Transfers, coaching changes and conference reorganization have raised many questions for the 2024 college football season. Two of last season’s College Football Playoff teams could have tough seasons as a result. A few coaches on the hot seat need to show improvement to take the pressure off. And a handful of teams should benefit from a change of scenery.
Here are five teams that should bounce back from tough seasons, with five others likely to disappoint:
Miami: bounce back
Coach Mario Cristobal is under pressure after going 12-13 in his first two seasons in Coral Gables. But the Hurricanes should improve on last year’s 7-6 record thanks to significant upgrades via the transfer portal, including quarterback Cam Ward, running back Damien Martinez and defensive ends Elijah Alston and Tyler Baron.
Miami is off to a rough start against Florida, but could be 5-1 or 6-0 after two games against Louisville and Florida State. A win in either or both of those games should provide a smooth finish to the regular season and the kind of record Cristobal expected when he was hired.
After a 15-0 record and a national title, the Wolverines can only go downhill. And it looks like the Wolverines are going into a downward spiral with the departure of coach Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers, taking with him defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and strength coach Ben Herbert.
On the field, the loss of leaders like JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, Junior Colson and Mike Sainristil, along with a revamped offensive line and uncertainty at quarterback, could make it difficult for new coach Sherrone Moore to repeat last season’s success. Michigan also faces a brutal schedule that includes national title contenders Texas, Oregon and rival Ohio State, which is looking to avenge three straight losses.
Utah: Bounce Back
Utah should find its time in the Big 12 very enjoyable with a schedule that doesn’t offer much difficulty. (Oklahoma State could have a say in that in Week 4.) The Utes could easily make it to the conference championship game and the Big 12 title.
The offense should be productive with quarterback Cameron Rising returning for a seventh season of eligibility, along with tight end Brant Kuithe and running back Micah Bernard. Utah’s defense, led by coach-in-waiting Morgan Scalley, was 12th in the country in yards allowed and 13th in points allowed, better than any team in the Big 12.
Like Michigan, last year’s national title runner-up suffered major losses on the field and on the coaching staff. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and receiver Rome Odunze joined the NFL and head coach Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama.
New coach Jedd Fisch won’t have to lead a rebuilding effort like he did at Arizona. But he’ll also have to break in a rookie defensive coordinator in Stephen Belichick. His time in the Big Ten won’t make his first season any easier, especially with games at Iowa, Penn State and Oregon. Michigan,…