Do you feel it? Do you reealllyy feel it? Can you smell it? Can you smell all those smells? The burgers. The pasta salad… The beer. We have the first collegiate football rankings of the year and I’ll tell you a little something about each team while you clear your schedule and break out grandma’s potato salad recipe.
- Georgia– The back-to-back national champions have won 29 of their last 30 games. However, no more Stetson Bennett, no more highly touted defensive stalwarts. Oh wait, they return 7 defensive starters and still have WR Ladd McConkey and TE Brock Bowers. However, most college football teams will only go as far as their quarterbacks will allow them. Carson Beck was a 4 star QB, but that was 3 years ago in 2019. He got some experience last year due to the sheer dominance of the team as a whole. The question for UGA is if he can help this team no matter Raine (Beck’s middle name) or shine.
2. Michigan (My national champion pick)– This is the team that I think is actually the best in the country at this current moment. The back-to-back Big Ten champs return 8 offensive starters including their 2 headed monster at running back. This and more than experienced QB JJ McCarthy should allow the offense that scored 40+ points in 7 of the 14 games last year to not miss a beat regardless of the status of HC Jim Harbaugh. The defense brings back 7, including LB Junior Colson running things. I worry about the end of the year for them with trips to Happy Valley and Maryland, only to finish with Ohio State in the Big House.
3. Ohio State– I don’t like them at 3. As we sit here with Week 0 less than 2 weeks away and 19 days away from Buckeye kickoff, they still have yet to name a starting QB. You know the saying about having 2 quarterbacks… You can’t deny the most talented WR room in America for at least 3 years running now, but you have to get them the ball. That being said, having 2 running backs like Treveyon Henderson and Miyan Williams should take a lot of the pressure off of whoever wins the QB job. On defense, they return 7 starters, including Tommy Eichenberg and JT Tuimoloau who are All-American candidates. The defense only gave up 21 points a game last year, but they gave up 30+ to Penn State, Maryland, and Michigan. This team goes to South Bend to face an experienced QB, has Maryland and Penn State at home, goes to Camp Randall, and the Big House. This team either proves me wrong or Ryan Day might be on the open market come November 26th.
4. Alabama– The 4th team in the poll, the 3rd team with a QB question mark. There’s only 10 returning starters of the 22, 5 on each side of the ball. This ranking feels like a nod to Nick Saban. There’s nothing proven on this team other than Kool-Aid McKinstry, the assumed #1 CB off the big board come April. The last time Alabama didn’t win 10 or more games in a season was 2007, Saban’s first year in Tuscaloosa. I fear that the tough SEC schedule and playing Texas in the non-conference might make Bama fans feel like Tusca-losers this year.
5. LSU– Brian Kelly took a break from making TikTok videos and hit the portal this year. He brought in another linebacking stud in Omar Speights to put with likely 1st team All-American Harold Perkins. The Tigers were 10-4 last year and return 15 starters already. The SEC West champs last year have the softest SEC schedule possible. If they can redeem themselves from last year’s embarrassing loss to Florida State, LSU might have a date in the SEC Championship again in 2023.
6. USC– Defense wins championships. In my opinion, that still rings true. If the defense holds, Heisman winner Caleb Williams is likely to have another campaign that should have the last back to back winner, Archie Griffin, shaking in his boots. An overwhelming favorite, Williams is likely to lead the Trojans and their many offensive horses to a Pac-12 championship, but watch out for those pesky Utes.
7. Penn State– An 11-2 year for James Franklin bought him another year. That coupled with Drew Allar and the emergence of Nick Singleton at running back has Nittany Lion fans excited. A Michigan-like non-con of West Virginia, Delaware, and UMass should have the Nittany Lions contending in the last year of the 12 team Big 10. The question is if Drew Allar and his 5-star reputation can lead Penn State into the Horseshoe to beat Ohio State. If so, can they also beat Maryland on the road or Michigan at home? If not, how long will it take for James Franklin to make the Valley truly Happy?
8. Florida State– The U used to have the rappers in college football… But listen to this Verse. Jared Verse. The whole country will likely be singing his tune come the top 5 of the draft in April. Arguably the best defensive player in the country (check out this very knowledgeable podcast for more), Verse will be “cooking” as the kids say. A 10-win team that brings back 9 defensive starters also brought back a top 5 quarterback in the country. Jordan Travis ran for over 400 yards last year… Oh he also threw for 3200 yards with 24 TD and only 5 INT. The WR core of Johnny Wilson and Mycah Pittman took a hit when Pittman transferred to Utah, but Mike Norvell responded by working in the portal and bringing in Michigan State WR Keon Coleman and stud TE Jaheim Bell. Norvell could have a Seminole moment in Week 1 by beating LSU. After that, they’ll play at Clemson in their only real ACC test.
