The start of fall camp formally kicks off the countdown to the 2024 college football season, but August is also full of predictions.

Along with the distribution of watch lists, voting entities will release their preseason rankings.

Ultimately, the College Football Playoff selection committee will generate the only significant Top 25. Throughout the season, however, both the Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 will unveil their own rankings—and the AP is historically considered the poll of record.

The goal today is projecting how that initial AP ranking will look.

25-19. Big 12 Schools and More

25. Texas A&M Aggies

Any number of others—such as Boise State, Louisville and Kansas—will likely receive plenty of attention. Consider it a hunch that a new-look Texas A&M led by first-year coach Mike Elko will generate just enough votes to slide into the Top 25 despite a 7-6 record last season.

24. Iowa Hawkeyes

Whether the program can become elite is the annual question, but Iowa is nonetheless steady. Will a change at offensive coordinator spark a more balanced team? If yes, the Hawkeyes have a path to the College Football Playoff. It doesn't hurt to avoid Michigan, Oregon, Penn State and USC in the regular season, either.

23. North Carolina State Wolfpack

Speaking of steady, NC State has finished six of the last seven seasons at eight or nine wins. Grayson McCall, who transferred from Coastal Carolina, is the hoped solution for the Pack to become a greater national contender.

22. Oklahoma State Cowboys

The overhauled Big 12 probably won't change much in Stillwater, where Mike Gundy has a solid-yet-flawed roster. As usual. Oklahoma State's impressive 18-year bowl streak is expected to continue, but the Pokes' fate may be decided early. They host Utah and travel to Kansas State before the end of September.

21. Miami Hurricanes

Hello again, hype train. Miami landed Washington State quarterback Cam Ward and Oregon State running back Damien Martinez in an effort to ignite an efficient but uninspiring offense. The opener at Florida will be a fascinating game for the Hurricanes.

20. Kansas State Wildcats

Oklahoma and Texas leaving the Big 12 isn't great from a brand or financial perspective, but Kansas State is positioned well to capitalize on their departures. On paper, K-State's toughest league games will be at home. Plus, the clash with Arizona is technically a nonconference tilt, and the Wildcats don't have to play Utah.

19. Arizona Wildcats

Arizona has an interesting blend of hype and transition. Jedd Fisch orchestrated a brilliant rise, but he left for Washington as Brent Brennan replaced him in Tucson. Still, the Wildcats return quarterback Noah Fifita, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and an experienced roster.

18-13. Lots of Conference Debuts

18. Washington Huskies

Last season's national runner-up, Washington has undergone a thorough overhaul this offseason. New conference, new coach, new quarterback—the list is extensive. Still, the Dawgs may maneuver their way to a 5-0 start thanks to a favorable slate in September.

17. USC Trojans

USC, on the other hand, has a less forgiving entrance to the Big Ten. After taking on LSU in Week 1, the Trojans have a trip to Michigan and host Wisconsin in the opening month. Lincoln Riley isn't on a hot seat, but there certainly will be unrest if USC has another 7-5 kind of year.

16. Oklahoma Sooners

Welcome to the SEC, Oklahoma! Your welcoming gift is a terribly difficult slate. Six of the Sooners' 12 opponents—Tennessee, Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri, Alabama and LSU—may hold a higher ranking in the preseason Top 25.

15. Utah Utes

Cam Rising led Utah to a couple of Pac-12 titles but missed the 2023 campaign while recovering from a knee injury. The veteran QB is healthy now, so expectations are high for the Utes again.

14. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee looks like a prime example of a solid roster that simply might get lost in a stacked SEC. Hey, maybe the Vols ascend to a higher level! It could happen with Nico Iamaleava taking over at QB. But there is also "8-4" written all over UT because of its tough schedule.

13. Clemson Tigers

Last season's disappointment began with a stinker at Duke, and Clemson opens 2024 with Georgia—the potential top-ranked team in the nation. Good luck! The decisive stretch in ACC play might happen early, too. By the first week of October, Clemson hosts NC State and heads to Florida State.

