PFF updates College Football Top 25 Power Rankings ahead of Week 1

The college football season is underway, and as we barrel towards the first full weekend slate, PFF has decided to re-evaluate their top 25 teams in the sport.

Their top four remained identical from last week, however, the Week 0 games did have some impact. PFF liked what they saw from Notre Dame and USC over the weekend and rewarded them with jumps, while several other teams moved around here or there.

So below, you can find the full PFF top 25 as of the final day in August, with a snippet on each of the top ten teams. Take a look:

Movement in rankings compared to last week denoted in ()

1. Georgia

After two straight titles and ranking No. 1 on this list a week ago, UGA is still on top. It’s not just a formality, either, as the Dawgs return their best skill position weapons, including the nation’s top tight end in Brock Bowers, and will field another elite defense under Kirby Smart.

The questions come at two key spots on offense: quarterback and offensive coordinator. The brains who engineered a pair of Georgia’s best offenses under Smart — Stetson Bennett at QB, Todd Monken at OC — are each gone to the NFL. Sure, the replacements seem more than capable, but you just don’t know if that lack of experience will ultimately bite UGA. New QB Carson Beck does have a much deeper group of pass catchers at his disposal compared to last year, though.

2. Alabama

Alabama failed to make the College Football Playoff last season and then lost their Heisman-winning QB, Bryce Young, who became the top pick in the NFL Draft. Plus, so far, it doesn’t sound like the race to replace him has produced a standout yet.

Aside from the new quarterback, ‘Bama is looking at a much younger offensive line but do get back their top two receivers (Ja’Corey Brooks and Jermaine Burton) plus two of their top three running backs to give that new signal caller some weapons to work with. Then on defense, a swath of pros left, but that’s typical for Saban’s club and you’d expect he fills those absences with more future pros. However, this year’s departing haul was a little larger than others.

3. Michigan

Michigan comes in as a deserved top-five team after two straight CFP performances while also returning a lot of their production. Especially at quarterback, where UM gets a rising junior back in JJ McCarthy while other contenders — like Penn State, Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson and Georgia — all replace their QB.

Michigan does have guys to replace, particularly on the defense, but that offense is as loaded as it’s been under Harbaugh. McCarthy has talent and versatility under center, Blake Corum is a possible Heisman candidate at RB and the offensive line will be in the running for the Joe Moore award yet again. The Wolverines may be the contender with the least questions.

4. Ohio State

The other half of the Big Ten’s greatest rivalry falls right in at No. 4. For the Buckeyes, all eyes are on that receiving corps as 1,200-yard wideout and Chad Ochocinco’s lock for the 2023 Heisman, Marvin Harrison Jr., returns alongside his partner in crime, 1,100-yard receiver Emeka Egbuka. They could be the best two wideouts in college football and they share a locker room (but don’t tell that to Washington’s guys).

Elsewhere, OSU is strong also at running back, where they get back three guys who went for 500+ yards each and combined for 2,010 total yards in Miyan Williams, TreVeyon Henderson and Dallan Hayden. They also have some rising stars on the defensive line and a true leader of the defense in middle linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. With newcomers at OL and QB, toppling Michigan will be tough, but as they showed last year, a playoff appearance is possible regardless.

5. Clemson (+1)

Clemson has a deep offensive line that ought to be stellar, plus got their leading rusher (Will Shipley) and receiver (Antonio Williams) back for a QB that should provide more consistency than they got from the position a year ago. They’ve got to improve on offense.

Then, on defense, the front seven ought to be great once again, especially with Tyler Davis, Jeremiah Trotter and Barrett Carter all back. Plus, they have a fabulous CB duo of Nate Wiggins and Sheridan Jones in the secondary. Sure, Brent Venables is long gone, but this group showed last year they can remain a strong defensive unit.

