College Football Preseason Bowl Projections: A Look at the Top Contenders for 2024

For college football fans, it's never too early to start thinking about bowl games. With the opening of the 2024 season only days away, many are already thinking about the end of the 2024 season. Here's an early primer on who's getting the most talk for the College Football Playoff and the other big bowl matchups.

Top contenders for the College Football Playoff

First things first: The four Playoff byes will go to the top-four ranked conference champions. That should be the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12. It's hard not to pick Georgia, although Bama, Texas and Ole Miss each host the Bulldogs in a chance to rearrange things.

Ohio State gets a razor's-edge margin for the Big Ten over Oregon, but the Ducks will be in the Playoff. The ACC is much more up for grabs, and it's probably the winner of the Clemson/Florida State game. Since the game is in Tallahassee, give the 'Noles the nod. Anything can and probably will happen in the Big 12, but give Utah the final bye.

First-round Playoff projections

Things get interesting now. Pencil in Texas and Oregon as the two most deserving nonconference winners. Alabama and Ole Miss feel too talented to miss out. The Big Ten will send a third team, and it's probably Penn State's year there. Clemson is the likely second squad from the ACC, and Oklahoma State edges out Kansas State for the Big 12's second spot.

The group of five will have a representative, and Boise State makes perhaps the most sense. As far as matchups, let's take shot. The hosting team will be listed first.

Texas/Boise State

Oregon/Oklahoma State

Alabama/Clemson

Ole Miss/Penn State

Other notable bowl Projections

So, what about the top teams that don't go? How about Michigan playing LSU in the Citrus Bowl? Miami vs. Tennessee in the Duke's May Bowl? Missouri vs. Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl? There are plenty of spots that will end up going to plenty of good teams that just miss out on the Playoff.

Impact of conference realignment in 2024 bowl games

The biggest quirk in the bowl schedule is that the Pac-12 has six spots to fill and doesn't exist. Those bowl agreements are being amended and so, you'll see some SEC, Big Ten and ACC schools playing bowl games in unusual spots in 2024.

While the SEC and Big Ten will remain the toughest leagues in football, the new Playoff should give the SEC's second-, third- and maybe even fourth-place teams (as in our projections above) a shot at the title.

What do you think about the bowl picture this season? Share your early thoughts below in our comments section!