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ESPN releases post-spring 2023 college football power ranking

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•05/03/23•

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Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl - Georgia v Michigan
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 31: Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines shake hands after the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Michigan Wolverines 36-11 in the Capital One Orange Bowl for the College Football Playoff semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium on December 31, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Spring football has wrapped up and college football is headed towards the dog days of summer. But before we get there, ESPN dished out a new set of power rankings after spring ball has wrapped up.

Unsurprisingly, two-time defending national champion Georgia tops the list, despite replacing a starting quarterback and, again, any number of starters on defense. After back-to-back Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff berths, Michigan slotted at second place. Then things take off.

Check out the full ESPN post-spring college football power rankings below:

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

James Madison and Iowa both dropped from the power rankings.

Imagining a CFP field of the Bulldogs, Wolverines, Seminoles and Trojans isn’t difficult. Florida State is the team most likely to be sliding out of that picture early, with games against LSU and Clemson before the end of September. Conversely, if the Seminoles win those games and start undefeated — or even with a lone loss — they should be part of the conversation for a College Football Playoff berth.

Don’t overlook Alabama or Ohio State, but plenty of Power 5 squads from Nos. 7 to 15 in the power ranking are eying pushes into the upper-echelon. LSU is on the rise under Brian Kelly, Penn State brings back a loaded team, Clemson is turning the page into the Cade Klubnik era and Texas, Tennessee, Washington, Notre Dame, Utah and Oregon either have an incumbent starter or an exciting replacement under center.

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While they might have a potential No. 1 overall draft pick in quarterback Drake Maye, North Carolina sits at No. 21, a decent contrast from Caleb Williams and his Trojans sitting at No. 4.

And Wisconsin cracks the power ranking for the first time after not being rated. Luke Fickell, yet to coach a season in Madison, has the good vibes on tap for the Badgers. The addition of former North Carolina offensive coordinator Phil Longo signals a shift to a more high-octane offense at Wisconsin. If one of the trio of transfer quarterbacks the Badgers brought in can assert himself as the leader in the offense, Wisconsin could quickly return to Big Ten West contention.

With transfers still to commit and a few unexpected turns to come in the offseason, the ESPN power ranking will certainly be subject to change. But with spring ball in the rearview and summer on the horizon, it’s good to be one of these 25 squads.