Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon's Bo Nix both transcended expectations and took the Huskies and Ducks to new levels in 2023. Cornelius Johnson and Josaiah Stewart became key role players on a brilliant and eventually unbeaten Michigan team. Texas' Quinn Ewers, Florida State's Jordan Travis and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy all made game-changing leaps that either helped their teams find the College Football Playoff or should have. LSU's Jayden Daniels took a leap to Heisman immortality. Alabama's Jalen Milroe came through just enough to bring the Tide another CFP trip, while Ohio State's Kyle McCord couldn't quite do the same.
The 25 most important players in 2024's College Football Playoff race
