Who's ranked in Phil Steele's 2021 Power Poll Projections?
Being ranked inside the top 25 is an honor for most college football programs across the country. Before the season, fans and experts alike love to take a look at the top 25 polls to see who’s going to be good in the upcoming college football season.
College football guru Phil Steele is well known for his lists and loves to rank every team in the country.
He has a Power Poll, which is a little bit different than most polls. In his Power Poll rankings, he ranks each team based on where he thinks they will finish at the end of the college football season.
The Power Poll is easy is to get confused with his Preseason Top 40. Keep in mind, the Preseason Top 40 are the rankings where Steele gives his starting point for each college football team. Not the finish. They are completely different.
Let’s get into it!
PHIL STEELE’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 25 POWER POLL
25. Ole Miss Rebels
Quarterback Matt Corral is one of the best quarterbacks in all of college football. He’s absolutely surgical with the football and more college football fans will know about him after this season. College Football News said it beautifully when they wrote he “should be one of the nation’s most celebrated stars.”
Corral is a big reason why Steele ranked the Rebels in the top 25.
24. Florida Gators
Junior dual-threat quarterback Emory Jones has been quietly waiting his turn for the Gators. This is the year he shows the college football world just how big of a superstar he can truly be. He’s really fun to watch. His exciting talent is a big reason why Steele has the Gators ranked 24th on the list.
23. Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns quarterback, wide receiver, and running back trio of Casey Thompson, Xavier Worthy, and Bijan Robinson respectively have the fans in Austin as excited as they’ve been in a really long time. All three are poised for greatness. Worthy is just a true freshman but has drawn comparisons to Jerry Jeudy in summer workouts. He’s rated five stars by On3.com. This trio of weapons is a big reason why Steele has the ‘Horns ranked in his top 25 Power Poll.
22. Iowa Hawkeyes
Junior running back Tyler Goodson is one of the better players in the Big Ten. In 2020, he ran for a team-high 762 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s a pretty decent receiver, too, catching 39 balls for 318 yards in his first two years. Goodson will hope to lead the Hawkeyes to a top 25 ranking in 2021.
21. TCU Horned Frogs
Quarterback Max Duggan is one of the most exciting players to watch in college football. His 46-yard touchdown run versus Kansas State in 2019 is the stuff of legends. If you haven’t watched yet, YouTube it. His playmaking ability is a huge reason why Steele has them ranked in the top 25.
20. Arizona State Sun Devils
Jayden Daniels is an incredibly smooth runner in the open field. He’s very tall and skinny and he just seems to glide on air with his long and lean frame. He’s one of the most exciting quarterback prospects to watch in college football today. The Sun Devils find themselves ranked in the top 20 in Steele’s rankings, an impressive feat for their program.
19. Indiana Hoosiers
Michael Penix Jr. and Ty Fryfogle were some of the best QB-WR duos in college football last season. Both are back for the Hoosiers in 2021. Fryfogle is on the Biletnikoff Award watch list, given annually to the nation’s top WR. Penix, Jr. tore his ACL last season but has recovered and should be ready to go. The Hoosiers should be ranked all season.
18. Cincinnati Bearcats
Quarterback Desmond Ridder is one of the more underrated players in college football and is a dynamic dual-threat. He’s a very intriguing NFL Draft prospect. His stats aren’t mind-blowing but his game film is. He’s a big reason the Bearcats are ranked in this spot.
17. Miami Hurricanes
Quarterback D’Eriq King is must-see TV and he’s the straw that stirs the drink for the ‘Canes. He’s a huge reason why the Canes are ranked 17th.
16. Washington Huskies
The Huskies find themselves ranked on this list due to their talented offensive line. That unit is headlined by left tackle Jaxson Kirkland. He’s one of the top offensive lineman prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft.
15. Utah Utes
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham told Phil Steele the Utes have their best offensive line he’s seen in 17 years at the school. The OL is a big reason the Utes are ranked so high on this list.
14. North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tarheels will go as far as the golden arm of Heisman Trophy candidate Sam Howell will take them. They return 18 starters on both sides of the ball, which is a big reason why Steele has them ranked so high on the list.
13. Wisconsin Badgers
In 2021 we’ll get to see if quarterback Graham Mertz is the real deal or not. He’s one of the highest-rated signal-callers ever to call Madison home. He’s a big reason why Steele has the Badgers ranked so high on this list.
12. Oregon Ducks
Running backs CJ Verdell and Travis Dye form a dynamic tandem in the backfield in Eugene. Both players are critical to Oregon’s success this season and why Steele has the Ducks ranked 12th in the Power Poll.
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11. USC TROJANS
Quarterback Kedon Slovis is drawing a lot of attention from NFL scouts but he’s still got plenty of things to improve on. Five-star signal-caller Jaxson Dart is an amazing quarterback prospect USC landed in the 2021 class. Steele loves the Trojans and that’s why he has them ranked just outside the top 10.
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Steele has the Fighting Irish ranked 10th, which is about right for them. Running back Kyren Williams figures to be one of the best players in the country and he’s just a sophomore.
9. LSU TIGERS
The Tigers’ defensive front is going to be absolutely nasty this season, which is why Steele has the Tigers’ ranked inside the top 10. B.J. Ojulari, Ali Gaye, and Andre Anthony are just a few names to watch out for bringing pressure to opposing quarterbacks this fall.
8. Penn State Nittany Lions
Safety Jaquan Brisker is one of the nation’s top prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s hard-hitting and has impeccable coverage skills. Brisker is a huge reason Steele has PSU ranked inside the top 10 on the Power Poll.
7. Texas A&M Aggies
Jimbo Fisher returns yet again another talented squad that Steele is projecting to finish 7th. First Team All-America tight end Jalen Wydermyer is a big reason why he has them ranked so high.
6. Iowa State Cyclones
Running Back Breece Hall became the first consensus All-American in school history last season for the Cyclones in 2020. The Cyclones also return 12 of their top 15 tacklers back from a defense that led the Big 12 in run defense. Steele is very high on ISU and that’s why he has them ranked 6th.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes boast the best WR duo in America in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Quarterback C.J. Stroud is poised to make a splash this fall. He’s crazy talented. The Buckeyes come in ranked 5th on Steele’s Power Poll.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
Cornerback Derion Kendrick is a transfer from Clemson and he figures to be a first-round NFL Draft choice when he decides to go pro. He’s unbelievably talented. Tons of talent all over the place for the ‘Dawgs, which is why Steele ranked them in the top four of his Power Poll.
3. Clemson Tigers
It’s Clemson. They always have an insane amount of talent all over the place. D.J. Uiagalelei is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. It’s no surprise Phil Steele ranked Clemson in the top 3 of his Power Poll.
2. Oklahoma Sooners
Spencer Rattler and a host of elite skill players are a big reason why many picked the Sooners to win the National Championship in 2022. Steele has them losing to the Tide in the National Championship.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Quarterback Bryce Young will lead Alabama to yet another National Championship in 2022, according to Steele. He’s insanely accurate with the football and will make sure college football fans know him more for his football talent after this season than his NIL endorsement deals.
He’s a huge reason why Steele ranked the Tide on top of his Power Poll for 2021. That and a million other weapons. It’s Alabama. They’re always insanely good at football under Nick Saban. This year will be no different.