College football rankings: Fox Sports reveals Top 25 preseason poll
- Author:
- Publish date:
Spring practice is in the rear view mirror and now college football looks ahead to its offseason before kicking off fall camp and finally the 2022 season.
After watching the spring games from around the country, it's time to re-assess where things stand in the preseason rankings, with some teams moving up in the polls, while others have taken a dip from their initial position.
Recently, RJ Young of Fox Sports re-ranked the preseason Top 25, taking spring football and the very active transfer portal movement into account.
Where do things stand as we head into the summer?
College football preseason Top 25 rankings, via Fox Sports
25. LSU
2021 ranking: Unranked
Record: 6-7 (3-5 SEC)
Where LSU is right now: Looking ahead to what it hopes is a brighter future with Brian Kelly in as head coach, but with major structural questions on this roster, including at defensive back, offensive line, and quarterback.
There are plenty of options to work with, and a very strong recruiting base, but we'll see if Kelly can put it all together against the weekly slug fest of an SEC West schedule.
24. Penn State
2021 ranking: Unranked
Record: 7-6 (4-5 Big Ten)
Where Penn State is right now: Still looking up at the likes of Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten East, but bringing back crucial experience at quarterback with Sean Clifford returning for a sixth season at Happy Valley.
He won't have Noah Cain coming out of the backfield after the rusher transferred to LSU, and James Franklin has holes to fill in the back seven unit. Penn State goes to Auburn and Michigan, and hosts Ohio State at home this fall.
23. Oregon
2021 ranking: No. 14 (CFP)
Record: 10-4 (7-2 Pac-12)
Where Oregon is right now: Kayvon Thibodeaux, the best defensive player in college football last fall, is gone, but Noah Sewell returns at linebacker for first-year head coach Dan Lanning.
Lanning was the brains behind Georgia's historic defense last season, which should set the Ducks unit on sound footing, combined with the inroads this program has made on the recruiting trail in recent years. Bo Nix steps in at quarterback after transferring from Auburn, and he has some speed to work with at receiver.
22. Kentucky
2021 ranking: No. 22 (CFP)
Record: 10-3 (5-3 SEC)
Where Kentucky is right now: Mark Stoops has steadily improved UK's recruiting over the last decade and saw some of the results in 2021, winning 10 games and beating Iowa in the bowl game. Will Levis returns at quarterback with Chris Rodriguez in the backfield again, giving the Wildcats its 1-2 punch on offense, but this team also loses some important O-line pieces and wideout Wan'Dale Robinson.
21. Wisconsin
2021 ranking: Unranked
Record: 9-4 (6-3 Big Ten)
Where Wisconsin is right now: This team actually ranked ahead of Georgia in total defense a year ago, placing No. 1 in college football in yards allowed. A lot of the talent that made it great walks away this fall, but Wisconsin has recruited well enough to maintain its standing on this side of the ball.
Braelon Allen steps in to lead this offense after rushing for almost 1,300 yards with 12 touchdowns last season and he's running behind one of the premier offensive lines in the nation. But the Badgers need more from quarterback Graham Mertz after he struggled badly a year ago, passing for 10 TDs and 11 picks.
20. Minnesota
2021 ranking: Unranked
Record: 9-4 (6-3 Big Ten)
Where Minnesota is right now: Looking at a potential improvement on offense with coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca coming back. He'll have plenty of experience at Tanner Morgan, the quarterback who holds a dozen school records for passing, and Mohamed Ibrahim, the excellent rusher whose 2021 season was shortened by an Achilles injury. The offensive line needs to play a little tighter, but if it can, there's enough speed to work with at the skill positions to make this offense move a little.
19. USC
USA Today Images
2021 ranking: Unranked
Record: 4-8 (3-6 (Pac-12)
Where USC is right now: That's the big question coming into the college football season. Lincoln Riley steps in after making the bombshell move of the year, and he brings on a plush list of transfer players, including quarterback Caleb Williams.
