A breakdown of teams in the preseason AP Top 25 college football poll released Monday:
No. 1 Georgia
2023 finish: 13-1, No. 4 final ranking.
Coach: Kirby Smart, ninth season.
Key games: vs. No. 14 Clemson at Atlanta, Aug. 31; at No. 5 Alabama, Sept. 28; at No. 4 Texas, Oct. 19; vs. No. 15 Tennessee, Nov. 16.
Potential All-Americans: QB Carson Beck; DE Mykel Williams; S Malaki Starks; OG Tate Ratledge.
Outlook: The Bulldogs have as many national titles as losses over the last three seasons (two). The offense is replacing some of Beck’s top targets, but is well equipped to do so with TE Oscar Delp and WR Dillon Bell primed to step up. The defense is loaded again, with CJ Allen potentially Georgia’s next impact linebacker. The road schedule is daunting.
No. 2 Ohio State
2023 finish: 11-2, No. 10.
Coach: Ryan Day, seventh season.
Key games: vs. Iowa, Oct. 5; at No. 3 Oregon, Oct. 12; at No. 8 Penn State, Nov. 2; vs. Northwestern at Wrigley Field, Nov. 16; vs. No. 9 Michigan, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: WR Emeka Egbuka; RB TreVeyon Henderson; DE JT Tuimoloau; S Caleb Downs.
Outlook: The Buckeyes are trying to recover from three straight losses to Michigan. They are experienced and deep with 16 starters returning, 11 of whom were eligible to enter the NFL draft. Egbuka is poised to step out of the shadow of Marvin Harrison Jr. Henderson and Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins give Ohio State maybe the best running back tandem in college football. Kansas State transfer Will Howard is the likely starting quarterback.
No. 3 Oregon
2023 finish: 12-2, No. 6.
Coach: Dan Lanning, third season.
Key games: vs. Boise State, Sept. 7; No. 2 Ohio State, Oct. 12; at No. 9 Michigan, Nov. 2; at Washington, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: QB Dillon Gabriel; WR Evan Stewart; CB Jabbar Muhammad.
Outlook: The Ducks enter the Big Ten ready to contend behind another veteran transfer quarterback. Gabriel takes over for Heisman finalist Bo Nix in his sixth season and with his third team. The offense should be as potent as last year. A secondary remade with transfers (Muhammad, S Kobe Savage and S Tysheem Johnson) is key to the defense.
No. 4 Texas
2023 finish: 12-2, No. 3.
Coach: Steve Sarkisian, fourth season.
Key games: at No. 9 Michigan, Sept. 7; vs. No. 16 Oklahoma in Dallas, Oct. 12; vs. No. 1 Georgia, Oct. 12; at No. 20 Texas A&M, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: QB Quinn Ewers; OT Kelvin Banks; LB Anthony Hill Jr., DB Jahdae Barron.
Outlook: Last season’s Big 12 champion and CFB semifinalist makes its long-awaited move to the SEC and the Longhorns believe they are ready. Ewers is primed for a big season but has missed time the last two years with injuries. Ace backup Arch Manning looks ready to take over if if happens again. DT Alfred Collins should anchor a DL that must replace the dominant duo of T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy.
No. 5 Alabama
2023 finish: 12-2, No. 5.
Coach: Kalen DeBoer, first season.
Key games: vs. No. 1 Georgia, Sept. 28; at No. 15 Tennessee, Oct. 19; at No. 13 LSU, Nov. 9; at No. 16 Oklahoma, Nov. 23.
Potential All-Americans: QB Jalen Milroe; OL Tyler Booker; PK Graham Nicholson; LB Deontae Lawson.
Outlook: Nick Saban hardly left DeBoer with a bare cupboard. The defending Southeastern Conference champions return Milroe playing behind an experienced line and yet another sturdy defense anchored by Lawson and S Malachi Moore. DeBoer lost some talent to the transfer portal but brought in potential impact players, including freshman WR Ryan Williams. OT Kadyn Proctor returned following a brief transfer to Iowa.
No. 6 Mississippi
2023 finish: 11-2, No. 9.
Coach: Lane Kiffin, fifth season.
Key games: at No. 13 LSU, Oct. 12; vs. No. 16 Oklahoma, Oct. 26; vs. No. 1 Georgia, Nov. 9; vs. Mississippi State, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: WR Tre Harris; DT Walter Nolen; LB Chris Paul; TE Caden Prieskorn.
Outlook: Few if any Ole Miss teams have entered a season with this much national attention. QB Jaxson Dart returns to lead an offense with an abundance of targets including Harris, Jordan Watkins and South Carolina transfer Juice Wells. Kiffin again scored big in the transfer portal, including multiple likely starters on both lines, led by former Nolen and DE Princely Umanmielene.
No. 7 Notre Dame
2023 finish: 10-3, No. 14.
