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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
Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh and Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

College football rankings 2023, projected preseason AP Top 25: No. 2

2. Michigan Wolverines (2022 record: 13-1)

Winning a game in the College Football Playoff is the next step for Jim Harbaugh to take at Michigan after back-to-back seasons with wins over Ohio State and berths in the CFP. And he has a team that could get him to the hurdle before him and the Wolverines.

J.J. McCarthy returns with massive expectations put upon his shoulders after a first season as the starter with elite flashes but lacking consistency. Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards will still be stalwarts for the offense in the backfield and the offensive line and receivers should be quite solid. The room for improvement very much is on the quarterback and him making a leap.

As for the defense, good luck matching up with this group. Nebraska transfer Ernest Hausmann gives Michigan a truly elite group of linebackers and the front seven seems dangerous as a whole. There is also a deep and talented secondary behind them, which makes for the total package that should be the driving force for the Wolverines independent of how much the offense elevates.

1. Georgia Bulldogs (2022 record: 15-0)

Is it possible that Kirby Smart led Georgia to back-to-back national championships while it was a rebuilding year for the Bulldogs in 2022? That might actually be the case, which is a truly terrifying proposition for the rest of the country.

Sure, there are big changes with Carson Beck (likely) taking over for Stetson Bennett and Mike Bobo stepping back in as OC with Todd Monken heading for the Ravens. But the weapons are numerous with Brock Bowers, Arian Smith, Ladd McConkey, Dominic Lovett and more while the O-line could challenge for the Joe Moore Award this season.

Then there’s the always potent defense coming from Athens, which isn’t changing this season. Even with Bear Alexander shocking the system a bit with his decision to transfer, the Dawgs have a ton of talent that should be able to make a big impact with 5-stars or high-end players at every level, not the least of which are potential All-Americans Mykel Williams, Smael Mondon, and Malaki Starks, among others.

Next. How CFB teams will replace every first-round pick in the 2023 draft. dark

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