2023 College Football Rankings 1 To 133: Offseason First Look
College Football News 2023 college football rankings for all 133 teams as the offseason kicks in and before spring ball gets going.
2023 College Football Rankings 1 to 133 Offseason First Look
This is what we call a jumping off point.
No, we don’t know where all the transfers are settling, and no, we don’t have a firm grip on all 133 starting quarterback situations – and yes, it’s 133 this year with the addition of Sam Houston and Jacksonville State.
As it all looks before spring football gets going in a few weeks, here’s our ranking of how good all the teams appear to be going into next season. It’s only a few months away – there’s time to change all of this.
Two things to remember. 1) BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF are off to the Big 12. That waters down the Group of Five that much more, and 2) if it seems like we’re overrating the Power Five programs and underrating the Group of Fivers, yeah. The Power Five programs have more resources, more talent, more … more. We expect more, so we’re setting the bar higher.
Don’t get into a twist over any or all of this. We’ll reconfigure it all during the spring, and then a few more times before the official CFN Preseason Rankings in August.
CFN 2023 Rankings: Offseason First Look
101-133 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
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133 UMass
2022: 131 2021: 129 2020: 127 2019: 130 2018: 104
College Football Rankings First Look: (1-11) There’s a ton of work to do for an offense that finished dead last in the nation in scoring. There’s experience returning, though.
132 Sam Houston
2022: NR 2021: NR 2020: NR 2019: NR 2018: NR
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-5) The Bearkats start life in the FBS needing to crank up an offense that sputtered way too much in 2022.
131 Texas State
2022: 122 2021: 122 2020: 111 2019: 114 2018: 123
College Football Rankings First Look: (4-8) New head coach GJ Kinne’s offense will go fast and throw a ton. There’s a shot to make a little Sun Belt noise if the attack works.
130 New Mexico
2022: 129 2021: 125 2020: 95 2019: 120 2018: 110
College Football Rankings First Look: (2-10) Danny Gonzales has GOT to find something on offense that works. Dead last in the nation in total yards, there’s a long way to go.
139 FIU
2022: 127 2021: 130 2020: 125 2019: 85 2018: 43
College Football Rankings First Look: (4-8) There were glimpses of positive potential last season. Head coach Mike MacIntyre might just get this team to flirt with six wins.
128 Jacksonville State
2022: NR 2021: NR 2020: NR 2019: NR 2018: NR
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-2) Lots of rushing, lots of points, lots of problems for Conference USA against a FAST Gamecock attack.
127 Arkansas State
2022: 128 2021: 123 2020: 112 2019: 67 2018: 72
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-9) This hasn’t started to work yet under Butch Jones, Any improvement starts with getting anything out of the O line.
126 Nevada
2022: 130 2021: 56 2020: 57 2019: 74 2018: 48
College Football Rankings First Look: (2-10) Things can’t – and won’t – be worse after a disastrous 2022. The offense has the veterans to be a whole lot better.
125 Charlotte
2022: 123 2021: 115 2020: 116 2019: 72 2018: 93
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-9) Defense, defense, DEFENSE. The 49ers have the guys on one side, but that defensive bunch needs to be night and day better.
124 Hawaii
2022: 121 2021: 102 2020: 74 2019: 32 2018: 73
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-10) Timmy Chang was thrown into one of the toughest situations in college football. Now he has a slew of veterans to work with.
123 Akron
2022: 119 2021: 127 2020: 123 2019: 129 2018: 102
College Football Rankings First Look: (2-10) Joe Moorhead is a terrific head coach – Akron played a whole lot better than 2-10. This is a loaded veteran bunch returning.
120 Northern Illinois
2022: 120 2021: 69 2020: 122 2019: 92 2018: 38
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-9) Coming off a total collapse, the defense has to find something that works to go along with a typically strong ground game.
120 Kent State
2022: 111 2021: 90 2020: 89 2019: 66 2018: 114
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) Sean Lewis left to go be Coach Prime’s OC at Colorado. The fun on offense doesn’t stop under Kenni Burns – fast, fast, fast.
