Dan Mullen releases his preseason Top 25

Who needs the AP Top 25 when you have Dan Mullen‘s preseason rankings? On Monday, the former Florida head coach released his personal Top 25 list heading into the upcoming season.

The list isn’t a wild departure from the AP’s rankings. However, it certainly boasts a few stark differences. Perhaps the most significant difference is Mullen’s No. 4 spot. The ESPN analyst kicked Alabama to No. 5 and instead squeezed USC in at No. 4.

Surely, Mullen’s decision wasn’t influenced by his 0-11 record against Saban and Alabama. Right? Alabama wasn’t the only team Mullen kicked down his ladder. The 51-year-old seemingly isn’t too confident in Penn State, either.

The AP Poll has Penn State firmly planted at the No. 7 spot. Mullen believes the Nittany Lions are only the 11th-best team in the country. Penn State has been on the rise in rankings this offseason with buzz surrounding quarterback Drew Allar. Nonetheless, Mullen seemingly isn’t buying into the hype.

Don’t worry, Penn State fans. You’re not alone. Mullen also drastically dropped Notre Dame in his rankings. In the AP Top 25, the Fighting Irish are the No. 13 program nationally. In Mullen’s world, Notre Dame scrapes by at No. 18.

Perhaps Mullen is still stuck on Notre Dame’s slow start to last season. The Fighting Irish began the 2022 campaign 0-2, falling to Ohio State and Marshall. However, the team bounced back, posting a 9-4 mark and defeating a hot South Carolina team in the Gator Bowl.

Although Mullen’s front four included a small shake-up, his bottom five is nearly unrecognizable. Unlike the AP, Mullen excluded Texas A&M, Iowa and Tulane from his list. Obviously, he isn’t afraid to spread the frustration between conferences.

A&M was the most significant fall of the unfortunate trio. In fairness, the Aggies went 5-7 last season, posting their first losing campaign since 2009. Yet, with the addition of offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, fans have high hopes down in College Station.

These were just a few of Mullen’s most significant differences. To see if you’re team suffered or benefitted from Mullen’s selections, look below.

Dan Mullen’s top 25 rankings

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Ohio State
4. USC
5. Alabama
6. LSU
7. Florida State
8. Washington
9. Texas
10. Clemson
11. Penn State
12. Oregon
13. Utah
14. Tennessee
15. Kansas State
16. Iowa
17. Oregon State
18. Notre Dame
19. North Carolina
20. Wisconsin
21. Arkansas
22. Oklahoma
23. UCLA
24. Ole Miss
25. NC State

Although Mullen boasts over 20 years of coaching experience between schools such as Mississippi State and Florida, his list isn’t perfect, either. While putting teams on paper is fun, rankings are decided on the gridiron.

Fans won’t have to wait long to know which teams truly deserve to stand among the elite. Notre Dame and Navy will kick off the 2023 college football season when they face off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 26 in Dublin, Ireland.