Super Early Preseason Top 25 for 2015 College Football Season
Ah yes, it's that time of year again. It's time to look ahead into the future with reckless abandon.
College football is a year-round sport. The College Football Playoff National Championship may be over, but the offseason—recruiting, spring practices and the like—is just getting under way. In the meantime, let's make some predictions for the 2015 season.
Here is your way-too-early Top 25 for next season. Rankings were based on projected returning starters/rosters and coaching staff members. Similarly, key departures in those areas were taken into consideration.
As always, we expect you to agree 100 percent with the decisions, as surely no team will be overrated or underrated.
25. LSU
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Until LSU gets its quarterback situation figured out, it's hard to get excited about the Tigers.
LSU has talent seemingly everywhere, but the offense has been a liability to say the least. Running back Leonard Fournette has shown flashes of what's to come, but he can't be the only contributor.
According to Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com, LSU started nine freshmen and sophomores in the Music City Bowl against Notre Dame. That should help down the road, but how will the Tigers do on defense now that coordinator John Chavis has departed for Texas A&M?
Will LSU win games and get back to a bowl game? Probably, but for as talented as LSU is on a yearly basis, there are a lot of questions around the program as well.
24. Wisconsin
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Let's cut to the chase: Wisconsin loses running back Melvin Gordon. Other than Marcus Mariota leaving Oregon, there may not be a single bigger loss this offseason in terms of production.
Additionally, the Badgers lose three seniors from their offensive line and will be breaking in a new coach, Paul Chryst. Those are significant changes.
That said, Wisconsin returns at least half of its starting defense and does have another good running back waiting to start: Corey Clement. For what it's worth, Clement has averaged seven yards per carry in his limited role.
The good news for Wisconsin is that this could be a rebuilding year without the grind of a difficult conference schedule, as neither Michigan State nor Ohio State is on the slate.
23. Boise State
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The return of college football's Cinderella may rest on Boise State's shoulders.
The Broncos lose their Big Three on offense: running back Jay Ajayi, quarterback Grant Hedrick and receiver Matt Miller. If head coach Bryan Harsin can replace the offensive production lost there, the Broncos have a great chance to repeat as Mountain West champions.
The defense returns most of its starters and was good, not great, in 2014. Barring injury, that should be an improved unit.
Boise State has an attractive nonconference schedule with games against Washington and BYU. Going undefeated in a crazy year is Boise State's best chance of making the playoff. But it's possible if the offense can keep clicking.
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22. Oklahoma
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This much is for sure: Oklahoma won't be overrated heading into next season (though having the Sooners ranked at all might get labeled as much).
The 2014 campaign was a disappointment for Oklahoma—there's no doubt about that. Head coach Bob Stoops has shaken up the staff and brought in Lincoln Riley from East Carolina to run the offense. Similar to Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie at TCU, Riley can be that missing piece for the Sooners.
It's not like this roster is without talent. Samaje Perine led all freshmen with 1,713 rushing yards, and receiver Sterling Shepard, one of the best in the Big 12, is coming back. Oklahoma has to get more out of the quarterback position, whether it's Trevor Knight or Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield.
It's understandable that Oklahoma's reputation has taken a hit, but the ceiling for this team is high with the right offensive philosophy.
21. Texas A&M
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Even though Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin has been recruiting his tail off, the Aggies have continued to decline in the win column. At some point that has to change, or A&M can't justify giving Sumlin $5 million annually.
A&M has all the offense in the world and a young roster ready to score points on anyone. Kyle Allen should be the guy at quarterback, and Speedy Noil is transforming into one of the best game-changing players in the country.
It's the defense that remains a mystery. Sumlin recently hired former LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis to turn that side of the ball around. According to
20. Auburn
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Auburn has the chance to be one of the surprise teams of 2015. Despite the losses of quarterback Nick Marshall, running back Cameron Artis-Payne and receiver Sammie Coates, the Tigers are well equipped to keep moving forward. QB Jeremy Johnson played well in limited time a year ago, and Duke Williams will lead the receivers.
Where the upside/downside really happens is on defense. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was brought in after being let go as the head coach at Florida to turn around a group that was simply terrible, especially against the pass.
Can Muschamp work miracles in year one? Auburn's chances at a SEC West title may depend on it.
19. Georgia Tech
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Next season will be a test of how well oiled the Georgia Tech option machine really is. The Yellow Jackets had the best scoring offense in the ACC (37.9 points per game) and were extremely disciplined in how they operated.
