My Week 1 CFB Top 25 Rankings

Check out my college football rankings ahead of week one!

No one will be more upset with my rankings and New Years Six Bowl Projections than my fellow Buckeye fans. Let me start with saying I know how talented the Buckeyes are and they have a ton of talent, but they also have a lot to overcome. One key to my rankings is in vital players returning, specifically experienced quarterbacks. Other factors involve history of teams, coaches and players. So, without further ado, let’s get to it.

1. Michigan (Ranked #2 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

I hate this. I hate it so much, but I think what separates these guys from everyone else is that they have a proven quarterback who should only be improving every game. They can run the ball (the only team that’s stopped them in two seasons were the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs), and they have a good defense. Sherrone Moore is the secret weapon of the Wolverines. His elite offensive line paves the way for an already good and now scary running game, protects a quarterback who can move when he needs to, and will keep their defense fresh. Finally, I think this is Harbaugh’s last year in Ann Arbor. He wants to go back to the NFL so badly, and with the NCAA after him, it’ll be sooner than later and that makes him and his team dangerous.

2. Georgia (Ranked #1 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

Three-peating is so difficult. It hasn’t been done in the four score and seven years of the AP Poll. 1996 Nebraska, 2005 USC, and 2013 Alabama could tell the 2023 Georgia team about how tough it will be to win it all this year. Georgia however is built on toughness. Tough out the regular season and hit the accelerator in the postseason. A lot will be depending on Carson Beck this year in Athens.

3. LSU (Ranked #5 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

Jayden Daniels is the reason I have LSU ranked so highly to open the year. LSU has something that neither Alabama nor Georgia does this year and that’s a proven quarterback. One of LSU’s troubles this year is that they have no margin for error with Florida State and Alabama this year. A second loss to FSU would hurt the Tigers’ national perception for the season and beating Alabama in back-to-back years is no easy task. The Bayou Bengals will not have the element of surprise this Fall, but their talent level and Daniels should make them lethal.

4. Ohio State (Ranked #3 in the AP and #4 in the Coaches Polls)

Some have said I’ve been a doomer about Ohio State lately, but they haven’t given me a ton of reasons to be optimistic, even if they are my team. As of now, the starting quarterback is Kyle McCord The good news is whoever starts gets to throw to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka and should have a defense that is an asset this year instead of the worry they were in the C.J. Stroud Era. The pressure is building on Ohio State though as their culture and history demand that things have to change from the past two seasons.

5. Alabama (Ranked #4 in the AP and #3 in the Coaches Polls)

It’s hard to see Alabama get better when losing Bryce Young and Will Anderson. Like the Buckeyes, they had a quarterback competition this offseason. It looks like Jalen Milroe will edge out Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner. While the Tide have a lot of questions, they’ve never gone three years without a national championship in the Nick Saban Era. The old Dark Lord of the Sith is still dangerous and despite the question marks, he’ll remind everyone of just that this season.

6. USC (Ranked #6 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

USC is going to be what Lincoln Riley teams have always been. An offense that can score with anyone and a defense that has always made that offense need to be perfect in the big games to keep them winnable. SC can’t afford to fall behind on offense because their defense may not let them ever catch up. Struggling with San Jose State early is a sign that this problem still challenges them.

7. Florida State (Ranked #8 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Seminoles’ schedule is tough early in the year. They open with LSU, then face Southern Mississippi and Frank Gore Jr., then a sneaky good Boston College, followed by Clemson. While this is the best Florida State team since Jameis Winston was their quarterback, and likely the most talented team in the ACC, I think it’s still Clemson’s conference and that they will play each other twice this year.

8. Penn State (Ranked #7 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

11-2 and a Rose Bowl win last year was just what the doctor ordered for Penn State. They were starting to wonder about James Franklin and winning the Rose Bowl helped calm those anxieties but now they expect Franklin to take the next step and beat Ohio State and or Michigan. Their last wins over both teams were in 2008. The last time they beat the Buckeyes was 2016, and Michigan in 2020. This is probably their best chance to beat both of them since Saquon Barkley played there and it may be their last time playing both teams in the same season for a while too.

