Re-visiting my 25 preseason predictions for the 2024 college football season

A day before the 2024 college football season started, I made 25 predictions on how I thought the year would shake out. With the dust finally settled six months later, it's time to see what I got right, and what I whiffed on.

Prediction one: Georgia Tech upsets Florida State in Ireland

The result: Georgia Tech not only beat Florida State, but instantly sent them tail-spinning into an all-time disaster season. Brent Key also gave us one of the year's top soundbites:

Prediction two: The teams that finish 13-16 in the final CFP rankings cry for more playoff expansion

The result:

You could see this one coming from a mile away. The teams who barely miss out on the playoff will always bitch about how they got screwed, just like they did in the BCS and four-team formats. What makes it worse now is that you have three-loss teams crying about deserving a shot at the title, led by head coaches who lost to 4-8 Kentucky at home throwing tantrums online about it:

Sure enough - We’re already on the verge of even more expansion.

Prediction three: The circus around Alabama after Kalen Deboer's first loss will be like nothing we've ever seen

The result:

Prediction four: People pretend that Colorado making a bowl game isn't a big deal

The result: Colorado going 9-4 led to some of the greatest goalpost-moving of all-time. Here's how the conversation about Buffs went all year:

• February-August: "It's gonna be so funny when they stink again and lose to North Dakota State in the opener."
• After beating North Dakota State: "Actually, NDSU isn't what they used to be, and also the refs helped CU win."
• After losing to Nebraska: "See, I told you! These guys SUCK!"
• Midseason, when it became clear that they were legitimate Big 12 contenders: "The Big 12 is AWFUL!"
• When it became clear Travis Hunter was the Heisman favorite: "All he does is play a lot of snaps. He doesn't even have that many tackles!"
• After they won nine games: Funnily enough - silence.
• After Hunter won the Heisman: "Heisman voting is a rigged popularity contest! Jeanty clears!!!!"
• After they lost to BYU in the Alamo Bowl: "See! Look what BYU did to them! I told you they stink!"

If we learned anything about Colorado in year two of the Deion Sanders era, it's that the people who hate them will go to any length to justify their shitty takes.

Prediction five: Billy Napier is fired before Florida plays LSU on November 16

The result: Napier got about as close to the edge as possible here without careening over. Florida started the season getting smacked by Miami at home, then run over by Texas A&M, before fumbling away what should've been a marquee win at Tennessee to leave them 3-3. I wouldn't have blamed them if they pulled the plug there, but Athletic Director Scott Stricklin stayed the course. Florida put up a good fight against Georgia, and Stricklin publicly announced Napier would return for 2025. They got blasted by Texas the next week, but rebounded by winning their final four games, putting some serious merit behind deciding to give Napier 2025.

Prediction six: Dan Lanning leaves Oregon for Florida

The result: Napier didn't get fired, so neither Lanning or anyone else left their spot for Gainesville. Lanning also looks destined to stay in Eugene for a while, too.

Prediction seven: Miami is back

The result: Miami botched a 9-0 start, a spot in the ACC Championship, and a sure-fire playoff bid by losing two of their final three to Georgia Tech and Syracuse. They still haven't won an ACC Title in their 21 years in the league. Verdict: The U is NOT back.

Prediction eight: Virginia Tech is back

The result: I got swept up in the VT hype and missed badly here. They lost five one-possession games –including the controversial ending against Miami– but rarely looked cohesive enough to make me feel like it was just bad luck. I still have faith that they'll be better next season, so maybe I was a year too early.

Prediction nine: Texas A&M beats Texas

The result: Why the hell would I ever believe in Texas A&M in a big game?

Prediction ten: The Heisman winner isn't a quarterback

The result:

Prediction 11: Penn State makes the playoff despite having no impressive wins

The result:

Flawless victory. Thank you, James Franklin.