Isaiah Hole
May 7, 2024 4:31 pm ET
We’re inching closer and closer to a new season with spring ball having officially concluded for all college football teams. Now that teams are moving on to summer conditioning, the rosters are being shored up and pared down with fall camp coming in mid-summer.
Fox Sports’ premier color commentator Joel Klatt wasn’t simply idle this spring. He actually was on the sidelines for two spring games — Ohio State on April 13 and Michigan on April 20. As he’s in the second year of his podcast, he’s been sharing more and more about the breadth of the sport and is getting into the nitty gritty of teams that could contend in 2024.
On his latest show, Klatt broke down what he believes are the top 25 teams now that spring ball has concluded. Here are his power rankings along with the toughest opponents each team faces, how much returning production each has, and what each did in 2023.
25
Texas A&M Aggies
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
2023 result: NR, 7-6, lost to Notre Dame in TaxAct Texas Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 18 (72% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Notre Dame, LSU, Texas
24
Iowa Hawkeyes
Photo: Isaiah Hole
2023 result: No. 24, 10-4, lost to Tennessee in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 30 (69% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Ohio State, Washington, Wisconsin
23
Kansas Jayhawks
Evert Nelson-The Topeka Capitol Journal
2023 result: No. 23, 9-4, beat UNLV in Guaranteed Rate Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 78 (59% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Illinois, Kansas State, BYU
22
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Photo: Isaiah Hole
2023 result: NR, 5-7
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 3 (77% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Ohio State, USC, Wisconsin
21
Arizona Wildcats
(Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
2023 result: No. 11, 10-3, beat Oklahoma in Valero Alamo Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 43 (66% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Kansas State, Utah, UCF
20
Kansas State Wildcats
Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
2023 result: No. 18, 9-4, beat NC State in Pop Tarts Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 82 (58% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Arizona, Oklahoma State, Kansas
19
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
2023 result: No. 16, 10-4, beat Texas A&M in TaxAct Texas Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 4 (77% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Arkansas, Utah, Kansas State
18
Miami Hurricanes
Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
2023 result: NR, 7-6, lost to Rutgers in Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bow;
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 45 (66% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Florida, Louisville, Florida State
17
Oklahoma Sooners
Sarah Phipps-The Oklahoman
2023 result: No. 15, 10-3, lost to Arizona in Valero Alamo Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 67 (62% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Alabama, Ole Miss
16
Tennessee Volunteers
Carly Mackler/Getty Images
2023 result: No. 17, 9-4, beat Iowa in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 94 (52% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia
15
USC Trojans
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2023 result: NR, 8-5, beat Louisville in DirecTV Holiday Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 99 (50% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: LSU, Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame
14
LSU Tigers
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
2023 result: No. 12, 10-3, beat Wisconsin in ReliaQuest Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 60 (63% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: USC, Alabama, Oklahoma
13
Clemson Tigers
Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY NETWORK
2023 result: No. 20, 9-4, beat Kentucky in TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 54 (64% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Georgia, NC State, Florida State
12
Florida State Seminoles
Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
2023 result: No. 6, 13-1, lost to Georgia in Capital One Orange Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 83 (58% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Clemson, Miami, Notre Dame
11
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
2023 result: No. 14, 10-3, beat Oregon State in Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 74 (60% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Texas A&M, Florida State, USC
10
Missouri Tigers
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
2023 result: No. 8, 11-2, beat Ohio State in Goodyear Cotton Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 31 (68% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: , Alabama, Oklahoma
9
Penn State Nittany Lions
Photo: Isaiah Hole
2023 result: No. 13, 10-3, lost to Ole Miss in Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 23 (70% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: USC, Ohio State, Washington
8
Michigan Wolverines
Photo: Isaiah Hole
2023 result: No. 1,15-0, national champions
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 128 (36% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Texas, Oregon, Ohio State
7
Alabama Crimson Tide
Photo: Isaiah Hole
2023 result: No. 5,12-2, lost to Michigan in College Football Playoff semifinal
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 115 (44% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Wisconsin, Georgia, Oklahoma
6
Utah Utes
Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images
2023 result: NR, 8-5, lost to Northwestern in SRS Distribution Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 16 (72% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Oklahoma State, Arizona, UCF
5
Ole Miss Rebels
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
2023 result: No. 9, 11-2, beat Penn State in Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 68 (61% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia
4
Oregon Ducks
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
2023 result: No. 6, 12-2, beat Liberty in Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 28 (69% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Ohio State, Michigan, Washington
3
Texas Longhorns
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
2023 result: No. 3,12-2, lost to Washington in College Football Playoff semifinal
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 25 (70% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Michigan, Oklahoma, Georgia
2
Georgia Bulldogs
Joshua Jones-Online Athens
2023 result: No. 4,13-1, beat Florida State in Capital One Orange Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 47 (65% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Clemson, Alabama, Texas
1
Ohio State Buckeyes
Photo: Isaiah Hole
2023 result: No. 10, 11-2, loss to Missouri in Goodyear Cotton Bowl
2024 returning production rank (via ESPN): 70 (61% returning starters)
Toughest opponents in 2024: Oregon, Penn State, Michigan
