The 2024 college football season is well underway, and several of the sport's blue bloods are adding to their respective legacies.

Blue bloods are considered the most elite within the sport—these programs have a deep history of national and conference titles, are consistently ranked inside the Top 25 and have been nationally relevant over multiple years.

But, as we know all too well in college football, not every season goes according to plan, even for blue blood schools. So what are college football blue bloods' biggest fears for the 2024 season? Let's run through them to find out.

For our list of schools, we used this recent list of blue bloods from On3 Sports released this summer, as well as a few other schools added in.

Michigan: Losing Relevance Just One Season Removed from a National Title

Things were expected to look a lot different in Ann Arbor in 2024. Jim Harbaugh is gone, and he took a number of assistants with him to the NFL. There are also several key players from the national title roster that the Wolverines had to replace.

Yes, two games is a small sample size, but 2024 might be a tougher year for first-year head coach Sherrone Moore than was initially anticipated. In Week 1 at home against Fresno State, it was a one- or two-score game until late in the fourth quarter. Last week against Texas, Michigan didn't find the end zone until the last two minutes of the game, while the Wolverines defense gave up 389 total yards to the Longhorns.

Obviously Michigan's struggles don't hinge on a single player, but Michigan starting quarterback Davis Warren has struggled through the first couple of weeks, throwing for 322 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions while completing just 63.8 percent of his passes.

Michigan getting Arkansas State at home this week should be a good way for the Wolverines to get back on track. But as for the rest of the schedule, it could be a long season in Ann Arbor if Michigan keeps playing like it has. Michigan will play No. 11 USC at home on Sept. 21 and has two road trips to Washington and Illinois on Oct. 5 and Oct. 19 with a bye week in between. The biggest tests in November include a home game against No. 9 Oregon on Nov. 2 before ending the regular season at Ohio State on Nov. 30.

Surprisingly, the reigning national champion might not compete for a playoff spot this year, even with the expanded 12-team system. It looks like Moore won't just pick up where Harbaugh left off, at least not in Year 1.

USC: Missing the Playoff Yet Again

It's no secret that the Trojans haven't done much in Lincoln Riley's first two seasons in Los Angeles. In 2022, USC lost to Utah in the Pac-12 title game and fell to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl. Last season, the Trojans finished 7-5 at the end of the regular season.

So if the Trojans fail to make it to the postseason for a third season in a row, expect legitimate questions to arise surrounding Riley's long-term future. The good news for Trojan fans? USC has looked great the first two weeks of the season.

The season got started on a high note with a 27-20 upset victory over the then-No. 13 LSU Tigers. USC then had a 48-0 victory in its home opener against Utah State, registering a shutout for the first time since 2011. The biggest noticeable difference for USC looks like its defense, which was abysmal the past two seasons. New defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn has the unit tied for 24th nationally in scoring defense, and T-17 in opposing red-zone scoring percentage (60 percent).

Lynn said earlier this week that the scheme is a mix of what other coaches on his staff brought to the defense:

"When we put this system together, you just have so many ideas from different teams," Lynn said via Trojans Wire. "That it really is, it's not my scheme; it's ours. There's influence from North Dakota State. There's influence from the [Los Angeles] Rams. There's influence from Houston. There's influence from Michigan and what USC was doing before from Coach [Shaun] Nua. So it's kinda been a blend of everybody."

The Trojans also are in good shape on offense under new quarterback Miller Moss. Through two weeks, he's completed 72.7 percent of his passes, thrown for 607 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions.

The other good news for USC's playoff hopes? The Trojans get most of its tougher opponents at home, including No. 8 Penn State on Oct. 12, No. 23 Nebraska on Nov. 16 and Notre Dame on Nov. 30. USC will go on the road to face No. 17 Michigan in two weeks on Sept. 21, but that game has lost some of its luster thanks to the Wolverines' flat start to the season.

