1-131 College Football 2022 Summer Rankings
Is Alabama back on top? And where does James Madison slot?
Sure, we are just past the Memorial Day holiday and entering the month of June, but it is never too early to start thinking about a fresh college football season. Never ever.
As we look forward to several weekends of grilling and enjoying the outdoors this summer, we are now less than 13 weeks away from the first Saturday of the 2022 season and less than 14 weeks away from the first *full* Saturday of the new campaign.
So, today, let’s tackle some rankings—ones that account for coaching and roster changes, whether it be players graduating, leaving for the NFL or changing schools via the transfer portal. Specifically, a look at all 131 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs following spring practice.
What happened to the 1-130 ranks? Well, James Madison is a new FBS member after its No. 3 finish in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) last season and sustained success at that level.
NOTE: These rankings do not take into account each team’s 2022 schedule. Rather, this list is based on the overall state of the respective programs as they left spring camp.
131. UMass (1-11): Don Brown once had the Minutemen as an FCS force. Things will be rough for awhile in his return, but the defense will be the first unit to improve.
130. UConn (1-11): It was a hire that came out of nowhere, but Jim L. Mora should at least be energized by the chance to rebuild and put his stamp on the Huskies.
129. New Mexico State (2-10): Jerry Kill just can’t quit coaching. As long as he’s healthy, the Aggies will improve—especially on their rushing attack.
128. Louisiana-Monroe (4-8): Terry Bowden’s Warhawks should be a little more competitive, but there will be an adjustment period with new coordinators (offensive) Matt Kubik and (defensive) Vic Koenning.
127. FIU (1-11): Mike MacIntyre, who was born in Miami, is too good of a coach to not get the Golden Panthers back on the right path.
126. Akron (2-10): Joe Moorhead has a lot of work to do, but we already know the offense will make strides—eventually.
125. Rice (4-8): This could be a make or break campaign for Mike Bloomgren, who has experience coming back on both sides of the ball. However, leading receiver Jake Bailey left for SMU, so former QB Luke McCaffrey’s move to receiver could be an X-factor.
124. Temple (3-9): New program builder Stan Drayton knows he has an uphill climb, but he hopes former Georgia QB D’Wan Mathis can be a stabilizer for the offense.
123. Hawai’i (6-7): After a terrible ending to the Todd Graham era, including a ton of player departures, Timmy Chang was chosen to stabilize the program after overseeing the Eastern Washington offense.
122. New Mexico (3-9): Danny Gonzales added much-needed size to his inexperienced offensive line, while the Rocky Long-coordinated defense showed a lot of improvement in ‘21, finishing at No. 44 in total defense.
121. James Madison (12-2 in FCS): Curt Cignetti and the Dukes are entering the Sun Belt confident that they can make an instant impact despite not being eligible for a bowl game this year. The Dukes went 70-11 from 2016-21, so this program is ready.
120. Texas State (4-8): Jake Spavital needs to choose between NC State transfer Ty Evans or grad transfer Layne Hatcher (Arkansas State) at quarterback, and the Bobcats also need to develop depth on the defensive side of the ball.
119. Buffalo (4-8): Maurice Linguist took advantage of the transfer portal to fill some holes, so the Bulls could be a bit of a surprise in the MAC.
118. USF (2-10): Can Jeff Scott get things going for the Bulls? Former Baylor QB Gerry Bohanon has arrived and is the favorite to start as Scott enters a crucial third season.
117. South Alabama (5-7): The Jaguars haven’t been to a bowl game since 2016 and have never finished a season with a winning record since becoming a full FBS member in 2012. Kane Wommack needs to decide on a starting QB, likely between Desmond Trotter and Toledo transfer Carter Bradley.
116. Duke (3-9): Mike Elko opened up competition across the depth chart this spring, but it will take time to reset this program as several big holes need to be filled, including finding a replacement for running back Mataeo Durant.
