1-133 College Football 2023 Post-Spring Rankings
Where does defending champion Georgia slot? How far can Deion Sanders take the Buffaloes? Is there a Group of Five Cinderalla?
With all of the FBS spring games in the books and mindsets collectively on summer vacation, it’s time to really spring ahead and take a first glance at the impending 2023 college football season—because it’s never ever too early to think about pigskin in the offseason.
The FBS gained two teams this year with the additions of Sam Houston and Jacksonville State, so we now have 133 teams to rank. Meanwhile, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF have moved onto the Big 12, while the American Athletic Conference will have a lot of added Conference USA flavor.
NOTE: Teams like Tulane, Troy, etc. are arguably ranked too low in these preaseason rankings. Anyone who has followed me knows I’m one of the biggest proponents of Group of Five football. But it’s always difficult to judge them against what Power Five teams hypothetically could be ahead of a new season, and it’s also often difficult for G5 teams to catch lightning in a bottle in consective seasons. Also, of course, these rankings will get shaken up early and often.
So, on that note, let’s take a first look at the 133 FBS programs as the weather starts to get warmer across the country—yes, even here in the Midwest!
133. Massachusetts (1-11): The Minutemen finished last in the FBS in scoring offense and lost nine straight games to end last season.
132. New Mexico (2-10): Danny Gonzales hopes the offense can make big strides after finishing last in the nation in total yards and winless in the Mountain West last fall.
131. Akron (2-10): Joe Moorhead returns a lot of veterans, and the Zips played better than their record indicated last year, suffering five losses by 7 points or less.
130. Louisiana-Monroe (4-8): Terry Bowden is still looking to break through at one of the hardest jobs in the country. The Warhawks have finished above .500 just once since returning to FBS in 1994. QB play is a major question mark, but second-year coordinator Vic Koenning could turn the defense around.
129. Hawai’i (3-10): Timmy Chang took his lumps in Year 1, but he has a lot of returning production. Expect better results in his second season. He has some experienced options at QB and an intriguing back in Tylan Hines, but the defense needs to make significant strides.
128. Colorado State (3-9): The Rams really struggled offensively in Jay Norvell’s first season, averaging just 13.2 points per game. But the defense was solid and returns a lot of production. Can QB Clay Millen and the offense make big strides?
127. Kent State (5-7): Sean Lewis left to become the OC at Colorado, and a lot of players hit the transfer portal. New head coach Kenni Burns did not inherit a lot of returning production, but he’s worked under Craig Bohl and P.J. Fleck. He’ll need time, but he deserved this job.
126. Nevada (2-10): The Wolf Pack are looking to put behind a disastrous ‘22 campaign, which featured zero conference victories. Head coach Ken Wilson does have material defensively up front, helped by the transfer portal, but OC Derek Sage needs to work magic around former Colorado QB Brendon Lewis.
125. Old Dominion (3-9): Ricky Rahne’s Monarchs need to develop some playmakers on both sides of the ball, and things became even trickier when QB Hayden Wolff decided to transfer. New OC Kevin Decker will likely run with Grant Wilson, who was coached by Decker last season at Fordham.
124. Texas State (4-8): New head coach G.J. Kinne will make sure his offense is up tempo and pass heavy. The Sun Belt opposition better be ready for Incarnate Word 2.0 in San Marcos. Just wait until Kinne actually reestablishes in-state recruiting ties.
123. Charlotte (3-9): The 49ers have joined a 14-team divisionless AAC with new head coach Biff Poggi, a former hedge fund manager who spent 2021-22 as Michigan’s associate head coach. Poggi has really worked the transfer portal, especially to rebuild both lines.
122. USF (1-11): After going 8-37 over the last four seasons—including a winless AAC campaign in 2022—the Bulls are ready for the Alex Golesh era. He was previously Josh Heupel’s OC and will implement an up tempo offense, led by QB Gerry Bohanon. But can coordinator Todd Orlando make the defense even serviceable?
121. Arkansas State (3-9): Butch Jones has not been able to develop this program yet, going just 5-19 in two seasons, and coordinator Rob Harley needs to find something to work defensively. OC Keith Heckendorf will look to Colorado transfer JT Shrout or redshirt freshman Jaxon Dailey under center.
