Way-too-early top 25 for 2023: Georgia vs. everybody

The Georgia championship hangover likely hasn't worn off yet, but it's already time to start looking ahead to the 2023 season.

The Bulldogs will begin next season in the same place they ended the last two - sitting atop the college football world. Kirby Smart's program will look to become the first to ever win three straight national titles from the No. 1 slot heading into the 2023 season.

Here's how our way-too-early top 25 looks as the countdown to the 2023 campaign commences.

1. Georgia (last season's record: 15-0)

Smart will have to replace stars like Stetson Bennett, Jalen Carter, and Kelee Ringo, but the Bulldogs will once again be stacked. Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff are set to battle for the quarterback spot, all-world tight end Brock Bowers will be back to terrorize the opposition for a third year, and the defense expects to return six starters. A very friendly schedule should allow the Bulldogs to cruise through the SEC East again.

2. Alabama (11-2)

Nick Saban faces a huge task in replacing 2021 Heisman winner Bryce Young and star defensive end Will Anderson, but the 71-year-old is set to close on the top recruiting class in the country in early February. The big question is at the quarterback slot, where Ty Simpson and Jalen Milroe are tasked with replacing the brilliant Young. Here's betting the Crimson Tide enter 2023 with a chip on their shoulder after narrowly missing out on the College Football Playoff this past season.

3. Michigan (13-1)

This ranking would change if Jim Harbaugh heads to the NFL, but for now, it looks like the Michigan frontman will return to the Wolverines. The offense will be stacked - J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, and Donovan Edwards are all returning - but the defense faces a number of losses, including Mazi Smith and Mike Morris. Harbaugh was once again very productive in the transfer portal, and some key additions should keep Michigan among the nation's elite in 2023.

4. Ohio State (11-2)

The C.J. Stroud era is over, and replacing him is one of the toughest tasks in college football. Whether it's Kyle McCord or Devin Brown under center, the offense will be full of firepower in star receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka alongside running back TreVeyon Henderson. Road games at Indiana and Notre Dame will reveal a great deal about the state of the offense without Stroud.

5. LSU (10-4)

Brian Kelly's impact was clear in Baton Rouge, with LSU knocking off Alabama and winning the SEC West in his first season with the program. Expect even bigger strides in Year 2 with veteran quarterback Jayden Daniels opting to return instead of testing the NFL draft. Daniels joins at least nine expected returning starters on offense. The Tigers will also have a stout defense buoyed by Maason Smith's return from a season-ending injury suffered in Week 1 last year.

6. USC (11-3)

The mere presence of Caleb Williams makes USC one of the nation's elite, but the defense needs a major overhaul if the Trojans are to compete for the national title. Lincoln Riley's decision to bring back coordinator Alex Grinch doesn't bode well for that transformation - no matter how many transfer portal players he can bring in. Expect Williams to put up huge numbers yet again and possibly add a second Heisman Trophy to his cabinet. Whether the defense can make enough plays to get USC to the playoff will be the deciding factor in Los Angeles.

7. Penn State (11-2)

After Sean Clifford appeared in 51 games over the last five years at Penn State, it's finally time for a change at quarterback for James Franklin. Highly touted passer Drew Allar is officially taking the reins, and he should bring an immediate jolt to an offense that returns the prolific running back duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.

8. Oregon (10-3)

Dan Lanning had a brilliant first season at Oregon, and quarterback Bo Nix's decision to return for a final year likely ensures a strong second campaign. The two biggest questions in Eugene surround the offensive line and the defensive unit. Multiple starters depart from the dominant line, which could make life more difficult for Nix. Lanning has plenty of work to do on the defense after the Ducks ranked 89th nationally in yards allowed per play.

9. Washington (11-2)

From 4-8 to 11-2 in one season - Kalen DeBoer, what do you have planned for an encore? Expectations are sky-high in Seattle after DeBoer turned in an outstanding debut season with Washington. Michael Penix Jr. emerged as one of the nation's top quarterbacks in his first year with the Huskies, and his decision to return should make Washington's offensive units one of the best in the country.

10. Florida State (10-3)

Six straight wins to end the season and quarterback Jordan Travis returning for Mike Norvell and Florida State? That's a recipe to make the Seminoles the favorites in the ACC.

11. Tennessee (11-2)

Whether it's Joe Milton or big-name freshman Nico Iamaleava at quarterback, it's probably a safe bet they'll thrive in Josh Heupel's system. But can the defense step up enough for Tennessee to challenge Georgia?

