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August 12, 2024
By Carter Rennyson
The first AP college football rankings were released today, and there were some surprises. The top four teams are Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas. But should Oregon be ahead of Texas? Will Alabama maintain its dominance without Nick Saban? Can Jaxson Dart lead Ole Miss to a championship? Let’s analyze this list and determine which teams are overrated and which are underrated.
First, the team that is ranked too high is Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have Riley Leonard from Duke, but being ahead of teams such as Penn State, Michigan, and Florida State is questionable. Marcus Freeman and the Irish had a solid season last year and should experience similar success, but with no conference championship game and a few potential losses, they could find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time.
Another team that is too high is the Utah Utes. Now a member of the Big 12, the Utes will face stiffer competition week in and week out. Utah has consistently been in this area of the rankings in recent years but has often disappointed. Perhaps this is the year they make a strong playoff push, but a slow start could derail their hopes.
The AP rankings clearly favor the SEC and Big Ten, but two ACC teams were overlooked. The Miami Hurricanes and Louisville Cardinals are ranked too low. Miami, under Coach Mario Cristobal, now has experienced quarterback Cam Ward to lead the offense. The Hurricanes will compete for the ACC crown with Florida State, but they must start strong and take down their in-state rival, the Florida Gators, in Week 1.
Louisville won ten games last year and gained some solid players through the transfer portal to bolster their roster. However, they were unranked in the first batch of rankings. The Cardinals will not be out of the rankings for long, as they have a lot of talent and a relatively easy schedule. Louisville will be eager to prove itself as one of the top teams in the ACC.
Week 0 of the college football season is just around the corner, and it is being hyped as one of the best seasons in recent memory. The season kicks off with some electric matchups and a celebration in Dublin featuring No. 10 Florida State and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Here is the full list of rankings—let us know in the comments which team you believe the AP has overrated or underrated.
Georgia Bulldogs
Ohio State Buckeyes
Oregon Ducks
Texas Longhorns
Alabama Crimson Tide
Ole Miss Rebels
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Penn State Nittany Lions
Michigan Wolverines
Florida State Seminoles
Missouri Tigers
Utah Utes
LSU Tigers
Clemson Tigers
Tennessee Volunteers
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Kansas State Wildcats
Miami Hurricanes
Texas A&M Aggies
Arizona Wildcats
Kansas Jayhawks
USC Trojans
NC State Wolfpack
Iowa Hawkeyes
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