Well, it’s that time. The 2022 regular season, including the conference championship games, is in the books. That means it’s time to figure out which four teams are going to play for it all in this year’s College Football Playoff.
The final CFP rankings will be revealed on Sunday and there’s a very, very good chance Ohio State will be somewhere in the mix after both USC and TCU lost their respective conference title games. You have to think that the top four will be Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State in some order, but there is an outside chance that Alabama sneaks into it. Sorry Tennessee fans, no dice despite your optimism and crazy arguments.
But before the big reveal on ESPN on Sunday, we’re giving you a preview of what we believe the CFP rankings will look like ahead of time. It can be a daunting task because of the zany things we’ve seen from this committee in the past, but we love a good challenge and have been pretty close to being right on these things this season, so we’re up for it.
Here is a look at what we believe the CFP top 25 will look like when all the dust settles Sunday.
25
NC State Wolfpack (8-4)
Nov. 13, 2021; Winston-Salem; A North Carolina State Wolfpack helmet seen on the sideline during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Truist Field. William Howard-USA TODAY Sports
24
Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4)
Dec. 26, 2016; St. Petersburg, Florida; A Mississippi State Bulldogs helmet on the field prior to the game between the Miami Redhawks and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Tropicana Field. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
23
North Carolina Tar Heels (9-4)
Oct. 29, 2022; Chapel Hill; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) with offensive lineman Asim Richards (72) after running for a first down as Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Deslin Alexandre (5) is in the background in the fourth quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
22
UCF Knights (9-4)
Sept. 1, 2022; Orlando, Florida; UCF Knights running back Isaiah Bowser (Right) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the South Carolina State Bulldogs at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
21
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-4)
Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune-USA TODAY Sports
20
Texas Longhorns (8-4)
Running back Bijan Robinson #5 of the Texas Longhorns finds an opening to run for a 42-yard touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the first quarter of the game at Boone Pickens Stadium on Oct. 22, 2022, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State won 41-34. Brian Bahr/Getty Images
19
South Carolina Gamecocks (8-4)
Nov. 19, 2022; Columbia, South Carolina; South Carolina Gamecocks tight end Jaheim Bell (0) runs the ball against Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Christian Charles (14) in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
18
UCLA Bruins (9-3)
Nov. 27, 2021; Pasadena, California; UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) drops back to pass the ball against the California Golden Bears in the second half at the Rose Bowl. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
17
Tulane Green Wave (11-2)
Nov. 12, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana; Tulane Green Wave tight end Reggie Brown (89) catches a pass against the UCF Knights during the fourth quarter at Yulman Stadium. Rebecca Warren-USA TODAY Sports
16
Oregon Ducks (9-3)
Oregon players celebrate a touchdown by running back Jordan James, center, as the Oregon Ducks take on the Stanford Cardinal Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. USA TODAY Sports
15
Oregon State (9-3)
Nov. 19, 2022; Tempe, Arizona; Oregon State Beavers running back Damien Martinez (6) runs for a touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half at Sun Devil Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
14
LSU Tigers (9-4)
Head coach Brian Kelly of the LSU Tigers talks to the officials in the first half of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Nov. 12, 2022, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
13
Florida State Seminoles (9-3)
Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
12
Washington Huskies (10-2)
Nov. 19, 2022; Seattle; Washington Huskies running back Richard Newton (6) celebrates with offensive lineman Henry Bainivalu (66, right) after rushing for a touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes during the third quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
11
Penn Sate Nittany Lions (10-2)
Nov. 12, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland 30-0. Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
10
Utah Utes (10-3)
Dec. 2, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada; Utah Utes wide receiver Money Parks (10) celebrates his touchdown scored against the Southern California Trojans during the second half of the Pac-12 Football Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
9
Clemson Tigers (11-2)
Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool (9) and teammates celebrate a play during the second quarter against NC State at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. USA TODAY Sports
8
Kansas State Wildcats (10-3)
Nov. 19, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia; Kansas State Wildcats safety Josh Hayes (1) celebrates after a defensive stop during the third quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
7
USC Trojans (10-2)
Nov. 26, 2022; Los Angeles, California; Southern California Trojans running back Raleek Brown (14) celebrates with quarterback Caleb Williams (13) after rushing for a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
6
Tennessee Volunteers (10-2)
Oct. 29, 2022; Knoxville; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (20) reacts after running for a touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
5
Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2)
Crimson Tide shares a laugh during a game between Tennessee and Alabama in Neyland Stadium, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. USA TODAY Sports
4
Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1)
Nov. 26, 2022; Columbus; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) waits to hike the ball against Michigan Wolverines in the fourth quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium. USA TODAY Sports
3
TCU Horned Frogs (12-1)
Nov. 26, 2022; Fort Worth, Texas; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan (15) points at his receiver after throwing a touchdown pass against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
2
Michigan Wolverines (13-0)
Nov. 26, 2022; Columbus, Ohio; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws a touchdown against Ohio State Buckeyes safety Lathan Ransom (12) in the second quarter of their game at Ohio Stadium. USA TODAY Sports
1
Georgia Bulldogs (13-0)
Nov. 26, 2022; Athens; Georgia Bulldogs mascot UGA in his house on the sidelines during the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
