Pro Football Focus releases top 25 rankings ahead of 2023 college season

Pro Football Focus released its top 25 rankings ahead of the 2023 season, using its own ELO ratings. 

We’re still two months away from the kickoff of the 2023 season, but it’s never too early to rank them all. Two-time defending national champion Georgia leads the way at the top, but others are itching to take that spot.

Below are the top 25 rankings for teams in college football, according to PFF.

PFF ranks top 25 teams in college football for 2023

1. Georgia

2. Alabama

3. Ohio State

4. Michigan

5. Texas

6. Clemson

7. Penn State

8. LSU

9. Tennessee

10. USC

11. Notre Dame

12. Oregon

13. Oklahoma

14. Florida State

15. Utah

16. TCU

17. Kansas State

18. Arkansas

19. Kentucky

20. Florida

21. Washington

22. South Carolina

23. Mississippi State

24. Minnesota

25. Pittsburgh

An early look at the top 25 in 2023, per PFF

The top four aren’t really surprising at this point and that very well could’ve been the College Football Playoff last season.

Georgia is No. 1 until further notice in the top 25 rankings. If someone knocks off the Bulldogs, then great, there’s a new No. 1. But Kirby Smart and company could easily take that No. 1 ranking all the way to the CFP.

Alabama, Ohio State and Michigan are the other top tier contenders for the CFP and while it hasn’t happened yet, two teams from two conferences isn’t far-fetched with these schools.

PFF used its ELO ratings for its top 25 rankings, putting Texas in the top five. That might be premature for others, but with Quinn Ewers at quarterback and a top tier receiving corps, it might not be crazy.

The Longhorns are a popular pick to contend for and perhaps win the Big 12 this year. Maybe it’s not nuts.

The usual suspects round out the rest of the top 15 while last year’s runner up TCU is at No. 16 in a year after a championship loss.

The backend of the top 25 rankings has some intriguing teams such as Kansas State and Arkansas. Kentucky is a regular at this point under Mark Stoops.

Year 2 under Billy Napier at Florida will be a big measuring stick for the potential of the program and South Carolina could certainly be a big boom or bust team this year.

Will the top 25 rankings of college football drastically change between now and the start of the season? Maybe not a lot, but by the time we hit the middle of October, fasten your seatbelts.