Amway Preseason College Football Rankings 2015: Top 25 Coaches Poll Released

The reigning national champion Ohio State Buckeyes kept most of their team intact, so it comes as little surprise that coach Urban Meyer's team sits atop the preseason Amway football coaches poll released Thursday.

SEC powerhouse Alabama will be seeking to reassert its superiority after losing to the Buckeyes in last year's inaugural College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide check in at No. 3 in the initial rankings, leading their conference ahead of rival Auburn, which is ranked seventh.

One team that was arguably snubbed out of the playoffs thanks to OSU's sensational finish to the season was TCU. This year, the Horned Frogs are starting high up in the college football hierarchy in second:

Rank	Team (1st-place votes)
1	Ohio State (62)
2	TCU (1)
3	Alabama (1)
4	Baylor
5	Oregon
6	Michigan State
7	Auburn
8	Florida State
9	Georgia
10	USC
11	Notre Dame
12	Clemson
13	LSU
14	UCLA
15	Ole Miss
16	Arizona State
17	Georgia Tech
18	Wisconsin
19	Oklahoma
20	Arkansas
21	Stanford
22	Arizona
23	Missouri
24	Boise State
25	Tennessee

Ohio State garnered 62 of 64 first-place votes but still isn't settled at the all-important quarterback position. That's what happens when a team has three Heisman-caliber options.

Braxton Miller has the most experience, yet he is moving to play H-back/wide receiver this year, leaving the QB competition between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones. Wide receivers coach Zach Smith believes Miller has huge upside as a pass-catcher.

"Braxton Miller can play wide receiver as long as he wants to play it," said Smith, per SI.com's Pete Thamel. "His speed, strength, talent, commitment and, really, lifestyle will allow him to be like Joey Galloway. It's going to be a matter of how quickly he grows into the position, but the sky is the limit for him."

Smart Football's Chris B. Brown believes Miller has the physical tools to make the transition:

Barrett was a Heisman candidate in 2014 before hurting his ankle in the Michigan game. Then the cannon-armed Jones came in to win the Big Ten title game and both postseason contests.

It will be fascinating to see who emerges, and OSU figures to be in good hands regardless. Sophomore back Ezekiel Elliott may be the best at his position in the country, taking pressure off whoever runs the show.

With a defense headlined by dynamic pass-rusher Joey Bosa and versatile linebacker Darron Lee, the Buckeyes are positioned for success on both sides of the ball.

The arrival of Will Muschamp as Auburn's defensive coordinator has the program setting its sights high ahead of the 2015 campaign. New QB Jeremy Johnson has flashed nicely and now has the chance to run the Tigers' run-heavy, uptempo offense.

ESPN Stats & Info showed how Johnson performed in 2014 in limited action:

All that may hold Alabama back is its quarterback play. Jake Coker seems to be the likely starter after losing out on head-to-head battles with Jameis Winston at Florida State and Blake Sims in Tuscaloosa as a transfer.

Speaking of players moving schools, Everett Golson bolted Notre Dame for the Seminoles and will now be the successor to the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick in Winston. Those are big shoes for Golson to fill as he transitions to FSU's complex pro-style offense, but if he succeeds and beats out Sean Maguire, his prospects for a future in the pros go through the roof.

No. 4 Baylor and No. 5 Oregon, last year's runner-up, figure to be contenders with their explosive, high-octane offenses, but they have to replace two other NFL draftees in Bryce Petty and Marcus Mariota, respectively, at quarterback.

As can be discerned from this brief breakdown, the 2015 college football season figures to be highly competitive, and with so many uncertain QB situations, a lot of power shifts may occur. One certainty stands out, though: Ohio State is the team to beat.

The Buckeyes' schedule doesn't figure to be too tough until a home clash with Minnesota on November 7. Capping off the year is a showdown with No. 6 Michigan State in Ohio Stadium before a road trip to take on Michigan, now led by coach Jim Harbaugh.

Meyer versus Harbaugh will definitely add a new flavor to rivalry weekend. The game figures to feature immense stakes, and perhaps Harbaugh can upend the seemingly unstoppable Buckeyes in their quest for a national championship repeat.