College Football Preseason Top 25 Rankings Post-2023 Early Signing Period

As the early signing period comes to a close, many college football teams are one step closer to preparing for the 2024 season.

We might as well do the same, right?

This ranking absolutely, unequivocally will change. While recruiting classes don't have a dramatic effect, movement in the transfer portal—which is far from finished—can significantly alter a team's outlook.

Still, organizing an early Top 25 has a clear benefit of understanding how perceptions change in the winter months.

The order is entirely subjective but is based on the current expectation of personnel—both players and coaches.

Early Top 25

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Jalen Milroe

1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Michigan
4. Oregon
5. Texas
6. Utah
7. Ohio State
8. Ole Miss
9. Oklahoma
10. Clemson
11. Notre Dame
12. Penn State
13. Arizona
14. Florida State
15. LSU
16. Washington
17. Missouri
18. Kansas State
19. Oklahoma State
20. Iowa
21. North Carolina State
22. USC
23. Miami
24. SMU
25. Kansas

Realignment Refresher

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 10: Players run across the 2022 CFP National Championship logo on the field in the first quarter of the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2022 CFP National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Like it or not, a fresh era of college football sits on the horizon.

The most impactful news is the expansion of the College Football Playoff, which is growing from four teams to 12.

Beyond the changes to CFP, there's the—temporary, perhaps—dissolution of the Pac-12, which is losing 10 programs to three conferences.

Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington are Big Ten-bound. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are headed to the Big 12, while Cal and Stanford are making the cross-country trek to the ACC. For now, that leaves Oregon State and Washington State as pseudo-Mountain West affiliates.

As the Big 12 brings in four newcomers, though, Oklahoma and Texas are shifting into the SEC.

SMU rounds out this wave of alignment with a move to the ACC.

Note: Kennesaw State also begins its transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision as part of Conference USA in 2024.

Who's Up: Utah Utes

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Cam Rising

Welcome back in advance, Cam Rising.

Utah's veteran, star quarterback missed the 2023 season while recovering from a layered knee injury. However, he's already announced a return to the Utes, who are joining the Big 12 in 2024.

While the roster has a few notable departures—namely left guard Keaton Bills, top wide receiver Devaughn Vele and safeties Cole Bishop and Sione Vaki—the team is largely intact. Future transfer decisions could change that perception, sure, but Utah's outlook is promising.

And the schedule? Not that bad, really.

Arizona is an intriguing riser but travels to Utah, which has a road schedule of Arizona State, Colorado, Houston, Oklahoma State and UCF. Calling that easy would be foolish, but it's certainly not as difficult as 2023's list of Arizona, Oregon State, USC and Washington.

Utah should be a popular pick as the Big 12 front-runner.

Who's Down: Washington Huskies

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 11: Head coach Kalen DeBoer talks with Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Washington Huskies during the fourth quarter against the Utah Utes at Husky Stadium on November 11, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Let's be clear: Washington's inclusion is not meant to suggest the Huskies are about to plummet in a dramatic way.

The program's current perch, however, is the College Football Playoff. As the offense heads toward a facelift in the offseason, it's only rational to believe the Dawgs will not return to the CFP next season.

Now, the good news is UW will replace Michael Penix Jr. with longtime Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers. He's plenty experienced in many principles of Kalen DeBoer's offense, having run Mike Leach's Air Raid system prior to the latter coach's death in 2022.

Washington should once again be very competitive.

Still, the schedule is extremely tough. Along with hosting Michigan and USC, the Dawgs are set to experience the house of upset horrors that is Iowa's Kinnick Stadium, might be the White Out matchup for Penn State and travel to Oregon.

Thanks to an experienced offensive line and defense, UW may find itself on the fringes of the 12-team CFP. Anything more in the program's Big Ten debut would be impressive.