119 ULM
2022: 116 2021: 124 2020: 124 2019: 100 2018: 89
College Football Rankings First Look: (4-8) Consistency. Terry Bowden’s team has to find it, and it starts by getting more out of the lines. The defensive front has to hold up.
119 Louisiana Tech
2022: 124 2021: 114 2020: 103 2019: 43 2018: 77
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-9) A strange disaster in 2022, Sonny Cumbie needs a LOT more O – QB Hank Bachmeier coming in – if the D doesn’t improve.
118 Old Dominion
2022: 107 2021: 94 2020: NR 2019: 125 2018: 105
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-9) It was a rough year with nothing working right. The Monarchs need more difference-makers on both sides of the ball.
117 Ball State
2022: 118 2021: 98 2020: 46 2019: 83 2018: 106
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) The Cardinals let a bowl slip away with a bad late run. The passing game has to do more downfield, but the line should be good.
116 USF
2022: 126 2021: 103 2020: 113 2019: 104 2018: 78
College Football Rankings First Look: (1-12) If it’s possible to not be all that bad of a 1-11 team, that was USF. New head man Alex Golesh has a good base to work with.
115 UTEP
2022: 112 2021: 106 2020: 121 2019: 128 2018: 130
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) Painfully close to going bowling, UTEP will again have a strong D. The O will control the clock, but it needs to be more dangerous.
114 UConn
2022: 91 2021: 128 2020: NR 2019: 126 2018: 129
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-7) There’s still a talent gap, and there needs to be a downfield completion, but Jim Mora Jr. proved it’s possible to win at UConn.
113 Western Michigan
2022: 117 2021: 84 2020: 97 2019: 42 2018: 76
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) One of the biggest under-the-radar disappointments of last year, WMU starts fresh with Lance Taylor. He has to jumpstart the O.
112 UNLV
2022: 113 2021: 113 2020: 120 2019: 106 2018: 107
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) UNLV was rising when it fired Marcus Arroyo. Barry Odom, though, was a terrific hire. There will finally be some defense in Vegas.
111 Colorado State
2022: 125 2021: 117 2020: 100 2019: 109 2018: 120
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-9) There needed to be a reboot. Fine, but now Jay Norvell needs to find some points – CSU averaged 13.2 per game.
110 Temple
2022: 114 2021: 118 2020: 110 2019: 54 2018: 58
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-9) There’s a lot of upside here. The Owls will once again crank up the defensive pressure, and the passing game will be dangerous.
109 Rice
2022: 109 2021: 116 2020: 106 2019: 115 2018: 127
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-8) The Owls lose a slew of key playmakers, but the lines should be good. The ball control style opens up with JT Daniels now at QB.
108 New Mexico State
2022: 104 2021: 126 2020: NR 2019: 127 2018: 124
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) Jerry Kill once again proved he’s one of the best coaches going. Now his team is loaded with veterans to make a splash in C-USA.
107 Central Michigan
2022: 115 2021: 70 2020: 105 2019: 71 2018: 128
College Football Rankings First Look: (4-8) A weird disappointment in 2022, Jim McElwain’s team has a lot of good young players. It doesn’t matter if the turnovers don’t stop.
106 Bowling Green
2022: 105 2021: 108 2020: 126 2019: 124 2018: 118
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-7) FINALLY there was a breakthrough under Scot Loeffler. Expect more out of the passing game. The pressure on D will keep rolling.
105 Buffalo
2022: 100 2021: 109 2020: 63 2019: 39 2018: 34
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) UB has to build on the clutch finish to show some consistency. They’ll control the ball, but the D line has to be more disruptive.
104 Tulsa
2022: 97 2021: 77 2020: 39 2019: 86 2018: 115
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) New head coach Kevin Wilson knows how to get an offense moving. Step One: Fix the O line. Step Two: See Step One.
103 Louisiana
2022: 96 2021: 38 2020: 15 2019: 14 2018: 79
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-7) The rebuild from last year is over. Now the Ragin’ Cajuns are loaded with vets and should do more offensively.