120. Northern Illinois (3-9): The Huskies have been a bit of a head-scratching outfit under Thomas Hammock. There has been a MAC West title, but they suffered through 9 losses last fall. The young defense must make significant strides, but a veteran offense should be solid with seventh-year QB Rocky Lombardi back.
119. Georgia State (4-8): The Panthers will have a slew of new defensive starters, which is a great thing for new DC Chad Staggs, and expectations are the ground game should be prolific.
118. Florida International (4-8): There is optimism that Mike MacIntyre is the right coach to get this program over the hump after taking over a team that had lost 18 of 19 games. There is a lot of experience returning, and he has proven he can turn programs around.
117. UTEP (5-7): Dana Dimel has worked wonders with the Miners in a difficult job, and now he’ll lean on a boatload of JUCO transfers after losing a couple of stars. There may be just enough balance on both sides of the ball to get to the 6-win mark.
116. Sam Houston (5-4): K.C. Keeler and the Bearkats will play their first season in the FBS and hope to have an improved and consistent offense after a woeful passing season. The defense, meanwhile, has a ton of talent across the board.
115. Western Michigan (5-7): The Broncos brought in former Louisville OC Lance Taylor, and his top priorities are finding a QB to lead a revamped offense and helping coordinator Lou Esposito find some defensive playmakers.
114. New Mexico State (7-6): Jerry Kill consistently shows his coaching acumen, coaxing 7 wins out of this squad last season. He’ll now look to take the next step with a veteran Aggies unit, including some intriguing transfers like former four-star QB Eli Stowers (Texas A&M) as the program enters Conference USA.
113. UConn (6-7): Jim L. Mora performed one of the best coaching jobs in the country last year with a talent base that wasn’t exactly deep at a difficult place to win. He proved that someone other than Randy Edsall could win at Rentschler Field, but can he elevate the talent base and level of play, starting with QB Zion Turner? The Huskies seek their first winning season since 2010.
112. Rice (5-8): The Owls are one of six schools entering the AAC from C-USA, and they landed JT Daniels via the transfer portal to run the offense. They earned a bowl bid last year thanks to their APR score, but the play of Daniels—seeking to start for his fourth FBS team—could be key.
111. Ball State (5-7): Mike Neu’s Cardinals slumped down the stretch last fall and will look to improve their passing attack this season and more closely resemble the team that blew out San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl a couple of seasons ago. Top talent left the offensive side of the ball via the portal, so Neu brought in QB Layne Hatcher and RB Marquez Cooper.
110. Central Michigan (4-8): Jim McElwain’s Chippewas took a step back in 2022, as QB Daniell Richardson struggled and RB Lew Nichols III battled injuries behind a suspect O-Line. Richardson and Nichols are gone, but there is enough talent to compete in the MAC—starting with Bert Emanuel Jr. on offense and a young group of now-experienced defenders for coordinator Robb Akey.
109. Bowling Green (6-7): Scot Loeffler was able to get over the hump a bit last fall, upsetting Marshall and Toledo, and we’ll see if the passing game can progress with transfer Connor Bazelak to complement a solid defense co-coordinated by Steve Morrison and Sammy Lawanson.
108. Utah State (6-7): Blake Anderson’s Aggies suffered through a ton of injuries on the defensive side of the ball as well as QB Logan Bonner last fall. There is a ton of turnover on the offense as a whole, so getting that unit straightened out to complement the defense is a top priority.
107. Temple (3-9): Stan Drayton’s Owls could be an intriguing outfit this fall because of their aggressiveness defensively, led by Layton Jordan (9 sacks) and new coordinator Everett Withers. How much progress can QB E.J. Warner—son of Kurt—make?
106. UNLV (5-7): One could argue that Marcus Arroyo deserved another year because the Rebels seemed close to breaking through, but Barry Odom was a strong hire who will field a defense in Vegas and inherits a solid offensive line.
105. Navy (4-8): A new era has dawned as Brian Newberry was promoted from defensive coordinator. Can a former DC help improve the offense, which will look similar under Grant Chesnut? The new OC ran an option attack at Kennesaw State and has good returning experience in Annapolis.
104. Louisiana Tech (3-9): Sonny Cumbie was able to acquire QB Hank Bachmeier, RB Sqwirl Williams and WR Decoldest Crawford via the portal for his offensive attack, but defensive improvement is needed.
