College Football Preseason Wide Receiver, Tight End Unit Rankings: CFN Preview 2022

College football unit rankings – the wide receivers and tight ends. Ranking the top 10 overall, and then ranking each conference’s situations.

College Football News Preview 2022 preseason unit rankings, looking at the top ten Wide Receiver, Tight End situations and rankings by conference.


Great quarterbacks make good receivers better, offensive schemes matter, and talent, of course, beats everything else. Teams are doing a better job of figuring out how to make all three of those things happen.

It’s not just about having one great receiver anymore – although, that might be enough depending on the style of play. Teams need lots of options, a good No. 3 target, and having an elite tight end is gold.

You’d think the college game would turn tight end into a glamour position considering all the stars in the NFL cranking up the production several levels, but it’s just not happening quite yet – which is one of the teams on this list is so high.

The wide receiver and tight end unit rankings are about depth charts and options along with the talent, and the ten best on this list are all in for huge seasons.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact @ColFootballNews

CFN Preview 2022 Preseason College Football Unit Rankings: Wide Receivers, Tight Ends

Unit Rankings By Conference: Wide Receivers, Tight Ends 
Top 10 | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt

USC

Welcome to the transfer portal era. Drake London is off to the NFL, and Bru McCoy left for Tennessee, but the corps might be even more talented getting Mario Williams from Oklahoma, Brenden Rice from Colorado, Terrell Bynum from Washington, and 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison from Pitt. Those parts go along with three of the top four receivers from last year – Tahj Washington, Gary Bryant, and Kyle Ford – along with tight end Malcolm Epps.

Ohio State

Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave are about to rip up the NFL, and Ohio State still has one of the most dangerous receiving corps in the country. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the best receiver in last year’s bunch catching 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine scores, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Julian Fleming are about to rise up and rock with their bigger roles, and Cade Stover is about to be a 20+ catch tight end.

3 Virginia

There might not be any nationally known stars, but this group is about to power up one of the best passing games in college football. Dontayvion Wicks is a devastating home run hitter averaging over 21 yards per catch with nine touchdowns last year, all-around key cog Keytaon Thompson led the team with 77 catches, and Billy Kemp IV is a No. 1-caliber mid-range target who caught 75 passes.

4 Georgia

It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that Georgia might have one of the most promising tight end rooms in the history of college football. Brock Bowers led the team with 56 catches, Arik Gilbert is one of the most talented players in the country who just needs to put it all together, and Darnell Washington is a big pass catcher who can hit. All three are terrific NFL prospects – now the receiving corp has to catch up. Ladd McConkey and Adonai Mitchell are experienced, but losing Jermaine Burton – the team’s best receiver – to Alabama hurts.

5 Texas

The Longhorns were already great at receiver, and then they added Isaiah Neyor from Wyoming, Agiye Hall from Alabama, and Tarique Milton from Iowa State to deepen the corps. Xavier Worthy is an NFL target, leading the team with 62 catches averaging almost 16 yards per catch last season, and No. 2 target Jordan Whittington is back, too.


2022 CFN Predictions For Every Game 
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt
CFN 2022 Preseason Ranking of all 131 Teams
CFN 2022 Preview of all 131 Teams


Tennessee

The fantastic passing game got even more help with Bru McCoy a big-time talent from USC coming in. Leading receiver Cedric Tillman returns after catching 64 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 scores, Jalen Hyatt will grow into more of a role, and there’s good depth.

North Carolina

Josh Downs has all the tools to be deep in the hunt for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver. He caught 101 passes for 1,335 yards and eight scores last season, but he’s not alone with Antoine Green a big target who averaged over 19 yards per catch. The tight end combination of Kamari Morales and Bryson Nesbit might be the best in the ACC, and the latest recruiting class is full of new options for the receiving corps.

Maryland

The recruiting for the receiving corps has been terrific under head coach Mike Locksley, and now all the building will pay off. Rakim Jarrett led the team with 62 catches, Dontay Demus is an NFL-level deep threat averaging over 18 yards per catch, and there’s more help coming in with Jacob Copeland transferring in from Florida.

Michigan State

It would’ve been nice if big-time deep threat Jalen Nailor was back, but the Spartans caught a break with leading target Jayden Reed returning for another year. He scan stretch the field, Tre Mosley is a dangerous No. 2 target, and getting fantastic tight end Daniel Barker to transfer over from Illinois will be a big boost for the attack.

10 Wake Forest

The high-powered Demon Deacon offense lost 71-catch playmaker Jaquarii Roberson, but they return loaded with three of the top four wide receivers along with tight end Blake Whiteheart. AT Perry is an All-American-caliber No. 1 target, and sophomores Taylor Morin and Ke’Shawn Williams know what they’re doing.

