Early Predictions for the Top 25 Offenses of 2014 College Football Season
College football's age of offense is upon us, as evidenced by the very different but explosive and innovative attacks that lit up the 2013 season.
Oregon and Baylor finished as the nation's top two offenses, and both are poised to post enormous numbers yet again in 2014.
The two national title participants Auburn and Florida State will boast exemplary attacks yet again.
We'll break down those top four offenses and project which 25 teams will rack up the most yards next season.
Note: Statistical rankings via CFBStats.com.
25. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
1 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 417.8 yards per game (No. 56)
The Sun Belt Conference champion Louisiana-Lafayette is poised for another big 2014 season.
The Ragin' Cajuns have had sustained success under head coach Mark Hudspeth and will be winning again if he isn't poached by another team between now and August.
Regardless, Louisiana is set to bring back all of its offensive leaders.
Dual-threat quarterback Terrance Broadway, who accounted for nearly 3,000 total yards and 27 touchdowns, will return with his top receiver, Jamal Robinson. The Cajun running back duo of Alonzo Harris and Elijah McGuire will also come back; they combined for more than 1,800 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns.
The only potential stumbling blocks for the Cajuns will come in nonconference play against solid defensive squads Ole Miss and Boise State.
Prediction: 451.3 yards per game
24. East Carolina Pirates
2 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 468.2 yards per game (No. 25)
East Carolina had an explosive offense in 2013, which led it to huge nonconference wins over North Carolina and North Carolina State.
ECU will bring back its key player in quarterback Shane Carden, but it will be facing tougher challenges in 2014.
Next year, the Pirates will again take on the Tar Heels but also have tilts with South Carolina and Virginia Tech. Additionally, they'll be in their first year in the American Athletic Conference.
In all, conference play won't be too much of a change, as the AAC is laden with Conference USA transplants.
ECU could see a slight drop in production overall, but it will still be in competition for the American title.
Prediction: 452.8 yards per game
23. California Bears
3 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 453.5 yards per game (No. 34)
In its first year under offensive-minded head coach Sonny Dykes, California recorded some remarkable offensive numbers, despite a 1-11 finish.
Behind an explosive passing attack, the Bears had little trouble moving the ball.
Cal finished No. 10 nationally through the air with true freshman quarterback Jared Goff at the helm. As he returns for another year, it'll be all about offense once again in Berkeley.
Look for more big numbers from Goff and Co.
Prediction: 453.8 yards per game
22. LSU Tigers
4 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 453.3 yards per game (No. 35)
LSU received some bad news when star running back Jeremy Hill changed his mind and decided to forgo his redshirt junior season to head to the NFL. He was No. 2 in the SEC with 1,401 rushing yards on the season. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry and was the only SEC back to average more than six yards per carry on 200-plus carries.
The Tigers will also be replacing quarterback Zach Mettenberger, but they appear to have a capable candidate in Anthony Jennings. The freshman led a gutsy game-winning touchdown drive against Arkansas after Mettenberger's injury. If he isn't up to par, the Tigers also have former Penn State quarterback Rob Bolden.
To replace Hill, LSU will bring in the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation Leonard Fournette.
All signs point to the New Orleans native being the focal point of the LSU attack in 2014.
Prediction: 457.9 yards per game
21. Alabama Crimson Tide
5 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 454.1 yards per game (No. 33)
Losses in the Iron Bowl and Sugar Bowl didn't make for an ideal ending to the season for Alabama, but the latter loss did reveal a future star in the backfield.
Remember that gigantic running back with surprising quickness and top-end speed who was running all over the Oklahoma defense?
That 6'3", 238-pound beast was former 5-star recruit Derrick Henry, who is the future of the Alabama offense,
'Bama will be breaking in a new unknown quarterback after the departure of AJ McCarron, but it'll still have one of the most formidable running back groups in the nation.
Prediction: 458.8 yards per game
20. Nebraska Cornhuskers
6 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 412.4 yards per game (No. 59)
Nebraska knows it will have an elite rushing attack with Ameer Abdullah returning. The senior-to-be led the Big Ten last year with 1,690 rushing yards.
