Phil Steele releases college football Top 25 power poll
With July comfortably underway, a pivotal point in the college football calendar has hit: Preseason rankings time. And college football preview magazine stalwart Phil Steele had his 2023 preseason Top 25 power poll as usual.
The top of the ranking is no surprise, with two-time defending national champion Georgia leading the pack. And the squads rounding out the Top 10 with the Bulldogs aren’t surprises, either.
There are a few interesting picks as the ranking continues, and a few notable teams either coming off a strong finish or with a lot of promise that didn’t crack the rankings. See them all below.
1. Georgia
Two-time defending national champions, continual Top 5 recruiting hauls and one of the best coaches in the country — what more really needs to be said about the Bulldogs? Georgia should again have one of the most smothering defenses in the country with elite talent from the front seven back to the secondary.
They will be breaking in a new quarterback, seemingly Carson Beck, but the Bulldogs don’t need Heisman-caliber play from the position to be back in the SEC Championship Game and in the College Football Playoff again.
2. Ohio State
Much like Georgia, Ohio State has to replace a transcendent quarterback. Whether it’s Devin Brown or Kyle McCord taking snaps is still an open competitions, though Brown was set back by a hand surgery in spring. Either way, with the overall array of offensive firepower Ohio State has on hand — plus head coach Ryan Day’s proven track record as an offensive designer and play caller — the Buckeyes should be plenty explosive on offense.
The big question remains on defense. Ohio State was great defensively until giving up 87 combined points in the final two games. If Ohio State can play stout defense during the business end of the schedule, they could reclaim a spot a top the Big Ten. Right now, Steele has them ahead of the Wolverines in his Top 25.
3. Michigan
Arguably no team enters 2023 more complete and without questions than Michigan. Quarterback? J.J. McCarthy, check. Offensive weapons? Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards plus a deep, experienced pass-catching corps, check. Offensive line? Another check after transfer portal additions and the return of two NFL-caliber guards.
On the defense, the Wolverines are deep in the front seven and at safety. If there’s any area on the roster that’s of concern, it’s No. 2 corner opposite star sophomore Will Johnson. The Michigan coaching staff is high on Amorion Walker making the transition from wideout, but he needs seasoning. Even if that final bit of roster construction doesn’t fall into place, the Wolverines have more then enough talent on hand to make it three-straight Big Ten titles.
4. Alabama
Alabama and Nick Saban lost the top defensive and offensive players taken in the 2023 NFL Draft — Will Anderson and Bryce Young — but should be right back at the top of the college football world again. That’s the way of life at Alabama under Saban. Even coming off a down year where they missed the CFP before romping in the Sugar Bowl, Alabama could and should be right back in the thick of playoff contention.
The Crimson Tide also need to figure out the heir to Young among a bevy of options. But with a defense as talented as ever and the potential for a strong run game, Alabama could end up barreling through the SEC like it’s 2010 again, regardless of quarterback play.
5. Penn State
Since James Franklin has been the Penn State head coach, he hasn’t had talent and opportunity line up quite like it has ahead of the 2023 season. Penn State has a loaded defensive unit, brings back one of the best offensive linemen in the entire country in Olu Fashanu and has a fearsome sophomore running back tandem.
It all will likely hinge on the play of quarterback Drew Allar, a former blue-chip recruit now taking over from Sean Clifford. If Allar can play up to his immense potential and physical ability, Penn State will be a legit challenger to Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten East — a division which has three teams in the Top 5.
6. Clemson
After back-to-back seasons of missing out on the College Football Playoff, Clemson is on a mission not to make it three. There’s plenty working in favor of the Tigers, as the coaching staff is high on quarterback Cade Klubnik taking over as the starter. And the coaching staff itself got an overhaul with Dabo Swinney hiring Garrett Riley from TCU to be the offensive coordinator.