Unit Rankings By Conference: Wide Receivers, Tight Ends 
Top 10 | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt

NEXT: CFN Preview 2022 Preseason College Football Wide Receivers, Tight Ends Unit Rankings: ACC

College Football Preseason Defense Unit Rankings: CFN Preview 2022

College Football News Preview 2022 preseason unit rankings, looking at the top ten defenses along with each ranking within the conferences. The defenses now get graded on a bit of a curve considering all the amazing things the offenses are doing. Of …

College Football News Preview 2022 preseason unit rankings, looking at the top ten defenses along with each ranking within the conferences.  


The defenses now get graded on a bit of a curve considering all the amazing things the offenses are doing.

Of course there are several statistically great defenses, and even then the stats get a bit funky.

Clemson’s defense was second in the nation last year, but even that doesn’t tell how good it was considering there were injury issues and the offense provided no help.

Wisconsin finished first in the nation in total defense and fourth in scoring D, but – for example – statistically it was hit with the 41 points allowed against Notre Dame, even though 24 of them came from pick-sixes, kickoff returns, and/or turnovers that put the Irish in a scoring position.

Georgia’s offense was great, but it was an interception return for a touchdown in the first game of the season, and the last one that sealed the national title.

There are a whole bunch of strong defenses returning again this season, and these appear to be the ten best for 2022, along with the rankings in each conference.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact @ColFootballNews

CFN Preview 2022 Preseason College Football Unit Rankings: Defenses

Unit Rankings By Conference: Defenses 
Top 10 | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt

2022 Unit Rankings
QB | RB | WR&TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | Offenses

Alabama

The defense didn’t exactly take the year off, but it was hardly up to the standards of past Alabama brick walls. This one has a starting 11 that should take over games and be the best in America, starting with a deep front three with a good rotation.

The secondary has almost too much talent – helped by bringing in top NFL corner prospect Eli Ricks from LSU – and the linebacking corps around Henry To’o To’o in the middle will be a rock against the run. Oh yeah, and the Tide have the best player in college football in pass rusher extraordinaire Will Anderson on the edge.

2 Clemson

The O might have struggled last year, but the D was phenomenal finishing eighth overall in the country, and that’s with a rash of injury issues. You might have noticed the lack of Clemson players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. That’s because they’re all coming in 2023, and most are from the defensive front.

The line is the best in college football – if everyone stays healthy – and the back seven has parts ready to fill in with a whole lot of talent replacing the experience. The linebacking corps can really, really move.

Georgia

Poor Georgia. It lost defensive star after star after star – along with defensive coordinator Dan Lanning – and now it has to go through a big rebuild.

Not really.

The Next Man Up can play, too, with Jalen Carter one of the nation’s top tackles and Nolan Smith a dangerous all-around linebacker who should be in for a national breakout season. Even with the lost parts in the secondary, safety Tykee Smith and corners Kelee Ringo and Christopher Smith lead another great group.

Wisconsin

Georgia defense, Georgia defense, Georgia defense … Wisconsin finished 2021 No. 1 in the nation in total D. The scheme and style under coordinator Jim Leonhard will keep on rolling.

The secondary has some work to do – the transfer portal is providing a ton of help – and losing linebackers Leo Chenal and Jack Sanborn hurts, but the corps is going to be great around Nick Herbig and the front three will be among the best in the nation against the run.

NC State

The star power is back from the nation’s 14th best scoring defense, and it starts with a linebacking corps that’s LOADED now that it gets back Isaiah Moore from a knee injury. The secondary is full of All-ACC talent, and the front three has a promising rotation with young parts ready to produce in a rotation.


2022 CFN Predictions For Every Game 
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt
CFN 2022 Preseason Ranking of all 131 Teams
CFN 2022 Preview of all 131 Teams


Iowa

Can the defense come up with the tons of turnovers like the 2021 version did? The secondary has to replace some parts, but it’s a veteran corps and corner Riley Moss is back from a knee injury. The defensive front has to get into the backfield more, but it’s going to be great against the run, and Jack Campbell and the linebackers should be among the best in the Big Ten.

Oregon

Starting with getting a star defensive coach in Dan Lanning as the new head man, and turn the focus on a linebacking corps that’s full of NFL talent if everyone can stay healthy.

Noah Sewell and Justin Flowe could be the best 1-2 linebacking punch in America, the front four is huge, and the already strong secondary welcomes in corner Christian Gonzalez from Colorado.

Utah

It’s Utah. You know what’s coming – no one’s running with ease against this group. The Utes are full of huge, active defensive linemen who’ll get behind the line, the linebackers will make a ton of big plays – getting Mohamoud Diabate from Florida will help. and corner Clark Phillips heads another terrific secondary.