12. Notre Dame (9-4)

Quarterback play was the biggest issue holding Notre Dame back in 2022, with the Irish ranked 98th in the nation in passing yards per game. Marcus Freeman addressed that with perhaps the biggest splash in the transfer portal, landing Sam Hartman from Wake Forest.

13. Clemson (11-3)

Clemson restored order in the ACC last season by winning its seventh conference title in eight years, but that's far from a sure thing in 2023. Quarterback Cade Klubnik showed flashes of brilliance in limited action. He'll have to take the next step with the defense losing a number of star contributors, including Bryan Bresee, Myles Murphy, and Trenton Simpson.

14. Utah (10-4)

Cam Rising is back for another season in Salt Lake City - a move that should bring great expectations for Utah in the Pac-12. The defense returns a number of key contributors, but the offense will need to find a way to replace the production of talented trio Dalton Kincaid, Micah Bernard, and Tavion Thomas.

15. TCU (13-2)

Despite its drubbing at the hands of Georgia in the national title game, TCU still carries a ton of momentum into 2023 for Sonny Dykes' second season in charge. The Horned Frogs are decimated by departures on offense, but Dykes has produced points at virtually every stop in his coaching career. He thought enough of Chandler Morris to start him over Max Duggan to begin the 2022 season, so expect the redshirt sophomore to get the nod at quarterback.

16. Texas (8-5)

For all the attention Texas received the past two years, Steve Sarkisian is just 13-12 as head coach over that span. With the departures of star running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, it's now on quarterback Quinn Ewers to finally deliver on the endless hype that's followed him since high school. If he can't, it might be Arch Manning time sooner rather than later.

17. Oregon State (10-3)

One of the best stories in the resurgence of the Pac-12 is Oregon State, as the Beavers posted their first 10-win season since 2006. The one issue that needed addressing in the offseason was the conference's 11th-ranked passing attack. Jonathan Smith took a big step towards doing so by bringing in D.J. Uiagalelei from Clemson as the likely starter at quarterback.

18. Tulane (12-2)

Tulane executed one of the greatest one-year turnarounds we've seen in college football history this past season, going from 2-10 in 2021 to a 12-2 record and an incredible Cotton Bowl win over USC. Tyjae Spears and his 1,581 rushing yards are gone, but star quarterback Michael Pratt returns for the Green Wave.

19. South Carolina (8-5)

The bowl loss to Notre Dame was disappointing, but the back-to-back wins over Tennessee and Clemson to end the season will allow South Carolina to ride high into 2023. Spencer Rattler's return should ease the pain from a brutal opening month in which the Gamecocks travel to both Georgia and Tennessee.

20. Kansas State (10-4)

The Big 12 champions were plastered by Alabama in the Sugar Bowl but showed throughout the season they can hang with anybody in the conference. Will Howard returns to lead an offense that'll have to overcome the loss of star running back Deuce Vaughn.

21. UTSA (11-3)

Frank Harris somehow still has eligibility left for UTSA and will help ease the transition of the program's move from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference. Harris accounted for 41 touchdowns from the quarterback position and should once again be one of the nation's most prolific players.

22. North Carolina (9-5)

Drake Maye is back, and that alone is enough for North Carolina to grab one of the final slots in the top 25. The star quarterback will aim to somehow improve on an incredible 2022 season in which he accounted for 45 total touchdowns. The defense will likely be a huge problem once again, but Maye is must-see television for the Tar Heels.

23. Ole Miss (8-5)

A 7-0 start somehow ended with an 8-5 record for Ole Miss as the rumors swirled around Lane Kiffin's job status last season. Kiffin opted to stay and sign a new extension - a sign that the Rebels will have a very strong offense once again. Star running back Quinshon Judkins returns behind a very experienced line and could challenge for the nation's rushing title in his second season on campus.

24. Texas A&M (5-7)

2022 was a disaster for Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M, but there's too much talent on the roster for the Aggies to have another down season. Bobby Petrino arrives as the new coordinator to fix the putrid offense, and his track record of putting up points should bring optimism to College Station.

25. Iowa (8-5)

Despite passing for only seven touchdowns as a team all season, Iowa somehow managed to scrape out an 8-5 campaign and almost won the Big Ten West. The addition of quarterback Cade McNamara from Michigan should improve the offense immensely, and the defense should yet again be one of the more dominant units in the country.