College Football Playoff Rankings Predictions: Initial Top 25 For NCAA CFB

Jackson's College Football Playoff rankings prediction for the top 25 NCAA college football teams ahead of Week 10. His rankings predictions for the first CFP rankings of 2023.

College football is ready to turn the page to Week 10, meaning it's time for the first College Football Playoff Rankings of the season. The committee in charge of the rankings is made of up 13 current and former athletic directors, coaches, players, and other NCAA-based professionals.

This committee will decide which four teams will play in the College Football Playoffs at season's end. Although the initial rankings don't mean everything, they can give us an idea of which teams the committee will be battling for a National Title in January.

It's time to predict the pecking order for the first College Football Playoff Rankings of the 2023 NCAA campaign. These rankings reflect what we think will happen, not what we think should happen. The rankings will be released at 7 p.m. EST on Tuesday, October 31.

25. USC Trojans (6-2)

Caleb Williams has fallen out of the Heisman race after losses to Notre Dame and Utah. He has still been fantastic (25 touchdowns, five interceptions), but the Trojans defense is arguably as bad as Iowa's offense. The Trojans will have a tough time making a major bowl game.

USC allowed 49 points and 527 yards to Cal.

CAL. pic.twitter.com/k2OLSAAAvk

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) October 29, 2023

24. Kansas State Wildcats (6-2)

The Wildcats have lost to the 7-1 Missouri Tigers and 6-2 Oklahoma State Cowboys. This is a solid football team and I expect them to be inside the top 25.

23. Tulane Green Wave (7-1)

Tulane's only defeat was a 17-point loss to Ole Miss of the SEC. However, the Green Wave has some work to do to represent the Group of Five in a New Year's Six bowl game.

22. James Madison Dukes (8-0)

The Dukes have a perfect record through the first nine weeks of the 2023 campaign. They have a win over the Virginia Cavalries and look to be headed toward a 12-0 season.

21. UCLA Bruins (6-2)

UCLA has lost to the best two teams on its schedule so far (Utah and Oregon State) and faces Arizona, Arizona State, USC, and California over the next four games. Chip Kelly's team won't have a chance to move up the rankings much in the coming weeks given the soft competition.

20. Kansas Jayhawks (6-2)

The Jayhawks are coming off of a legendary win, defeating then-unbeaten Oklahoma for the first time since 1997. This team could get even more love in the rankings than this, but they were also blown out by Texas.

KANSAS STUNS UNDEFEATED OKLAHOMA 😱

MADNESS IN LAWRENCE. pic.twitter.com/HfNzZpiVbE

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 28, 2023

19. Utah Utes (6-2)

Utah has been impressive behind quarterback Bryson Barnes, but the magic ran out in the blowout loss to the Oregon Ducks last week.

18. Tennessee Volunteers (6-2)

The Vols lost a heartbreaker in the Swamp against Florida earlier this season then blew a lead to Alabama on the road in Week 8. In Week 9, they took care of a decent Kentucky squad in another road battle. The SEC's reputation might help Tennessee out in the initial rankings.

Joe Milton bomb to Chas Nimrod. Touchdown. pic.twitter.com/EeDauO9gPm

— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) October 29, 2023

17. Oregon State Beavers (6-2)

The Beavers looked like they'd remain alive in the Pac-12 title race this season, but they lost to Arizona over the weekend. DJ Uiagalelei and company square off with Washington and Oregon in their last two games of the season, so Jonathan Smith's team could still make 2023 a spectacular campaign.

16. Air Force Falcons (8-0)

Air Force is playing its way to a big-time bowl game this postseason. Hopefully, they won't slip up. One loss could take them out of the New Year's Six equation.

15. Louisville Cardinals (7-1)

Louisville bounced back from its embarrassing loss to Pittsburgh in Week 8 with a big 23-0 win over Duke in Week 10. The Cardinals could slither their way into the ACC title game appearance if they keep up the sharp play.

14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-2)

The Irish are coming off a 58-7 destruction of the Pitt Panthers. Their two losses are to 7-1 Louisville and 8-0 Ohio State. Expect the committee to give the Irish some love.

