2022 College Football Playoff predictions, expert picks, most overrated and underrated teams

Following an offseason that once more delivered a style of convention realignment (USC and UCLA to the Big Ten sooner or later) and typical faculty soccer controversy (Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher going at it over recruiting), time has come to focus on what’s really going to occur on the sphere all through the 2022 season. There’s no higher method to do this than with some prognostications, so CBS Sports is right here to do our half with predictions, expert picks and opinionated takes with simply days till kickoff of Week 1.

Who would be the 4 teams within the newest iteration of the College Football Playoff? Alabama and Ohio State are clearly the leaders the declare two of the 4 spots. The Crimson Tide are off Saban’s so-called “rebuilding year,” one during which they made however didn’t win the nationwide championship, whereas the Buckeyes boast arguably the most gifted offense within the nation, a unit full of Heisman Trophy candidates at three distinction positions. The precise defending champions, Georgia, return their beginning quarterback and a handful of key gamers, although additionally they noticed a document variety of departures for the NFL Draft (notably on protection).

Meanwhile, perennial CFP contenders Clemson and Oklahoma are dealing with unsure futures. The Tigers are coming off their first three-loss season since 2014 (additionally the final time they missed the playoff), whereas the Sooners noticed their coach and beginning quarterback depart for USC. Those Trojans — together with Texas A&M, Texas and Utah — be a part of the aforementioned packages because the most more likely to make the CFP, in line with Caesars Sportsbook, although there are positive to be loads of twists and turns forward with the season about to unfold.

In addition to projecting the playoff and  nationwide champion, we determined to try which teams could miss the four-team discipline, which packages are the most overrated and underrated nationally, and which coaches and gamers stand the most effective likelihood at successful year-end honors.

Let’s check out our specialists’ takes as we settle in for what ought to be the kind of faculty soccer season we’ve got come to know and love through the years.

Most overrated staff

Texas A&M: It looks like the hype surrounding the 2022 recruiting class has bled into fall prognostications, which is not truthful to the Aggies or coach Jimbo Fisher. Nevertheless, it is unavoidable at this level. The reality is that the quarterback state of affairs is questionable; banking on their skill to take the highest off of opposing defenses by the air relies on hope greater than actuality. Texas A&M additionally lacks skilled depth up entrance on the line of defense — one thing championship-caliber teams completely want to be able to win at a excessive stage. There’s little doubt that, when Texas A&M is on, it will probably beat anyone (see: Alabama final 12 months). Consistency has been the issue beneath Fisher, and this staff is not constructed to reverse that narrative. That is more likely to occur subsequent 12 months. — Barrett Sallee (additionally Dennis Dodd, Shehan Jeyarajah)

Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish are usually not overrated within the conventional sense (individuals shout about Notre Dame being overrated on a regular basis). The reality is Notre Dame hasn’t really been overrated in a very long time. Rather, the Irish are beginning the 12 months within the prime 5 of each main polls, and it is principally as a result of no one is bound who else to place there. Notre Dame will nonetheless be good in 2022, however with a schedule that begins with Ohio State, features a sport towards Clemson and finishes on the street towards USC, there is a robust likelihood this staff will not end close to the highest 5. — Tom Fornelli (additionally David Cobb)

Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy is sweet for giving the Cowboys a run on the Big 12 title each few years, however we are going to see OSU fall again to the pack within the league this 12 months. The lack of defensive teaching (Jim Knowles to Ohio State) and expertise (to the NFL and the switch portal) counsel a step again on that aspect of the ball. Don’t neglect: This is a staff that had seven video games within the common season with out scoring 30 factors. If Oklahoma State wants extra from Spencer Sanders and the offense in 2022 to match its 2021 success, just a few of these shut video games are going to interrupt the opposite method. — Chip Patterson

Texas: We hear the “Texas is back!” cry someday early in most seasons lately, but it surely’s normally Texas followers really crying by the Thanksgiving. The Longhorns have gained greater than 5 convention video games solely twice since their look within the 2009 BCS Championship Game. Those have been in 2013 (Mack Brown’s remaining season) and 2018 (Sugar Bowl look). Otherwise, Texas has been fairly darn mediocre, particularly for a program with the sources at their disposal. In reality, its solely seasons that completed with total data above .500 with the 4 coached by Tom Hermann. Naturally, he was fired. Texas could ultimately get again, however I’ll consider it once I see it. The Longhorns higher hurry although. If they wrestle to compete within the Big 12, simply wait till they get to the SEC. — Jerry Palm

