The sun has barely set on the 2021-22 college football season, but that doesn’t mean we stop talking ball and looking ahead to the next season.
These rankings will undoubtedly change as players declare for the 2022 NFL Draft, transfers alter rosters and spring football offers early glimpses into how a team may shape up. But here is how I see the Top 25 teams in college football as we look ahead to the 2022 campaign.
1. Alabama: Not too shabby of a ‘21 season for Nick Saban’s squad considering its offensive line issues. Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and a lot of the defense will be back in the fall. Same as it ever was.
2. Ohio State: The Buckeyes brought in Oklahoma State’s Jim Knowles to revamp their defense to complement what will once again be an explosive offense. OSU opens at home against Notre Dame. Can the new season get here already?
3. Georgia: The Bulldogs’ historic defense will look different without coordinator Dan Lanning and several key players, but the cupboard isn’t bare. Can an enhanced offense potentially help offset a younger defensive unit?
4. Texas A&M: The Aggies will need to fill some holes on defense, and they lost coordinator Mike Elko, who became the head coach at Duke. New DC D.J. Durkin will have his work cut out for him, but the roster is talented across the board.
5. Michigan: Jim Harbaugh is reportedly in play for an NFL head gig, but assuming he stays he should have his team in the College Football Playoff race heading into the Ohio State game if the QB situation is steady and a few defensive playmakers emerge.
6. Utah: Kyle Whittingham remains undervalued nationally, but his Utes are the healthiest program in the Pac-12. Utah opens the new season at Florida, so we’ll see right away just how well it handles the challenge of being a national target.
7. Notre Dame: Marcus Freeman will look to put behind the blown 21-point lead in the Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State. Expect the defense to remain salty, while Drew Pyne and Tyler Buchner battle for the starting gig under center.
8. Wake Forest: Dave Clawson is the Kyle Whittingham of the ACC, and he’s coming off of an Atlantic division crown. Star QB Sam Hartman will be back, and the defense should be better with new coordinator Brad Lambert.
9. Baylor: The Bears set a school record with 12 wins en route to a Big 12 title, but they will lose some key pieces. Still, Dave Aranda has done a tremendous job in a short amount of time, so don’t expect too big of a drop off.
10. Clemson: Dabo Swinney will need to pull a Nick Saban and adjust to coaching staff turnover quickly after Brent Venables left for Oklahoma and Tony Elliott went to Virginia. Any improvement needs to begin along the offensive line, and playmakers need to emerge—fast. This will be one of 2022’s most intriguing squads.
11. Oregon: Dan Lanning certainly has big shoes to fill as a first-time head coach, but he inherits a lot of experience on both sides of the ball. His Ducks will open the season against national champion Georgia in Atlanta.
12. Kentucky: Mark Stoops should field an excellent offense in ‘22, but there remains a lot of intrigue defensively because we don’t know how many players will return. But UK will be a tough out in the SEC East division nonetheless.
13. Michigan State: Mel Tucker had the Spartans at 8-0 and No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings in only his second season, but Kenneth Walker III will be very difficult to replace. Much of the defense will be back, but improvement is needed on that side of the ball.
14. Ole Miss: The Rebels are coming off of their first 10-win regular season in school history, but replacing Matt Corral will be very difficult. Will Lane Kiffin look to the transfer portal for QB help?
15. Cincinnati: What can you say about this past season? It was an incredible journey for the Bearcats, who will need new stars to emerge. But the intangibles that players such as Desmond Ridder brought will be sorely missed, though this team should still be a contender for an AAC crown.
16. Arkansas: Sam Pittman will need new playmakers to emerge on defense, but he does get safety Jalen Catalon back following shoulder surgery. Receiver Jadon Haselwood will help the passing game, but the Razorbacks’ big test will be to rebuild a bit in a challenging SEC West.
17. NC State: QB Devin Leary will be back as well as a slew of top contributors on defense, setting the Wolfpack up to be a dangerous dark horse CFP pick in ‘22.
18. Iowa: The Hawkeyes used a strong, play-making defense to rise high in the polls in ‘21, but they ranked 121st in the FBS in total offense. The defense will be good again, but it will be for naught if improvement on O isn’t made.
19. Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy will bring back most of the offense, but the loss of Knowles to Ohio State was tough. Can the Cowboys maintain their high level of play defensively?
20. BYU: Kalani Sitake’s Cougars won all five of their Pac-12 matchups this season and could potentially return every defensive starter in the fall. Offensively, QB Jaren Hall leads what should be a potent unit.
21. Houston: Dana Holgorsen led the program to 12 wins for just the third time in school history, and the Cougars have a lot of weapons returning on offense. But the defense is what really fuels this team under coordinator Doug Belk.
22. Texas: There is a ton of hype surrounding five-star transfer QB Quinn Ewers, while electric RB Bijan Robinson is one of the best players in the nation. The offense should score plenty of points, but Steve Sarkisian needs to find a way for his defense to not wilt in second halves.
23. Wisconsin: The Badgers will need to do some rebuilding on a defense that led the FBS in total defense. Meanwhile, QB Graham Mertz needs to resemble more of his first-year self.
24. Oklahoma: Brent Venables is back in Norman, but will he have Caleb Williams? Dillon Gabriel has arrived from UCF, but the defense is losing some key contributors. This is the first head gig for Venables, so the transition may be tough at first.
25. Coastal Carolina: The Chanticleers are 22-3 over the last two seasons, and QB Grayson McCall has a 53:6 TD-to-INT ratio. Will this be Jamey Chadwell’s last season before landing a bigger gig?
Note: Keep an eye out for my final 1-130 rankings as we put a bow on this season.
Follow me on Twitter @Miller_Dave & email me at david.matthew.miller@gmail.com
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