The Tigers have fallen off the pace of the perennial playoff teams the past two years, but they have all the ingredients to win the ACC in 2023 and return to the CFP. With all the talent in place, this will be a big year for Swinney to get Clemson back to the playoff, and not just be another Top 25 team.
7. Florida State
If it’s not going to be Clemson coming out of the ACC, it may very well be Florida State. The Seminoles have loaded up this offseason, both recruiting and in the transfer portal. Quarterback Jordan Travis returns and will have targets like Johnny Wilson and Michigan State transfer Keon Coleman to throw to.
With Jared Verse, maybe the best defender in college football, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks off the edge, the Seminoles have a chance to be dominant on both sides of the ball. They open the season against LSU and play at Clemson before September is out, so we’ll know quickly how ready Florida State is to compete at the highest level.
8. Texas
Texas was picked by media to win the Big 12 in 2023 and for good reason: The Longhorns have, on paper, the best roster in the league by a pretty comfortable margin. No one else around the league has the offensive pop that quarterback Quinn Ewers and pass catchers Xavier Worthy, Ja’Tavion Sanders and others can provide.
It’s all set up for head coach Steve Sarkisian to break through and win the Big 12 in his third year in Austin — and set a solid benchmark for what success can be before entering the fray in the SEC. Also, if Ewers struggles this season, it won’t be long before the clamoring for Arch Manning to play gets loud.
9. USC
The Trojans have the reigning Heisman winner coming back at quarterback and on the back of Caleb Williams along, USC should be one of the best teams in the Pac 12. With a cadre of explosive talent around him, Williams and the USC offense — under the guidance of guru Lincoln Riley — should again be a high-octane attack.
But whether or not USC can really compete hinges on the defense. Absent non-replicable turnover margins, the Trojans defense can’t afford to be porous like it was last year. Against Utah in the 2022 Pac 12 title game, the issues were basic and clear: The Trojans defense was less physical than the opposing offense and bad at tackling. They brought in reinforcements from the transfer portal with the aim of solving those problems. Either way, USC should finish in the top half of the Top 25.
10. Utah
The back-to-back Pac 12 champs have a lot going for them in 2023. They bring back quarterback Cam Rising for another season, already giving the Utes a distinct leg up on a number of their peers. And defensively, Utah should again be one of the saltiest, stingiest units in America.
The Utes did lose star tight end Dalton Kincaid to the NFL, but Brant Kuithe returns and Utah’s coaching staff has a track record of producing strong ground games. And on defense, star safety Cole Bishop should be the star of the show from the backend at the Utes chase a third-straight Pac 12 title.
11. LSU
After surprising many in Year 1 under Brian Kelly by winning the SEC West and appearing the conference title game, LSU won’t be flying under the radar in 2023. Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels is back and his backup, Garrett Nussmeier, would probably be starting at a majority of other programs. All five offensive linemen from 2022 are back and there’s absolutely no shortage of offensive skill in Baton Rouge.
Defensively, the return of defensive tackle Maason Smith could pay dividends for the Tigers. He was hurt early in the opener in 2022 and missed the whole season. His presence anchoring the defensive line with star sophomore linebacker Harold Perkins behind him is a scary tandem — one that LSU hopes can take it back to the SEC title game.
12. Notre Dame
Marcus Freeman had a rollercoaster first year. After losing by 11 points on the road to Ohio State in the opener — a respectable showing, albeit an offensively limited one — the Irish lost to Marshall and, a few weeks later, Stanford. But wins against Clemson, North Carolina and in the bowl game against South Carolina have good feelings flowing in South Bend.
The biggest argument in Notre Dame’s favor in 2023 is they made a major upgrade at quarterback, bringing in Sam Hartman from Wake Forest. If Hartman can raise the ceiling on the whole offense, the Irish could easily be a 10-win team or better in 2023.
13. Texas A&M
After a 2022 that landed somewhere between “forgettable” and “three-alarm fire,” Texas A&M has had a quieter offseason in 2023. But the Aggies have the talent to potentially be one of the best teams in the SEC, but a number of factors will shape that outcome.