103. Tulsa (5-7): Kevin Wilson has stepped in to take over the Golden Hurricane, so you know the offense will instantly improve. But there are a ton of new faces that need to gel. Meanwhile, the defense has some experience but lost some top talent. Can they outscore opponents enough to earn a postseason berth?
102. Buffalo (7-6): The Bulls should field another aggressive defense, but Maurice Linguist needs improvement from his offense. QB Cole Snyder is back but will need to create chemistry with a slew of new receivers.
101. Georgia Southern (6-7): Clay Helton’s bunch should have a top-flight offense in the Sun Belt once again. After Kyle Vantrease lit up the passing game last fall, Davis Brin, JC French and Beau Allen will look to keep the attack humming. Meanwhile, can new coordinator Brandon Bailey make the defense even average?
100. Middle Tennessee (8-5): The defense returns a ton of production from a solid 2022 unit, but the Blue Raiders need better play along the offensive line to make more room for RB Frank Peasant.
99. Eastern Michigan (9-4): Chris Creighton lost a lot of production from a 9-win team, including his starting QB and pieces from the O-Line, but a lot of its aggressive defense is back.
98. Miami, OH (6-7): The RedHawks were stingy defensively in 2022—and may be even better this fall led by LB Matthew Salopek—but major improvement is needed on the other side of the ball. Who will emerge as the starter under center?
97. Southern Miss (7-6): The Golden Eagles need much better luck at the QB position. Head coach Will Hall has dealt with a slew of injuries and will look to either Zach Wilcke, Holman Edwards or Billy Wiles to stabilize the position. Frank Gore Jr. and a ton of pieces will be there to help.
96. North Texas (7-7): The Mean Green begin the Eric Morris era with a passing game that should excel whether it is Chandler Rogers or Jace Ruder running the show at QB, but coordinator Matt Caponi has his work cut out for him on defense.
95. Wyoming (7-6): Can Craig Bohl find a way to get more out of his passing attack? The Cowboys love to milk clock and rely on the ground game, but they need more from QB Andrew Peasley. That starts, however, with a slight change in philosophy.
94. Florida Atlantic (5-7): The Owls made a shrewd hire in Tom Herman, who will be looking to rehab his image after breaking through at Houston but treading water at Texas. He inherits a lot of material, so a first-year standout season is possible.
93. Jacksonville State (9-2): Rich Rodriguez likes to run the football and play fast offensively, so the Gamecocks could be a factor in their first season in Conference USA.
92. Louisiana (6-7): Michael Desormeaux would love to put his first year at the helm behind him, as the Ragin’ Cajuns fell from the ranks of league title contenders. The offense has to be more explosive. The line is strong, but who will step up to fill the void left by receivers Michael Jefferson and John Stephens Jr.?
91. Ohio (10-4): The Bobcats finished as runner-up in the MAC and have a good amount of returning production for Tim Albin. Is QB Kurtis Rourke fully healthy after an ACL injury? The offense should be strong, but new playmakers will need to emerge on defense.
90. San Jose State (7-5): Brent Brennan’s Spartans played better than their record indicated last fall, and QB Chevan Cordeiro is back. But they will need underclassmen to step up in some key spots, though they should field a strong pass rush.
89. Army (6-6): The Black Knights need to find their defensive prowess again to complement their ground game, especially after losing star defender Andre Carter II to the NFL.
88. Appalachian State (6-6): The Mountaineers should once again be prolific on the ground, but can they stop anyone on defense? Shawn Clark brought in two new coordinators after App failed to finish over .500 for the first time since 2014, but there is enough material across the board to bounce back.
87. UAB (7-6): Trent Dilfer has taken over for Bill Clark, who resurrected this program after it shuttered. Those are very big shoes to fill, but Clark didn’t leave the cupboard bare. However, a bevy of new starters will be taking the field in Birmingham this fall, so it may take time for this transition to show on-field results.
86. Toledo (9-5): The defending MAC champions return QB Dequan Finn, a good offensive line and several key playmakers. While last year’s strong defensive unit will need to find some new playmakers, the Rockets will lean on a very good secondary.