Coach: Marcus Freeman, fourth season.
Key games: at No. 20 Texas A&M, Aug. 31; vs. Louisville, Sept. 28; vs. No. 10 Florida State, Nov. 9; at No. 24 USC, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: CB Benjamin Morrison; S Xavier Watts; DT Howard Cross; TE Mitchell Evans.
Outlook: Notre Dame’s next transfer quarterback from the ACC is Riley Leonard from Duke. If healthy after an ankle injury last year, Leonard’s mobility could bring a new dimension to an offense that has a new play-caller in Mike Denbrock and a rebuilt line. Another Duke transfer, DE RJ Oben, should give the pass rush a boost. Hosting a playoff game is an attainable goal.
No. 8 Penn State
2023 finish: 10-3, No. 13.
Coach: James Franklin, 11th season.
Key games: at West Virginia, Aug. 31; at No. 24 USC, Oct. 12; at Wisconsin, Oct. 26; vs. No. 2 Ohio State, Nov. 2.
Potential All-Americans: DE Abdul Carter; RB Nick Singleton; S Kevin Winston.
Outlook: The Nittany Lions look to close the gap on the Big Ten’s best after going 0-6 against Ohio State and Michigan the past three seasons. The development of QB Drew Allar in new coordinator Andy Kotelnick’s offense is key. A breakout from transfer WR Julian Fleming would also help. Former Indiana coach Tom Allen takes over another talented defense.
No. 9 Michigan
2023 finish: 15-0, national champion.
Coach: Sherrone Moore, first season.
Key games: vs. No. 4 Texas, Sept. 7; vs No. 24 USC, Sept. 21; No. 3 Oregon, Nov. 2; at No. 2 Ohio State, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: CB Will Johnson, DT Mason Graham, DT Kenneth Grant, TE Colston Loveland.
Outlook: Moore has to break in a new quarterback and offensive line against a string of tough tests, starting with the Longhorns in Week 2, with a lot of new coaches on defense amid a lingering NCAA scandal regarding sign-stealing allegations that won’t go away any time soon. Johnson, Graham, Grant and Loveland are projected as first-round picks. Alex Orji, who played in six games last season behind J.J. McCarthy, may take the Wolverines’ first snap on Aug. 31 against Fresno State.
No. 10 Florida State
2023 finish: 13-1, No. 6.
Coach: Mike Norvell, fifth season.
Key games: vs No. 14 Clemson, Oct. 5; at No. 19 Miami, Oct. 26; at No. 7 Notre Dame, Nov. 9; vs Florida, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: S Shyheim Brown; DE Patrick Payton; OT Darius Washington.
Outlook: Norvell is looking to reload after the Seminoles were left out of the College Football Playoff despite going undefeated in the regular season. Norvell crushed the transfer portal, most notably landing Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei, Georgia DE Marvin Jones Jr. and three potential stars from Alabama: RB Roydell Williams, WR Malik Benson and DB Earl Little Jr. Throw in several key returners, and the ’Noles are a popular pick to repeat as Atlantic Coast Conference champions.
No. 11 Missouri
2023 finish: 11-2, No. 8.
Coach: Eli Drinkwitz, fifth season.
Key games: at No. 20 Texas A&M, Oct. 5; vs Auburn, Oct. 19; at No. 5 Alabama, Oct. 26; vs No. 16 Oklahoma, Nov. 9.
Potential All-Americans: WR Luther Burden III; DT Kristian Williams.
Outlook: The Tigers leaped from six wins in 2023 to 11-2 and a Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State last season. QB Brady Cook returns along with Burden, who could be the first WR drafted in April, but Missouri must rebuild its offensive line and fill holes in the secondary. The biggest change could be on the coaching staff, where defensive coordinator Blake Baker was hired away by LSU. Corey Batoon will be in charge of the Tigers’ defense.
No. 12 Utah
2023 finish: 8-5, unranked.
Coach: Kyle Whittingham, 20th season.
Key games: at No. 17 Oklahoma State, Sept. 21; vs. No. 21 Arizona, Sept. 28; vs. BYU, Nov. 9; vs. Iowa State, Nov. 23.
Potential All-Americans: QB Cameron Rising, DT Junior Tafuna, P Jack Bouwmeester.
Outlook: Utah won the Pac-12 Conference championship in 2021 and 2022 and enters the Big 12 as the preseason favorite, with Rising and TE Brant Kuithe back from knee injuries that kept them out all last season. That was a major reason Utah failed to play up to its No. 14 preseason ranking. Another rugged defense has the Utes positioned to make a run at a fourth double-digit victory season since 2019.
No. 13 LSU
2023 finish: 10-3, No. 12.
Coach: Brian Kelly, third season.
