The top five offseasons in college football

With coaching changes and transfer portal arrivals and departures, this year's college football offseason was as wild as any in recent memory. 

Here are five teams that have the most to celebrate with the frenzy in the rearview.

5. Nebraska

Matt Rhule scored his biggest win as Nebraska head coach when five-star high school recruit Dylan Raiola agreed to join the Cornhuskers after initially committing to Georgia. Nebraska quarterbacks had 10 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2023, making it obvious that they need improvement in 2024. Raiola might not light the world on fire as a freshman, but his arrival in Lincoln suggests that brighter days are approaching for a program that hasn't finished with a winning record (or appeared in a bowl game) since 2016.

4. Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin's offseason began promisingly when quarterback Jaxson Dart announced he was returning to Oxford in 2024. It got even better when South Carolina wide receiver Juice Wells and defensive linemen Walter Nolen (Texas A&M) and Princely Umanmielen (Florida) signed after entering the transfer portal. The Grove Collective flexed its muscle, and outside of the disappointing departure of running back Quinshon Judkins, there hasn't been a lot for On3's No. 3-ranked transfer portal team to complain about this offseason. The Rebels are a legitimate threat to not only win the SEC in 2024 but also make the expanded 12-team playoff with an at-large bid.

3. Texas

During an offseason defined by departures, Texas is one of the biggest winners simply by keeping its 2023 College Football Playoff braintrust intact. Head coach Steve Sarkisian was rumored for the Alabama head coaching opening but stayed in Austin instead. Quarterback Quinn Ewers could have declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, but he decided to return to Texas for its first season as an SEC member. The Longhorns fared well in the transfer portal, too, despite losing 14 players. They benefited from Nick Saban's retirement, adding a trio of former Crimson Tide recruits (wide receiver Isaiah Bond, linebacker Kendrick Blackshire and tight end Amari Niblack). Per FanDuel, Texas has a 2024 over-under win total of 10.5, which is tied with Georgia for the highest in the SEC.

2. Oregon

Head coach Dan Lanning's decision to stay in Eugene instead of heading south to Alabama kept the good vibes going at Oregon after the program had an excellent transfer portal period and early signing day. In the portal, the Ducks added former UCF and Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel, wide receiver Evan Stewart and corner Jabbar Muhammad, who had three interceptions last season at Washington. Oregon also had 2024's No. 3 recruiting class, led by 247 Sports' five-star prospects Elijah Rushing (edge-rusher) and Gatlin Bair (wide receiver).

1. Ohio State

Arguably, no one outside of Seattle was more distraught over Washington's loss to Michigan in the CFP championship game than Ohio residents who watched their arch-nemesis complete its return to glory. But instead of crying into their pint of Haagen-Dazs, the Buckeyes went to work to build a super team. Not only are running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, defensive back Denzel Burke and edge-rushers Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau returning, but the additions of Judkins and former Alabama defensive back Caleb Downs give Ohio State arguably the most talented roster heading into 2024.

The quarterback position is somewhat of a question with transfer Will Howard taking the reins. However, he already proved he can step up when the moment calls for it by leading Kansas State to a Big 12 conference title in 2022.