85. Liberty (8-5): Jamey Chadwell parlayed his success at Coastal Carolina into this new gig as the Flames enter C-USA. Co-coordinators Willy Korn and Newland Isaac will need to decide on a starting QB, and the defense lost a lot of starters. But there is longterm upside for this program.
84. James Madison (8-3): The Dukes stormed into their first FBS season, so now the bar is high. They need to settle on a new starting QB and have to replace a lot of starting skill-position players too. But JMU brought it on defense last year and should continue to do so this fall.
83. Western Kentucky (9-5): Tyson Helton’s Hilltoppers bring back QB Austin Reed, so the offense should continue to be prolific. But second-year coordinator Tyson Summers has to replace a ton of starters on defense, though WKU wasn’t shy getting help via the portal.
82. San Diego State (7-6): What will the offense look like under new coordinator Ryan Lindley? Can QB Jalen Mayden become more consistent? Expectations are that things will open up under Lindley, while DC Kurt Mattix needs to find new playmakers up front.
81. Northwestern (1-11): Fitz and the Wildcats had a disastrous ‘22 campaign. How far can they climb from a miserable 1-win campaign? That will depend on an offense that was pretty stagnant. Can true freshman Aidan Gray push Ryan Hilinski and Brendan Sullivan for the starting gig under center?
80. Rutgers (4-8): The Scarlet Knights desperately need to put together a competent passing game, and that starts with determing a QB1 between Evan Simon and Gavin Wimsatt.
79. Virginia Tech (3-8): Brent Pry needs big-time playmakers to emerge on both sides of the ball, and the defense needs to re-establish its nastiness. Offensively, Grant Wells returns at QB, but a rushing attack that finished 13th in the ACC needs to perform much better, with transfer Bhayshul Tuten joining Malachi Thomas at RB.
78. Indiana (4-8): The Hoosiers have a lot of new faces in Bloomington—including QB Tayven Jackson, who transferred in from Tennessee and is the odds-on favorite to be the starter—as well as some new coaches.
77. Boston College (3-9): Jeff Hafley needs to find a way to get the offense to click with QB Emmett Morehead working under Steve Shimko, who has the added title of OC. The Eagles need to find production on the ground as well behind an O-Line highlighted by future pro Christian Mahogany.
76. Arizona State (3-9): The first order of business for new head coach Kenny Dillingham is installing a new culture. This won’t be an easy rebuild, and addressing the offensive line to protect QB Drew Pyne is of the utmost importance.
75. Stanford (3-9): The David Shaw era has ended, so Troy Taylor enters looking to make the Cardinal offense much more exciting. It’ll take time, but his offensive vision worked at Sacramento State.
74. Virginia (3-7): Tony Elliott enters his second season in Charlottesville after a very trying 2022. Getting the ground game going is imperative, so Kobe Pace was brought in to join Xavier Brown in the backfield.
73. Georgia Tech (5-7): Brent Key earned the full-time gig, but the Yellow Jackets need better play across the O-Line and have to develop some playmakers to create explosive plays. Former Texas A&M QB Haynes King has arrived and must stay healthy and play with more consistency.
72. California (4-8): This is a big year for Justin Wilcox, especially with former Golden Bears QB Troy Taylor now at Stanford. Can Jake Spavital, who is back at OC, help the Golden Bears make strides on offense?
71. Arizona (5-7): Jedd Fisch made strides with the Wildcats in 2022, and this team can take another step forward with a defense that is even below average—simply anything better than last year’s outfit both against the pass and run.
70. Michigan State (5-7): Is it really a make or break season for Mel Tucker? After the pass defense failed to improve last year, QB Payton Thorne and WR Keon Coleman decided to enter the transfer portal—after the team’s spring game. Oh, and OC Jay Johnson still needs to find a consistent run game. Things appear dreary in East Lansing.
69. Nebraska (4-8): Matt Rhule is the new head man in Lincoln, and he has a nice offensive piece in former Georgia Tech QB Jeff Sims, who will try to help the Huskers win more than five games for the first time since 2016.
68. Vanderbilt (5-7): The Commodores are in very good hands with Clark Lea, whose 2022 recruiting class was the program’s best since the James Franklin days. Can AJ Swann continue to develop under center, and can the defense—one of the worst in the country last season—improve with a slew of youngsters having more experience?
