The Hotline’s 16th annual Top 25 ranking is unlike any in recent years in its leftward leaning.
The Pac-12 leads all conferences with six reps, followed by the Big 12 and SEC with five each and the Big Ten with four.
Credit a stellar lineup of quarterbacks for placing the Pac-12 atop the heap.
Then again, screenings of this nature have become exponentially more difficult – some might say ridiculous – with the creation of the transfer portal, which closes next week and reopens in May.
Speaking of May: our not-quite-soon-to-be top 25 rankings will be released after spring training, followed by the Hotline’s preseason Top 25 during training camp.
Also considered: Baylor, Coastal Carolina, Fresno State, Iowa, Louisville, Minnesota, Mississippi, NC State, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Troy and UTSA
1. Georgia: NFL attrition will (still) be heavy and the Bulldogs need to find a replacement for quarterback Stetson Bennett. But they are better equipped to dominate the 2023 season than any other roster-based team at this point. And we’re not sure it’s close.
2.Michigan: With strong lines of scrimmage, plenty of talented tailbacks and the return of quarterback JJ McCarthy, the rugged Wolverines are built to beat Ohio State and well positioned for a Big Ten hat-trick…unless, of course, Jim Harbaugh declares himself for the NFL.
3. Alabama: Nick Saban began plotting Bryce Young’s departure even before Young became the starter – such is the nature of Crimson Tide’s recruiting mechanism. The last time Saban did not do the CFP (2019), he won the national title the following year. Don’t be surprised if this cycle repeats itself.
4. USL: The Tigers are at quarterback with the return of Jayden Daniels and have the best defenseman in the SEC, linebacker Harold Perkins. And LSU being LSU, the other 20 positions have more than enough talent for coach Brian Kelly to duel Alabama for SEC West supremacy.
5. Washington: The best team in the Pac-12 at the end of 2022 looks to be the best for the start of 2023 with the return of quarterback Michael Penix, a host of point guards and several top rushers. Our question: To what extent, if any, will the offensive line regress?
6. State of Ohio: CJ Stroud’s successor will have a stellar range of plugs and receivers available. We’re more interested in what second-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has to say about a unit that’s been far from dominant in big games. It’s been a huge season for Columbus after back-to-back losses to Michigan.
7. Notre Dame: The outlook brightened considerably last week when the best quarterback in the transfer market, Sam Hartman of Wake Forest, selected the Irish and filled their greatest need. Add the fruits of all those top 10 recruiting classes, and Notre Dame should regain its relevance.
8. State of Florida: The Seminoles have quietly produced a 10-win season for coach Mike Norvell, and they’re brimming with returning talent. (The list starts with quarterback Jordan Travis.) Also worth noting: With Clemson no longer dominating, there are plenty of opportunities in the ACC.
9. Oregon: Continued success in Eugene was assured when quarterback Bo Nix announced his return for ’23. There are holes to fill on the offensive line, but we’re focusing on the other side of the fray: Can sophomore coach Dan Lanning create a championship defense?
10. State of Kansas: We predict a repeat for the 2022 Big 12 champions, who beat TCU in the conference title game en route to a 10-4 season. Coach Chris Klieman has proven (repeatedly) that he can maximize the talent at his fingertips.
11.USC: We expect more of the same from Trojans (i.e. stellar attack, wobbly defense), but with one notable change: their incredible turnover margin cannot be repeated. This return to the average will result in two or three losses in the regular season.
12. TOS: So much has broken for the Horned Frogs to produce this amazing season, it’s hard to contemplate a recall. That said, Sonny Dykes’ program will remain highly relevant in a Big 12 that hosts Houston, Cincinnati, BYU and UCF next season.
13. Penn State: The Nittany Lions have returned to the limelight in 2022 after two lackluster seasons, and the rise is set to continue with an elite group of playmakers making up for the loss of quarterback Sean Clifford. Don’t rule out a Big Ten title, especially if Harbaugh leaves Ann Arbor.
14. Clemson: Have the Tigers slipped, or has their ACC competition (finally) improved? We think it’s a bit of both as trainer Dabo Swinney clings to dominance.
15. State of Oregon: One of the best-run programs on the West Coast should produce another top season as long as one of the quarterbacks produces consistently. And the options now include the transfer of Clemson DJ Uiagalelei.
16.Tennessee: Dynamic quarterback Hendon Hooker left for the NFL; same with star catcher Jalin Hyatt. But Josh Heupel will find a way to plug and play and generate another top-notch season in Knoxville. Can he close the gap on Georgia? We are skeptical.
17. Utah: It’s hard to get an accurate read on the Utes given the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Cam Rising’s recovery from a leg injury in the Rose Bowl. (“It doesn’t look good,” coach Kyle Whittingham said after the game.) But the two-time defending Pac-12 champions are long past the point where significant regression is a threat. The floor is eight wins; the ceiling, 11.
18. Texas Technology: The Red Raiders finished with four straight wins and decisively beat Ole Miss in the Texas Bowl. The recovery under rookie coach Joey McGuire is expected to continue.
19.Wisconsin: The Badgers executed one of the best coaching hires of the winter when they lured Luke Fickell away from Cincinnati. He inherits a roster talented enough to win the Big Ten West. Then again, the Big Ten West is a confused mass of mediocrity.
20. Tulane: Quarterback Michael Pratt, who organized the spectacular Cotton Bowl rally that toppled USC, has already announced his return for 2023. And better than we can tell, miraculous coach Willie Fritz isn’t going anywhere. The green wave was not a one-hit wonder.
21. South Carolina: While the outlook doesn’t entirely hinge on quarterback Spencer Rattler’s decision — he has yet to declare for the NFL Draft — we reserve the right to re-evaluate the Gamecocks’ placement once the future Rattler’s immediate will be official.
22.Texas: Dare we suggest that quarterback Arch Manning’s rookie season in Austin could be a disappointment while Steve Sarkisian’s third season could produce a positive surprise? No, we are not suggesting that. Never.
23. UCLA: We checked and rechecked and, yes, Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s eligibility finally expired. But a breakthrough season depends as much on upgrading the turnstile defense as it does on finding a replacement for the DRT.
24. Oklahoma: A deeply disappointing rookie year under Brent Venables – the Sooners lost four games by one field goal – will be followed by a not so disappointing second year. But we don’t anticipate a serious run at the Big 12 title in what could be the Sooners’ final season in the conference.
25. Boise State: It took a few weeks too long for the Broncos to figure things out offensively in 2022. That shouldn’t be a problem next season.