Conference championships are always a lofty goal, but starting in 2024, these titles take on special meaning.
With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams and already showing signs of further growth, the five league champions are guaranteed a spot in the CFP. It is questionable whether automatic entry will continue, but it will be part of the process in 2024.
The winners of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC will advance to the playoff along with the highest-ranked champions from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt.
Now, that's the biggest reward.
Bringing home a trophy, even with a CFP trip attached, is a huge honor and should be treated as such.
This list is completely subjective. Luckily, I've never been wrong about college football.
AAC: Memphis Tigers
Tulane is set to win the conference in 2022 and finished as runner-up last season, and the Green Wave are the favorites to win, even after losing head coach Willie Fritz to Houston and quarterback Michael Pratt to the NFL.
However, Memphis is an early favorite to win thanks to its strong offensive line. Seth Hennigan is in his fourth year as a starter and has consistently been one of the most productive QBs in the nation. Tigers head to USF, UTSA and In AAC play, Tulane should be a 10-win team.
C-USA: Liberty Flames
Jacksonville State University, Liberty University, and Western Kentucky University are expected to be an interesting race in Conference USA. However, it will be difficult to defeat the reigning champion.
Kaidon Salter, a dynamic two-way quarterback, led Liberty to a 13-0 record before losing to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. He briefly entered the transfer portal in January, but withdrew and will return to LU. While there are concerns about the reorganization of the pass-catching group, Salter's playmaking ability and experienced defense remain an attractive combination.
MAC: Miami Redhawks
Oddly enough, Miami lost quarterback Brett Gabbert to injury in October and still managed to clinch the MAC crown in 2023. Toledo was the clear favorite all season, winning 11 straight games en route to the MAC Championship, but the Redhawks came out victorious when it mattered most.
So it feels like Miami is a year ahead of schedule, with a slate of returning contributors on defense and the entire offensive line back in front of a healthy Gabbert.
MWC: Boise State Broncos
Two years ago, Fresno State beat Boise State to win the Mountain West state championship. Last season, Boise beat UNLV. Those three, along with Air Force, are likely the front-runners heading into the 2024 campaign.
What's the big advantage for Boise? Within that group, the Broncos only play UNLV. They also avoid Colorado State University. and They will host Utah State, and while their conference schedule is very favorable, Boise State will also be tested as they face Oregon State, Washington State and Oregon State.
Sun Belt: Texas State Bobcats
Not quietly, the Sun Belt has been climbing up the ranks of the Group of Five. For the past decade, the conference has not been selected for a New Year's Six bowl, but that trend could soon be broken, resulting in a CFP bid. The bad news is that I don't believe that will happen this season, as the Sun Belt could be cannibalized in the same way it was with the Pac-12 pre-2023.
Still, there are positives for Texas State. The Bobcats, who took star quarterback Jordan McCloud from James Madison and play in a weaker division, are a real threat to Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, JMU and two-time champion Troy. .
Predicted winning team: Clemson Tigers
Miami might end up putting it together, sure. North Carolina State acquired Grayson McCall to move up the offense, Louisville added an impact transfer, and SMU arrived from the AAC with a competitive roster.
Anyway, this is a Clemson vs. Florida State battle, right?
Florida State needs to fill out its starting lineup, but Mike Norvell is on the move for strong years in 2022 and 2023. It's natural to expect the rookie roster to win more than 10 games again.
Clemson, meanwhile, has been on a hot streak since getting off to a memorable start to the 2023 season, and while it's frustrating that Dabo Swinney has resisted using the portal, the Tigers have championship-caliber potential if second-year QB Cade Klubnick plays closer to his potential.
The regular-season matchup could lean toward FSU considering the 'Noles will be hosting the game, but Clemson could have a chance to redeem itself in Charlotte if they secure a friendly spot.
Predicted winner: Oregon Ducks
The popular choice is Ohio State, for obvious reasons. I certainly expect the Buckeyes to make the College Football Playoff because they have a potentially good defense.
But a conference championship may remain elusive for Ryan Day and Ohio State for another year.
Oregon's Big Ten debut should be impressive. Dillon Gabriel is an ideal replacement for Bo Nix, and the Ducks have steadily gotten stronger defensively since Dan Lanning took over the program.
Simply put, I'm inclined to trust Gabriel more than any QB (probably Will Howard) to lead Ohio State's (and Michigan) offense in 2024.
No matter which way you lean, the showdown between these two teams on October 12th in Oregon will be a hugely important game.
Predicted winning team: Utah Utes
The Big 12 doesn't seem strong enough to threaten a national championship. But the conference competition should be very interesting.
Kansas State and Oklahoma State have been tough every year, but Kansas State is starting to rise under Lance Leipold. Additionally, Arizona and Utah, transplants from the Pac-12, bring competitive rosters to the league. Iowa State, UCF, and West Virginia are also worth mentioning.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham is ready to make a rude introduction.
With several transferred players and injured players returning, Utah's outlook looks good. Health is an unpredictable variable, and Utah embodied that lesson in 2023 with a quality roster.
Unless Utah State falls to both Oklahoma State and Arizona State in September, the Utes should be a team worthy of the CFP.
Predicted winning team: Georgia Bulldogs
What a beautiful disaster the SEC would be: Georgia and Texas are high-end teams, and Alabama, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and LSU aren't far behind, but Missouri is in favorable position compared to all of them.
With so many big matchups, it's entirely possible that Texas and Missouri could face off for the SEC title, for example.
In other words, there could be a top five team in the league. do not have in the SEC Championship Game.
Georgia's schedule is littered with trips to Kentucky, Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss. If the Dawgs end up playing for a conference title again, it will be a hard-earned slot in Atlanta. But UGA has one of the most talented and balanced rosters in the SEC.
And that makes the Dawgs a national front-runner, too.
