Week 1 – Top 25 Breakdown

Head Coach: Nick Saban (15th year, 164-23)

Last Season:
13-0 (11-0 SEC)
CFB Championship vs Ohio State (W 52-24)
Finished 1st

Key Players:
Bryce Young, So. (QB)1
Evan Neal, Jr. (OT)
John Metchie, Jr. (WR)
Christian Harris, Jr. (LB)

Upcoming Game:
Saturday, 3:30 PM vs #14 Miami (FL) in Atlanta, GA

Line: Alabama (-19.5)

Head Coach: Lincoln Riley (5th year, 45-8)

Last Season:
9-2 (7-2 Big 12)

Cotton Bowl vs Florida (W 55-20)
Finished 6th

Key Players:
Spencer Rattler, So. (QB)
Eric Gray, Jr. (RB)
Marvin Mims, So. (WR)
Nik Bonnito, Jr. (LB)

Upcoming Game:
Saturday, Noon vs Tulane in Norman, OK

Line: Oklahoma (-31.5)

Last Season:

10-2 (9-1 ACC)

Sugar Bowl vs Ohio State (L 49-28)
Finished 3rd

Key Players:
DJ Uiagalelei, So. (QB)
Justyn Ross, Jr. (WR)

Bryant Bresee, So. (DT)

Tyler Davis, Jr. (DT)

Upcoming Game:
Saturday, 7:30 PM vs #5 Georgia in Charlotte, NC

Line: Clemson (-3)

Head Coach: Lincoln Riley (5th year, 45-8)

Last Season:
7-1 (6-0 Big 10)
CFB Championship vs Alabama (L 52-24)
Finished 2nd

Key Players:

CJ Stroud, Fr. (QB)

Chris Olave, Sr. (WR)

Garrett Wilson, Sr. (WR)

Haskell Garrett, Sr. (DT)

Upcoming Game:

Thursday, 8:00 PM vs Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN

Line: Ohio State (-14)

Head Coach: Kirby Smart (5th year, 44-12)

Last Season:

8-2 (7-2 SEC)

Peach Bowl vs Cincinnati (W 24-21)
Finished 7th

Key Players:

JT Daniels, Jr. (QB)

Zamir White, Jr. (RB)

Derion Kendrick, Sr. (CB)

Jordan Davis, Sr. (DT)

Upcoming Game:

Saturday, 7:30 PM vs #3 Clemson in Charlotte, NC

Line: Clemson (-3)

Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher (4th year, 26-10)

Last Season:

9-1 (8-1)

Orange Bowl vs North Carolina (W 41-27)

Finished 4th

Key Players:

Isaiah Spiller, Jr. (RB)

Jalen Wydermyer, Jr. (TE)

Ainias Smith, Jr. (RB/WR)

DeMarvin Leal, Jr. (DT)

Upcoming Game:

Saturday, 8:00 PM vs Kent State in College Station, TX

Line: Texas A&M (-28.5)

Head Coach: Matt Campbell (6th year, 35-28)

Last Season:

9-3 (8-2 Big 12)

Fiesta Bowl vs Oregon (W 34-17)

Finished 9th

Key Players:

Breece Hall, Jr. (RB)

Brock Purdy, Sr. (QB)

Mike Rose, Sr. (LB)

Greg Eisworth, Sr. (S)

Upcoming Game:

Saturday, 4:30 PM vs Northern Iowa in Ames, IA

Line: Iowa State (-32)

Head Coach: Luke Fickell (5th year, 35-14)

Last Season:

9-1 (7-0 AAC)

Peach Bowl vs Georgia (L 24-21)

Finished 8th

Key Players:

Desmond Ridder, Sr. (QB)

Michael Young, Sr. (WR)

Myjai Sanders, Sr. (DE)

Coby Bryant, SR. (CB)

Upcoming Game:

Saturday, 3:30 PM vs Miami (Ohio) in Cincinnati, OH

Line: Cincinnati (-22.5)

Head Coach: Brian Kelly (12th year, 102-39)

Last Season:

10-2 (9-1 ACC)

Rose Bowl vs Alabama (L 31-14)

