Final 2024 Grades for every college football team

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There are almost 8,000 words in this column. I don't feel like I need to write a lengthy intro to describe what the exercise is here. ON TO THE GRADES!

Air Force (5-7) - C+

Air Force lost significant chunks of production on both sides of the ball from 2023's 9-4 group, so a big step back wasn't shocking. They started 1-7, then finished strong on a four-game win streak. I have no doubt that they'll rebound in 2025 and contend in the Mountain West again.

Akron (4-8) - B

I watched far more Akron Football than I expected to, and you know what? It was worth it. The Zips get a high grade because there was always something happening in their games.

There was crazy weather:

Classic slapstick comedy in key moments:

An unexpected upset of Eastern Michigan:

Whatever this was:

And Joe Moorehead losing his mind over all of it:

High entertainment factor = high grade.

Alabama (9-4) - C-

It isn't fair to hold Kalen DeBoer to the same standards as Nick Saban. It is fair to say that losing to Vanderbilt and a six-win Oklahoma team isn't meeting the overall standard in Tuscaloosa. Bama's underlying numbers were great, which makes their stumbles all the more baffling.

Appalachian State (5-6) - D-

The Mountaineers have quietly slipped the past few years, and that's exactly why they fired Shawn Clark after going 5-6.

Arizona (4-8)- D

The only positive for Arizona was WR Tetairoa McMillan once again playing at a Biletnikoff level. Everything else was a disaster. Brent Brennan is already on full hot seat alert heading into his second year.

Arizona State (11-3) - A+

Possibly the easiest grade I'm handing out. The Sun Devils went from back-to-back 3-9 campaigns to Big 12 Champions and a playoff appearance. Hell, they were one fourth down stop away from a chance to play for the national championship. Kenny Dillingham is this season's valedictorian.

Arkansas (7-6) - C

There are things to both love and hate about Arkansas' season. They upset Tennessee, QB Taylen Green flashed enough to intrigue everyone heading into 2025, while Sam Pittman saved his job and won a bowl game. Of their six losses, three were to ranked teams (Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri) and two were at the hands of LSU and Texas A&M. Not bad!

The flipside is that their loss to Oklahoma State was the most egregious by any team in the country. It also foreshadowed everything that made them so frustrating. They somehow lost to what turned out to be a terrible Cowboys team, despite outgaining them by 263 (648-385), having 12 more first downs, and going 11-19 on third down. How'd they do that? Three egregious turnovers, and some baffling crunch-time decisions from Pittman. The turnover issues never got fixed (they finished tied for eighth-most nationally) while Pittman's one-score game struggles (7-17 at Arkansas) continued with a 1-3 mark.

The Hogs perennially play one of the nation's toughest schedules, and next year doesn't get any easier:

They found a way to save Pittman in 2024. They'll have to kick it up a notch to do the same next season.

Arkansas State (8-5) - A-

Butch Jones has occasionally been a punching bag on this site, so it's time to show him some love after Arkansas State's fine season. Their record has improved each year since his first in 2021, and they won five of their final seven games in 2024.

Army (12-2) - A

Army won its most games in school history, finished ranked for just the second time in almost 30 years, and QB Bryson Daily landed a remarkable sixth in Heisman voting. The Black Knights were arguably the nation's best story in 2024. You know as well as I do that I can't give them an A+ when they lost to Navy, though.

Auburn (5-7) - D+

Sure hope there's a better answer at quarterback next year than 'Payton Thorne' was the past two seasons.

Ball State (3-9) - D+

It was a mostly unpleasant season for Ball State that ended with long-time Head Coach Mike Neu's dismissal. The one bright spot was giving us a banger of a G5 moment by upsetting Northern Illinois:

Baylor (8-5) - B

Baylor did a nice job saving a season that could've easily fell into the abyss after their devastating Hail Mary loss at Colorado. They lost their next two, then won their next six, ensuring Dave Aranda's return in 2025.

Boise State (12-2) - A+

We tend to give more credit to teams who exceed expectations over ones who meet them. There's something to be said about doing exactly what people think you will, though. Boise State was expected to win the Mountain West and compete for a playoff spot behind Ashton Jeanty. Guess what? That's exactly what they did, with Jeanty putting up one of the greatest individual seasons in college football history.

Boston College (7-6) - B-

BC had the same record in Bill O'Brien's first season as Jeff Hafley's last in 2023. I still think they were a much better team in 2024 across the board, and I like the direction they're headed.

Bowling Green (7-6) - B-

Bowling Green's 2024 is exhibit A on why you shouldn't always judge a G5 team on their overall record. Two of their losses were on the road to Penn State and Texas A&M - two games they lost by a combined 13 points and had legitimate chances to potentially win. I can't knock them for that, but I will for the odd loss to Old Dominion, and scoring a combined 19 points in key MAC losses to Northern Illinois and Miami (Ohio). It was a successful season, but also a missed opportunity. This is a squad that probably should've played for their first MAC Title since 2015, and it's hard to envision them getting as close as they were next year with star tight end Harold Fannin Jr. off to the NFL:

Buffalo (9-4) - A+

Buffalo ripped off five-straight wins to finish with their second-most wins in program history. An easy A+ to hand out in Pete Lembo's debut season.

