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College Football Rankings 2022: Projected preseason AP Top 25

By Connor Muldowney

Sat., Jan. 1, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the 108th Rose Bowl Game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Utah Utes at the Rose Bowl.02 rosebowl
Sat., Jan. 1, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the 108th Rose Bowl Game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Utah Utes at the Rose Bowl.02 rosebowl /
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Oct 9, 2021; Syracuse, New York, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman (10) reacts to his touchdown run with teammate wide receiver A.T. Perry (9) against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Syracuse, New York, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman (10) reacts to his touchdown run with teammate wide receiver A.T. Perry (9) against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

A lot of people are ready to dub NC State the top contender to Clemson in the ACC this season, but I’m not quite there yet. The Wolfpack finished the 2021 season with a 9-3 record and they return Devin Leary who was one of the best quarterbacks in college football last year. The defense will be stingy again, but I’m not ready to go all-in on NC State just yet.

I don’t think Wake Forest is getting enough attention this offseason, but AP voters will put the Demon Deacons in the top 15. They have Sam Hartman returning and he could easily throw for over 4,000 yards this year and that offense is going to light up the scoreboard. Dave Clawson continues to piece together a solid roster that gets better every year.

One of those teams that I’m not totally sure about is Oklahoma, but AP voters are usually high on the Sooners. Plus, Brent Venables has earned respect on a national level for being one of the nation’s top defensive coordinators and he was a home run hire following the departure of Lincoln Riley. The defense should improve and Dillon Gabriel is the perfect addition to that offense. The Sooners should be back atop the Big 12 soon.

While I think Oklahoma will contend for the Big 12 title, I think Baylor should be the favorite to repeat until proven otherwise. The Bears did lose Gerry Bohanon to the transfer portal, but many believe that Blake Shapen’s ceiling is much higher there. Plus, Dave Aranda turned that defense around in a hurry. The Bears are my favorite to repeat as Big 12 champs.

Was Mel Tucker’s first full season that ended with an 11-2 record and a Peach Bowl win a fluke? Many aren’t ready to buy stock in Michigan State, especially with Kenneth Walker III moving on, but Tucker went out and landed former Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Jarek Broussard and former four-star and Wisconsin transfer Jalen Berger in the backfield. If the pass defense can be better than dead-last, watch out.

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