NOTRE DAME (-21) 82-YARD PUNT RETURN TD 😳

(via @NDFootball)
pic.twitter.com/7XLKFNnCTu

— br_betting (@br_betting) October 28, 2023

13. Missouri Tigers (6-2)

Missouri has its biggest test of the season in a road contest against Georgia in Week 10. This game will tell us everything we need to know about the Tigers. A win would put them in the driver's seat to represent the east division in the SEC Championship Game.

12. LSU Tigers (6-2)

LSU's offense ranks first nationally in total yards per game (552.9). The modern fan loves offense and so will the playoff committee -- despite Brian Kelly's two losses.

11. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-1)

Penn State should be punished for needing fourth-quarter heroics to beat a 2-5 Indiana Hoosiers team. However, the Nittany Lions' one loss comes to Ohio State, who the committee is likely in love with. Penn State is likely to finish with a top-10 ranking at season's end without beating a single impressive team this year.

10. Ole Miss Rebels (7-1)

The Rebels have impressive wins over LSU, Tulane, and Georgia Tech. Lane Kiffin's only loss is to Alabama and the mighty Crimson Tide. Again, expect this SEC squad to get a favorable ranking.

9. Oklahoma Sooners (7-1)

The Sooners lost to the best Kansas team in over a decade. How much will the committee move them down? Surely not behind Ole Miss and Penn State -- but we shall see.

8. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1)

Alabama is now firing on all cylinders, and its passing game, rushing attack, and defense look all look much improved since the early-season loss to Texas. If the Crimson Tide defeats LSU this weekend, it's time to take them seriously as a National Championship contender once again.

7. Texas Longhorns (7-1)

Since Texas defeated Alabama head-to-head, they should be ranked one spot ahead. Texas continues to control its own destiny in the Big 12 race and it cannot afford to slip up.

6.  Oregon Ducks (7-1)

After the 35-6 domination at Utah, Oregon should sit comfortably inside the top six in the initial CFP rankings.

Arrived with authority. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/VSnIqk4iyq

— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) October 28, 2023

5. Washington Huskies (8-0)

Washington hasn't looked overly dominant over the last two weeks, defeating Arizona State and Stanford by a combined score of 57-40. However, they remain undefeated and have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Oregon.

4. Florida State Seminoles (8-0)

Florida State has an argument to be ranked No. 1 given their well-rounded roster and dominance over the last month of the season. However, I expect the committee to keep them in the No. 4 slot.

Don't forget about Jordan Travis in the Heisman race👀 pic.twitter.com/BoHpALPo4N

— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 28, 2023

3. Michigan Wolverines (8-0)

Given the controversy around the Michigan program and Michigan's No. 72 strength of schedule to this point, it would be a travesty if they come in ahead of Ohio State and Georgia. Personally, I think they should be behind Florida State, but I don't think the committee will see it that way.

2. Georgia Bulldogs (8-0)

Georgia hasn't lost a regular season game since 2020. However, the Dawgs have looked mediocre at times, despite the 8-0 record. There's a decent chance the committee start them out at No. 2 given the lackluster level of competition thus far. Kirby Smart's best win this season is over either Florida or Kentucky. Georgia will play three ranked teams over the next three weeks (Missouri, Ole Miss, and Tennessee), so they have a path back to the No. 1 spot.

Carson Beck really couldn’t have thrown this ball any better.

Dropped it right over the corner and early enough where the safety couldn’t quite get to it. Just beautiful.

Great catch by Dillon Bell on that end as well! 😍🔥 #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/lHOemzSVGW

— Thumser (@JeffreyThumser) October 29, 2023

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0)

Since Ohio State has beaten Notre Dame and Penn State, it feels like the committee will start them out at the No. 1 spot. As mentioned above, Georgia has a path to passing them in the rankings later on, but Ohio State's dominant defense and big-name wide receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr. gives them the flash to be the nation's top team.

Marvin Harrison Jr. had 6 catches for 123 yds and TD in Ohio State's 24-10 win at Wisconsin.
He is the 2nd player in OSU history with 100 rec yds and a rec TD in at least 4 consecutive games, joining Cris Carter, who had a streak of 5 such games in 1986. pic.twitter.com/YOhdjbgOdC

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 29, 2023

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