115. Ohio (3-9): Tim Albin needs to revamp the offense, but the defense is strong in the back seven.
114. Arkansas State (2-10): Butch Jones needs his defense to at least be average against the run because it can generate some pressure. Offensively, the ground game needs to improve as does the offensive line in pass protection.
113. Bowling Green (4-8): Scot Loeffler needs to start seeing results as he enters his fourth season with the Falcons. The offense featured a lot of young players last season, but more big chunk plays are needed sooner than later after finishing last in the MAC in total offense.
112. UNLV (2-10): Marcus Arroyo’s squad put a scare into some of the league’s best teams last season, but the Rebels also lost to FCS foe Eastern Washington. Can some transfers help out a team that played a lot of youth in ‘21?
111. Louisiana Tech (3-9): New head coach Sonny Cumbie is going to have this offense eventually clicking, but the defense could be an issue.
110. North Texas (6-7): Seth Littrell should be able to replace star running back DeAndre Torrey with the combo of Ikaika Ragsdale and Ayo Adeyi, but better play at QB is needed. And the loss of twins Grayson Murphy and Gabriel Murphy will hurt the pass rush.
109. Vanderbilt (2-10): As is always the case, can the Commodores develop enough depth to compete in the rugged SEC? Clark Lea and his staff certainly have the work ethic, but improved line play is where the ‘Dores need to start.
108. Tulane (2-10): Willie Fritz endured a disastrous ‘21 campaign, but a new OC has arrived in Jim Svoboda, who is implementing a diverse and multiple system.
107. Charlotte (5-7): There is optimism about Will Healy’s 49ers on the offensive side of ball, but the ‘21 defense was porous against the pass and wasn’t able to generate much of a pass rush.
106. Southern Miss (3-9): Will Hall has a veteran roster. Can the move to the Sun Belt reinvigorate the Golden Eagles?
105. Western Michigan (8-5): Tim Lester needs to find some new weapons on offense with QB Kaleb Eleby and WR Skyy Moore gone.
104. Navy (4-8): Ken Niumatalolo will find it hard to replace LB Diego Fagot, but line play on both sides of the ball should be better.
103. Kent State (7-7): Sean Lewis is dealing with the departure of QB Dustin Crum, but a veteran offensive line is back. The defense needs work, as corner Montre Miller and the secondary would get helped by a stronger pass rush.
102. Kansas (2-10): Lance Leipold has a solid QB in Jalon Daniels, and a lot of the two-deep is back. But the Jayhawks ranked 126th in total defense last season. Can portal additions help?
101. Ball State (6-7): Mike Neu didn’t have the season he had hoped coming off a MAC title in 2020, but he has a veteran group coming back.
100. Tulsa (7-6): Philip Montgomery suffered some tough personnel losses, including OTs Tyler Smith and Chris Paul to the NFL, and the defense needs to rebuild.
99. Arizona (1-11): The Wildcats need to better protect the football while forcing more turnovers after finishing last in the nation in turnover margin in ‘21. Jedd Fisch and his staff have enhanced the recruiting in the desert, including getting QB Jayden de Laura from Washington State.
98. UTEP (7-6): Can Dana Dimel continue the momentum from a 7-win campaign? A concern was how well the Miners would replace departed receivers Justin Garrett and Jacob Cowing, but the the staff was pleased with their spring results at the position.
97. Toledo (7-6): This is a big year for Jason Candle. Since winning 20 games his first two seasons, the Rockets have sputtered a bit. And there are holes to fill on both sides of the ball.
96. Miami, OH (7-6): Chuck Martin has mined the transfer portal to help the defense, but the offense returns many key pieces led by QB Brett Gabbert and a veteran line.
95. Colorado (4-8): Karl Dorrell is hoping that the Buffaloes can drastically improve their pass rush after being one of the worst teams nationally in sacks. Meanwhile, will Tenneseee transfer J.T. Shrout win the QB job over Brendon Lewis?
94. Troy (5-7): The Trojans suffered their third straight losing season in ‘21, so Jon Sumrall will look to turn things around in his first year. Deciding on a starting QB is top priority.
