By Christopher Farbolin
WE MADE IT! Seven months after the confetti was sweeped up in Lucas Oil Stadium for the National Championship, college football has returned. This offseason has been a long one but it’s not been without entertainment. From groundbreaking conference realignment and mega media deals to star coaches bickering like third graders, college football fans have had plenty of news to occupy themselves with while waiting for the season to kickoff.
With a new season on the horizon, my weekly top 25 rankings make a return as well. 2021 provided the sport with some much needed parity, however the best team ultimately hoisted the trophy at season’s end. Heading into 2022 there are three teams that can realistically win the National Championship, those being the chalk favorites in Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia.
The Crimson Tide enter 2022 with the most complete roster in the nation and appear poised to add a seventh title to this historic dynasty. Bama had their weakest roster in over a decade last season and still came within a drive of winning it all again.
The Tide return reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and the best player in the nation, Will Anderson among many other key contributors from a season ago. Alabama addressed any concerns they may have had in the transfer portal most notably Jahmyr Gibbs who will improve Bama’s rushing attack after an underwhelming 2021. Saban and this loaded roster have a chip on their shoulder which is great news for those in Tuscaloosa and bad news for the rest of the country.
Speaking of programs with a chip on their shoulder, this season can’t get here fast enough for Ohio State. Most programs would consider an 11-2 season culminating in a Rose Bowl victory a successful season, Ohio State is not most programs. The Buckeyes did the inexcusable last year, losing to the team up north effectively ending their Big Ten and playoff hopes.
Ryan Day is looking to establish himself amongst the elite coaches in the nation and he has the offensive firepower to do so. This offense should be as good as any in the nation with C.J. Stroud under center, TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield and the most loaded receiving core in college football headlined by Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Any of the three names I mentioned could wind up in New York this December and are all arguably the best at their respective positions.
While the offense is unquestionably elite, the defense was a major liability last season. That looks to change under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. There is no doubt the defense will improve, however will it make a big enough leap to put the Buckeyes in position to win a championship? If Knowles can get Ohio State up to par defensively, this team is scary and should roll through the Big Ten.
We can’t talk about title contenders without bringing up the reigning National Champion Georgia Bulldogs. While the Dawgs lost 15 players to the draft including five first round defenders, they do return a decent portion of their core from last season. While the defense is bound to take a step back from last year, it should still be one of the best units in the country.
If Georgia wants to repeat they will need to rely more on their offense to make up for defensive losses. Stetson Bennett is back at QB after proving everyone(including myself) wrong and leading Georgia to a title. This offense should be one of the better ones in the nation, returning most of its receivers and boasting the deepest tight end room in college football. We haven’t had a repeat national champion in a decade but this Georgia team has the talent to run it back.
I am as excited as anyone that college football is back and I am particularly intrigued by how all the first year coaches will perform. This year’s batch of coaches at new programs is the best I have ever seen and will change the landscape of the sport. While some coaches will have easy tune-up games Week 1, others are gonna be thrown to the wolves right out of the gate.
Dan Lanning will make his head coaching debut at Oregon against his former boss Kirby Smart and the reigning champion Dawgs in Atlanta. Marcus Freeman is also a first time head coach and his debut isn’t any easier, traveling to “the Horseshoe”, to face off against Ohio State in a top five matchup between the Irish and Buckeyes. First year Florida head coach Billy Napier also gets a tough test from the get go as the Gators will host dark horse playoff contender Utah in “the Swamp”. Time will tell which coaches pan out but we will get a pretty good look at some of these young coaches this weekend.
College Football Top 25 Rankings
1.Alabama Crimson Tide
2.Ohio State Buckeyes
3.Georgia Bulldogs
4.Utah Utes
5.Michigan Wolverines
6.NC State Wolfpack
7.Clemson Tigers
8.Texas A&M Aggies
9.Arkansas Razorbacks
10.Michigan State Spartans
11.Oklahoma State Cowboys
12.Notre Dame Fighting Irish
13.USC Trojans
14.Baylor Bears
15.Oklahoma Sooners
16.Wisconsin Badgers
17.Miami Hurricanes
18.Kentucky Wildcats
19.Penn State Nittany Lions
20.Tennessee Volunteers
21.BYU Cougars
22.Oregon Ducks
23.Pittsburgh Panthers
24.Ole Miss Rebels
25.Mississippi State Bulldogs