Joel Klatt releases his preseason top 10 rankings in college football

With college football season officially less than a month away, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt released his preseason rankings of the top 10 teams for 2023. It’s hard to believe we’re just a little more than two weeks away from Week 0 kickoff on Aug. 26 and the anticipation is certainly building.

Georgia is everybody’s favorite after winning national championships in 2021 and 2022, and Klatt likes the Bulldogs to start off the year as No. 1. However, teams such as Michigan, USC, Ohio State and, of course, Alabama will hope to challenge them for the crown, it’s sure to make for an interesting season.

You can see where those teams and more landed on Klatt’s preseason top 10 rankings for the 2023 college football season below.

1. Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia leading off this list should come as no surprise after the Bulldogs claimed back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. Whether they can replace the players gone from those teams and become just the second program in college football history to threepeat is the big question entering this season.

Quarterback Stetson Bennett is gone, as are defensive lineman Jalen Carter and offensive tackle Broderick Jones. But former four-star Carson Beck is ready to take over at QB, and tight end Brock Bowers returns after totaling 119 catches for 1,824 yards and 24 total touchdowns over the past two seasons. Georgia also signed top five recruiting classes each of the past three seasons and should remain a threat to win another championship.

2. Michigan Wolverines

Michigan is the first of many teams hoping to unseat Georgia as No. 1. The Wolverines won Big Ten Championship and made the College Football Playoff each of the past two seasons but lost in the semifinals both times.

They’ll have a good chance to finally break through into the title game thanks to the dynamic duo of running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards (combined 2,454 yards and 25 TDs in 2022). If quarterback JJ McCarthy can show improvement as a passer to give the offense more balance, it could be a special season in Ann Arbor.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

If Ohio State has anything to say about it, Michigan’s run of Big Ten titles will end this season. The Buckeyes have lost the annual rivalry game to the Wolverines each of the past two years, but stand a chance to snap that streak thanks to an offense loaded with talent.

Receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka are both back after 1,000-yard seasons and earned first team All-Big Ten preseason selections. They’ll be without last year’s starting quarterback CJ Stroud, but should remain in good hands as former five-stars Kyle McCord and Devin Brown battle it out in camp. Running backs Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson, the team’s top two rushers in 2022, also return.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

The last time Nick Saban and Alabama missed the College Football Playoff, they responded by winning a national championship in 2020. This year’s team will hope to write a similar story.

The Crimson Tide don’t enter the season without questions, the most pressing of which is who will replace Bryce Young at quarterback. Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner and returning players Ty Simpson and Jalen Milroe are in a battle for that position. Alabama also has new coordinators on both offense and defense in what’s shaping up to be an interesting season in Tuscaloosa.

5. Penn State Nittany Lions

The third Big Ten team to crack Klatt’s top five, Penn State enters 2023 as a challenger to both Michigan and Ohio State for the conference crown. The Nittany Lions’ only two losses from last year came against the Wolverines and Buckeyes, and getting a win in at least one of those games will be critical for its Playoff hopes.

Running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen etched their names in the record book last season, becoming the first true freshman duo in school history to record 700-plus yards rushing each. There’s also excitement as former five-star Drew Allar takes over for Sean Clifford at quarterback, and projected top-five pick Olu Fashanu will provide him excellent protection at offensive tackle.

6. Washington Huskies

Klatt is going against the grain here by ranking Washington as the first Pac-12 team in his top 10 college football rankings over USC. However, with the players returning in the Huskies passing game, it’s easy to see how he reached that conclusion.

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. finished second among all FBS players this past season with 4,641 yards passing in addition to 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He gets back his top three receivers in Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk, the first two of which each surpassed 1,000 yards in 2022.

7. LSU Tigers

Brian Kelly‘s inaugural season in Baton Rouge couldn’t have gone much better as he took over a team that went 6-7 the year prior and led them to an SEC West title. That has set the bar high for LSU heading into his second year, where it’s expected to again compete with Alabama for the division crown.

Thankfully, dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels is back after leading the Tigers with 885 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns a year ago. He wasn’t too shabby as a passer either with 2,913 yards and 17 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Defensively, the Tigers landed three players on the preseason All-SEC first team, the most of any school other than Georgia.

8. USC Trojans

Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is back for his final college season before likely becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. After throwing for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and only five interceptions this past season, he alone should be enough to put USC in the CFP conversation.

But while the offense should be electric, the defense is a major question mark as it ranked 123rd in yards allowed per play (6.5) in 2022. Coach Lincoln Riley was once again active in the transfer portal to bring in players such as defensive lineman Bear Alexander and cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace to help. If the defense improves, expect the Trojans to be one of the most dangerous teams in the country.

9. Clemson Tigers

After six straight College Football Playoff appearances and two national titles from 2015-20, Clemson has missed the past two season. But coming off of an ACC Championship in 2022, the Tigers are motivated not to make it three years in a row.

Former five-star Cade Klubnik is ready to enter his first full season as the starting quarterback after taking over for DJ Uiagalelei both in the conference title game and Orange Bowl. Running back Will Shipley is also back after a 1,000-yard season as Garrett Riley enters his first season as offensive coordinator. Defensively, Clemson should again rank among the best in the country with star linebackers Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter returning.

10. Florida State Seminoles

Many believe the Seminoles could be the team that challenges Clemson for an ACC title. Coming off its first 10-win season since 2016, Florida State brings back several key players including quarterback Jordan Travis and leading receiver Johnny Wilson, who stands 6-foot-6.

Leading rusher Trey Benson also returns and the Seminoles added five of the top 50 players in On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings, including Michigan State receiver Keon Coleman. DL Jared Verse (nine sacks in 2022) should lead the defense as FSU stands a chance to have its best season in a long time.

That wraps up Joel Klatt’s ranking of the top 10 teams in college football. There’s a lot that was expected and a few surprises thrown in there, but it’s important to remember that this list will ultimately look a lot different once things play out on the field. We’ll soon see just how correct his predictions turn out to be.