We’re rounding third on summer season, which implies the college football kickoff is correct across the nook, and meaning one factor: preseason rankings.
Being ranked excessive within the early Top 25 is vital when taking a look at how the College Football Playoff shakes out, but it surely doesn’t suggest every part.
How did the specialists over at CBS Sports rank the 25 greatest groups this preseason?
25. Pittsburgh. Kedon Slovis and Jordan Addison are out, however Kedon Slovis is in at quarterback to maintain the Panthers within the ACC title race.
24. Tennessee. A could-be up-and-comer within the SEC with a high 10 offense a yr in the past, however holes to patch up within the secondary first.
23. Kentucky. Will Levis returns beneath heart, however lead again Chris Rodriguez’s availability is up within the air over a authorized challenge for the SEC East hopefuls.
22. Houston. This may very well be the yr the Cougars overtake Cincinnati within the AAC earlier than each groups transfer to the Big 12 subsequent yr.
21. Wake Forest. The core of college football’s eleventh ranked offense is again, together with Sam Hartman, however the Deacs protection ranked 91st nationally final fall.
20. Michigan State. Kenneth Walker is off to the NFL, however Sparty nonetheless has a stable 1-2 punch shifting the ball whereas it repairs the 111th ranked move protection in college football.
19. Miami. Mario Cristobal brings over an elite teaching employees and inherits Tyler Van Dyke at quarterback, however nonetheless faces a troublesome schedule in Year 1.
18. Penn State. Sean Clifford is again, this time with WKU switch wideout Mitchell Tinsley as a really credible downfield menace.
17. Cincinnati. Nine of the playmakers that obtained Cincy to the College Football Playoff are execs now, so we’ll see how nicely Luke Fickell can develop what he has.
16. Arkansas. Maybe the shock group in college football final yr, the Hogs return quarterback KJ Jefferson and signed switch receiver Jadon Hazelwood to switch Treylon Burks. Now comes that brutal SEC West slate.
15. Wisconsin. The top-ranked complete protection from a yr in the past wants so as to add some new items, however Braelon Allen seems like one of many high younger backs within the nation to carry this group up whereas Graham Mertz finds himself at quarterback.
14. Oregon. Dan Lanning comes off teaching Georgia’s historic protection to deliver that magic to a Ducks group that appeared on the verge of constructing the playoff final season.
13. Oklahoma State. Some new faces on what in 2021 was the third-ranked protection in college football, however the Pokes retain expertise as Spencer Sanders returns at QB.
12 U.S.C. The largest query within the sport after Lincoln Riley moved out west and introduced a switch class for the ages with him.
11. NC State. This group beat Clemson final fall and was eight mixed factors from an ideal ACC document, and now has Devin Leary again driving this offense for an additional run.
10. Baylor. Dave Aranda took the Bears from 2 wins to a Big 12 title in a yr and returns sufficient expertise on each side of the ball to do it once more.
9. Texas A&M. This may very well be the yr Jimbo places it collectively and makes a run on the SEC after signing the top-rated recruiting class ever. A midseason date with Alabama will inform the story.
8. Michigan. The defending Big Ten champs lose a pile of their most vital contributors, however nonetheless have loads of talent shifting the ball offensively.
7. Oklahoma. Brent Venables steps in to regular the ship after Riley’s departure, and introduced on quarterback Dillon Gabriel in a reunion with play-caller Jeff Lebby after the 2 orchestrated a high 10 offense at UCF.
6. Notre Dame. Another first-year coach in Marcus Freeman, who has dominated the recruiting scene to this point, and might need the most effective offensive line in college football.
5. Clemson. Defensive accidents and subpar quarterback play consigned the Tigers to 3 losses a yr in the past, however this protection, now wholesome, might need probably the most bodily entrance seven unit within the nation.
4. Utah. Major offseason optimism for the Pac-12 champs, who return the duo of Cam Rising at QB and Tavion Thomas within the backfield, a tandem that mixed for 41 touchdowns final season.
3. Georgia. College football’s defending nationwide champions should patch up some holes on that ferocious protection, but additionally return a ton of downfield threats and perimeter velocity, and are taking part in a really winnable schedule.
2. Ohio State. The core of college football’s No. 1 offense returns, led by Heisman finalist quarterback CJ Stroud, however how nicely Jim Knowles can restore the Buckeyes’ protection will present if this group belongs within the playoff.
1. Alabama. Breaking information: the Crimson Tide is the most effective group in college football after signing a blue-chip switch class to enhance its Heisman-winning quarterback and a veteran protection led by linebacker Will Anderson, arguably the most effective participant within the nation at any place.
(h/t CBS Sports)
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