ESPN’s Bill Connelly recently compiled his list of the most important players in the country when it comes to the 2024 College Football Playoff race. To no surprise, it’s a quarterback-heavy list, and Connelly made an appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show to dissect his group.

The first 8 spots on Connelly’s list are all QBs, including 4 from the new-look Big Ten and 3 more from the new SEC. The other QB on the list belongs to an ACC program, and it’s Ohio State’s Will Howard who took the No. 1 overall spot on the list.

The reason for Connelly is Howard’s job with the Buckeyes being the easiest job in the country due to the talent surrounding the QB at Ohio State. However, that lends itself to having the most pressure in the country.

“It is funny how Ohio State QB is kind of the easiest and hardest job in the country at the same time,” Connelly explained. “He’s going to have weapons he didn’t have at K State… You’ve got 5 stars everywhere you look except that means if you have one bad game, if you have one key moment… Will Howard has to be pretty much awesome, he can’t have a backwards step.”

It’s a fair assessment from Connelly as he also reflected on the frustrations around Kyle McCord which led to his transfer and the eventual arrival of Howard. To his credit, McCord had solid numbers, especially considering he was playing his first season as a starter with the Buckeyes. But a costly game with multiple interceptions against Michigan began the snowball effect for McCord and Ohio State.

Meanwhile, the top player from the SEC on Connelly’s list was Alabama’s Jalen Milroe at No. 4 overall. If Milroe develops, Alabama has a shot at a deep run, but Connelly pointed to Milroe’s weaknesses still looking bleak at the end of last season.

“I don’t know if I’ve seen a player put on so many good displays and bad displays at the same time. His strengths are so strong but his weaknesses are still pretty weak… He’s playing for one of the best offensive coaches in the country, so that will probably work out pretty well,” admitted Connelly. “He does need to improve in the passing game.”

The top 3 overall slots on Connelly’s list all hail from the Big Ten, including Michigan QB Alex Orji who must replace JJ McCarthy and Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, the preseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. As for Gabriel, the talent level might be surpassed by other players, but he has the aid of veteran experience on his side.

“There are certain aspects of his game from a physical standpoint that aren’t as impressive as certain other high-level QBs, but you’re not going to find anyone with more experience… You cannot ask for a guy who has seen more things in his college career than Dillon Gabriel has,” Connelly said.

The two non-QB spots in Connelly’s top 10 belong to Michigan running back Donovan Edwards and Alabama wide receiver Kobe Prentice. Those two players will likely be leaned on heavily in their respective offenses this fall.

While it may surprise some fans, no player from Georgia or Texas — 2 teams within the top 4 of the national championship odds — has a player in the top 10 of Connelly’s list. That is likely a good sign and an indicator that the depth on those two rosters should hold up against multiple situations. Fans can track the latest odds for the season with SDS’s KY sports betting promos.

Fans will have to wait and see which of these players has a better season this fall, but it would not be a surprise to see a few of them wind up in New York as Heisman Trophy finalists.