67. West Virginia (5-7): Neal Brown kept coordinator Jordan Lesley despite the Mountaineers struggling mightily on defense last fall. WVU hopes some portal help and the development of young players can make a difference this season. Meanwhile, run-game coordinator Chad Scott is the new OC and needs to find a QB1.
66. Colorado (1-11): He may be polarizing, but Deion Sanders has made Buffaloes football relevant again. And that’s a start. This is one of the toughest teams to project because the roster is seemingly in flux, but expect the offense to be fun.
65. Iowa State (4-8): The Cyclones had an uncharacteristic season last fall, prompting Matt Campbell to make several changes on his coaching staff. This could be the best defense in the Big 12, but ISU finished 114th nationally in scoring offense last fall. Can the ‘Clones get back to playing like their old brand?
64. Coastal Carolina (9-4): New head coach Tim Beck needs to get the defense back to playing like its former self, particularly the secondary. QB Grayson McCall is back, though, and he has a nice cast of surrounding playmakers.
63. East Carolina (8-5): Mike Houston has methodically rebuilt the Pirates. The offense and defense complemented one another very well last fall, but so much is lost from that squad, including QB Holton Ahlers. Coordinators Blake Harrell (D) and Donnie Kirkpatrick (O) have their work cut out for them.
62. Memphis (7-6): The Tigers are coming off of a disappointing season, but the offense should thrive this fall. Can a pass rush emerge, though, to help out the secondary? Ryan Silverfield may be feeling the pressure a bit because Memphis has not fared well in close contests under his watch.
61. South Alabama (10-3): Kane Wommack and the Jaguars should be able to rely on both their ground game and overall defense with so many pieces returning on both sides of the ball.
60. Marshall (9-4): The Thundering Herd should excel once again defensively, but can the passing game be consistent? Young QB Cam Fancher should continue to develop, but chunk-play threats need to emerge at receiver.
59. Air Force (10-3): The Falcons will continue to win with one of the best defenses in the Group of Five. Brian Knorr stepped in after John Rudzinski left and kept the unit strong, and a lot of top defenders from last year are back. However, outside of the line, the offense was decimated by departures.
58. Fresno State (10-4): The Bulldogs lost a lot of veterans from their Mountain West title team, including QB Jake Haener, RB Jordan Mims and OC Kirby Moore. But coordinator Kevin Coyle does have a lot of key pieces on defense back.
57. SMU (7-6): The Mustangs lost QB Tanner Mordecai to Wisconsin and WR Rashee Rice to the league, but Rhett Lashlee will find a way to keep this offense humming. Can some key defensive transfers help improve against the run, though?
56. Purdue (8-6): New head coach Ryan Walters has a lot to replace. But Jeff Brohm did not leave the cupboard bare, and Graham Harrell is the new OC. The new staff was able to woo QB Hudson Card, who played well when Quinn Ewers was hurt at Texas last season.
55. Kansas (6-7): Last year was a special one in Lawrence. The challenge now for Lance Leipold is to make it sustainable. The Jayhawks return Jalon Daniels and a lot of surrounding talent, so they have a chance to remain relevant in the Big 12. But can the defense be a little more complementary after allowing almost 36 points per game?
54. Syracuse (7-6): The Orange may look to rely on their defense, but they need better production on the other side of the ball. They also are a team in a bit of a transition after five assistants left for other schools. But getting Rocky Long as DC was a real coup, and the Orange will obviously still run the 3-3-5 scheme.
53. Missouri (6-7): The veteran defense could use some more help from its counterpart on the other side of the ball, which features a QB competition for Kirby Moore. The new OC arrives from Fresno State, where he led the Mountain West’s best offense.
52. Washington State (7-6): Jake Dickert had to replace both coordinators, but new OC Ben Arbuckle watched over a prolific unit at Western Kentucky (497.2 yards per game) last season. QB Cameron Ward needs better protection from his linemen, while the defense should remain solid.
51. Miami, FL (5-7): Mario Cristobal didn’t leave a great situation to come home and go 5-7. The Hurricanes have too much talent, though there were a lot of departures from both the coaching and player ranks. Still, QB Tyler Van Dyke has a chance to thrive under new OC Shawn Dawson if the O-Line holds up.
50. Boise State (10-4): There is a lot of optimism around the Broncos because of their rushing attack and playmaker Taylen Green, who stabilized the QB position when he was inserted into the starting lineup last fall. New OC Bush Hamdan inherits a lot of talent, but new stars must emerge on defense.
