AAC- Memphis

The favorite to win this conference is the Memphis Tigers and all signs point to this squad winning the title. The larger question for Memphis and even more so the AAC is IF the conference will be considered the best AT LARGE conference champion winner. Will it be Memphis? Boise? Someone else? Although the Tigers could go 10-2 and win the conference will that be enough to leap frog a potentially undefeated Boise State team? Memphis' Seth Henigan has been starting in college football since he has been 17 years old! Can he take this Tigers team to the next level? I believe so, especially with a lack of a true secondary competitor in the AAC.

ACC-SMU

This is my boldest preseason take and a take I still love approaching Week 0's kickoff. The Mustangs enter their first season as members of the ACC but the alumni and fan base are poised to make SMU a national contender. The NIL funding continues to sit in the nine figures area for the program based in Dallas. SMU's football program has compiled 43 wins over the past five seasons including coming off an 11 win season in 2023. Who are the Mustangs going to lose to in conference play? SMU avoids Clemson, Miami, NC State, North Carolina and Syracuse. The matchup 9/28 against Florida State is at home and could be considered a potential College Game Day spot. The Mustangs will finish conference play undefeated and win in the conference title game this December. SMU is my play in the ACC.

Big Ten-Oregon

Ohio State. Oregon. Oregon. Ohio State. Oregon. I've gone back and forth all summer long about what team will be the conference champions here. I could easily see a scenario that the loser of their matchup in October potentially beating the other one in a rematch for the conference title in December. HOWEVER, for the safety of the prediction, I'll take the Ducks. The matchup with the Buckeyes is in the Autzen Zoo one of the toughest places to play in college football. If the Buckeyes lose that game and trip up somewhere else (potentially Michigan final game of the season) it still maybe good enough to make the college football playoff but not enough to win the conference. I like the Ducks to win the Big Ten in their first season as a member.

Big 12- Oklahoma State

The Cowboys from Stillwater are my play to bring home the Big 12 title. In what should be the most exciting race of the entire college football season, the wide open Big 12 will provide either the 3rd or 4th seed in this winter's playoff format. Led by Coach Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State was last year's conference runner-up. With All-American Ollie Gordon returning and a SEVENTH year quarterback, the Cowboys are poised to finally get over the hump and win the conference. Utah, Kansas State, Iowa State and UCF will all be in the mix as well. Make sure to listen to Levack and Goz on-demand on the podcast side to hear even more reasons why the Cowboys are my favorite wager in 2024.

Conference USA Liberty

"Do you know what teams play in Conference USA any more? NINE teams have left the conference recently. I'll make this quick. " That was my quote to lead off my 2023 college football preview and I had to use it again in 2024 because it's even more true this season! Did you know Delaware and Missouri State are joining in 2025? Did you know Kennesaw State has been a fun NCAA Video game dynasty team for college football fans? Did you know Liberty may go 11-1 and still not get the automatic seed into the college football playoff. After Liberty was destroyed by Oregon in January, I'm curious to see how much that may effect the image of the conference in 2024. I'll take the Flames until another contender rises up.

MAC-Miami Ohio

The most "double take" team in the season preview is Miami Ohio. The Redhawks held MAC teams to just 11 points per game last season en route to an 11-3 season/conference title and Cure Bowl appearance. Miami Ohio is listed as a +240 favorite to win the conference which is bigger odds than Texas to win the SEC/Florida State or Clemson to win the ACC or Utah to win the Big 12. The game of the season comes on 9/21 when they take on Notre Dame. Could an upset propel the Redhawks to an at large bid? It's unlikely but this team has a clear path to a double digit win season.

Mountain West-Boise State

For the 2nd consecutive season, I'm taking the Boise State Broncos to win the Mountain West. Last year I did get this correct but it took an odd path to get there. The Broncos, San Diego State and UNLV all tied at 6-2 but because of lower tier tiebreaker rule UNLV was able to secure the spot in a virtual home game in Allegiant Stadium. It felt like it was UNLV's time to win that game but instead got blasted in a 24 point beat down. Boise State is even better this season with a former #1 overall quarterback prospect in Malachi Nelson, (who is now the team's backup!) and a potential All American running back. The Broncos will get in over Memphis as the non G4 representative and not just win the conference but compete as the playoff's first Cinderella seed.

SEC- Georgia

Is it boring to say the SEC in 2024 will seemingly play out the same way the Big Ten will above? Alabama loses Nick Saban and may not be the same team performance wise we expect from them. Georgia is the odds on favorite but Texas will come loaded with a strong roster. I'll take the deeper Bulldogs to win the conference. It's possible we see as many as FIVE SEC teams reach the college football playoff (Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss and Missouri). Although the last 15 years this conference has provided the top tier talent and teams in college football, the SEC's dominance will be defined by it's performance in the college football playoff. Will we see 2 teams in the final four? 3 teams in the Elite 8? That's more intriguing to me even more so than the regular season battles.

Sun Belt-Appalachian State

Technically we nailed this one as well in 2023. James Madison won the SBC but the waiver was denied by the NCAA to let the Dukes play in the conference title game. I still don't understand why that ruling is still something that happens in the new era of college athletics but non the less the Troy Trojans destroyed App State in the title game by 26. In 2024 this is all about a redemption tour for the Mountaineers. With James Madison hiring a new head coach, it's all about Shawn Clark and his App State team in this conference. Don't be shocked if we see this squad get as high as the top 20 during the season. .

College Football Playoff Georgia, Oregon, Oklahoma State, SMU, Notre Dame, Texas, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Missouri, Alabama, Michigan, Boise State,

National Championship

Oregon 35 Georgia 31

Twitter @TomGozz

Instagram @GettingThereWithGoz

Tom "Goz" Goslowski covers college football from Division 1 to Division 3 across Upstate New York. Goz has represented New York's Capital Region as a Heisman Trophy voter since 2015. This season, Goz will also be voting on these college football accolades:

College Football Hall of Fame

Bronko Nagurski Award

Outland Trophy Award

Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award

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