93. Middle Tennessee (7-6): Rick Stockstill’s offense has the playmakers on offense, but can the line hold up? The Blue Raiders return their entire defensive line, including end Jordan Ferguson, a second-team all-Conference USA selection.
92. Eastern Michigan (7-6): Chris Creighton needs to be able to rely on a consistent running game, and a QB needs to emerge from the crop as well. But the defense has a chance to improve with Boston College transfer Joe Sparacio in the mix.
91. Georgia Tech (3-9): Geoff Collins knows he needs to show improvement across the board this season. Chip Long will now run the offense, so expect more of an emphasis on the run. But the loss of running back Jahmyr Gibbs to Alabama was a big blow.
90. Nevada (8-5): The Wolf Pack lost Jay Norvell—as well as quite a few players—to conference rival Colorado State. Carson Strong is also gone, so new head coach Ken Wilson has some work to do. This is his first head-coaching gig after spending a long time as an assistant for Chris Ault in Reno.
89. Georgia Southern (3-9): Former USC head coach Clay Helton has arrived, so we’ll see a different offense. But the Eagles could be one of the more fascinating teams in the Sun Belt.
88. Old Dominion (6-7): After a 1-6 start, Ricky Rahne’s squad won five straight games to earn a Myrtle Beach Bowl bid last season. The offense finally clicked and returns a slew of starters.
87. Northwestern (3-9): Pat Fitzgerald needs to find stability under center. Defensively, the Wildcats have concern at linebacker, and they also have to fill the big void left by the departure of Brandon Joseph.
86. FAU (5-7): Willie Taggart had the Owls at 5-3 before things fell apart with four straight losses to end last season, marking three losing campaigns in the last four for Taggart since leaving Oregon. He worked the portal, though, and has a veteran squad returning.
85. San Jose State (5-7): Brent Brennan saw his offense sputter last season, so the hope is former Hawai’i QB Chevan Cordeiro or Nick Nash stepping up and leading the offense to complement a defense that returns a lot of experience.
84. Wyoming (7-6): Craig Bohl is always going to field a strong defense, but the offense has more often than not disappointed. The Cowboys lost a ton from last season’s unit, so coordinator Tim Polasek will have his work cut out for him.
83. Western Kentucky (9-5): Tyson Helton brought in West Virginia transfer Jarret Doege to keep the offense’s high-powered passing game going. Will it work? He will be operating behind a solid offensive line.
82. Central Michigan (9-4): Jim McElwain has to replace NFL Draft picks Bernhard Raimann and Luke Goedeke on the offensive line, but the defensive front seven is stout.
81. Rutgers (5-8): Greg Schiano hired five new defensive staff members, including coordinator Joe Harasymiak, who was co-DC at Minnesota. The Scarlet Knights will also likely feature a brand-new offensive line, which looked much improved this spring.
80. Utah State (11-3): Blake Anderson and the Aggies claimed their first MWC title last season, and QB Logan Bonner is back to go along with some potential game-breaking transfer receivers in Brian Cobbs (Maryland) and Xavier Williams (Alabama).
79. Indiana (2-10): Tom Allen is now the defensive play caller after the Hoosiers allowed 33.3 points per game in ‘21. Meanwhile, the offense will see a lot of new faces, including Missouri transfer QB Connor Bazelak.
78. Colorado State (3-9): Jay Norvell stayed in-conference after leaving Nevada and brought in a boatload of transfers. How quickly can the Rams compete in the MWC? Having QB Clay Millen and WR Tory Horton will help on offense.
77. Northern Illinois (9-5): Thomas Hammock oversaw one of the bigger surprises nationally last season, so the Huskies are now the hunted. But they return a lot from their breakout ‘21 campaign.
76. Stanford (3-9): Will David Shaw and his staff ever get the Cardinal back to its hard-nosed ways? This is a program that needs a jolt, and QB Tanner McKee needs more help.
