A major milestone in the preseason calendar was reached as AP’s top 25 voters announced their 2024 college football preseason rankings, paving the way for a historic season that will be marked by conference realignment and the expanded 12-team playoff format.

Thanks to this realignment, the SEC and Big Ten are expected to dominate in the lead-up to the national championship, and those two conferences were the most represented among the teams listed in the AP’s preseason top 25 rankings.

Of the three teams that received first-place votes, one was from the SEC and the other two were from the Big Ten, and all three are expected to be in the thick of the playoff race later in the season.

Georgia (46 votes). The team that was almost unanimously ranked No. 1 in the preseason rankings received the most first-place votes, as expected. But history suggests the Bulldogs may not benefit from the high ranking. Only one team ranked No. 1 in the preseason has won the national title in the CFP era: Alabama in 2017. Georgia also has a very tough schedule ahead, with games at Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss.

Ohio State (15 votes). The Buckeyes are currently the favorites in the Big Ten and boast a roster of experienced returners on both sides of the ball, as well as some high-profile transfers to bolster their rotation. However, it should be noted that Ohio State has never won a national championship as a team ranked No. 2 in the preseason polls.

Oregon (1 vote). Brett McMurphy of Action Network was the only voter to name the Ducks the best college football team. Oregon finished third in the national rankings when all other votes were counted. The Ducks, who enter the Big Ten this year, boast arguably the best wide receiver corps in college football and have signed veteran quarterback Dillon Gabriel as a transfer.

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