Where Georgia stands in recently updated way-too-early rankings for 2022

With most spring practices across the country completed and football season looming off in the distance, several sites have taken to updating their “Way Too Early” predictions. It’s a tale as old as time because people want to have a sense for where their team stands heading into the next season. They first come out as soon as the season is over. They get updated as the offseason rolls along. It’s College Football fans’ fix for the sport they love during the slow offseason.

Well, where does Georgia stand in those predictions? According to ESPN, the Bulldogs are No. 3 behind top-ranked Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State. Rounding out the top five is Utah and Texas A&M at No. 4 and No. 5 respectively.

After finally ending a 41-year drought without a national championship, Georgia spent the spring rebuilding its historically good defense, which might have at least four players selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Defensive linemen such as Zion Logue, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Chaz Chambliss, Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse might play dramatically bigger roles in 2022. At least the Bulldogs bring back D-tackle Jalen Carter, who might be even better than the first-rounders who left. There’s plenty of firepower coming back on offense, especially if onetime LSU transfer Arik Gilbert continues to progress after missing all of last season because of personal reasons. All-American tight end Brock Bowers missed the spring after undergoing shoulder surgery, but he should be ready by the start of preseason camp.

Mark Schlabach – ESPN

Georgia opens the season with a tough test right out of the gate, taking on Oregon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. The Ducks, led by former Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, at No. 16 according to ESPN’s updated way-too-early top 25. Other opponents that Georgia will play throughout the season included are Kentucky and Tennessee, No. 22 and No. 24 respectively. The Volunteers were a new addition for this version of the rankings while another one of Georgia’s opponents, South Carolina, fell out.

Pro Football Focus also released its way-too-early rankings this past week, and there seems to be some consistency, at least at the top. Georgia is again ranked No. 3 behind Alabama and Ohio State, however the Bulldogs are followed by two teams that they played last season: Clemson at No. 4 and Michigan at No. 5. For comparison, the Tigers were No. 11 according to ESPN and the Wolverines were No. 9. PFF has South Carolina at No. 15, Kentucky at No. 18, Tennessee at No. 22 and Oregon at No. 25 as Georgia’s ranked opponents.

An absurd amount of elite talent understandably left Georgia for the NFL after the team won the national title. That Bulldog defense was the best PFF has ever seen, and it boasted first-round-caliber talent all over the place. It’s not going to be easy to overcome all of the losses, but if any staff can do it, it’s this one. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart hasn’t been shy about the team’s weaknesses during spring practice — namely, receiver and cornerback. Smart even said that in the last seven years, his team has never been this thin at those positions. Still, this shouldn’t be reason for panic quite yet. Georgia still returns one of the best safeties (Christopher Smith), slot corners (Tykee Smith) and cornerbacks (Kelee Ringo) in the country. The Bulldogs lack depth, but at the top, they have All-American talent. Christopher Smith was a top-three graded safety in the SEC in 2021, Tykee Smith was the highest-graded slot corner in the country with West Virginia in 2020 before missing 2021 with Georgia, and Ringo — a former five-star recruit — earned a solid 74.5 grade as a redshirt freshman in 2021. Don’t forget about interior defensive linemen Jalen Carter, who ranked first at the position in the Power Five in PFF pass-rush grade in 2021 and is one of a few players who can challenge Will Anderson Jr. as college football’s best defender. Wide receiver is definitely an issue, but Georgia’s tight end room is the best in the country with Brock Bowers, Arik Gilbert and Darnell Washington. For an offense that likes heavy personnel, this can help ease lack of depth in wide receiver room.

Anthony Treash – Pro Football Focus

Finally, the ESPN Football Power Index was recently released with Georgia at No. 3 behind Alabama and Ohio State. A new face, Auburn, is ranked No. 10 according to that mathematical rankings with Kentucky at No. 20, Oregon at No. 23, Mississippi State No. 24 and Florida No. 25. The FPI ranks all 131 FBS programs with Georgia’s other opponents as follows: Tennessee (No. 28), South Carolina (No. 45), Missouri (No. 55), Georgia Tech (No. 67), Vanderbilt (No. 103) and Kent State (No. 114).

The FPI puts Georgia at a projected win-loss record of 11.6 and 1.3 with a 20.0% chance to go undefeated, a 100% chance to be bowl eligible, an 89.9% chance to win the SEC East, a 46.3% chance to win the conference and a 73.5% chance to make the College Football Playoffs. Among it’s five most likely Playoff scenarios, Georgia is included in four of them: Alabama/Clemson/Georgia/Ohio State (20%), Alabama/Georgia/Ohio State/Texas (5%), Alabama/Georgia/Notre Dame/Ohio State (4%) and Clemson/Georgia/Ohio State/Texas (3%).

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