75. Illinois (5-7): After finishing 112th in total offense last season, Bret Bielema brought in Barry Lunney Jr. as OC and will have either former Syracuse QB Tommy DeVito or Arthur Sitkowski running the show.
74. UTSA (12-2): Jeff Traylor led the Roadrunners to a magnificent ‘21 campaign, but the defense lost some key components, and RB Sincere McCormick is gone.
73. Liberty (8-5): The Flames will be without Malik Willis, so Hugh Freeze will need Charlie Brewer, Johnathan Bennett, Kaidon Salter or Nate Hampton to step up and fill big shoes.
72. Marshall (7-6): Charles Huff enters his second year without Grant Wells, who moved onto Virginia Tech. The new head of the offense could be Texas Tech and Utah State transfer Henry Colombi, and he’ll have plenty of weapons.
71. Cal (5-7): Justin Wilcox was able to get Jack Plummer to transfer from Purdue to take over for Chase Garbers, but there will be pressure on him to improve the offense and complement a defense that will be one of the Pac-12’s best.
70. East Carolina (7-5): QB Holton Ahlers is very experienced and is surrounded by a lot of skilled playmakers. Even if the defense is average, Mike Houston’s squad is dangerous.
69. Syracuse (5-7): The Orange should be easier on the eyes offensively as Dino Babers brought in coordinator Robert Anae, who is well-versed in up-tempo passing attacks. However, the defense lacks depth.
68. Memphis (6-6): Ryan Silverfield has enough experience on both sides of the ball to bounce back from a mediocre season. With Grant Gunnell transferring to North Texas, Seth Henigan will be QB1.
67. Louisiana (13-1): Michael Desormeaux was given the head job to keep things stable in Lafayette. The former all-conference quarterback for UL needs to replace a lot on the Ragin’ Cajuns offense, though.
66. UAB (9-4): Bill Clark shouldn’t see too much drop off this fall, and QB Jacob Zeno has arrived from Baylor to compete for the starting gig.
65. Virginia Tech (6-7): Brent Pry is still trying to get a feel for his roster, as the spring saw several position switches. A big question is under center, where transfers Grant Wells (Marshall) and Jason Brown (South Carolina) are competing for the starting gig.
64. Oregon State (7-6): Expect Jonathan Smith’s Beavers defense to be a little more aggressive defensively with Trent Bray as permanent DC, but how quickly will the receiving corps develop?
63. Georgia State (8-5): Shawn Elliott has led the Panthers to bowl games four times in five seasons. He has the offense clicking, though a new OC is in place, and the defense trending upward.
62. Appalachian State (10-4): Shawn Clark and the Mountaineers have been winning with defense and running the ball, but last season saw the passing game take off behind the arm of Chase Brice, who returns but will be throwing to an almost entirely new cast of receivers.
61. SMU (8-4): Rhett Lashlee has walked into a very nice situation, particularly offensively with QB Tanner Mordecai and Alabama transfer Camar Wheaton.
60. Missouri (6-7): Eli Drinkwitz has plenty of talent at the skill positions, but will Brady Cook or Tyler Macon start at QB? Defensively, first-year coordinator Blake Baker needs to coax a better effort out of a unit that allowed 33.8 points per game in ‘21.
59. Boston College (6-6): Line play will tell the tale for BC. The offensive line has a lot to prove, but Jeff Hafley also needs his veteran defensive line to step up and improve its pass rush.
58. Army (9-4): Jeff Monken is coming off one of the program’s best bowl wins and arguably has his best team yet. Diminutive and speedy Tyhier Tyler is ready to take over the offense with Christian Anderson gone.
57. Air Force (10-3): After 12 seasons in Colorado Springs, defensive coordinator John Rudzinski moved onto Virginia. Troy Calhoun has an experienced offense, but will the defense take a step back?
56. Washington (4-8): Kalen DeBoer’s No. 1 objective is to instill some much-needed positive vibes in Seattle. Can either Dylan Morris, Michael Penix Jr. or Sam Huard emerge and run with the starting QB job?
