College Football Rankings 2022: Predicting Week 2 AP and Coaches Polls

Week 1 of the 2022 college football season has brought several days of exciting action. Saturday featured a resounding statement win by Georgia (the defending national champions) against Oregon, a competitive Ohio State-Notre Dame matchup that went in the Buckeyes' favor and Florida's big upset victory against Utah.

Sunday's slate featured only one game, but it was among the best of the weekend. LSU marched 99 yards for what appeared to be a game-tying touchdown drive in the final minutes. However, Florida State blocked the extra-point attempt to hold on for a 24-23 win.

Again, this was only Week 1. The week isn't even over yet, either, because Clemson and Georgia Tech have a season-opening contest set for Monday night.

Because that ACC matchup hasn't happened yet, the AP Top 25 and Amway Coaches Polls won't be released until Tuesday. That gives us time to project how this weekend's action will create movement in the rankings.

Here's a prediction for how the polls could look coming out of the first week of the season.

Projected Rankings

AP Photo/Vasha Hunt

Alabama head coach Nick Saban watches warmups at an NCAA college football game against Utah State, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

1. Alabama (1-0)

2. Georgia (1-0)

3. Ohio State (1-0)

4. Clemson (0-0, plays Monday vs. Georgia Tech)

5. Texas A&M (1-0)

6. Michigan (1-0)

7. Oklahoma (1-0)

8. Notre Dame (0-1)

9. Baylor (1-0)

10. Oklahoma State (1-0)

11. Arkansas (1-0)

12. USC (1-0)

13. Michigan State (1-0)

14. Miami (1-0)

15. Florida (1-0)

16. Pittsburgh (1-0)

17. Wisconsin (1-0)

18. Utah (0-1)

19. Kentucky (1-0)

20. Ole Miss (1-0)

21. NC State (1-0)

22. Wake Forest (1-0)

23. Houston (1-0)

24. BYU (1-0)

25. Tennessee (1-0)

How Will the Top 3 Shake Out?

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 03: Stetson Bennett #13 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after their first touchdown against the Oregon Ducks during the first quarter of the Chick-fil-A Kick-Off Game between Oregon and Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

There isn't currently much of a debate surrounding which three teams are the best in the country. Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia entered the season in the Nos. 1-3 spots in both polls, and each of those schools opened the year with a victory.

The Crimson Tide had the easiest matchup among the trio, hosting Utah State to begin the season. As expected, they rolled to a 55-0 win. Even though Alabama didn't have a tough opponent, it didn't do anything to lose its hold on the No. 1 spot in each of the polls. So the Tide should remain in the top spot heading into Week 2.

But don't be surprised if Georgia overtakes Ohio State for the No. 2 ranking, which would drop the Buckeyes to No. 3. The Bulldogs made a huge opening statement, as they cruised for the entirety of their 49-3 victory over Oregon, which was at No. 11 in the AP preseason poll.

Ohio State faced a tougher test in its home matchup against No. 5 Notre Dame, and they were trailing deep into the third quarter. However, the Buckeyes pulled out a 21-10 win, proving that they're a top-three team in the nation.

It doesn't truly matter how these programs are ranked this early in the season, with so many weeks still to go. But it's also clear that each belongs in the top three coming out of Week 1.

The SEC Could Have 8 Ranked Teams

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

A member of the chain gang holds a marker with the SEC logo in the second half of an NCAA college football game between Vanderbilt and LSU Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

The AP Top 25 preseason poll featured six ranked SEC teams. After Week 1, that number should grow, and there may even be eight teams from the conference among the top 25.

No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Georgia, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 19 Arkansas, No. 20 Kentucky and No. 21 Ole Miss were all victorious in season-opening matchups. The Razorbacks could be among the biggest movers, too, as they notched a 31-24 win over No. 23 Cincinnati.

Florida proved it should be ranked with a huge victory on Saturday. The Gators pulled out a 29-26 victory over No. 7 Utah, as quarterback Anthony Richardson's third rushing touchdown of the game put them ahead for good with 1 minute and 25 seconds to go.

It's possible that both Oregon and Cincinnati will fall out of the top 25 this week, particularly the latter. That could create an opening for Tennessee, which had received the most votes among unranked teams for the preseason poll. The Vols then opened their season with a 59-10 win over Ball State on Thursday.

The 14 SEC teams currently have a combined record of 14-1, as no conference team had lost until LSU fell against Florida State on Sunday night. It shouldn't come as a surprise, either, considering the SEC is again stacked with strong teams this year.

Is USC the Early Favorite in the Pac-12?

Harry How/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans looks on during warm up before the game against the Rice Owls at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 03, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Pac-12 had three teams ranked in the AP Top 25 poll to open the season, and two of them (Utah and Oregon) have already lost. Of course, the Utes (at Florida) and Ducks (vs. Georgia in Atlanta) both had challenging matchups, but neither had the start they wanted.

Meanwhile, the Lincoln Riley era is now underway at USC, which was ranked No. 14 in the AP preseason poll. And in the head coach's first game leading the Trojans, they got off to an impressive start, routing Rice at home for a 66-14 win.

It will be interesting to see how far Utah and Oregon fall in the rankings, but it's quite possible that one (or potentially both) drops out of either poll. USC doesn't have to worry about that, and it's likely to move up several spots.

Could this be the start of a big season for the Trojans, and are they now the favorites to win the Pac-12? We won't know until they face some tougher competition, though it wouldn't be too surprising if Riley leads them to immediate success.

USC may roll through its conference schedule, and if that's the case, it will be fun to see how it stacks up against Notre Dame in the regular-season finale between the two teams on Nov. 26.