Who’s No. 1? Steven Johnson releases his first AP football ballot
One of my earliest memories from childhood is rushing to find the nearest newspaper Saturday morning to look at all the college football games on the schedule that day.
Reading about the movement in the Associated Press Top 25 or the game previews of the top matchups that week usually occurred right before or after one my youth football games.
I consider those moments to be one of the many reasons I wanted to become a sports reporter, so to have the honor of being one of the voters for the weekly AP Top 25 this season is an honor for a college football enthusiast.
Before getting into my first ballot, let me say that these polls are hard! At least if you’re actually putting real thought into like I did. After about No. 8 there’s not much separating many teams across the country which should make for a great season.
The official AP preseason poll will be released on Monday at 11 a.m. CT. Here’s how I voted:
The class of college football, the Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back national championships. Georgia should once again have a monstrous defense led by their front seven, but the program will have a new starting quarterback in Carson Beck.
After two straight playoff appearances, the Wolverines seemed primed to finally get a win in the Final Four. Michigan has the best running back duo in the country, an experienced quarterback in J.J. McCarthy and a defense led by star corner Will Johnson.
Feel like this is too high for LSU? Remember the Tigers overachieved in Brian Kelly’s first season and made it to the SEC Championship game after beating Alabama. Harold Perkins may be the defender in the country and he should have a healthy Maason Smith to help improve the unit. LSU also signed the No. 2 transfer class. If Jayden Daniels takes a step, this is a team that can win it all.
The Tide had a down year in 2022 and still finished 11-2 with a New Year’s Six bowl win over Kansas State. There’s uncertainty at the quarterback position as Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and others are still battling. Expect Alabama to focus more on the ground game in 2023.
Caleb Williams is the best player in the sport and USC should once again have one of the five best offenses in the sport. But the Trojans have a lot of work to do on defense and brought in multiple four-star transfers to improve.
6. Ohio State
The Buckeyes were close to upsetting Georgia in the CFP semifinals, but fell short after Marvin Harrison Jr. left with an injury. The best wide receiver in the game is back and should make life easier on a new starting quarterback. Have the Buckeyes closed the gap with Michigan?
7. Penn State
The Nittany Lions won 11 games and the Rose Bowl in a bounce back year for James Frankin and company. Drew Allar was a blue chip recruit as a quarterback and could be an upgrade over Sean Clifford and Penn State should still have one of the sport’s top defenses.
8. Clemson
Cade Klubnik’s time is now for Clemson who like Alabama had a ‘down’ year with an 11-win season. The Tigers are still the class of the ACC and if Garrett Riley is able to spark Clemson’s offense like he did TCU’s then the program could get back into the CFP for the first time since 2019.
9. Florida State
Is this the year the Seminoles can end Clemson’s dominance? Many believe so after a breakout year by Jordan Travis and the return of star edge rusher Jared Verse. The season opener against LSU will tell a lot about both of us.
10. Washington
The Huskies were one of the most fun teams in the land last year and most of the stars are back led by Michael Penix and Rome Odunze. Washington is the biggest threat to USC.
11. Tennessee
The Vols broke out and beat Alabama and Clemson in the program’s best years in who knows how long. Quarterback Joe Milton is a trendy darkhorse Heisman candidate and you know the offense will put up points. Has Tennessee closed the gap with Georgia?
12. Texas
It’s literally now or never for the Longhorns in their final season in the Big 12. Once again Texas has the best roster in the league with a deep receiver core and most of its offensive line back. Is Quinn Ewers the guy or will he be usurped by No. 1 recuit Arch Manning?
13. Oregon
The Ducks responded nicely from an embarrassing blowout loss to Georgia in the season opener to win 10 games in Dan Lanning’s first season. Bo Nix had a nice bounce back year after landing in Eugene from Auburn. Oregon must show improvement on defense.
14. Kansas State
The defending Big 12 champs may have the most underrated quarterback in the country in Will Howard, but how will K-State replace Deuce Vaughn and Felix Anudike?
15. TCU
The best story in college football last year, the Horned Frogs shocked the world and became the first Texas team to win a playoff game. But the season ended in the worst way with a historic defeat to Georgia and stars like Max Duggan and Quentin Johnston off to the NFL. Around the program, TCU feels like it’s deeper in spots, but can Chandler Morris remind people why he originally beat out Duggan for the job?
16. Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish won six of their final seven games and then added the top quarterback transfer in Sam Hartman from Wake Forest. Notre Dame faces three potential top-10 opponents this season.
17. Utah
The only reason the Utes aren’t higher is due to the uncertainty around Cam Rising’s injury. He could miss the season opener vs. Florida. Aside from that expect the Utah to be as physical and well-coached as always. Ja’Quinden Jackson could be a rising star at running back.
18. Oregon State
The Beavers won 10 games for the first time since 2006 and brought over Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei. He needs a change of scenery after things got stagnant with the Tigers and could raise the ceiling of the Oregon State offense.
19. North Carolina
Drake Maye is right behind Caleb Williams as the top quarterback in college football and led the Tar Heels to the ACC Championship game. UNC received tough news when projected No. 1 receiver Tez Walker had his eligibility waiver denied by the NCAA. How does that impact the offense?
20. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders bring back many of their top receivers and leading rusher from a year ago. Tech is hoping to get better injury luck at quarterback with Tyler Shough winning the starting job again. How does Tech replace star edge rusher Tyree Wilson?
21. Tulane
The Green Wave had the program’s best season ever in 2022, culminated by defeating USC in the Cotton Bowl. Michael Pratt is one of the top Group of Five quarterbacks in the country. With teams like UCF, Houston and Cincinnati in the Big 12, the Green Wave have less to worry about.
22. South Carolina
The Gamecocks finished the year by beating Tennessee and Clemson and continued the momentum with significant recruiting wins in the off-season. Spencer Rattler found his groove during that stretch, but can he be consistent all 2023?
23. Mississippi
The Rebels started hot, but floundered losing fix of six to close the season. Quinshon Judkins is one of the top running backs in the country and should make things easy for whatever quarterback wins the starting job.
24. Wisconsin
New coach, new offensive philosophy. Luke Fickell parlayed a successful stint at Cincinnati to one of the top jobs in the Big 10 and snagged offensive coordinator Phil Longo from North Carolina to reshape the offense into a more modern, high-flying spread attack led by SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai.
25. UTSA
The best G5 quarterback is Frank Harris who had 41 total touchdowns and led the Roadrunners to 11 wins. Is UTSA the biggest challenger to Tulane in the AAC?