Notre Dame

New head coach Marcus Freeman knows defense, and so does new defensive coordinator Al Golden. The Fighting Irish secondary might have lost Kyle Hamilton, but getting safety Brandon Joseph from Northwestern is a huge deal. The pass defense will be great, the line is active and should get behind the line on a regular basis, and the linebackers have the potential to be special.

10 Texas A&M

Based on pure talent, Texas A&M has the defensive parts to be dominant. However, that talent is very, very, very young – how fast can the epic recruiting class step up and shine?

The secondary has the veterans to go along with the great freshman gets, and the linebackers have solid parts in Andrew White and Edgerrin Cooper, but everyone will be watching a front four with amazing prospect after amazing prospect looking for time around McKinnley Jackson on the nose.

Unit Rankings By Conference: Defenses 
Top 10 | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt

2022 Unit Rankings
QB | RB | WR&TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

NEXT: CFN Preview 2022 Preseason College Football Defense Unit Rankings: ACC

College Football Preseason Offensive Line Unit Rankings: CFN Preview 2022

College football unit rankings – the offensive lines. Ranking the top 10 overall, and then ranking each conference’s situations.

College Football News Preview 2022 preseason unit rankings, looking at the top ten offensive line situations and rankings by conference.


How good is every college football team going to be this season? How can you tell who’s going to be steady and who’s going to struggle? Start with the offensive line, and you’ll probably be on the right track.

It’s not exactly the single biggest predictor of success, but if you were to have one area of your team standout – or, at least, not be a negative – you want it to be your offensive line.

Just look at last year. Michigan, Utah, Cincinnati, Baylor – their offensive lines were fantastic.

In general, this is a bit of a rebuilding year for offensive lines, but the ones at the top either filled in the parts fast or have the stars returning to anchor their respective offenses and be fantastic.

Do the O lines have the talent, depth, and experience? In a lot of ways, these are the most important unit rankings.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact @ColFootballNews

CFN Preview 2022 Preseason College Football Unit Rankings: Offensive Lines

Unit Rankings By Conference: Offensive Lines 
Top 10 | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt

Oregon

You want to see a football player get mad? Mention the words finesse offense around an Oregon O lineman – this group is nasty. This year’s starting five might still shift a few pieces around to put the puzzle together, but Mario Cristobal – an offensive line coach by trade – left the new coaching staff with a loaded bunch with five likely all-conference blockers starting with future NFL starter Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu.

Ohio State

Ohio State might be all about the big-time skill parts, and everyone is focusing on the defense. Meanwhile, the offensive line will keep on dominating. The depth might need a little bit, but the starting five will keep CJ Stroud clean around future NFL starters Paris Johnson and Dawned Jones at tackle.

Wisconsin

The biggest negative with the 2021 Badger offensive line was that it wasn’t quite up to the program’s ridiculously high standard, at least when it came to consistency. It loses some good blockers, but the all-star talent is there to work around – Jack Nelson is going to be a thing at left tackle, and Joe Tippmann might be the Big Ten’s best center – and the depth is strong.

BYU

BYU’s offensive front has the potential to be one of the season’s big stories with the way it’s about to dominate. The pass protection is going to be fantastic, the left side of Blake Freeland at tackle and Clark Barrington at guard will be dominant, and somewhere in the mix will be Kingsley Suamatala, a superstar get for Oregon who’s transferring over.

Utah

There’s just enough missing from last year’s crushing line to need a wee bit of a tweak, but everything will be just fine after finishing fourth in the nation in pass protection and pounding away for over 200 yards per game. Tackle Braeden Daniels and guard Sataoa Laumea are devastating on the left side.


2022 CFN Predictions For Every Game 
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt
CFN 2022 Preseason Ranking of all 131 Teams
CFN 2022 Preview of all 131 Teams


6 Michigan

The line that blasted away to the College Football Playoff might be every bit as strong, even with a few parts needing to be replaced. Ryan Hayes is a terrific tackle, Zak Zinter is an All-Big Ten guard, and coming in is Olusegun Oluwatimi from Virginia as a new star at center.

Georgia

Defense, defense, defense, Stetson Bennett, defense, defense. That’s what got all the hype last year – and maybe Brock Bowers at tight end – but the O line played a huge part in the national championship run. A few starters are gone, and this is a relatively young group, but the left side will be dominant and Sedrick Van Pran is a next-level talent in the middle.

Notre Dame

It’s not like the Irish were bad on the offensive front last year, but they weren’t as strong as the 2019 and 2020 versions. However, there was supposed to be a step back in a slight rebuild, and now comes the payoff with former star recruits – like Blake Fisher at right tackle – looking ready to do a whole lot more.

Cincinnati

There might be a ton of turnover on the Cincinnati offense, but the line that was among the best in the nation in tackles for loss allowed will be a rock again.  Three First Team All-AAC veterans – guard Lorenz Metz, tackle Dylan O’Quinn, center Jake Renfro – head up an even better front five than the CFP version.