49. UTSA (11-3): QB Frank Harris—for a seventh season!—and much of coordinator Jess Loepp’s defense are back, which is enough to keep the Roadrunners relevant in their new league, the AAC, after winning two straight C-USA titles.
48. Tulane (12-2): The Green Wave should still be riding high after their comeback victory over USC to close out a magical season. But they did lose a lot on both sides of the ball—as well as both coordinators. The program is clearly in fantastic hands with Willie Fritz, though, and it remains the team to topple in the AAC.
47. Troy (12-2): In his first season as head coach, Jon Sumrall won 12 games, including a bowl victory over a ranked UTSA squad. Stud. Now, can he get more out of the ground game and retool the defense, which gets help via the portal and JUCO route, for new coordinator Greg Gasparato?
46. BYU (8-5): The Cougars enter the Big 12 with a new QB in Kedon Slovis, but can they generate enough pressure defensively under new coordinator Jay Hill, who takes over a unit that was very generous last fall? Can the D come together quickly enough to stay afloat in a new conference?
45. Houston (8-5): The Cougars are preparing for life in the Big 12, so we’ll see how fast they can adjust to new competition. Dana Holgorsen is replacing a couple of star offensive players, and we still don’t know who exactly will call plays with the departure of Shannon Dawson to Miami (FL).
44. Wake Forest (8-5): The Demon Deacons suffered a brutal blow when QB Sam Hartman transferred to Notre Dame. But there is still enough talent to score points in bunches, and new starting QB Mitch Griffis has plenty of options at receiver. Can Wake improve its pass defense after giving up 29 scores through the air last fall?
43. Iowa (8-5): The offensive struggles have stymied the Hawkeyes for far too long. Michigan transfer QB Cade McNamara was a really nice addition, but will coordinator Brian Ferentz put him in position to succeed? Additionally, the defense will need to find some new playmakers.
42. Maryland (8-5): Taulia Tagovailoa is back, so the offense will keep humming along despite some key personnel losses. Transfer WRs Kaden Prather and Tyrese Chambers should seamlessly step in. But how much help can the defense provide?
41. Illinois (8-5): Bret Bielema has former Ole Miss QB Luke Altmyer running the offensive attack to complement what should once again be a very good defense. However, new coordinator Aaron Henry—the youngest in the Big Ten—has big shoes to fill.
40. Pittsburgh (9-4): Some new playmakers will need to emerge on both sides of the ball, but the pass rush should still be disruptive, Boston College transfer Phil Jurkovec has a big arm, and RB Derrick Davis Jr. has arrived from Baton Rouge.
39. Louisville (8-5): Jeff Brohm came home and brought a familiar face, QB Jack Plummer, with him. Expect the offense to at least be more up tempo, and expect an overall more consistent Cardinals squad week in and week out.
38. UCF (9-5): The experienced Knights have a chance to make some immediate noise in the Big 12 if new coordinators Darin Hinshaw (offense) and Addison Williams (defense) get acclimated quickly. Can they generate enough defensive pressure up front, and will a new O-Line gel?
37. Duke (9-4): Mike Elko did an amazing job in 2022, and he returns a slew of talent. The Blue Devils look the part of legitimate ACC threat if new pieces can gel across the offensive line and new coordinator Tyler Santucci can keep this defense opportunistic—a unit boosted by the addition of Al Blades Jr. via the portal.
36. Baylor (6-7): Dave Aranda will be looking to prove that 2022 was more of an aberration than anything else, and it starts with getting better defensive play under new coordinator Matt Powledge and improved play at QB from either Blake Shapen or Mississippi State transfer Sawyer Robertson.
35. Oklahoma State (7-6): Mike Gundy needs to get the Cowboys back on track after a lot of turnover the last couple of seasons. He’ll be relying on a former Division II DC in Bryan Nardo to help improve the run defense, and Alan Bowman has arrived to try to solve the QB issue. Overall, the Pokes need to eliminate too many mistakes.
34. Florida (6-7): Last fall wasn’t a great start for Billy Napier, who’s relying on either Graham Mertz or Jack Miller under center to steady the offense. Little matters, though, if the new-look O-Line doesn’t gel and the defense can’t take a big step up.
