2024 college football rankings have sparked significant discussion since RJ Young published his “Ultimate 134 CFB Rankings” on August 11. In a bold move, he invited fans to share their thoughts, setting the stage for an engaging dialogue.
Have an issue with my rankings? Think your alma mater is too low, or your school’s rival is too high? Get at me on Twitter, @RJ_Young, and I’ll select my favorite tweets and respond to them in a future article.
He asked for feedback, and the response was overwhelming. Fans voiced their opinions about the rankings, and now he is ready to clarify his choices and explain his reasoning to the audience.
As previously mentioned, these rankings are not set in stone. Crafting them involved extensive research and analysis of team rosters. Ultimately, the focus was on identifying which teams demonstrate potential and articulating the rationale behind those assessments.
Disagreements are inevitable, and that’s what makes this discussion so engaging. With that, he presents his responses to some of the feedback received regarding his rankings:
[Related: 2024 college football rankings: RJ Young’s Ultimate 134]
RJ’s take: When considering the likelihood of winning the national title, Washington faces a tough road ahead. To return to the playoffs, they likely need at least 10 victories, including four against ranked opponents. Their schedule is challenging, featuring five teams in the preseason top 25, and the over/under for their win total is set at 7.5. He predicts they will fall short of that mark.
Teams like No. 37 Memphis, No. 49 Texas-San Antonio, and No. 67 Jacksonville State are placed higher than Washington because they have a greater chance of reaching their conference championship games. This positioning increases their opportunity to secure an automatic qualifying bid for the College Football Playoff and, ultimately, the national title.
RJ’s take: Alabama currently ranks as the fifth-best team in the SEC and ninth in the nation. The pressing question is whether they can make the College Football Playoff as the fifth-best team. A loss to Wisconsin complicates their path, and two losses against SEC rivals further diminish their chances.
Ranking Alabama at No. 9 allows for upward movement, while a No. 5 ranking leaves less room for error. A 10-win season could potentially qualify Alabama for the CFP, but only if those defeats are against top-tier teams. This perspective explains his disagreement with the Associated Press rankings by four spots.
RJ’s take:For Penn State, the path to the College Football Playoff appears more accessible than ever, yet the margin for error is razor-thin. This season marks a significant shift, as they will not face both Ohio State and Michigan in the same year for the first time since 2012. This season is particularly critical, as they would prefer to face Michigan while avoiding Ohio State.
Their schedule includes a challenging matchup against West Virginia in Week 1 and a pivotal game against Ohio State on November 2. With only one ranked opponent remaining, a loss to any team other than Ohio State could significantly hinder their playoff aspirations.
