ESPN shakes up way-too-early Top 25 following Jordan Addison decision

On3 imageby:Jonathan Wagner05/20/22

Jonathan Wagner

The past week has been one to remember inside college football, with a couple of big transfer portal decisions paired with some other noteworthy news. Following the latest moves, headlined by former Pittsburgh wide receiver Jordan Addison’s decision to transfer to the USC Trojans, ESPN has released updated way-too-early Top 25 rankings.

After the addition of Addison, who won the Biletnikoff award last year, USC leaped from outside the top ten all the way into the top five.

Elsewhere in college football, all eyes are currently on the feud between Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher. Saban sparked a heated conversation when he said that Texas A&M “bought” every player in its 2022 recruiting class, which is the top-ranked class in this cycle. That led to a heated and definitive response from Fisher, who called Saban a “narcissist” while also saying that somebody should have slapped the Crimson Tide coach.

Even after an apology from Saban, Fisher essentially ended his relationship with Saban, saying that the two are “done.”

Both Texas A&M and Alabama are ranked inside the top five of ESPN’s latest way-too-early Top 25 rankings, which could set up an intriguing matchup later in the season with a lot of storylines.

ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25 rankings

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

USC moved from No. 12 to No. 4 in ESPN’s latest way-too-early Top 25, but the Trojans were far from the only team to move. Oklahoma jumped from No. 17 to No. 14, Pittsburgh joined at No. 15 after not previously being ranked, and Tennessee also joined the rankings at No. 24. Iowa was a major faller, dropping from No. 15 all the way down to No. 25.

Week 1 will take place on the weekend of September 3, which is rapidly approaching. There a couple of intriguing matchups on the Week 1 slate, including Oregon vs. Georgia, Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, and Arkansas vs. Cincinnati, among many others. Preseason ball will get underway following the summer months.