Ranking the top 25 college football teams ahead of Week 1

DVV’s college football top 25: Teams 6 – 10

Next game: vs. Portland State on Sat. Sept. 2nd

Oregon brings back a pair of the Pac-12’s top offensive lineman and quarterback Bo Nix. Nix will remain in the Heisman discussion and lead the Ducks to some notable wins. However, the team remains susceptible to getting their teeth kicked-in against college football’s elite programs.

Indeed, we can’t shake the memory of Oregon’s loss to Georgia last year. Yes, the Dawgs were good, but the Ducks laid on their best Bishop Sycamore impression. Perhaps, Nix’s 10th season in college football will generate different result.

Nix hasn’t been in college that long, but it fees like it.

Next game: vs. Navy (in Ireland) on Sat. Aug. 26th

Notre Dame was an odd team to follow in 2022. South Bend life after Brian Kelly included a convincing win over Clemson and a home loss to Marshall. Second-year head coach Marcus Freeman does not have the luxury of patience while leading the storied program.

The Irish need to produce and get back into CFP contention now.

Wake Forest transfer quarterback Sam Hartman should help. Hartman is coming off a tenure during which he set multiple school records. We’re curious to see how Notre Dame adjusts to their new quarterback and offensive coordinator in 2023.

Next: vs. San Jose State on Sat. Sept. 2nd

USC returns the best quarterback in the country in Caleb Williams and one of the nation’s best receivers in Mario Williams. The Trojans will put up a ton yards and hang many points on their opposition. However, we do not think that USC will win the Pac-12 or make the CFP.

Much like Texas, USC was laced with talent in 2022, but underperformed. In the Trojans’ case, failure resided on the defensive-side of the ball. Expect much of the same because Alex Grinch returns as USC defensive coordinator. Grinch has produced some of college football’s most permeable defenses since joining Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma in 2019.

Next game: vs. Middle Tennessee State on Sat. Sept. 2nd

Something unlike a Nick Saban football team occurred in 2022, the Crimson Tide lost multiple regular season games. However, (gag), to their credit, Alabama’s losses were by a combined score of four points. Thus, we must avoid the ‘it’s over in Tuscaloosa’ talk for now.

Alabama will be one of the better programs in college football, but not without an adjustment period. The Tide are adjusting to new offensive and defensive coordinators in 2023. Both usher in a Saban-directed throwback to the run-heavy offensive attack that was synonymous with his earlier success.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe was a raw passer in 2022, but is one of the best athletes in college football. He could be a problem for the SEC if he improves his throwing.

Next game: vs. LSU (in Orlando) on Sun. Sept. 3rd

Florida State is a popular team in many talking heads’ CFP predictions. We get it. The Seminoles return a top quarterback in Jordan Travis and a top defender in Jared Verse. Florida State will win a lot of games this season and challenge for the ACC title.

However, we can’t ignore how the Seminoles match up against Clemson. More on that on the next page.

LSU football fans will get a close look at FSU during the Tigers’ Week 1 matchup.