But while Riley and his reputation as an offensive guru gets all the attention, it's worth noting the Trojans are actually quite bad at playing defense. USC ranked No. 89 in the nation a year ago in that category, and while it scored some key inputs, including Alabama transfer linebacker Shane Lee, this unit is very much a work in progress.
18. Cincinnati
2021 ranking: No. 4 (CFP)
Record: 13-1 (8-0 AAC)
Where Cincinnati is right now: Coming off its historic College Football Playoff season, the Bearcats just lost nine crucial pieces to the NFL Draft and face the prospect of replacing a cast of characters that ran the table in conference last fall.
There's a lot of turnover to deal with, plus a resurgent Houston team to fend off in the AAC. This is Luke Fickell's moment: Can he build and maintain his gains at this program going forward, or was his last team a flash in the pan?
17. Houston
2021 ranking: No. 20 (CFP)
Record: 12-2 (8-0 AAC)
Where Houston is right now: After losing last season's opener against Texas Tech, the Cougars went undefeated the rest of the way before falling to Cincy in the AAC title game. But now with the Bearcats' turnover, this could be the moment when Dana Holgorsen takes the lead in this conference ahead of UH before moving to the Big 12. Clayton Tune returns at quarterback, but the jury's still out on lead rusher Alton McCaskill's availability after he tore an ACL this offseason.
16. BYU
2021 ranking: No. 13 (CFP)
Record: 10-3
Where BYU is right now: Not bringing back Tyler Allgeier to this backfield is a big problem, there's no way around that. He had over half of BYU's entire touchdown total last fall, so the Cougars need to find inputs at running back real quick.
Jaren Hall returns at quarterback after a 20 TD, 5 INT season, crucial to this team getting to 10 wins against a tough schedule after Zach Wilson's departure. The slate won't get any easier, with dates against Cincinnati, Arkansas, Oregon, Baylor, and Notre Dame.
15. Oklahoma State
2021 ranking: No. 9 (CFP)
Record: 12-2 (8-1 Big 12)
Where Oklahoma State is right now: The top defense in college football a year ago lost its coordinator after Jim Knowles took the Ohio State job, in addition to three key pieces in the secondary.
Quarterback Spencer Sanders showed flashes last fall, throwing 20 TDs and finishing with over 2,800 yards, but he had 12 picks and seven games when he threw one touchdown or none. And the Cowboys won't have 1,200 yard rusher Jaylen Warren back to help him out, either.
14. Michigan
USA Today Images
2021 ranking: No. 2 (CFP)
Record: 12-2 (8-1 Big Ten)
Where Michigan is right now: Just three starters return on defense, and the team loses that potent one-two punch it had at defensive end last fall. First-year DC Jesse Minter is charged with repeating that aggressiveness in 2022.
UM's running back tandem is gone, as is offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, but quarterback Cade McNamara returns — could he lose the job to 5-star prospect J.J. McCarthy? If not, expect the younger option to at least log some important snaps; there's too much potential there not to.
13. Michigan State
2021 ranking: No. 10 (CFP)
Record: 11-2 (7-2 Big Ten)
Where Michigan State is right now: Kenneth Walker was the engine behind Sparty's offense a year ago, but he's not coming back. Payton Thorne is, fresh off a 3,240-yard passing season to go with 27 TDs and 10 INTs. And he'll have Jayden Reed returning at receiver after going for over 1,000 yards with 10 scores and averaging almost 18 yards per catch last fall.
But the question for second-year coach Mel Tucker, fresh off inking a $95 million contract, remains: what about this back seven rotation? It was far and away the Big Ten's worst, allowing more than 337 passing yards per game. No other B1G team surrendered more than 260. The unit overall ranked No. 111 in the nation.
12. Clemson
2021 ranking: No. 19 (CFP)
Record: 10-3 (6-2 ACC)
Where Clemson is right now: Offense was a persistent problem last season, not scoring a TD in the opener against Georgia, and only getting nine scores against 10 picks from quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. Clemson ranked second-worst in the ACC in total offense and failed to surpass 27 points per game on average.
