FOX Sports’ R.J. Young released his comprehensive rankings for every FBS team in the nation, covering the full spectrum from No. 1 to No. 134.
Young has ranked Ohio State ahead of Georgia, contrasting the Associated Press poll, which places Georgia at No. 1 and Ohio State at No. 2.
Young argues that despite Ohio State’s recent struggles which includes three consecutive losses to Michigan, no Big Ten titles in four years, and no national championships since 2014, the Buckeyes should top the rankings.
“Penn State and Oregon could pose challenges,” Young notes, “But the real test will come on November 30 when Ohio State faces Michigan, a matchup that will reveal the true strength of this Buckeyes squad.”
Notably, the top nine teams in Young’s list hail from either the Big Ten or the SEC, reflecting the dominance of these two power conferences.
At the other end of the spectrum, Louisiana-Monroe finds itself at the bottom of the rankings at No. 134. Temple, Kent State, Akron, and Kennesaw State follow in the ranks just above the Warhawks.
Among the Power Four teams, Vanderbilt is ranked the lowest at No. 99, narrowly ahead of Stanford.
Young’s top 10 goes as follows…
#1. Ohio State Buckeyes
“No program made a bigger splash — splashes, really — than the Ohio State Buckeyes during the winter transfer portal period. In addition to bringing back an abundance of talent from last year’s team, including back TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, Ryan Day also managed to land a talented group of transfers with quarterback Will Howard, running back Quinshon Judkins and defensive back Caleb Downs. With these new additions to an already talented team, Day has successfully navigated through a raucous spring portal period with finesse.
The Buckeyes have lost to Michigan three years in a row, haven’t won a Big Ten title in four years, and have not won a national title since 2014. Penn State might be tough, as will Oregon. But we’re on a journey to Nov. 30, when the world will find out just who this Buckeye team is against the team that matters more than any on their schedule: Michigan.” -Young
#2. Georgia Bulldogs
“Georgia is loaded with veterans, as 14 starters return from last year’s squad, including one of the preseason Heisman Trophy favorites, Carson Beck (+800), who led the SEC in passing last year. However, the Bulldogs are going to have to earn it this year, with only three true SEC home games. They’ll face Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss all on the road.
Linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. is the most talented inside linebacker in the country and has a chance to give UGA its second Butkus Award winner in four years. Safety KJ Bolden is the most exciting true freshman addition to the SEC behind Ellis Robinson IV, who might be the most talented freshman corner UGA has had since Kelee Ringo.
If there is one weakness on this Georgia team, it’s at a position that has been marked a strength in the Kirby Smart era: defensive tackle. Nazir Stackhouse is UGA’s best interior defender. He started every game for the Dawgs last year, but notched just two sacks in 2023. Next best on the list is Warren Brinson, who posted just two sacks in 13 games last year, and they came against UAB and Vanderbilt.” -Young
#3. Texas Longhorns
“Under Steve Sarkisian, the Longhorns have gone from five wins in 2021, to eight wins in 2022, to 12 wins last year. Now comes the next step: making the SEC championship game in the program’s first year as members.
Texas’ schedule features just three true SEC road games: Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Texas A&M. The Longhorns have won their last seven true road games, including at Alabama last year, and they’re bringing all of that to Ann Arbor for the first time in 155 years of the sport.
And then there’s this: Texas and Oklahoma are the newest members to the SEC. The conference hasn’t seen a new member win the conference championship in 32 years.” -Young
#4. Oregon Ducks
“Dan Lanning and offensive coordinator Will Stein went to get a gunslinger from my woods (Oklahoma) in Dillon Gabriel, who became the first Sooner QB to throw eight TDs in a game and has passed for more than 14,000 yards in his career. Gabriel ranks No. 8 on the all-time passing list (14,865 yards), one spot behind Heisman winner Ty Detmer (15,031) and two spots behind the last starting QB at Oregon, Bo Nix (15,351).
Gabriel will be throwing the ball to wide out Tez Johnson, who caught 86 passes for 1,182 yards and 10 TDs as the No. 2 target in the offense last year. He’ll be joined by Evan Stewart, a former five-star prospect who has yet to reach his potential.
Among teams with the five toughest schedules according to their opponents’ combined 2023 record — Florida, USC, Northwestern, Georgia Tech and Oregon, respectively — the Ducks look most likely to run the table.” -Young
#5. Florida State Seminoles
“Mike Norvell is close to putting FSU back where Bobby Bowden had them for the better part of the 1990s, replacing 10 NFL Draft picks with players of equal talent. The only returning skill player who started on offense for the Seminoles last year is tight end Kyle Morlock, so Norvell went shopping and came back with a former five-star QB in DJ Uiagalelei, as well as Alabama transfers Terrence Ferguson, Malik Benson and Roydell Williams.
