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