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Brett McMurphy’s Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Rankings for 2022 | Action Network

Brett McMurphy’s Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Rankings for 2022 | Action Network article feature image
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Ryan Collinsworth/Action Network.

INDIANAPOLIS — While waiting for Monday night’s SEC Invitational final between Alabama and Georgia – also known as the College Football Playoff title game – there’s no need to wait any longer to find out who will be next year’s top teams.

That’s right: it’s The Action Network’s ridiculously-too-early-Top 25 rankings for 2022. And my first Top 25 rankings of 2022 is headed by the two best teams of 2021: Alabama and Georgia.

Alabama and Georgia are among seven SEC teams in my Top 25. Led by my No. 3 team Ohio State, the Big Ten has six programs in my Top 25, followed by the Big 12 (3), ACC (3), Mountain West (2), Pac-12 (2), AAC (1) and Notre Dame.

The Action Network’s power ratings listed with each team are from Action Network senior writer Collin Wilson, and currently do not factor in player transfers or players that may leave for the NFL. Wilson’s power ratings are expected to change drastically when rosters and/or coaching staffs are finalized in the coming weeks.

For supplemental information regarding college football, refer to our NCAAF futures, odds, picks, and projections resources.


National recruiting rankings included are from 247 Sports. The coaches’ records against the spread are from Action Network’s BetLabs, and those records do not include pushes.


1.
Alabama
2021 Record: 13-1

 Plays Georgia in the College Football Playoff title game.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 3 Home

Utah State

Sept. 10 Road

Texas

Oct. 1 Road

Arkansas

Oct. 8 Home

Texas A&M

Oct. 15 Road

Tennessee

Nov. 5 Road

LSU

Nov. 12 Road

Ole Miss

Nov. 26 Home

Auburn

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 2nd
  Conference Rank: 2nd in SEC

Head Coach: Nick Saban


  Win-Loss Record at Alabama: 183-24
  Against the Spread: 112-92 (54.9%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 1

2.
Georgia
2021 Record: 13-1

 Plays Alabama in the College Football Playoff title game.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 3 Home

Oregon

Oct. 8 Home

Auburn

Oct. 29 Neutral

Florida (in Jacksonville)

Nov. 19 Road

Kentucky

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 3rd
  Conference Rank: 3rd in SEC

Head Coach: Kirby Smart


  Win-Loss Record at Georgia: 65-15
  Against the Spread: 46-34 (57.5%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 3

3.
Ohio State
2021 Record: 11-2

 Last Season: Defeated Utah in the Rose Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 3 Home

Notre Dame

Sept. 24 Road

Michigan State

Oct. 1 Road

Penn State

Oct. 15 Home

Iowa

Nov. 12 Home

Wisconsin

Nov. 26 Home

Michigan

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 4th
  Conference Rank: 1st in Big Ten

Head Coach: Ryan Day


  Win-Loss Record at Ohio State: 34-4
  Against the Spread: 18-15 (54.5%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 2

4.
Texas A&M
2021 Record: 8-4

 Withdrew from Gator Bowl vs. Wake Forest.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 10 Home

Appalachian State

Sept. 17 Home

Miami

Sept. 24 Neutral

Arkansas (in Arlington)

Oct. 8 Road

Alabama

Oct. 15 Home

Ole Miss

Nov. 5 Home

Florida

Nov. 12 Road

Auburn

Nov. 26 Home

LSU

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 1st
  Conference Rank: 1st in SEC

Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher


  Win-Loss Record at Texas A&M: 34-14
  Against the Spread: 29-19 (60.4%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 5

5.
Clemson
2021 Record: 10-3

 Last Season: Defeated Iowa State in the Cheez-It Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Nov. 5 Road

Notre Dame

TBA Home

Miami

TBA Home

NC State

TBA Road

Wake Forest

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 24th
  Conference Rank: 2nd in ACC

Head Coach: Dabo Swinney


  Win-Loss Record at Clemson: 150-36
  Against the Spread: 100-84 (54.3%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 4

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6.
Wisconsin
2021 Record: 9-4

 Last Season: Defeated Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 10 Home

Washington State

Oct. 8 Road

Michigan State

Nov. 12 Road

Ohio State

Nov. 19 Road

Iowa

Nov. 26 Home

Minnesota

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 43rd
  Conference Rank: 9th in Big Ten

Head Coach: Paul Chryst


  Win-Loss Record at Wisconsin: 65-23
  Against the Spread: 45-42 (51.7%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 6

7.
Oklahoma
2021 Record: 11-2

 Last Season: Defeated Oregon in the Alamo Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 17 Road

Nebraska

Oct. 8 Neutral

Texas (in Dallas)

Nov. 5 Home

Baylor

Nov. 19 Home

Oklahoma State

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 10th
  Conference Rank: 2nd in Big 12

Head Coach: Brent Venables


  First year as Oklahoma Sooners head coach.

