CBS Sports releases preseason Top 25 for 2022 college football season

College football is so close, you can almost feel it. Programs across the country have begun fall practice, giving fans excitement for the upcoming 2022 season. To celebrate, CBS Sports released their latest top 25. It’s been a busy offseason with coaching turnover and players leaving the transfer portal but rosters seem to be set before Week 0 kicks off on Aug. 27.

There’s no surprise at the top, with the consensus three teams being up there. Despite being the reigning national champions, Georgia debuts at No. 3, while Alabama takes No. 1. Ohio State is between the two SEC powers, with the three considered favorites to make the College Football Playoff.

Cincinnati and Michigan were the other two CFP participants last season, with the latter coming in at No. 8. Jim Harbaugh flirted with leaving the program for the NFL but instead, will be looking to run it back with the Wolverines. As for the Bearcats, they slid all the way down outside of the top 15 but are still the highest ranked Group of Five team.

Full CBS Sports top 25 before 2022 college football season

1. Alabama Crimson Tide
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Georgia Bulldogs
4. Utah Utes
5. Clemson Tigers
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
7. Oklahoma Sooners
8. Michigan Wolverines
9. Texas A&M Aggies
10. Baylor Bears
11. NC State Wolfpack
12. USC Trojans
13. Oklahoma State Cowboys
14. Oregon Ducks
15. Wisconsin Badgers
16. Arkansas Razorbacks
17. Cincinnati Bearcats
18. Penn State Nittany Lions
19. Miami Hurricanes
20. Michigan State Spartans
21. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
22. Houston Cougars
23. Kentucky Wildcats
24. Tennessee Volunteers
25. Pittsburgh Panthers

Based on CBS Sports’ top 25 in college football, there will be two ranked matchups during Week 1. None will be bigger than Notre Dame heading to Columbus to face off against Ohio State. It will undoubtedly be a top 10 showdown, with Marcus Freeman making his regular season debut for the Fighting Irish. On the other sideline, Ryan Day will be trying to prove the Buckeyes’ 2021 season was a fluke and deserve to be back in the College Football Playoff.

Besides Freeman, plenty of new head coaches find their teams in the top 25 as well. USC’s Lincoln Riley may have the most eyes on him across the country, especially with quarterback Caleb Williams following him from Norman to Los Angeles.

One notable omission as far as new head coaches go — LSU and Brian Kelly. Having a couple of down seasons under Ed Orgeron, Kelly will have some impressing to do, at least in terms of being ranked inside the top 25, to kick off his career in the SEC.