2024 CBS Sports preseason college football awards: Carson Beck, Ryan Day headline honorees

With Georgia and Ohio State favored to play for a national title, it's no surprise they dominate our preseason awards

By Shehan Jeyarajah Aug 14, 2024 at 11:06 am ET• 4 min read

The 2024 college football season may ultimately be defined by two teams: Ohio State and Georgia. The pair received 61 of the 62 first-place votes in the preseason AP Top 25 and have far and away the best odds to win the national championship, per oddsmakers. Fittingly, the Buckeyes and Bulldogs earned all three honors given out in the CBS Sports preseason superlatives. 

In one spot is a Georgia team that has set the standard in college football since 2021. The Bulldogs have won two national championships in the past three seasons and were an SEC title game upset away from potentially playing for a third consecutive national championship last year, which would have been the first time since the 1930s. 

Ohio State has been a constant presence in the Big Ten and national championship races, but Michigan's rise surpassed the Buckeyes. Now, they are getting serious. Coach Ryan Day managed to retain the vast majority of a stacked roster and made some shrewd offseason additions to elevate the program. It sets 2024 up as a season to remember for the Buckeyes. 

In the CBS Sports Preseason All-America Team, released Wednesday, Ohio State and Georgia combined for nine selections. However, these are the figures that stand above the fray. Here are the CBS Sports Preseason Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Freshman of the Year heading into the 2024 season.