NFL
By: Jeff Barnes
Georgia finished the 2021 season at the top of the college football world. After toppling Bama and exacting their revenge for the SEC Championship game loss, the Bulldogs look to repeat. Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide are poised to reclaim the #1 spot. While Bama is the top team in some polls, they failed to regain that spot to start the season with me. There is a gap between the top two teams and the rest. Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson and, Notre Dame all will fight to stake a claim to the top 5, but they have a lot to prove if they want to be the #1 team in the nation. All have major questions that would prevent them from beating Alabama or Georgia in a playoff matchup. Despite heavy losses to the draft, Cincinnati remains in the Top 20. Factoring in UCF and Miami to the Top 20 as well, I believe there will be some surprise teams in the hunt for major bowl games.
- Georgia- The champs remain at the top of my list with a loaded roster. Kirby Smart is always in the Top 5 when it comes to recruiting. He will have his starting quarterback back at the helm, but a reloaded defense is the question. Will they be as dominant? They will need to be to remain #1 this season with a tougher Bama team primed to topple them.
- Alabama- NIL isn’t the only thing eating at Nick Saban. That Championship loss to Georgia wakes him up every morning. With a reloaded roster and another year with his Heisman-winning quarterback. I expect the Crimson Tide to rise again and challenge Georgia for another title.
- Ohio State- The Buckeyes also return their NFL prospect at quarterback and one of their top-ranked receivers. However, have the Buckeyes improved their physicality enough to defeat Michigan? The Wolverines manhandled them at the line of scrimmage and unless the Buckeyes are a stronger team, history will repeat itself.
- Michigan- Harbaugh’s physical brand of football allowed him to finally defeat the Buckeyes and claim the Big 10 Championship. It will be a tough task to repeat as he suffered some key losses on defense. Factor in that the Buckeyes also have the quarterback and running back advantage putting the Wolverines behind OSU in the rankings.
- Clemson- The Tigers beat out the Irish for the #5 spot for a few reasons. They lost a lot this offseason on the coaching staff and roster. Stability and talent at quarterback push them past ND. The Irish quarterback room is in flux. The Tigers have a proven commodity. Clemson will make a push for the playoff and most likely get in.
- Notre Dame
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma State
- Utah
- Oklahoma
- .Baylor
- Oregon
- Michigan State
- .Wake Forest
- Kentucky
- .N.C. State
- USC
- Miami
- Cincinnati
- Wisconsin
- Ole Miss
- Houston
- UCF
- Penn State
- Iowa
