With the 2024 college football season on the horizon, speculation is heating up about which teams could make a surprising run in the expanded College Football Playoff.
Among the early predictions, CBS Sports analyst Josh Pate has spotlighted three programs that he believes could emerge as “sleeping giants” this season.
In a recent episode of his show, The Late Kick, Pate discussed the potential of Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, and Nebraska to have breakout seasons.
Coming off a relatively mediocre 7-6 season, the Virginia Tech Hokies are poised to take a step forward in 2024.
Pate is optimistic about their prospects, noting that Virginia Tech is well-positioned to improve under current conditions.
Their schedule, featuring notable matchups against Miami, Boston College, Georgia Tech, and Clemson, provides a platform for the Hokies to make significant strides in the ACC.
With an opener against Vanderbilt on August 31, Virginia Tech has the potential to set the tone early.
Meanwhile, the Texas A&M Aggies are entering the season with considerable buzz, largely due to the arrival of head coach Mike Elko.
Pate, impressed by Elko’s success at Duke, believes he can replicate that success at Texas A&M.
While the Aggies face a challenging SEC schedule, Pate notes that they may have caught a break this year. Despite the tough competition, Texas A&M is likely to be underdogs in only two games – against Missouri and Texas – giving them a realistic shot at a strong season.
Of course, we’re going to find out a whole lot about the Aggies in their season-opener against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Finally, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are a program that has struggled in recent years but could be on the verge of a resurgence under head coach Matt Rhule.
Pate is particularly excited about the potential of five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, who could thrive in Rhule’s system.
The Cornhuskers’ Big Ten schedule is relatively manageable, with only three particularly tough matchups – road games against Ohio State, USC, and Iowa. This opens the door for Rhule and Nebraska to potentially surprise many this season.
What are your thoughts on Pate’s predictions?
Who are YOUR top “sleeping giants” this season???