55. Arizona State (8-5): Herm Edwards is seemingly losing control of the situation in Tempe, as a barrage of players have transferred from the program as NCAA troubles loom. Replacing star QB Jayden Daniels may be the least of ASU’s problems.
54. Iowa State (7-6): Matt Campbell has a QB1 with big-armed Hunter Dekkers, and all-Big 12 receiver Xavier Hutchinson is back. But does the defense have enough depth?
53. Louisville (6-7): Scott Satterfield’s Cardinals need to generate more pressure from the defensive line. If that aspect improves, this team could be dangerous because the offense will be just fine with Malik Cunningham, Tiyon Evans and Braden Smith.
52. West Virginia (6-7): Neal Brown has depth issues in the secondary, but he was able to woo JT Daniels to run coordinator Graham Harrell’s offense.
51. Miami, FL (7-5): Mario Cristobal has put an emphasis on stronger offensive line play with position coach Alex Mirabal, and that’s huge for QB Tyler Van Dyke and a strong rushing attack. But how quickly can the defensive line develop?
50. Washington State (7-6): Jake Dickert’s offense could be explosive with Cam Ward arriving from Incarnate Word via the portal. Can the Cougars limit big plays in the passing game defensively, though?
49. Kansas State (8-5): Chris Klieman received a nice boost with the addition of Adrian Martinez, who needs to prove he is healthy (shoulder) and limit his turnovers. But he is very experienced and can still create big plays.
48. Florida State (5-7): The Seminoles will be able to run the football very well once again. But Mike Norvell desperately needs some transfers to step up at receiver to give QB Jordan Travis some help when he isn’t making plays with his feet.
47. Texas Tech (7-6): Joey McGuire could have a sneaky-good Red Raiders team on his hand, as coordinator Zach Kittley oversaw terrific offenses at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky, and fellow coordinator Tim DeRuyter will be equally aggressive defensively.
46. TCU (5-7): Expect the offense under Sonny Dykes to look very similar, though Max Duggan will be trying to hold off Chandler Morris for the starting QB job. How will the new 3-3-5 defense look under coordinator Joe Gillespie?
45. South Carolina (7-6): What a debut campaign for Shane Beamer, who was able to land former Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler to enhance the offense. Can the O carry some more weight until the defense catches up?
44. Virginia (6-6): New head coach Tony Elliott inherits QB Brennan Armstrong, whose offense will need to continue to make up for a suspect defense, which is now being led by coordinator John Rudzinski.
43. North Carolina (6-7): Mack Brown and Co. suffered through a tough ‘21 season, but this staff has been recruiting very well, and Gene Chizik is on board to help the defense generate more pressure.
42. Minnesota (9-4): P.J. Fleck brought back Kirk Ciarrocca as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and he’ll oversee an experienced backfield. But how will both lines come together?
41. Fresno State (10-3): Jeff Tedford is back at his alma mater and inherits a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, including star QB Jake Haener, who could be in store for an even bigger season.
40. San Diego State (12-2): Brady Hoke has to replace some high-quality talent, but the defense should still be strong, and QB Braxton Burmeister has arrived to lead the offense.
39. Nebraska (3-9): Is this the year Scott Frost helps the Cornhuskers get over the hump? New OC Mark Whipple arrived in Lincoln and will likely look to either Casey Thompson (Texas) or Logan Smothers to run the offense.
38. Pittsburgh (11-3): Pat Narduzzi has the difficult task of replacing Kenny Pickett and Jordan Addison, but former USC QB Kedon Slovis has a chance to keep the offense humming under new OC Frank Cignetti Jr. Can the pass defense improve?
37. Mississippi State (7-6): Mike Leach’s Bulldogs often get overlooked because they have their annual SEC West gauntlet to get through, but they are loaded offensively. Can the offensive line do its part?