6. Texas (-1)

After triumphing over some injury obstacles in 2022 to finish with an 8-5 record, the hype train is full steam ahead for Longhorn football. The cannoned-armed Quinn Ewers is back to hold the QB job from Arch Manning for at least another season while Texas also returns a terrific offensive line and a star wideout in Xavier Worthy. No Bijan Robinson or Roschon Johnson will hurt, but expect a pivot to a more pass-happy system with a (hopefully) healthy Ewers.

On defense, the Longhorns get back three of their four top tacklers from ’22, including third team All-American Jaylan Ford. Plus, they return their best pass rusher in Barryn Sorrell, who put up 5.5 sacks last fall. In the defensive backfield, Jalen Catalon is a notable addition from Arkansas who links up with Jerrin Thompson to form a strong safety duo.

7. Notre Dame (+2)

One of the few teams on this list to have actually played a game already. Notre Dame came out and beat the breaks off of the Naval Academy, turning in a nearly flawless performance to begin year two of the Marcus Freeman era.

New quarterback Sam Hartman didn’t have to be Superman last Saturday, but he was lethal and efficient on his 23 total throws, 19 of which he completed for a total of 251 yards and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, that heralded Irish defense had no issue with the triple-option and didn’t allow the Midshipmen into the end zone. After such a strong first impression, PFF launched ND up two spots.

8. Penn State (-1)

Here’s another club that has a loaded roster but a brand new and unproven face at quarterback. Drew Allar has high school pedigree, but the sophomore is young in a sport that’s gotten older. Lucky for him, PSU has either the best or second-best RB tandem in the nation with fellow sophomores Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen and have a stone wall at left tackle to protect Allar’s blindside in Olu Fashanu.

The receiver room took some hits this offseason, but James Franklin hopes KeAndre Lambert-Smith steps up as the ace, while Kent State import Dante Cephas brings in nearly 2,000 receiving yards over his last two seasons. Defensively, Chop Robinson and Abdul Carter lead the front, while Kalen King and Johnny Dixon provide lockdown corner coverage. It’s all about the quarterback in State College this fall, though.

9. USC (+2)

USC is the other top-10 club to have performed during Week 0. While not as dominant as Notre Dame, the Trojans looked the part on offense, doubling up San Jose State by a 56-28 score. Wins by four touchdowns are always nice, though 28 points allowed to the Spartans is a pretty concerning sign for a USC defense that was an Achilles heel to the team a season ago.

But that offense! Caleb Williams looked spectacular and made a Heisman-esque 76-yard touchdown throw while he was under pressure (check that out here). Meanwhile, a new playmaker emerged in freshman Zachariah Branch, who returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown and hauled in four catches for 58 yards plus another TD.

10. Tennessee (+2)

Tennessee gets the bump into the top 10 ahead of their season-opener, which will be a fascinating first-look at a Volunteer team that lost the primary pillars of its offense a year ago. Nonetheless, PFF and others still predict UT to be as good as they were last fall.

Maintaining the offensive production from 2022 will be tough, since the Vols lose Hendon Hooker at quarterback, Biletnikoff winner Jalin Hyatt out wide, and No. 10 overall NFL Draft pick Darnell Wright up front. All three guys were among the two or three best in the country at their position a year ago. Can the new guys step up to a similar level? We’ll have to see.

PFF rankings 11-25

11. LSU (-1)
12. Utah (+2)
13. Oklahoma (-2)
14. Oregon (-3)
15. TCU
16. Florida State
17. Kansas State
18. Kentucky
19. Arkansas (-1)
20. Pittsburgh (+2)
21. Mississippi State (+3)
21. Minnesota
23. Florida
23. Illinois (-3)
25. Washington

A fair bit of moving and shaking among the back half of this list, with the biggest riser being Mississippi State, who joins several other clubs who may be surprising additions. Fellow SEC powers Kentucky, Florida, and Arkansas, along with MSU, all haven’t received national preseason recognition this high from virtually any other outlet. Meanwhile, a team like Washington is ranked towards the top 10 by most folks but rounds out down at No. 25 here.