College football teams with most returning starters in 2024, ranked (2024)

Offense: 11

Defense: 9

Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

Virginia Tech has an opportunity to take another big step forward in Year 3 under coach Brent Pry. The Hokies could be a preseason top-25 team in 2024. A key reason behind that optimism in Blacksburg is the number of returning starters back from last season, which saw Virginia Tech post its first winning record in four years. Defensive line is really the only question mark for the Hokies as they look to upgrade the interior of their front. Basically the entire starting offense returns for Virginia Tech with breakout quarterback Kyron Drones leading that unit.

Offense:10

Defense: 10

Special Teams:1(Punter)

Oklahoma State has not always capitalized on rosters with a large number of returning starters from the previous season. Sometimes the hype is too high for the Cowboys. But after making a late charge to an appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game in 2023, the experienced Pokes are built to make another run at their first conference title since 2011. Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon headlines the long list of returning starters for Oklahoma State after a breakout campaign. The nation's leading rusher is back in the saddle hoping to make the most of a veteran roster in 2024.

Offense:9

Defense:9

Special Teams:1(Kicker)

Iowa is another conference title game participant from 2023 that ranks near the top ofthe list for most returning starters. The Hawkeyesbring back much of their defensive starters from last season, including five of the top six individual tacklers. Unanimous All-American cornerback and key special teams returner Cooper DeJean is the only member of the Iowa starting secondary not returning in 2024. A lot of attention is expected on the offense and what changes are made under new coordinator Tim Lester. Former Michigan transfer quarterback Cade McNamara, who suffered a season-ending injury after just five starts, did not factor into the returning starters number for Iowa.

Offense:9

Defense:9

Special Teams:1(Punter)

Iowa State fielded one of the youngest rosters in college football last season and still managed to make a bowl game after a slow start in September. Now, those Cyclones that were essentially thrown into the fire in 2023 are back for the 2024 campaign,meaning coach Matt Campbell knows exactly what he has to work with in Ames. Quarterback Rocco Becht threw for 23 touchdowns with eight interceptions as a redshirt freshman. Bechthasa familiar cast around himwith all five starting linemen back, as well as top weapons Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.

Offense:10

Defense:7

Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

Canthe large number of returning starters at Nebraskatake advantage of experience and finally get the Huskers back to a bowl game for the first time since 2016. Matt Rhule appears to be establishing the right culture in Lincoln and the schedule is certainly favorable for a strong start in the first half of the 2024 season. But not many college football teams return as many starters as Nebraska. Seven starters are back from a defense that held opponents to less than 100 rushing yards per game last season. The massive defensive tackle duo of Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson headline that list for the Huskers.

Offense:9

Defense:7

Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

A crucial season awaits Dave Aranda at Baylor in 2024. The Bears are just 10-16 (.384) since winning the Big 12 Championship Game three years ago, but hope to finally rebound with a vast majority of their starters from last season back in Waco. Bad injury luck at quarterback certainly did not help Baylor in 2023.Whoever wins the starting job behind center this spring — whether that be Dequan Finn, RJ Martinez or Sawyer Robertson — does have an experienced offensive line, that includes fifth-year senior Gavin Byers, and plenty of returning starters at the skill positions to work with.

Offense:7

Defense:9

Special Teams:1 (Punter)

Justin Wilcox recently got California back to a bowl game for the first time in four seasons and brings back most of the starters from the 2023 roster. Running back Jaydn Ott led the Pac-12 in rushing as a sophom*ore a year ago and expects to be relied on heavily again in 2024. The Golden Bears do return starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza and three of their top-four pass catchers.California —soon to be a member of the ACC — does need to address filling the linebacker spots on defense, but nine players that made at least six starts last season are back.

Offense:8

Defense:7

Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

Georgia Tech matched its highest win total in seven seasons in the first full year under coach Brent Key. Although the schedule is not favorable for the Yellow Jackets in 2024, there is a large number of returning starters back with experience. Quarterback Haynes King had a breakout campaign for Georgia Tech after transferring in from Texas A&M. Most of the five starting offensive linemen are back, as well as leading rusher Jamal Haynes and top-two receivers Malik Rutherford and Eric Singleton Jr. The defense has several holds to plug, but there are at least two returning starters at each level.

Offense:6

Defense:9

Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

Kentucky could be considered one of the most consistent power conference college football programs under coach Mark Stoops. The Wildcats should extend their bowl appearance streak to nine seasons in 2024 behind a defense that returns nine starters. The departure of starting linebacker Trevin Wallace certainly hurts, but D'Eryk Jackson, his counterpart and top tackler for Kentucky last season, is back. The Wildcats addressed the starting quarterback and running backspots in the transfer portal to build around an offense line that returns four of five starters.

Offense:6

Defense:9

Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

With nine defensive starters back in 2024, Northwestern has a chance to build upon its surprising bowl game appearance under now-full-time coach David Braun last season. The Wildcats wonsix of eight one-possession games in 2023. That experience in pressure situations should pay off this fall, although two of the top-three individual tacklers for Northwestern are gone. Running back Cam Porter is back for his fifth year in the program after leading the Wildcats in rushing last season.

Offense:9

Defense:7

Special Teams:1 (Punter)

Stanford enters the 2024 campaign with a five-year drought without a bowlgame — the longest streak since Jim Harbaugh snapped a seven-year run without a postseason appearance in 2009. The Cardinal did not make much progress in Year 1 under new coach Troy Taylor last season, but return a significant number of starters with an opportunity to make a jump as a soon-to-be member of the ACC in 2024. Returning star wideout Elic Ayomanor had a breakout sophom*ore campaign as the first Stanford player to reach at least 1,000 yards receiving since 2018.

