With the introduction of the 12-team College Football Playoff, the door is wide open for potential "Cinderella" teams. Programs that are ranked low or even unranked in the preseason could rise up and make the Playoff due to some fortunate breaks, a favorable schedule, or simply outperforming expectations. While we've seen examples of this before—like Cincinnati in 2021 or TCU in 2022—the expanded format increases the chances for an underdog to make a serious impact in the postseason.

Virginia tech hokies

It's no secret that I’m high on the Hokies heading into 2024. My optimism starts with their returning production—nearly every starter is back on both sides of the ball. While I usually don’t put too much stock in returning production alone, I'm buying in this year because of how they played down the stretch last season and my strong belief in Head Coach Brent Pry.

Offensively, quarterback Kyron Drones returns after throwing for over 2,000 yards and rushing for over 800. I believe Drones is seriously underrated as one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC and is more than capable of leading this team to 10 or more wins. They also bring back every receiver, including Da’Quan Felton, who had over 650 yards last year, and Ali Jennings, who is poised to start after an injury cut his 2023 season short.

Defensively, while they may not be an elite unit that cracks the top ten nationally, I do believe they will be a very high-quality ACC defense. Antwuan Powell is a force off the edge, and the addition of Aeneas Peebles from Duke should help shore up the defensive front. Linebacker Keli Lawson returns after a stellar 2023 campaign, where he led the Hokies in tackles. Additionally, Brent Pry was an excellent defensive coordinator before becoming a head coach, and I trust him to maximize the talent on this roster.

When it comes to the schedule, this is another reason I’m bullish on the Hokies. Their toughest non-conference games are a trip to Vanderbilt and a home game against Rutgers—two matchups I’m confident they can win. Back-to-back road games against Miami and Stanford will be challenging, but as long as they win one of those, they’ll be in good shape. The back half of their schedule primarily features games against some of the weaker teams in the ACC. Duke, Virginia, Boston College, Syracuse, and Georgia Tech are all games where the Hokies should be favored. They also play Clemson, but with that game being at home in Blacksburg, I believe the Hokies have a real chance to make some noise in 2024.

Indiana hoosiers

While Virginia Tech is certainly a sleeper pick to make the Playoff, selecting an Indiana program that hasn’t won more than eight games in a season since the 1960s might seem almost impossible. While it’s undoubtedly a long shot, I think many people are overlooking the talent on this Indiana roster and how manageable their schedule actually is.

The first thing to consider with Indiana is the coaching staff. Curt Cignetti arrives from James Madison, where he guided the team through their transition from FCS to FBS, achieving a remarkable 52-9 record over five seasons, including a 19-4 mark in their first two FBS seasons. Not only did Cignetti bring several key coaches with him from James Madison, including both coordinators, but he also hit the transfer portal hard, injecting the program with a wave of fresh talent, especially on offense.

This might be a bold take, but Indiana could field one of the best offenses in the Big Ten. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke transfers in from Ohio, where he was incredibly productive in 2022 and continued to play well in 2023 before an injury cut his season short, derailing Ohio's season along with it. The Hoosiers have a crowded backfield with four running backs who all have significant FBS experience, and I believe that no matter who gets the carries, they’ll be productive. My confidence in this offense, however, largely stems from the receiver room. Elijah Sarratt follows Cignetti from James Madison after racking up over 1,100 yards, and he’ll be joined on the outside by returner Donaven McCulley, who posted 644 yards in Indiana’s lackluster passing attack last season—a performance that gives me hope for a breakout year. Additionally, transfers Miles Cross (Ohio) and Myles Price (Texas Tech) add depth to a receiving corps that could be one of the best in the conference.

Defensively, I have some questions, but with most starting positions being held by transfers, it’s hard to predict how they’ll perform. If this defense can just hold its own in the Big Ten, Indiana has the potential to surprise a lot of people. As for the schedule, the non-conference slate of FIU, Western Illinois, and Charlotte should set the Hoosiers up for an easy 3-0 start. In conference play, they do have to face Ohio State on the road, but the rest of their away games are winnable, and they might even be favored in all of them. While making the Playoff is admittedly a long shot, if this team clicks and gets some lucky breaks with this schedule, I can envision a scenario where the Hoosiers shock the world.

Florida gators

Yes, I understand how crazy this sounds. The Gators have the toughest schedule in college football history, and Head Coach Billy Napier is on the hottest seat in the country. However, something that isn’t getting enough attention is the talent on the Florida roster. If the Gators had a more manageable schedule, they might very well be ranked in the top 25, and the conversation around Florida football would be quite different.

Defensively, the Gators should show improvement from their underwhelming performance last season. On the defensive line, Justus Boone returns after an injury cut short his 2023 campaign, and five-star freshman LJ McCray is expected to make an immediate impact. At linebacker, Grayson Howard transferred back to Gainesville after a brief stint with South Carolina, and is set to start alongside returnee Shemar James. While there are concerns about the front seven and their ability to stop the run, McCray’s potential could provide a significant boost. The secondary also looks promising with Devin Moore and Jason Marshall Jr. returning on the boundary. Additionally, former five-star Cormani McClain joined from the portal. If these young talents deliver, the defense should be capable of holding its own.

However, for the Gators to make noise despite their challenging schedule, their offense will need to be exceptional. They have the potential to reach that level thanks to their quarterbacks. Graham Mertz returns as the starter after a strong season, throwing for just under 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns against only three interceptions. Meanwhile, five-star freshman DJ Lagway is a dynamic talent who could take the offense to even greater heights and may need to start to elevate this offense. Although they lost Trevor Etienne to Georgia, Montrell Johnson remains a top-notch running back and is expected to have a strong season. At receiver, the Gators added significant talent through the portal with Elijah Badger (Arizona State) and Chimere Dike (Wisconsin), alongside the return of slot receiver Eugene Wilson. With these additions, this offense has the potential to perform at a very high level.

Turning to the elephant in the room, Florida faces an unprecedented challenge with eight top-25 teams on their 2024 schedule. While this daunting slate is undeniably tough, it could actually benefit them in the Playoff race. Unlike a typical team with an 8-4 or 9-3 record, Florida could have a compelling case for an at-large bid if they achieve that mark due to the strength of their schedule. The challenge will be for the Gators to perform well enough to secure even eight wins. Although it's a long shot, the potential for young stars to emerge early could pave the way for a miraculous run to the College Football Playoff.