36. Maryland (7-6): Mike Locksley’s offense is fun to watch, and he returns a slew of starters. Was the blowout of Virginia Tech in the Pinstripe Bowl a sign of things to come? New DC Brian Williams will try to improve a defensive unit that gave up 30.7 points per game.
35. Purdue (9-4): Replacing WR David Bell and pass rusher George Karlaftis will be very tough, no doubt. But Jeff Brohm gets Aidan O’Connell back, and things are trending in the right direction in West Lafayette.
34. Auburn (6-7): It’s been quite the offseason for Bryan Harsin and the Tigers, but the fact remains there is talent across the board on this roster. Who wins the quarterback job is anyone’s guess, though, and depth on both sides of the ball needs to be cultivated.
33. UCF (9-4): The quarterback battle between Mikey Keene and Ole Miss transfer John Rhys Plumlee should be interesting, and Gus Malzahn is looking to build off of the bowl win over Florida.
32. Penn State (7-6): The Nittany Lions need much better play across the offensive line, and James Franklin hopes new DC Manny Diaz can coax strong play out of a unit that suffered some losses yet still has plenty of talent.
31. UCLA (8-4): Chip Kelly’s offense suffered some losses, but Dorian Thompson-Robinson remains, and the defense should be stellar.
30. LSU (6-7): Brian Kelly surprised a lot of college football observers when he headed to the Bayou, but he’s a proven winner who has inherited a ton of talent. There is depth under center, and Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels should thrive if he wins the job. How quickly can Kelly fix the dysfunction that eroded the program?
29. Florida (6-7): Billy Napier should be very successful in Gainesville, but how long will it take to get the program back on track? Things are much easier with QB Anthony Richardson, who is primed to excel as a full-time starter.
28. Boise State (7-5): Andy Avalos and the Broncos had a disappointing season in ‘21, but the offense is strong and the defense should be one of the Mountain West’s best after leading the conference in scoring D.
27. Coastal Carolina (11-2): The Chanticleers are 22-3 over the last two seasons, and QB Grayson McCall has a 53:6 TD-to-INT ratio. But the defense has endured some big losses in the back seven, though D’Jordan Strong is a great corner. Will this be Jamey Chadwell’s last season before landing a bigger gig?
26. Texas (5-7): There is a lot of hype surrounding five-star transfer QB Quinn Ewers, and we know electric RB Bijan Robinson is one of the best players in the nation. But can Steve Sarkisian find a way for his defense to not wilt in second halves?
25. Arkansas (9-4): Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks will need some new playmakers to emerge on defense, but he has a dangerous QB in KJ Jefferson who will be relying on some fresh faces from the receiving corps to support him.
24. Iowa (10-4): Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes ranked 121st in the FBS in total offense last season, so they’d like to rely less on a stout defensive front and get more offensive production this fall.
23. Cincinnati (13-1): Luke Fickell still has a very talented roster, but there were some tough personnel losses that the Bearcats will have to endure. Still, this team should contend for an AAC crown after a magical ‘21 campaign.
22. BYU (10-3): Kalani Sitake led the Cougars to wins in all five of their Pac-12 matchups last season, and QB Jaren Hall leads a potent offense to complement a stacked defense.
21. USC (4-8): This is admittedly a guess on the Trojans. But we’re talking Lincoln Riley here, and QB Caleb Williams has a boatload of talent and a fellow transfer in Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison. It would not be surprising at all to see the Trojans—after a very down year—quickly bounce back.
20. Houston (12-2): Dana Holgorsen led the Cougars to a 12-win campaign for just the third time in school history. A lot of weapons return on offense, including QB Clayton Tune, but coordinator Doug Belk’s defense was vital to the team’s success in ‘21.
19. Tennessee (7-6): Hendon Hooker is back to run Josh Heupel’s explosive offense, so now it’s a matter of whether the Volunteers can handle high expectations and be legit SEC East division contenders.