9. Clemson– After a disappointing 11-3, ACC Championship campaign, Dabo Swinney saw his highly touted quarterback transfer all the way across the country. In response, he brought in Garrett Riley, TCU’s former OC, to fill the same void. Now he has another highly touted QB along with a great running back tandem returning to campus. Throw in 8 defensive starters returning and by golly the Clemson Tigers might return to the glory of the late 2010’s. If Cade Klubnik can find success from Riley’s system, then Florida State coming to Death Valley is the only game in question on the conference schedule. In the non-con, they’ll have Notre Dame at home and head to South Carolina the last game of the year to flex their muscle and test their National Championship hopes.
10. Washington– Two Pac-12 teams in the top 10? In this economy? The Huskies went 11-2 last year with back-to-back losses to an actually talented UCLA team and a not talented Arizona State team, both on the road. However, Michael Penix is a Heisman candidate and teamed up again with a genius offensive mind who he played under at Indiana, Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer has now had 3 seasons as a HC at the FBS level, each of which his offense has produced 32 points a game or more. The offense last year was at 39 points a game and brings back their top 2 receivers. The question for the Huskies comes in the schedule. To start November, they’ll play at USC, face Utah at home, and then head to an underrated Oregon State team. That doesn’t include a game with Oregon at home where Oregon comes off a bye week.
11. Texas– The horns are up in Austin. A successful recruitment of the heir to the Manning Football thrown in young Arch “Archduke” Manning has campus excited, but it’ll be Quinn Ewers who calls the shots. Texas’ offense is loaded with talent and everyone other than their two running backs have returned. A legitimate threat to air space in Austin, Jordan Whittington, Xavier Worthy, and Georgia transfer Adonai Mitchell are set up to give defensive backfields real problems. The problem for Texas will be limiting the no show performances. A heart-breaking loss in Lubbock where they gave up 37 and a loss in Stillwater where they gave up 41 simply can’t happen. Week 2 in Tuscaloosa will be a true litmus test for the Longhorns with no real tough conference games other than Oklahoma and maybe heading to Fort Worth against TCU.
12. Tennessee– I see the voters got unserious after the top 10. Tennessee will have Joe Milton at quarterback, who granted has maybe the strongest arm in all of college football, but also do you remember in 2021 when he ran out of bounds to lose them the game instead of throwing the ball? I do. No Cedric Tillman, no Jalin Hyatt, and the only bright spot might be Jabari Small. The defense was bend don’t break last year and brings back 7 defensive starters. The defense can’t give up 405 yards again this year to stay in games. An emotional first game against Virgina and UTSA are going to be tough non-conference games even if they’re more talented than Virginia. Then games in Tuscaloosa and Lexington at the end of October with a date against Georgia in November provide a difficult season ahead for the Vols.
13. Notre Dame– Tough way to start the first full season for Marcus Freeman. Back-to-back losses to Ohio State and Marshall seemed more like the Fighting Back Tears Irish. Throw in a gross loss to Stanford and they were 3-3 halfway through the year. They did win 6 of their last 7 including a trouncing of Clemson. This year they seem like the Put Up A Fight-ing Irish. Sam Hartman, who sits at 110 career passing touchdowns, good enough for 18th all-time, transferred in. They have the best lineman in college football in Joe Alt at left tackle, along with 8 returning starters on a defense that only allowed 23 points a game this year. An early test in Ireland (I’m sure there’s a Bloody Sunday reference in there somewhere) and games against Ohio State, USC, and in Clemson should give the Fighting Irish every chance to prove themselves this year.
14. Utah– The reigning and back-to-back Pac-12 champs sit here wondering, “Why doesn’t anyone respect us?”. This was their 4th straight Pac-12 championship appearance if you take out the shortened 2020 season and I guess 4 out of 5 if you’re a USC fan. Have we not learned? Cam Rising returns for his swan song along with a few other offensive starters and FSU transfer Mycah Pittman. The defense that only gave up 21 points a game last year returns 9 starters. The schedule and the strength of the Pac-12 feels simultaneously the best it has been in years while also being a few months from being defunct. The Utes have Florida, Oregon, and Colorado at home and will have to head to the Coliseum, to Husky Stadium, and down to Tuscan. All those games Utah may have a hard time with, or be mostly able to take care of.
15. Oregon– I would be lying if I said I didn’t have a little bias against Oregon. I’m a Badger fan, that explains everything. I don’t really believe in Dan Lanning and I don’t really believe in Bo Nix. But maybe I’m the problem? 10-3 last year and Bo Nix looked like a real boy, not the Pinocchio version of whatever he was in Auburn. The schedule has 3 real tests when the Ducks fly their way to Washington and Utah. However, they get USC at home.
16. Kansas State– The Little Apple was buzzing last year en route to the Big 12 Championship where they beat the National Runner-Ups. Will Howard emerged for a hurt Adrian Martinez and dominated. Luckily, Deuce Vaughn’s 1900 all-purpose yards helped take some pressure off of Howard. Since Klieman came to Manhattan in 2019, the Wildcats have allowed 21 points a game in 3 of 4 seasons. The biggest question is if he can keep that level of defense with only 5 defensive starters returning. If so, I would love to see if Will Howard’s potential ceiling can lead the Cats back to the ship, but the defense will have to be there too.
