Top 25 College Football Power Rankings Following the College Football Playoff

After an exciting and nail-biting College Football Playoff weekend, how do our 2022 Top 25 College Football Power Rankings look?

CFP Top 25 College Football Power Rankings

1. Georgia Bulldogs

After putting together an undefeated regular season and effortlessly winning the SEC Championship, the Georgia Bulldogs were imperious for most of the 2022 college football season. Yet, for the best part of the Peach Bowl, that run to a second consecutive national championship looked to be over.

Then the magic of Stetson Bennett happened.

When the vaunted Georgia defense faltered against the greatest performance of C.J. Stroud‘s career, Bennett found something within him to deliver a win for the Bulldogs. The defense has carried this team to the No. 1 ranking throughout the season, but it was Bennett that ensured they finished the weekend atop our Top 25 College Football Power Rankings.

2. TCU Horned Frogs

The TCU Horned Frogs are heading to the College Football National Championship! The team that was ranked outside of the AP Top 25 ahead of the season now comes out of College Football Playoff weekend as the No. 2 team in our 2022 Top 25 College Football Power Rankings.

MORE: TCU Playoff History: Wins, National Championship Appearances, And More

Sonny Dykes’ team has come to epitomize a football fairytale in their run to the pinnacle of college football. They’ve overcome disrespect and questions about their defense. When it came to the biggest game in program history, TCU proved to be devastating on offense and gave the vaunted Michigan offensive line the most difficult game they’ve faced all year.

3. Michigan Wolverines

When the Michigan Wolverines despatched Ohio State in a furious fourth quarter of “The Game,” some people insinuated that they deserved to sit atop the rankings, ahead of Georgia. However, with their defeat to TCU in the College Football Playoff, Michigan ends the year as the third-ranked team in the nation.

When faced with an offense that could run the ball as well as they could, the Wolverines’ defense collapsed. When Michigan’s offensive line was met with the same physicality that they’ve asserted on defenses all year long, they capitulated. When they had the opportunity for one last drive to win the game, they faltered. It was a disappointing end to a great campaign.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes were mere minutes away from defeating the No. 1 team in the nation and earning a spot in the National Championship Game. They may have backdoored their way into the College Football Playoff, but Ryan Day’s team certainly proved that they belonged in a heartbreaking missed field-goal loss to the reigning national champions.

Stroud was simply sensational against Georgia. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was his usual magical self until he was knocked out of the game following a heavy hit in the back of the end zone. The offense routinely made the best defense in the nation look average. However, they couldn’t break the Bulldogs on the final drive and fell short of the CFB finale.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

Under Nick Saban, Alabama was 1-3 in the Sugar Bowl, and many wondered what level of intensity they would bring into what is essentially a consolation bowl game based on their high standards and level of expectation. That was compounded when the Crimson Tide slipped to an early 10-point deficit against Kansas State.

MORE: Who Won the 2021 College Football National Championship?

Then Alabama turned up the wick and torched the Wildcats in an embarrassingly one-sided affair. Bryce Young played his very best football, Jermaine Burton finally showed glimpses of the player many believed he could be, and Brian Branch had a game for the ages. As a result, the Crimson Tide finish just outside the top four of our 2022 Top 25 College Football Power Rankings.

6. USC Trojans

After missing out on the College Football Playoff, USC has to wait until Monday to play out their final game of the season. A win in the Cotton Bowl would solidify their sixth-place position in our 2022 Top 25 College Football Power Rankings following a remarkable turnaround in fortunes from last season. A defeat to Tulane, however, could see the Trojans tumble out of the top 10.

7. Tennessee Volunteers
8. Utah Utes
9. Washington Huskies
10. Clemson Tigers
11. Kansas State Wildcats
12. Penn State Nittany Lions
13. LSU Tigers
14. Oregon Ducks
15. Oregon State Beavers
16. Florida State Seminoles
17. Tulane Green Wave
18. Troy Trojans
19. UCLA Bruins
20. UTSA Roadrunners
21. North Carolina Tar Heels
22. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
23. South Carolina Gamecocks
24. UCF Knights
25. Purdue Boilermakers