Key games: vs. No. 24 USC in Las Vegas, Sept. 1; vs. No. 6 Mississippi, Oct. 12; at No. 20 Texas A&M, Oct. 26; vs. No. 5 Alabama, Nov. 9; vs. No. 16 Oklahoma, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: LB Harold Perkins; OL Will Campbell
Outlook: LSU finished 2023 with four straight victories, including a bowl victory over Wisconsin that was highlighted by the performance of Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels’ successor, QB Garrett Nussmeier. LSU again expects to be a high-scoring team, but its defense is in transition under new coordinator Blake Baker and needs to improve on every level.
No. 14 Clemson
2023 finish: 9-4, No. 20.
Coach: Dabo Swinney, 17th season.
Key games: vs. No. 1 Georgia in Atlanta, Aug. 31; vs. No. 24 North Carolina State, Sept. 21; at No. 10 Florida State, Oct. 5.
Potential All-Americans: LB Barrett Carter; OL Blake Miller; DE Peter Woods; S Khalil Barnes.
Outlook: The Tigers were 4-4 at midseason in 2023 before a late rally sent them into the offseason with some confidence. The opener against Georgia is an opportunity for Swinney’s team to keep it going — or stop it cold. Clemson needs improvement from QB Cade Klubnik, who made too many mistakes in the team’s first two months. The Tigers will lean of their defense again.
No. 15 Tennessee
2023 finish: 9-4, No. 17.
Coach: Josh Heupel, fourth season.
Key games: at No. 16 Oklahoma, Sept. 21; vs. Florida, Oct. 12; vs. No. 5 Alabama, Oct. 19; at No. 1 Georgia, Nov. 16.
Potential All-Americans: DE James Pearce Jr.; DL Omari Thomas; C Cooper Mays; WR Bru McCoy.
Outlook: The Volunteers are coming off the program’s best back-to-back stretch (20 wins) since 2003-04. Heupel has his best depth yet on the offensive and defensive lines. QB Nico Iamaleava is ready to take over after leading a Citrus Bowl rout of Iowa in his first career start. Pearce led the SEC with 10 sacks last season.
No. 16 Oklahoma
2023 finish: 10-3, No. 15.
Coach: Brent Venables, third season.
Key games: vs. No. 15 Tennessee, Sept. 21; vs. No. 4 Texas in Dallas, Oct. 12; at No. 6 Ole Miss, Oct. 26; at No. 11 Missouri, Nov. 9; vs. No. 5 Alabama, Nov. 23; at No. 13 LSU, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: DB Billy Bowman, LB Danny Stutsman, WR Deion Burks.
Outlook: The Sooners have a rugged schedule in their first Southeastern Conference season, and they are breaking in a new starting quarterback in sophomore Jackson Arnold. Venables has built depth the past few years preparing for the move. Arnold was a five-star prospect with plenty of weapons to throw to. The Sooners likely will be a better team than their record shows, but they might need to pull a few surprises to make the playoff.
No. 17 Oklahoma State
2023 finish: 10-4, No. 16.
Coach: Mike Gundy, 20th season.
Key games: vs. Arkansas, Sept. 7; vs. No. 12 Utah, Sept. 21; at Colorado, Nov. 29.
Potential All-Americans: RB Ollie Gordon II, WR Brennan Presley, LB Nick Martin, LB Collin Oliver.
Outlook: Gordon will try to become the school’s second Heisman Trophy winner following Barry Sanders in 1988. He leads a team with a ton of offensive talent back, both in the skilled positions and on the line. QB Alan Bowman is back for a seventh college season. The Cowboys are experienced defensively, too, and expect to contend for a second straight Big 12 title game appearance.
No. 18 Kansas State
2023 finish: 9-4, No. 18.
Coach: Chris Klieman, sixth season.
Key games: vs No. 21 Arizona, Sept. 13; vs No. 17 Oklahoma State, Sept. 28; vs No. 22 Kansas, Oct. 26; at Iowa State, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: QB Avery Johnson, RB DJ Giddens, DT Uso Seumalo.
Outlook: The Wildcats believe they can fill the Big 12 vacuum left by Oklahoma and Texas leaving for the SEC. Johnson showed glimpses of stardom against North Carolina State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, and Giddens forms a potent 1-2 punch with Colorado transfer RB Dylan Edwards. Klieman replaced offensive coordinator Collin Klein, who left for the same job at Texas A&M, by promoting offensive line coach Conor Riley and bringing in former Utah State and Texas Tech coach Matt Wells to help out.
No. 19 Miami
2023 finish: 7-6, unranked.
Coach: Mario Cristobal, third season.
Key games: at Florida, Aug. 31; Virginia Tech, Sept. 27; at Louisville, Oct. 19; No. 10 Florida State, Oct. 26.
Potential All-Americans: QB Cam Ward, DE Rueben Bain Jr., LB Francisco Mauigoa, K Andres Borregales.