17. TCU– So… That kinda sucked, huh? Imagine Prince Charming going to slip on the glass slipper and her foot is just too fat. I was wrong all year about TCU last year, until the very last game where I was right. That doesn’t mean I don’t respect it. Outscoring everyone while giving up 29 points a game. The offense that came into the year with Max Duggan, who had 30+ career starts going into the year, at back-up QB and ultimately was thrust into the Heisman race. This year, Chandler Morris is the guy. That is if Chance Nolan, Oregon State transfer, doesn’t pull a Max Duggan. The offense only brings back 3 starters. This team, in order to be successful, is going to have to rely on #57 Johnny Hodges and the 6 other returning starters to get stops and a couple more than they did last year.
18. Oregon State– I don’t want to be mean, but, like, come on. The Beavers chewed themselves to a 10-3 record last year and added DJ Uiagalelei in the transfer portal. Adding him to the offense is great. Where my problem lies is in the defense. 5 starters return and they lost stud LB Omar Speights to the portal. I think the defense struggles this year. I won’t see a reason to buy Oregon State in this conference because, duh. They have SDSU, Utah, and Washington at home with dates at Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon. That’s 6 games I think will be battles so however many you think they win you can add 6 to, but I don’t think they have another 10-win season in them.
19. Wisconsin– Redacted.
20. Oklahoma– The play was bad last year. Both in Norman and Broadway. Dillon Gabriel is a more than capable QB, but the question is if Brent Venables is a capable HC. A mass exodus when Lincoln Riley left, Venables was left with a shell of a roster. Only 7 offensive starters return and 6 on defense. I’m nervous for Venables, that despite the talent level on the team, that the ripple effect from Riley’s absence is still being felt. That being said, Jalil Farooq is awesome. In October, OU faces Texas in Dallas, a bye week, UCF at home, and then heads to face the Jayhawks. This is likely the toughest stretch of the season, but wins are going to have to come Sooner or later for OU fans to not turn on Venables in year 2.
21. North Carolina– If you’re not Drake Maye, Omarion Hampton, or Cedric Gray… Look away. Look I know experience is huge in college football and the 3 guys I just listed are very, very good and have experience. That being said, this team went 9-5 last year and that includes a win against App State where they gave up 40 points… in the 4th quarter alone. South Carolina is good, App State isn’t this year, and the rest of the schedule is bad. This could be an 11-win team, but they probably should’ve been last year too. Losing Phil Longo as the OC to Wisconsin and WR Josh Downs to the NFL worries me that 9-5 will be the result for Mack Brown again.
22. Ole Miss-I wish so bad this wasn’t such a tough schedule. If you want a longshot to make the playoff or to win the SEC, it’s Ole Miss. Jaxson Dart threw for 2900 yards, Quinshon Judkins ran for 1560 and 16 TDs, and they added former UTSA standout Zakhari Franklin at WR. 8 offensive starters from last year’s 8-5 team that put up 33 points a game. 7 defensive starters return to a defense that gave up 25 points a game. Not horrible, not great. The schedule is going to hurt. They play at Tulane, Alabama, and Georgia and will host LSU and Arkansas. I think that if this team was in literally any other conference, they’d win it.
23. Texas A&M– I have no idea what to think of this team. Evan Stewart is an incredible WR and Ainias Smith opposite him is as good as any WR duo in the country. Despite this talent, it seems like a question mark who will get them the ball. Jimbo will be facing jumbo questions if the team that’s returning 20 of 22 starters can’t make a bowl game. The Aggies have 4 true road games along with a a neutral site game in Arlington against Arkansas. A&M has lost 6 of their last 7 true road games. Those are all conference games. The Aggies will head to Miami to face The U in their first true non-conference road game since 2019 when they lost in Clemson.
24. Tulane– An all-time season. One for the record books. All-time jerseys and colors too. 12-2 with a great bowl win over USC was a great end to the Cinderella story. The defense, who allowed 22 points a game last year, returns 8 of 11 starters. That’s great. The issue is on offense. Starting QB Michael Pratt is back, but the Green Wave waved goodbye to RB Tyjae Spears and WR Deuce Watts who are in the NFL preseason. The AAC is in its first iteration of conference realignment and the Green Wave are going to have to walk a tight rope until their date with UTSA on Small Conference, I mean Small Business Saturday.
25. Iowa– Do you think Cade McNamara can make this team score more than 17 points a game? Do you think forcing 23 turnovers is sustainable? The Hawkeyes fly to Penn State and Wisconsin this year and will get Illinois at home. I’ve written enough, draw your own conclusions. Keep in mind, they beat South Dakota State 7-3 last year at home.
