College Football Power Rankings | 11-25
We’ve made it to the top 25! Which school has the best case to be in the top 10?
25) Nevada
Is Nevada the team to beat in the Mountain West this year? According to our College Football Power Rankings, you better believe they are. Their schedule was a little lightweight last year, but the performances that powered their highest winning record since 2010 definitely weren’t.
Defense hasn’t always been the Wolf Pack’s strong suit, but they were surprisingly good last year and return nearly all their starters. Don’t know who Carson Strong is? You’ll be hearing his name a lot this year. His combination with WR Romeo Doubs can be one of the best in the nation this season.
24) Boston College
Sleep on Boston College at your peril! These aren’t the same ground-and-pound Eagles of the Steve Addazio era. Jeff Hafley had the offense humming last fall, and there’s every reason to believe they can be even better this year. BC returns their entire offensive line, which contains three potential top-100 selections in the 2022 NFL Draft. In Zay Flowers, they have one of the most dynamic receivers in the nation, and in Phil Jurkovec, they have the QB to utilize him.
The defense has a few more uncertainties, and the schedule contains a trip to Death Valley, but the mythical eight-win season last seen in 2009 is not out of the question.
23) Liberty
Hugh Freeze and the Liberty Flames — a tale of ice and fire. The Flames were one of college football’s hottest tickets in 2020, scorching two ACC teams and bringing the fire against Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl. Will they be extinguished this year, or does the fire still burn strongly in the Independent program?
All puns aside, they’re positioned well to repeat last season’s performance. Almost every starter from 2020 is back, including star quarterback Malik Willis, who has become a 2022 NFL Draft darling over the spring. Freeze’s return to Ole Miss on November 6 could be a defining moment for the program.
22) Florida
We appear to be lower on Florida than the consensus, with the Gators failing to crack the top 20 of our College Football Power Rankings. With Brenton Cox, Ventrell Miller, and Kaiir Elam, there’s certainly some impressive talent returning to The Swamp this fall. However, the offensive losses are too numerous to mitigate.
How do you expect to lose the key components of a dynamic offense in Kyle Pitts, Kadarius Toney, and Kyle Trask with zero drop-off? Emory Jones has proven to be adept with his legs, but it’s not as simple as plugging in a quarterback and expecting him to produce record-setting numbers. Let’s not forget that without Pitts last year, Florida floundered against LSU.
21) Notre Dame
Another team taking a nosedive in our College Football Power Rankings compared to the consensus is the Fighting Irish. They were sensational at times last season, but their losses are harder to reconcile than Florida before them. A good predictor of offensive success is returning linemen, and Notre Dame lost all but one of their best to the NFL. The protection won’t be as strong, and somehow their quarterback situation got worse, too.
On a positive note, safety Kyle Hamilton may be one of the best players in all of college football this fall.
20) Utah
The Utes ranked 46th in defense, 51st in offense, and went 3-2 last season. Hardly the basis for a top-20 team in our College Football Power Rankings. However, there’s a good chance that if you were in the transfer portal this spring, you’ve made your way to Salt Lake City. They’ve made important additions on both sides of the ball. Theo Howard, T.J. Pledger, and Chris Curry are exciting offensive playmakers, while Josh Calvert joins a defense that already has some standouts in Devin Lloyd and Clark Phillips III.
If new quarterback Charlie Brewer finds his 2019 form, the Pac-12 best watch out. On the flip side, they have to travel to and beat USC to compete for a title.
19) Arizona State
The Sun Devils have the team to be competitive this season. However, it was unclear how potential sanctions for policy violations may impact their season at the time of writing. We’ve left them in the top 25 for now, but they could slip down our College Football Power Rankings as the situation resolves itself.
18) Ole Miss
Lane Kiffin’s offense put the “Hotty” into “Hotty Toddy” last year, as Ole Miss emerged as one of the most exciting offensive juggernauts in the nation. Although Elijah Moore has departed to the NFL, there’s plenty of offensive talent returning. It all starts with quarterback Matt Corral, described as “better than advertised” by one Ole Miss wide receiver (which is wild, considering the advert was exceptionally appealing).
Although the defense got torched often, Sam Williams is one of the nation’s best outside linebackers. Starting conference play in Tuscaloosa is a tall order, and they also face Texas A&M, but there are plenty of winnable games on the schedule.