Miami: Not Living Up to the Offseason Hype and Collapsing Mid-Season

For the first time in awhile, the Miami Hurricanes look like a legitimate threat to win the ACC and earn a playoff bid. But to anyone familiar with recent Miami football history, you'll know we've been here before.

There have been plenty of Miami teams that have looked like postseason threats early only to crumble at some point further into the season. A few of the more notable collapses:

• 2020: Miami was ranked as high as ninth entering its final home game vs. North Carolina, with a chance to reach 10 wins for the second time since 2003. UNC then routed Miami 62-26 and outgained the Canes 778 to 314. Miami lost 37-34 to Oklahoma State in Cheez-It Bowl.
• 2017: The Canes jumped up to No. 2 in the CFP rankings in late November before dropping a road game against unranked Pitt. The Canes then lost 38-3 to Clemson in the ACC title game.
• 2013: Ranked seventh in the country by late October, Miami then dropped three straight games to Florida State, Virginia Tech and Duke and closed the season with a 36-9 loss to Louisville in the Russell Athletic Bowl. 
• 2009: Ranked eighth nationally with one loss to No. 11 Virginia Tech in Week 3, Miami lost 40-37 to Clemson and then also lost to North Carolina in mid-November. It ultimately finished 9-4 with a loss to Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl.  

So as you can see, some Canes fans are likely a bit uneasy about Miami's No. 10 ranking. But through two weeks, Miami looks like a legitimate threat to win the ACC and earn a playoff bid. It starts with quarterback Cam Ward, who has been sensational through two weeks. He's thrown for 689 yards with six touchdowns and just one interception. His leading receiver, Xavier Restrepo, is averaging 19.6 yards per reception with 216 yards and two touchdowns. Miami is a top-15 unit in scoring, passing and total offense.

Defensively, the Canes are giving up just 13 points per game. The unit has looked solid thanks to the play of defensive lineman Tyler Baron, who has eight tackles and two sacks, and defensive back Jaden Harris, who has an interception and 12 total tackles.

So where is Miami most likely to stumble this season? The Canes' schedule is actually quite favorable. In fact, there is currently just one ranked opponent remaining on Miami's schedule—a game at No. 19 Louisville on Oct. 19. From there, it gets back-to-back home games against Florida State and Duke. Two games that Miami has to be careful with? Road trips to Georgia Tech on Nov. 9 and Syracuse on Nov. 30.

Let's see if this is finally the year Miami can avoid the mid-season collapse.

Ohio State: Not Winning It All After Spending $20 Million on Its Roster

It's no secret that the Buckeyes invested heavily in the transfer portal this offseason. From quarterback Will Howard, running back Quinshon Judkins and safety Caleb Downs, it feels like Ohio State is in win-now mode.

According to an ESPN report from earlier this month, the Buckeyes tapped into a $20 million war chest for name, image and likeness deals from transfer portal players, the 2024 recruiting class and key returnees from last year's team. The goal? Win it all.

"We've got the best. Every position group is stacked, with depth. So we have no choice but to win the national championship," OSU director of player engagement [Tyvis] Powell said via ESPN. "A lot of people love Coach Day. I think he's a really good coach. [He has] all the resources that he possibly needs to win it all. And if he doesn't, then the writing's on the wall. ... Nobody's really hearing any excuse."

Through two weeks, the Buckeyes are averaging 54 points per game and have given up just six total points. Howard has thrown for 520 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions, and star true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has 211 yards receiving with three touchdowns.

OSU should cruise through the early part of its schedule. In fact, the Buckeyes don't get a ranked opponent until they go on the road to face No. 9 Oregon on Oct. 12. The Buckeyes get a bye week followed by a home game against Nebraska and then a road trip to play No. 8 Penn State. The last ranked opponent on OSU's schedule? Michigan at home on Nov. 30.

Anything less than a national title will be a disappointment in Columbus. We'll see if Ohio State has the talent and coaching to go all the way.

