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ESPN unveils 2022 college football preseason power rankings

Nikki Chavanelleby:Nikki Chavanelle•08/17/22•

NikkiChavanelle

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Matthew Visinsky | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

A new season kicks off in two weeks but looking at the top of the college football rankings, it appears not much has changed since the end of last season. ESPN unveiled the 2022 preseason power rankings this week with a familiar cast of characters at the top.

The Alabama Crimson Tide, Ohio State Buckeyes, Georgia Bulldogs and Clemson Tigers look as powerful as ever despite an offseason of changes. Last season, Alabama defeated Georgia in the SEC Championship Game to earn the No. 1 seed in the CFP while the Bulldogs fell to No. 3. Michigan earned the No. 2 seed, while Cincinnati made history at No. 4. Georgia emerged victorious, breaking a 40-year national title drought behind former walk-on quarterback Stetson Bennett.

After those powerhouses, there seems to be a general consensus about the teams chasing a top-five billing. The ESPN power rankings, AP voters and league’s coaches all have the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at No. 5 despite the exit of long-time head coach Brian Kelly. The Oklahoma Sooners are in a similar position, with analysts predicting little, if any, drop off between Lincoln Riley to Brent Venables in Norman.

With Week One games providing a host of opportunities for top-25 upsets, ESPN’s power rankings could look very different come Sept. 5. ESPN’s rankings combined the results from 48 ESPN college football experts’ own top-25s, leading to a consensus list.

Here are the 2022 college football preseason power rankings.

ESPN Preseason Power Rankings

  1. Alabama 
  2. Ohio State 
  3. Georgia 
  4. Clemson
  5. Notre Dame
  6. Utah
  7. Texas A&M
  8. Michigan
  9. Oklahoma
  10. Baylor
  11. NC State
  12. USC
  13. Oregon
  14. Oklahoma State
  15. Michigan State
  16. Miami
  17. Arkansas
  18. Wisconsin
  19. Pittsburgh
  20. Ole Miss
  21. Cincinnati
  22. Kentucky
  23. Texas
  24. Houston
  25. BYU

The SEC leads the way with six teams included in the preseason power rankings. The ACC has four, as do the Big Ten and Big 12. The Pac-12 trails with three, meanwhile two G5 teams made the list, as well as two independents.