Getting things right on this side of the ball should get the Tigers back in the Top 10 nationally when looking at this defense, a unit stacked with blue-chip talent, including Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee on the front line. But watch for games at Wake, against NC State, at Notre Dame, and at home to Miami.
11. Utah
2021 ranking: No. 11 (CFP)
Record: 10-4 (8-1 Pac-12)
Where Utah is right now: Losing wideout Britain Covey is notable, but Utah returns star rusher Tavion Thomas, a thousand-yard fixture who scored 21 times a year ago, and quarterback Cameron Rising, who passed for 20 TDs with five picks.
Defensively, the Utes allowed a respectable 20.6 ppg, a number that fell to 19.1 in Pac-12 games, but loses linebacker Devin Lloyd and two safeties in Brandon McKinney and Vonte Davis. Watch for Utah's season opener at Florida, a moment for the Pac-12 to reclaim some of its honor, and a midseason home tilt with USC.
10. Ole Miss
2021 ranking: No. 8 (CFP)
Record: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
Where Ole Miss is right now: Losing just about every skill piece on an offense that ranked top 10 in college football isn't ideal. Good thing Lane Kiffin, the self-deigned "Portal King" is on the case.
So far, the King has brought in a pair of USC transfers in quarterback Jaxson Dart and tight end Michael Trigg, in addition to two solid rushers in Zach Evans and Ulysses Bentley. The Rebs might take a step back offensively, but there's enough here to get to October at one loss or undefeated.
9. Oklahoma
2021 ranking: No. 16 (CFP)
Record: 11-2 (7-2 Big 12)
Where Oklahoma is right now: A lot of programs, when they lose their head coach, top quarterback, defensive coordinator, and a wide receiver in a single offseason might need some time to regroup.
But the Sooners got aggressive, bringing on Brent Venables as head coach, and he added Jeff Lebby, the mastermind of Ole Miss' offense last season, as play-caller. And OU landed a major transfer in quarterback Dillon Gabriel, an 8,000-yard career passer who led a top 10 offense at UCF with Lebby as coordinator in 2019.
8. Texas
2021 ranking: Unranked
Record: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12)
Where Texas is right now: Still getting plenty of positive preseason pub, routinely ranking in the better half of most preseason Top 25 polls. Steve Sarkisian enters Year 2 with what better be a much-improved offense behind 5-star transfer quarterback Quinn Ewers.
Add in transfer wideout Agiye Hall and tight end Jahleel Billingsley, and the Longhorns have something to work with, especially with lead back Bijan Robinson and receiver Xavier Worthy back in the fold.
But defensively, Texas was third-worst in the Big 12 in total yards allowed and fourth-worst in allowing 31.1 points per game, a number that rose to 35 in conference games. That unit, plus this offensive line, need some major work before Alabama comes to Austin in Week 2.
7. Notre Dame
2021 ranking: No. 5 (CFP)
Record: 11-2
Where Notre Dame is right now: Marcus Freeman steps in as coach in Year 1 after suddenly inheriting the job when Brian Kelly bolted for LSU. So far, the returns are pretty good as the Irish got a huge head start on the recruiting trail and boast what could be the best offensive line in college football this year.
That will certainly help as Notre Dame looks for new inputs at quarterback and running back after Jack Coan and Kyren Williams left to turn pro, and new defensive coordinator Al Golden needs to do some surgery on the defensive front unit and find another playmaker in the back seven after safety Kyle Hamilton departed. There are some tough games on this slate, including the opener at Ohio State.
6. Arkansas
USA Today Images
2021 ranking: No. 21 (CFP)
Record: 9-4 (4-4 SEC)
Where Arkansas is right now: Another big riser in some preseason rankings, the Razorbacks certainly surprised everyone by winning nine games, and impressed with a two-TD win over Penn State in the bowl game.
This is still a quality roster that returns quarterback KJ Jefferson, but there are more questions than answers this preseason. Arkansas loses top receiver Treylon Burks and have to go up against another tough schedule that includes non-SEC games against future Big 12 members Cincinnati and BYU, the latter a very strong independent squad bringing back a ton of talent that won 10 games last year.
