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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Josh Keatley

Athlon Sports releases its way-too-early top 25 for 2023

The 2022 college football season is in the books.

The Georgia Bulldogs left no question about who the best college football team was. They demolished the TCU Horned Frogs in the national championship.

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Still, life moves fast in the world of college football and everyone is already breaking down their 2023 top teams. One of those is Athlon Sports, which provided its top 25 for next season.

The list breakdown as follows:

  1. Georgia
  2. Michigan
  3. Ohio State
  4. USC
  5. Alabama
  6. Florida State
  7. LSU
  8. Penn State
  9. Tennessee
  10. Washington
  11. Oregon
  12. Notre Dame
  13. Clemson
  14. Texas
  15. TCU
  16. Utah
  17. Oregon State
  18. Tulane
  19. North Carolina
  20. Kansas State
  21. Oklahoma
  22. Ole Miss
  23. Arkansas 
  24. Wisconsin
  25. South Carolina

As you can see Ohio State is at No. 3, which feels like a good slot, but the alarming part is Michigan is in front of the Buckeyes at No. 2.

“After losing a heartbreaker to Georgia in the Peach Bowl, the Buckeyes have plenty of motivation behind a retooled lineup to get back to the playoffs and make another run at the national title. Devin Brown and Kyle McCord will battle to replace C.J. Stroud at quarterback, but the winner can throw to receivers (and likely first-team All-American) Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka and hand off to running backs Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson. Tackles Dawand Jones and Paris Johnson Jr., guard Matthew Jones and center Luke Wypler have NFL decisions to make. Although the defense struggled late in the season and especially against Michigan and Georgia, this unit was better than it was in ’21. Can coordinator Jim Knowles elevate this group to another level next fall? End Zach Harrison and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg could depart early for the NFL, but lineman JT Tuimoloau is back to anchor the defense. In addition to filling the holes on the depth chart, Knowles and the assistants have to find ways to improve the secondary before next season. Road trips to Notre Dame and Michigan will make or break Ohio State’s hopes of a trip to the playoff.”

It is too early to tell who is going to start at quarterback for Ohio State, but both of these dudes can sling it and that is a great start to another potential College Football Playoff berth.

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