102 San Jose State
2022: 94 2021: 87 2020: 47 2019: 95 2018: 126
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-5) There’s rebuilding to do on the lines – the O line has to be far stronger – but it’s San Jose State. The pass rush will be terrific.
101 Georgia State
2022: 101 2021: 68 2020: 77 2019: 75 2018: 122
College Football Rankings First Look: (4-8) The ground attack should once again be amazing, but the defense has to come up with a whole lot more against the run.
CFN 2023 Rankings: Offseason First Look
101-133 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
NEXT: 2023 College Football Rankings First Look 76-100
2023 College Football Rankings: First Look 76-100
100 Miami University
2022: 106 2021: 96 2020: 93 2019: 47 2018: 70
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-7) The defense rose up and rocked last year, and it should all continue. Now the other side has to get the line to produce.
99 Florida Atlantic
2022: 108 2021: 111 2020: 101 2019: 13 2018: 91
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) One of best under-the-radar hires, Tom Herman inherits a good group that needs more out of its defensive front. That’s coming.
98 Appalachian State
2022: 99 2021: 45 2020: 68 2019: 6 2018: 21
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-6) It’s App State. It’s going to run for a gajillion yards. Now the defense that let the team down has to pull its weight.
97 Eastern Michigan
2022: 93 2021: 100 2020: 107 2019: 80 2018: 71
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) This was a veteran-loaded team that loses a ton key parts. The defense has to find a pass rush with a slew of new starters.
96 Army
2022: 88 2021: 43 2020: 66 2019: 89 2018: 20
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-6) A HUGE disappointment last year, Army has to find its defensive groove again. As always the lines lose a ton, but the system works.
95 Ohio
2022: 81 2021: 112 2020: 109 2019: 51 2018: 30
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-4) The MAC runner-up has the vets o go one step further. The offense should be the best in the league, but the D loses a slew of parts.
94 Georgia Southern
2022: 102 2021: 121 2020: 78 2019: 55 2018: 28
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-7) The attack that made the pivot under Clay Helton should be even more entertaining. Expect this to be the Sun Belt’s No. 1 O again.
93 Southern Miss
2022: 98 2021: 119 2020: 117 2019: 68 2018: 75
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) The pass rush and killer front should once again rip through the Sun Belt. It’s a young team that should take a big step forward.
92 Navy
2022: 89 2021: 93 2020: 88 2019: 17 2018: 101
College Football Rankings First Look: (4-8) Brian Newberry goes from DC to head coach. The offense will stick around, but it needs to do a better job of grinding out points.
91 Toledo
2022: 79 2021: 101 2020: 98 2019: 73 2018: 61
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-5) The MAC champ returned loaded for another run. Dequan Finn will be among the league’s best QBs, but the No. 1 D needs tuning.
90 Liberty
2022: 92 2021: 97 2020: 11 2019: 65 2018: 95
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) One of the weirdest teams of 2022 starts over in C-USA with head coach James Chadwell. There’s talent to challenge for big things.
89 Wyoming
2022: 84 2021: 105 2020: 85 2019: 48 2018: 90
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) Wyoming always finds a way to produce no matter who Craig Bohl has to work with. A passing game would certainly be nice, though.
88 Middle Tennessee
2022: 77 2021: 95 2020: 119 2019: 107 2018: 59
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) The defense that took the ball away in bunches should do it again, but there’s a big issue if the offensive line doesn’t improve large.
87 North Texas
2022: 83 2021: 92 2020: 118 2019: 111 2018: 51
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-7) UNT has a nice foundation for Eric Morris to work with. The great passing game should be nastier, but the mediocre D loses a lot.
86 Marshall
2022: 87 2021: 89 2020: 67 2019: 35 2018: 46
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) The ground game and defense will both be Top 10 great again. Now the passing attack has to show up and do something.
85 Coastal Carolina
2022: 86 2021: 66 2020: 12 2019: 96 2018: 98
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) New head coach Tim Beck won’t have any problems with the offense, but the defense that fell off the map has to be FAR better.