This season looks like a gauntlet-run for the Noles, who play at Southern Methodist on Sept. 28, host Clemson on Oct. 5, and go on the road against Miami on Oct. 26.” -Young
#6. Ole Miss Rebels
“Lane Kiffin has won 10 or more games two out of the last three years and became the first coach in program history to lead Ole Miss to an 11-win season. Now, heading into 2024, Kiffin needs to make use of this golden era of Ole Miss football.
The Rebels return starting QB Jaxson Dart and have managed to fill the hole left by Judkins (Ohio State). They have an All-Slept-On transfer at tailback in Rashad Amos, who rushed for 1,075 yards and 13 TDs at Miami (Ohio) last year.
If Pete Golding’s defense is able to shut down quality opponents, we’re talking about Ole Miss possibly hosting a playoff game. The addition of 6-foot-4, 290-pound Walter Nolen can help that. As a sophomore, Nolen notched four sacks and 37 tackles. He could develop into the best defensive tackle to play at Ole Miss since Breeland Speaks.” -Young
#7. LSU Tigers
“The Heisman winner is gone. The offensive coordinator who created the Heisman winner is gone. The top two wideouts are gone. But the Bayou Bengals remain talented. They simply need a new talisman — all aboard the Nuss Bus.
Given Garrett Nussmeier’s ability, Kyren Lacy’s speed, and the best offensive tackle tandem in the sport in Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr., the worry isn’t whether Brian Kelly’s squad will score, but whether new LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker can keep opponents from scoring.
LSU gave up 28 points per game last year, including 30 to Texas A&M, 31 to Arkansas, 35 to Florida, 39 to Missouri, 42 to Alabama, 45 to Florida State and 55 to Ole Miss.” -Young
#8. Michigan Wolverines
“Following a 15-0 season and the first national title won by Michigan since 1997, Sherrone Moore is tasked with not fixing what ain’t broken and keeping the Michigan Man machine on track to run it back.
Moore is going to get the full dose of one of the toughest schedules in the country. Michigan’s opponents combined to go 98-59 last year, and every last one of them is coming for the defending champs.
In 2023, Moore acted as head coach and play-caller and held up to the pressure of his post. That was last year. Let’s see if you can run it back.” -Young
#9. Alabama Crimson Tide
“Kalen DeBoer did an impressive job to stop the bleeding after Nick Saban announced his retirement from the sport and opened a 30-day period for Alabama players to enter the transfer portal. He is also one of the most successful active coaches in the sport, with an astounding 104-12 record as a head coach, including three NAIA national titles at Sioux Fall.
His most important players include quarterback Jalen Milroe, who fell 2 yards short of giving the Tide one more opportunity to be featured in the national title game, and defensive back Malachi Moore, who is the best defender new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has at his disposal. Meanwhile, incoming freshman wideout Ryan Williams figures to be appointment TV as one of the most decorated players in the country out of high school.
While Alabama lost plenty of talent to the portal with Saban’s retirement, DeBoer has brought in the best center in the country in Parker Brailsford, former Texas A&M defensive lineman LT Overton, Michigan safety Keon Sabb and the most underrated portal acquisition of the year in Graham Nicholson.” -Young
#10. Missouri Tigers
“After defeating a depleted Ohio State team in the Cotton Bowl, the football scheduling gods saw fit to give the Tigers the softest schedule in the SEC. Not only do Eli Drinkwitz and the Tigers avoid Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas and LSU this year, but they will play half of their games against teams with first-year head coaches.
With Brady Cook and Luther Burden returning, Drinkwitz could end up with a 3,500-yard passer and 1,500-yard receiver on a team that will not face a preseason top 25 opponent until Week 6 (Texas A&M) and likley won’t play more than three (Oklahoma, Alabama) all year. Theo Wease is capable of being a go-to target if Burden draws 1-on-1s, but so is All-Slept-On tight end Brett Norfleet, who is going up against undersized DBs and slow linebackers at 6-7, 235 pounds.
On defense, Corey Batoon takes over for Blake Baker after coordinating a South Alabama defense that ranked 15th in the country in total defense in 2023. If 6-6, 260-pound five-star freshman Williams Nwaneri plays early, expect the Tiger defensive line to hunt.” -Young
What are your thoughts on Young’s rankings?
What does YOUR top 10 look like? … Better yet, what does YOUR top 134 look like???