STILLWATER – The mad rush was on as Mark Schlabach of ESPN had his Way Too Early College Football Top 25 out at 10:56 (central time) on Monday night. That was mere moments after the CFP Championship officially ended and Georgia had won their first championship in 41-years.
| Ranking |
ESPN |
Athlon’s |
CBS |
Dallas Morning News |
Sporting News |
Sports Illustrated |
| 1. |
Alabama |
Alabama |
Alabama |
Alabama |
Alabama |
Alabama |
| 2. |
Ohio State |
Georgia |
Ohio State |
Georgia |
Ohio State |
Ohio State |
| 3. |
Georgia |
Ohio State |
Georgia |
Ohio State |
Georgia |
Georgia |
| 4. |
Texas A&M |
Clemson |
Oklahoma |
Michigan |
Clemson |
Clemson |
| 5. |
Michigan |
Michigan |
Texas A&M |
Clemson |
Notre Dame |
Utah |
| 6. |
Notre Dame |
Texas A&M |
Baylor |
Utah |
Texas A&M |
Texas A&M |
| 7. |
Utah |
Utah |
Notre Dame |
Texas A&M |
Michigan |
Michigan |
| 8. |
N.C. State |
Notre Dame |
LSU |
Notre Dame |
Baylor |
Wake Forest |
| 9. |
Oklahoma State |
Oklahoma |
Clemson |
Baylor |
Oregon |
Notre Dame |
| 10. |
Michigan State |
Michigan State |
Arkansas |
Arkansas |
Utah |
Oklahoma State |
| 11. |
Clemson |
Baylor |
Michigan |
Oregon |
Wake Forest |
Michigan State
|
| 12. |
Oregon |
Wisconsin |
Miami, Fla. |
Oklahoma State |
Kentucky |
Baylor |
| 13. |
Houston |
Oklahoma State |
Utah |
Oklahoma |
Arkansas |
USC |
| 14. |
Wake Forest |
Oregon |
USC |
Wake Forest |
Cincinnati |
Arkansas |
| 15. |
Iowa |
Wake Forest |
Tennessee |
Cincinnati |
Michigan State |
Oklahoma |
| 16. |
Baylor |
N.C. State |
Texas |
Wisconsin |
Oklahoma |
Tennessee |
| 17. |
Oklahoma |
Iowa |
Wake Forest |
Michigan State |
Iowa |
Wisconsin |
| 18. |
BYU |
Arkansas |
Oregon |
Texas |
Oklahoma State |
Houston |
| 19. |
Cincinnati |
Pittsburgh |
Wisconsin |
LSU |
Ole Miss |
N.C. State |
| 20. |
Arkansas |
Cincinnati |
Michigan State |
Penn State |
Texas |
Oregon |
| 21. |
Kentucky |
Penn State |
BYU |
South Carolina |
USC |
Kentucky |
| 22. |
USC |
Kentucky |
South Carolina |
BYU |
Florida |
Iowa |
| 23. |
Ole Miss |
Tennessee |
Cincinnati |
N.C. State |
LSU |
Cincinnati |
| 24. |
Wisconsin |
BYU |
Penn State |
Iowa |
Pittsburgh |
Purdue |
| 25. |
South Carolina |
Houston |
Oklahoma State |
Kentucky |
Coastal Carolina |
Coastal Carolina |
First, some general observations. I can’t see how anybody can have Texas in their top 25 for next season. That school is far from even thinking about a top 25 landing. The worst record in the final top 25 for this season was Arkansas at 9-4. I really can’t fathom Texas climbing to nine wins next season. They lost to Kansas for gosh sakes! The national media and even the local media (Dallas Morning News) needs to forget about Texas for a while. Let them learn to ride on “training wheels” and then maybe they can get on a “big boy bike.”
I like imagination and some of these had it with Coastal Carolina being included. I also like the inclusion of North Carolina State and South Carolina as those are two programs that I see on the rise. I also think that Pittsburgh, Kentucky, and Houston are good picks to be in the top 25. I think that Pat Narduzzi, Mark Stoops, and Dana Holgorsen will have their programs continuing to climb.
