College Football Rankings Spring 2022: Top 10
10 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Final Rankings: 2021: 6 2020: 19 2019: 50
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Central Michigan
The Cowboys came within six inches of winning a Big 12 championship, and now they return even stronger if the killer defense of last year can reload in the secondary. The offense should be terrific, even if it’s not quite as dynamic as other Big 12 attacks.
Oklahoma State Schedule
9 Michigan Wolverines
Final Rankings: 2021: 3 2020: 59 2019: 57
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Colorado State
Don’t assume that was a one-off. There might not be the same magic and blend of things that happened in the Big Ten Championship season, but the lines are still great, the running game will work, and … the D loses almost everyone. A breezy September will give the Wolverines time to figure it out.
Michigan Schedule
8 Oklahoma Sooners
Final Rankings: 2021: 9 2020: 6 2019: 8
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: UTEP
There’s going to be an adjustment period. No, it didn’t take Lincoln Riley long to get things going when he took over, but Brent Venables might need a year to reposition the program. The defense will need new pieces, but the offense – helped by UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel – should be more consistent.
Oklahoma Schedule
7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Final Rankings: 2021: 8 2020: 5 2019: 12
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at Ohio State
There’s no honeymoon period here – Marcus Freeman has a bowl game under his belt, and he’s taking over a good enough team to be in the CFP hunt. The lines should be great and the offense – even with several new starters – has the upside to be more explosive.
Notre Dame Schedule
6 Oregon Ducks
Final Rankings: 2021: 31 2020: 28 2019: 7
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Georgia (in Atlanta)
It’s possible Oregon is among the most underappreciated teams in the offseason projection process. New head coach Dan Lanning has to replace some giant parts, but Auburn QB Bo Nix will help, the healthy linebacking corps will be special, and the talent is there to be special.
Oregon Schedule
5 Clemson Tigers (10-3)
Final Rankings: 2021: 16 2020: 3 2019: 3
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at Georgia Tech
It might have been a down year by Clemson’s high standards, but the defense was the best in the ACC. It was the offense that struggled, but there’s way too much talent around to not be a whole lot better. There might be changes in the coaching staff, and DJ Uiagalelei has to be stronger, but the defense is about to be special again.
Clemson Schedule
4 Texas A&M Aggies
Final Rankings: 2021: 29 2020: 18 2019: 29
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Sam Houston
Yeah, you’re right. This is a whole lot more about what Texas A&M should be at this point with all the talent amassed over the last few years than what it probably is. However, this should be the best team yet under Jimbo Fisher if the defensive line can come together fast.
Texas A&M Schedule
3 Georgia Bulldogs
Final Rankings: 2021: 1 2020: 8 2019: 4
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Oregon (in Atlanta)
Don’t assume the Bulldogs are out of the national title hunt after losing all that superstar talent to the NFL. Years of great recruiting classes – and holdovers from last year – have restocked the shelves. This won’t be the 2021 team, but it’ll be right back in the hunt for the College Football Playoff.
Georgia Schedule
2 Ohio State Buckeyes
Final Rankings: 2021: 4 2020: 2 2019: 2
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Notre Dame
The only reason Ohio State isn’t No. 1 is because Alabama is still playing football.
The offensive skill talent belongs in the NFL now. The Buckeyes have the best receiver in college football – Jaxon Smith-Njigba – and if QB CJ Stroud doesn’t win the Heisman, it means someone else put up a bazillion passing yards.
Think of it this way. Ohio State went 11-2 and won a Rose Bowl with one of the worst scoring defenses in the program’s history. Now take an improved D with that O, and look out.
Ohio State Schedule
1 Alabama Crimson Tide
Final Rankings: 2021: 2 2020: 1 2019: 15
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Utah State
Here’s the scary part. Last year’s Alabama team wasn’t close to being among Nick Saban’s best, and it was still a Jameson Williams injury away from – very, very arguably – pulling out the national championship.
This year’s team has to replace several stars – what else is new? – but the incoming transfers are great, QB Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson might be the two best players in the country, and now everyone around the program is a wee bit salty after going a whole year without a national title.
Alabama Schedule
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CFN 2021 Rankings: Final
101-130 | 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