33. Mississippi State (9-4): The offense will look different under new head coach Zach Arnett, and some key pieces were lost from both sides of the ball. But QB Will Rogers is back, which is huge for new OC Kevin Barbay.
32. Arkansas (7-6): Having the backfield of QB KJ Jefferson and RB Raheim Sanders return is a great start, but the Razorbacks have two new coordinators in Dan Enos (offense) and Travis Williams (defense) as well as several new position coaches. Can a defense that gave up nearly 465 yards per game last fall be more succesful in a 4-2-5 scheme?
31. Cincinnati (9-4): The Bearcats lost Luke Fickell to Wisconsin and poached Scott Satterfield from Louisville. There are pieces in place to win right away as the program enters the Big 12 with an intriguing QB battle looming in the fall. It just depends how fast the “buy in” is for a new vision being implemented.
30. Oregon State (10-3): The Beavers, who won at least 10 games for just the third time in school history last fall, are legit and balanced on both sides of the ball. Now the question is which version of DJ Uiagalelei will Jonathan Smith and company get?
29. Minnesota (9-4): P.J. Fleck has perfectly implemented his system, with the foundation being running the football and playing sound defense. Can the ground game withstand the loss of Mo Ibrahim? Western Michigan transfer Sean Tyler has arrived to help.
28. South Carolina (8-5): Shane Beamer is pulling all the right strings in Columbia, and Spencer Rattler is back. But can the defense, especially against the run and on the edge, take a step up?
27. Auburn (5-7): Hugh Freeze is back in the SEC, and we know that the Tigers significantly upgraded the head-coaching position. How quickly can he get them to buy in? QB Robby Ashford looked to be the starter for new OC Phillip Montgomery’s offense until Payton Thorne arrived from East Lansing.
26. Texas Tech (8-5): Joey McGuire had a solid first season at the helm of the Red Raiders, and QB Tyler Shough will be in charge of what should be a high-powered offense this fall. Can Tim DeRuyter’s pass rush withstand the loss of Tyree Wilson?
25. NC State (8-5): The Wolfpack lost star QB Devin Leary to Kentucky but gained a notable replacement in Brennan Armstrong, though MJ Morris and Ben Finley remain in the mix for the starting job. Armstrong’s familiarity with new OC Robert Anae bodes well for him, and whoever is under center will be helped by a strong defense.
24. Kentucky (7-6): This Wildcats offense will be in very good hands with NC State transfer Devin Leary aboard. But if that O-Line isn’t significantly better, UK may well flirt with .500 once again.
23. Texas A&M (5-7): Jimbo Fisher can accrue talent. We know this. But something is off in College Station. Bobby Petrino will look to fix the offense, which should be headlined by QB Conner Weigman, while the defense should remain a team strength. But Aggie fans have to see the collective progress to believe it.
22. Kansas State (10-4): Chris Klieman’s Wildcats will look to defend their Big 12 championship with a returning QB Will Howard, but new explosive playmakers need to emerge. Perhaps FSU transfer Treshaun Ward will be one of them. This program should remain an annual conference crown contender, but last season’s unit was special—and that’s tough to duplicate.
21. UCLA (9-4): Chip Kelly has the Bruins surging in the Pac-12, but filling the shoes of DTR at QB will be difficult for Kent State transfer Collin Schlee—or true freshman Dante Moore, the five-star prospect who was the All-American Bowl MVP.
20. North Carolina (9-5): QB Drake Maye is the offensive centerpiece, but he needs more of a support system—especially on defense, a unit that has gradually declined during Mack Brown’s second stint. Can coordinator Gene Chizik get more out of his defensive front?
19. Oklahoma (6-7): The Sooners certainly have questions that need to be answered. Dillon Gabriel is back to pace the passing attack, but can Brent Venables improve the defense, which gave up 30.0 points per game? Landing versatile transfer defender Dasan McCullough was a nice addition and should line up all over the field.
18. Wisconsin (7-6): The Badgers wooed Luke Fickell away from Cincinnati, and this could be a quick turnaround if the passing game clicks quickly under new OC Phil Longo. Tanner Mordecai is the leading transfer to be QB1.
