It’s finally here — well, almost. We’ve been observing, watching, and opining on what teams are the ones that will be a part of the four teams in the College Football Playoff since before the 2022 college football season started. And so far, all we’ve had to go on are opinion makers and the two traditional polls.
But that’s all about to change. On Tuesday, the first release of the 2022 College Football Playoff rankings will be revealed and teams like Ohio State, Georgia, Tennessee, Michigan, and Clemson will be very interested observers to see what the baseline will be as they all elbow their way through the rest of the season to try and get into all the fun.
It’s just around the corner, but we’re not waiting. Instead, we are forging ahead and attempting to figure this all out before the CFP committee releases its official rankings. It can be hard to figure out what the committee will do, but we’ll do our best to try and use the precedent that’s been used so far — even though that seems to be a moving target year over year — aside from SEC teams always getting the benefit of the doubt.
Here is our best stab at predicting what you might see when the first release of the 2022 College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday. We count down from No. 25 to No. 1.
25
Liberty Flames (7-1)
Sep 17, 2022; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Liberty Flames wide receiver Demario Douglas (3) runs with the ball after his catch against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at Truist Field. Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Arkansas
24
Tulane Green Wave (7-1)
Oct 31, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; The mascot for the Tulane Green Wave runs onto the field during their game against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the fourth quarter at Yulman Stadium. Cincinnati won, 38-14. Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Tulsa
23
Washington Huskies (6-2)
Nov 23, 2018; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington Huskies helmet sits during a football game against the Washington State Cougars in the second half at Martin Stadium. The Huskies won 28-15. Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
vs. Oregon State
22
NC State Wolfpack (6-2)
Nov 13, 2021; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; A North Carolina State Wolfpack helmet seen on the sideline during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Truist Field. Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
vs. Wake Forest
21
Oregon State (6-2)
Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A detailed view of Oregon State Beavers helmet during Pac-12 Media Day at Novo Theater. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Washington
20
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-2)
Sept. 30, 2017; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; A closeup view of a Wake Forest Demon Deacons helmet during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at BB&T Field. Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at NC State
19
Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-2)
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of an Oklahoma State Cowboys helmet during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Kansas
18
Syracuse Orange (6-2)
Sep 16, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; General view of a Syracuse Orange helmet on the turf prior to the game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at the Carrier Dome. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Pitt
17
Penn State Nittany Lions (6-2)
Nov 16, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; General view of a Penn State Nittany Lions helmet prior to the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Beaver Stadium. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Indiana
16
Utah Utes (6-2)
Sept. 14, 2019; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; A general view of the helmet worn by Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) against the Idaho State Bengals at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
vs. Arizona
15
North Carolina (7-1)
Oct 30, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; A detailed view of a North Carolina Tar Heels football helmet during warmups before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Virginia
14
LSU Tigers (6-2)
Oct 6, 2018; Gainesville, FL, USA; A detailed view of LSU Tigers football helmets against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
vs. Alabama
13
Illinois Fighting Illini (7-1)
Dec. 30, 2019; Santa Clara, California, USA; General view of the Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during the second quarter against California Golden Bears at Levi’s Stadium. Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
vs. Michigan State
12
Kansas State Wildcats (6-2)
Nov 6, 2021; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; A general view of a Kansas State Wildcats helmet against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
vs. Texas
11
UCLA Bruins (7-1)
Sep 25, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmets on the sidelines against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Arizona State
10
USC Trojans (7-1)
Dec 29, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; General overall view of the 2017 Cotton Bowl logo on the back of the helmet of Southern California Trojans long snapper Jake Olson at AT&T Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
vs. California
9
Ole Miss Rebels (7-1)
Oct. 12, 2019; Columbia, MO, USA; A general view of a Mississippi Rebels helmet during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
IDLE
8
Oregon Ducks (7-1)
An “End racism” sticker joins the American Flag on the helmets of Oregon players Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Colorado
7
TCU Horned Frogs (8-0)
Jul 14, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the TCU Horned Frogs helmet logo during the Big 12 Media Day at AT&T Stadium. Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
vs. Texas Tech
6
Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1)
Jul 18, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; An Alabama Crimson Tide helmet is shown on the main stage during SEC football media day at the College Football Hall of Fame. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at LSU
5
Clemson Tigers (8-0)
The Clemson football helmet near the Fiesta Bowl trophy at the coaches’ press conference in Scottsdale, Arizona Friday, December 27, 2019. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Notre Dame
4
Michigan Wolverines (8-0)
Dec 30, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A Michigan Wolverines football helmet sits on the field prior to the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Michigan Wolverines at Hard Rock Stadium. Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Rutgers
3
Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0)
Oct. 1, 2022; Columbus; A sticker-laden Ohio State Buckeyes helmet sits on the turf during warmups before Saturday’s game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Columbus. Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch
NEXT UP
at Northwestern
2
Georgia Bulldogs (8-0)
Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A detailed view of a Georgia Bulldogs helmet during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
vs. Tennessee
1
Tennessee Volunteers (8-0)
Nov 23, 2019; Columbia, MO, USA; A general view of a Tennessee Volunteers helmet during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
NEXT UP
at Georgia
