College football in the United States is more than a sport. It’s tradition. It’s culture. And for many students, it’s a weekend ritual full of pride, stats, and bragging rights. Some teams have written their names into the record books with decades of excellence,

Using TruMedia, returning starters were counted based on players who made at least six starts in 2024, including conference championships, bowl games, and playoff appearances. Only offensive and defensive starters are included (no special teams -- sorry, kickers and punters).