17. Ole Miss (8-5): Lane Kiffin should be able to field a strong offense no matter who starts at QB, as it’s paced by a loaded backfield led by Quinshon Judkins, who led the SEC with 1,567 rushing yards as a freshman last fall. Defensively, can Pete Golding help limit the big chunk plays that felled this Rebels unit?
16. TCU (13-2): Now that was a season that simply cannot get replicated. Sonny Dykes still has a lot of talent to compete in an even deeper Big 12, but…for real, that season just cannot be replicated despite the Horned Frogs signing their highest-rated recruiting class and landing some key transfer pieces. New OC Kendal Briles has his work cut out for him.
15. Notre Dame (9-4): Bringing in former Wake Forest star QB Sam Hartman via the transfer portal was a great move and should promote a downfield attack. But will there be growing pains after Marcus Freeman elevated TEs coach Gerad Parker to OC and hired former Cincinnati OC Gino Guidugli to be QBs coach?
14. Oregon (10-3): Bo Nix is back after a breakthrough season with the Ducks, but they lost a lot on both sides of the ball. There is a ton of talent across the roster, but how fast can new playmakers develop under new OC Will Stein? And can a more ferocious pass rush emerge after logging just 18 sacks last season?
13. Texas (8-5): At some point, the Longhorns have to actually be back. Right? The Big 12 has never been deeper, but OU no longer reigns supreme. The offense has pieces to be explosive, while Gary Patterson will look to develop a consistent pass rush and build a unit that won’t wilt over four quarters.
12. Utah (10-4): The Utes bring back Cameron Rising, though he is recovering from a torn ACL in his left leg. Kyle Whittingham’s bunch should have a sound ground attack and a strong defense once again.
11. Tennessee (11-2): Don’t expect Josh Heupel and the Vols to go away. The up-tempo offense should be strong again with Joe Milton III likely taking over at QB, and the defense should make strides—it has to if the Vols want to compete with UGA in the East.
10. Washington (11-2): The Huskies bring back Michael Penix Jr. as well as a lot of surrounding offensive pieces from a unit that averaged almost 40 points per game, while the defense is solid enough to complement.
9. Clemson (11-3): The Tigers turn to Cade Klubnik to lead the offense now coordinated by Garrett Riley, who is implementing the Air Raid. But for Dabo Swinney to get this team back to national title contender, he needs a nastier defense to emerge.
8. Florida State (10-3): Can FSU wrest control of the ACC away from Clemson? QB Jordan Travis and a lot of key pieces are back, and the D-Line has a chance to resemble some ‘Noles units of old.
7. USC (11-3): Caleb Williams will do Caleb Williams things to pace an explosive offense, which added Kliff Kingsbury as an analyst. But can a woeful defense be even average? The front seven gained some key pieces via the portal, which will help.
6. LSU (10-4): After a standout first season in the Bayou, expectations are sky high for Brian Kelly, who has QB Jayden Daniels, a talented receiver corps and a nasty defensive line returning.
5. Penn State (11-2): The offense has turned over to QB Drew Allar, who is surrounded by playmakers and a strong line. Defensively, coordinator Manny Diaz made a difference last season and will look to build on that effort. The Nittany Lions have a deep collection of young playmakers on both sides of the ball; they just happen to compete in the brutal B1G East.
4. Alabama (11-2): There has been a lot of noise about the championship window closing in Tuscaloosa. Be wary of such talk. Eyebrows should be raised regarding the need to bring in Tyler Buchner from Notre Dame after the team’s spring game, though. Meanwhile, new DC Kevin Steele inherits a very talented secondary.
3. Ohio State (11-2): Plug and play at QB? That’s what it always feels like in Columbus. There will be plenty of playmakers around whoever gets the starting job, but can the O-Line come together quickly? And can the defense—especially the secondary—emerge as a strength in case the offense needs time to gel?
2. Michigan (13-1): Things are clicking on all cylinders in Ann Arbor. Jim Harbaugh has a lot of familiar faces back on offense, which added a few key pieces up front. And the defense also received some portal help.
1. Georgia (15-0): Are we set to see the very first three-peat champ? The transfer portal helped land new OC Mike Bobo and new starting QB Carson Beck some nice weapons, and the talent level and depth remain elite. Plus, the schedule is shockingly very fluffy—perfect for a team that once again lost a bevy of top-flight talent to the NFL.
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