College football rankings: FOX Sports unveils spring Top 25
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It's springtime, and along with nature itself, the world of college football is looking ahead to a new beginning.
Spring football offers us a formal shift from offseason to preseason, with teams and coaches back on the field for their first practices ahead of the 2022 season.
Georgia is the sport's defending national champion, but the Bulldogs have some work to do defending their title, both on its own roster and in the SEC.
Who else is in position to make a run? Scroll through to see how FOX Sports analyst R.J. Young compiled his preseason Top 25 rankings for 2022.
College football preseason Top 25 rankings
25. Iowa Hawkeyes
Final 2021 ranking: No. 23
Where Iowa is right now: Early on last fall, Iowa looked like a real national championship contender behind that ferocious defense, and it climbed to No. 2 in the polls after a win over Penn State. It didn't end well, but enough of the Hawkeyes' D comes back, as should quarterback Spencer Petras.
24. Penn State Nittany Lions
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Final 2021 ranking: Not ranked
Where Penn State is right now: Losing four of its last five to close out last season, the Nittany Lions bring back some consistency with Sean Clifford returning at quarterback. But coach James Franklin, fresh off signing a $75 million contract, needs to plug some holes on the defensive back end and find a way to run the ball more effectively.
23. USC Trojans
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Final 2021 ranking: Not ranked
Where USC is right now: Luring Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma has all the makings of a major positive change for a proud program that hasn't done much lately. He brings a new, aggressive offensive style — and a few plush transfer players, including quarterback Caleb Williams — but needs to tighten up some loose ends on one of college football's most generous defenses from a year ago.
22. Kentucky Wildcats
Final 2021 ranking: No. 18
Where Kentucky is right now: Mark Stoops and Company chalked up another 10-win season after winning their first four SEC games. A three-game skid slowed things up, but UK beat Iowa in the bowl and now returns Will Levis at quarterback. But gone is Wan'Dale Robinson at receiver, three O-line starters, and six defensive contributors.
21. Wisconsin Badgers
Final 2021 ranking: Not ranked
Where Wisconsin is right now: There's some work to do replenishing what a year ago was the No. 1 ranked defense in college football, but there's enough talent and depth for this unit to make a comeback. Graham Mertz returns under center after a poor showing. He was a sub-2,000 yard passer last season with 10 scores and 11 picks. Any rebuilding project there will depend on how well Wisconsin re-supplies at receiver.
20. Texas Longhorns
Final 2021 ranking: Not ranked
Where Texas is right now: Steve Sarkisian's first season started well enough, but ended with the Horns' worst record since the 1950s and included a home loss to Kansas. The questions about Texas being "back" are getting stale, so we'll wait to see how quarterback Quinn Ewers looks and what this team brings against Alabama in a major Week 2 clash in Austin.
19. Oregon Ducks
Final 2021 ranking: No. 22
Where Oregon is right now: Last season started great, including a statement win at Ohio State, but ended with two bad Ls to Utah and losing coach Mario Cristobal. In his place comes Dan Lanning, the architect of Georgia's historic national title defense, and Auburn transfer quarterback Bo Nix in addition to some important defensive pieces and an intriguing receiver room to throw some elbows in the Pac-12. Oregon's season begins against Georgia.
18. Cincinnati Bearcats
Final 2021 ranking: No. 4
Where Cincinnati is right now: This team became the first from the Group of Five to make the College Football Playoff, but it's losing a lot of talent that got it there. Desmond Ridder is gone, as is running back Jerome Ford and cornerbacks Ahmad Gardner and Coby Bryant. Now comes the hard part for Luke Fickell: rebuilding and keeping this program in the national picture going forward.
17. Houston Cougars
Final 2021 ranking: No. 17
Where Houston is right now: This team won 11 straight last fall after a season-opening loss to Texas Tech, only to lose to Cincy for the AAC title. But Houston finished 12-2 and beat Auburn in the bowl game. That steady progress, plus Cincinnati's offseason losses, could allow the Cougars to move ahead in this conference in 2022.
16. BYU Cougars
Final 2021 ranking: No. 19
Where BYU is right now: Jaren Hall returns at quarterback for the Cougars after a solid 2,500-yard passing season last fall, and he gets some help from an aggressive defensive front seven unit. BYU lost twice a year ago, including to Big 12 champion Baylor, and has some statement games on the 2022 schedule, as well — Baylor, Oregon, Notre Dame, and Arkansas.
15. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Final 2021 ranking: No. 7
Where Oklahoma State is right now: Inches — literally, inches — away from winning the Big 12 title last fall, the Cowboys' elite defense (No. 3 in college football last fall) loses some contributors in addition to coordinator Jim Knowles. Spencer Sanders returns at quarterback, but OSU needs more consistent play from him this year.
14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Final 2021 ranking: No. 15
Where Wake Forest is right now: An electric offense engineered by gunslinger Sam Hartman propelled the Deacs to a runner-up position in the ACC last fall. He passed for 4,228 yards and 39 TDs in addition to rushing for 11 more scores, breaking the Wake Forest record with 50 single-season touchdowns. Can he do it again?
