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Way-too-early AP Top 25 projections for 2022 college football season

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Jaden Bray (85) celebrates with offensive lineman Josh Sills (72( after scoring a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Jaden Bray (85) celebrates with offensive lineman Josh Sills (72( after scoring a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

I’ve seen Wisconsin ranked as high as No. 6 in the way-too-early projections for 2022, but I am not completely sold yet. I don’t think AP voters are ready to trust a Graham Mertz-led Badger team, but the defense will be elite and Braelon Allen looks like the next great Wisconsin back. The Big Ten West crown looks like Wisconsin’s to lose next year.

All aboard the Mel Tucker bandwagon. The second-year head coach turned Michigan State from a 2-5 team in 2020 to 11-2 with a Peach Bowl win in 2021. He’s losing Kenneth Walker III and some other key pieces like Jalen Nailor and Jacob Panasiuk, but returning is Payton Thorne, Jayden Reed, and a heck of a lot of talent on offense. Plus, that defense cannot get any worse.

With Sam Hartman announcing his return for 2022, it looks like that Wake Forest offense is going to be just as good — or better — than the one we saw in 2021 that led the program to 11 wins and an ACC title game berth. If Dave Clawson can improve that defense, this team might just win the ACC in 2022.

An argument could be made for Oklahoma State to be in the top 10 to start the 2022 season with Spencer Sanders back and arguably the Big 12’s best defense returning. Sanders will have a talented young receiving corps to throw to and if that running back position gets figured out, this team might be favored to win the Big 12 finally.

Anyone else a big believer in Sam Pittman? What he’s done in a short period of time at Arkansas has been fantastic and nothing short of a miracle. He’ll return a strong offense and KJ Jefferson who could be a darkhorse Heisman contender after a 9-4 season in which the Razorbacks won the Outback Bowl over Penn State. This is a fringe top-10 team.

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