Notre Dame: Being Eliminated from Playoff Contention by the End of September

It hasn't exactly been a dream start for head coach Marcus Freeman in South Bend. In Notre Dame's home opener in 2022, the Fighting Irish were stunned by Marshall, which pulled off a stunning 26-21 upset. Just last week, history repeated itself, as Northern Illinois spoiled Notre Dame's home opener by upsetting the Irish 16-14.

Freeman's overall record in South Bend so far is 20-8, which isn't poor by any means. But he has failed to make Notre Dame a legitimate playoff contender over the past two seasons, and the Irish look to be on a similar course yet again in 2024. In fact, there's a good chance that by Sept. 28 when No. 19 Louisville comes to town, the Cardinals could knock Notre Dame out of playoff contention entirely.

That's precisely what Louisville did last year—the Cardinals' 33-20 win over Notre Dame handed the Irish their second loss of the season, which was enough to keep them out of the four-team playoff.

"But doesn't the expanded 12-team field mean two losses doesn't knock you out?" you're probably thinking. The problem for Notre Dame, though, is that it doesn't play in a conference and has a relatively weak remaining schedule, which makes a two-loss playoff berth seem a bit far-fetched.

After Louisville, Notre Dame has just one remaining ranked opponent on its schedule in No. 11 USC at the end of the season. Plus, the Irish won't play in a conference championship game, missing another opportunity to impress the committee late in the season.

For ND to earn a bid, winning out the rest of the season is its best bet.

Penn State: Losing a Home Playoff Game

The 12-team playoff seems like it was made for a program like Penn State. The Nittany Lions have gone 21-5 over the past two seasons, and they would have earned bids if the expanded field was put in place the past two years. And thanks to the Big Ten doing away with divisions this year, Penn State doesn't have to play both Ohio State and Michigan this season.

And yes, I know the Nittany Lions looked shaky at home last week, escaping with a 34-27 victory over Bowling Green. But Penn State looks primed to earn a bid this year, especially with a relatively navigable schedule. The toughest tests for PSU include at No. 11 USC on Oct. 12 and home against Ohio State and Washington on Nov. 2 and 9.

Obviously, Penn State hosting a playoff game will depend on how the rest of the field shakes out with seeding. But I would not be shocked if the Nittany Lions are one of the first teams in the 12-team era to lose a home playoff game.

And who can forget a couple of the bad home losses in recent years for Penn State, like the 20-18 loss to Illinois on Homecoming in 2021, or the 21-17 loss to Michigan State in 2018? Not to mention the Nittany Lions are 3-7 at home against Michigan and Ohio State under James Franklin.

Florida: Having to Go Through a Coaching Search Yet Again

Things aren't going too great in Gainesville right now. The Gators are 1-1 with a disappointing 41-17 home loss to Miami in Week 1. There appears to be a bit of a quarterback controversy, too. Starter Graham Mertz suffered a concussion against the Canes, and true freshman and former 5-star quarterback prospect DJ Lagway earned his first-ever start against Samford last week.

The true freshman didn't shy away from the spotlight, throwing for 456 yards—a new school record for a freshman—with three touchdowns in a 45-7 rout of the Bulldogs.

Leading up to Florida's home game against Texas A&M on Saturday, head coach Billy Napier told reporters he plans to play both quarterbacks, while also announcing that there would no longer be a weekly depth chart released.

In the words of the legendary head coach and Hall of Fame broadcaster John Madden, "if you've got two quarterbacks, you've got none."

Make no mistake about it, it's a tough position for Napier to be in. Mertz had a brilliant year for Florida last season, and he was the unquestioned starter this year. Although this was expected to be a learning year for the true freshman Lagway, it's hard to not be impressed by what he did last week, even against a lesser opponent like Samford.

Not to mention the fact that Napier is undoubtedly coaching for his job this season. Making a bowl game is critical if he wants to keep building in Gainesville, and Florida has one of the hardest schedules in the country. If Lagway gives the Gators a better chance to win each and every week, why wouldn't Napier play him more?

