Fansided

College football rankings 2023: Alabama outside Top 4 in preseason AP Top 25 prediction

By Cody Williams

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during pregame warmups prior to facing the Texas A&M Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 08, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during pregame warmups prior to facing the Texas A&M Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 08, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 8
Next
College Football Rankings 2023, AP Top 25
Drew Allar, Penn State Nittany Lions. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

College football rankings 2023, projected preseason AP Top 25: No. 10-9

10. Penn State Nittany Lions (2022 record: 11-2)

In my own 2023 college football rankings, Penn State will be higher than this. However, I have an inclination that national voters for the AP Top 25 will value some bluer-blood or bigger-name programs will get vaulted ahead of them. Still, there is no way that James Franklin’s Nittany Lions can justifiably be outside the Top 10.

Drew Allar, though unproven, represents a potentially massive upgrade over veteran JAG Sean Clifford, now on the Packers, at quarterback as the No. 1 QB and No. 3 overall player from the 2022 recruiting cycle. He’s protected with an elite O-line and some real weapons in Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and Kent State transfer receiver Dante Cephas.

Even with all that, the defense could be the bigger story. This might be the best linebacker corps in the country, headlined by Abdul Carter, while the secondary will barely notice the loss of Joey Porter Jr., which says quite a bit about the level of talent in Happy Valley on that side of the ball.

9. Clemson Tigers (2022 record: 11-3)

Even when everyone was writing Dabo Swinney and Clemson off amid perceived struggles, the Tigers still ended up with 11 wins last season. But those struggles sparked a necessary change for this program, one that could elevate them immensely moving forward.

The Tigers hired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley away from TCU to help spark the offense, now firmly in the hands of Cade Klubnik, who took over sporadically for now-Oregon State QB D.J. Uiagalelei a year ago. Will Shipley is still a weapon and, while the receivers still need to prove themselves, playing in Riley’s Air-Raid approach could take them to a new level.

As for the defense, it’s rinse-and-repeat as always for Clemson. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and the linebacker corps are lethal, the secondary seems primed to take a step forward, and the defensive front is loaded with elite talent and just as much depth. If the offense can take the expected step forward, rest assured the defense is set to do its job.

Home/College Football Rankings