Most underrated staff

Penn State: The Nittany Lions are in peril of becoming a member of that group of packages which are thought-about blue bloods in title solely. While I do not put loads of inventory within the 2020 season, that is nonetheless a staff that has solely gained half its video games since going 11-2 in 2019. It’s unlikely that Penn Stat will get again to 11 wins this 12 months, however I count on we’ll see them get better to being ranked within the prime 20 — and presumably the highest 15. — Fornelli (additionally Patterson)

Utah: The Utes have surpassed Oregon because the hardest staff west of the Rockies. Let’s not restrict issues geographically. Utah performed Ohio State to its knees within the Rose Bowl and are going to Florida to open the season as a two-point favourite. To me, the Utes are a playoff staff this 12 months with a gifted returning quarterback in Cameron Rising, a stout protection and (spoiler alert!) my 2022 coach of the 12 months in Kyle Whittingham. — Dodd

Ole Miss: Look, I like Matt Corral, however the 2021 Ole Miss staff that went to the Sugar Bowl was a lot greater than its quarterback. The id of this system beneath coach Lane Kiffin is way more necessary to the long-term success of the Rebels, and Kiffin introduced in an ideal mixture of talent gamers to fill the void left by a number of departures. Zach Evans and Ulysses Bentley IV are the right switch tandem at operating again, the huge receiving corps is as versatile and numerous as any within the nation, and the protection solely needs to be “average” to be able to put the Rebels in SEC West rivalry. Kiffin has established the recipe, and so long as the eventual winner of the quarterback battle does not make game-changing errors, the substances shall be simply as tasty. — Sallee

Kansas State: The Wildcats boast maybe the most effective offensive participant within the Big 12 (RB Deuce Vaughn), the most effective defensive participant (DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah) and the most preseason All-Big 12 picks within the convention. Still, the Wildcats ranked simply thirty seventh receiving votes in Preseason AP Top 25 regardless of an eight-win season and three-touchdown thrashing of LSU in a bowl sport. By the top of the 12 months, Kansas State shall be pushing for prime 15 rating and a Big 12 title sport berth. — Jeyarajah

Oklahoma: The Big 12 appears huge open on the prime as 5 packages, which interprets to half the league, acquired at the very least one first-place vote within the preseason media ballot. But that scattershot of opinions reductions how well-equipped Oklahoma is to thrive in Year 1 beneath new coach Brent Venables. The offense will not miss a beat with UCF switch Dillon Gabriel at quarterback, and the protection ought to instantly enhance after years of mediocrity beneath former coach Lincoln Riley. With Baylor’s questions on the talent positions, Oklahoma State’s vital defensive losses and the final inconsistency of Texas, it is Oklahoma that also stands out as the category of the Big 12. — Cobb

BYU: The Cougars are the one unbiased in addition to Notre Dame that’s persistently profitable.  Like the Irish, they’ve a powerful nationwide following and the sources to compete. BYU has not fairly been capable of get the form of schedule that provides them a shot on the playoff, although. However, the Cougars are approaching at time. They completed the 2021 season No. 13 within the CFP Rankings, a program-high. BYU must preserve that momentum going because it enters the Big 12 subsequent season. Maybe then it will probably earn the eye that comes with a program of its high quality. — Palm

College Football Playoff predictions

First two out

2022 nationwide champion

Alabama: Legendary coach Nick Saban seen Alabama’s 2021 season as one thing of a rebuilding 12 months, but the Crimson Tide nonetheless gained the SEC championship and reached the CFP National Championship. With reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young again at quarterback and CBS Sports Preseason Player of the Year Will Anderson Jr. anchoring the protection, the Tide are a straightforward decide to complete the job and win the nationwide title. With Vanderbilt as its rotating opponent out of the SEC East this season, Bama is a digital lock to complete no worse than 11-1 within the common season and cruise into the playoff. — Cobb (additionally Dodd, Fornelli, Jeyarajah, Palm)