10 Baylor

The starting O line that did such a great job in pass protection and paved the way for over five yards per carry on the way to the Big 12 title is going to be outstanding again. Tackle Connor Galvin and center Jacob Gall are All-Big 12 blockers with good parts around them.

Unit Rankings By Conference: Offensive Lines 
Top 10 | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt

NEXT: CFN Preview 2022 Preseason College Football Offensive Lines Unit Rankings: ACC

College Football Preseason Running Back Unit Rankings: CFN Preview 2022

College football unit rankings – the running backs. Ranking the top 10 overall, and then ranking each conference’s running back situations.

College Football News Preview 2022 preseason unit rankings, looking at the top ten running back situations and rankings by conference.


The quarterbacks have turned into the stars of college football, but there are a whole slew of great backs and teams with terrific rotations of runners returning for 2022.

Who has the No. 2 and 3 backs to keep the main man fresh? Who has the guys to take the pressure off the quarterback so he doesn’t have to take a slew of big hits?

This isn’t a list of the top players – it’s about that depth chart along with the key starters in the unit rankings.

And remember, it’s not necessarily about the running games the crank up huge yards. How effective are these groups in the respective systems?

Sometimes, averaging over five yards per carry and being able to move the chains are more important than amassing big yard totals. So with all of that in mind …

Here are the 2022 running back unit rankings.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact @ColFootballNews

CFN Preview 2022 Preseason College Football Unit Rankings: Running Backs

Unit Rankings By Conference: Running Backs 
Top 10 | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt

1 Texas

As long as Bijan Robinson is rolling, everything else about the Texas offense should work. He was banged up last year, but he still ran for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns. Roschon Johnson and Keilan Robinson are great reserves who can more than carry the load.

Wisconsin

Leave it to Wisconsin to find a superstar from out of nowhere. Braelon Allen was a load as a true freshman – running for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns – and the offense gets back Chez Mellusi, the main man early on before getting hurt. Isaac Guerendo can pound away, too.

3 Minnesota

Mohamed Ibrahim was cranking it up against Ohio State in the opener last year with 163 yards and two touchdowns, and then he tore his Achilles tendon and was out for the year. He’s back, Trey Potts and Bryce Williams are proven veterans, and it should all work behind another pounding offensive front.

4 Ohio State

Yeah, Bijan Robinson might be the best running back in college football, and Minnesota and Wisconsin have the Big Ten’s killer ground games, and CJ Stroud and the passing attack own the Ohio State offense … Buckeye RB TreVeyon Henderson takes a back seat to no one. He averaged close to seven yards per carry with 15 scores, and backup Miyan Williams averaged over seven yards per pop with 507 yards and three scores.

5 Alabama

Get ready for Jahmyr Gibbs. Alabama has had some fantastic running backs over the years, but the Georgia Tech transfer is the best home run hitter the program has had in a while. He’s about to explode, and Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, and Trey Sanders can rotate in and produce, too.


2022 CFN Predictions For Every Game 
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt
CFN 2022 Preseason Ranking of all 131 Teams
CFN 2022 Preview of all 131 Teams


Appalachian State

The Mountaineers are insane-deep in talent and experience. 2021 leading rusher Nate Noel is back after running for over 1,600 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons. Cameron Peoples led the team in rushing in 2020 – he averaged over six yards per carry with over 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns in the last two years. Anderson Castle averaged over five yards per carry as the third leading rusher, and Daetrich Harrington is a 1,425-yard career rusher with 12 scores – averaging over five yards per pop.

Syracuse

Sean Tucker is as good as any back in college football. He might not have the hype of some of the other starts, but the guy who ran for almost 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns might just be the ACC Player of the Year if he can do that again. QB Garrett Shrader is the team’s second best runner, but New Mexico State transfer Juwaun Price is a terrific all-around back who adds more flash to the mix.

Michigan State

It worked last year with Kenneth Walker. Get a solid transfer, turn him loose, get massive production. Jalen Berger was a huge recruit for Wisconsin, but it didn’t quite work out. He might not be Walker, but the talent is there to explode. Colorado transfer Jarek Broussard was terrific in his two years in Boulder – he could be the one who takes over right away.

[lawrence-related id=548752]

9 USC

USC might have lost Keontay Ingram and Vavae Malepeai, but Darwin Barlow is a nice back with upside. He’ll be a part of the mix, but Oregon transfer Travis Dye is the star. The tough back can do it all – he scored 18 times last year and has over 3,000 career rushing yards and 83 catches. Peeling away Austin Jones from Stanford was terrific for the depth.