12-6. SEC, Big Ten Challengers

12. LSU Tigers

The defense can't possibly be that bad again, right? But can a fresh-faced offense even come close to last season's electrifying unit? That balance will define LSU's home-heavy campaign.

11. Missouri Tigers

Missouri, meanwhile, has a decent shot to repeat 2023's breakout year. The nonconference slate is, well, intensely favorable, and the Tigers have a workable path through the SEC with Texas A&M, Alabama and Oklahoma seemingly the toughest league opponents.

10. Florida State Seminoles

If you're interested in seeing how FSU responds from its CFB snub, you're in luck. The first game of the Week 0 slate pits the 'Noles against Georgia Tech in Dublin, and FSU hosts Boston College on Labor Day. The overhauled roster will be leaning on DJ Uiagalelei, an Oregon State transfer who previously beat Florida State as Clemson's QB.

9. Penn State Nittany Lions

The good news: Penn State would've made the playoff six times in the last eight seasons under the expanded CFP format. The bad news: Losses in big games continue to plague James Franklin. Can the Nittany Lions thread that critical needle in 2024?

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Between a bolstered offense, veteran defense and favorable schedule, ND absolutely should be competing for a playoff spot. That pursuit will begin with a prime-time showdown at Texas A&M in Week 1.

7. Michigan Wolverines

No matter the choice at QB, the Wolverines have no time to mess around. Fresno State isn't an easy opener, and both Texas and USC come to Ann Arbor in September. We'll learn plenty about the rebuilt reigning champions right away.

6. Ole Miss Rebels

Similar to Penn State, the expanded CFP affords Ole Miss a fantastic opportunity. Lane Kiffin has energized the program—which just posted a record 11 victories in 2023—and returns the majority of a dangerous offense. The difference between a playoff trip and frustrating season for Ole Miss may be the results against SEC opponents like LSU and Oklahoma.

5-1. All the Favorites

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

The start of the post-Nick Saban era is intriguing. After an early trip to Wisconsin, the Crimson Tide have a loaded SEC slate. The showdown opposite Georgia is the headliner, of course, but clashes with Missouri and Oklahoma happen amid rivalry games against Tennessee, LSU and Auburn. Making the CFP would be a hard-earned achievement.

4. Texas Longhorns

Texas had plenty to replace on offense but utilized the transfer portal to restock the roster. As a result, the Longhorns enter their SEC debut as an expected CFP team. The keys for UT will likely be knocking off Michigan on the road and avoiding a midseason sweep against Oklahoma and Georgia.

3. Oregon Ducks

Copy and paste for Oregon, except in the Big Ten. Veteran quarterback Dillon Gabriel is one of several impact transfers on a high-quality roster. It's safe to say the October clash with Ohio State is circled on the national calendar, along with Oregon's trip to Michigan in November.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State immensely benefited from older players electing to stick around for another year. The schedule is no joke—Oregon, Penn State and Michigan all await the Bucks—but there are playoff demands in Columbus this season. Ryan Day's job might depend on it, too.

1. Georgia Bulldogs

The behemoth in the sport is still Georgia, which missed the CFP last season but rattled off a 13-1 record. During each of the last six full seasons (excluding the shortened 2020 campaign), the Dawgs have recorded at least 11 wins. Even if that number drops to 10 as the schedule rises in competition, UGA will be a playoff team in 2024.

Full Projected Order

Projected Preseason AP Top 25 in 2024

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Texas
5. Alabama
6. Ole Miss
7. Michigan
8. Notre Dame
9. Penn State
10. Florida State
11. Missouri
12. LSU
13. Clemson
14. Tennessee
15. Utah
16. Oklahoma
17. USC
18. Washington
19. Arizona
20. Kansas State
21. Miami
22. Oklahoma State
23. North Carolina State
24. Iowa
25. Texas A&M