84 Utah State
2022: 80 2021: 24 2020: 114 2019: 46 2018: 19
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-7) How quickly can the Aggies reboot the offensive front? The other side should be fine, but it’s going to take a bit to get the O going.
83 James Madison
2022: 82 2021: NR 2020: NR 2019: NR 2018: NR
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-3) The defense that was such a killer last year will be a brick wall. The already good team loaded up more in the transfer portal. Look out.
82 UAB
2022: 95 2021: 33 2020: 62 2019: 58 2018: 11
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) Trent Dilfer sure does talk a good game. UAB has the players and the ground game. His job is to avoid trying to fix what’s not broken.
81 Northwestern
2022: 110 2021: 80 2020: 10 2019: 110 2018: 27
College Football Rankings First Look: (1-11) A total disaster in 2022, the Wildcats still need to prove they have the players in place to avoid getting steamrolled every week.
80 South Alabama
2022: 72 2021: 120 2020: 108 2019: 119 2018: 109
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-3) There’s a lot to like as long as the defensive front can refresh. The ground attack should be stronger, but the D will carry the team.
79 SMU
2022: 64 2021: 78 2020: 64 2019: 28 2018: 85
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) QB Tanner Mordecai left for Wisconsin, but Rhett Lashlee’s offense will still rock. The defensive line needs more parts to stop the run.
78 Stanford
2022: 73 2021: 85 2020: 31 2019: 98 2018: 32
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-9) Troy Taylor knows how to make an offense fly, and wow does Stanford need that … fast. It’s going to take a while to get there.
77 Memphis
2022: 70 2021: 91 2020: 50 2019: 9 2018: 66
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) After a disappointing year, the Tigers will roar with an offense that should hit the AAC hard. Now a pass rush has to emerge.
76 East Carolina
2022: 61 2021: 79 2020: 99 2019: 108 2018: 117
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) ECU got hammered by the transfer portal, but there’s plenty of talent to build around. Finding a pass defense would be nice.
CFN 2023 Rankings: Offseason First Look
101-133 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
NEXT: 2023 College Football Rankings First Look 51-75
2023 College Football Rankings: First Look 51-75
75 Virginia Tech
2022: 90 2021: 64 2020: 42 2019: 44 2018: 65
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-8) 2023 can’t be any worse. Brent Pry needs playmakers on both sides of the ball to emerge. The D has to be FAR more disruptive.
74 Indiana
2022: 69 2021: 88 2020: 23 2019: 64 2018: 84
College Football Rankings First Look: (4-8) It’s going to take some work after miserable year. The transfer portal will help the defense. The offense has to find some pop.
73 Georgia Tech
2022: 63 2021: 82 2020: 82 2019: 122 2018: 64
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) Can the Yellow Jackets build off the rough season? The offensive line needs to be far, far better, and playmakers have to emerge.
72 UTSA
2022: 55 2021: 55 2020: 102 2019: 118 2018: 112
College Football Rankings First Look: (11-3) QB Frank Harris is back AGAIN – for a 7th year. The Roadrunners won’t own the AAC, but they’re loaded enough to be in the hunt.
71 Boston College
2022: 74 2021: 63 2020: 48 2019: 84 2018: 50
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-9) Jeff Hafley is still around, QB Phil Jurkovec is off to Pitt, and no matter what, the Eagles have to do something right on offense.
70 Cal
2022: 67 2021: 57 2020: 72 2019: 61 2018: 81
College Football Rankings First Look: (4-8) Cal has GOT to find something on offense, and it has GOT to find some sort of a pass rush. The team desperately needs playmakers.
69 Colorado
2022: 103 2021: 76 2020: 30 2019: 81 2018: 99
College Football Rankings First Look: (1-11) There’s no instant fix – the schedule is BRUTAL – but it’ll be an entertaining ride under Coach Prime. The O will go at warp speed.
68 Virginia
2022: 75 2021: 53 2020: 45 2019: 31 2018: 39
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-7) The program deserves a big season after a tragic 2022. It’s going to take some work, though, to get the ACC’s worst offense moving.