Quarterback Justin Thomas, who might be the best player head coach Paul Johnson has ever had run his offense, is back—but that's about it as far as skill players go.
Most of the defense returns, which should only help on last year's pedestrian numbers. The concern is whether the Yellow Jackets have the firepower on offense with so many new faces.
18. Tennessee
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"Next year" has been Tennessee's year for nearly a decade, but 2015 might actually be a breakthrough season for the Vols.
For one, Tennessee has a coach, Butch Jones, who has the program on a positive trajectory. Second, the Vols return basically everyone. And third, the SEC East is a winnable division.
247Sports.com predicts the Vols will win at least eight games. That seems reasonable, especially if the offensive line finally comes together and provides better protection. Joshua Dobbs looks like the answer at quarterback, and there's a lot of young talent around him.
Can the defense take the next step as well from middle-of-the-road numbers? That is one of many questions for a team with a ton of potential.
17. Florida State
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Florida State is 27-1 in the past two seasons and loses, well, a whole heck of a lot. A step back—and potentially a big step back—is probably in the cards.
The list of those departing is stunning: quarterback Jameis Winston, receiver Rashad Greene, lineman Cameron Erving, tight end Nick O'Leary, defensive end Mario Edwards, defensive tackle Eddie Goldman and cornerbacks P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby.
Put another way: Florida State is going to look like a brand-new team.
Does that mean the Seminoles are bound for a year teetering on bowl eligibility? Not necessarily; head coach Jimbo Fisher has recruited too well for that. The offense will have young players like running back Dalvin Cook and receiver Travis Rudolph ready to step up.
16. Oklahoma State
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Oklahoma State was one of the youngest teams in college football in 2014, and it showed. After getting off to a 5-1 start, the Cowboys faded with five straight losses in Big 12 play. However, they finished with wins over Oklahoma and then Washington in the Cactus Bowl.
The Pokes should finally have a stable quarterback in Mason Rudolph and plenty of receivers to catch the ball. What head coach Mike Gundy must do is find a solution in the running game with the departures of Desmond Roland and Tyreek Hill, who the Cowboys dismissed from the program.
It's been a few years—2011, to be specific—since we've seen a high-flying, fun Oklahoma State offense. That should return in 2015.
15. Arizona
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Arizona proved to be a team that did a lot of great things—and probably overachieved. This was also a young team in key spots, meaning those guys are returning and will be a year older and, hopefully, wiser.
Among those coming back are quarterback Anu Solomon, wide receiver Cayleb Jones and linebacker Scooby Wright III, who won about every defensive award imaginable.
The issue going forward will be up front along the offensive line, which loses three seniors. And Arizona was already shaky at best at protecting the quarterback (2.86 sacks allowed per game). Part of that, however, is on Solomon to make better decisions.
With growth, Arizona can go from a team that surpassed expectations to one that can legitimately realize them.
14. Arkansas
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Perhaps I'm too hasty buying Arkansas this high. Perhaps the Hogs are a 2016 team. But there's just something hypnotizing about the Razorbacks violently smashing into opponents 60 minutes at a time.
Bret Bielema has been building this program his way from the ground up. The Hogs have endured their fair share of growing pains along the way, but it feels like this team has finally turned a corner and is ready to legitimately compete for a SEC West title.
As far as the offense is concerned, Arkansas is in great hands. Running backs Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins are coming back, along with quarterback Brandon Allen and most of the offensive line.
It's the defense that needs to reload after losing defensive end Trey Flowers and linebacker Martrell Spaight. That could be problematic down the stretch of the season, but at the very least, the Hogs should be a fun team to watch.
13. Georgia
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If there's good news for Georgia fans, it's that the Bulldogs have an infinite stable of running backs/mini tanks. Nick Chubb will be only a sophomore and has already cemented himself as one of the best running backs in college football.
Paving the way for Chubb will be an offensive line that returns most of its starters. Quarterback Hutson Mason is gone and must be replaced, though, and the hire of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has garnered mixed reviews.
With a solid running game and a defense in its second year under coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, however, the Bulldogs should compete for a SEC East crown again.
12. USC
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Expect the "USC is back!" hype train to come barreling through your offseason stories following a Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska. For all I know, I might end up writing a couple of them.
