College football evolved over the last three years, and the next three promise more change as NIL, the transfer portal and conference realignment redefine the sport. As some programs fell behind, others adapted. Late Kick host Josh Pate identified the 15 programs that altered their DNA and are poised to dominate the sport from 2024-27.

A handful of teams on this list, including Georgia, Alabama, and Michigan are historically elite programs that adapted along with the sport and remained College Football Playoff regulars. Other programs haven’t enjoyed reached the same heights in recent years but have their best seasons ahead.

“We define a program as a rolling, multi-year blend of your on-field record, your recruiting and your portaling,” Pate said when explaining the criteria for these rankings. “How good are you at getting good players? How well do you evaluate them? How good do you get them? How well do you develop them? We care about your resources. There are no poverty programs in this top 15. We care about synergy and culture. When we cut your program open, what’s the DNA in there?”

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Here are the top 15 college football programs for the next three years: