2022-college-football – Page 4

Preseason All-America Defense: CFN 2022 Preview

2022 CFN Preseason All-America Team: Defense. Who are the stars going into the college football season?

Who are the best and brightest stars going into the 2022 season? The CFN Preseason All-America Team – the defense.

They’re the top defensive players going into the season – let the hype begin. Along with the 2022 CFN All-America Defense are the rest of the top 12 players at each position.

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Preseason All-America Team: CFN First Team Defensive Ends, Edge Rushers

Will Anderson, EDGE/OLB Jr. Alabama

Arguably the nation’s best football player going into 2022, the star hybrid pass rusher was everyone’s All-American 2021 and should be deep in the mix for the Heisman this time around. He made 102 tackles with 17.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss in a steadily unstoppable run, and now he’ll be one of the season’s signature stars.

Andre Carter, EDGE/OLB Jr. Army

The running game always takes center stage at Army, but its pass rusher will be the main man. Carter led the nation in sacks per game in a stellar 44 tackle, 15.5 sack, 18.5 tackle for loss season with four forced fumbles with an interception. He’s 6-7, 260 pounds with a tremendous closing burst from the outside in his hybrid role.

Preseason All-America Team: CFN Second Team Defensive Ends, Edge Rushers

Will McDonald, DE Sr. Iowa State

The 2021 All-American comes into the season as the veteran to rebuild a great defense around – he might just be the best defensive player in the Big 12 if everything goes right. Going into his fifth year, he has 89 career tackles with 29 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, and nine forced fumbles.

Myles Murphy, Jr. Clemson

Possibly the first true defensive end off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft – calling Will Anderson an edge rusher – the 6-5, 275-pound Murphy is a versatile all-around veteran on what should be the nation’s best line. He made 79 tackles with 11 sacks and 26 tackles for loss in his first two seasons – he might get 11 sacks this season.

Preseason All-America Team: CFN Honorable Mention Defensive Ends, Edge Rushers

5. BJ Ojulari, Sr. LSU
6. Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Jr. Washington
7. Isaiah Foskey, DE Jr. Notre Dame
8. Zach Harrison, DE Sr. Ohio State
9. Habakkuk Baldonado, Sr. Pitt
10. Josaiah Stewart, Soph. Coastal Carolina
11. Collin Oliver, Soph. Oklahoma State
12. Derick Hall, Sr. Auburn

CFN Preseason Ranking of Every Team 1-131
CFN Preseason Bowl Predictions

Preseason All-America Team: CFN First Team Defensive Tackles

Bryan Bresee, Jr. Clemson

All that’s missing is a healthy season. The 6-5, 300-pound former super-recruit showed off his incredible blend of skills in his first two campaigns, but a knee injury knocking him out last year after getting banged up a bit as a true freshman. When he’s right, he’s too quick and too active to keep contained without a whole lot of attention, making 48 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 9.5 tackles for loss in his first two seasons.

Jalen Carter, Jr. Georgia

While he was a bit outside of the spotlight with all the stars on last year’s national championship team, it’s not totally wrong to think he might have been the best pro prospect on that historic D. The 6-3, 310-pound new anchor up front made 51 tackles with three sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in his first two years. His job this season will be to lead another great line.

Preseason All-America Team: CFN Second Team Defensive Tackles

Tyler Davis, Sr. Clemson

Bryan Bresee might be the prototype NFL defensive tackle on the Clemson defensive front, but the 6-2, 300-pound Davis can get after it, too. He wasn’t the recruit Bresee was, but he quickly emerged as a factor as an interior pass rusher and tough run stopper. Injuries limited him at times, but he still made 79 tackles with ten sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss in his first three seasons.

Siaki Ika, Jr. Baylor

Getting into the backfield is nice, and quick, versatile tackles are always great, but a giant brick wall in the middle of the line is what every coach loves. The 6-4, 358-pound Ika transferred in from LSU and gummed up the works for the Big 12 champion defense, finishing with 24 tackles for 3.5 sacks and six tackles for loss. He can’t be moved.

Preseason All-America Team: CFN Honorable Mention Defensive Tackles

5. Tuli Tuipulotu, Jr. USC
6. Keeanu Benton, Sr. Wisconsin
7. Jonah Tavai, Sr. San Diego State
8. Dante Stills, Sr. West Virginia
9. Calijah Kancey, Jr. Pitt
10. PJ Mustipher, Sr. Penn State
11. Zacch Pickens, Sr. South Carolina
12. Scott Matlock, Sr. Boise State

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Preseason All-America Team: CFN First Team Linebackers

Jack Campbell, Sr. Iowa

A 6-5, 243-pound tackling machine, Campbell gets to everything, finishing with 143 tackles last season and 177 stops in his first three seasons. He’s not a big pass rusher – two career sacks and eight tackles for loss – but that’s not really his role. He makes up for it with his pass coverage skills, picking off three passes with 12 broken up passes in his last two years.

Noah Sewell, Soph. Oregon

The best all-around linebacker in college football has more than lived up to the prep hype as a do-it-all playmaker for the Duck D over the last two seasons. He started out with a strong 45 tackle season, and it all came together in 2021 with 114 stops with four sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and six broken up passes.

Payton Wilson, Jr. NC State

He has to be 100% coming off a shoulder problem, but assuming he’ll be back to normal, he’ll be the star of an incredible linebacking corps that’s as good as any in college football. Only able to see time in two games last year – making five tackles – he came up with 117 in his first two seasons with 3.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, and four broken up passes.

Preseason All-America Team: CFN Second Team Linebackers

Justin Flowe, RFr. Oregon

Can he finally catch an injury break? The superstar recruit has all the tools to be a next-level must-have, but he only saw time in one game in 2020 thanks to COVID, and last season was out for most of the year with a foot injury. If he’s right, he’ll combine with Noah Sewell to give the Ducks the nation’s best 1-2 linebacking punch.

Bumper Pool, Sr. Arkansas

One of the key parts in the resurgence of Arkansas football, the 6-2, 232-pound veteran led the team with 125 tackles last season to make it 349 stops with 23 tackles for loss and 16 broken up passes in his four years. He’s not going to rush the passer, but he’ll get in on everything against the run.

Nolan Smith, Sr. Georgia

He hasn’t quite played up to the massive recruiting hype, but he’s been more than fine with 96 tackles in three season with 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. With the big loss of talent along the amazing Georgia defense, Smith now goes from being a big part of a national championship to one of the featured stars.

Preseason All-America Team: CFN Honorable Mention Linebackers

7. Jackson Sirmon, Jr. Cal
8. Henry To’o To’o, Sr. Alabama
9. Nick Herbig, Jr. Wisconsin
10. Darius Muasau, Sr. UCLA
11. Brenton Cox, Sr. Florida
12. Vince Sanford, Sr. Air Force

Preseason All-America Team: CFN First Team Cornerbacks

Kelee Ringo, Soph. Georgia

He’ll be forever known as the one who allowed Georgia fans to light the national championship victory cigar with his pick six against Alabama, but the 6-2, 205-pounder is more than just that historic play. With his size, tools, and coverage skills – 34 tackles last season with a sack, two picks, and ten broken up passes – all of the NFL upside is there.

Eli Ricks, Jr. Alabama

The former superstar recruit for LSU moved over to Bama where he’ll instantly be the No. 1 lockdown corner. The 6-2, 190-pounder was banged up and missed half of last year, but he’s back and should be ready to erase half of the field. As a freshman he made 20 tackles with four picks, taking two for scores – he’s about to be that 2020 version for the Tide.

Preseason All-America Team: CFN Second Team Cornerbacks

Kyu Blu Kelly, Sr. Stanford

A favorite among the NFL scouting circuit, the 6-1, 190-pounder has the size, can hit, and he’s coming off his best season yet. The stats matched the tools with 58 tackles, two picks – one for a score – and 11 broken up passes after coming up with 54 stops in his first two seasons.

Clark Phillips, Soph. Utah

The 5-10, 183-pound sophomore isn’t huge, but he can hit, he’s experienced, and he’s fantastic when the ball is in the air. He was strong as a true freshman, and last year he blew up with 61 tackles with two picks and 13 broken up passes. Great with the ball in his hands, he returned two of his four interceptions for scores.

Preseason All-America Team: CFN Honorable Mention Cornerbacks

5. Cam Smith, Jr. South Carolina
6. Riley Moss, Sr. Iowa
7. Denzel Burke, Soph. Ohio State
8. Emmanuel Forbes, Jr. Mississippi State
9. Joey Porter, Jr. Penn State
10. Darrell Luter, Sr. South Alabama
11. Steven Gilmore, Sr. Marshall
12. Cam Hart, Sr. Notre Dame

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Preseason All-America Team: CFN First Team Safeties

Jordan Battle, Sr. Alabama

The Crimson Tide secondary is loaded with depth, talent, and options, and Battle should be the leader of the fun. The 6-1, 206-pounder was all over the place as a playmaking strong safety – three of his four picks over the last two years went for scores – with 182 career tackles with a sack, six tackles for loss, five interceptions and 13 broken up passes in three years.

Brandon Joseph, Sr. Notre Dame

Joseph was one of the best defensive backs in the country at Northwestern over the last two seasons – six interceptions in eight games in 2020, and 79 tackles with three picks in 2021 – and now he’s moving over to the Irish defensive backfield. It’s his job to take over for Kyle Hamilton, and he’s one of the few who can do it.

Preseason All-America Team: CFN Second Team Safeties

Antonio Johnson, Jr. Texas A&M

A tall, rangy 6-3, 200-pound safety who came in as a good recruit, he turned into an elite player in 2021 with 79 tackles with a sack, an interception, six broken up passes and 8.5 tackles for loss. Versatile, he’s equally good as a tough run supporter and in pass coverage.

Rashad Wisdom, Sr. UTSA

The two-time First Team All-Conference USA defender might fly under the national radar, but there are few better playmaking safeties. A compact 5-9 and 205 pounds, he packs a big punch with 227 tackles, two sacks, 12 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 13 broken up passes, and four forced fumbles over the last three seasons.

Preseason All-America Team: CFN Honorable Mention Safeties

5. Kenny Logan, Sr. Kansas
6. Teja Young, Jr. Florida Atlantic
7. Antavious Lane, Jr. Georgia State
8. Sydney Brown, Sr. Illinois
9. Jammie Robinson, Jr. Florida State
10. Kelee Ringo, Sr. Georgia
11. Cam Allen, Sr. Purdue
12. Christian Izien, Sr. Rutgers

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

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– Schedules of all 131 teams

College Conference Expansion, Realignment Scenarios. What Each League Should Do, What Will Happen?

Really? You want to make sense of all the expansion and realignment in college sports?

Good luck with that.

Even the most connected of college football insiders are trying to put together the shredded papers to create a clear picture as all the rumors, reports, and tidbits fly around. So read this at your own risk – there’s a solid chance this all blows up five minutes from now.

I’m prepared for everything below to soon look totally ridiculous because nothing appears to be off the table.

The Big 12 getting Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF was obvious, but seriously, Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC? Last summer that seemed insane, and then it hit like a ton of bricks. That was nothing compared to the failure of imagination – and the shock – of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten.

And how about the Sun Belt being the most proactive league of the bunch with Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss being snagged from Conference USA?

So be warned, while everything below is rooted in reality to some extent … nah. It’s all changing by the moment.

With all that said, what’s going on in realignment? What are the best and worst case scenarios for all the conference expansion options, what’s a crazy idea that might work for each one, and what’s about to happen – maybe?

Let’s do this.

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ACC Expansion

What’s Going On? Nothing at the moment, but the rumors are flying. The SEC is supposedly interested, and the Big Ten isn’t saying anything – but would LOVE North Carolina. Even so, everything appears to be fine … for now.

Best Case Scenario: The ACC vastly improves its long-term media deal, ends its friends with benefits relationship with Notre Dame and puts a ring on it, and gives some thought to West Virginia joining the fun.

Worst Case Scenario: ESPN – or some crafty lawyer – figures out how to blow up the horrible grant of rights deal that locks the schools into their football media deal until 2036, and the SEC and Big Ten have have an epic battle to see who can get North Carolina, and Clemson, Florida State, and Miami.

– 10 Most Attractive Group of Five School for Expansion

Crazy Idea That Won’t Work, But … READ … THE … ROOM. What did the Big Ten just do? It raided the Pac-12 to go coast-to-coast with its footprint. Who might be out there right now for the taking? Cal and Stanford.

Again, it’s crazy, but academically those two are rock stars, they make it very, very attractive for Notre Dame to join the fun, and even though college football interest is, well, fickle in the Bay Area, it’s still a monster market to totally own.

What Will Probably Happen: The ACC will stay in place as is, but that won’t keep everyone from trying to figure out how to steal the star schools.

It’ll be in discussions with the Big 12 and Pac-12 to try forming an alliance to combat the Big Ten and SEC menaces. In the meantime, it’ll look to improve the current media deal and won’t just sit by and wait for the inevitable defections from schools desperate to leave for more revenue.

American Athletic Conference Expansion NEXT

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College Football Hall Of Fame 2023 Ballot: Ranking The Candidates

2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballot has been released. How good are all the candidates? We ranked them from top to bottom.

The 2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballot has been released highlighted by Tim Tebow, Julius Peppers, Reggie Bush, and other legends to choose from.

Ranking All Players On The 2023 Hall of Fame Ballot

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The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the names on the 2023 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, including 80 players and seven coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision.

A Hall of Famer should be obvious, and it’s not just about name recognition. A player’s popularity doesn’t mean he had all-timer of an impact on the sport or was one of the true greats. Perspective is needed, eras and systems have to be considered, and there should be some test of time.

NFL production doesn’t matter in any way, shape or form – this is the COLLEGE Football Hall of Fame – and other factors shouldn’t matter at all. Being worthy of the Hall should only be about what happened on the field during that player’s college career.

The 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot is out now!

You can receive a vote by joining at https://t.co/qSwkgLEyFo

🔗Check out the full ballot at https://t.co/6KGre6ulmI pic.twitter.com/qE1l0qDaaI

— Football Foundation (@NFFNetwork) June 6, 2022

Here’s our ranking of all FBS player College Football Hall of Fame nominees based on how much they deserve to be in. A few things to keep in mind before going forward.

1. I know I’m supposed to care if a player was a NFF Scholar-Athlete, but I don’t.

2. Win a Heisman, get in the Hall. That should be automatic.

3. If you have to make a case why a player deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, he probably doesn’t deserve to be in.

Not only do voters have to take into account all the different eras and all the different aspects of the game’s evolution, but there are also the rules to deal with.

According to the National Football Foundation, to shorten and sum up the criteria:

1. A player has to have been a First Team All-American on a list recognized by the NCAA. No Joe Montana.

2. He’s eligible ten years after his final year of playing.

3. Post-career citizenship is factored into the voting, and an extra boost is given to those who earned a degree. O.J. Simpson is still in.

4. Players must have played within the last 50 years. So to be eligible for the 2023 class, the player had to have finished his career by 1973.

5. A coach is eligible three years after retiring or if he’s older than 70, and active coaches are eligible after age 75. He had to be a head coach for at least ten years and had to have coaches at least 100 games with a .600 minimum winning percentage.

These players were fantastic talents for their respective schools, and some might consider them legends, but it’s pushing it to put them in the Hall of Fame category.

All player bullet points written by the National Football Foundation at footballfoundation.org. You can vote for the College Football Hall of Fame by signing up here.

College Football Rankings 2022 Spring: What To Know About All 131 Teams

College Football Rankings – 2022 post-spring version with one thing to know about all 131 teams.

Where do all 131 college football teams rank after 2022 spring ball? Here’s one thing to know about every team along with the early ranking.

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Contact @ColFootballNews

CFN 2022 Spring Rankings
101-130 | 76-100 | 51-75 | 26-50 | 11-25 | Top 10
Spring Rankings, Season Predictions By Conference
ACC | AAC | Big Ten | Big 12 | C-USA | IND
MAC | M-West | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt

College Football Rankings: 2022 Spring

Just before we dive into all the team-by-team previews, here’s our view of all 131 college football teams after spring ball and with several big transfers settled in. This can and will change up this summer and just before the season as different things happen, but for now, how good is everyone?

131 UMass Minutemen

Final Rankings: 2021: 129 2020: 127 2019: 130
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at Tulane

Don Brown returns the program he led as an FCS powerhouse, but things are far different now. The lines aren’t there on either side, and finding a few offensive playmakers is a must, but the defense will instantly be better under the new coaching staff.
UMass Schedule

130 New Mexico State Aggies

Final Rankings: 2021: 126 2020: NR 2019: 127
Week 0: Nevada
Week 1: at Minnesota (Sept. 1)

Jerry Kill is one of the best football coaches around – medical problems limited him at other gigs – and now he has to work his magic. The talent is lacking, but the team will be far more physical … in time. It’s a Kill team – the ground game will work.
New Mexico State Schedule

129 UConn Huskies

Final Rankings: 2021: 128 2020: NR 2019: 126
Week 0: at Utah State
Week 1: Central Connecticut State

New head coach Jim Mora Jr. has a complete teardown/rebuild to do. It doesn’t help to lose the few great players from last year – like DT Travis Jones – but the team should be more competitive.
UConn Schedule

128 Akron Zips

Final Rankings: 2021: 127 2020: 123 2019: 129
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Saint Francis (Sept. 1)

Start with this – the offense will be better. New head coach Joe Moorhead knows how to get an attack rolling, but the lumps this team will take will enormous. It’s a really, really young team that’s in building mode.
Akron Schedule

127 FIU Golden Panthers

Final Rankings: 2021: 130 2020: 125 2019: 85
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Bryant (Sept. 1)

The Golden Panthers have a good new head coach in Mike MacIntyre, but it’s going to take a program overhaul to get over the last few seasons. It’s a true rebuild needing more transfers to help boost the options.
FIU Schedule

126 Bowling Green Falcons

Final Rankings: 2021: 108 2020: 126 2019: 124
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at UCLA

Eventually the offense will start to work. After years of trying to get the pieces in place, the attack might finally have the guys to go along with the experience on D. Now it’s time for the team to start producing.
Bowling Green Schedule

125 Texas State Bobcats

Final Rankings: 2021: 122 2020: 111 2019: 114
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at Nevada

The team has been fun under head coach Jake Spavital, but the results haven’t been there. The offense at least has experience with a few nice quarterbacks options from the transfer portal, but the Bobcats will be in a whole lot of shootouts.
Texas State Schedule

124 ULM Warhawks

Final Rankings: 2021: 124 2020: 124 2019: 100
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at Texas

Terry Bowden was able to boost up the team for a little while last year, and now with a veteran core of players back the Warhawks should be more competitive. The overall talent level, though, isn’t there.
ULM Schedule

123 Rice Owls

Final Rankings: 2021: 116 2020: 106 2019: 115
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at USC

Will this ever start to work? Rice hasn’t shown a whole lot of signs of turning around under Mike Bloomgren, but the experience is in place on offense and the defense should be decent enough to take a few steps forward.
Rice Schedule

122 UTEP Miners

Final Rankings: 2021: 106 2020: 121 2019: 128
Week 0: North Texas
Week 1: at Oklahoma

Was 2021 for real? The 7-6 season was great for the program, but the wins came against a whole lot of layups. The Miners will count on transfers to fill in the gaps, and there’s enough returning to remain competitive.
UTEP Schedule

