On3 College Football Playoff Top 4 Projections, First Two Out after Week 0

With Week Zero in the books, it’s time to take a look at some College Football Playoff projections with the top four teams and first two out, according to On3’s J.D. PicKell.

There wasn’t too much movement from preseason expectations due to the lack of games in the first weekend. With Labor Day around the corner, everyone will be in action. So far, at least in terms of the teams on the list, only USC got it rolling in the first weekend.

So let’s dive into the top four and first two out according to On3, as revealed on The Hard Count. Keep in mind, these rankings are how PicKell sees the landscape as it stands through just the first weekend.

No. 1 Georgia

PicKell: “70% of the production from that national title defense is back even with the draft picks that you lost on that side of the ball, expect them to be really freaking good. I think the offense. if it doesn’t look like a national title kind of offense the first couple weeks of the season, let’s give it some time.”

Carson Beck is the guy under center and that’s pretty much everyone’s question going into the fall. The defense is as good as advertised, even with some roster turnover. But will Kirby Smart and staff be able to three-peat with a new quarterback?

No. 2 Michigan

PicKell: “Yeah ECU the first game of the year. They should handle business. Top returning production. I understand Jim Harbaugh’s not coaching the first three games, I’m not worried about that. I don’t think anybody’s worried about that. Especially in Ann Arbor. They got extra fuel to the fire. Defense embodies what they’re about. Allowed 16 points a game last year. They bring back a lot of those cats, like I was just talking about. They’re gonna run the football, they’re going to be physical, best backfield in the country.”

Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards will run the show out of the backfield but all eyes are on quarterback JJ McCarthy. If he steps up his game even more, like he did down the stretch in 2022, this team just might finally win it all. Harbaugh missing the first three games would seem like a distant memory.

No. 3 Ohio State

PicKell: “Whether it’s Devin Brown … or Kyle McCord, you feel pretty good about whoever Ryan Day ends up picking there especially based on his track record. They are built to compete for all the marbles. I understand they haven’t beat Michigan the last two years, I understand they lost to Georgia last year, but the way this roster is constructed, if they did it right at quarterback with how they could get it right with the level of talent in that quarterback room, I love what they have on defense from a personnel standpoint (as well).”

Day has yet to pick a quarterback but that doesn’t seem to bother many people, even PicKell. The roster is stacked with guys like Marvin Harrison Jr. at wide receiver and JT Tuimoloau on defense. Good luck stopping this team. But can they get over the Michigan hump this year?

No. 4 USC

PicKell: “Taking care of business over San Jose State, the offense is still elite. We all understand that, we all pretty much assumed that. Was good to see them look how they were supposed to look against a team like San Jose State. The defense is what a lot of people are going to be concerned about coming out of that game. And I understand that. I don’t think that’s inappropriate, but I also think that we need to maybe understand it was Week Zero and kind of let it mesh.”

USC won its opener over San Jose State and Caleb WIlliams didn’t miss a beat from last season. He’s not quite in Heisman Trophy form, but he’s close and this could be a dominant Trojans team. They just hope the defense holds up. Plus, freshman wide receiver Zachariah Branch looks like the real deal.

No. 5 Florida State (First one out)

Florida State, like the No. 6 team coming up, has yet to play this season. But the Seminoles are a hot pick to win the ACC in 2023 over the likes of Clemson, which won seven of the last eight conference titles. FSU has Heisman contender Jordan Travis at quarterback, which should say enough.

Mike Norvell really pushed the right buttons last year and this looks like a program that could explode this fall. Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman are a dynamic wide receiver tandem and Trey Benson will carry the rock out of the backfield. Let us not forget star defensive lineman Jared Verse either, who will be a nightmare for opposing offenses.

No. 6 LSU (Second one out)

LSU has yet to play as well and wouldn’t you know it, the Tigers take on Florida State to open up the season. That’ll surely shake up the College Football Playoff projections from On3, depending upon who wins the game of course.

Brian Kelly goes into Year 2 with the Tigers with Jayden Daniels at quarterback again. He’s a dark horse Heisman candidate after a productive season last fall. Lest we forget Harold Perkins on the defensive side of things. The sophomore linebacker is one of the best, if not the best, in the country.

In closing, the College Football Playoff is months away, so expect these rankings and projections to go through a lot of shuffling coming up. Buckle up because college football is only getting started.