10 Florida

The backs under Billy Napier in the Louisiana offense ripped off yards and big plays in chunks. The attack is great at putting the runners in a position to do big things, and that’s about to be what Montrell Johnson – 838 yards, 5.2 yards per carry, 12 touchdowns last year for the Ragin’ Cajuns – does for the Gators. Nay’Quan Wright and Lorenzo Lingard should roll in the new attack, too.

Unit Rankings By Conference: Running Backs 
Top 10 | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt 

NEXT: CFN Preview 2022 Preseason College Football Running Back Unit Rankings: ACC

Pre-Week 1 Big Ten football power rankings

Three Big Ten teams have a win or loss in the record books in 2022. After two games last week, here’s our week one Big Ten power rankings.

Week one is just days ahead, featuring a good mix of high end games and tune ups for those in the Big Ten. Three teams, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Illinois, have already kicked off their seasons, but the action really kicks off this week. Here is how the conference stacks up before the action starts.

College Football Rankings: 2022 CFN Preseason Ranking Of All 131 Teams

CFN’s preseason ranking of all 131 teams along with the top players, early games, and predicted finishes.

College Football News Preview 2022 preseason college football rankings with top players, early games, and predicted finishes for all 131 teams.


Here we go with 2022 college football rankings for all 131 teams. Call this the jumping off point.

As always, the preseason rankings are about how good the teams appear to be going into fall camp, and then they’ll change drastically once the season starts and the results come in.

Teams are never ranked based on the projected finish, but the season prediction is added along with everyone’s season opening matchup and a player you need to know.

The teams at the very, very top are relatively obvious, but it gets interesting fast with the hype jacked for a whole slew of programs that pushed through into the elite. Of course, the fun comes when the lower-ranked teams show us just how wrong the early thoughts were.

What are the expectations for each team? How do they compare and contrast with everyone else? The 2022 college football season is about to get rolling.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact @ColFootballNews

CFN Preview 2022 Preseason College Football Rankings

2022 CFN Predictions For Every Game 
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | M-West | Sun Belt
Preseason Predictions AP Poll | Coaches
CFN 2022 Preview of All 131 Teams

CFN Preview 2022 Rankings 
76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10

131 UConn

Player You Need to Know: Jackson Mitchell, LB Soph.
Season Opener: at Utah State
2022 Preseason Prediction: 2-10
2021 Record: 1-11 2021 CFN Prediction: 3-9
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 129 2021 CFN Final Rank: 128
CFN Final Rankings 2020 NR 2019 126 2018 129
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

130 UMass

Player You Need to Know: Ellis Merriweather, RB Sr.
Season Opener: at Tulane
2022 Preseason Prediction: 1-11
2021 Record: 1-11 2021 CFN Prediction: 2-10
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 130 2021 CFN Final Rank: 129
CFN Final Rankings 2020 127 2019 130 2018 104
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

129 New Mexico State

Player You Need to Know: Chris Ojoh, LB Sr.
Season Opener: Nevada
2022 Preseason Prediction: 2-10
2021 Record: 2-10 2021 CFN Prediction: 2-10
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 126 2021 CFN Final Rank: 126
CFN Final Rankings 2020 NR 2019 127 2018 124
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

128 Akron

Player You Need to Know: Jeslord Boateng, LB Jr.
Season Opener: Saint Francis
2022 Preseason Prediction: 1-11
2021 Record: 2-10 2021 CFN Prediction: 2-10
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 125 2021 CFN Final Rank: 127
CFN Final Rankings 2020 123 2019 129 2018 102
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

127 FIU

Player You Need to Know: Davon Strickland, DT Jr.
Season Opener: Bryant
2022 Preseason Prediction: 2-10
2021 Record: 1-11 2021 CFN Prediction: 5-7
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 115 2021 CFN Final Rank: 130
CFN Final Rankings 2020 125 2019 85 2018 43
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

126 ULM

Player You Need to Know: Boogie Knight, WR Sr.
Season Opener: at Texas
2022 Preseason Prediction: 2-10
2021 Record: 4-8 2021 CFN Prediction: 1-11
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 124 2021 CFN Final Rank: 124
CFN Final Rankings 2020 124 2019 100 2018 89
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

125 Ball State

Player You Need to Know: Brandon Martin, LB Sr.
Season Opener: at Tennessee
2022 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2021 Record: 6-7 2021 CFN Prediction: 7-5
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 90 2021 CFN Final Rank: 98
CFN Final Rankings 2020 46 2019 83 2018 106
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

124 Bowling Green

Player You Need to Know: Darren Anders, LB Sr.
Season Opener: at UCLA
2022 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2021 Record: 4-8 2021 CFN Prediction: 2-10
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 127 2021 CFN Final Rank: 108
CFN Final Rankings 2020 126 2019 124 2018 118
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

123 Buffalo

Player You Need to Know: James Patterson, LB Sr.
Season Opener: at Maryland
2022 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2021 Record: 4-8 2021 CFN Prediction: 6-6
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 99 2021 CFN Final Rank: 109
CFN Final Rankings 2020 63 2019 39 2018 34
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