18. Oklahoma (11-2): Brent Venables has returned to Norman and will look to transfer Dillon Gabriel (UCF) to run the offense, but the defense lost some key contributors. How quickly can the longtime Clemson DC get the Sooners humming again?
17. Michigan State (11-2): It would be shocking to see a Mel Tucker pass defense be woeful two seasons in a row. Kenneth Walker III was a machine, so more will be on QB Payton Thorne’s plate as the Spartans look to remain Big Ten East division contenders one year after rising to No. 3 in the CFP rankings.
16. Oklahoma State (12-2): Mike Gundy was THIS close to winning a Big 12 championship in ‘21, and he should have a good enough offense to compete for a league title this fall—if there isn’t a drop off with a new DC.
15. Kentucky (10-3): Mark Stoops should field an excellent offense led by QB Will Levis and RB Chris Rodriguez, and the Wildcats should be a tough out in the SEC East division as long as a few pieces emerge defensively.
14. Wake Forest (11-3): Dave Clawson has a dangerous offense led by QB Sam Hartman, and the defense should be better with new coordinator Brad Lambert.
13. Wisconsin (9-4): Paul Chryst has a new OC in Bobby Engram, but the question is whether he can coax better play out of his QB. Defensively, the Badgers will need to do some rebuilding on a unit that led the FBS in total defense.
12. Baylor (12-2): Dave Aranda’s Bears set a school record with 12 wins en route to a Big 12 championship, but some key pieces must be replaced. Still, don’t expect too big of a drop off because the line play should be solid on both sides of the ball. Who will emerge as weapons at receiver?
11. Ole Miss (10-3): Lane Kiffin’s Rebels are coming off of their first 10-win regular season in school history, but replacing several key pieces—including star QB Matt Corral—will be difficult. But they worked the transfer portal, including bringing in QB Jaxson Dart (USC) and RB Zach Evans (TCU).
10. NC State (9-3): Dave Doeren has a potential CFP dark horse on his hands with QB Devin Leary and a stout defense.
9. Oregon (10-4): New head coach Dan Lanning has work to do, but Mario Cristobal had been bringing in the best talent out of all the West Coast programs, and Auburn transfer QB Bo Nix is now on board.
8. Utah (10-4): Kyle Whittingham has built one of the more consistent yet unheralded programs in the country. The Utes should be stingy again on defense and run the ball well as they look to hold off Pac-12 South division foes.
7. Clemson (10-3): This is obviously one of the more intriguing teams heading into the new season, as Dabo Swinney and Co. suffered through a down year in ‘21. Expect the defense to be nasty, but can the offense start clicking on all cylinders again? Any improvement needs to begin along the O-Line.
6. Notre Dame (11-2): Marcus Freeman will look to put the Fiesta Bowl meltdown behind him, and we’ll see just how this Fighting Irish team stacks up in the opener at Ohio State. Across the board, this is a squad that could compete for a CFP berth even if it logs a Week 1 setback.
5. Michigan (12-2): Jim Harbaugh had his breakthrough season and seemed to be very close to returning to the NFL, but he never left Ann Arbor and will rely on a strong rushing attack and what should continue to be steady QB play. Can the defense play at a high enough level after key departures, though?
4. Texas A&M (8-4): Jimbo Fisher was involved in one of the biggest stories of the offseason, which shouldn’t take away from what could be his best team yet if new DC D.J. Durkin can fill some holes on defense.
3. Georgia (14-1): Kirby Smart’s defense will take a step back—how could it not after such a standout season? But the cupboard is not bare in Athens, so a College Football Playoff berth could come down to an SEC title game.
2. Ohio State (11-2): Ryan Day arguably has the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite in QB CJ Stroud and won 11 games with a porous defense that should immediately improve under Jim Knowles, who was a shrewd offseason coordinator hire.
1. Alabama (13-2): Nick Saban once again will be looking for new stars to step up, but having QB Bryce Young and Will Anderson rushing off the edge is a great place to start on a team that will be looking to rebound from a loss in the national title game.
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