The two biggest factors will be Conner Weigman comfortably stepping up his game as the full-time starting quarterback and the play calling. Head coach Jimbo Fisher was in charge of the offense last season and it was at times unwatchable. He hired Bobby Petrino to be the offensive coordinator and call plays. If Petrino — a proven offensive coach — can do his thing without too many cooks in the kitchen, the Aggies should be a Top 25 team with relative ease.
14. Tennessee
Tennessee made waves in 2022 with Hendon Hooker slinging the ball to perfection in Josh Heupel’s high-flying passing attack. The Volunteers upset Alabama, won at LSU (in fairly dominant fashion) and, were it not for a late-season ACL tear for Hooker, could’ve had an outside shot at the CFP.
But Hooker is in the NFL now and Heupel is turning to Joe Milton at quarterback, with former five-star recruit Nico Iamaleava waiting in the wings. The Volunteers should be one of the better teams in the SEC East again in 2023, but with a new quarterback and some defensive holes to be filled, Tennessee could take a half-step back from where it was in 2022. Even still, that would comfortably have the Vols among the Top 25 teams in America.
15. Oregon
Few first-year coaches enjoyed the success that Dan Lanning did at Oregon in 2022. After getting walloped by Georgia in the opener, Oregon ripped off eight wins in a row before losing two of the last three games of the season. Even still, a 10-3 mark in his first year was a strong building block for Lanning, who has Oregon red-hot on the recruiting trail.
But for 2023, the Ducks upside is based on the fact that quarterback Bo Nix returned for another season. This year, after improving much in the Kenny Dillingham offense in 2022, Nix will be focused on implementing the new offense and pushing Oregon to new heights. It could be fun to watch, and a strong season from Nix could elevate him into Heisman contention among a crowded Pac 12 quarterback group.
16. Iowa
Yes, Iowa is one of the 25 squads tapped in the preseason Top 25, despite having one of the worst offenses in the entire FBS in 2022 — which is exactly why Iowa can be a Top 25 team in 2023. The Hawkeyes fielded, again, one of the best defenses and special teams units, respectively. If the offense hadn’t been unwatchable, the Hawkeyes could’ve been somewhat formidable.
With Michigan transfer Cade McNamara at quarterback, the working theory is the offense will rise from the realm of utter dysfunction to a passable, middle-of-the-pack level. That, paired with another stout defense and field-flipping special teams could have Iowa atop the Big Ten West for the second time in three seasons, earning Iowa a Top 25 nod.
17. Washington
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. enjoyed a career renaissance last year playing for the Huskies and head coach Kalen DeBoer. With Penix back along with two 1000-yard receivers — Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze — Washington could be a Pac 12 contender.
Defensively, the Huskies feature edge rusher Bralen Trice, one of the best in the country and Pac 12. The Huskies could use a little more playmaking in the back end of the defense, but with a passing attack that can rain down yards and points, it might not matter.
18. Wisconsin
Hiring Luke Fickell away from Cincinnati was one of the more surprising and inspired coaching hires in the 2023 cycle. Things had started to go sideways in Madison under Paul Chryst with Graham Mertz helming the offense. Now Fickell is in and brought in Phil Longo from North Carolina to incorporate some air-raid into the Wisconsin offense, pushing the Badgers into Steele’s Top 25.
The Badgers will still be running the ball plenty, to be certain. But there’s a certain intent to inject some more juice in the offense there. Figuring out the starting quarterback, likely either SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai or Oklahoma transfer Nick Evers, will be the biggest task for Fickell and Co. heading into the year.
19. Oregon State
Head coach Jonathan Smith has quietly got Oregon State in a position for sustained success, building through the trenches and defense. They return freshman All-American running back Damien Martinez and should again have a disciplined, stingy defense.