67 Rutgers
2022: 85 2021: 81 2020: 60 2019: 123 2018: 125
College Football Rankings First Look: (4-8) Once again Rutgers has several nice parts, but not enough. The disaster of a passing game has to at least be serviceable.
66 San Diego State
2022: 78 2021: 25 2020: 73 2019: 30 2018: 62
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) Can SDSU tune up the offense around QB Jalen Maden? There are way too many lost parts on defense, but this place reloads fast.
65 Arizona State
2022: 76 2021: 72 2020: 35 2019: 33 2018: 63
College Football Rankings First Look: (3-9) This will take a while, starting on the O line. It’s a gut job for Kenny Dillingham with SO many transfers gone and parts missing.
64 Houston
2022: 65 2021: 39 2020: 86 2019: 101 2018: 56
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) Welcome to the Big 12, now be a whole lot better – and less flaky. The transfer portals been a plus, but it has to come together fast.
63 West Virginia
2022: 66 2021: 44 2020: 43 2019: 94 2018: 37
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) This is the wrong time to be in the Big 12 without a ton of sure-thing stars. The passing game will be fine, but the D needs help.
62 WKU
2022: 71 2021: 67 2020: 115 2019: 40 2018: 111
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-5) The show goes on. QB Austin Reed stuck around, the WKU passing attack will be amazing, and it’s C-USA title or bust.
61 Vanderbilt
2022: 60 2021: 104 2020: 91 2019: 116 2018: 74
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) It’ll never be easy for Vanderbilt in the SEC, but it can occasionally rise up and rock. That’s going to be a little tougher to do this year.
60 Nebraska
2022: 68 2021: 60 2020: 55 2019: 93 2018: 88
College Football Rankings First Look: (4-8) Matt Rhule won’t rebuild this in a day, but enough is there to start winning again. Getting Georgia Tech QB Jeff Sims is a huge start.
59 Air Force
2022: 49 2021: 52 2020: 80 2019: 24 2018: 96
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-3) It’s Air Force. You know how this will work – and it’ll all be better. The lines are experienced with good depth across the board.
58 Kansas
2022: 47 2021: 83 2020: 104 2019: 117 2018: 108
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-7) Is that sustainable? Why not? Jalon Daniels will be the IT quarterback. There’s a whole lot returning around its star.
57 Troy
2022: 53 2021: 110 2020: 84 2019: 90 2018: 33
College Football Rankings First Look: (12-2) There will be plenty of preseason love despite the lack of a running game and key guys lost on defense. The O needs to do more.
56 Fresno State
2022: 29 2021: 40 2020: 96 2019: 91 2018: 6
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-4) This was a veteran-loaded team that won the M-West title. Now it has to go on without QB Jake Haener and several important stars.
55 Tulane
2022: 16 2021: 99 2020: 65 2019: 62 2018: 67
College Football Rankings First Look: (12-2) Everyone will gush, but Tulane loses a ton of firepower and several key defenders. It’ll still be good, but it should take a step back.
54 Boise State
2022: 48 2021: 36 2020: 49 2019: 10 2018: 8
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-4) The running game that ripped it up over the second half of the season should keep on going. QB Taylen Green is a playmaker.
53 Syracuse
2022: 52 2021: 67 2020: 94 2019: 79 2018: 17
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) Can the defense keep the production going? That was a veteran group that was so good early, now the offense has to do more.
52 BYU
2022: 58 2021: 34 2020: 13 2019: 34 2018: 53
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) Welcome to the Big 12 X factor. Can Kedon Slovis make the O dangerous? Will there be a pass rush? This will be interesting.
51 Arizona
2022: 54 2021: 86 2020: 90 2019: 105 2018: 92
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) There are just enough transfer portal losses to matter, but this will be a more dangerous team if the defense can get behind the line.
