The college football season starts like so many others: With Alabama as the prohibitive favorite.
Between reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, menacing pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. and an obscene amount of talent around them, it would be a stunner if Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide didn’t reach the College Football Playoff title game for the seventh time in eight years.
This fall will feature the typical contenders, from Big Ten dynamo Ohio State to defending champion Georgia. Clemson will be looking to return to the playoff after a rare down year, and Texas A&M is hoping for a breakthrough in Jimbo Fisher’s fifth season in College Station. The Pac-12, without a playoff participant in six years, may have two challengers in Utah and USC following the arrival of Lincoln Riley and his quarterback, Caleb Williams, from Oklahoma. Coming off its first playoff appearance and with the potential for its best offense under Jim Harbaugh, Michigan has to be accounted for, and the Marcus Freeman era begins at Notre Dame.
But, as usual, the conversation begins and ends with Alabama.
The Post breaks it all down in its preseason Top 25:
1. Alabama
Arguably, the two best players in the country — defending Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and sack artist Will Anderson Jr. — lead yet another stacked Crimson Tide roster that might have won it all last season if not for late-season injuries to star receivers Jameson Williams and John Metchie III. Anderson could break Terrell Suggs’ sack record of 24 set in 2002 for Arizona State, and Young is a preseason favorite to become the second repeat Heisman winner ever, joining Ohio State’s Archie Griffin. And they have an absurd assortment of talent behind those two that includes All-SEC preseason first-team selections Jordan Battle and Eli Ricks at defensive back, Henry To’oTo’o at linebacker, Jahmyr Gibbs at running back and Emil Ekiyor Jr. at offensive tackle. Scary as always.
2. Ohio State
Last season was a rare down year in Columbus, the first time since 2016 Ohio State failed to win the Big Ten East. Don’t expect history to repeat itself, not with coach Ryan Day’s electric offense featuring potential No. 1-overall NFL draft pick C.J. Stroud under center and elite skill-position players at his disposal in wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back TreVeyon Henderson. Senior edge rusher Zach Harrison could be the next star Buckeyes pass rusher, and safety Ronnie Hickman will guide a defense that came up short in season-altering losses to Oregon and Michigan, leading to the dismissal of defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs.
3. Georgia
The Bulldogs’ first national championship in 41 years came with a price: They lost 14 starters, most of them difference-makers. This is where recruiting is so essential, and it’s why there won’t be too steep of a drop-off for Georgia, which has created Alabama-esque depth since Kirby Smart’s arrival seven years ago. It still features two of the nation’s premier talents in tight end Brock Bowers and defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Quarterback Stetson Bennett IV returns after his storybook run last year, as do linebacker Nolan Smith and cornerback Kelee Ringo from that record-setting defense.
4. Texas A&M
Jimbo Fisher has recruited at an elite level and has six top-15 victories since taking the job in College Station. What he doesn’t have is a double-figure win season in four years at Texas A&M. You can blame the inability to find a quarterback, and unless someone emerges among an unproven trio — sophomore Haynes King, LSU transfer Max Johnson and true freshman Conner Weigman are all options — that crucial position could be the otherwise-stacked Aggies’ downfall yet again.
5. Clemson
Forget just quarterbacks, there may not be a player dealing with as much pressure as junior DJ Uiagalelei this year. The former five-star signal-caller failed to come close to expectations last year, throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdown passes (nine) as Clemson failed to reach the playoff for the first time since 2014. Dabo Swinney had to replace both of his coordinators as Brent Venables took the head-coaching job at Oklahoma and Tony Elliott went to Virginia, but he does have a potentially elite front seven on defense led by linemen Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee. That group could be similar to the one that started Clemson’s run atop the ACC eight years ago. But if Uiagalelei can’t find his freshman year form— or top recruit Cade Klubnik is unable to unseat him — another trip to the playoff seems unlikely.
6. Michigan
Between the return to health of star wideout Ronnie Bell, the top five pass catchers from a year ago, top running back Blake Corum and quarterbacks Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy, Jim Harbaugh may have his best offense as Michigan’s coach. If the Wolverines’ defense, under a third coordinator in as many years — Jesse Minter replaced Mike Macdonald, who left for a job in the NFL — is able to withstand the loss of standout edge rushers David Ojabo and Aidan Hutchinson, a second straight trip to the playoff is within reach.
