2021 College Football Preseason Top 20, Alabama Takes Newsweek's Top Spot
The college football season is about to kickoff in 2021, which means the annual preseason rankings. Newsweek launched its Top 20 during 2020, but those preseason rankings and predictions did not include the Big Ten or Pac-12, which stated they would not play until further notice because of COVID-19. This year, all teams are available for the rankings.
These rankings are merely where we placed them based on how good we think these teams are at the beginning of the season. The weekly rankings will be revealed every Sunday, just like in 2020. The next rankings will be revealed on Sunday, Sept. 5.
There will be a handful of games on Aug. 28, and the season gets fully underway the following week with games starting Wednesday, Sept. 1 through Monday, September 6.
Here are the 2021 Newsweek College Football Preseason Rankings.
# 1 Alabama
The Crimson Tide haven't won back-to-back titles since 2011-12. Alabama reloads with quarterback Bryce Young, running back Brian Robinson and two receivers in John Metchie and Slade Bolden, and they'll be strong again on defense with eight starters returning from the national champs.
#2 Oklahoma
It's hard for media outlets to keep placing the Sooners so high, but they may have the best returning quarterback in college football with Spencer Rattler. They also have coach Lincoln Riley's best defense in his young tenure. Combine that with wanting to make a statement to the SEC, and this could be OU's year.
#3 Clemson
The Clemson Tigers have not won a national championship since the 2018 season, and they lost QB1 Trevor Lawrence and RB1 Travis Etienne to the NFL. However, D.J. Uiagalelei looks to be a solid replacement at quarterback, and Clemson will be as good as ever on defense.
#4 Georgia
The Bulldogs have one huge stumbling block to winning the national title, and that's SEC nemesis Alabama. J.T. Daniels could be the leader Georgia needs to get past the Crimson Tide. He gets an early test on Sept. 4 when the Dawgs face No. 3 Clemson.
#5 Ohio State
Talk about reloading, Ohio State does it about as well as any school. Coach Ryan Day has brought unbelievable talent to Columbus to follow the Buckeyes' national runner-up finish last year. There's an early test with Oregon in Columbus on Sept. 11.
#6 Iowa State
Surprised by the Cyclones? Don't let their 2020 open-seasoning loss to Louisiana fool you. Iowa State has the best returning QB-RB tandem in college with Brock Purdy and Breece Hall. They return all 11 starters on offense and 9 defensive starters from the Big 12 runner-up, and don't bet against coach Matt Campbell.
#7 Cincinnati
We picked the Bearcats high last year, and they didn't disappoint. Coach Luke Fickell has a bonafide quarterback in Desmond Ridder, and they could solidify themselves as a legit expansion attendee with yet another great season. Non-conference wins at Indiana and Notre Dame could go a long way to proving that.
#8 Texas A&M
Quarterback Kellend Mond is gone to the NFL, but the Aggies have another up-and-comer in Haynes King. Texas A&M will have a great defense, and a big test will be hosting Bama in College Station. Another? Can they finally win in Baton Rouge?
#9 North Carolina
Coach Mack Brown enters his third "Return of the Mack" season with a three-year starting quarterback in Sam Howell, who could be the best QB in the ACC. The schedule is very navigable, and not too tricky. The Tar Heels could see Clemson in the ACC title game.
#10 Wisconsin
The Badgers defense should be solid again, and quarterback Graham Mertz has an arsenal of weapons. Wisconsin may not be a CFP crasher, but they have what it takes to crash the party in 2021.
#11 Oregon
The Ducks have perhaps the most NFL-ready player in defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux. Their toughest game of 2021 is Sept. 11 at Ohio State. If the Ducks win that one, then a season sweep would likely put them in the playoffs. Tough test at Washington this year for Pac-12 North supremacy.
#12 USC
The Trojans will have unbelievable talent all over the field, and the offense is led by quarterback Kedon Davis, who has directed coordinator Graham Harrell's offense for two years already. USC will be in a tough battle with Arizona State and Utah for the Pac-12 South crown, and they'll want revenge in the conference championship against Oregon.
#13 Miami (Fla.)
Every year seems to be the year that the Hurricanes are "back" in the spotlight. This season could live up to the hype if quarterback D'Eriq King lives up to his own hype. The Canes got top-shelf transfers through the portal, and head coach Manny Diaz is a defensive wizard. The Canes can make their case in the season opener against top-ranked Alabama. Miami won't have a true road game until Oct. 16 at North Carolina.
#14 Notre Dame
The Irish were a sexy top 10 pick for most outlets, but they lost their star quarterback, three offensive linemen and a total of nine NFL draftees. They return just three starters on offense and six on defense, meaning it's a major rebuilding season after making the playoffs in two of the last three seasons.
#15 Florida
The Gators need to replace the three-headed-monster combo of QB Kyle Trask, TE Kyle Pitts and WR Kadarius Toney. Leading that charge are dual-threat quarterback Emory Jones and last year's top three rushers. The Gators start the season with two winnable games (South Alabama and USF) before a Sept. 18 home game against Alabama.
#16 Washington
The Huskies only went 3-1 last year in Jimmy Lake's first year as head coach, but they couldn't play the Pac-12 championship because of COVID protocols. They have 10 starters returning on offense and eight on defense. A Sept. 11 trip to Michigan could be a good early test, and they get Oregon at home this season.
#17 LSU
The Tigers started 3-5 last season before winning their last two. They return both their offensive and defensive lines, and Max Johnson will be the starting quarterback. Coach Ed Orgeron said this year's receiving corps could be the best ever at LSU, but the Tigers need to shore up a defense that was atrocious in 2020. The Tigers begin the season at UCLA.
#18 Indiana
The Hoosiers in 2020 became a basketball that happened to have a good football team. They went 6-1 in regular season, with their only loss, 42-35, at Ohio State, which finished as national runner-up. Indiana returns eight starters on offense and nine on defense. Their schedule also sets up nicely for them, with OSU, Cincinnati, Minnesota and Michigan State all visiting Bloomington.
#19 Oklahoma State
The Cowboys return eight starters on defense, and quarterback Spencer Sanders returns for a third season. The schedule will get trying in October with back-to-back games in Austin and Ames. If they win at least one of them, they could hit double-digit wins and perhaps have chance at making the Big 12 title game.
#20 Coastal Carolina
The Chanticleers turned every head in college football by going 11-0 in regular season during 2020, losing only to Liberty in overtime at the Cure Bowl. They return 10 starters on defense and nine on offense, including quarterback Grayson McCall. CCU will also have one of the better offensive lines in the country. They have an easy enough schedule to go undefeated again, but look out for Appalachian State on the road in October.