Florida's been in constant rebuild mode under a multitude of head coaches since Urban Meyer left in 2010. If there's another losing season in Gainesville, the Gators might be forced to do so yet again with another head coach.

Georgia and Texas: Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself, Really (and Each Other)

Let's be honest, these two teams have looked absolutely dominant early in the season. They both look like they are barrelling toward an SEC title clash. Georgia crushed Clemson 34-3 in Week 1, and Texas went to the defending national champions' house and made quick work of the Wolverines, winning 31-12.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck hasn't needed any time adjusting to his new go-to receivers, throwing for 520 yards with seven touchdowns and zero interceptions through two weeks. True freshman running back Nate Frazier has 111 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown so far. The defense has given up just two field goals, and is allowing 3.22 yards per play.

Texas' defense, meanwhile, is tied for seventh nationally in scoring defense, as well as opponent red-zone conversions (50 percent). Quarterback Quinn Ewers looks on track to have his most productive season yet, with 506 yards passing and six touchdowns with an interception through two weeks. His favorite target is tight end Gunnar Helm, who had 98 yards and a touchdown against Michigan.

The good news? We don't have to wait until December to see these two teams play each other. In fact, these two teams will meet on Oct. 19 in Austin. It could easily be a tune-up to them meeting again in the SEC title game come December.

Oklahoma: Falling Behind Early in a Loaded SEC

It can't be fun to see your biggest rival, Texas, getting off to a hotter start than you when you both move to the same conference. It's early, but Oklahoma may struggle to find its footing in the SEC this season.

Despite opening the season with a 51-3 rout of Temple at home, the Sooners struggled mightily at home against an 0-1 Houston team last week. Oklahoma, which won 16-12, put up just 249 total yards of offense, including just 75 on the ground. The Sooners also were forced to punt eight times.

The Sooners play Tulane this week, a Green Wave team that nearly knocked off No. 17 Kansas State last week. OU's schedule doesn't exactly get any easier from there, featuring games against No. 7 Tennessee and No. 2 Texas at home.

The back end of their schedule is particularly daunting, including at No. 5 Ole Miss on Oct. 26 and at No. 6 Missouri on Nov. 9 before a much-needed bye week. The Sooners then close the season out with No. 4 Alabama at home and a road trip to LSU on Nov. 30. I wouldn't be surprised if Oklahoma finishes in the mid-to-lower part of the conference when the season is finished.

Alabama: Creating Too High of Expectations for Kalen DeBoer in Year 1

Anytime you are replacing college football's greatest coach of all time, the expectations will be tremendous. That's what the Tide's first new head coach since 2007, Kalen DeBoer, faces in Tuscaloosa this year.

Although Alabama has a new head coach and lost some key players like safety Caleb Downs, receiver Isaiah Bond and numerous NFL departures, Alabama is still considered both a playoff and SEC contender.

But after a shaky performance against South Florida at home—one in which Alabama trailed for most of the third quarter—could the expectations for DeBoer in Year 1 be a bit too high? Sure, DeBoer won big during his first season at Washington in 2022, leading the Huskies to 11 wins. And DeBoer's 106-12 overall record has helped raise the expectations for him in his first season.

But if the Tide fails to either win the SEC or earn a playoff bid, there's a real chance we could see Alabama fans already frustrated with not coming close to winning it all right away under DeBoer.

As for what's still in front of Alabama, we'll see just how legitimate this Tide team is this weekend. Bama will go on the road to play Wisconsin on Saturday at noon. Following a bye, Alabama then gets No. 1 Georgia at home on Sept. 28. Alabama also has to play at No. 7 Tennessee on Oct. 19, Missouri at home on Oct. 26, at No. 16 LSU on Nov. 9 and at No. 15 Oklahoma on Nov. 23.

We'll see if DeBoer can live up to the high expectations that have been set this season.