College football rankings: Phil Steele’s preseason top 25
In the world of college football very few are as well-respected in covering the game as veteran writer and reporter Phil Steele. Steele’s annual college football preview magazine has an almost cult-like following and is as thorough as any.
Ahead of the 2023 college football season Steele released his preseason top 40. Notre Dame, to perhaps the surprise of some, checked in Steele’s top 10. Three Irish opponents for 2023 ranked above them though, and perhaps the most surprising part of Steele’s rankings is which Notre Dame opponent came in at No. 2.
Below are Steele’s top 25 teams entering the 2023 season as we sit less than 50 days until the season officially kicks off.
TCU
Year 1 of Sonny Dykes ended with a national championship game appearance. What will Year 2 amount to with some massive changes to the Horned Frogs offense?
UTSA
UTSA has quietly been a power for the last few years and takes a step up in competition by joining the American Athletic Conference this fall.
Pittsburgh
Who is more difficult to root for: Quarterback Phil Jurkovec or head coach Pat Narduzzi?
Toledo
If you’re into high-scoring offenses, you’re going to want to check out the Rockets this fall.
North Carolina
Drake Maye might one day be the first pick in the NFL draft, but the question whether North Carolina can stop anyone remains in Chapel Hill.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma had a big offseason in the transfer portal. Will it get the Sooners back to where they belong in Brent Venables’ second season?
Tennessee
How will Tennessee fare now that they’re back to being among the hunted and not just the hunter? Massive losses need to be replaced on offense, but the system certainly appears ready to work.
Oregon State
With a favorable early schedule and the addition of quarterback DJ Uiagalelei from Clemson, expectations have Oregon State fans thinking an appearance in the Pac-12 title game.
Iowa
The Iowa offense will not change much, which isn’t good, but neither should the defense, which was elite a season ago.
Utah
Injury concerns have some worried about quarterback Cam Rising ahead of the 2023 season, but the most physical team in the Pac-12 year-in and year-out figures to be there again.
Oregon
Is Oregon quarterback Bo Nix a legit Heisman Trophy contender or will he not even be the best quarterback in the Pacific Northwest this fall?
Washington
(Cough) Is Michael Penix, Jr. a legit Heisman Trophy contender at quarterback or is he even the best quarterback in the Pacific Northwest?
Wisconsin
No team will look more different than what we’re used to than Wisconsin under new head coach Luke Fickell. The Badgers in Phil Longo’s (previously North Carolina) offense will be a strange sight to behold — but that doesn’t mean it won’t work.
Texas A&M
There is far too much talent here for Texas A&M to be the country’s biggest disappointment a second year in a row.
Right?
Texas
Texas should have one of the best offenses in the nation in 2023, but will the defense have the horses to keep up and make its final season in the Big 12 a memorable one?
Notre Dame
What did Marcus Freeman gain from Notre Dame’s early season struggles in his first year as head coach? Games against Ohio State, USC and Clemson will tell Notre Dame’s 2023 story.
LSU
Legit question: With what they return and what they add from the portal, why aren’t the Tigers a preseason favorite in the SEC West?
Florida State
Few teams have benefited from the transfer portal as much as Florida State. Will the Noles be a legit playoff contender or are they getting offseason love for simply beating six-straight unranked opponents to close 2022?
USC
Lincoln Riley will again have one of the nation’s top offenses. Will the Trojans defense improve enough to get them to the College Football Playoff though?
Penn State
Is there a less-discussed legitimate College Football Playoff contender than Penn State this offseason?
Ohio State
When was the last time Ohio State entered a season not seemingly as the consensus pick to win the Big Ten?
Alabama
Bigger concern for the Tide: Replacing both coordinators or not having an experienced quarterback entering the year?
Michigan
Home to college football’s best backfield entering 2023, is this the year Michigan clears the hurdle and wins a College Football Playoff game?
Clemson
Props to Steele for not just posting the same top two or three as everyone else. He clearly buys into new Clemson play-caller Garrett Riley, who the Tigers hired away from TCU this offseason.
Georgia
Fun fact: Not only has Georgia won the last two national championships, but it also has not lost a regular-season game since Oct. 17, 2020. The Dawgs remain the team to beat nationally until further notice.
