Preseason College Football Rankings 2022: Release Time for Top 25 Standings

When the 2021 college football season ended, Georgia had won the national championship and had ascended to the top spot in the AP Top 25 poll. But it's quite possible that the Bulldogs won't be No. 1 when the first edition of the 2022 rankings is released.

The AP preseason poll is set to come out Monday at noon ET, and if it's anything like the preseason Coaches Poll (which was released this past week), Georgia won't be No. 1. It was another SEC team, Alabama, that was ranked in the top spot by the coaches heading into the 2022 campaign.

Things could change a good bit over the course of the upcoming season, though. Teams such as Alabama and Georgia are expected to be among the best in the country, but there's always the potential for surprises in college football.

With the AP preseason poll coming soon, here's a closer look at the teams that are likely to be in the top spots heading into the 2022 season.

1. Alabama

AP Photo/John Bazemore

Alabama head coach Nick Saban speaks during NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

When a team returns the defending Heisman Trophy winner, there's a good chance it will be ranked near the top of the preseason poll. With quarterback Bryce Young back for his junior season, Alabama is poised for big things again in 2022.

Young is far from the only strong returner on the Crimson Tide's roster. Senior nose tackle DJ Dale, junior linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and sophomore cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry are all back to anchor a strong Alabama defense.

While Young lost some of the playmakers around him on offense that helped make him successful in 2021, there are plenty of talented players ready to step up and assume those roles. Junior running back Jahmyr Gibbs (a Georgia Tech transfer) could anchor the ground game, while juniors Jermaine Burton (a Georgia transfer) and Tyler Harrell (a Louisville transfer) should be welcome additions to the receiving corps.

The Crimson Tide have won 13 or more games in six of the past seven seasons, having made the College Football Playoff in all but one year during that span. They're showing no signs of slowing down, and with head coach Nick Saban and Young leading the way, expect big things from Alabama again in 2022.

2. Ohio State

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 27: CJ Stroud of the Ohio State Buckeyes speaks during the 2022 Big Ten Conference Football Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 27, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Alabama may return the Heisman winner, but Ohio State brings back one of the runner-ups for the award: redshirt sophomore quarterback C.J. Stroud. So the Buckeyes are also going to have a top-tier offense during the 2022 season.

It helps that Stroud has some exciting players around him. Ohio State's receiving corps returns juniors Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming as well as redshirt freshman Marvin Harrison Jr. That's going to be a tough aerial attack for other teams in the Big Ten to try to stop.

The Buckeyes also have a lot to prove after a disappointing finish to the 2021 regular season. They lost at Michigan last Nov. 27, which prevented them from playing in the Big Ten Championship Game and kept them out of the College Football Playoff. Ohio State still beat Utah in the Rose Bowl, but it wasn't the way the program would have liked to end its campaign.

Although the Buckeyes haven't won a national title since the 2014 season, there's a good chance they'll get back to the CFP and get an opportunity to compete for a championship this upcoming season. They look strong on paper and it would be a surprise if they're not among the top teams in the country throughout the year.

3. Georgia

AP Photo/John Bazemore

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart speaks during NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The defending national champions can't be ranked too low, and there's a good chance Georgia will be No. 3 behind only Alabama and Ohio State. The Bulldogs remain a strong team as they look to become the first program since Alabama (2011 and 2012 seasons) to win back-to-back national titles.

Georgia's offense will again be led by redshirt senior quarterback Stetson Bennett, who went from a walk-on to helping power the Bulldogs to a championship. He'll look to build off his breakout 2021 campaign and try to guide Georgia to more success this fall.

But if the Bulldogs are going to be successful again, it will likely be because of their defense, which has been their biggest strength in recent years. However, former defensive coordinator Dan Lanning is now the head coach at Oregon, so it will be interesting to see how the unit fares without his leadership.

Still, Georgia has plenty of talented players ready to step up and fill the voids left by some of the key former standouts who are now in the NFL. So the Bulldogs should be in a position to excel once again in 2022.