While his production will be a given, the Cornhuskers also know who their quarterback will be. With Taylor Martinez and Ron Kellogg III moving on, this is Tommy Armstrong Jr.'s team.
He had his ups and downs as a freshman, but now with a wealth of experience, he is poised for a big 2014 season.
Prediction: 459.2 yards per game
19. West Virginia Mountaineers
7 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 410.8 yards per game (No. 63)
West Virginia fielded essentially an entirely new offense in 2013, replacing Geno Smith, Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and others—and it showed.
WVU saw a major drop-off in production and also struggled through several quarterback injuries.
Keeping its signal-callers healthy will be the key next year, as it will have a talented group of running backs and receivers returning. Running back Charles Sims will be gone, but Dreamius Smith and Wendell Smallwood will be back, and that duo will be joined by Pitt transfer Rushel Shell.
While the lack of experience was apparent last year, the Mountaineers should look more like a team coached by Dana Holgorsen in 2014.
Prediction: 467.1 yards per game
18. Ole Miss Rebels
8 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 473.3 yards per game (No. 21)
Many of the best offenses in the SEC will be fielding new quarterbacks in 2014, but Ole Miss will be one of the few to return a senior at the position.
Bo Wallace will be the key for Ole Miss. He'll have several weapons at his disposal, including receiver Laquon Treadwell, who looks like a star in the making after an excellent freshman campaign.
The Rebels will also return several capable running backs, including I'Tavius Mathers and Jaylen Walton.
As this young squad becomes more experienced, it'll become a force in the SEC.
Prediction: 474.1 yards per game
17. Oklahoma Sooners
9 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 423 yards per game (No. 52)
Expectations will be high going into the 2014 season for Oklahoma after its momentous Sugar Bowl win over Alabama.
Those high hopes will start on the offensive side of the ball with quarterback Trevor Knight.
He struggled, moving in and out of the starting lineup as a freshman. However, if he can find a way to consistently harness the kind of play he showed in New Orleans, the Sooners might be unstoppable in the Big 12.
The only issue for OU will be replacing its departing playmakers. However, that answer might be on its way, as the Sooners will bring in the nation's No. 1 all-purpose back Joe Mixon, who looks capable of making an instant impact at the next level.
Prediction: 475.2 yards per game
16. Arizona State Sun Devils
10 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 457.3 yards per game (No. 32)
Arizona State will lose its best offensive playmaker Marion Grice, but it should still boast a dangerous offense.
The Sun Devils will replace Grice with D.J. Foster, a similar multi-talented back who is poised for a monstrous junior year.
The biggest key will be quarterback Taylor Kelly, who will be back as a senior. After he threw for more than 3,600 yards last year, look for him to go off yet again in 2014.
Prediction: 480.3 yards per game
15. Georgia Bulldogs
11 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 484.2 yards per game (No. 17)
Georgia faces Clemson in its first game in 2014, so we'll know right away just how much of an impact Aaron Murray's departure will have.
The Bulldogs will boast perhaps the deepest running back group in the nation with Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall at the top. Behind them are two proven backups, J.J. Green and Brendan Douglas.
They'll also welcome two of the best running back prospects in the country, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb. Both of them could see the field right away.
If UGA gets solid play from Murray's heir apparent Hutson Mason, its biggest issue could be figuring out how to distribute carries among its many running backs.
Prediction: 490.1 yards per game
14. Texas A&M Aggies
12 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 538.4 yards per game (No. 4)
Texas A&M will prove next year that its offense is more than just Johnny Manziel.
While the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and his top target Mike Evans are headed to the NFL draft, the Aggies will still be talented offensively.
Trey Williams and Tra Carson will bring experience to the backfield, while receiver Ricky Seals-Jones will be coming back from an injury that limited his promising 2013 season.
At quarterback, whether it is Matt Joeckel or Kyle Allen—an early enrollee who was the No. 1 high school quarterback in the country—the Aggies passing attack will be set up for success under Kevin Sumlin.