121 New Mexico Lobos

Final Rankings: 2021: 125 2020: 95 2019: 120
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Maine

The Lobos are still a work in progress, but there are just enough veterans back to be better with a little more time. It’s more about production this season than experience. The close wins should come.
New Mexico Schedule

120 Buffalo Bulls

Final Rankings: 2021: 109 2020: 63 2019: 39
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at Maryland

There’s a chance this might be ridiculously low if all the new guys from the transfer portal can be the difference. As long as the offense can find something it can consistently rely on, the Bulls might be one the MAC’s biggest surprises.
Buffalo Schedule

119 North Texas Mean Green

Final Rankings: 2021: 92 2020: 118 2019: 111
Week 0: at UTEP
Week 1: SMU

The Mean Green have a good starting 22, but the depth is lacking and the defensive front is a concern. It’s North Texas, though – the offense will come through against a mediocre schedule.
North Texas Schedule

118 James Madison

Final Rankings: 2021: NR 2020: NR 2019: NR
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Middle Tennessee

Can the success in the FCS translate into wins in the new FBS world? Yeah, and it starts with an offense that should be able to keep up with most Sun Belt teams. The defense has a few too many replacements, though, to make a giant splash.
James Madison Schedule

117 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Final Rankings: 2021: 95 2020: 119 2019: 107
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at James Madison

As long as the defense can find a few more big-time playmakers to make up for the lost parts, the Blue Raiders should be good. The offensive line has to become a strength as the season goes on.
Middle Tennessee Schedule

116 South Alabama Jaguars

Final Rankings: 2021: 120 2020: 108 2019: 119
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Nicholls

The Jaguars were close to coming up with a bowl season, but it’s a stronger Sun Belt, the defense will be worse, and the offense – even though it’ll be experienced – won’t be quite good enough to keep up the pace.
South Alabama Schedule

115 Charlotte 49ers

Final Rankings: 2021: 115 2020: 116 2019: 72
Week 0: at Florida Atlantic
Week 1: William & Mary (Sept. 1)

After coming close to going bowling last year, there’s a shot the 49ers make it happen this season with an improved offense that should be more consistent. The D could be among the best in Conference USA.
Charlotte Schedule

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114 Ohio Bobcats

Final Rankings: 2021: 112 2020: 109 2019: 51
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Florida Atlantic

Ohio should be a whole lot better than it’s been over the last few years, but the offense has to replace almost all of the key parts. The defensive back seven should be good enough to work around.
Ohio Schedule

113 Old Dominion Monarchs

Final Rankings: 2021: 94 2020: NR 2019: 125
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Virginia Tech (Sept. 2)

It was a fun season with a bowl appearance and plenty of fun moments. Now almost everyone is back on offense, and they’ll need to be fantastic to make up for a shaky D.
Old Dominion Schedule

112 Arkansas State Red Wolves

Final Rankings: 2021: 123 2020: 112 2019: 67
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Grambling State

Can Butch Jones take all the experience – and after all of the lumps from 2021 – to put together something great? The Red Wolves should finally start to play defense and the offense will be more consistent.
Arkansas State Schedule

111 Eastern Michigan Eagles

Final Rankings: 2021: 100 2020: 107 2019: 80
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 2)

As always, Eastern Michigan will play everyone tough, but the defensive front will be an early concern and the offensive backfield needs to be ready to rock when MACtion kicks in.
Eastern Michigan Schedule

110 Georgia Southern Eagles

Final Rankings: 2021: 121 2020: 78 2019: 55
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Morgan State

Former USC head coach Clay Helton will try to pivot the program into a different style as he tweaks the offense and gets back just about everyone on defense. This might be one of the Sun Belt’s biggest stories in a year of big Sun Belt stories.
Georgia Southern Schedule

109 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Final Rankings: 2021: 114 2020: 103 2019: 43
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at Missouri

