5.12.2022, 11:07
"Talkin' season" is here again, and college football will give us more than enough material for 2022.How do you construct Sporting News' Lewis Brinson Jersey Top 25 rankings? It's not just about which players are back. It's about which players are going through the transfer portal, which had a significant impact on this offseason. It's about which coaches changed jobs. How do NIL and recruiting figure into picking the best teams for the College Football Playoff?That's the challenge, but we came up with the same-old answers. Alabama leads SN's Preseason Top 25 rankings, and the Crimson Tide is followed by familiar favorites in Ohio State at No. 2, Georgia at No. 3 and Clemson at No. 4. Those four schools have combined for 14 of 16 po sible CFP championship game appearances and seven of the eight national championships in that stretch.DECOURCY: So the more things change, the more they stay the same, right? Here is a closer look at our Top 25:SN's Preseason Top 25 for 20221. AlabamaWhat changed? Alabama added three potential starters in Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia receiver Jermaine Burton and LSU cornerback Eli Ricks. Tight end Jahleel Billingsley transferred to Texas.Lowdown: Check out next year's , which features nine Alabama players in the top 50. That starts with Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and All-American linebacker Will Anderson Jr. Gibbs, who averaged 150.4 all-purpose yards per game with the Yellow Jackets, also will have a huge impact. Nick Saban kept both coordinators in Bill O'Brien and Pete Golding. The schedule is always tough, but when has that turned back the Tide?2. Ohio StateWhat changed? Ohio State hired Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and safety Tanner McAllister followed. Cornerback Sevyn Banks transferred to LSU, and safety Marcus Hooker also is in the transfer portal.Lowdown: This might be the best offensive team yet under fourth-year coach Ryan Day. The Buckeyes return C.J. Stroud, who finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. TreVeyon Henderson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. lead a strong supporting cast that should exceed last year's total of 45.7 points per game. Defensive ends J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer could be breakout players in Knowles' new-look defense. Blockbuster home games against Notre Dame and Michigan bookend the schedule.3. GeorgiaWhat changed? Defensive coordinator Dan Lanning took the Oregon job. Quarterback JT Daniels transferred to West Virginia, and Burton went to Alabama. Defensive backs Ameer Speed and Latavious Brini transferred to Brad Ziegler Jersey Michigan State and Arkansas, respectively.Lowdown: Georgia broke its national championship drought, and the pieces remain in place for another title run. Stetson Bennett returned at quarterback, and running back Kenny McIntosh and tight end Brock Bowers lead what should be an improved offense. Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter and Kelee J. T. Realmuto Jersey Ringo are the next wave of first-round picks off the defense. The opener against Oregon in Atlanta will be a good barometer.4. ClemsonWhat changed?Coordinators Brent Venables and Tony Elliott took head coaching jobs at Oklahoma and Virginia, respectively. Running back Lyn-J Dixon transferred to West Virginia. Receivers Frank Ladson (Miami) and Ajou Ajou (South Florida) also transferred.Lowdown: Dabo Swinney kept the new coordinators in house with Brandon Streeter and Wes Goodwin. A slimmed-down DJ Uiagalelei surfaced in the spring, and he will have to hold off freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik in an ongoing competition. Coby Pace and Will Shipley should form a dynamic running game. The strength, however, will be a defense that features future first-round picks in Myles Murphy, Bryan Breese and Trenton Simpson.5. Texas A&MWhat changed?Quarterback Zach Calzada transferred to Auburn, but the Aggies picked up LSU quarterback Max Johnson in return. D.J. Durkin replaces Mike Elko at defensive coordinator.Lowdown: Who wins the three-way QB battle among Haynes King, Johnson and freshman Conner Weigman? The Aggies have a talented roster built through Jimbo Fisher's strong recruiting, and freshman Evan Stewart could be a break-through performer. Demani Richardson and Antonio Johnson lead a fantastic secondary. It's time to break through to the CFP.6. Michigan What changed?Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis left for Miami, and defensive coordinator Michael Macdonald returned to the Baltimore Ravens. Sherrone Moore and Matt Wei s are the new co-offensive coordinators, and Je se Minter takes over the defense. Jim Harbaugh interviewed for the Vikings job, but opted to return to Ann Arbor. Virginia center Olusegun Oluwatimi was a good pickup in the transfer portal.Lowdown: Michigan needs to build on its first College Football Playoff appearance. The quarterback battle between Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy will heat up in fall camp, but another timeshare is likely. Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum form a strong backfield, and Ronnie Bell returns after mi sing last year with a torn ACL. The defense has big holes to fill, but a soft schedule early in the season helps.7. Notre DameWhat changed?Marcus Freeman took over as head coach, and retained Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator. Former Miami coach Al Golden takes over the defense. Northwestern safety Brandon Joseph is a Sergio Romo Jersey huge get in the transfer portal.Lowdown: Tyler Buchner is the favorite to be the starting quarterback, but he'll have to hold off Drew Pyne. All-American tight end Michael Mayer is the focal point of an offense that features Chris Tyree, Logan Diggs and breakout candidate Caleb Smith Jersey Lorenzo Styles Jr. The defense returns edge rusher Isaiah Foskey and a strong group of linebackers. Strength of schedule won't be an i sue, not with Ohio State, BYU, Clemson and USC.8. UtahWhat changed?Utah coach Kyle Whittingham enters his 18th season with the program. The Utes picked up Florida linebacker Mohamoud Diabate in the transfer portal. He had 89 tackles for the Gators last season.Lowdown: The Utes have high expectations after making their first Rose Bowl appearance in 2021. Utah has won the Pac-12 South three of the last four seasons. Quarterback Cam Rising returns along with top rushers Tavion Thomas and Micah Bernard. Diabate should be an impact player on the defense. Utah gets a prove-it game at Florida in the opener.9. OregonWhat changed?Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning took over as head coach, and Auburn quarterback Bo Nix transferred to Oregon. Colorado safety Christian Gonzalez was among the other gains from the transfer portal. The Ducks lost leading rusher Travis Dye to USC.Lowdown: The quarterback