Preseason College Football Rankings 2015: Predictions for Initial AP NCAA Top 25
Official rankings continue to roll out as the college football season creeps toward kickoff.
Up next after the release of the USA Today Coaches Poll is Sunday's official unveiling of the Associated Press Top 25. Like all other rankings, it promises to stir up fans around the country as they try to pass the time before the season begins.
While the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes will be planted at No. 1 for obvious reasons, the rest of the college football landscape remains uncertain.
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Below, let's take a look at how things might shake out, basing the rankings on team depth charts, coaching and personnel changes, past performance, schedule and more.
AP Top 25 Predictions
| 1 | Ohio State Buckeyes |
| 2 | TCU Horned Frogs |
| 3 | Alabama Crimson Tide |
| 4 | Auburn Tigers |
| 5 | Michigan State Spartans |
| 6 | Baylor Bears |
| 7 | Oregon Ducks |
| 8 | LSU Tigers |
| 9 | Florida State Seminoles |
| 10 | USC Trojans |
| 11 | Clemson Tigers |
| 12 | Georgia Bulldogs |
| 13 | UCLA Bruins |
| 14 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
| 15 | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |
| 16 | Mississippi Rebels |
| 17 | Wisconsin Badgers |
| 18 | Arizona State Sun Devils |
| 19 | Stanford Cardinal |
| 20 | Arizona Wildcats |
| 21 | Oklahoma Sooners |
| 22 | Arkansas Razorbacks |
| 23 | Mississippi State Bulldogs |
| 24 | Texas A&M Aggies |
| 25 | Boise State Broncos |
Highlighting Intriguing Teams to Watch
Auburn Tigers
Like two years ago when the team made a surprise run to the BCS title game, it wouldn't be wise to sleep on the Auburn Tigers this year.
Last year was a down year, sure. The defense caved in on itself down the stretch, allowing at least 31 points to each of its last seven opponents not named Samford.
It's the responses to these struggles that have garnered Auburn plenty of preseason hype.
Will Muschamp is back as an assistant once again, this time defensive coordinator. He has proved himself capable of putting together elite defenses and stealing top-tier recruits, such as Byron Cowart. Don't forget the return of one of the nation's most hyped defenders, either, Carl Lawson.
After comparing Lawson to Von Miller, Auburn offensive line coach J.B. Grimes explained to Brandon Marcello of AL.com what makes Lawson such a force: "He's like blocking smoke. He can slip through a crack like nothing you've ever seen. The guy is good, man."
The offense isn't anything to sleep on, either, not with Jeremy Johnson stepping in for Nick Marshall under center. Johnson's thrown nine touchdowns to two picks in two seasons of spot duty, numbers sure to take a massive uptick under the guidance of head coach Gus Malzahn.
With so much talent on both sides of the ball, it'll be interesting to see where the Tigers land in the poll.
Baylor Bears
Other than the loss of quarterback Bryce Petty, what's not to like about an offense that fell just short of the College Football Playoff last year?
Most focus on TCU as the dark-horse team to watch in the polls, but don't forget about the Baylor Bears. Baylor posted a nation-best 48.2 points per game last year and returns a whopping eight offensive starters.
This includes the entire line and receivers KD Cannon and Corey Coleman, who both surpassed the 1,000-yard mark last year.
Call it quite the comforting environment for new starting quarterback Seth Russell, who attempted just 85 passes last year but turned them into 804 yards and eight scores with one pick.
Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News passed along a quote from the Bears' head coach:
With impressive, experienced depth in the trenches on both sides of the football and explosive, proven skill players surrounding a new starter, Baylor looks to have the talent to challenge for the CFP once again.
Sunday's poll will reflect that.
Florida State Seminoles
Another team replacing a big-name quarterback? Try the Florida State Seminoles.
This year's iteration of the rejuvenated national power needs to pull off an epic reload to remain among the top teams. After three conference championships, a national title and a trip to the CFP, Florida State looks like a shell of its former self without Jameis Winston and a host of other stars now in the NFL.
Granted, these are the Seminoles, a juggernaut with an impressive recent resume. No doubt the skill position players on offense and the defense will look good in time.
The real question rests under center, where Notre Dame transfer Everett Golson and Sean Maguire continue to battle to a no-contest, as Jared Shanker of ESPN reported:
It's not an easy path for Florida State no matter who wins the job. The Seminoles have trips to Boston College and Wake Forest in their first four games of the season and also travel to Georgia Tech and Clemson over a three-week span later in the year.
Pollsters and fans should expect some growing pains. If the situation under center solidifies, though, Florida State might be doing more climbing than falling.
Stats and information via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
