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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) /
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College football rankings 2023, AP Top 25
Caleb Williams, USC Trojans. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

College football rankings 2023, projected preseason AP Top 25: No. 4

4. USC Trojans (2022 record: 11-3)

Obviously, you start with the Caleb Williams-Lincoln Riley connection when talking about this USC team. The Trojans bring back the reigning Heisman winner and that’s where it starts.

Even with losing Travis Dye and Jordan Addison, Riley has seemingly replaced them beautifully in the portal with former South Carolina back MarShawn Lloyd and former Arizona star Dorian Singer. Moreover, the offensive line is experienced in front of Williams. When you combine all that with the never-a-year-off track record of Riley’s offense, the points should come in bunches.

Will that be the case for opposing offenses, though? That’s the big question after the USC defense was abysmal last season. Georgia transfer Bear Alexander and Texas A&M transfer Anthony Lucas could be game-changers, the same of which is true of Oklahoma State transfer Mason Cobb at linebacker. If there is any step forward from Alex Grinch’s unit, which there’s reason to believe there will be, USC is going to be one of the top contenders in the nation.

3. Florida State Seminoles (2022 record: 10-3)

There were early worries about Mike Norvell from the outside looking in, but the head coach has Florida State on the precipice of returning to glory and we’ll see that right away.

Jordan Travis made massive strides last season and is a dark-horse Heisman contender, but he’s joined by a litany of high-end playmakers, including newcomer Jaheim Bell, Trey Benson, Johnny Wilson and late addition Keon Coleman, who could be a huge asset for the offense. Expect the Seminoles to put up points in bunches throughout the year against virtually any defense with all the ways they can attack.

The headliner on defense is Jared Verse, but he’s just the face to put with what should be a dominant group up front. The linebacking corps has talent, as does the secondary. But the big key for FSU will be staying healthy in the back seven as the depth at those positions is one of the few concerns abou the Noles in the 2023 season.

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