Athlon Sports releases preseason top 25 rankings

Athlon Sports released its preseason top 25 rankings for the 2023 college football season and the top four is notable.

The usual suspects like Georgia and Michigan are at the top. Don’t forget about Alabama either as the Crimson Tide want to return to the College Football Playoff.

But it’s the No. 4 team that stands out, followed by the first two teams left out of the proverbial playoff.

Below are Athlon Sports’ top 25 for the preseason.

Athlon Sports releases preseason Top 25

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

Click HERE to purchase the entire Athlon magazine for the 2023 college football season

USC at No. 4 already? That means high expectations for the Trojans this year.

Under Lincoln Riley, USC made a huge jump in 2022 and that was just his first season. IN Year 2, there are expectations to win a Pac-12 title with reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams at quarterback.

If that all falls into place, the Trojans should make the College Football Playoff for the first time.

Ohio State lost to Michigan two years in a row and failed to win the Big Ten. However, the Buckeyes took Georgia down to the wire in last year’s semifinals.

LSU meanwhile is a popular pick to win the SEC West once again and possibly get to the College Football Playoff in Brian Kelly’s second year.

The rest of the top 10 contains playoff contenders from their respective conferences such as Florida State, Penn State, Washington and the always reliable Utah.

Some standouts from the next crop to No. 20 include Texas at No. 11, another high pressure situation, and Oklahoma coming in at No. 16.

It was a down year for the Sooners in Brent Venables’ first year. Can he push the right buttons in Year 2?

By the way, Clemson might be a sleeper at No. 12 at the moment. It seems like the Tigers’ CFP days are behind them, but don’t tell that to Dabo Swinney.

Tulane is the lone Group of Five team within Athlon Sports’ Top 25 as the remainder of the rankings feature more usual Power Five teams that ended last season on a high note.

The countdown to the 2023 season continues as Athlon’s preseason top 25 gives us a first good glimpse at the fall.