Outlook: Cristobal’s third team at his old school has plenty of promise, thanks largely to Ward, the transfer from Washington State who starts this season as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. The Hurricanes have put together two strong recruiting classes and hit the transfer portal well, plus should have plenty of depth on both the offensive and defensive lines. Special teams look strong; the secondary is what seems untested.
No. 20 Texas A&M
2023 finish: 7-6, unranked.
Coach: Mike Elko, first season.
Key games: vs. No. 7 Notre Dame, Aug. 31; vs. No. 13 LSU, Oct. 26; vs. No. 4 Texas, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: DT Shemar Turner; DE Nic Scourton.
Outlook: The Mike Elko era begins after the former Duke coach was hired to replace Jimbo Fisher. There was a lot of turnover on the roster, but QB Connor Weigman returns and the former five-star recruit could take a big step forward after a foot injury cut short last season. On defense, the Aggies got a boost with the addition of Scourton, a transfer from Purdue who led the Big Ten and ranked eighth in the nation with 10 sacks in 2023.
No. 21 Arizona
2022 finish: 10-3, No. 11.
Coach: Brent Brennan, first season.
Key games: at No. 18 Kansas State, Sept. 13; at No. 12 Utah, Sept. 28; vs. Arizona State, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: QB Noah Fifita, WR Tetairoa McMillan, CB Tacario Davis.
Outlook: The Wildcats make the move to the Big 12 with a new coach at the helm. Former San Jose State coach Brennan takes over for Jedd Fisch, who left for Washington. Brennan hopes to build on Fisch’s turnaround from a 20-game losing streak to 10 wins last year. Fifita and McMillan are one of the best pass-catch duos in the country. The defense, typically a weak point in the desert, should be solid again this season after a turnaround last year.
No. 22 Kansas
2023 finish: 9-4, No. 23.
Coach: Lance Leipold, fourth season.
Key games: at Illinois, Sept. 7; at No. 18 Kansas State, Oct. 26; vs Iowa State, Nov. 9; vs Colorado, Nov. 23.
Potential All-Americans: QB Jalon Daniels, RB Devin Neal, CB Cobee Bryant, DB Mello Dotson.
Outlook: After their first winning season in 16 years, Leipold and the Jayhawks aim to take another step forward by competing for a Big 12 title. They will have to do it away from home as their new stadium gets built, playing non-conference games at the home of MLS club Sporting Kansas City and league games at Arrowhead Stadium. The key to topping nine wins from a year ago is Daniels staying healthy.
No. 23 USC
2023 finish: 8-5, unranked.
Coach: Lincoln Riley, third season.
Key games: vs. No. 13 LSU in Las Vegas, Sept. 1; at No. 9 Michigan, Sept. 21; vs. No. 8 Penn State, Oct. 12; at UCLA, Nov. 23; vs. No. 7 Notre Dame, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: WR/PR/KR Zachariah Branch; OL Jonah Manheim; DL Bear Alexander.
Outlook: The Trojans have the talent, but also plenty of questions in their first year in the Big Ten. The biggest concerns remain on defense. D’Anton Lynn takes over as the defensive coordinator but can he generate the same turnaround he did last season at UCLA? QB Miller Moss is expected to take over after Heisman winner Caleb Williams was picked first overall by the Chicago Bears.
No. 24 North Carolina State
2023 finish: 9-4, No. 21.
Coach: Dave Doeren, 12th season.
Key games: vs. No. 15 Tennessee in Charlotte, Sept. 7; at No. 14 Clemson, Sept. 21; vs. Duke, Nov. 9; at North Carolina, Nov. 30.
Potential All-Americans: WR KC Concepcion, QB Grayson McCall, CB Aydan White.
Outlook: Doeren keeps churning out strong seasons, with the Wolfpack winning eight or nine games for four straight years. This year’s team is picked to finish fourth in the expanded 17-team Atlantic Coast Conference despite losing roughly half its starters. Concepcion’s return provides a go-to threat for McCall, who had more than 10,000 career passing yards at Coastal Carolina. The Wolfpack are looking for the program’s second 10-win season.
No. 25 Iowa
2023 finish: 10-4, No. 24.
Coach: Kirk Ferentz, 26th season.
Key games: vs. Iowa State, Sept. 7; at No. 2 Ohio State, Oct. 5; vs. Wisconsin, Nov. 2; vs. Nebraska, Nov. 29.
Potential All-Americans: DB Sebastian Castro; LB Jay Higgins.
Outlook: Iowa’s offense can’t get any worse than it’s been the last couple years, so the hope is that new coordinator Tim Lester can inspire major improvement with a healthy QB Cade McNamara. Luke Lachey might be next in a long line of quality tight ends for the Hawkeyes. Defense, as always, will be the team’s calling card with nine returning starters, led by Higgins and Castro. The schedule is manageable.
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