Preseason College Football Top 25 Rankings
Via ESPN
Georgia
The question of quarterback is Carson Beck, the favorite to be Bennett's replacement, while all-world tight ends Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey are back after 56 catches for 790 yards and six touchdowns last season, along with returning receiver Ladd McConkey. Dominic Lovett and RaRa Thomas are two huge receiver pickups in the portal, as was the No. 2 recruiting class this year. It could be the best offense in Georgia for Kirby Smart.
2. Michigan
Two wins over Ohio State, two league crowns, and two bids to the College Football Playoff. In Michigan, it's been an excellent two years. And looking at the return of quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, the addition of some solid broad receiver talent in the portal, and the defense that should keep up with last season's output, it can be a third.
3. Ohio State
We know that Ohio State will have plenty of talent in the wide receiver position, which it's been able to recruit well over the last few years. Marvin Harrison, Jr. is one of the best wide receivers in college football, and only Emeka Egbuka trails him by a few paces. Running back TreVeyon Henderson returns, but there's a big question at quarterback between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown and the line they'll play behind. In addition, on the road, Ohio State plays at Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
4. USC
The big problem with this team is its porous defense, a unit that almost cost it several games early on and directly cost it in two critical late losses in the Pac-12 title game and the Cotton Bowl. A key, incremental improvement in fixing these errors is to add defensive end Anthony Lucas and linebacker Mason Cobb. To get this offense back in the College Football Playoff race, Heisman quarterback Caleb Williams is back.
5. Alabama
The major question for Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide, with many holes to fill on defense and at quarterback. This program has done this in its Saban era with rare ability and recently signed a second top recruiting class. Bama has new coordinators and faces a mandate to improve its play at the line offensively, choose between Tyler Buchner, Ty Simpson, and Jalen Milroe at quarterback, get better output at receiver, and diminish penalties and turnover issues coming into 2023.
6. LSU
With Malik Nabers returning at wide receiver and Maason Smith and Harold Perkins in the physical front seven, Jayden Daniels is back as quarterback behind a full complement of blockers. Add in some key transfers like cornerbacks Denver Harris and Zy Alexander and former Alabama receiver Aaron Anderson, and 2023 should prove that reigning SEC West champion LSU wasn't a fluke in Brian Kelly's debut season.
7. Penn State
Some key talent has gone, including star cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but otherwise, Penn State returns enough of this defense, especially on the edges at the line, and boasts reasonable skill at running back, both keys to build on as 5-star quarterback Drew Allar learns the playbook and gets comfortable. In 2022, the PSU was defeated by Ohio State and Michigan twice; a win at one of those contests in '23 would allow this program to move up substantially on its Big Ten championship hunt and College Football Playoff pursuit.
8. Florida State
Mike Norvell may have finally figured this thing out after bringing the Seminoles their first 10-win season since 2016 and, crucially, a lot of the skill that helped do that is back: quarterback Jordan Travis, wide receiver Johnny Wilson, a gifted running back room, and edge rusher Jared Verse. And now Florida State is in a position to make a run at the ACC championship with the addition of transfer cornerback Deuce Cypress, the top portal at his position, serious threat wide receiver Keon Coleman, tight end Jaheim Bell, and Florida State is in place to make a run at the ACC title.
9. Washington
I'm glad Michael Penix decided to return to school in 2023 so that the most productive passer in college football from a year ago has a chance to repeat that success. He can, given the Huskies also bring back most of its receiving production. But for the team to make a strong run in the Pac-12 Championship game, how well does it fill its lack of defensive personnel?
10. Tennessee
The core of college football's number one ranked total offense is gone, including quarterback Hendon Hooker and receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman. Combined with UT's considerable defensive struggles on the back end a year ago, that could result in a minor step backward. But quarterback Joe Milton has a potentially significant arm, provided he can get a little more accurate, as does incoming 5-star signal caller Nico Iamaleava, and they return the bulk of its talented RB rotation from last season, too.
11. Oregon
After running for 3,594 yards with 44 total touchdowns, the Ducks return Bo Nix at quarterback after losing four starters on their offensive line and key defensive players. Dan Lanning recovered, adding transfer edge rusher Jordan Burch from South Carolina, wide receiver Traeshon Holden is an essential pickup, as is offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius to that line. The defense and offensive line play will determine the definition of 2023 in Oregon for good and bad.
12. Notre Dame
Marcus Freeman could be thrown into year two of coaching losses and the sudden dismissal of Offensive Coordinator Tom Rees to Alabama, followed immediately by quarterback Tyler Buchner. Yet the addition of transfer quarterback Sam Hartman, an all-time ACC leader in touchdown passes, will be a significant plus for the offense. He's supposed to work well with a great offensive unit and an excellent backfield rotation, allowing the bitterness to be balanced.