7. Utah
With just two losing seasons in 17 years, Kyle Whittingham has turned Utah into one of the Pac-12’s top programs, winning the league’s South division three of the past four years. Dual-threat quarterback Cameron Rising would be the conference’s top signal-caller if not for USC’s addition of Caleb Williams, and he has top running back Tavion Thomas and skilled tight end Brant Kuithe back by his side. A season-opening win at Florida would be an early statement that the Utes belong in the playoff race.
8. Notre Dame
Notre Dame players are excited and the fan base is giddy, but now comes the hard part for first-time head coach Marcus Freeman: delivering on all that hype. Inexperienced sophomore Tyler Buchner will start at quarterback, and Freeman lost experienced difference-makers in running back Kyren Williams and safety Kyle Hamilton to the NFL. The Irish remain stout up front — led by All-American offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson, menacing defensive end Isaiah Foskey, a potential first-round pick, and may have the best tight end in the country in Michael Mayer. But there remains a lot of questions, particularly for Freeman, who will open against Ohio State in Columbus. Patience will be required.
9. USC
The most fascinating team in the country features a new coach (Lincoln Riley), new quarterback (Caleb Williams) and new star receiver (Jordan Addison), creating significantly heightened expectations. USC last won more than 11 games in 2008 and is coming off its fewest victories (four) in a season in 30 years. But by landing the ultra-successful Riley, who led Oklahoma to the playoff four times, the Trojans are expected to make a major leap. The transfer haul was impressive, pairing Williams, Addison and wideout Mario Williams with returning stars such as offensive tackle Andrew Vorhees and defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu, all of them All-Pac-12 first-team choices.
10. Oklahoma
Riley left town and took his quarterback with him. But that doesn’t mean the Sooners can’t contend in the pedestrian Big 12. New coach Brent Venables helped Swinney build Clemson into a powerhouse, and look for defensive improvements under the former defensive coordinator’s watch. He brought in Central Florida quarterback Dillon Gabriel to run the offense and was able to keep top receiver Marvin Mims.
11. N.C. State
It’s been two decades since the Wolfpack won double-digit games, which is also the last time they were ranked in the top 10. This could be the year N.C. State ends that drought behind ACC Preseason Player of the Year Devin Leary, a New Jersey native who is coming off a 35-touchdown, 3,433-yard-passing junior year. His return — along with four starters on the offensive line, playmaking receiver Thayer Thomas and All-ACC linebackers Drake Thomas and Payton Wilson — has created rare buzz in Raleigh.
12. Baylor
Dave Aranda engineered one of the biggest turnarounds in the sport last year, guiding Baylor to the Big 12 crown and a Sugar Bowl victory over Ole Miss a season after going 2-7. Another league crown in the watered-down conference is possible, particularly since the Bears are projected to be stellar up front on both sides of the ball. Left tackle Connor Galvin and nose tackle Siaki “Apu” Ika are two of Aranda’s anchors, experienced players who were key to last year’s breakthrough.
13. Oregon
The architect of Georgia’s dynamic national championship-winning defense, Dan Lanning could have the best unit in the Pac-12 in his first year at Oregon. Linebackers Noah Sewell and Justin Flowe, and defensive end Brandon Dorlus are joined by Colorado transfer cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Whoever gets the nod under center — Auburn transfer Bo Nix, or redshirt freshmen Ty Thompson or Jay Butterfield — will have an experienced line featuring five returning starters.
14. Oklahoma State
In his fourth year as Oklahoma State’s starting quarterback, is Spencer Sanders ready to finally make a leap? The Sooners’ Big 12 title hopes likely depend on it. Their ninth-ranked scoring defense could take a step back after losing six of its top eight tacklers, along with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to Ohio State, putting added pressure on the gifted-but-inconsistent Sanders to produce more this season. After his top receiver and running back moved on to the NFL, it’s up to Sanders to make others around him better.
15. Miami
Mario Cristobal is the latest coach out to restore relevance to the Hurricanes’ once-proud program. Miami has recorded double-digit wins once in the past 18 seasons and hasn’t finished with a top-10 ranking since 2003, a stunning run of underwhelming football considering its talent-rich state. Cristobal, a former player and assistant coach at Miami who went 35-13 in five seasons at Oregon, got off to a solid start, bringing in a strong transfer class keyed by UCLA front-seven duo Mitchell Agude and Caleb Johnson. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke finished his first year as a starter exceptionally well, giving Cristobal a potential difference-maker right away at the most important position.
