The College Football Seasons is a mere 10 weeks away, with Nebraska and Northwestern traveling to Dublin, Ireland to face off on August 27th. With Transfer Portal updates coming daily for teams across the NCAA, the deadline to transfer and be eligible to play in 2022 was May 1st. So I am confident enough to release My Top 25 Pre-Season College Football Rankings. Below I will break down the teams to look out for, and teams to fade against consensus.
While breaking down the Top-25 College Football Rankings below, I will also cover some of the Top Prospects to watch for in 2022, as well as some of the top incoming recruits from the 2022 class.
College Football Rankings: Cody Carpentier’s Pre-Season Top 25
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
2021 Record: 13-2 (7-1 SEC)
Key Returning Starters: Bryce Young, QB – Will Anderson, EDGE
Key Acquisitions: Jermaine Burton, WR (transfer from Georgia) – Jahmyr Gibbs, RB (transfer from Georgia Tech) – Eli Ricks, CB (transfer from LSU)
24/7 Overall Recruiting Class Rank: 2nd – (Ty Simpson, QB – Shazz Preston, WR – Emmanuel Henderson, RB)
Week 1: Home vs Utah State – September 3rd at 7:30 pm
Underrated 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Jermaine Burton, Wide Receiver
Jermaine Burton Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
2021 Record: 11-2 (8-1 Big 10)
Key Returning Starters: C.J. Stroud, QB – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR – TreVeyon Henderson, RB
Key Acquisitions: Tanner McCalister, S (transfer from Oklahoma State) – Kaleb Brown, WR (recruit)
24/7 Overall Recruiting Class Rank: 4th – (C.J. Hicks, LB – Devin Brown, QB – Kyion Grayes, WR)
Week 1: At Notre Dame – September 3rd at 7:30 pm
Underrated 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Julian Fleming, Wide Receiver
3. USC Trojans
2021 Record: 4-7 (3-5 Pac 12)
Key Returning Starters: Malcolm Epps, TE – Tahj Washington, WR
Key Acquisitions: Caleb Williams, QB (transfer from Oklahoma) – Travis Dye, RB (transfer from Oregon) – Jordan Addison, WR (transfer from Pittsburgh)
24/7 Overall Recruiting Class Rank: 6th – (Domani Jackson, CB – Raleek Brown, RB – C.J. Williams, WR)
Week 1: Home vs Rice – September 3rd at 5:00pm
Underrated 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Gary Bryant Jr, Wide Receiver
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtZI2MGuJ5w&t=22s
4. Clemson Tigers
2021 Record: 10-3 (6-2 ACC)
Key Returning Starters: D.J. Uiagalelei, QB – Will Shipley, RB – Bryan Bresee, DL – Xavier Thomas, EDGE
Key Acquisitions: Cade Klubnik, QB (True Freshman)
24/7 Overall Recruiting Class Rank: 14th – (Cade Klubnik, QB – Antonio Williams, WR – Jeadyn Lukus, CB)
Week 1: at Georgia Tech – September 5th at 7:00 pm
Underrated 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Sheridan Jones, Cornerback
5. Notre Dame
2021 Record: 11-2 (Independent)
Key Returning Starters: Michael Mayer, TE – Isaiah Foskey, EDGE
Key Acquisitions: Brandon Joseph, S (transfer from Northwestern)
24/7 Overall Recruiting Class Rank: 9th – (Jaylen Sneed, LB – Tobias Merriweather, WR – Tyson Ford, DL)
Week 1: at Ohio State – September 3rd at 6:30 pm
Underrated 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Chris Tyree, Running Back
6. Georgia Bulldogs
2021 Record: 14-1 (8-0 SEC)
Key Returning Starters: Stetson Bennett, QB – Brock Bowers, TE – Jalen Carter, DL – Nolan Smith, LB
Key Acquisitions: Branson Robinson, RB (True Freshman)
24/7 Overall Recruiting Class Rank: 3rd – (Mykel Williams, DL – Marvin Jones Jr, EDGE – Malaki Starks, ATH)
Week 1: Home vs Oregon on September 3rd at 2:30 pm
Underrated 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Kendall Milton, Running Back
7. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
2021 Record: 11-3 (7-1 ACC)
Key Returning Starters: Sam Hartman, QB – Donavon Greene, WR – A.T. Perry, WR
Key Acquisitions: Kobie Turner, DL (FCS All-American transfer from Richmond)
24/7 Overall Recruiting Class Rank: 80th – (Wesley Grimes, WR – Demond Claiborne, RB)
Week 1: Home vs VMI on September 1st at 6:30 pm
Underrated 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Sam Hartman, Quarterback
SAM HARTMAN IS TAKING OVER THE GAME 👀 pic.twitter.com/DUMihboiQb
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 5, 2021
8. Utah Utes
2021 Record: 10-4 (8-1 Pac 12)
Key Returning Starters: Tavion Thomas, RB – Brant Kuithe, TE
Key Acquisitions: Mohamoud Diabate, LB (transfer from Florida)
24/7 Overall Recruiting Class Rank: 36th – (Nate Johnson, QB – Jaylon Glover, RB – Lander Barton, LB)
Week 1: at Florida on September 3rd at 6:00 pm
Underrated 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Tavion Thomas, Running Back
9. Texas A&M Aggies
2021 Record: 8-4 (4-4 SEC)
Key Returning Starters: Devon Achane, RB – Ainias Smith, WR – Chase Lane, WR
Key Acquisitions: Max Johnson, QB (transfer from LSU)
24/7 Overall Recruiting Class Rank: 1st – (Walter Nolen, DL – Shemar Stewart, DL – Evan Stewart, WR – Conner Weigman, QB)
Week 1: Home vs Sam Houston State on September 3rd at 11:00 am
Underrated 2023 NFL Draft Prospect: Antonio Johnson, Cornerback
10. Michigan Wolverines
2021 Record: 12-2 (8-1 Big 10)
Key Returning Starters: Cade McNamara, QB – Blake Corum, RB – Ronnie Bell, WR
Key Acquisitions: Will Johnson, CB (True Freshman)
24/7 Overall Recruiting Class Rank: 12th – (Will Johnson, CB – Derrick Moore, DL – Keon Sabb, S)
Week 1: Home vs Colorado State on September 3rd at 11:00 am
Underrated 2023 NFL Draft Prospect:
11. Texas Longhorns – 2021 Record: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12)
12. Oklahoma Sooners – 2021 Record: 11-2 (7-2 Big 12)
13. Iowa Hawkeyes – 2021 Record: 10-4 (7-2 Big 10)
14. Arkansas Razorbacks – 2021 Record: 9-4 (4-4 SEC)
15. Ole Miss Rebels – 2021 Record: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
16. Virginia Cavaliers – 2021 Record: 6-6 (4-4 ACC)
17. Oklahoma State Cowboys – 2021 Record: 12-2 (8-1 Big 12)
18. Oregon Ducks – 2021 Record: 10-4 (7-2 Big 12)
19. North Carolina State Wolfpack – 2021 Record: 9-3 (6-2 ACC)
20. Kentucky Wildcats – 2021 Record: 10-3 (5-3 SEC)
21. Tennessee Volunteers – 2021 Record: 7-6 (4-4 SEC)
22. Michigan State Spartans: 2021 Record – 11-2 (7-2 Big 10)
23. BYU Cougars: 2021 Record – 10-3 (Independent)
24. Miami Hurricanes – 2021 Record: 7-5 (5-3 ACC)
25. LSU Tigers – 2021 Record: 6-7 (3-5 SEC)