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 8

8.
Oklahoma State
2021 Record: 12-2

 Last Season: Defeated Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 3 Home

Central Michigan

Sept. 10 Home

Arizona State

Oct. 1 Road

Baylor

Oct. 22 Home

Texas

Nov. 19 Road

Oklahoma

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 26th
  Conference Rank: 3rd in Big 12

Head Coach: Mike Gundy


  Win-Loss Record at Oklahoma State: 149-69
  Against the Spread: 124-88 (58.5%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 10

9.
Wake Forest
2021 Record: 11-3

 Last Season: Defeated Rutgers in the Gator Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Oct. 8 Home

Army

TBA Road

NC State

TBA Home

Clemson

TBA Home

North Carolina

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 67th
  Conference Rank: 11th in ACC

Head Coach: Dave Clawson


  Win-Loss Record at Wake Forest: 51-48
  Against the Spread: 51-46 (52.6%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 59

10.
Utah
2021 Record: 10-3

 Last Season: Lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 3 Road

Florida

Sept. 17 Home

San Diego State

Sept. 24 Road

Arizona State

Oct. 15 Home

USC

Nov. 19 Road

Oregon

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 34th
  Conference Rank: 3rd in Pac-12

Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham


  Win-Loss Record at Utah: 144-70
  Against the Spread: 114-92 (55.3%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 11

11.
Miami
2021 Record: 7-5

 Withdrew from Sun Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 17 Road

Texas A&M

TBA Road

Clemson

TBA Home

Florida State

TBA Home

North Carolina

TBA Home

Pittsburgh

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 48th
  Conference Rank: 5th in ACC

Head Coach: Mario Cristobal


  First year as Miami Hurricanes head coach.

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 7

12.
Notre Dame
2021 Record: 11-2

 Last Season: Lost to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 3 Road

Ohio State

Oct. 8 Neutral

BYU (in Las Vegas)

Nov. 5 Home

Clemson

Nov. 26 Road

USC

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 7th

Head Coach: Marcus Freeman


  Win-Loss Record at Notre Dame: 0-1
  Against the Spread: 0-1 (0%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 9

13.
Baylor
2021 Record: 12-2

 Last Season: Defeated Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 10 Road

BYU

Oct. 1 Home

Oklahoma State

Nov. 5 Road

Oklahoma

Nov. 26 Road

Texas

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 33rd
  Conference Rank: 6th in Big 12

Head Coach: Dave Aranda


  Win-Loss Record at Baylor: 14-9
  Against the Spread: 13-10 (56.5%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 34

14.
Penn State
2021 Record: 7-6

 Last Season: Lost to Arkansas in Outback Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 17 Road

Auburn

Sept. 24 Home

Central Michigan

Oct. 1 Home

Ohio State

Oct. 8 Road

Michigan

Oct. 29 Home

Michigan State

Nov. 19 Home

Minnesota

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 6th
  Conference Rank: 2nd in Big Ten

Head Coach: James Franklin


  Win-Loss Record at Penn State: 67-34
  Against the Spread: 52-45 (53.6%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 13

15.
Arkansas
2021 Record: 9-4

 Last Season: Defeated Penn State in the Outback Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 3 Home

Cincinnati

Sept. 24 Neutral

Texas A&M (in Arlington)

Oct. 1 Home

Alabama

Oct. 8 Road

Mississippi State

Oct. 15 Road

BYU

Oct. 29 Road

Auburn

Nov. 12 Home

LSU

Nov. 26 Home

Ole Miss

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 19th
  Conference Rank: 9th in SEC

Head Coach: Sam Pittman


  Win-Loss Record at Arkansas: 12-11
  Against the Spread: 15-7 (68.2%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 15

16.
Oregon
2021 Record: 10-4

 Last Season: Lost to Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 3 Neutral

Georgia (in Atlanta)

Sept. 17 Home

BYU

Oct. 22 Home

UCLA

Nov. 12 Home

Washington

Nov. 19 Home

Utah

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 63rd
  Conference Rank: 8th in Pac-12

Head Coach: Dan Lanning


  First year as Oregon Ducks head coach.