Prediction: 491.1 yards per game
13. Missouri Tigers
13 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 490.7 yards per game (No. 16)
Like many offenses around the SEC, Missouri will be replacing several key players, including quarterback James Franklin, running back Henry Josey and receiver L'Damian Washington.
The Mizzou passing attack figures to be in good hands. Maty Mauk will be taking over the full-time starting duty after showing promise in relief of Franklin a year ago.
Washington's departure might hurt the most, particularly with No. 2 receiver Dorial Green-Beckham facing some legal troubles.
If Washington's absence isn't felt the most, it might be Josey's. However, the Tigers will bring back two skilled backs in Russell Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy.
Even with the losses, Mizzou will boast a balanced and dangerous offense.
Prediction: 494.1 yards per game
12. Indiana Hoosiers
14 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 508.5 yards per game (No. 9)
Indiana will lose receiver Cody Latimer, one of its top playmakers, to the NFL draft. As a junior, he eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards and was No. 3 in the Big Ten in receiving.
His loss will hurt, but the Hoosiers will move along well anyway. They had nine receivers with more than 100 yards last season.
Quarterback Nate Sudfeld (2,523 yards, 21 touchdowns, nine interceptions) and backup Tre Robinson (1,551 total yards, 20 total touchdowns) will be back, alongside running back Tevin Coleman (958 yards, 12 touchdowns).
With plenty of production returning to a top-10 offense, the Hoosiers will be back in business in 2014.
Prediction: 500.3 yards per game
11. Oregon State Beavers
15 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 467 yards per game (No. 26)
Oregon State's offense was flying high but hit a lull midway through the season.
Still, the Beavers showed the potential to be one of the most explosive offenses in college football. They'll have to replace their top playmaker, Brandin Cooks.
That won't be an easy task, but OSU will still bring plenty back, including a 4,600-yard passer in Sean Mannion and two proven running backs in Storm Woods and Terron Ward.
The Beavers might not have Cooks, but they'll have plenty of options on the outside—17 players caught passes last season.
Prediction: 501.1 yards per game
10. Bowling Green Falcons
16 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 459.4 yards per game (No. 29)
Several of the top small-conference offenses (i.e., Northern Illinois, Fresno State and San Jose State) will lose the quarterbacks who made them go.
Meanwhile, Bowling Green will bring back quarterback Matt Johnson, who threw for more than 3,400 yards with 25 touchdowns and just seven interceptions as a sophomore last year.
The Falcons will also return sophomore running back Travis Greene, who flirted with 1,600 rushing yards while punching in 11 touchdowns a year ago.
BGSU was No. 3 in the MAC in total offense last year and could be taking over the league in 2014.
Prediction: 500.1 yards per game
9. Marshall Thundering Herd
17 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 500.4 yards per game (No. 12)
Quarterback Rakeem Cato is the engine that powers the Marshall offense.
He'll be back with more than 10,000 career passing yards and 91 touchdowns to his name, as he looks to build his draft stock.
The Thundering Herd will also return two experienced running backs: Steward Butler and Kevin Grooms.
Perhaps most importantly, they'll bring back Cato's favorite target, receiver Tommy Shuler. The Miami Central product broke 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons.
Prediction: 507.3 yards per game
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders
18 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 510.7 yards per game (No. 8)
It didn't take long for Kliff Kingsbury to install his explosive offense at Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders broke 5,000 passing yards between Davis Webb and Baker Mayfield. Mayfield is now on his way out, as is Michael Brewer, who many believed would be the team's starter last season.
That will effectively end any quarterback controversy in Lubbock.
Webb and the team's top two running backs will be back, but the big issue will be with the departure of star tight end Jace Amaro and receiver Eric Ward.
If TTU can find some new playmakers on the outside, it'll be one of the Big 12's top offenses yet again.
Prediction: 510.9 yards per game
7. Ohio State Buckeyes
19 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 511.9 yards per game (No. 7)
Braxton Miller is back, which is just about all that needs to be said for the Ohio State offense.
