College Football Playoff 2022: Ranking the top 20 impact players from the four-team field

The College Football Playoff will take center stage on New Year’s Eve later this week as Georgia takes on No. 4 Ohio State in the Peach Bowl semifinals and Michigan takes on No. 3 TCU in the Fiesta Bowl semifinals. As usual, the four-team field features some of the best players in the country. Three of this season’s Heisman Trophy finalists at quarterback find themselves among the top 20 impact players in the CFP field this year: Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, Georgia’s Stetson Bennett IV and TCU’s Max Duggan. However, only one landed near the top.

Numerous award winners will also be represented in the 2022 College Football Playoff, including the Davey O’Brien Award (Duggan), the John Mackey Award (Brock Bowers), the Outland Trophy (Olusegun Oluwatimi), the Thorpe Award (Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson) and Burlsworth Trophy (Bennett).

While this group of 20 players stands out as the most impressive of Saturday’s semifinals, many others will join the list with strong performances on the biggest stage. Without further ado, here are the 20 most impactful players on the field for the 2022 College Football Playoff.

McCarthy is fittingly the final name on this list, as his resume remains somewhat enigmatic. The sophomore had the game of his life against Ohio State, completing three touchdown passes of 45-plus yards in a 45-23 victory. However, McCarthy also completed 12.4 assists per game and 52.1% of his passes over the last five games. What McCarthy are we getting in the College Football Playoff?

Ringo takes a few chances, but the sophomore has a knack for making the big play. Last year, Ringo picked six buttons to get to the championship match. In a well-publicized match, then-No. 1 Tennessee this season, Ringo picked off Hendon Hooker in the end zone to effectively end the game at halftime. Georgia could use some of his heroics against CJ Stroud.

Miller isn’t a workhorse like other running backs in the College Football Playoff, but he’s very effective when called upon. The junior rushed for 1,342 yards and 17 touchdowns on 6.2 yards per attempt and is one game away from tying LaDainian Tomlinson’s school record for consecutive games with a touchdown. Against Texas, Miller caught a 75-yard touchdown run, beat Bijan Robinson, and beat the Longhorns. Miller is dynamic enough to keep offenses on their toes.

17. Georgia QB Stetson Bennett IV

A quarterback that was once just a feel-good story has turned himself into a legitimate weapon. Bennett is completing over 68% of his passes and rushed for more touchdowns in 2022 (7) than in the first three years of his career (4). Offensive coordinator Todd Monken has found ways to make the game easy for Bennett, and the senior remains one of the most effective passers in the country.

There is some predictability here, but Tuimoloau has put together perhaps the best individual performance by a defender in college football this season. Against Penn State, Tuimolooau had three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a touchdown. Few defensemen in the playoffs can pull off such an individually devastating performance. Ohio State needs Tuimoloau to succeed.

The Wolverines defense is built differently in 2022 with Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo in the NFL. However, Morris is the one-edge defender who makes sure the opposition’s attacks keep their eyes open. Morris recorded 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks as a member of the top seven on Michigan’s roster. He was credited with 35 pressures and 19 hurries. The only thing keeping him on the roster: zero pressure against Ohio State. It won’t stop against TCU.

The difference between Ohio State’s 2021 and 2022 defenses is probably due to the dynamic Eichenberg, who rose to superstardom with 112 tackles and 12 tackles for loss as the nose of Jim Knowles’ defense. Eichenberg excels as a run stopper and makes it difficult for opposing offenses with his nose for the football. Ohio State’s defense against Georgia will play a role in whether the Buckeyes can stop UGA.

13. TCU CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson

Hodges-Tomlinson is the second Thorpe Award winner for TCU in the past three years after emerging as a dynamic cover corner for the Big 12 champion. Hodges-Tomlinson had a career-high three interceptions on 42 tackles as part of a strong cornerback unit with Josh Newton. If he can keep Michigan’s Ronnie Bell in man coverage, it will make the Wolverines defense a little easier.

Georgia has several leaders on defense, but none bigger than fifth-year senior Smith in the back end. Smith transformed himself from a rotation starter into one of the top safeties in the country in 2022 with 50 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups for America’s No. 1 defense. Against a dynamic Ohio State team, Smith will have to keep the game in front of him and create tough windows for Stroud.