16. Michigan State
The Spartans far exceeded expectations last year with their first top-10 finish since 2015. They found a quarterback in junior Payton Thorne and return eight starters on defense, which could lead to improvement for a unit that was last in the nation against the pass (324.8 yards per game). Replacing star running back Kenneth Walker III will be a tall task for newcomers Jalen Berger (Wisconsin) and Jarek Broussard (Colorado), particularly since Michigan State will be working in two new starters up front.
17. Kentucky
They don’t just wait around for basketball in the fall anymore in Lexington. Mark Stoops has made football relevant there, winning bowl games in four straight seasons. Though there are holes to fill on the offensive line and defense, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Wildcats win 10 games for the third time in five years following the return of quarterback Will Levis, top rusher Chris Rodriguez Jr., and leading tacklers DeAndre Square and Jacquez Jones.
18. Arkansas
Sam Pittman worked magic last year, leading Arkansas to its most wins in a decade, but he’ll need to be a flat-out magician to improve on that this season after losing game-breaking wide receiver Treylon Burks and key players on all three levels of his stingy defense. Multi-dimensional quarterback KJ Jefferson was a breakout performer a year ago, and will have the benefit of four returning starters protecting him, and there is hope transfers Drew Sanders (Alabama) and Jordan Domineck (Georgia Tech) can fill some of the holes defensively. A brutal schedule that includes non-conference games against Cincinnati and BYU only adds to the degree of difficulty.
18. Wisconsin
Learn the name Braelon Allen. The sophomore, who ran for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman, is up next at Wisconsin, following in a long line of star running backs like Ron Dayne, James White, Melvin Gordon and Jonathan Taylor. With a defense that returns just three starters, ball control will be key for the Badgers after consecutive down years.
19. Pittsburgh
Yes, the defending ACC champs lost quarterback Kenny Pickett to the NFL and top receiver Addison to USC. But Pittsburgh did find replacements in the transfer portal in quarterback Kedon Slovis (USC) and wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (Akron). Plus, the defense returns seven starters and includes one of the nation’s top fronts, led by stud defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and pass-rushing force Habakkuk Baldonado.
20. Wake Forest
With a healthy Sam Hartman, Wake Forest could win the ACC. Without the star quarterback, out indefinitely due to a “non-football related medical condition,” the Demon Deacons may not be good enough to reach a bowl game. The Heisman Trophy contender is that important to last year’s ACC Central champion.
22. Houston
It took Dana Holgorsen a few years, but last fall he got the ball rolling for the Cougars with a 12-win campaign that should bleed into this season. Quarterback Clayton Tune and receiver Nathaniel “Tank” Dell connected for 12 touchdowns a year ago, and should be a force in the AAC. Leading tackler Donavan Mutin and edge rusher Derek Parish return from a defense that was ranked 19th in the country in points allowed (20.4).
23. Ole Miss
After USC, no program benefitted more from the transfer portal than Ole Miss. It landed what it hopes are difference-makers at quarterback (Jaxson Dart, USC), tight end (Michael Trigg, USC), running back (Zach Evans, TCU; Ulysses Bentley IV, SMU), linebacker (Troy Brown, Central Michigan) and safety (Isheem Young, Iowa State) after losing so many key pieces to last year’s 10-win season that equaled a Rebels record.
24. Cincinnati
Now we really see what kind of program Luke Fickell has built. Gone are key elements to last year’s playoff berth — from Desmond Ridder, Alec Pierce and Jerome Ford on offense to Sauce Gardner, Curtis Brooks and Coby Bryant on defense. Cincinnati does return its entire offensive line, and senior ballhawk Arquon Bush could blossom replacing Gardner as the Bearcats’ lock-down cornerback.
25. Texas
No, Texas is not back, not among the nation’s elite yet. The Longhorns, though, will be entertaining. Running back Bijan Robinson is a future Sunday mainstay who will pile up yardage, and Ohio State transfer quarterback Quinn Ewers — a Name, Image and Likeness star — will have plenty of options to throw to in experienced receivers Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittingham. Don’t expect Texas to stop anyone. Coach Steve Sarkisian’s program isn’t back, but it will be fun to follow.