17) Texas
Is Texas back? It’s become a standing joke for the Longhorns, but with the appointment of Steve Sarkisian, it feels like they have the potential to achieve big things. The loss of Sam Ehlinger is huge, but Casey Thompson was impressive in limited showing last season — he is expected to win the starting job. Bijan Robinson should be the main beneficiary of the new coaching staff and 1,000 yards is a minimum expectation.
The defense was dire at times — giving up 50+ to Texas Tech and Oklahoma — and losing the best pieces of it isn’t ideal. There’s a potential banana skin against Louisiana to open the season, but games at Iowa State and the Red River Rivalry will be the measuring stick for success.
16) Coastal Carolina
If this were the College Football Mullet Power Rankings, the Chanticleers would be at the very top. The team that took the nation by storm last season is back, and they have the potential to be better than ever. In Grayson McCall, they have one of the best young quarterbacks in the country. Other than Tarron Jackson and C.J. Marable, they have lost little talent. Isaiah Likely and Jaivon Heiligh are criminally underrated pass catchers.
Meanwhile, the defense returns imposing playmakers like Silas Kelly, Teddy Gallagher, and D’Jordan Strong. The Sun Belt is theirs for the taking, especially with the Chants avoiding Louisiana in regular-season play.
15) Wisconsin
For the first time since 2015, the Badgers averaged more passing yards per game than rushing yards. However, that’s not what Wisconsin football under Paul Chryst is all about. While the offense had their struggles, the defense remained as aggressive as well…a badger. They ranked ninth in points allowed, holding five of their seven opponents under 20 points. Jack Sanborn is an important returnee, and alongside Leo Chenal, they should ensure the defense continues to be solid.
Will Graham Mertz take a leap this year, or will running back Jalen Berger get to work behind an offensive line that returns three starters, including Logan Bruss?
14) Washington
The Kings of the North! In the shortened 2020, Washington’s 3-1 record in Jimmy Lake’s first season in charge was enough to see them head up the Pac-12 North. They’ll have their work cut out keeping the crown against a strong Oregon team, however.
The defense returns an abundance of playmaking talent, despite losing star cornerback Elijah Molden. The offensive line has a formidable anchor in Jaxson Kirkland; they have one of the best tight ends in the nation in Cade Otton. There’s a genuine quarterback competition brewing ahead of summer camp, but it looks like Dylan Morris’ job to lose.
13) Miami (FL)
Rhett Lashlee had the Hurricanes’ offense ripping through ACC defenses last fall, and the same can be expected again this year. Brevin Jordan is the only major loss for an offense that added Oklahoma wide receiver Charleston Rambo. D’Eriq King returns behind an offensive line that is the most experienced it’s been for a while, led by potential NFL Draft first-rounder Zion Nelson.
Miami also boasts one of the most intriguing running back rooms in the nation. All that will be for naught if the defense can’t improve, however. North Carolina, NC State, and Clemson all put up 40+ on the Hurricanes last year. Although they avoid the Tigers in the regular season, Alabama in Week 1 will provide a stern test.
12) USC
For all the emerging powers in the Pac-12, the Trojans have the potential to prevail at the top of the pile. Despite Drake Jackson being one of the top defensive prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft, they lack the all-around defensive prowess of Oregon. Thus, they are behind the Ducks in our College Football Power Rankings.
Nevertheless, the offense has enough talent to make it an interesting fight. Drake London, Bru McCoy, and Gary Bryant Jr. are an exciting triple threat at WR. If Kedon Slovis returns to 2019 form this season, the offense could be dangerous enough to contend for a College Football Playoff spot. However, the cannibalistic nature of the conference will undoubtedly prevent that.
11) Indiana
After their best record since 1967, the Hoosiers have emerged as the leading challenger to Ohio State in the Big Ten. Indiana gave them a run for their money last season, and they host the Buckeyes in a key East Division clash on October 23.
Michael Penix Jr. promises to be one of the most entertaining quarterbacks in the country, and Ty Fryfogle is a game-changing weapon. Jamar Johnson‘s departure leaves a hole in the defense, but they’ve got playmakers in Tiawan Mullen and Marcelino Ball.