College football’s top 100 players for 2022

After an offseason spent constantly ranking and reranking college football players on NIL deals and transfer portal moves, the impending kickoff of actual football games means that the time has come to rank players on their actual football abilities. Not by unit, conference or where they might or might not be selected in future NFL drafts, but rather a good, old-fashioned 1-to-100 stacking of who is the best at playing football, regardless of position.

Does having a Heisman Trophy at the house mean Bryce Young should automatically stiff-arm the competition? What about all those dudes trying to tackle the Bama QB this fall? Read ahead and prepare to be impressed. Or, if you’re a ball carrier being chased by Will Anderson, distressed.

Methodology: Voters were presented with a series of one-on-one votes. For example, “Who will be better in 2022: Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Caleb Williams?” Think of it as an Oklahoma Drill of statistical reasoning. More than 11,000 votes later, these were the results.

— Ryan McGee

Jump to: 1-10 | 11-20 | 21-30 | 31-40 | 41-50
51-60 | 61-70 | 71-80 | 81-90 | 91-100

OLB, Alabama, Junior
Notable 2021 stats: 101 tackles (57 solo), 17.5 sacks
Last year’s ranking: 10

Last season’s Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner could be next year’s No. 1 overall draft pick. The former Freshman of the Year emerged as one of the best players in college football as a sophomore, leading the country in sacks (17.5) and tackles for loss (34.5).

QB, Alabama, Junior
Notable 2021 stats: 4,872 yards, 47 TDs
Last year’s ranking: 21

The Southern California native and former five-star prospect more than lived up to the hype stepping in for Mac Jones in his first season as a starter last season. Not only did he win the Heisman Trophy thanks to a school-record 47 total touchdowns, he also set an Alabama single-season mark for passing yards with 4,872.

QB, Ohio State, Junior
Notable 2021 stats: 4,435 yards, 44 TDs
Last year’s ranking: NR

Stroud is the…