyler Baron (Tennessee), and CB Decamerion Richardson (Mississippi State) and Key Lawrence (Oklahoma) to go with returnees like D-linemen Jared Ivey and JJ Pegues.

9. Notre Dame (10-3)The Irish should return much of their top-five defense, led by All-American S Xavier Watts, DT Howard Cross and CB Benjamin Morrison. Marcus Freeman has made some big gets on offense, landing LSU (and former Notre Dame) offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, Duke QB Riley Leonard and FIU WR Kris Mitchell (1,118 yards).

Running back Audric Estime is a big loss, but Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love flashed as freshmen.

10. Clemson (9-4)The Tigers, who finished the year on a five-game winning streak, lose RB Will Shipley but bring back QB Cade Klubnik, RB Phil Mafah, WRs Tyler Brown and Antonio Williams and most of the O-line. Star LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. turned pro, but Barrett Carter came back. Freshman All-Americans T.J. Parker and Peter Woods emerged on the D-line. Safeties R.J. Mickens and Khalil Barnes anchor the secondary.

11. Utah (8-5)Injuries doomed the 2023 Utes. Quarterback Cam Rising, RB Micah Bernard, WR Mycah Pittman and TE Brant Kuithe likely will all return after missing most or all of the season. Kyle Whittingham added Idaho RB Anthony Woods (1,131 yards, 16 TDs) and UCLA TE Carsen Ryan. Most of the O-line returns.

The defense should bring back eight starters, led by LBs Levani Damuni and Karene Reid. UTEP DE Kanious Vaughn and Georgia Tech CB Kenan Johnson could plug holes.

12. Oklahoma State (10-4)The Big 12 runners-up welcome back virtually their entire offense — Doak Walker RB Ollie Gordon II (1,732 yards), QB Alan Bowman (granted a seventh season), top WRs Brennan Presley and Rashod Owens and all five O-line starters. Oklahoma State must improve its No. 89-ranked scoring defense. All-Big 12 LBs Collin Oliver and Nick Martin (140 tackles) return and UTEP CB Kobe Hylton was a nice pickup.

13. Arizona (10-3)Coming off their best season in 25 years, the Wildcats bring back QB Noah Fifita, star WR Tetairoa McMillan (1,402 yards) and top RB Jonah Coleman. Stud LT Jordan Morgan turned pro, but the other four O-line starters return. Jedd Fisch must replace DC Johnny Nansen, but the defense returns most of its linebackers and secondary. Fisch also added UC Davis DT Chubba Maae.

14. Tennessee (9-4)Five-star QB Nico Iamaleava had a promising first start in the Citrus Bowl, as did RB Dylan Sampson (20 carries, 133 yards vs. Iowa). WRs Squirrel White and Bru McCoy, who missed most of last season, return, as does C Cooper Mays. All-SEC DE James Pearce Jr. (10 sacks), LBs Keenan Pili and Elijah Herring lead the defensive front, and DE Tyre West flashed in the bowl. Oregon State CB Jermod McCoy helps a depleted secondary.

15. Oklahoma (10-3)Jackson Arnold ascended to QB1 in the bowl game. Running back Gavin Sawchuk returns, as do WRs Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq and Andrel Anthony, joined by All-Big Ten Purdue WR Deion Burks. Transfer O-linemen Spencer Brown (Michigan State), Michael Tarquin (Florida/USC) and Febechi Nwaiwu (North Texas) are all experienced starters. New DC Zac Alley will inherit two All-Americans, LB Danny Stutsman and S Billy Bowman, plus DE Ethan Downs and CB Woodi Washington.

16. Louisville (10-4)Louisville loses QB Jack Plummer, star RB Jawhar Jordan and top WR Jamari Thrash, but Jeff Brohm has already landed a new QB1, Tyler Shough (Texas Tech). He’s also picked up MAC Offensive Player of the Year RB Peny Boone (Toledo), RB Don Chaney Jr. (Miami), WR Caullin Lacy (South Alabama) and WR Ja’Corey Brooks (Alabama). The defense brings back All-American DE Ashton Gillotte, DE Mason Reiger and LB TJ Quinn. Brohm added All-Ivy League DT Thor Griffith (Harvard) and Tennessee S Tamarion McDonald.

