Most Impactful X-Factors for the College Football Season 2024

No preseason forecast can be expected to be one hundred percent accurate but it is rather rare to see a college football season go in a direction that was not foreseen before.

Still, they are always certain topics that are difficult to foretell.

Out of these, we are going to analyze a few as the campaign for 2024 approaches. One of them, for me, at least, could be significant enough to change conference races and which programs get a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Thus, the choices are couple subjective, however, they are oriented by means of encompassing the teams that could got into the Top 25 preseason rating.

The Two-Minute Warning

You remember such moments when it is critical in the last minutes? Well, the future, especially in 2024, might turn the tables and make some of those get rather uncomfortable.

Earlier at the end of April, the NCAA agreed to include a two-minute warning after the second and fourth quarters. That stoppage is obvious to any viewer of the NFL, and such service must not be gainsaid.

First, it is the game planning advantage. There is no coach or player who has not heard the words “win the last two minutes” and that applies to the last two halves though the second one naturally takes more focus. Coaches have the second chance to make a change for a game at specific moment or times.

Second, the two-minute warning is another time for the offenses, proactive in attempting to run out the clock. On the other hand, it can benefit a defense to gain more time when it is truly scrambling and pushing for a punt.

The fate of several games and probably some high-profile ones will in some ways be dictated by the two-minute warning.

Thus, a closer look at Group of Five’s has revealed an increased impact on the construction industry.

With the exception of the Covid affected 2020 season where Cincinnati was the CFP team no Group of Five school has had a shot at the Playoff bid. Though that created rather a lot of frustration concerning the sport, the newly expanded CFP is sure to have a G5 team.

The effect is not restricted to those G5 contenders only Though Its drawbacks adorn those truly great contenders, Were not these same drawbacks capable of branding the G5 contenders as also-rans The impact isn’t limited to those G5 contenders only.

The late-season dramatic upsets have been shocking the CFP rankings regularly, and the chances to upset the higher-ranked team are increasing slowly and constantly.

An example of this is Army’s upset over then-winless Air Force, which should have been front-page news in early November of last year. Rather, it was quite a “bummer for Air Force” sort of a deal. Took that same game and moved it to 2024; the games’ meanings—a berth in the Playoff–will become even more critical for both of these teams.

Having access to the CFP is a huge advantage for G5 teams, but underdogs, your time has come too.

Big 12 Quarterback Injured and their Return

The Kansas Jayhawks had a nine-win season in 2023 and perhaps with striking fascination, most of the year’s playing was made possible by backup quarterback Jason Bean. Even Jalon Daniels played only in three games.

Utah played 8-5 without gaining with Cam Rising; however, deterioration in the second half of the pac12 was not satisfying.

Rising, however, should be all set for 2024 as well as Daniels.

Prior to the season start, KU, which won’t be considered to have a home-game advantage since its stadium is under construction, and Utah are considered second tier rivals in the Big 12 football conference. The two stand to face each other in the conference title game if both winning teams remain healthy.

However, those perceptions relate mainly to the performance of the QBs’ health.

Sunbelt Conference Teams’ Defenses

At risk of offending several fan bases, let's be simple: Last season both Alabama and Texas qualified for the College Football Playoff and Georgia cannot be beaten in the regular season with a three-year undefeated streak.

Both I classified as Tier 1 teams entering the year, according to my parameters.

Nevertheless, it is believed that behind them the SEC will have several more contenders for CFP. Ole Miss is lumped with LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee on that list, depending on which article you peruse. All of them have equally important issues to solve on the defensive line as well.

Ole Miss managed to get by a few times in 2023 due to good point scoring, but that is not a sound way to do it. LSU was plain bad on defense – a fact that’s why Missouri, which lost Blake Baker to LSU, shall change its coordinator. Oklahoma was average at best and is primed for regression in the SEC, and Tennessee lost it cornerback and so much more on defense.

But of that handful of teams two or three are likely to be able to compile a really good season. That is going to be clear on the CFP race and of course bring some effect on it.

Tourism in ACC, Big Ten

The motion of realignment has occurred to each of the Power Five conferences but has occurred most in travel within the ACC and Big Ten.

Just how specific will that be? In what way will it impact players over the season?

We could discuss any number of things: body clocks, jet lag, routines, and other things. Now that is something I do not know much about, but it is given that I am quite comfortable suggesting that extensive travelling or the exact lack of it will make itself felt in 2024.

Three ACC teams, Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina do not play a game in the west. Miami and NC State on the other hand face Cal as the last of a sequence of games within the season with games in six and eight successive weeks respectively. Virginia Tech loses a sixth consecutive game in a road match at Stanford; Louisville is also on the schedule for Stanford later in the season.

In the Big Ten, travel is a bit more distinguishable, call it slight, due to the increased number of opponents that are the former Pac-12 teams.

Oregon, UCLA, and Washington all had one game East of the Arizona/Utah line in 2023 and USC only went as far East as Colorado to play Notre Dame in a rivalry game. This season alone they go to Indiana/Michigan or farther at least twice, not to mention the ‘short’ trips to Iowa, Minnesota or Nebraska.