13. Oklahoma Sooners
Final 2021 ranking: No. 10
Where Oklahoma is right now: Maybe no big-time college football program will look as different after an offseason of upheaval. But the Sooners scored some major names: head coach Brent Venables, offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel, to name a few. Lebby and Gabriel have a history at UCF ripping off big plays, and Venables is arguably the sport's best defensive strategist.
12. Clemson Tigers
Final 2021 ranking: No. 14
Where Clemson is right now: When you're winning 10 games and it's a "down year," your program is in pretty good shape. But there are major structural questions here after Clemson lost both coordinators and have to get much better play at quarterback. DJ Uiagalelei brings 5-star pedigree, but didn't look it last fall. A defense full of blue-chip talent should be back and healthy after an injury-marred '21 season.
11. Michigan Wolverines
Final 2021 ranking: No. 3
Where Michigan is right now: Jim Harbaugh finally got the scarlet and gray monkey off his and Michigan's back, won the Big Ten, and earned the Wolverines' first-ever College Football Playoff berth. Now comes the real test: replace his one-two punch at running back, his two dynamite pass rushers, and his offensive coordinator. There's stability at quarterback with Cade McNamara, a potential star in backup J.J. McCarthy, and some promising speed at receiver to build on.
10. Michigan State Spartans
Final 2021 ranking: No. 9
Where Michigan State is right now: Hoping a $95 million investment in head coach Mel Tucker is worth it. Private donations make up that landmark contract, but the school is banking on Tucker being its future. Payton Thorne is back under center, as is receiver Jaylen Reed, but power back Kenneth Walker is gone, and Sparty needs to do surgery on one of the worst secondary units in college football a year ago.
9. Ole Miss Rebels
Final 2021 ranking: No. 11
Where Ole Miss is right now: One of the top offenses in college football a year ago has some huge holes to patch up, including at quarterback, running back, and receiver. But the Rebs scored some dynamite transfers in QB Jaxson Dart and backs Zach Evans and Ulysses Bentley. There's enough talent here to work with, but can Lane Kiffin keep this team in the conversation in the SEC West again this year?
8. Utah Utes
Final 2021 ranking: No. 12
Where Utah is right now: Despite losing four games, the Utes beat College Football Playoff fave Oregon twice, including in the Pac-12 title game, and played CFP contender Ohio State to the wire in an exciting Rose Bowl. Now quarterback Cameron Rising is back, as is running back Tavion Thomas. A midseason date with USC will reveal exactly who is in position to take this conference.
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Final 2021 ranking: No. 8
Where Notre Dame is right now: Starting anew with Marcus Freeman in as head coach after Brian Kelly bolted for LSU. And with some solid talent coming back on both sides of the ball after a decent recruiting haul. It won't be easy for the Irish, who open on the road to Ohio State, and there's a big decision to be made at quarterback.
6. Arkansas Razorbacks
USA Today Images
Final 2021 ranking: No. 21
Where Arkansas is right now: Coming off a 9-win season that included wins against three ranked teams and against Penn State in the bowl. This isn't a real contender in the SEC just yet, but Sam Pittman could be ahead of schedule bringing this program back, especially with quarterback KJ Jefferson (21 TDs a year ago) back in the fold. But the Hogs have to slug through another murderer's row in the SEC West.
5. Baylor Bears
Final 2021 ranking: No. 5
Where Baylor is right now: Just a year removed from winning two games, the Bears knocked off OU, won the Big 12, and beat Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. Baylor may not run the ball as well this season after Abram Smith's departure, but what was a dominant defensive group brings back a lot of talent to make another run in 2022.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
Final 2021 ranking: No. 1
Where Georgia is right now: College football's defending national champion — for the first time since 1980 — lose a ton of that historic defense, but Kirby Smart's recruiting machine has ensured the transition won't be too bumpy. Stetson Bennett is at quarterback again, and he'll have an arsenal of bona fide playmakers on the receiving end, including Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington, and Arik Gilbert.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
Final 2021 ranking: No. 6
Where Ohio State is right now: Heisman finalist quarterback CJ Stroud is back after a 4,000-yard effort, and he'll have Jaxon Smith-Njigba — fresh off breaking college football's bowl record for receiving — and bruiser TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield. Good news after losing Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson at receiver, but the real question is how can Jim Knowles spruce up a defense that played poorly in statement losses to Oregon and Michigan a year ago?
2. Texas A&M Aggies
Final 2021 ranking: No. 25 (Coaches)
Where Texas A&M is right now: Losing four games in 2021 is tough to defend, especially after the Ags knocked off No. 1 Alabama at home. But Jimbo Fisher just inked the greatest recruiting class in modern history and comes in with a potentially great defensive front and some special talent at receiver. Who's at quarterback? It's between LSU transfer Max Johnson and Haynes King (injured in '21). A&M needs its best every week going against college football's black-and-blue division.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Final 2021 ranking: No. 2
Where Alabama is right now: The defending SEC champions are once again the favorites to go all the way in the College Football Playoff. Nick Saban has been re-stocking his rosters with elite prospects from Day 1, and this offseason is no different. LSU transfer corner Eli Ricks, former Georgia wideout Jermaine Burton, and Georgia Tech back Jahmyr Gibbs round out a stunning transfer class. Add in Heisman winner Bryce Young at quarterback and college football's TFL and sack leader in linebacker Will Anderson, and the Tide should roll again in 2022.
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