New head coach Sonny Cumbie will get the offense going once the pieces are settled in fall camp. The O will be fine, but the D … that’s going to be a bigger work in progress.
Louisiana Tech Schedule

108 Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Final Rankings: 2021: 119 2020: 117 2019: 68
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Liberty

Can the Golden Eagles take all of their experience and all of the nice parts and start winning after the move to the Sun Belt? The team that fell so flat over the last two years should be stronger and might push for a bowl. The veterans are there.
Southern Miss Schedule

107 USF Bulls

Final Rankings: 2021: 103 2020: 113 2019: 104
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: BYU

It’s been a long fight to get USF back to respectability, and it might take a little it longer under Jeff Scott. Depth is a big problem, but that’s a luxury for a team that still needs a good starting 22.
USF Schedule

106 UNLV Rebels

Final Rankings: 2021: 113 2020: 120 2019: 106
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Idaho State

The Rebels were competitive in enough games last year to think the pivot might be coming fast. Tennessee QB Harrison Bailey and a strong receiving corps should boost up the offense. The team will be much better as the season goes on.
UNLV Schedule

105 Ball State Cardinals

Final Rankings: 2021: 98 2020: 46 2019: 83
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at Tennessee

Call this the X factor team in a conference that’s used to X factors emerging every year. For the Cardinals to win the MAC for the second time in three seasons, the veterans on both sides of the ball have to come through until the new skill parts rise up.
Ball State Schedule

104 Western Michigan Broncos

Final Rankings: 2021: 84 2020: 97 2019: 42
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at Michigan State (Sept. 2)

The Broncos have to undergo a bigger overhaul than just about anyone in the MAC. Everything should be okay in time, but the defensive front and offensive stars need to emerge as soon as possible.
Western Michigan Schedule

103 Temple Owls

Final Rankings: 2021: 118 2020: 110 2019: 54
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at Duke (Sept. 2)

It’s been a rough few years, and now new head coach Stan Drayton has to do a rebuild around Georgia transfer QB D’Wan Mathis. Experience across the board is a problem.
Temple Schedule

102 Troy Trojans

Final Rankings: 2021: 110 2020: 84 2019: 90
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: at Ole Miss

A former star of the Sun Belt will be a sleeper for new head coach Jon Sumrall. With almost all of the key starters back on both sides of the ball, and with a defense that should be far stronger, this will be a team to watch.
Troy Schedule

101 Toledo Rockets

Final Rankings: 2021: 101 2020: 98 2019: 73
Week 0: OPEN DATE
Week 1: Long Island

In a MAC that should be good up top, Toledo might be missing just enough to push through and win the title. There’s talent to work around, but it’ll take a month or so for the team to settle in.
Toledo Schedule

College Football Rankings Spring 2022: Top 100 NEXT

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2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class Announced: Luck, Bailey, Arrington Lead The Way

College Football Hall of Fame Class released, led by Andrew Luck, Champ Bailey, and Mike Doss

Andrew Luck, Mike Doss, and LaVar Arrington lead the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame announced 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class

All player bullet points written by the National Football Foundation at footballfoundation.org.

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2022 College Football Hall of Fame Players

2022 College Football Hall of Fame Head Coaches

Billy Jack Murphy, Memphis (1958-71)

– All-time winningest coach in Memphis history

– Had 11 winning seasons and retired as the 15th winningest coach in the nation

– Member of the Memphis Hall of Fame and Mississippi State Hall of Fame.

Gary Pinkel-Toledo (1991-2000), Missouri (2001-15)

– Winningest coach in history at both Missouri and Toledo…Led Rockets to 1995 MAC title and boasts nine conference division titles between both schools

– Took teams to 11 bowl games, with 7-4 overall record in the postseason

– Earned FieldTurf National Coach of the Year and Big 12 Coach of the Year honors after leading Mizzou to its first No. 1 national ranking since 1960 during the 2007 season.

2022 College Football Hall of Fame Head Players

LaVar Arrington, Penn State, Linebacker

-Two-time First Team All-American, earning unanimous honors in 1999
– Winner of both the Butkus and Bednarik awards in 1999 and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting his final season
– First sophomore in history to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (1998).