The Trojans will be loaded on offense even though receiver Nelson Agholor and running back Buck Allen are leaving for the NFL. Quarterback Cody Kessler is back, however, and will be a seasoned veteran with a full year in Steve Sarkisian's offense under his belt.
USC will have to overcome losses on defense at all three levels. Chief among them will be defensive lineman Leonard Williams. That said, one of the bright up-and-comers in the game, Adoree' Jackson, is back as a utility tool on defense, offense and special teams.
Can the Trojans do a better job closing out games in 2015? That rests on Sarkisian.
11. Ole Miss
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The taste of the Peach Bowl wasn't sweet at all for Ole Miss, but don't let that influence the perception of this program going forward.
Frankly, the Rebels were banged up down the stretch and weren't the same at all once receiver Laquon Treadwell got hurt.
Among the big names returning are Treadwell, Tee Shepard, Denzel Nkemdiche and Robert Nkemdiche. Even with the loss of safety Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss' defense should be formidable.
The question is on the offense, which replaces quarterback Bo Wallace. Dr. Bo, as he was affectionately known, had his ups and downs, but he had experience. There's no clear-cut answer yet on which direction Ole Miss will go at that position.
10. Clemson
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Head coach Dabo Swinney's list of doubters should be small by now. The potential for the Tigers in 2015 is eye-popping—if Clemson can rebuild the defense.
The Tigers' defensive line was arguably the best in the country, and it's basically gone. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables has done a nice job, but his most difficult task starts in earnest.
If quarterback Deshaun Watson can stay healthy, he provides a major boost to the offense that Cole Stoudt simply couldn't. Clemson won't be lacking in skill-player talent either.
Clemson's success is going to come down to Watson's health and how quickly the defense can grow together, but I like the ceiling on this team.
9. Oregon
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To no one's surprise, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota declared for the NFL draft. That doesn't mean the Ducks drop off the map, however.
Yes, head coach Mark Helfrich has to find a new guy; Jeff Lockie is the early front-runner. However, Oregon has plenty of guys returning around the quarterback spot, including running back Royce Freeman. And while injuries plagued Oregon through all of 2014, players like receiver Bralon Addison will return from those ailments next year.
Oregon has done a great job of implementing the next-man-up philosophy. Losing Mariota, while expected, is still a bummer. But can Oregon rebound and have another successful season moving forward? There's no doubt here.
8. Arizona State
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Arizona State coach Todd Graham has this program trending in the right direction. The Sun Devils' three losses in 2014—to UCLA, Oregon State and Arizona—were tough, but it's possible 2015 could be even better.
Losing quarterback Taylor Kelly doesn't seem as problematic as losing receiver Jaelen Strong. Mike Bercovici played great in three starts with 1,445 yards and 12 touchdowns. However, running back D.J. Foster is coming back for another season.
The defense, which had an entirely new look last season, returns mostly intact with the exceptions of defensive end Marcus Hardison and safety Damarious Randall. Those are tough losses to overcome, but there's no doubt the Sun Devils will have experience on their side on defense.
7. Alabama
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Having to reload is nothing new for Alabama. The Tide's offense in 2015 will have a lot of new faces as quarterback Blake Sims, running back T.J. Yeldon and wide receiver Amari Cooper depart.
That said, Alabama has Lane Kiffin as an offensive coordinator. For as disliked as he is, Kiffin has been a great addition to the Tide coaching staff in terms of exploiting matchups and putting players in good spots.
That acumen is going to be tested, especially with a new quarterback. Jake Coker, Alec Morris, Cooper Bateman, David Cornwell and true freshman early enrollee Blake Barnett are all going to be vying for the starting job.
This could be a year in which the Tide have to rely more on defense to win games, even with the departures of linebacker Trey DePriest and safety Landon Collins. What was a great defensive line should return intact, though.
6. UCLA
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At this point, I should have learned a lesson about UCLA and preseason rankings. Alas, I am weak, and the Bruins are a Top 10 preseason team.
What's easy to look at is the departure of quarterback Brett Hundley, but the reality is the Bruins have so much coming back on offense. In fact, other than Hundley and linebacker Eric Kendricks, almost the entire starting 22 is back. Once again, head coach Jim Mora has downplayed rumors connecting him to the NFL.
That's not to say Hundley and Kendricks are easy losses, but it's not end-of-the-world stuff.