Ohio State: Success within the fashionable faculty sport is commonly decided by the power to win one-on-one battles within the passing sport on offense and apply stress to the quarterback on protection. The Buckeyes clearly have the offensive half coated with Jaxon Smith-Njigba main a large receiver room that may overwhelm any secondary within the nation by creating choices for C.J. Stroud, the Heisman favourite. Ohio State must also have the defensive half discovered beneath the steerage of recent defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. The benefit created by scheme will pair with the present expertise benefit Ohio State carries into nearly each matchup, creating an ideal praise to that high-powered, Stroud-led offense. This just isn’t a controversial decide as Ohio State is clearly one of many two or three prime picks on the board, however what has me selecting the Buckeyes over the Tide or a repeat from the Georgia Bulldogs is contemplating the teachings discovered by a staff that took its first common season losses of the Ryan Day period final season. — Patterson (additionally Sallee)

Coach of the Year

Kyle Whittingham, Utah: Whittingham has spent 17 years getting the Utes to the purpose of turning into a nationwide energy. In Year 18, he has a bodily, achieved bunch who’re coming off a Pac-12 title. I’ve them as a playoff staff and repeat Pac-12 champion. In the final 4 years, Whittingham has a greater successful proportion than James Franklin, Paul Chryst, Mark Stoops and Mike Gundy. — Dodd (additionally Sallee, Jeyarajah)

Ryan Day, Ohio State: Jim Harbaugh bought in his jokes with the “born on third base” jabs, but when Ohio State is ready to meet its nationwide championship expectations — as I’m predicting right here — then will probably be time to reassess the place Day stands among the many greatest coaches within the sport. Now in his fourth full season because the Buckeyes coach, Day has a roster that’s the full realization of what he thinks this staff must be to be able to win championships. By specializing in recruiting the huge receiver place and making key employees hires like bringing in Knowles, Day has constructed a staff that is going to overwhelm opponents on the perimeter and be disruptive defensively on the line of scrimmage. Ohio State is likely to be a job the place you’re “born on third base,” but it surely takes elite teaching to convey it dwelling. — Patterson (additionally Fornelli)

Brent Venables, Oklahoma: The Sooners’ regular athletic management picked the right substitute for Riley by hiring a coveted title with Oklahoma roots in Venables, the long-time Clemson defensive coordinator. Though protection is his speciality, he already prevented the entice of pigeon-holing his program right into a one-dimensional field by hiring Jeff Lebby as offensive coordinator. Venables and Lebby have been among the many greatest coordinators within the sport for a number of years, and their coalescence at a college of private significance to each is a recipe for quick success. Venables will get the Sooners headed in the best route defensively whereas implementing parts of Clemson’s tradition in a method that retains this staff in nationwide title rivalry. — Cobb (additionally Palm)

Heisman Trophy winner

C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State: He’s the chief of what’s going to doubtless be the most explosive offense within the nation. While you’ll be able to go up and down the depth chart and discover potential Heisman candidates on Ohio State’s offense, they’re going to all be sharing touches. But you recognize who’s going to be touching the ball on each snap and getting credit score for all these passing yards and touchdowns? Yep, it will be Stroud. He’s going to have online game numbers on the finish of the season, and in contrast to Young, he will not have the extra expectations which are all the time positioned on reigning Heisman winners by the voters. — Fornelli (additionally Patterson, Sallee, Cobb, Palm)

Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama: Heisman voters have quietly been getting extra open-minded through the years. In 2020, a large receiver, DeVonta Smith, gained the highest award for the primary time since 1991. Last 12 months, Michigan defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson completed runner-up with 78 first-place votes. In 2022, Anderson has a shot to place collectively the right storm for a defensive Heisman winner. Most take into account Anderson the most effective participant within the nation. (Hey, we named him our Preseason Player of the Year.) His numbers ought to be unbelievable as soon as once more after a record-breaking sophomore 12 months at Alabama. And most importantly, Anderson would be the most dynamic participant on the presumed nationwide champions. No defense-only participant has ever gained the Heisman, however Anderson is a particular case. — Jeyarajah (additionally Dodd)