13. Clemson
Trying to avoid slipping out of the College Football Playoff elite for good, now with two straight seasons of missing out on the semifinal. Dabo Swinney's offense was nervous, but by adding former TCU Offensive Coordinator Garrett Riley a significant addition to his coaching staff in hopes of developing Cade Klubnik as a quarterback, he may be able to solve that problem. After some significant departures from the draft, there's a lack of elite skill in receiver and surgery to perform on the front seven.
14. Texas
While Steve Sarkisian's been 13-12 in his career, he nearly brought the Longhorns back last fall, losing all five games by seven points or less. You feel like a few changes are to be made, and this team can make it, especially with quarterback Quinn Ewers so high on potential. The Longhorns lost superstar running back Bijan Robinson, but they'll be returning the offensive line and three of their best wide receivers in what should prove to be one of college football's most exciting aerial attacks this season.
15. Utah
The losses have been significant, including two of the University's talented running backs, star tight end Dalton Kincaid and elite cornerback Clark Phillips. But quarterback Cameron Rising is returning behind a veteran offensive line, a not-insignificant development for the two-time defending league champs as they seek to make it three straight Pac-12 football titles in a more crowded field.
16. South Carolina
Spencer Rattler's back to lead the next major attack. Now the defense must step up significantly, particularly on the run. But with the momentum coming from two big wins against Tennessee and Clemson, Head Coach Shane Beamer looks to continue and carry this over to the next season, taking another massive step in the SEC East.
17. TCU
Sonny Dykes' job will be more challenging going into 2023 with eight departures from the NFL Draft and college football playoff appearing team. But with some key transfer portal pickups, including wide receiver JoJo Earle, tailback Trey Sanders, and tackle Tommy Brockermeyer, among others. With Chandler Morris returning as the starting quarterback, TCU should still have a shot at winning the Big 12.
18. Oklahoma
Even with one of the most lackluster seasons in the history of Oklahoma football, Dillon Gabriel returns at quarterback. Still, he loses top target Marvin Mims and thousand-yard rusher Eric Gray. Adding transfer offensive linemen Trace Ford and Dasan McCullough off the edge has enormously impacted OU's defensive performance, enabling them to bring speed and strength to a front seven that needs it.
19. Wisconsin
Wisconsin's changes in this crazy off-season, hiring former Cincinnati Head Coach Luke Fickell to be the head coach and bringing Phil Long on board as coordinator of offense, are well worth taking a look at. With the addition of transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai, who threw for more than 7,100 yards and 72 touchdowns in the last two seasons, and transfer wide receivers, Bryson Green and C.J. Williams, the Badgers are in a great position to open things up.
20. Oregon State
For 2023, Jonathan Smith will return most of his two deeps to this list. He has the Beavers in a position to make a run for the Pac-12 title behind one of the conference's best offensive lines and a solid rushing attack led by running back Damien Martinez, who ran for under 1,000 yards last season. But most important this offseason was the addition of Clemson transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, a former 5-star with plenty of potential as a dual-threat to unearth if OSU can.
21. North Carolina
UNC returns one of college football's premier talents at quarterback in Drake Maye; some vital continuity for the team's offense, but new Offensive Coordinator Chip Lindsey has some real work to do patching things up at both tackle positions after the line allowed 40 sacks and the Tar Heels need to reload at wide receiver after losing wide receiver Josh Downs to the NFL. Carolina also needs to beef up its scrimmage defense after it ranked last in the ACC and tied for 128th nationally with just one sack per game.
22. Texas Tech
One of the up-and-coming teams to watch in the Big 12 title race this season, the Red Raiders finished Joey Maguire's first season as head coach by winning their last four games, including against Oklahoma and in the bowl game over Ole Miss. Tech's speed at skill positions on offense is undeniable, but the defense that has not been as good over the past few years and now loses its best player in edge defensive end Tyree Wilson remains a question mark.
23. Ole Miss
Still with Lane Kiffin as head coach despite some persistent rumors, he would take the Auburn job with the most exciting quarterback competition in college football this spring. After an unfortunate end to last season, Jaxson Dart is back, and he's joined in his final year of eligibility by a veteran Oklahoma State transfer named Spencer Sanders, as well as Walker Howard from LSU. The Rebels' offense would benefit significantly from the return of running back Quinton Judkins.
24. Iowa
The defense will probably take a hit, but will the offense be able to move forward? With former Michigan football quarterback Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All, there’s promise here, but with Brian Ferentz still calling the shots, it’s still a big area of uncertainty.
25. Texas A&M
A&M lost three 5-star and 18 four-star players to the portal, the NFL Draft, or to graduation but also added three 5-star and 12 four-star players from recruiting and the portal, so the talent transfers could even out on balance. And with the addition of Bobby Petrino calling plays at offense for A&M, which is also a development well worth watching this fall, it's up to them now to deliver results.
