When college football’s early top 25 rankings released every year around this time, there is a tendency to latch onto certain teams as playoff contenders while others stick out as possible pretenders. Rosters are just about finalized with the second portal window now closed and two-deeps coming into focus.
Looking back at various preseason rankings through the years, there are always big misses among voters. Two years ago, TCU went from unranked to making an appearance in the national championship game. That’s an outlier of sorts, but you get the idea.
UNC and Texas A&M ranked inside the preseason top 10 prior to the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but both finished with losing seasons despite lofty expectations. Lincoln Riley and USC, with the reigning Heisman winner at quarterback, failed to impress last season after opening at No. 6.
RELATED: 247Sports post-spring top 25 rankings
Here are five teams that could be contenders — or pretenders.