9. Notre Dame (Ranked #13 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Irish and Sam Hartman looked very sharp against Navy in Dublin. I’m trying not to overreact, but their offense looked impressive and overall, just did what they were supposed to do. That matchup against the Buckeyes will define these two teams’ seasons and will be a banger. Sam Hartman is a legit Heisman Trophy Candidate and makes Notre Dame a contender.

10. Tennessee (Ranked #12 in the AP and #10 in the Coaches Polls)

Tennessee showed in the Orange Bowl that they will hit the ground at full speed in the Joe Milton Era. Their offense should continue to be high-powered with Josh Heupel running things. If the Vols can continue to improve defensively, they could be a threat to anyone they play!

11. Oregon (Ranked #15 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

The last season in the Pac-12 is all about Bo Nix for the Ducks and if he has as good of a season this year as he did last year (43 touchdowns passing and rushing) the Ducks will be in good shape.

12. Washington (Ranked #10 in the AP and #11 in the Coaches Polls)

The Huskies, like their Columbia River rivals, are banking on another big year from returning star quarterback. Penix had 4,600 yards passing and 35 total touchdowns for the 11-2 Dawgs. If he plays to that high level again, their success should be just as great.

13. Clemson (Ranked #9 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

I’m not sure about having Clemson this low. I think like Bama they’ll rise beyond where I have them starting. Swinney is still a good coach and with Garrett Riley, Cade Klubnik, and Will Shipley they are still the kings of the ACC.

14. Utah (Ranked #14 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

Like Clemson, I’m having trouble with Utah being this low and could make the case to have them higher. Round three of Cam Rising vs. Caleb Williams is going to be fun!

15. Texas (Ranked #11 in the AP and #12 in the Coaches Polls)

A lot of folks are very high on Texas, and Texas is a rising program, but their quarterback situation is going to be as entertaining as any of their games this season, and that may cost them a win or two.

16. North Carolina (Ranked #21 in the AP and #20 in the Coaches Polls)

Like Utah and Clemson, it’s hard to have a team this good with a quarterback this good is rated that low. If Drake Maye improves on his great year in 2022 the Tar Heels will be as dangerous as anyone.

17. TCU (Ranked #17 in the AP and #16 in the Coaches Polls)

Year two of the Sonny Dykes Era will have a tough time being as wild as the first but the Horned Frogs will have a puncher’s chance in the wide-open Big 12.

18. Wisconsin (Ranked #19 in the AP and #21 in the Coaches Polls)

Speaking of wide open, Luke Fickell and Tanner Mordecai while working in a new system in a new program in a new conference will have the lead in the Wild Big Ten West.

19. Oregon State (Ranked #18 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Beavers look to improve on their 10-3 season that included wins over Oregon and Florida with new quarterback D.J. Uiagaleilei in the Pac-12’s final season.

20. Kansas State (Ranked #16 in the AP and #17 in the Coaches Polls)

Will Howard and Kansas State look to improve on 10 wins and defend their Big 12 Championship in Chris Kleiman’s fifth season leading the Wildcats.

21. Tulane (Ranked #24 in the AP and #23 in the Coaches Polls)

After 12-2, a conference championship, and a Cotton Bowl win over USC, Tulane with Willie Fritz and Michael Pratt are back for more and auditioning for a bigger conference.

22. Ole Miss (Ranked #22 in both the AP and Coaches Polls)

Year four for Lane Kiffin will be a tough one with not only the SEC West on the schedule but Tulane, Georgia Tech, and Georgia as well.

23. Iowa (Ranked #25 in the AP and unranked in the Coaches Polls)

Iowa is set up to have another elite defense and if they can just get an offense with a pulse they will be a top team in the Big Ten West.

24. Oklahoma (Ranked #20 in the AP and #19 in the Coaches Polls)

Dillon Gabriel will have to get things headed in the right direction quickly or Brent Venables will look to five-star freshman Jackson Arnold to get the Sooners moving.