Schools that improved their College Football Playoff chances with 2024 recruiting classes

Getting in position for a College Football Playoff berth is no longer about signing multiple top-10 recruiting classes, but rather a delicate combination of recruiting classes, the retention of those recruiting classes (particularly your best players) and the decisions on how that roster is upgraded on an annual basis through the transfer portal. As the 2024 recruiting cycle ends and college football begins its 12-team playoff era, here is a look at five teams that have improved their chances of securing one of the 12 spots if their transfers contribute as expected and they get production from some youth in the 2024 class.