The major question is going to be quarterback. Jerry Neuheisel has done well in a pinch, namely against Texas, but is he the future? Incoming freshman Josh Rosen could be the answer there. But how will UCLA fare against a tough Pac-12 schedule? Exceeding expectations hasn't exactly been UCLA's thing.
5. Notre Dame
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Yeah, yeah. Notre Dame and lofty preseason rankings. What else is new, right?
Once Notre Dame lost to Florida State in October, things were never the same. The Irish lost four of their final five games before rebounding with a nice win against LSU in the Music City Bowl.
But, as they say, this is a new year, and Notre Dame returns a lot of talent from a terribly young team that will learn from last year's tough stretch.
Both sides of the ball return basically intact, but the question this offseason will revolve around the quarterback situation. Everett Golson can spin it with the best of them, but his turnover issues are glaring. Does Golson transfer or stick around and battle it out with Malik Zaire?
If the turnover issue can be solved—the Irish lost the ball 26 times—that should help improve defensive numbers as well.
4. Michigan State
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"Sparty, no!" is quickly turning into "Sparty, yes!"
Michigan State has developed into a consistent winner under head coach Mark Dantonio, winning at least 11 games in four of the past five seasons. Quarterback Connor Cook and defensive lineman Shilique Calhoun are returning in 2015.
But there are some heavy losses as well, including running back Jeremy Langford, receiver Tony Lippett and linebacker Taiwan Jones. Perhaps the biggest loss of all is defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, who is now the head coach at Pitt.
Dantonio was never going to hold on to Narduzzi forever, but he feels confident enough in Harlon Barnett and Mike Tressel to promote them as co-defensive coordinators. At this point, Dantonio has earned the benefit of the doubt.
3. Baylor
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Head coach Art Briles has proved beyond any doubt that he's built Baylor into an annual power. The Bears are almost in cruise control now, replacing key players with little to no drop-off.
"As far as the national scale, believe it or not, whether y'all like it or not, Baylor's going to be in the top," quarterback Bryce Petty told David Ubben of Fox Sports Southwest after the Cotton Bowl loss to Michigan State.
Briles will have to do that again in 2015 without Petty, receiver Antwan Goodley and linebacker Bryce Hager, who all depart. That said, there's so much talent coming back, including defensive end Shawn Oakman, lineman Spencer Drango, running back Shock Linwood and receiver KD Cannon.
There's also a lot of potential waiting in the wings. Seth Russell looked sharp in limited time while Petty was dealing with a back injury. If Russell is not the starting quarterback, freshman Jarrett Stidham, a 5-star early enrollee, could contend for the job.
The key game for Baylor with a Big 12 title/playoff spot on the line should come at the end of the season on Nov. 27 against TCU. Speaking of which...
2. TCU
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How about the Frogs?
TCU finished second nationally in scoring offense at 46.5 points per game. Ten of its 11 offensive starters are coming back.
Yeah, the Frogs might put some points up on people. And while a round-robin Big 12 schedule is always tough to go through unscathed, the nonconference slate is basically the same as last year's (which is to say, not overly daunting).
The reason why TCU could struggle is turnover on defense. Among the key departures are linebacker Paul Dawson, safety Sam Carter, defensive tackle Chucky Hunter and cornerback Kevin White. Head coach Gary Patterson is a defensive guy who can coach up just about anybody, but even that is a tough group to replace.
It's a good thing the Frogs have offense for days if they find themselves in some good ol' fashioned Big 12 shootouts next year.
1. Ohio State
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Just because Ohio State won the first College Football Playoff National Championship doesn't mean the Buckeyes are automatically No. 1 heading into 2015.
Rather, Ohio State returns so many key pieces from the championship team that it's hard not to put it at No. 1. Among those returning are defensive end Joey Bosa, linebacker Darron Lee, defensive back Vonn Bell, running back Ezekiel Elliott and most of the offensive line.
Here's where things get tricky: Who will start at quarterback in 2015? Right now, Ohio State has three options: Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones. This isn't your typical quarterback controversy; all three have proved capable of winning and could be Heisman contenders in their own right. It is by far the most intriguing storyline of the offseason.
It would be surprising if Ohio State returned all three quarterbacks. That, coupled with the departure of offensive coordinator Tom Herman, who is leaving to become the head coach at Houston, is the major question mark. Former Nebraska offensive coordinator Tim Beck has been announced as the new co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the Buckeyes.
Regardless, Ohio State looks too good to pass up.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All depth chart information courtesy of ourlads.com and ESPN.com. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.
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