Like so many other teams on this list, the ceiling and floor for Oregon State hinges on the quarterback. Ben Gulbranson returns and would be the obvious choice to start if former five-star quarterback DJ Uiagalelei hadn’t transferred from Clemson. If Uiagalelei becomes the starter and unlocks his immense talent in his second act, Oregon State could contend for a Pac 12 title and maybe even more. For now, though, they’ll settle with being in the Top 25.
20. Ole Miss
Speaking of quarterback questions, Ole Miss has the trickiest. The Rebels return 2022 start Jaxson Dart, but also added a pair of transfers: LSU’s Walker Howard and Oklahoma State’s Spencer Sanders. Howard has several years of eligibility remaining, but Sanders has 2023 and that’s it. Dart has a few years left, but not as many as Howard.
Who plays quarterback for Ole Miss remains one of the compelling questions of the offseason, but it also will likely be rendered mute early in the season at star sophomore running back Quinshon Judkins can carry the load. And after coming close last year, Ole Miss will again be competing to win the SEC West for the first time.
21. Oklahoma
After a Potemkin 3-0 start, Oklahoma went 3-7 the rest of the way, including a bowl loss to Florida State. The nadir was a 49-0 drubbing at the hands of Texas when starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel couldn’t play and the Sooners were dead in the water.
But less than a year later, things are trending in the right direction in Norman. Venables landed a few big-time recruits to build toward. But for now, it’s up to Gabriel to lead the show on offense while Venables and his staff squeeze more out of the defense — which has been Oklahoma’s shortcoming in recent years.
22. North Carolina
North Carolina was hamstrung by a leaky defense in 2022, something the Tar Heels hope to have solved in 2023. North Carolina has been fairly good in the ACC in Mack Brown’s second stint at the school, but the Tar Heels also have yet to win a conference title in that span.
With one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Drake Maye, the Tar Heels should be able to win most games they play in. But relying on a potential top draft pick to carry the team each week isn’t a sustainable strategy — especially when he leaves for the NFL. For now, though, it’s enough to earn Top 25 recognition.
23. TCU
The last time TCU was on a football field, they were getting played off it by Georgia, which belied the talent and team the Horned Frogs had in 2022 — and served as evidence to Georgia’s dominance. Following that magical run under Sonny Dykes in his first year at TCU, it’s unlikely the Horned Frogs reach the same heights.
Quarterback Max Duggan is gone, as is offensive lineman Steve Avila and a whole cadre of top-shelf defenders. Also, offensive coordinator Garrett Riley now works for Clemson. While a College Football Playoff return isn’t likely in the cards for TCU, the Horned Frogs should still be a difficult out for the Big 12.
24. UCLA
UCLA was a pleasant surprise in 2022, finishing 9-4 behind a fun offense featuring Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Jake Bobo and Zach Charbonnet. All three of them are in the NFL now, though. But Bruins head coach Chip Kelly brought in some reinforcements, keeping UCLA in the Top 25.
From the transfer portal, UCLA brought in Ball State running back Carson Steele, among others. And the crown jewel of their 2023 signing class might be their Day 1 starting quarterback: Former five-star Dante Moore. If Moore is as advertised and wins the job early, UCLA could be on to bigger things in a matter of years.
25. Auburn
With a new head coach and quarterback, it seems Auburn is poised to stop underachieving as it had under Bryan Harsin. The Tigers had a few paltry seasons with Harsin and then under interim Cadillac Williams, but have since hired offensive maven Hugh Freeze.
And one of Freeze’s biggest moves since getting the job is luring former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne to The Plains. Thorne has two-years of Big Ten starting experience under his belt and was MSU’s starting quarterback for their 11-win campaign in 2021. If Thorne plays like he’s shown he can, Auburn can play to a Top 25 level.
Of course, this preseason list is just that and becomes not much more than a reference point after the games get played. Surely, some of these teams will quickly plummet from the rankings, a la 2022 Texas A&M, while others climb into the Top 25, like Tulane did last year. Until then, it’s the time of year to gripe about which teams did or didn’t make the cut.