The Associated Press released its final college football rankings for the 2022-23 season on Tuesday morning.
The National Champion Georgia Bulldogs claim the top spot while runner-up TCU got the No.2 spot despite losing to Georgia by 58 points in Monday night’s championship game.
“Couldn’t be more proud of our football team, though,” head coach Sonny Dykes told the press postgame.
“I think we’re all disappointed that we didn’t play better, and we didn’t coach better, and we didn’t represent our team better than we did tonight. But we’ll learn from it. And next time we’re on a stage like this, we’ll handle it better.”
TCU came into the season unranked after finishing the 2021 season with a 5–7 record and made the most significant single-season jump (unranked to No.2) in the modern era. It also had eight more wins with a 13–2 record.
After defeating Oklahoma in October to improve to 4–0, TCU earned its first ranking this season at No.17.
The Horned Frogs’ season featured a 12–0 start and wins over six teams that were ranked at the time of the game — including four consecutive conference games in the middle of the season and then-No.2 Michigan — in the national semifinals.
Likewise, their only losses came late in the season against teams that finished in the top 15: Georgia (1) and Kansas State (14).
Several players also enjoyed breakout seasons, including Heisman Trophy runner-up Max Duggan, running back Kendre Miller, wide receiver Quentin Johnston, linebacker Johnny Hodges, and defensive end Dylan Horton.
Michigan came in at No.3, and Ohio State and Alabama rounded out the top five.
The rest of the top 10 consisted of Utah (10) and four teams that started the season unranked: Tennessee (6), Penn State (7), Washington (8), and Tulane (9).
Overall, 11 teams began the season unranked and finished ranked, while 15 from the preseason poll finished unranked.
The University of Texas-Austin was the only other Texas school in the rankings. The Longhorns (8–5) earned the final spot at No.25.
The University of Texas-San Antonio (11–3) finished just outside the top 25, with only Duke receiving more votes among unranked teams. Texas Tech (8–5) also received votes.
TCU, Kansas State, and Texas were the only Big 12 teams ranked in the final poll. Texas Tech was the only unranked Big 12 school to receive votes.
