credit:Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

1. Georgia Bulldogs

2023 record: 13-1, 8-0 SEC. Lost to Alabama in the SEC championship game. Did not make the playoffs due to the loss.

Losses: TE Brock Bowers, OT Amarius Mims, WR Ladd McConkey, C Sedrick Van Pran, LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, RB Daijun Edwards, S Tykee Smith, CB Kamari Lassiter, S Javon Bullard.

My slightly biased thoughts: Georgia took some massive blows after their season finale win against Georgia Tech. Losing to Alabama in the SEC championship, not being put into the 4-team playoff, losing top QB and 5-star quarterback recruit Dylan Raiola, and UNLV transfer quarterback Jayden Maiava switching his commitment to USC a day after pledging to go to Georgia, were significant setbacks. Moreover, all-world tight end Brock Bowers heading to the NFL was a notable loss. Let's call it what it is: Georgia is the 2020s dominant team, akin to Alabama's dominance in the 2010s. They're always reloading and rarely experiencing a drop-off in talent. This year, there seemed to be a slight chink in the Bulldog armor, yet they will still enter 2024 with a top recruiting class, including Florida transfer running back Trevor Etienne. One potential derailment for Georgia could be the DUIs and traffic citations that have plagued the team under Kirby Smart, with Trevor Etienne's recent DUI being a case in point. However, Georgia could be just fine with quarterback Carson Beck returning to helm the offense. The Georgia defense, which Alabama notably challenged, will need to reload and regroup.

Georgia brings the top-rated recruiting class into the 2024 season, along with only the 67th ranked portal class, consisting of 7 incoming and 22 outgoing players.

Season review: The Bulldogs open their season in Atlanta against the Clemson Tigers, who sit 19th in the Way-Too-Early 2024 rankings. As is typical for an SEC schedule, their other non-conference games are less challenging, but their conference games are formidable. Games at Kentucky (which could be unexpectedly tough) followed by a game at Alabama after a bye week, at Texas, and at Ole Miss, are on the docket, but they do have Auburn and Tennessee at home. Overall, the Bulldogs should fare well. They might not go through the season unscathed, but they should secure a spot in the 12-team playoff.

Prediction: 11-1 (loss to Texas), playoff-bound

2. Texas Longhorns

2023 record: 12-2, 8-1 Big 12. Big 12 Champion. Lost to Washington in the playoffs. Losses: WR Adonai Mitchell, WR Xavier Worthy, RB Jonathon Brooks, TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, OT Christian Jones, DT T'Vondre Sweat, NT Byron Murphy II.

My slightly biased thoughts: "We're back." That phrase has lingered since Texas defeated Georgia in the 2019 Sugar Bowl. It hasn't really aged well until this season. Tom Herman was in his second season as the Longhorns' head coach when quarterback Sam Ehlinger famously declared it on national TV. Herman lasted until January 2021, departing after his fourth consecutive bowl win. Texas then hired Steve Sarkisian, who had rehabilitated his career under Coach Saban after turbulent tenures at Washington and USC. Sarkisian's experience with Saban seemed to pay off, as Texas beat a struggling Alabama team this season and dominated most of the Big 12, losing only to Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown before winning the Big 12 Championship by defeating Oklahoma State. They then leapfrogged an undefeated Florida State to secure a playoff spot. 2024 will be their inaugural season in the SEC. Texas returns much of its offensive line, with four starters, including tackle Kevin Banks Jr., providing a solid foundation. With one of the potentially strongest offensive lines in 2024, Texas will face the formidable SEC defensive lines. Quarterback Quinn Ewers returning for his senior year postpones the debut of 'Little Manning' against significant competition until possibly Ewers' absence or another season. With top receivers Mitchell, Worthy, and Sanders heading to the NFL, new targets will emerge, aided by transfers like Alabama receiver Bond and Houston receiver Golden.

Texas enters the 2024 season with the 6th ranked recruiting class, and the 9th ranked portal class with 8 incoming and 15 outgoing.

Season review: The Longhorns' schedule appears favorable, with a notable game at Michigan on September 7. They face Oklahoma in Dallas and then host the early No. 1 ranked Georgia in consecutive weeks. While they avoid Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Missouri, they will reignite their rivalry with Texas A&M to conclude the regular season.

Prediction: 12-0. Top seed in the playoffs.