Yes, the Buckeyes will lose running backs Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall, but they'll have plenty of talent at the position with Dontre Wilson and Ezekiel Elliott.
OSU will also have several talented playmakers joining in the 2014 class, including Curtis Samuel, Johnnie Dixon and Parris Campbell.
Ohio State won't experience a shortage of talent, even with the losses.
Prediction: 511.1 yards per game
6. Wisconsin Badgers
20 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 480.8 yards per game (No. 18)
Wisconsin will be bringing back an outstanding core of offensive players in 2014.
Quarterback Joel Stave and running backs Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement will all be back in Madison. With James White gone, Gordon and Clement figure to be UW's new one-two punch in the backfield.
The Badgers will have to find some new playmakers on the outside with Jared Abbrederis and others leaving.
However, with Stave in his second full year as the starter, the offense will be in good hands.
Prediction: 517.7 yards per game
5. Florida State Seminoles
21 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 519.1 yards per game (No. 6)
After a national championship season, turnover is to be expected.
Florida State will have a lot of that, with Devonta Freeman, James Wilder Jr., Kenny Shaw and Kelvin Benjamin among the many departing.
But for the Seminoles, that will just open the door for the next wave of talent to come up—plus leading receiver Rashad Greene, star tight end Nick O'Leary and No. 2 running back Karlos Williams are all returning.
With a new blend of youngsters and veterans, FSU will boast a volatile offense again.
Oh, and Jameis Winston will be at the epicenter of it all.
Prediction: 521.1 yards per game
4. Auburn Tigers
22 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 501.3 yards per game (No. 11)
The departure of Tre Mason figures to hurt Auburn.
However, it'll also be Nick Marshall's second year at quarterback and the entire team's second season with Gus Malzahn.
The Tigers will return two good rushers in Corey Grant and Cameron Artis-Payne, plus their entire receiving corps.
They'll also be adding the nation's top junior college receiver D'haquille Williams to that bunch, as well as 5-star running back Racean Thomas.
Auburn should be right back in the mix as one of the nation's top offenses and best teams in 2014.
Prediction: 531.2 yards per game
3. UCLA Bruins
23 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 448.1 yards per game (No. 38)
UCLA fielded one of the best offenses early in the 2013 season but faltered once starting running back Jordon James went down with an injury.
After his injury, the Bruins became one-sided with quarterback Brett Hundley shouldering the load.
Hundley will be back as a Heisman Trophy candidate—and if the Bruins can establish a consistent ground game, they'll give Oregon a run for its money in the Pac-12.
James, as well as Paul Perkins, Steven Manfro and Myles Jack, will be key, but with Hundley, the sky is the limit.
Prediction: 544.4 yards per game
2. Baylor Bears
24 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 618.2 yards per game (No. 1)
Baylor (618.2 yards per game, 52.4 points per game) fell just short of two NCAA records (624.9 yards per game, 56 points per game) in 2013.
The Bears will be outstanding once again, but they figure to see a dip in production. They'll be replacing three starting offensive linemen and one of their top receivers, Tevin Reese.
They'll also lose two of their top running backs: Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin. When they missed time late in the season, Baylor struggled in their absence.
With Bryce Petty, Shock Linwood, Antwan Goodley and others still returning, Baylor will post big numbers yet again.
While it won't be record-breaking stuff, it'll still be among the best in college football.
Prediction: 570.4 yards per game
1. Oregon Ducks
25 of 25
2013 Total Offense: 565 yards per game (No. 2)
Oregon always puts together one of the most explosive attacks in college football, and 2014 will be no different.
With quarterback Marcus Mariota returning alongside several talented running backs, the Ducks will be lethal yet again.
Mariota's late-season health issues limited Oregon down the stretch, so keeping him healthy will be key.
When he is healthy and able to run, Oregon is downright frightening. The Ducks will be in the national title race yet again, and Mariota in the Heisman picture.
Prediction: 575.2 yards per game
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