The 2022 Way-Too-Early college football top 25

The 2021 college football season has just ended, with Georgia beating Alabama 33-18 in Monday night’s national title game, but it’s already time to look ahead to the 2022 season.

Not surprisingly, Nick Saban’s Alabama squad will start our 2022 Way-Too-Early college football top 25 as No. 1, leading three SEC teams in the top four.

Thanks to some industry-shaking coaching moves and an overflowing transfer portal, this has been a wild offseason that shows no signs of slowing down. As a result, these rankings will be updated several times throughout the offseason.

2021 record: 13-2 (7-1 SEC)
Starters expected to return: 6 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams
Key starters expected to leave: OT Evan Neal, WR Jameson Williams, DE Phidarian Mathis, S Jordan Battle, CB Josh Jobe, RB Brian Robinson Jr., WR John Metchie III
Key additions: CB Eli Ricks, OT Tyler Booker, DE Jeremiah Alexander, WR Shazz Preston, RB Emmanuel Henderson, RB Jahmyr Gibbs

Outlook: It probably wasn’t the strongest team of the Nick Saban era, given the Crimson Tide’s struggles on the offensive line and on defense at times this past season. Nonetheless, the Tide will be favored to win it all in 2022, with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young and much of the defense coming back. The Tide might dip into the transfer portal to help replace Williams’ and Metchie’s massive production. Ricks, an All-American at LSU in 2020, will help shore up the Tide’s secondary.

2021 record: 11-2 (8-1 Big Ten)
Starters expected to return: 6 offense, 7 defense, 1 special teams
Key starters expected to leave: WR Garrett Wilson, WR Chris Olave, G Thayer Munford, OT Nicholas Petit-Frere, DT Haskell Garrett, DE Tyreke Smith, CB Marcus Williamson, PK Noah Ruggles
Key additions: ATH Alex Styles, OLB C.J. Hicks, DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr., OLB Gabe Powers, ATH Kaleb Brown, DT Caden Curry

Outlook: The Buckeyes just missed making the College Football Playoff for a third straight time under coach Ryan Day, with a humbling 42-27 loss at rival Michigan knocking them out of contention. Much of Ohio State’s problems in 2021 can be attributed to the defense. Day hired Jim Knowles, who revamped Oklahoma State’s defense the past two seasons, and Knowles will have his work cut out for him. With quarterback C.J. Stroud and running back TreVeyon Henderson coming back, the offense should again be explosive, even with Wilson and Olave turning pro. The receiver corps is in good hands with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The 2022 season will be demanding, with a home opener against Notre Dame, Big Ten road games against Michigan State and Penn State and divisional crossover games versus Iowa and Wisconsin at home.

2021 record: 14-1 (8-0 SEC)
Starters expected to return: 9 offense, 5 defense, 1 special teams
Key starters expected to leave: DE Travon Walker, NT Jordan Davis, DT Devonte Wyatt, LB Nakobe Dean, LB Channing Tindall, CB Derion Kendrick, OT Jamaree Salyer, RB James Cook
Key additions: S Tykee Smith, DB Malaki Starks, CB Jaheim Singletary, RB Branson Robinson, OLB Jalon Walker, CB Daylen Everette, QB Gunner Stockton

Outlook: The Bulldogs finally ended a 41-year national championship drought with a win over the Tide, and will…