Top three elite threats as College Football Playoff contenders ft. Texas Longhorns

The 2024 college football season kicks off in just over two weeks as eight teams take the field on August 24. The Florida State Seminoles are the only team ranked in the preseason Coaches Top 25 Poll—and the only team expected to contend for a postseason berth—that will be in action as most teams won't play until the following week.

With the postseason expanding from four to 12 teams this year, there will be far more programs in contention as the season winds down. Here are three teams that should be College Football Playoff threats this season:

Top three elite threats as College Football Playoff contenders

1. Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs were the top-ranked team in the preseason Coaches Top 25 Poll, and could very well claim the No. 1 spot when the AP Top 25 Poll is released on Monday. They are also the betting favorites to emerge as national champions. Despite a 13-1 finish, the Bulldogs failed to reach the postseason in 2023 after winning back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022.

While they continue to lose talent to the NFL, they have done a great job of replenishing the ranks. Georgia has landed a top-three recruiting class in each of the past eight seasons, including the top-ranked class in 2024. They will, however, face a brutal schedule with five of their 12 opponents ranked in the top 15 of the Coaches Poll.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes were ranked second in the preseason Coaches Top 25 Poll and are also in contention to earn the top spot in the AP Top 25 Poll. They have the second-best betting odds to win the national title. Similar to Georgia, Ohio State also failed to make the postseason last year, despite finishing the regular season with an 11-1 record.

Ohio State has had a top-five recruiting class in each of the past five seasons and brought in the third-ranked class in 2024. They landed the top-ranked prospect in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, as well as the top-ranked transfer in safety Caleb Downs. Four of the Buckeyes 12 opponents are ranked in the top 25 of the Coaches Poll, with three of those teams in the top-nine.

3. Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns were ranked fourth in the preseason Coaches Top 25 Poll and have the fourth-best odds to win the national title. They made the College Football Playoff for the first time in 2023 after finishing 12-1 as Big 12 champions. However, they lost a thrilling semifinal matchup to the Washington Huskies.

They have landed three consecutive top-five recruiting classes, including the fifth-ranked class in 2024. While the Longhorns suffered a brutal loss this week—as running back CJ Baxter was ruled out for the season with a torn LCL and PCL—they have enough talent and depth to overcome the loss. They will face four opponents who are ranked in the Coaches Top 25 Poll.