CFN 2023 Rankings: Offseason First Look
101-133 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
NEXT: 2023 College Football Rankings First Look 26-50
2023 College Football Rankings: First Look 26-50
50 Iowa State
2022: 59 2021: 30 2020: 16 2019: 63 2018: 42
College Football Rankings First Look: (4-8) The payoff will come. The Big 12 will be harder, but the D will be the best in the league. The lost running game groove has to return.
49 Purdue
2022: 46 2021: 19 2020: 61 2019: 103 2018: 55
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-6) Ryan Walters will eventually be a strong head coach, but he loses a bunch of main guys. There’s a good base to build around.
48 Missouri
2022: 43 2021: 47 2020: 33 2019: 87 2018: 41
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-7) There are big transfer portal hits, but not enough to be a killer. The offense has to find more pop to help out the veteran defense.
47 Baylor
2022: 50 2021: 5 2020: 87 2019: 21 2018: 80
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-7) There’s a lot to like. There’s a great base helped by the transfer portal, but Dave Aranda’s D has to rise back up and be a factor.
46 UCF
2022: 32 2021: 48 2020: 70 2019: 19 2018: 9
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-5) UCF will be a thorn in the Big 12’s side. The ground game will be good, but the line needs time to rebuild. A pass rush is a must.
45 Wake Forest
2022: 42 2021: 23 2020: 40 2019: 53 2018: 49
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) QB Sam Hartman is off to Notre Dame, but the show goes on. This might not be the ACC’s top scoring offense again, but it’ll be close.
44 Louisville
2022: 30 2021: 54 2020: 69 2019: 37 2018: 121
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) Jeff Brohm will crank up the passing game right away, and he has his QB in Jack Plummer. It’s going to be a different looking team.
43 Washington State
2022: 33 2021: 71 2020: 76 2019: 76 2018: 16
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) Really? Wazzu needs more out of the offense? The D will still be good, but the O line has to give Cameron Ward more time to work.
42 Michigan State
2022: 56 2021: 10 2020: 59 2019: 57 2018: 57
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) The Spartan pass defense HAS to be fixed. 2021 team got away with it, but the 2022 version couldn’t. The offense will be better.
41 Pitt
2022: 20 2021: 14 2020: 41 2019: 49 2018: 47
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) Pitt won’t drop off with lots from the pass rush and big passing from BC transfer Phil Jurkovec, However, the D needs reloading
40 Duke
2022: 31 2021: 107 2020: 92 2019: 88 2018: 24
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) It’s not stopping. One of the big surprises of 2022 returns almost everyone of note except on the offensive line. The team is for real.
39 Cincinnati
2022: 36 2021: 7 2020: 9 2019: 22 2018: 23
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) Welcome to the Big 12, Scott Satterfield. Wisconsin got Luke Fickell and a few players, but there’s plenty in place to be great.
38 Kentucky
2022: 28 2021: 21 2020: 36 2019: 45 2018: 12
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) UK’s offense has to show up. NC State transfer QB Devin Leary should add some pop, but it won’t matter if the line isn’t far better.
37 Auburn
2022: 57 2021: 41 2020: 21 2019: 16 2018: 40
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) SEC, you got your Hugh Freeze back. The transfer portal should provide an instant boost, and yeah, the coaching is stronger.
36 Mississippi State
2022: 23 2021: 28 2020: 38 2019: 56 2018: 35
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) Head coach Zach Arnett will change up the O, but QB Will Rogers will take more downfield shots. Big parts are gone from both sides.
35 Oklahoma State
2022: 45 2021: 6 2020: 19 2019: 50 2018: 45
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) Can OSU pull up out of the nosedive? The mistakes have to stop, the offensive stars have to rise up, and stopping the run is a must.
34 Minnesota
2022: 26 2021: 17 2020: 53 2019: 25 2018: 44
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) The system, the system, the system. Run the ball, play great D, own third downs, win time of possession. It’ll all continue.
33 Miami
2022: 62 2021: 49 2020: 20 2019: 60 2018: 60
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) Yeah, that’s not happening again. There’s way too much talent around to be that bad, and Miami won’t be, especially on the lines.