Few players in college football have transformed their reputation more completely than Avila in 2022. The DFW native was shuffled around the offensive line under the previous staff, but eventually found a home at left guard under Sonny Dykes. Along with center Alan Ali, Avila helped make the interior offensive line one of the team’s strengths and earned All-America honors. His versatility will be key against Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

10. Ohio State QB CJ Stroud

Stroud was named a Heisman finalist for the second consecutive season after throwing for more than 3,300 yards and finishing in the top five with 37 touchdown passes despite not playing in the conference championship game. When Stroud is there, he’s one of the most dynamic and accurate passers out there right now – at any level. His aerial destruction of Michigan State in 2021 is still a thing of beauty. However, Ohio State needs him to reach another level of personal excellence to have a chance against Georgia.

9. Michigan DL Mazie Smith

His numbers don’t jump off the page, but Smith’s efforts are critical to Michigan’s rushing defense ranking third in the nation — and ahead of Georgia — in yards per carry. At 337 pounds, Smith closes gaps against even the most physical forwards. His presence allows teammates to wreak havoc elsewhere.

8. Ohio State OL Paris Johnson

The Buckeyes’ offensive line is one of the most underrated units on the roster, and Johnson is the anchor. Johnson was a consensus top-10 national recruit who has played the same 25-plus games in an Ohio State uniform. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Johnson holds his own against the most physical edge rushers and has made Stroud one of the least sacked players in America despite playing a traditional drop-back passing game.

Edwards was Michigan’s backup coach until the regular season finale. Since then, Edwards has been perhaps the most powerful running back in the country. The sophomore had 401 rushing yards and three touchdowns in wins over Ohio State and Purdue as Michigan became the Big Ten champion. At his best, Edwards is a complete runner who should be able to create opportunities behind a strong offensive line.

6. Georgia TE Brock Bowers

Bowers has a case for being the best player in college football after a sophomore season that will go down in the history books. Bowers caught 52 passes for 726 yards and six touchdowns, but that doesn’t tell the whole story of how much offensive coordinator Todd Monken relies on Bowers as a pass catcher and blocker to help shape his game plans. Expect a heavy dose of Bowers and teammate Darnell Washington against Ohio State in the Peach Bowl semifinals.

Johnston’s numbers don’t jump off the page due to injuries, but he has a real case as America’s most talented wide receiver. The 6-foot-6 Johnston is freakishly tall and athletic and is likely to be considered a first-round NFL draft pick. Johnston recorded 139 yards on four catches in the Big 12 Championship Game and almost single-handedly beat Oklahoma State and Kansas by nearly 400 yards between those two wins. When Johnston is on, TCU’s offense is nearly unstoppable.

Many Georgia defenders did not make the list simply because it is a unit characterized by sensational teamwork. However, Carter is a force in the middle that destroys opposing game plans. Carter was ranked as the top defensive lineman in the Power Five and helped lead Georgia’s run defense, which was again ranked No. 1 in the nation. Georgia doesn’t have very many irreplaceable players, but Carter is on the list.

Consider this a unit award, but Virginia’s transfer deserves a special mention. Oluwatimi emerged as one of college football’s best centers in 2021, but won the Rimington and Outland Trophies after a masterful senior season in Ann Arbor. When Heisman favorite Blake Corum went out with an injury, Oluwati’s offensive line unit stepped up and turned the backup Edwards into one of the most effective running backs in the country. Michigan has been a run-dominant team, and Oluwatimi is the anchor.

When Jaxon Smith-Njigba — the nation’s top receiver — sat out the season, Ohio State replaced him with the nation’s second-best receiver. Harrison has been a revelation as the Buckeyes caught 72 passes for 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had six 100-yard receptions and was by far the most consistent source of offense against Michigan. Stroud is the name of Ohio State’s offense, but Harrison is the best player.

1. TCU QB Max Duggan

Simply put, no team in the College Football Playoff has more impact on individual excellence than TCU with Duggan. His final layup against Kansas State in the Big 12 title game earned Duggan a Heisman runner-up as the one-time guard passed for 3,300 yards, ran for 400 yards and scored 36 total touchdowns. Duggan’s ability to spread the field with his hands and feet gives offensive coordinator Garrett Riley the unique ability to call any play anywhere on the field.