BYU (11-2) - A+

BYU demolished any expectations people outside the program had for them, and it's a shame their 9-0 start will get lost to history. A frustrating loss to Kansas cost them a shot at the playoff, but it was an otherwise excellent year in Provo.

Cal (6-7) - D

Cal gets a low grade because I'm still pissed off that I paid good money just to watch them blow that 25-point lead to Miami in person:

Central Michigan (4-8) - F

The MAC is as even a conference as any in college football. That means you earn your failing grade when you go 2-6 and get outscored 243-158 in it.

Charlotte (5-7) - B

I'll remember three things about Charlotte's 2024:

My favorite hit of the season:

The worst punt of the season:

The funniest finish of the season:

Charlotte passes based of sheer style points alone.

Cincinnati (5-7) - F

Started 5-2, finished 5-7. Welcome to the top of the 2025 Hot Seat Rankings, Scott Satterfield.

Clemson (10-4) - B

Do any of us actually believe the Tigers were one of the 12 best teams in the country come playoff time? Probably not! They still found a way to win ten games and the ACC Title. They also gave Texas a pretty decent fight on the road in the playoff. Most importantly, Cade Klubnik finally looked like the quarterback people projected him to be, which is great news for 2025.

Coastal Carolina (6-7) - C

Coastal was a couple steps back from what they were in the Jamey Chadwell era, but still average enough to be a bowl team. I have a feeling that won't be the case in 2025.

Colorado (9-4) - A+

Just two years ago, Colorado was in its darkest place in modern program history. They were the worst power conference team, with a roster bereft of talent on both sides of the ball. In 2024, they had their best season in a decade, were a win away from the Big 12 Championship, and Travis Hunter brought the Heisman back to Boulder for the first time in 30 years. Turns out Deion wasn't lying about the Louis luggage after all, huh?

Colorado State (8-5) - A

I've got no hesitation giving CSU an 'A' based off the fact that their eight wins are the program's most since 2014. It's even more impressive when you consider that Jay Norvell and Co. did it without star receiver Tory Horton for most of the year. This was a prove-it season for Norvell, and he passed with flying colors.

Duke (9-4) - A

You'll see me say a variation of this about a few teams:

Manny Diaz won nine games at Duke in his first season. An easy 'A' that doesn't need overthinking.

East Carolina (8-5) - A-

ECU was 3-4 when they made the executive decision to pull the plug on Mike Houston. They were rewarded with a 5-1 finish under Blake Harrell, capped by a sweet victory over in-state foe NC State in their bowl game.

Eastern Michigan (5-7) - D+

Chris Creighton deserves some leeway because this is such a hard job. I can't ignore how disappointing it is to lose five-straight to end the season and miss a bowl, though.

Florida (8-5) - C

I learned a valuable lesson late in college that not all grades are equal when I made the illogical choice of taking constitutional law as an elective. It took me a couple weeks to realize 90 percent of the class already knew each other because they were also taking pre-law night classes together at Denver University. They all wanted to be lawyers, and I was just some jackass who thought the class would be fun. Between that, knowing nothing about law, and our cantankerous professor determining our grade by three in-class written exams - I knew I was in deep shit. I did my best to take all the notes I could, studied hard before the exams, and somehow ended up with a C. Of all the (non-failing) grades I ever got in school, it's the only one I remember because of how hard I worked for it. How does any of this relate to 2024 Florida?

Florida entered the season with the nation's toughest schedule and Billy Napier on the country's hottest seat. It looked like his time was up after being embarrassed by Miami in the season opener, Texas A&M two weeks later, and then throwing away what should've been a sure-fire win at Tennessee to fall to 3-3. But, the Gators rebounded behind young quarterback DJ Lagway, a strong defense and excellent special teams. They upset LSU and Ole Miss in consecutive weeks, finishing the year on a four-game win streak with a dominant 33-8 bowl win over Tulane. They pulled what looked like a lost season out of the fire, saved Napier's job, and got a head start on their future with Lagway. Florida should be held to a higher standard than 8-5 –which is why they still get a 'C' here– but their effort and fight were commendable, and should set them up for a successful 2025.

Florida Atlantic (3-9) - F

The most memorable moment of FAU's season was Tom Herman's wife pulling him away from yelling at Alex Golesh after getting blasted by USF:

Florida International (4-8) - F

The 'F' represents 'fresh start' after they fired Mike MacIntyre.

Florida State (2-10) - F

True story: I ditched chemistry so many times my junior year of high school –and was so inept the times I did show up– that halfway through the semester the teacher called me into the office to tell me there was no mathematical way I could pass the class. In retrospect, he probably was just tired of his classroom smelling like weed when I showed up. I never went to class again, and I'm still not sure how I was allowed to graduate without ever finishing chemistry. Shoutout to having two off-periods junior year, though! Anyway, Florida State embarrassingly started the season 0-3, and their fluky win over Cal was the moment the football gods told them, "That's nice, but you aren't passing this class." They never showed up again, either.

Fresno State (6-7) - B

Jeff Tedford retired a month before the season started, and Bulldogs still managed to go bowling while having a winning record (4-3) in Mountain West play.

Georgia (11-3) - B-

Positives: Won the SEC again, beat Texas twice, and almost made it to the semi-finals with Gunner Stockton at quarterback.

Negatives: Not having receivers who can catch the ball, allowing Notre Dame fans happiness.