SNAP Ratings 2024 Deep Dive: Identifying Balanced and One-Sided Teams

Photo by Rick Kimball/ISD

In order for a team to be conference and national title contenders, they have to have balance on both sides of the ball, being able to lean on either side at times during the year. In this article, we’ll be using the SNAP Model to look at teams from 2024 who were the most balanced, and the ones who may have leaned too heavily on one side or the other, leading to flaws being exposed.

Like this content? Subscribe at the bottom of the page!

Ohio State Buckeyes - Balanced

Offense: 1st

Defense: 1st

There were no teams in college football more balanced than Ohio State in 2024, and that proved to be true in its national title run, dominating on both sides of the ball throughout the entire playoff.

Miami Hurricanes - Imbalanced

Offense: 4th

Defense: 73rd

On the flip side, Miami was exposed late in the season by its bad defense and missed the playoff because of it, despite having maybe the most explosive offense in the country, led by first-overall NFL draft pick Cam Ward.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Balanced

Offense: 2nd

Defense: 3rd

Notre Dame being top three on both sides of the ball and rising level of performance against great teams lifted them to a national championship game appearance last year. The two most balanced teams in the country according to the SNAP Model proved to be the two best teams when it mattered most.

Utah Utes - Imbalanced

Offense: 105th

Defense: 22nd

As I mentioned in the article with teams who were better/worse than their record in 2024, Utah stayed in almost every game with its great defense, but the offense failed to put enough points on the board time and time again last year for the Utes.

Georgia Bulldogs - Balanced

Offense: 9th

Defense: 6th

Georgia struggled more than usual throughout last season, but they still won the SEC title and were one of the best teams in the country thanks to being top 10 on both sides of the ball.

Michigan Wolverines - Imbalanced

Offense: 51st

Defense: 11th

You can draw a direct line from Michigan’s down year in 2024 to its poor offense, specifically quarterback play. But the defense was still good enough to win them a lot of games, including pulling off an upset over Ohio State.

Tulane Green Wave - Balanced

Offense: 17th

Defense: 18th

Tulane is probably the team the SNAP Model finished the highest on compared to myself and most other college football talking heads. But the Green Wave dominated most conference opponents with a very balanced attack to earn their way to finishing 13th in the SNAP Ratings. Losing quarterback Darian Mensah to the portal this offseason hurts though.

Texas Tech Red Raiders - Imbalanced

Offense: 16th

Defense: 109th

Texas Tech fans had deja vu from the Kliff Kingsbury era last season, having one of the best offenses in the country and one of the worst defenses. Head coach Joey McGuire’s work in the transfer portal should help vault the defense up the rankings this year though – at least on paper.

Arizona State Sun Devils - Balanced

Offense: 23rd

Defense: 19th

Arizona State came out of nowhere to win the Big 12 championship last season thanks to its very good offense and defense. The Sun Devils even came close to upsetting Texas in the playoff, and return more starters than any other power conference team.

Minnesota Golden Gophers - Imbalanced

Offense: 65th

Defense: 12th

Minnesota won eight games last year, thanks mainly in part to its elite defense. But the Gophers lost their defensive coordinator to Miami this offseason, so the offense may have to step up if they want to get back to where they were.

Like this content? Subscribe Below!