Three Group Of Five Teams That Can Win A College Football Playoff Game In 2024
With the College Football Playoff officially expanding to 12 in 2024, a group of five team is guaranteed a chance to compete for a National Championship. While it is almost impossible for a G5 team to win the whole thing, a few teams can pull an upset and win one game in the tournament.
1. Boise State Broncos
Boise State is the defending Mountain West Champion and there is a chance they could be even better this season. Spencer Danielson ditched the interim tag after leading the Broncos to victory last season in his three games at the helm. That included a dominant 44-20 win over UNLV in the conference title game.
Danielson will return 18 starters from last year's squad. One is star running back Ashton Jeanty. He rushed for just over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He also tacked on 560 yards and 5 touchdowns in the receiving game. That was good enough for the most yards in the conference. Another returning starter is Ahmed Hassanein. The senior from Egypt led the Broncos with 12.5 sacks in 2023. He will lead a defensive unit that finished first in the Mountain West in sacks and third in points per game.
The Boise offense will have a new face under center: USC transfer Malachi Nelson. He did not get much playing time last season behind Caleb Williams and Miller Moss, but the top recruit in 2023 will look to have a breakout season on the blue turf.
The Broncos will have a chance to prove themselves to be a legitimate playoff team when they travel to Eugene to take on the Oregon Ducks in week three.
2. Liberty Flames
Liberty would have made the playoff last year if it had been 12 teams. The Flames were very impressive in the first season in C-USA, amassing a 13-0 record, including a conference championship victory. They didn't have many close games, either. Only two of their victories were by fewer than 10 points. There is no reason to believe they cannot run it back again in 2024.
Quarterback Kaidon Salter will return to Lynchburg, Virginia, and look to build on his phenomenal 2023 season. Salter passed for 2,800 yards and 32 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. Those stats earned him HERO G5 Player of the Year honors.
Salter's return alone is good enough to put Liberty right back in playoff contention. But his backfield mate from last season is also coming back. Quinton Cooley rushed for 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2023, leading the conference in both categories. Who was second in those categories? Kaidon Salter. Together, they are one of the most talented backfields in the country.
The Flames should have no problem repeating as C-USA Champs this season. Their schedule is pretty weak on paper. Their toughest non-conference opponent is Appalachian State, so another 13-0 year is certainly on the table. Liberty did get boat raced by Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl last season, but they should use that as motivation to pick up a win if they make it to the College Football Playoff.
3. Memphis Tigers
This is the perfect time for Memphis to make a run for an American Athletic Championship. With SMU jumping ship to the ACC and Tulane losing their coach, the window is very much open for the Tigers. There is a lot to like about this team.
Seth Henigan will remain under center for the Tigers this year after an impressive 2023 campaign. Henigan led the AAC in passing yards (3,383) and touchdowns (32). He will have plenty of talent to throw to, as well. Receivers Roc Taylor and Demeer Blankumsee will come back to Memphis after two great seasons. Taylor led the team, also third in the conference, in receiving yards. Blankumsee led the Tigers in receiving touchdowns and was second on the team in yards. All three will look to repeat last year's success where they were one of the best offenses in the American.
While the offense was flying high, the Tigers' defense was nothing to write home about. They finished 9th in the conference in points per game and yards allowed. They also finished 10th in sacks. Fortunately for Memphis fans, they have done a lot of work in the transfer portal. The Tigers brought in six new defenders, four of which are from Power Five schools. One of those transfers is former Tennessee Volunteer Elijah Herring. He finished with a team-high 32 tackles in 2023.
With a revamped defense and a great returning cast on offense, the Tigers will have their sights set on a CFB Playoff birth. And they certainly have the talent to pull an upset if they get there.
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