122 New Mexico

Player You Need to Know: Jerrick Reed, S Sr.
Season Opener: Maine
2022 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2021 Record: 3-9 2021 CFN Prediction: 5-7
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 106 2021 CFN Final Rank: 125
CFN Final Rankings 2020 95 2019 120 2018 110
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

121 Arkansas State

Player You Need to Know: Kivon Bennett, LB/DE Sr.
Season Opener: Grambling State
2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 Record: 2-10 2021 CFN Prediction: 6-6
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 97 2021 CFN Final Rank: 123
CFN Final Rankings 2020 112 2019 67 2018 72
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

120 Rice

Player You Need to Know: Gabe Taylor, S Soph.
Season Opener: at USC
2022 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2021 Record: 4-8 2021 CFN Prediction: 6-6
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 120 2021 CFN Final Rank: 116
CFN Final Rankings 2020 106 2019 115 2018 127
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

119 Charlotte

Player You Need to Know: WR Grant DuBose, Jr.
Season Opener: at Florida Atlantic
2022 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2021 Record: 5-7 2021 CFN Prediction: 3-9
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 119 2021 CFN Final Rank: 115
CFN Final Rankings 2020 116 2019 72 2018 93
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

118 Texas State

Player You Need to Know: Marcell Barbee, WR Sr.
Season Opener: at Nevada
2022 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2021 Record: 4-8 2021 CFN Prediction: 3-9
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 114 2021 CFN Final Rank: 122
CFN Final Rankings 2020 111 2019 114 2018 123
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

117 UTEP

Player You Need to Know: Praise Amaewhule, DE Jr.
Season Opener: North Texas
2022 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2021 Record: 7-6 2021 CFN Prediction: 3-9
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 123 2021 CFN Final Rank: 106
CFN Final Rankings 2020 121 2019 128 2018 130
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

116 Georgia Southern

Player You Need to Know: Derrick Canteen, CB Jr.
Season Opener: Morgan State
2022 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2021 Record: 3-9 2021 CFN Prediction: 6-6
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 87 2021 CFN Final Rank: 121
CFN Final Rankings 2020 78 2019 55 2018 28
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

115 Ohio

Player You Need to Know: Kurtis Rourke, QB Jr.
Season Opener: Florida Atlantic
2022 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2021 Record: 3-9 2021 CFN Prediction: 6-6
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 111 2021 CFN Final Rank: 112
CFN Final Rankings 2020 109 2019 51 2018 30
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

114 Eastern Michigan

Player You Need to Know: Sidy Sow, OG Sr.
Season Opener: Eastern Kentucky
2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 Record: 7-6 2021 CFN Prediction: 5-7
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 117 2021 CFN Final Rank: 100
CFN Final Rankings 2020 107 2019 80 2018 71
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

113 Kent State

Player You Need to Know: Dante Cephas, WR, Jr.
Season Opener: at Washington
2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 Record: 7-7 2021 CFN Prediction: 6-6
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 107 2021 CFN Final Rank: 90
CFN Final Rankings 2020 89 2019 66 2018 114
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

112 James Madison

Player You Need to Know: Kris Thornton, WR Sr.
Season Opener: Middle Tennessee
2022 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2021 Record: 12-2 2021 CFN Prediction:
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: NR 2021 CFN Final Rank: NR 
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

111 South Alabama

Player You Need to Know: Darrell Luter, CB Sr.
Season Opener: Nicholls State
2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 Record: 5-7 2021 CFN Prediction: 3-9
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 122 2021 CFN Final Rank: 120
CFN Final Rankings 2020 108 2019 119 2018 109
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

110 Southern Miss

Player You Need to Know: Hayes Maples, LB Jr.
Season Opener: Liberty
2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 Record: 3-9 2021 CFN Prediction: 6-6
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 116 2021 CFN Final Rank: 119
CFN Final Rankings 2020 117 2019 68 2018 75
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

109 Old Dominion

Player You Need to Know: Zack Kuntz, TE Jr.
Season Opener: at Virginia Tech
2022 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2021 Record: 6-7 2021 CFN Prediction: 2-10
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 128 2021 CFN Final Rank: 94
CFN Final Rankings 2020 NR 2019 125 2018 105
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

108 Middle Tennessee

Player You Need to Know: Jordan Ferguson, DE Sr.
Season Opener: at James Madison
2022 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2021 Record: 7-6 2021 CFN Prediction: 5-7
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 118 2021 CFN Final Rank: 95
CFN Final Rankings 2020 119 2019 107 2018 59
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

