The return to the gridiron is just a matter of weeks away, with both the College Football and the NFL kick-off games right around the corner. In the NCAA, Georgia Tech and Florida State head to Dublin's Aviva Stadium to contest the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, with the clash opening the new campaign for the third straight year. Last term, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish lived up to their billing, dominating on the emerald isle and securing a dominant 42-3 victory against the Navy Midshipmen.
In the NFL, the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs raise the curtain as they welcome the Baltimore Ravens to Arrowhead in a mouthwatering clash of AFC heavyweights. The two met in last year's conference championships, with Patrick Mahomes and Co. ultimately emerging victorious before going on to claim the Super Bowl for a second straight year. This time around, Lamar Jackson will be aiming for revenge, but if you are one to bet on football at Bovada, then you'll notice the task he has on his hands as the Chiefs are the +500 favorites for the Lombardi once again this year.
Both the NCAA and the NFL will forever be intertwined. One has to impress at college level to have any hope of securing a spot in the big league. But which schools have seen the most success when it comes to their players making the step up to the professional ranks? Let's find out.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The University of Alabama leads the pack with an impressive 77 of their former players in the NFL for the 2024 season. Under the guidance of head coach Nick Saban, the SEC sensation has become synonymous with excellence in college football, famously defeating the number one-ranked Georgia Bulldogs last season en route to the Rose Bowl. Unfortunately for them, that would end in a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Michigan, with the Wolverines securing the victory in overtime, but the Crimson Tide's performances both in the big game and along the way meant that they could exit the playoffs with their heads held high.
Alabama has clinched three national championships in the past decade, with their most recent triumph coming with a 52-24 drubbing of Ohio State at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami back in 2021. As such, it's safe to say that they have produced plenty of stars throughout their recent era of dominance.
Current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa secured the most throwing yards in the entire league last season, and he will be aiming to help the Floridians break their playoff drought in 2024. Running back Derrick Henry became just the eighth member to ever enter the 2,000-yard club back in 2020, and he will be aiming to recapture his best form with the Baltimore Ravens following his trade from the Tennesee Titans.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State boasts 66 players in the NFL, making it a fertile ground for professional talent. Under the leadership of Ryan Day, the Buckeyes have maintained a strong presence in the Big Ten and the national title race, often appearing in the College Football Playoff. As mentioned, they reached the national championship game in 2021, but unfortunately came unstuck against the aforementioned Crimson Tide in overtime.
The ability of their players to compete at the highest level is a testament to the robust training programs implemented in Columbus, with the likes of Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa and former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields both testament to that. The latter of that duo is about to embark upon a make-or-break season in the NFL. Fields was recently traded from Soldier Field to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it is up to him to show the kind of form that he displayed regularly with the Buckeyes, otherwise his days as a starter in the NFL may well be numbered.
LSU Tigers
LSU has a tradition of excellence in college ball, and it comes as no surprise that they have provided 66 players to the NFL, the third most of any school in the country. Their 2019 season culminated with a fourth national championship and is often considered one of the best in college football history. This success has been driven by exceptional coaching and a commitment to developing players who can excel at the next level.
Of course, the man who was instrumental in that national title was quarterback Joe Burrow. The current Cincinnati Bengals man won the Heisman that year and was in blistering form in the championship game, throwing for a whopping 463 yards and five touchdowns.
He was selected with the first overall pick of the 2021 draft by Cincy and he has gone on to revive the fortunes of the ailing franchise. He led them to the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years in just his second season as a starter, and he will be aiming to make a similarly deep postseason run in 2024.