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 14

17.
Tennessee
2021 Record: 7-6

 Last Season: Lost to Purdue in the Music City Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 10 Road

Pittsburgh

Sept. 24 Home

Florida

Oct. 8 Road

LSU

Oct. 15 Home

Alabama

Oct. 29 Home

Kentucky

Nov. 5 Road

Georgia

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 15th
  Conference Rank: 7th in SEC

Head Coach: Josh Heupel


  Win-Loss Record at Tennessee: 7-6
  Against the Spread: 5-8 (38.5%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 21

18.
LSU
2021 Record: 6-7

 Last Season: Lost to Kansas State in the Texas Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 4 Neutral

Florida State (in New Orleans)

Oct. 1 Road

Auburn

Oct. 8 Home

Tennessee

Oct. 15 Road

Florida

Oct. 22 Home

Ole Miss

Nov. 5 Home

Alabama

Nov. 12 Road

Arkansas

Nov. 26 Road

Texas A&M

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 18th
  Conference Rank: 8th in SEC

Head Coach: Brian Kelly


  First year as LSU Tigers head coach.

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 17

19.
Houston
2021 Record: 12-2

 Last Season: Defeated Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 10 Road

Texas Tech

TBA Road

SMU

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 59th
  Conference Rank: 3rd in AAC

Head Coach: Dana Holgorsen


  Win-Loss Record at Houston: 19-15
  Against the Spread: 17-17 (50.0%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 53

20.
Michigan
2021 Record: 12-2

 Last Season: Lost to Georgia in College Football Playoff semifinal.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Oct. 1 Road

Iowa

Oct. 8 Home

Penn State

Oct. 15 Home

Nebraska

Oct. 22 Road

Michigan State

Nov. 26 Road

Ohio State

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 9th
  Conference Rank: 3rd in Big Ten

Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh


  Win-Loss Record at Michigan: 61-24
  Against the Spread: 43-41 (51.2%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 25

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21.
Iowa
2021 Record: 10-4

 Last Season: Lost to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 10 Home

Iowa State

Sept. 24 Road

Minnesota

Oct. 1 Home

Michigan

Oct. 15 Road

Ohio State

Nov. 18 Home

Wisconsin

Nov. 25 Home

Nebraska

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 27th
  Conference Rank: 6th in Big Ten

Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz


  Win-Loss Record at Iowa: 178-110
  Against the Spread: 148-127 (53.8%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 27

22.
Fresno State
2021 Record: 10-3

 Last Season: Defeated UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 10 Home

Oregon State

TBA Road

USC

TBA Home

San Diego State

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 88th
  Conference Rank: 5th in Mountain West

Head Coach: Jeff Tedford


  Win-Loss Record at Fresno State: 26-14**
  Against the Spread: 23-14 (62.2%)
**  Straight-up and ATS records reflect Tedford’s previous tenure at Fresno State from 2017 to 2019.

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 70

23.
Kentucky
2021 Record: 10-3

 Last Season: Defeated Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 10 Road

Florida

Sept. 24 Home

Northern Illinois

Oct. 1 Road

Ole Miss

Oct. 15 Home

Mississippi State

Oct. 29 Road

Tennessee

Nov. 19 Home

Georgia

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 11th
  Conference Rank: 4th in SEC

Head Coach: Mark Stoops


  Win-Loss Record at Kentucky: 59-53
  Against the Spread: 53-57 (48.2%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 44

24.
Air Force
2021 Record: 10-3

 Last Season: Defeated Louisville in the First Responders Bowl.


2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 10 Home

Colorado

TBA Home

Boise State

TBA Road

San Diego State

TBA Road

Utah State

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 108th
  Conference Rank: 10th in Mountain West

Head Coach: Troy Calhoun


  Win-Loss Record at Air Force: 111-75
  Against the Spread: 93-87 (51.7%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 64

25.
Nebraska
2021 Record: 3-9

2022 Schedule: Highlights

Sept. 17 Home

Oklahoma

Oct. 15 Road

Michigan

Oct. 22 Home

Minnesota

Nov. 5 Road

Wisconsin

Nov. 25 Road

Iowa

2022 Recruiting Class Rankings


  National Rank: 52nd
  Conference Rank: 14th in Big Ten

Head Coach: Scott Frost


  Win-Loss Record at Nebraska: 15-29
  Against the Spread: 20-21 (48.8%)

2022 Action Network Power Rating: No. 16


The Next 25

Teams listed in alphabetical order.

  Arizona State, BYU, Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina, Cincinnati, Florida, Iowa State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, NC State, North Carolina, Northern Illinois, Ole Miss, Pitt, Purdue, San Diego State, TCU, Texas, UAB, UCF, UCLA, USC, UTSA, West Virginia

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