2023 Pre-Season College Football Rankings

By: Ryan Quigley

ESPN released their Top 25 college football teams before we get the 2023 season underway, this is more of a refresher course for everybody (including myself) with some quick thoughts and a few predictions in the mix as well. Let us count down the list:

25. North Carolina

Drake Maye is that dude. Defensively UNC has some room for improvement and that should lead to a lot of shootout battles in the ACC.

24. Oregon State

The Beavers are in a very interesting situation, they lost a key part of the offense with TE Luke Musgrave and a few pieces of the defensive secondary to the draft. Now they add former 5 Star Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to the mix after an up and down run with Clemson.

23. Baylor

The Bears didn’t have a lot to cheer for last season going 6-7 but a bright spot was the play of Freshman RB Richard Reese who found his way into the endzone 14 times, hoping this is just the start of a promising career in Waco.

22. Texas Tech

The Red Raiders finished last season strong, let’s see if that momentum can carry over despite the Tyree Wilson sized hole on the defensive line.

21. Washington

The Washington Huskies have the talent to compete with the best in the PAC 12, the only problem is the teams at the top of the conference may leave them the odd man out.

20. Wisconsin

Wisconsin is coming off a 7-6 season with a solid O-Line and a big RB in Braelon Allen, adding new Head Coach Luke Fickell to the mix with transfer QB Tanner Mordecai could make for a fun season with the Badgers.

19. Texas A&M

2022 was an odd year for the Aggies who made a lot of headlines with a big time recruiting class, they knocked off #5 LSU and also lost to Appalachian State. Let’s make it weirder adding Bobby Petrino to the mix.

18. Florida

Florida has a lot of talent, they are coming off a 6-7 season with polarizing QB Anthony Richardson, the keys to the offense have been handed over to former Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz.

17. TCU

The Horned Frogs surprised a lot of fans last year making it into the playoffs and playing in the national championship game, they have a lot of pieces to replace. Here’s to hoping they are not a one hit wonder.

16. Ole Miss

with competition in the Quarterback room heating up with Jaxson Dart/Spencer Sanders/Walker Howard lets watch Quinshon Judkins highlights while they figure it out.

15. Utah

Quarterback Cameron Rising returns after a 10 win season, lets see if that success can continue.

14. Florida State

I am excited to watch this team, QB Jordan Travis and WR Johnny Wilson could be a dynamic duo for the offense and on the other side of the ball you have one of the top defensive players in the country with Jared Verse.

13. Oregon

Bo Nix returns as QB1 after a great season with the Ducks (don’t be that guy, most teams look like that against Georgia) lets see if that success can continue.

12. Tennessee

I loved watching the Vols last season, they have a lot of offensive weapons to replace as Joe Milton steps in as the full-time starter. I wanted to show other highlights he has but… look how far he threw that orange.

11. Oklahoma

Dillon Gabriel is back and hoping to bounce back this season, hoping the Sooners plugged a few holes via the transfer portal on defense. I am excited to see what Brent Venables can do with Linebacker Dasan McCullough in the mix.

10. Penn State

There is a lot of talent on this Nittany Lions squad, the top of the Big Ten is very competitive and I can’t wait to see how it shakes out.

9. Notre Dame

Sam Hartman had a prolific collegiate career at Wake Forest, he transferred to Notre Dame for a more pro-style game. Notre Dame brings a great offensive line unit and solid run game, can Hartman be the QB that gets the Irish to the next level?

8. Clemson

The Clemson Tigers have some DOGS on defense, Cade Klubnik enters the season as the starting QB and will have some support with RB Will Shipley leading the way for the ground game.

7. USC

Caleb Williams returns as the reigning Heisman Trophy winner hoping to make history, Coach Lincoln Riley immediately turned this program into a contender. Can this be the season they get to the playoffs?

6. Michigan

Even with a looming suspension to head coach Jim Harbaugh (insane punishment in my opinion) Michigan looks poised for another great season. Defensively they have put together a stout unit and on offense they have put together one of the best offensive lines over the past few seasons which has shown not only in the ground game but the passing game as well.

5. Texas

One of the most popular questions every offseason, is Texas back? Expect fireworks on offense, Coach Steve Sarkisian had a fantastic run game to fall back on last season but I look forward to seeing these guys air it out. One last ride in the Big 12, let’s see what the Longhorns can do this year.

4. LSU

It seems like just yesterday the LSU Tigers were on top of the college football world, they put together one of the best offenses I have ever seen with Coach Orgeron, QB Joe Burrow and possibly the best WR tandem in NCAA history with Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. Present day the Tigers are led by Coach Brian Kelly who seemed like a weird fit in the SEC but 10 wins in your first season and reloaded talent the Tigers look like they may be back in the championship conversation.

3. Georgia

Look, I get it. Georgia has a lot of positions to reload on after winning back-to-back national championships but I cannot believe I have made it this far without complaining about preseason rankings, they are just for fun. Georgia has had so much talent over the past few seasons that it would be crazy to think they wouldn’t be in the playoff conversation again, I am sure this squad has a few future Philadelphia Eagles playing this season in Athens.

2. Alabama

Alabama is another team with a tall task replacing players lost to the NFL draft, this is nothing new for the Crimson Tide. Legendary Coach Nick Saban has put together quality teams with quality recruiting classes for over a decade. Recently discussions of his legacy have come into question and instead of a giant article I can simply say… Nope, he’s one of the best to ever do it.

1. Ohio State

The Ohio State comes in at #1 according to ESPN’s preseason FPI Top 25, not very surprising considering the level of talent that they have on both sides of the ball but considering they are replacing QB C.J. Stroud (the #2 pick in last Aprils NFL draft) and losing to your biggest rival in consecutive years? Number 1 is a very interesting spot for the Buckeyes.

What do you think? I think this is shaping up for another very interesting season, will we see another outsider crash the playoffs? Can Caleb Williams win the Heisman back-to-back? Is it possible for a Georgia Bulldogs 3-peat?