107 Temple

Player You Need to Know: Isaac Moore, OT Sr.
Season Opener: Duke
2022 Preseason Prediction: 2-10
2021 Record: 3-9 2021 CFN Prediction: 5-7
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 84 2021 CFN Final Rank: 118
CFN Final Rankings 2020 110 2019 54 2018 58
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

106 UNLV

Player You Need to Know: Harrison Bailey, QB Soph.
Season Opener: Idaho State
2022 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2021 Record: 2-10 2021 CFN Prediction: 3-9
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 110 2021 CFN Final Rank: 113
CFN Final Rankings 2020 120 2019 106 2018 107
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

105 Hawaii

Player You Need to Know: Ilm Manning, OT, Sr.
Season Opener: Vanderbilt
2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-7
2021 Record: 6-7 2021 CFN Prediction: 7-6
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 74 2021 CFN Final Rank: 102
CFN Final Rankings 2020 74 2019 32 2018 73
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

104 Florida Atlantic

Player You Need to Know: Teja Young, S Jr.
Season Opener: Charlotte
2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 Record: 5-7 2021 CFN Prediction: 8-4
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 101 2021 CFN Final Rank: 111
CFN Final Rankings 2020 101 2019 13 2018 91
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

103 Central Michigan

Player You Need to Know: Lew Nichols, RB Soph.
Season Opener: at Oklahoma State
2022 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2021 Record: 9-4 2021 CFN Prediction: 6-6
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 108 2021 CFN Final Rank: 70
CFN Final Rankings 2020 105 2019 71 2018 128
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

102 Louisiana Tech

Player You Need to Know: BeeJay Williamson, S Jr.
Season Opener: at Missouri
2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 Record: 3-9 2021 CFN Prediction: 7-5
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 100 2021 CFN Final Rank: 114
CFN Final Rankings 2020 103 2019 43 2018 77
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

101 Miami University

Player You Need to Know: Brett Gabbert, QB Jr.
Season Opener: at Kentucky
2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 Record: 7-6 2021 CFN Prediction: 6-6
2021 CFN Preseason Rank: 109 2021 CFN Final Rank: 96
CFN Final Rankings 2020 93 2019 47 2018 70
Preview | Top 10 PlayersSchedule

CFN Preview 2022 Rankings 
76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10

NEXT: CFN Preview 2022 Preseason College Football Rankings: Top 100

Full worst-to-first preseason SP+ conference power rankings

Where does the Big Ten stand nationally in comparison to all other conferences in ESPN’s final SP+ preseason projections?

The Big Ten is generally regarded as one of the nation’s premier conferences. It makes perfect sense, too. In addition to boasting some of the country’s top brands, the actual football being played on the gridiron is pretty dang good as well.

In fact, ESPN’s final SP+ preseason projections rank five Big Ten teams inside the nation’s top 17 and eight teams inside the country’s top 34. Iowa checks in No. 27 nationally according to the final SP+ ratings. Suffice it to say, the predictive model expects the league to feature plenty of the nation’s top teams once more in 2022.

On the surface, those numbers sound great for the Big Ten. How does the Big Ten stack up nationally, though? Where do all of the conferences rank according to Bill Connelly’s final SP+ preseason projections?

Here’s a worst-to-first breakdown of where each conference stands in terms of overall strength per ESPN’s final SP+ rankings.

Iowa Hawkeyes left out of preseason 2022 USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll

USA TODAY Sports released its preseason top 25 Coaches Poll and the Iowa Hawkeyes were the first team on the outside looking in.

USA TODAY Sports released their preseason top 25 coaches poll prior to the kickoff of the 2022 college football season. As it stands right now, the Iowa Hawkeyes are the first team on the outside looking in as they are excluded from the top 25.

While preseason top 25 polls are based off of expectations, hype, and circumstances, no actual on-field data or games exist to make a true ranking. That said, it is still peculiar to exclude the defending Big Ten West champions from a national top 25.

The top of the rankings are the usual suspects in Alabama at No. 1, Ohio State at No. 2, and Georgia at No. 3. The rest of the top 10 looks like this: Clemson at No. 4, Notre Dame at No. 5, Michigan at No. 6, Texas A&M at No. 7, Utah at No. 8, Oklahoma at No. 9 and Baylor at No. 10.

The Big Ten has two other representatives in the preseason USA TODAY Sports top 25 rankings. The Michigan State Spartans at No. 14 and the Wisconsin Badgers at No. 20 join the Buckeyes and Wolverines.

The SEC has six schools in the top 25 while the Big 12 has four schools represented and the ACC has five schools selected.

Some schools feel slightly overrated. Texas is always overrated and has not proven otherwise in the last few years aside from their talent on paper. Cincinnati will still be very formidable but losing Desmond Ridder and Sauce Gardner could caise a minor step back for the Bearcats.

