The defense may also take a step back as well (only 18.1 points per game allowed), but Oklahoma State will still start the season ranked unlike 2021. Outside of Alabama, Georgia and a couple elites from the Big Ten, are there others capable of winning it all next season? That's where Brian Kelly comes in, who holds the fifth-best record against nationally-ranked competition (14-14) among coaches who currently rank inside the 10 highest-paid for 2022. A 2-2 start heading into a neutral-site affair with BYU would be quite worrisome for a team that'll likely begin inside the preseason's top 10. 2023 NCAA | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. 2021 record: 9-4 (4-4 SEC) Outlook: The start of the Marcus Freeman era didn't go off as planned, as Notre Dame blew a 21-point lead in a 37-35 loss to Oklahoma State in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. Mark Stoops has led UK to 10-win seasons twice in the last four years. Aranda might once again look for replacements through the transfer portal. Jefferson and a host of other playmakers ahead of Sam Pittman's third campaign. Much of Ohio State's problems in 2021 can be attributed to the defense. Coaches Poll Top 25 Prediction, Final 2022 College Football Rankings College Football Rankings, Season Predictions: SEC Spring Version 2022 The right side of the offensive line will have to be replaced; Haskins started at left tackle at Virginia last season. Before the final rankings are unveiled by the CFP committee, I predict where the top 25 teams land. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegefootball | pageType: stories | Day hired Jim Knowles, who revamped Oklahoma State's defense the past two seasons, and Knowles will have his work cut out for him. The Trojans are coming off their worst season in 30 years and haven't won more than eight games since 2017. 2023 NFL Draft: Grades for all 31 first-round picks 2022 College Football Playoff rankings predictions for fourth release Will that be enough for TCU to get in? Let's not wait for the games to have some fun. Key additions: WR Jadon Haselwood, DE Landon Jackson, OT Andrew Chamblee, S Myles Rowser, OT E'Marion Harris, WR Isaiah Sategna. Key starters expected to leave: OT Darian Kinnard, C Luke Fortner, WR Wan'Dale Robinson, DE Joshua Paschal, NG Marquan McCall, CB Cedric Dort Jr., FS Yusuf Corker The rankings they use are the prior week's CFP Rankings. 2021 record: 10-3 It's our predicted best guess on the college football rankings. The offensive line needs to play better and Dell needs help on the perimeter. 2021 record: 10-3 (6-2 ACC) Last season saw a Big Ten team make the College Football Playoff again as Michigan returned to . Outlook: The Buckeyes just missed making the College Football Playoff for a third straight time under coach Ryan Day, with a humbling 42-27 loss at rival Michigan knocking them out of contention. It's time. College football rankings: Joel Klatt's way-too-early top 10 for 2022 College Football Playoff Rankings prediction: USC moves to No. 2022 PREVIEW: Predicting the CFP semifinalists and national champ, 3. QB Spencer Sanders should help get the offense going if it takes time for a new start to emerge at running back or receiver. College football preseason rankings: Predicting the AP Top 25 Alabama 2021 record: 13-2 Where Alabama ended up: Winning the SEC and losing to Georgia in the College Football Playoff National. As if playing in the rugged SEC West wasn't enough, the Hogs will play nonconference games against Cincinnati, BYU and Liberty in 2022. Key additions: LB Mohamoud Diabate, QB Nathan Johnson, ATH Justius Lowe, LB Lander Barton, S Elijah Davis, LB Justin Medlock, WR Landon Morris, TE Logan Kendall. How Georgia was able to come up with their first national title in 41 years (3:00), The 2022 Way-Too-Early college football top 25, What's going on at Colorado? The Trojans should have one of the more dramatic turnarounds this season under new coach Lincoln Riley. Its a lot to take in and the committee as always has its work cut out for it. 4; Kansas State, Utah surge in final top 25 Jerry Palm takes a crack at how the final CFP Rankings of the 2022 season. The 2022 season will be demanding, with a home opener against Notre Dame, Big Ten road games against Michigan State and Penn State and divisional crossover games versus Iowa and Wisconsin at home. The addition of Mettauer, who started 28 games at California, will help ease the losses in the interior offensive line. Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports, Oct. 8, 2022; Tuscaloosa; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban reacts during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium. It's the conference where worst-to-first is the norm, with 2020 winless Northern Illinois winning the MAC championship in 2021, everyone can beat anyone else, and Toledo will end up . The Irish will play road games against Ohio State, North Carolina, Syracuse and Southern California in 2022. The college football landscape is changingquickly in the name, image and likeness era and those with deep-pocketed boosters are set to cash in. The Bulldogs won't face a nationally-ranked team from the SEC West until they get back to Atlanta, unless you're expecting Mississippi State or Auburn to garner praise and should be a double-digit favorite in every matchup. Key additions: QB Bo Nix, LB Devon Jackson, ATH Jalil Tucker, DE Gracen Halton, S Trejon Williams, LB Harrison Taggart, DB Christian Gonzalez, DT Sam Taimani. That could be frustrating a bit for a new-look Florida defense that will have already been beaten up in physical affairs with Utah and Kentucky to open. USA TODAY Sports, Nov. 12, 2022; Conway, South Carolina; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers quarterback Jarrett Guest (7) sets for a pass in the fourth quarter against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at Brooks Stadium. Will its offense be better? Star safety Jalen Catalon will be back from shoulder surgery, although three starting defensive backs are leaving, including Foucha and Brooks Jr., who unexpectedly entered the transfer portal. They'll undoubtedly miss Walker, who was the second-leading rusher in the FBS with 1,636 yards in 12 games. Thanks to some industry-shaking coaching moves and an overflowing transfer portal, this has been a wild offseason that shows no signs of slowing down. Only three starters on offense are expected to leave, and Lanning is bringing in former Auburn starter Nix to compete for the starting quarterback job. The Buckeyes benefit from the USC's Pac-12 Championship Game loss to Utah and slide into the final playoff spot. Mel Tucker has a more experienced Spartans team going into this season, but MSU was out gained on the season by about 15 yards per game. If the Rebels are to stay in the polls, it'll depend on a brutal stretch that begins in the middle of October.