Georgia sits atop ESPN future College Football power rankings

Over the last two months, Adam Rittenberg of ESPN has broken down the future of College Football. How you might ask? Well, first he looked at the quarterbacks and which teams are in a position to be successful over the next few seasons. Georgia ranked fourth there.

Then, he extended it to offenses and defenses. The Bulldogs were third on offense and first on defense. So, as you might expect, Georgia ranks highly in the finished product of Rittenberg, an overall team power ranking for the future.

After a future team ranking that saw Georgia at No. 2 in 2022, Kirby Smart’s program rises up to the top. The Bulldogs are No. 1 according to Rittenberg with the best outlook over the next three seasons.

“Coach Kirby Smart has molded Georgia into college football’s preeminent program after ending a 41-year national championship drought with back-to-back titles. Georgia has succeeded in sending its players to the NFL thanks to its recruiting efforts. Georgia had a seven-round record 15 players selected in the 2022 NFL draft and added another 10 in 2023, and they are not slowing down,” Rittenberg wrote. “Last month quarterback Dylan Raiola, ESPN’s No. 1 overall player in the 2024 class, committed to the G. Raiola joins a quarterback group featuring Carson Beck, Brock Vandagriff and plenty of depth. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo returns to the role he held from 2007 to 2014 and inherits good situations at just about every position. Georgia returns Mackey Award winner Brock Bowers at tight end, emerging star tackle Amarius Mims and a well-stocked offensive line as well as a wide receiver group featuring experience (Ladd McConkey, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint) and depth. Running back should continue to be solid, as Georgia pairs veterans Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton with exciting young players Branson Robinson and incoming freshman Roderick Robinson II. Tight end Jaden Reddell, ESPN’s No. 67 overall prospect for 2024, committed shortly after Raiola to further strengthen the offensive outlook. The Bulldogs also have a 2024 commitment from wideout Ny Carr (ESPN No. 43 overall).”

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That’s not all though. The Dawgs’ defense is incredible as well.

“Georgia has positioned itself as the nation’s preeminent defense, which should continue through 2025. Although defensive tackle Jalen Carter (drafted No. 9 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles) and others will be missed, Georgia showed in 2022 how well it can reload after losing so many players to the pros,” Rittenberg continued. “They bring back plenty of standouts in 2023, including linebackers Smael Mondon Jr. and Jamon Dumas-Johnson, safeties Malaki Starks and Javon Bullard, and emerging lineman Mykel Williams. Georgia signed seven defensive players ranked among ESPN’s top 100 recruits in 2023. The team has 2024 commitments from ESPN’s top two safeties (Jaylen Heyward and Peyton Woodyard) and the No. 2 cornerback (Ellis Robinson IV). Since 2018, Georgia leads the FBS in rushing defense and rushing touchdowns allowed, and it continues to improve against the pass. The unit is absolutely surging, and shows no signs of slowing down.”

He’s right. Georgia is built for success, both in the present and the future. With a talented offense led by Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey and Dominic Lovett – among other incredible pass catchers – and a defense that returns several starters from last year’s squad – the three leading tacklers (Smael Mondon, Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Malaki Starks), team sack leader (Mykel Williams) and Defensive MVP from both College Football Playoff games (Javon Bullard) – the Bulldogs are considered the favorite to win a third straight National Championship, something that hasn’t been done since the 1930s.

Then, in 2024 and 2025 to continue with the purposes of ESPN’s exercise, Georgia is scheduled to add the nation’s No. 1 recruiting classes for each year on top of groups that have ranked in the top three every year since 2017.

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Does it mean that Georgia is going to win the National Championship every year in the future? No. With the new SEC scheduling model and a redesigned 12-team College Football Playoff both starting in 2024, the Bulldogs will be challenged.

Alabama (No. 2) and Ohio State (No. 3) also were in the top three last year and stayed there this year. Meanwhile, LSU (No. 5), Clemson (No. 7), Tennessee (No. 9), Oklahoma (No. 12), Texas (No. 15), South Carolina (No. 22), UCLA (No. 23) and Ole Miss (No. 25) find themselves included as well and on Georgia’s schedule – or are expected to be – at least once between now and the end of the 2025 slate.

Still, the ranking says a lot about where Smart has the program right now, where he’s got it headed and what folks have to look forward to over the next few years anytime they turn the TV on and the Georgia Bulldogs are playing.