College football rankings 2023: Georgia leads charge for 3-peat, Michigan, Alabama close behind
College football rankings 2023, way-too-early Top 25: No. 4-3
4. Florida State Seminoles
At the risk of overhyping Florida State, they were playing like one of the five best teams in college football at the end of the 2022 season, punctuating that with a thrilling win over Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl to cap it off. Now Mike Norvell, who has improved his record each of the past two seasons, returns a strong core that I would have written in as the favorites to win the ACC and a real College Football Playoff contender.
Jordan Travis has made tremendous strides as a passer and leader for the offense and returns with a strong overall group of backs and pass-catchers. They have returning starters and incoming transfers to protect up front and the return of Jared Verse and Fabien Lovett should be huge for the defense that took steps forward and will now add even more talent for next year.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
Losing legitimate superstars such as quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is never going to be easy to deal with, even for a program like Alabama. After a disappointing season for Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa, though, it seems as if they are about to get a change at offensive coordinator, which could make all of the difference, even with Jalen Milroe or Ty Simpson having to replace Young at quarterback.
The defense got a bad rap in the 2022 season and will have big names to replace like Anderson, Brian Branch and Jordan Battle gone. At the same time, though, players like Dallas Turner and Kool-Aid McKinstry are absolute stars at edge and corner, respectively. I believe in Saban and Alabama, but that’s especially the case with the level of their talent if they are no longer hindered by Bill O’Brien on offense.