Champ Bailey, Georgia, Defensive Back

– 1998 consensus First Team All-American and recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Award
– Two-time First Team All-SEC selection who earned Defensive MVP honors in UGA’s win at the 1998 Peach Bowl
– Recorded more than 1,000 plays during the 1998 season, playing DB, WR and KR for the Bulldogs.

Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech, Wide Receiver

-Two-time unanimous First Team All-American (2007-08) who was the first two-time winner of the Biletnikoff Award
– 2007 AT&T All-America Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-Big 12 performer holds six FBS receiving records
– Tech’s all-time career leader in receiving TDs (41) and 100-yard games (15).

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Sylvester Croom, Alabama, Center

-1974 First Team All-American who helped the Tide to a UPI national title in 1973
– Helped Bama to three-consecutive SEC titles en route to earning the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 1974
– Played in the 1975 Senior Bowl and only lost one regular-season game during entire college career.

Mike Doss, Ohio State, Defensive Back

– Three-time First Team All-American, earning unanimous honors as a senior
– 2002 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection
– Led Buckeyes to the 2003 BCS National Championship, earning Defensive MVP honors.

Kevin Faulk, LSU, Running Back

-1996 First Team All-American who finished career ranked fourth in NCAA history in all-purpose yards (6,833)
-Three-time First Team All-SEC selection and 1995 SEC Freshman of the Year
– Set 11 school records during career and became first LSU back to average 100 yards per game during entire career.

Moe Gardner, Illinois, Defensive Tackle

– Two-time First Team All-American (unanimous, ‘89, consensus, ’90)
– 1990 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and 1989 Big Ten Lineman of the Year
– Three-time First Team All-Conference pick and set school record for career TFL (57).

Mike Hass, Oregon State, Wide Receiver

– 2005 First Team All-American and recipient of the 2005 Biletnikoff Award
– Two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection and first receiver in league history with three 1,000-yard receiving seasons
– Led the nation with 139.9 receiving ypg (2005) and holds virtually every Oregon State receiving record.

Marvin Jones, Florida State, Linebacker

– Two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors in 1991 and unanimous honors in 1992
– Winner of the 1992 Butkus and Lombardi awards
– Helped Seminoles to three consecutive bowl wins and top five final rankings.

Andrew Luck, Stanford, Quarterback

-2011 First Team All-American, winning the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year honors
– Two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up and two-time Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year
– Stanford’s all-time career leader in TD passes (82) and passing efficiency (162.8), owning two of the top four passing seasons in school history.

Mark Messner, Michigan, Defensive Tackle

– 1988 unanimous First Team All-American who was a Lombardi Award finalist
– 1988 Big Ten Player of the Year and four-time First Team All-Big Ten selection
– Led Wolverines to four bowl berths and named MVP of 1985 Fiesta Bowl.

Terry Miller, Oklahoma State, Running Back

-Two-time First Team All-American, earning unanimous honors his senior season
– Two-time Heisman Trophy finalist (runner-up in 1977) finished career as the fourth-leading rusher in NCAA history (4,754)
– Two-time Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year is the only Cowboy RB to post three 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

Rashaan Salaam, Colorado, Running Back

– 1994 unanimous First Team All-American and Heisman Trophy winner
– 1994 Walter Camp Player of the Year and Doak Walker Award recipient
– 1994 Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year who led nation in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards.

Zach Wiegert, Nebraska, Offensive Tackle

– 1994 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Outland Trophy
– Led Huskers to 1994 National Championship and 1993 National Championship game appearance
– Three-time All-Big Eight selection who led Nebraska to league titles every year of career.

Roy Williams, Oklahoma, Defensive Back

– 2001 unanimous First Team All-American. Nagurski and Thorpe winner
– 2001 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
– Led Sooners to the first 13-win season in program history and a national championship (2000)

All player bullet points written by the National Football Foundation at footballfoundation.org.

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