Finished 5th

Key Players:

Kyle Hamilton, Jr. (S)

Kyren Williams, So. (RB)

Avery Davis, Sr. (WR)

Jarrett Patterson, Jr. (C)

Upcoming Game:

Saturday, 7:30 PM vs Florida State in Tallahassee, FL

Line: Notre Dame (-7.5)

Head Coach: Mack Brown (3rd year, 15-10)

Last Season:

8-4 (7-3 ACC)

Orange Bowl vs Texas A&M (L 41-27)

Finished 18th

Key Players:

Sam Howell, Jr. (QB)

Tomon Fox, Sr. (LB)

Tomari Fox, Jr. (DE)

Jordan Tucker, Sr. (OT)

Upcoming Game:

Friday, 6:00 PM vs Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA

Line: North Carolina (-5.5)

Head Coach: Mario Cristobal (4th year, 25-10)

Last Season:

4-3 (4-2 Pac 12)

Fiesta Bowl vs Iowa State (L 34-17)

Finished Non-Ranked

Key Players:
Travis Dye, Jr. (RB)

CJ Verdell, Jr. (RB)

Noah Sewell, Fr. (LB)

Kayvon Thibodeaux, So. (DE)

Upcoming Game:

Saturday, 2:00 PM vs Fresno State in Eugene, OR

Line: Oregon (-20.5)

Head Coach: Paul Chryst (7th year, 56-19)

Last Season:

4-3 (3-3 Big 10)

Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs Wake Forest (W 42-28)

Finished Non-Ranked

Key Players:
Graham Mertz, So. (QB)

Leo Chenal, Jr. (LB)

Jack Sanborn, Sr. (LB)

Jake Ferguson, Sr. (TE)

Upcoming Game:
Saturday, Noon vs Penn State in Madison, WI

Line: Wisconsin (-5.5)

Head Coach: Dan Mullen (4th year, 29-9)

Last Season:

8-4 (8-3 SEC)

Cotton Bowl vs Oklahoma (L 55-20)

Finished 13th

Key Players:

Emory Jones, Jr. (QB)

Jacob Copeland, Jr. (WR)

Ventrell Miller, Sr. (LB)

Zachary Carter, Sr. (DE)

Upcoming Game:

Saturday, 7:30 PM vs Florida Atlantic in Gainesville, FL

Line: Florida (-23.5)

Head Coach: Dan Mullen (4th year, 29-9)

Last Season:

8-3 (7-2 ACC)

Cheez-It Bowl vs Oklahoma State (L 37-34)

Finished 22nd

Key Players:
Bubba Bolden, Jr. (S)

D’Eriq King, Sr. (QB)

Cam’Ron Harris, Jr. (RB)

Mike Harley, Sr. (WR)

Upcoming Game:

Saturday, 3:30 PM vs #1 Alabama in Atlanta, GA

Line: Alabama (-19.5)

Head Coach: Clay Helton (7th year, 45-23)

Last Season:

5-1 (5-1 Pac 120 Pac 12 Championship vs Oregon (L 31-24)

No Bowl,

Finished 21st

Key Players:

Kevon Slovis, Jr. (QB)

Drake Jackson, Jr. (LB)

Drake London, Jr. (WR)

Isaiah Pola-Mao, Sr. (S)

Upcoming Game:
Saturday, 5:00 PM vs San Jose State in Los Angeles, CA

Line: USC (-14)

Head Coach: Ed Orgeron (6th year, 45-14)

Last Season:

5-5 (5-5 SEC)

No Bowl

Finished Non-Ranked

Key Players:

Derek Stingley, Jr. (CB)
Ali Gaye, Sr. (DE)
Kayshon Boutte, So. (WR)

Austin Deculus, Sr. (OT)

Upcoming Game:

Saturday, 8:30 PM vs UCLA in Pasadena, CA

Line: LSU (-3)

Head Coach: Tom Allen (5th year, 24-22)

Last Season:

6-2 (6-1 Big 10)

Outback Bowl vs Ole Miss (L 26-20)
Finished 12th

Key Players:
Micah McFadden, Jr. (LB)
Michael Penix, Jr. (QB)