T-12. Auburn Tigers— 16

• Offense:8
• Defense:6
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-12. Boston College Eagles— 16

• Offense: 7
• Defense: 7
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-12. Georgia Bulldogs— 16

• Offense:8
• Defense:6
• Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-12.Penn State Nittany Lions — 16

• Offense:8
• Defense:7
• Special Teams:1 (Punter)

T-12.Pittsburgh Panthers— 16

• Offense:9
• Defense:5
• Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights— 16

• Offense:7
• Defense:8
• Special Teams:1 (Kicker)

T-12.SMU Mustangs— 16

• Offense:9
• Defense:6
• Special Teams:1 (Kicker)

T-12. Utah Utes— 16

• Offense:6
• Defense:8
• Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-12. Virginia Cavaliers— 16

• Offense:8
• Defense:6
• Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-21. Cincinnati Bearcats— 15

• Offense:8
• Defense:5
• Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-21.Florida Gators— 15

• Offense:8
• Defense:5
• Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-21.Louisville Cardinals— 15

• Offense:5
• Defense:8
• Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-21.Minnesota Golden Gophers— 15

• Offense:5
• Defense:8
• Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-21.Ohio State Buckeyes— 15

• Offense:6
• Defense:8
• Special Teams:1 (Kicker)

T-21.Ole Miss Rebels— 15

• Offense:8
• Defense:6
• Special Teams:1 (Kicker)

T-21.Texas Longhorns— 15

• Offense:6
• Defense:8
• Special Teams:1 (Kicker)

T-21.West Virginia Mountaineers— 15

• Offense:8
• Defense:5
• Special Teams:2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-29. Colorado Buffaloes — 14

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 7
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-29. Missouri Tigers — 14

• Offense: 9
• Defense: 5
• Special Teams: 0

T-29. Syracuse Orange — 14

• Offense: 7
• Defense: 5
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-32. Arizona Wildcats — 13

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 6
• Special Teams: 1 (Kicker)

T-32. Arizona State Sun Devils — 13

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 7
• Special Teams: 0

T-32. Indiana Hoosiers — 13

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 7
• Special Teams: 1 (Punter)

T-32. Kansas Jayhawks — 13

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 6
• Special Teams: 1 (Punter)

T-32. LSU Tigers — 13

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 6
• Special Teams: 1 (Kicker)

T-32. Maryland Terrapins — 13

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 7
• Special Teams: 1 (Kicker)

T-32. Miami Hurricanes — 13

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 5
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-32. Michigan State Spartans — 13

• Offense: 2
• Defense: 9
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-32. Oklahoma Sooners — 13

• Offense: 4
• Defense: 7
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-32. South Carolina Gameco*cks — 13

• Offense: 3
• Defense: 9
• Special Teams: 1 (Punter)

T-32. UCFKnights — 13

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 5
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-32. Wake Forest Demon Deacons — 13

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 6
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-44. Arkansas Razorbacks — 12

• Offense: 4
• Defense: 7
• Special Teams: 1 (Punter)

T-44. BYU Cougars — 12

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 5
• Special Teams: 1 (Kicker)

T-44. Kansas StateWildcats — 12

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 6
• Special Teams: 1 (Kicker)

T-44. NC State Wolfpack — 12

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 5
• Special Teams: 1 (Punter)

T-44. North Carolina Tar Heels — 12

• Offense: 4
• Defense: 6
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-44. TCU Horned Frogs — 12

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 6
• Special Teams: 0

T-44. Texas A&M Aggies — 12

• Offense: 7
• Defense: 4
• Special Teams: 1 (Kicker)

T-44. UCLA Bruins — 12

• Offense: 8
• Defense: 4
• Special Teams: 0

T-44. Wisconsin Badgers — 12

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 5
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-53. Clemson Tigers — 11

• Offense: 7
• Defense: 3
• Special Teams: 1 (Punter)

T-53. Illinois Fighting Illini — 11

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 5
• Special Teams: 1 (Punter)

T-53. Oregon Ducks — 11

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 4
• Special Teams: 1 (Punter)

T-53. Purdue Boilermakers — 11

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 5
• Special Teams: 1 (Kicker)

T-57. Alabama Crimson Tide — 10

• Offense: 4
• Defense: 5
• Special Teams: 2 (Punter)

T-57. Florida State Seminoles — 10

• Offense: 4
• Defense: 4
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

T-57. Houston Cougars — 10

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 4
• Special Teams: 1 (Kicker)

T-57. Texas Tech Red Raiders — 10

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 4
• Special Teams: 1 (Kicker)

T-57. Vanderbilt Commodores — 10

• Offense: 4
• Defense: 6
• Special Teams: 0

T-62. Duke Blue Devils — 9

• Offense: 4
• Defense: 6
• Special Teams: 0

T-62. Notre Dame Fighting Irish — 9

• Offense: 3
• Defense: 5
• Special Teams: 1 (Punter)

T-62. Tennessee Volunteers — 9

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 3
• Special Teams: 1 (Punter)

T-62. USC Trojans — 9

• Offense: 3
• Defense: 4
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

66.Michigan Wolverines — 6

• Offense: 1
• Defense: 4
• Special Teams: 1 (Punter)

67.Washington Huskies — 5

• Offense: 0
• Defense: 3
• Special Teams: 2 (Kicker, Punter)

68.Mississippi State Bulldogs — 4

• Offense: 1
• Defense: 2
• Special Teams: 1 (Kicker)