The top 10 greatest states for college football in 2024 (2024)

The state of Tennessee's football reputation rests in the hands of its flagship Volunteers, and Josh Heupel has his program humming as he enters year four with the program. Tennessee enters the 2024 season in the top 15 of the AP poll for a second-straight season, the first time that's happened since 2004-05. The Volunteers roster one of the game's brightest young quarterbacks in Nico Iamleava, adding to the hype.

Though Vanderbilt is staring down the barrel of another disappointing season, Memphis gives the state another reputable team. The Tigers are ranked as one of the top three teams in the Group of Five.

The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a national championship but have plenty of questions to answer after head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback JJ McCarthy left for the NFL this offseason. The program is also dealing with fallout from its sign-stealing investigation. However, new head coach Sherrone Moore isn't worried, and it's done little to temper excitement among fans as the program enters a new era.

Plenty of excitement is bubbling around Michigan State after the program made one of the best coaching hires of the offseason, luring Jonathan Smith from Oregon State. There's also plenty of MACtion to look forward to, with Western Michigan and Central Michigan fielding competitive teams in 2024.

California has seven FBS football programs, but confidence around its big three of USC, UCLA and Stanford is at its lowest in years. The Trojans enter the season outside the AP top 20 for the first time in four years, while the Bruins and Cardinal are ranked in the bottom half of the Big Ten and ACC, respectively. Cal isn't expected to compete for much more than bowl eligibility after going 10-15 the last two years under Justin Wilcox. Fresno State is among the favorites in the Mountain West, but oddsmakers have San Diego State and San Jose State finishing toward the backend of the conference.

Kansas may still be a basketball state, but it's close to shedding that label thanks to two AP Top 25 teams. Kansas State (No. 18) rosters one of the game's brightest young quarterbacks in Avery Johnson and has a two-headed monster in the backfield with DJ Giddens and Dylan Edwards. The flagship Jayhawks (No. 18) are coming off their first nine-win season in 16 years and are a threat to hit 10 wins this year despite the loss of offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to Penn State.

There are five FBS football programs in Georgia, but the state bleeds red and black. The Bulldogs rank No. 1 in the AP top 25 and received 46 first-place votes, more than triple what No. 2 Ohio State got (15). Georgia has arguably its most exciting regular season slate of the Kirby Smart era, with matchups against Clemson, Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss and Tennessee to look forward to.

The state's second-biggest program, Georgia Tech, has its best team in years and has multiple chances to prove itself against the sixth-toughest schedule in the nation this fall. Sun Belt squads Georgia Southern and Georgia State are coming off bowl berths.

Few states get up for football like the state of Alabama. Nick Saban isn't returning to the sidelines, but there's no indication the program will take a step back under Kalen DeBoer and the new regime. Rival Auburn didn't make the AP Top 25 but received a couple of votes and has plenty to be excited about as Hugh Freeze enters his second year with the program.Troy is aiming for a third-straight 10-win season, but will have to accomplish that feat without head coach Jon Sumrall, who left for Tulane this offseason.

The Oklahoma Sooners returned to the national picture with an impressive 10-3 campaign that featured an upset victory over Texas in the Red River Rivalry. The schedule is much harder in the SEC this season, but fans will enjoy marquee matchups against Alabama, Tennessee, Ole Miss and LSU.

Oklahoma State checked in at No. 17 in the AP poll, one spot behind the Sooners. The Cowboys return Doak Walker winnerOllie Gordon and his sight set on a 2,000-yard campaign. The state's third FBS program, Tulsa, has an exciting future under Kevin Wilson, whether that materializes in 2024 or further down the road.

Ohio State is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, but that's OK. The Buckeye State loves its Buckeyes, and Ryan Day has his team entering the season at No. 2 in the AP poll, the program's eighth-straight preseason top-five ranking. Cincinnati is the state's only other Power Four program, and the Bearcats are predicted to finish bottom five in the Big 12.

Among the Group of Five ranks, Miami (Ohio) returns most of its production from an 11-win team that bestedin-state rival Toledoin the MAC Championship Game. The Ohio Bobcats are coming off their first back-to-back 10-win seasons in program history.

The ACC runs through the state of Florida this season. Florida State has the best odds to take home the conference championship for a second-straight year, while Miami has the third-best odds behind Clemson. Both squads cracked the top 20 of the AP poll. Football fans in the Sunshine State get an early treat when the Miami-Florida rivalry renews at The Swamp in Week 1. The Gators are coming off a disappointing 5-7 campaign, but top-rated 2024 prospect DJ Lagway breathes hope into the program, even if he sits behind Graham Mertz as a freshman.

UCF is predicted to finish top five in the Big 12 after adding Arkansas' KJ Jefferson at quarterback. USF is trending up under third-year head coach Alex Golseh. The Bulls turned a 1-11 campaign in 2022 into a 7-6 finish last fall, finishing with an impressive 45-0 win over Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl.

Texas boasts the most FBS teams of any state, and most of them are in for big seasons. Steve Sarkisian's Texas squad checked in at No. 4 in the AP poll, the program's highest preseason ranking since 2009. Still, its the Lone Star State in name only this season. A hundred miles away in College Station, hype is building as Texas A&M enters a new era under Mike Elko. The Longhorns and Aggies face off for the first time in 13 years on Nov. 30, in what should be considered a state holiday.

Baylor is predicted to have a down year, but SMU should make some noise in the ACC this season, and UTSA will be among the top Group of Five teams in the nation after head coach Jeff Traylor returned to the program despite interest from Power Four teams this offseason. Big 12 staples Texas Tech and TCU look like bowl teams this fall while Houston enters a new era under Willie Fritz.