Jalon Daniels returns to Kansas, as does the most of the Jayhawks’ offense. (Jay Biggerstaff / Getty)

17. Kansas (9-4)The Jayhawks should be legitimate Big 12 contenders behind star QB Jalon Daniels, back after missing most of last season. Running back Devin Neal (a two-time 1,000-yard back) and backfield mate Daniel Hishaw Jr. return. The O-line will need some retooling. Corners Cobee Bryant, a first-team All-Big 12 pick, and Mello Dotson headline an experienced secondary. But Kansas needs to improve its 89th-ranked rushing defense.

18. Penn State (10-3)Despite 10 wins, Penn State’s season was disappointing. Quarterback Drew Allar needs to make a big jump under new OC Andy Kotelnicki. Running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen enter their third seasons. Ohio State WR Julian Fleming was a big pickup. New defensive coordinator Tom Allen must replace numerous big names like DE Chop Robinson and CB Kalen King, but LBs Abdul Carter and Kobe King, DT Dvon Ellies and CB Cam Miller return.

19. Florida State (13-1)FSU might take a considerable step back, as nearly all of its best players from 2023 are NFL-bound. Former Clemson and Oregon State starter DJ Uiagalelei is the new QB1. All-ACC OL Darius Washington is a key piece. Lawrance Toafili becomes the top back. Young WRs will need to emerge. Defensive tackle Joshua Farmer, DB Shyheim Brown and CB Fentrell Cypress II lead a defense that loses stars Jared Verse, Kalen DeLoach and Braden Fiske.

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20. LSU (10-3)Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier takes over after a strong bowl game. Star WRs Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. are NFL-bound, but Kyren Lacy and Mississippi State pickup Zavion Thomas are proven, as is TE Mason Taylor. Running back Logan Diggs has entered the portal. New DC Blake Baker must resuscitate a unit that finished 81st in scoring nationally. He’ll work with LBs Harold Perkins Jr. and Greg Penn and S Major Burns.

21. Missouri (11-2)Quarterback Brady Cook and WR Luther Burden III return, but All-American RB Cody Schrader is a big loss. Eli Drinkwitz plucked Georgia State RB Marcus Carroll (1,350 yards) and Appalachian State RB Nate Noel. All-SEC LT Javon Foster is gone, but the O-line has experience. The defense loses several key pieces: DE Darius Robinson, LB Ty’Ron Hopper and CB Kris Abrams-Draine. Miami LB Corey Flagg Jr. adds 24 career starts.

22. Iowa (10-4)As Kirk Ferentz sets out to revive his woeful offense, he gets back QB Cade McNamara and TE Luke Lachey from injuries to go with RB Leshon Williams (821 yards) and the entire O-line. He needs to add some WRs. The Hawkeyes’ stingy defense loses All-American DB Cooper DeJean but gets back LB Jay Higgins (171 tackles), DE Deontae Craig, DT Yahya Black and S Sebastian Castro. Punter Tory Taylor is a notable loss.

23. Iowa State (7-6)The young Cyclones went 6-3 in Big 12 play, with ranked wins over Oklahoma State and K-State, and should return 18 starters. Quarterback Rocco Becht, RB Abu Sama III and TE Benjamin Brahmer stood out as freshmen. Top WRs Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel return, as do all five O-line starters. Iowa State’s league-leading defense gets back All-Big 12 safeties Jeremiah Cooper and Beau Freyler and the entire two-deep up front.

24. Kansas State (9-4)The Avery Johnson era began with K-State’s bowl win over NC State, now under new OC Matt Wells. The former top-100 recruit takes over an offense that brings back RB DJ Giddens (1,226 yards) and WR Jayce Brown. North Dakota T Easton Kilty could boost an O-line replacing four starters. All-Big 12 S Kobe Savage transferred to Oregon, but standout LB Austin Moore and S Marques Sigle (leading tackler) return.

25. West Virginia (9-4)The Mountaineers were one of the season’s most surprising performers and fielded a top-30 offense. Quarterback Garrett Greene, top RBs Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson, TE Kole Taylor and three O-line starters return. The defense must replace six starters, most notably CB Beanie Bishop Jr., but gets back S Anthony Wilson (80 tackles) and LB Trey Lathan (injured). Cornerback Montre Miller, a former Kent State transfer, was granted a seventh year.

Just missed: NC State, USC, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech

Mandel’s top Group of 5 team: Liberty

(Top photo: Nick Tre. Smith / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)