promoearn: What's next for college football? Rankings, grades and an intensified SEC rivalry

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

What's next for college football? Rankings, grades and an intensified SEC rivalry

Wednesday, January 12

Another season of college football is officially in the books.

And although Georgia star linebacker Nakobe Dean has barley had enough time to swap out the wrong championship hat for the right one, let alone process the Bulldogs first national championship in 41 years, eager college football fans are already looking forward to what's next. Look no further.

Despite losing to Georgia Monday in the College Football Playoff championship game, Alabama gets the nod as the team to beat come fall of 2022, earning USA TODAY Sports' No. 1 ranking in our way-too-early glimpse at next season's Top 25. Ohio State is No. 2, while the new champs land at No. 3. Sorry, Bulldogs.

But Monday night may have been just the beginning in the Georgia-Alabama rivalry, writes Dan Wolken. With Georgia under head coach Kirby Smart now validating its program as a worthy foil to Alabama and coach Nick Saban, the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide could go back and forth a few more times before it's all said and done.

The Georgia Bulldogs prepare to hike the ball during first quarter of the College Football Playoff championship game on Jan. 10, 2021.

Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

Smart, however, can relish a big payday along with his big win, taking home an extra $200,000 in bonues for Monday night's victory. He's not the only coach cashing in. Public-school college football head coaches topped $1.8 million in bonuses from bowl games, the College Football Playoff and final poll rankings. Ka-ching!

Speaking of coaches, the votes are in for the final USA TODAY Sports AFCA college football coaches poll this season. The Bulldogs were the unanimous choice at the top of the coaches poll with the Crimson Tide at No. 2, but unanimity didn't apply to the CFP semifinal losers — Michigan and Cincinnati — when it came to the top four. (We are looking at you, Steve Sarkisian and Dino Babers 👀)

REPORT CARDS: Handing out season grades for every college football team in 2021

It's worth noting that USA TODAY Sports handed Sarkisian's Longhorns an 'F' on its report card this season after suffering its longest losing streak since 1956. Ouch. Babers' Syracuse Orange fared only slightly better, earning a C in our season grades for every college football team. Georgia and Cincinnati earned an A+, while Alabama and Michigan took home an A.

The Dawgs also earned the top spot in our final USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-130, followed by the Tide. At the other end of the spectrum, Connecticut should be glad it's basketball season now as the 1-11 Huskies ranked last out of 130 teams.

But before we get too ahead of ourselves, Georgia is the undisputed national champion after defeating Alabama 33-18. Let that soak in. And take comfort Alabama. The 2021 Bulldogs finished just below 2020 Crimson Tide when we ranked all college football national champions since 2000.