32 North Carolina
2022: 40 2021: 50 2020: 14 2019: 59 2018: 113
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) The world will gush all over QB Drake Maye, but he can’t do it alone – and he might have to The transfer portal will be a big help.
31 Arkansas
2022: 44 2021: 12 2020: 34 2019: 121 2018: 119
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) It’s going to take some work. The backfield of QB KJ Jefferson and RB Raheim Sanders is loaded, but they need the blockers to shine.
30 Maryland
2022: 37 2021: 46 2020: 52 2019: 113 2018: 82
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) The Terps will still be dangerous. Taulia Tagovailoa will keep winging it around, and now the D has to hold up its end of the deal.
29 Florida
2022: 38 2021: 51 2020: 7 2019: 20 2018: 18
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-7) The transfer portal hasn’t been kind. The D needs a BIG improvement, and Graham Mertz isn’t exactly a QB upgrade.
28 Oklahoma
2022: 41 2021: 9 2020: 6 2019: 8 2018: 5
College Football Rankings First Look: (6-7) Dillon Gabriel and the passing game will be great. The defense won’t be as porous, but don’t expect a huge turnaround overall.
27 UCLA
2022: 21 2021: 42 2020: 32 2019: 97 2018: 100
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) Chip Kelly loaded up in the transfer portal – two words: Carson Steele – but the spotlight is on the QB battle. UCLA is good again.
26 Ole Miss
2022: 35 2021: 11 2020: 22 2019: 99 2018: 97
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) Lane Kiffin lost a bunch in the portal, but the guys he got are great to go along with a tremendous backfield. This O will still be fun.
CFN 2023 Rankings: Offseason First Look
101-133 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
NEXT: 2023 College Football Rankings First Look Top 25
2023 College Football Rankings First Look Top 25
25 Iowa
2022: 25 2021: 22 2020: 17 2019: 23 2018: 25
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) Can one of college football’s worst offenses start to work. Michigan QB Cade McNamara is on the way, but the defense loses a ton.
24 Texas Tech
2022: 27 2021: 27 2020: 79 2019: 102 2018: 68
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) Texas Tech will more than hold its own in a loaded Big 12. QB Tyler Shough is going to be huge leading the high-powered offense.
23 TCU
2022: 2 2021: 73 2020: 44 2019: 82 2018: 52
College Football Rankings First Look: (13-1) The Big 12 is better, but TCU should be fine with good parts back. However, the top skill guys are done. There’s a lot of magic gone.
22 Illinois
2022: 24 2021: 59 2020: 71 2019: 69 2018: 103
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) Ole Miss QB Luke Altmyer should run the attack and add more pop, but the loaded defense will be the star of the show again.
21 NC State
2022: 39 2021: 15 2020: 37 2019: 112 2018: 36
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) QB Devin Leary is off to Kentucky, in comes Brennan Armstrong from Virginia to bomb away. The defense will still be nasty.
20 South Carolina
2022: 12 2021: 37 2020: 81 2019: 70 2018: 69
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) Spencer Rattler returns to lead another big offense. Now it’s up to the defense to make a major step up, especially against the run.
19 Wisconsin
2022: 34 2021: 18 2020: 25 2019: 11 2018: 54
College Football Rankings First Look: (7-6) Luke Fickell is in, and so is a better passing attack and a whole slew of strong transfers. Watch out. This could come together fast.
18 Oregon State
2022: 18 2021: 61 2020: 51 2019: 77 2018: 116
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-3) OSU is for real. DJ Uiagalelei comes in to help an already strong offense. As long as the pass D holds up, the defense will be terrific.
17 Texas A&M
2022: 51 2021: 29 2020: 4 2019: 52 2018: 22
College Football Rankings First Look: (5-7) There’s talent there – lots and lots of talent. New OC Bobby Petrino will fix the attack, and the defense – especially the line … look out.
16 Utah
2022: 9 2021: 13 2020: 27 2019: 18 2018: 29
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-4) You know what’s coming. Great defense, bruising ground game, great lines. Cameron Rising is back, but a few huge stars are done.
