ESPN releases way-too-early college football top 25 poll

On3 imageby:Dan Morrison01/10/23

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The college football season just ended with Georgia’s win in the CFP National Championship game over TCU. So, ESPN decided that it’s already time to look ahead to next season with a way-too-early top 25 poll.

Of course, there is still plenty of time for this to change. The NCAA Transfer Portal is in full swing. Injuries happen in the spring and summer. That’s before you consider the possibility for other changes, like Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh leaving for an NFL job.

So, plenty can change, but that’s also what makes this poll from ESPN “way too early.”

ESPN’s way-too-early top 25 poll

Here is the way-too-early top 25 poll from ESPN, with their 2022 record in parenthesis:

  1. Georgia (15-0)
  2. Ohio State (11-2)
  3. Michigan (13-1)
  4. Florida State (10-3)
  5. Alabama (11-2)
  6. Penn State (11-2)
  7. USC (11-3)
  8. LSU (10-4)
  9. Oregon (10-3)
  10. Tennessee (11-2)
  11. Washington (11-2)
  12. TCU (13-2)
  13. Utah (10-4)
  14. Notre Dame (9-4)
  15. Clemson (11-3)
  16. Texas (8-5)
  17. Oregon State (10-3)
  18. Kansas State (10-4)
  19. Tulane (12-2)
  20. Ole Miss (8-5)
  21. North Carolina (9-5)
  22. UTSA (11-3)
  23. Texas Tech (8-5)
  24. James Madison (8-3)
  25. Iowa (8-5)

Several teams, including, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Pitt, Oklahoma, UCLA, Troy, Maryland, and Boise State are just on the outside looking in on ESPN’s list.

Georgia is a clear and obvious choice to be the top-ranked team next season, having won the last two national championships. Throughout the entire top 10, there aren’t many surprises. Though, Florida State does stick out. After several seasons of trying to rebuild the program, head coach Mike Norvell finally got the Seminoles back into a bowl where they won their 10th game this season. On top of that, the Penn State hype train appears to be beginning here.

It’s not surprising that ESPN has the SEC leading the way with five ranked teams. Somewhat surprising, though, is that the PAC-12 is keeping the SEC company at the top with five ranked teams of its own. Meanwhile, in the Group of Five, the AAC leads the way with two ranked teams, including defending Cotton Bowl champion Tulane and UTSA, which is entering its first season with the conference.