3. Oregon Ducks

2023 record: 12-2, 8-1 Pac-12. Lost in the PAC-12 Championship. Beat Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl

Expected key losses: QB Bo Nix, RB Bucky Irving, WR Troy Franklin, C Jackson Powers-Johnson, G Steven Jones, CB Khyree Jackson, S Steve Stephens IV, S Evan Williams

My slightly biased thoughts: Nix is gone, and the Ducks are transitioning to the Big Ten. Some experts assert that the Ducks are well-suited for the Big Ten, yet this raises questions, especially considering their performance against Washington, who themselves struggled against Michigan in the national championship. Don't misunderstand me; Coach Dan Lanning has excelled in recruiting and preparing the Ducks for competition. It's worth pondering the role of the Division St collective, a top-three collective, in bolstering their recruitment efforts—a scenario not unique to Oregon. In just two seasons, Lanning has transformed the Ducks from an unpredictable team to a formidable opponent that consistently delivers strong performances. However, the Big Ten differs significantly from the Pac-12, being a defense-heavy conference with nine teams ranking in the top 45 nationally for defense, with Northwestern at 41st and the top four spots occupied by Big Ten teams. Oregon's defense is commendable, finishing 2023 as the ninth-best nationally.

With Nix's departure, Dillon Gabriel steps in as the new quarterback after transferring from Oklahoma. Donte Moore, who initially committed to Oregon before flipping to UCLA, has also transferred to Oregon and appears ready to back up Gabriel. Although running back Bucky Irving has left, Jordan James is poised to lead the backfield after finishing last season with 759 rushing yards. The defense, largely returning and bolstered by new additions like safety Kobe Savage from Kansas State and cornerback Kam Alexander from UTSA, will be further strengthened by an unexpected transfer from rival Washington, Jabbar Mohammad. This, alongside five incoming freshman defensive backs, promises to enhance Oregon's young secondary.

Entering the 2024 season, Oregon boasts the fourth-best recruiting class and the seventh-best transfer portal class, with 11 incoming and 13 departing players.

Season review: As they join the Big Ten, the Ducks face a manageable schedule that positions them well for a playoff bid. They host Boise State, which could be intriguing given USC quarterback Malachi Nelson's recent transfer to the Broncos. The Ducks will play away games at UCLA, Wisconsin, and Michigan but will host Ohio State and Washington in their season finale. After experiencing three of their five losses under Lanning to Washington, Oregon aims to overcome this hurdle in the upcoming season.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

2023 record: 12-2, 8-0 SEC West. SEC Champion. Lost to Michigan in the playoffs.

Losses: LB Dallas Turner, OT JC Latham, C Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB Terrion Arnold, LB Chris Braswell, DL Justin Eboigbe, WR Jermaine Burton, K Will Reichard, WR Isiah Bond, so on and so forth.

My slightly biased thoughts: This is the one of the rankings I have been chomping at the bit to hit on. Once again, just to reiterate, these rankings came out before Saban announced that he would hang up the whistle, and before DeBoar left Washington to take Saban’s place. Before Lanning, Sark, Norvell, and maybe Kiffin, all turned down the job. With all of that being written, will Alabama continue to be Alabama, or will it just become a shell of its former self. Before Saban announced his retirement, there were already some talking heads saying that the ‘Bama dynasty was fading. Which may not be too far from the truth but let’s call a spade a spade. It is Alabama, a Saban led Alabama, at the time of the rankings coming out. He can still recruit high school players, and still develop them. It is the other stuff he has been struggling with. The NIL, and transfer portal. He has even stated that those two changes were part of his reasoning to step away. So, in steps Kalen DeBoar who has won everywhere he has gone. From Division 2 NAIA Sioux Falls (63-7 with 3 NAIA division 2 championships), Fresno State (12-6) and finally to Washington (25-3 with a national championship appearance).

At the time of this writing, 28 Alabama players have entered the transfer portal. Some before Saban retired, and some after, to go along with a handful of recruits who have de-commited after Saban retired. DeBoar had his hands full right out of the gate and it has been interesting to watch how many high school recruits he was able t keep and how many transfer portal players he was able to get back, Freshman All -American Proctor being one who left to Iowa then changed his mind and is reportedly back at Alabama even though he has recently been spotted in Southern Californian visiting USC.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe returns. Can DeBoar keep that vaunted Alabama defense in stock after losing 13 defensive players to the portal? There is a lot of fire power on both sides of the ball which DeBoar and his coaching staff need to figure out how to keep, or replace if Alabama wishes to stay relevant in the SEC. Of the eight incoming transfers, 50% of them followed DeBoar from Washington.