15 Kansas State
2022: 10 2021: 26 2020: 58 2019: 41 2018: 94
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-4) Everyone will forget about the defending Big 12 champ with all the big storylines, but it’ll be even better around QB Will Howard.
14 Clemson
2022: 13 2021: 16 2020: 3 2019: 3 2018: 1
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-3) Clemson is still fantastic, and Cade Klubnik and the offense will be great, but there’s just enough missing on D to take a step back.
13 Oregon
2022: 19 2021: 31 2020: 28 2019: 7 2018: 31
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-3) The return of QB Bo Nix is huge, but the Ducks lose a ton from both sides, especially up front. The talent is there, but it’s young.
12 Texas
2022: 22 2021: 65 2020: 18 2019: 29 2018: 13
College Football Rankings First Look: (8-5) The offense is beyond loaded, but talent hasn’t been a problem. There’s more than enough in place to win the Big 12. No pressure.
11 Notre Dame
2022: 11 2021: 8 2020: 5 2019: 12 2018: 7
College Football Rankings First Look: (9-4) Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman will crank up the downfield attack. The base is in place to build around and do even more defensively.
CFN 2023 Rankings: Offseason First Look
101-133 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
NEXT: 2023 College Football Rankings First Look Top 10
2023 College Football Rankings First Look Top 10
10 Tennessee
2022: 6 2021: 20 2020: 75 2019: 36 2018: 86
College Football Rankings First Look: (11-2) The machine doesn’t stop. The O will keep on rolling no matter who’s at QB – likely Joe Milton – and the D will be even stronger, even if it’s just okay
9 Washington
2022: 8 2021: 75 2020: 26 2019: 27 2018: 14
College Football Rankings First Look: (11-2) 2022 top passer Michael Penix Jr. is back along with most of the skill parts. The D is good enough to do more than hold serve.
8 USC
2022: 17 2021: 74 2020: 24 2019: 38 2018: 87
College Football Rankings First Look: (11-3) Caleb Williams will be Caleb Williams in another great year for the offense, and now the horrific defense gets the transfer portal help.
7 Florida State
2022: 14 2021: 58 2020: 83 2019: 78 2018: 83
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-3) QB Jordan Travis, DE Jared Verse, and a ton of the main men are back – Seminole fans assume the ACC is won. They might be right.
6 LSU
2022: 15 2021: 35 2020: 29 2019: 1 2018: 10
College Football Rankings First Look: (10-4) The expectations will be off the charts with QB Jayden Daniels leading a high-powered veteran offense. The portal has been kind.
5 Penn State
2022: 5 2021: 32 2020: 56 2019: 5 2018: 26
College Football Rankings First Look: (11-2) Led by QB Drew Allar, Penn State has young skill parts as good as anyone in America. The defense will be even stronger and deeper.
4 Michigan
2022: 3 2021: 3 2020: 54 2019: 26 2018: 15
College Football Rankings First Look: (13-1) The fun all keeps going. Jim Harbaugh is back along with the stars in the backfield. The transfer portal should hit huge on defense.
3 Alabama
2022: 7 2021: 2 2020: 1 2019: 15 2018: 2
College Football Rankings First Look: (11-2) Come on, it’s Alabama, but you don’t just replace Bryce Young. The young talent overall is jaw-dropping, but WRs have to emerge.
2 Ohio State
2022: 4 2021: 4 2020: 2 2019: 2 2018: 3
College Football Rankings First Look: (11-2) There’s a QB battle, but it’s fine – the offense will be unstoppable. The defense still has to prove it can hold up vs the elite teams.
1 Georgia
2022: 1 2021: 1 2020: 8 2019: 4 2018: 4
College Football Rankings First Look: (14-0 Yeah, Georgia got better. The transfer portal helped the WRs, QB Carson Beck is a big-time option, and here’s the scary part – this is still a young team with depth to go along with more NFL talent.
CFN 2022 Rankings: Final
101-131 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
Rankings By Conference
ACC | AAC | Big Ten | Big 12 | C-USA | IND
MAC | M-West | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt
AP Poll final prediction | Coaches Poll final prediction