Shame on the media for not buying into schools like San Diego State, Fresno, UTSA, and Utah State because I think all have chances to stick around. Not all will, but some will. None of those schools were mentioned.
Some of you just can’t get away from the bluebloods and you rank them too high, certain bluebloods. Hey Pat Forde and Bill Bender we need to send you to Dr. Rick. You guys are becoming your parents. Forde and Bender are milder cases. CBS’ Dennis Dodd needs shock therapy from Dr. Rick. Really, Miami, Fla. ranked No. 12? Get Dennis Dodd help fast!
Other bluebloods that should not be included very high would be Oklahoma, LSU, USC, and probably Clemson. More work to do than you may think. In the Big 12 Baylor and Oklahoma State should both be ranked higher than Oklahoma with rookie head coach, new quarterback, and lots of talent departed.
Thoughts on each top 25
ESPN – I like it and Schlabach is the father of “Way Too Early”. He has good information to back it up.
Athlon’s – Oklahoma too high but not bad overall.
CBS Sports – Awful. I would not be making a trip to Vegas with Dennis Dodd for any future wagering.
Dallas Morning News – Hand it to the DMN as it is a real poll with seven voters and that gives it strength. Voting privileges to be suspended for anyone that voted Texas higher than 20, and there had to be a few since the Longhorns came in at No. 18 here.
Sporting News – Pretty good top 25 but Florida is an iffy pick. Lots of work to do there.
Sports Illustrated – Like with Bill Bender at SN, Forde at SI is a little too blueblood-centric, but like Bender it is a solid poll with some of the imagination that I like.
Okay, here is mine so you can all make fun of it.
| Ranking |
Robert Allen and Pokes Report Way Too Early Top 25 |
Explanation |
| 1. |
Alabama |
Tide returns plenty of players and as long as Saban is back a big chance. |
| 2. |
Ohio State |
Buckeyes will have the talent and now a better defense with Knowles as DC. |
| 3. |
Georgia |
Smart losses some key players but there are more on the way up. |
| 4. |
Michigan |
I think Harbaugh stays and Wolverines improve. |
| 5. |
Utah |
I know, a Pac-12 team, but Utah doesn’t act like a Pac-12 team. |
| 6. |
Notre Dame |
Irish have talent and I think Freeman can coach. |
| 7. |
Oklahoma State |
Returning quarterback and I think OL and Defense will be fine. Lots of skill talent. |
| 8. |
Michigan State |
Mel Tucker will have a stout defense. |
| 9. |
N.C. State |
Returning talent gives Pack a chance to take over from Wake Forest and Pitt. |
| 10. |
Texas A&M |
Lots of talent but half the coaching staff left and that is not a great sign. |
| 11. |
South Carolina |
This is my definite top surprise team as Shane Beamer can coach. |
| 12. |
Pittsburgh |
Narduzzi will keep it together and he has two young QBs. |
| 13. |
Baylor |
Aranda will have defense ready, he has QBs, OL is a project. |
| 14. |
Houston |
Here is your Cincinnati for 2022. |
| 15. |
Wake Forest |
Return a lot including Hartman at QB. |
| 16. |
Clemson |
The coaching staff overall and some missing pieces holds Dabo’s crew back. |
| 17. |
Kentucky |
Stoops has players and is recruiting well. |
| 18. |
Oklahoma |
Likely third best in Big 12. |
| 19. |
Cincinnati |
Fickell will have enough to cobble together 10 wins. |
| 20. |
Tennessee |
Heupel project continues. |
| 21. |
Oregon |
New coach Dan Lanning has pieces for a defense. |
| 22. |
Arkansas |
Razorbacks kind of repeat 2021 |
| 23. |
Coastal Carolina |
QB Grayson McCall pisses teal and he’s back. |
| 24. |
Wisconsin |
They can always play defense. |
| 25. |
Texas Tech |
New coach has Red Raiders pointed right direction |
Just Missed: Iowa State, Purdue, Ole Miss, and Iowa