Ty Fryfogle, Sr. (WR)

Jaylin Williams, Jr. (CB)

Upcoming Game:
Saturday, 3:30 PM vs Iowa in Iowa City, IA

Line: Iowa (-3)

Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz (23rd year, 168-106)

Last Season:
6-2 (6-2 Big 10)

No Bowl

Finished 16th

Key Players:
Tyler Linderbaum, Jr.(C)

Jack Koerner, Sr. (S)

Tyler Goodson, Jr. (RB)

Zach Van Valkenburg, Sr. (DE)

Upcoming Game:
Saturday, 3:30 PM vs Iowa in Iowa City, IA

Line: Iowa (-3)

Head Coach: James Franklin (8th year, 60-28)

Last Season:

4-5 (4-5 Big 10)

No Bowl
Finished Non-Ranked

Key Players:
Brandon Smith, Jr. (LB)
Jaquan Brisker, Sr. (S)
Jahan Dotson, Sr. (WR)

Rasheed Walker, Jr. (OT)

Upcoming Game:
Saturday, Noon vs #12 Wisconsin in Madison, WI

Line: Wisconsin (-5.5)

Head Coach: Jimmy Lake (2nd year, 3-1)

Last Season:

3-1 (3-1 Pac 12)
No Bowl
Finished Non-Ranked

Key Players:

Jaxson Kirkland, Jr. (OT)
Victor Curne, So. (OT)

Trent McDuffie, Jr. (S)
Zion Tupuola-Fetui, So. (LB)

Upcoming Game:
Saturday, 8:00 PM vs Montana in Seattle, WA

Line: Washington (-23.5)

Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian (1st year, 0-0)

Last Season:
7-3 (5-3 Big 12)

Alamo Bowl vs Colorado (W 55-23)

Finished 19th

Key Players:

Bijan Robinson, So. (RB)
DeMarvion Overshown, Sr. (LB
Joshua Moore, Jr. (WR)
Casey Thompson, Jr. (QB)

Upcoming Game:
Saturday, 4:30 PM vs #23 Louisiana in Austin, TX

Line: Texas (-8)

Head Coach: Jamey Chadwell (4th year, 19-17)

Last Season:
1-1 (8-0 Sun Belt)
Cure Bowl vs Liberty (L 37-34)
Finished 14th

Key Players:
Grayson McCall, So. (QB)
Jaivon Heiligh, Sr. (WR)

Silas Kelly, Sr. (LB)

CJ Brewer, Sr. (DT)

Upcoming Game:
Thursday, 7:00 PM vs The Citadel in Conway, SC

Line: Coastal Carolina (-35)

Head Coach: Billy Napier (4th year, 28-11

Last Season:
10-1 (7-1 Sun Belt)
First Responder Bowl vs UT San Antonio (W 31-24)
Finished 15th

Key Players:
Levi Lewis, Sr. (QB)
Max Mitchell, Jr. (OT)
Lorenzo McCaskill, Jr. (LB)
Zi’Yon Hill, Jr. (DT)

Upcoming Game:

Saturday, 4:30 PM vs #21 Texas in Austin, TX

Line: Texas (-8)

Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (17th year, 134-66)

Last Season:
3-2 (3-2 Pac 12)
No Bowl
Finished Non-Ranked

Key Players:

Nick Ford, Jr.(C)
Devin Lloyd, Jr. (LB)
Britain Covey, Jr. (WR)
Charlie Brewer, Sr. (QB)

Upcoming Game:
Thursday, 7:30 PM vs Weber State in Salt Lake City, UT

Line: Utah (-30.5)

Head Coach: Herm Edwards (4th year, 17-13)

Last Season:
2-2 (2-2 Pac 12)
No Bowl
Finished Non-Ranked

Key Players:
Tyler Johnson, Jr. (DE)
Rachaad White, Jr. (RB)
Jayden Daniels, So. (QB)
Evan Fields, Sr. (S)

Upcoming Game:
Thursday, 7:30 PM vs Weber State in Salt Lake City, UT

Line: Arizona State (-45)