As of right now, Alabama heads into the 2024 season with the 2nd best recruiting class and the 70th ranked transfer class with ony eight incoming while losing 28.

Season review: Alabama enters the 2024 season with a couple of cupcake games to open the season at home. Well, I do not know if calling USF a cupcake is the right phrase. The Bulls did almost beat Alabama in Tampa last season. Alabama first real test could be the following week when they head north to face Wisconsin in Madison. This game has a feeling of “circle this date”. The Tide miss Texas this season but do get both Georgia and Missouri at home. Along with road trips to LSU, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. At this moment, it is hard to read how Alabama will be without Saban at the helm. The first three non-conference games will tell us a lot about what DeBoar has in store for the SEC. If anything.

Prediction-8-4 (losses to Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, and LSU) Because it is Alabama, the committee will put them at the 10th seed in the playoffs.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

2023 record: 11-2, 8-1 Big Ten. Did not make the Big Ten Championship, and lost to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl

Losses: QB Kyle McCord, DT Michael Hall Jr., WR Marvin Harrison Jr., LB Steele Chambers

My slightly biased thoughts: What we know, Marvin Harrison Jr. is gone, but Ryan Day and his staff can recruit. Especially at the receiver spots. What we also know is that Day is stepping away from the play calling duties and had hired Bill O’Brien, who left for the BC job, so Day replaced O’Brien with UCLA’s former head man Chip Kelly to take over calling the offensive plays. What is also a new development is that Day and Ohio State has decided to finally throw their weight around and spend money in the new NIL age. Picking up former Alabama recruit Julian Sayin, and Alabama player safety Calab Downs.

The Buckeyes have a good problem when it comes to their quarterback room which is stacked. To go along with Sayin, the Buckeyes also received Will Howard from Kansas State, top quarterback recruit Air Noland, and return Cotton Bowl starter Devin Brown. The Buckeyes do not have a highly ranked transfer class, but they have made some splashes. It will be interesting to watch what happens with that quarterback room as we get further along into spring camp. Will one or more quarterbacks enter the portal. How does Howard feel about going to Columbus looking like the starter over Brown, only to have Sayin and Noland to enroll?

The receiver room is stacked again. The Oline is a question mark, but the back field is deep with the addition of Ole Miss back Quinshon Judkins. There were rumors of him wanting to transfer out of Ohio State, but his mother quickly squashed those.

The Buckeyes have reloaded and gotten better. Adding Chip Kelly could be the one move that pushes Day off the hot seat. That and Harbaugh leaving Michigan for the NFL. Ohio has several shining spots on that roster. The running back room led by Treveyon Henderson who is returning for his senior season and the addition of transfer Judkins, and receiver room who is loaded with a wealth of young and talented pass catchers that will be led by returning receiver Emeka Egbuka, and a quarterback room which is full of more talent than any room in the country. The Buckeye defense is going to be solid again, the offense will score some points. This may be the year that Day not only has to beat Michigan, but also raise the national title to keep his job.

Entering the 2024 season Ohio State has the 3rd best recruiting class and the 23rd best transfer class with six and 20 outgoing.

Season review: Depending on how you look at the Big Ten, Ohio could have one of the hardest Big Ten schedules in 2024. They host an offensively challenged Iowa Hawkeyes, who we know will bring a defense, but then the Buckeyes head out and face Oregon, Penn State, and Northwestern away. Laugh all you want about Northwestern being on that list. They could be a sneaky team next year. Then it’s the showdown against Michigan in Columbus. Three straight losses to the Wolverines have riled up the fanbase calling for people’s heads, and probably putting Day squarely on the hot seat. Probably why he has decided to step away from play calling duties.

Prediction- 11-1 (loss to Penn State) playoff bound.

Finally, after months and weeks of compiling this list. Writing and researching. Changing and changing again, only to have to rewrite it three times because of roster movements, and coaches leaving. The way to early to tell ranking is done. I can now concentrate on other articles. The list is bound to change several times before august, and there are several articles that will be written to counter what was written, and I will probably be one of those to counter my own arguments, but it is done.

Finally the way to Early 1 to 5

Way to Early 6-10