5. Baylor
2021 ranking: No. 7 (CFP)
Record: 12-2 (7-2 Big 12)
Where Baylor is right now: Dave Aranda brought Baylor from two wins to a Big 12 championship and a Sugar Bowl victory in one year's time, and has a chance to build on that work in 2022.
Blake Shapen, a 72% passer with five TDs and no picks last season, returns at quarterback, as does most of this offensive line, but Baylor has to find new inputs at receiver and running back. This defense was one of two in the Big 12 to surrender fewer than 20 points per game, and brings back most of that production. Baylor is a serious contender to make it two straight in this conference.
4. Texas A&M
2021 ranking: Unranked
Record: 8-4 (4-4 SEC)
Where Texas A&M is right now: You get the feeling that Jimbo Fisher finally has this Aggies program in a place to make a run at the SEC title and the College Football Playoff. He just signed arguably the best recruiting class ever and brings on enough talent to push through this schedule. A&M has quality inputs on the front seven, at receiver, at running back, and a few decent options at quarterback.
But last year showed this team can lose as well as win on any given Saturday. A&M beat No. 1 Alabama, but then lost four games and was an afterthought in the national rankings. FPI forecasts more of the same for the Ags this season, which includes home dates against Miami, Florida, Ole Miss, LSU, and App State and a trip to Alabama and Auburn.
3. Georgia
USA Today Images
2021 ranking: No. 3 (CFP)*
Record: 14-1 (8-0 SEC)
Where Georgia is right now: College football's defending national champion fielded one of the most dominant, aggressive defenses the sport has ever seen last season, but a lot of what made it go is gone. There should be a slight step back here, but only slight, as Kirby Smart has recruited so well that Georgia has more than enough size and speed to plug in those holes this season.
Jalen Carter, one of the nation's top defensive players, returns at tackle along with a number of other key inputs, backed up by the likes of Tykee Smith, Jaheim Singletary, and Malaki Starks in the secondary.
Georgia brings back some definite firepower on offense, too, led again by quarterback Stetson Bennett, who announced he'll return for the 2022 season. Brock Bowers, one of the sport's premier targets, is back, joined by tight end Darnell Washington and 5-star transfer Arik Gilbert.
*The CFP doesn't update rankings after the national championship, but Georgia was obviously the consensus No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll rankings.
2. Ohio State
USA Today Images
2021 ranking: No. 6 (CFP)
Record: 11-2 (8-1 Big Ten)
Where Ohio State is right now: The common denominator in OSU's two losses was subpar defense, which Ryan Day thinks he fixed by bringing on former Oklahoma State DC Jim Knowles. Under his watch last fall, the Cowboys posted the No. 3 overall D and led the nation in TFLs and sacks behind an aggressive, defensive back-led approach.
If he can repeat that success with these players, expect Ohio State's reigning No. 1 ranked offense to do the rest. Heisman finalist quarterback CJ Stroud returns after posting a 4,435 yard outing with 44 TDs and just six turnovers, and he keeps uber-productive lead back TreVeyon Henderson behind center in addition to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a 1,600-yard pass catcher who could emerge as the best wideout in the game this fall.
1. Alabama
2021 ranking: No. 1 (CFP)*
Record: 13-2 (7-1 SEC)
Where Alabama is right now: Everybody knows what this team is. And thanks to the transfer portal, it got even better. Jermaine Burton and Tyler Harrell at wide receiver, Eli Ricks at cornerback, Tyler Steen at tackle, and Jahmyr Gibbs at running back — those are Nick Saban's blue-chip additions to support Heisman winning quarterback Bryce Young, coming off a 4,872 yard effort with 47 TDs, and linebacker Will Anderson, arguably the best single player in the nation, posting No. 1 marks in sacks and TFLs last season.
*Alabama went into the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 team, but finished No. 2 in the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll rankings after losing the national title game.