Clemson deserves to be in the top 25 but sitting at No. 4 coming off of a down year in terms of what it takes to be in the college football playoff seems as though their ranking was given based on prior accolades as opposed to the current situation.

Rank Team Points 1st Place Votes
1 Alabama 1,634 54
2 Ohio State 1,564 5
3 Georgia 1,542 6
4 Clemson 1,356
5 Notre Dame 1,284
6 Michigan 1,232
7 Texas A&M 1,219
8 Utah 1,134
9 Oklahoma 1,027
10 Baylor 891
11 Oklahoma State 859
12 Oregon 734
13 North Carolina State 726
14 Michigan State 711
15 Southern California 602
16 Pittsburgh 450
17 Miami (Fl) 433
18 Texas 383 1
19 Wake Forest 381
20 Wisconsin 369
21 Kentucky 353
22 Cincinnati 339
23 Arkansas 334
24 Ole Miss 327
25 Houston 257

Others Receiving Votes

Iowa 248; Penn State 246; Tennessee 163; Brigham Young 152; Louisiana State 143; Auburn 98; Central Florida 55; North Carolina 34; San Diego State 25; Fresno State 21; Mississippi State 19; Florida 17; Utah State 12; Air Force 12; UCLA 10; Boise State 10; Appalachian State 10; Minnesota 6; South Carolina 5; Kansas State 4; Iowa State 3; Army 3; UL Lafayette 2; Southern Methodist 2; Purdue 2; Oregon State 2; Coastal Carolina 2; Texas-San Antonio 1; Louisville 1; Florida State 1

[listicle id=7578]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Riley on Twitter: @rileydonald7

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

‘We’ve got a healthy situation’: Iowa Hawkeyes’ Kirk Ferentz updates quarterback competition

Iowa Hawkeyes head football coach Kirk Ferentz told Rich Eisen that his team has a “healthy situation” at quarterback heading into 2022.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz continues to sing a positive tune on his team’s quarterback situation as the Hawkeyes begin fall camp.

Ferentz joined SiriusXM‘s Rich Eisen on The Rich Eisen Show. Eisen asked if the Hawkeyes do indeed have an open quarterback competition as camp begins.

“I think yes and no. I think that probably gets played a little bit more publicly, or, you know, it’s a bigger deal publicly. What I said in Indianapolis a week ago, a week-plus ago was that I feel really fortunate that we’ve had two guys on our team we’ve won games with. Spencer (Petras) got injured last year, had to come out, and Alex Padilla stepped in and did a great job and led us to a couple victories.

“There are teams in the country, teams in our conference that couldn’t say that last year. They lost their guy—and that’s part of football, you know, players get hurt—and they couldn’t overcome that. So, I’m really proud of our team for overcoming that and then obviously Alex did a really good job. I think both Alex Padilla and Spencer Petras are better players than they were a year ago. That’s our expectation for all of our players, especially our good guys. So, I think we’ve got a healthy situation and we’re going to let everybody compete in camp, every position and we’ll see where it all goes,” Ferentz said.

Spencer Petras was listed atop the depth chart to start the spring and in the recent offensive depth chart that was unveiled as the Hawkeyes headed to Big Ten Media Days.

As Ferentz mentioned, Petras battled the injury bug last season. The San Rafael, Calif., native started the first nine games of the 2021 season before an injury meant that Padilla got the starts against Minnesota, Illinois and Nebraska. Ultimately, it should be a positive for Iowa, though. Padilla picked up valuable experience and proved like Ferentz said that he can win the Hawkeyes football games.

Petras finished the 2021 season starting the losses against Michigan in the Big Ten Championship game and the Vrbo Citrus Bowl versus Kentucky. Overall, Petras completed 165-of-288 passes for 1,880 passing yards with 10 passing touchdowns against nine interceptions. His completion percentage of 57.3% is a number that Petras has zeroed in on as one of the primary numbers he’s looking to improve.

Meanwhile, Padilla completed 55-of-112 passes for a 49.1% completion percentage, for 636 passing yards and two passing touchdowns against a pair of interceptions.

The Hawkeyes’ season opener is against South Dakota State on Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. from inside Kinnick Stadium.

[listicle id=7496]

[listicle id=7449]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Phil Steele’s full 2022 preseason college football top 40 rankings

What does Phil Steele’s preseason top 40 look like? Which programs are the favorites to reach the College Football Playoff?

Phil Steele is one of the top voices in all of college football. His annual college football preview magazine is something fans look forward to every year.

Now, we get a look at his preseason top 40 college football rankings. The Iowa Hawkeyes are inside his top 20 after winning the Big Ten West in 2021. How many other Big Ten teams find their way inside the top 40?

According to Phil Steele, seven Big Ten teams will finish inside the top 40. Is one of them perhaps his predicted national champion? Let’s take a look below at how Phil Steele projects all of the top 40 to shake out in 2022.