Final Preseason Win-Loss Projections for Every Power 5 College Football Team
It’s finally time. Finally time for college football teams to turn projections into production (or perhaps disappointment). When the 2015 college football season kicks off in earnest Thursday night, the nation will be focused on Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan debut at Utah, or perhaps TCU’s visit to Minnesota in a very underrated opening-night tilt.
But know this: All the games will matter. Week 1 is just the first piece in a season-long puzzle that, when put together, will reveal the College Football Playoff’s second four-team field.
Along the way, superstars will shine, key injuries will happen, hot new players and coaches will emerge, and other coaches will lose their jobs. Illinois beat everyone to the punch last week by firing embattled coach Tim Beckman, but he won’t be the last. The coaching carousel will spin again in December, and it’ll be propelled by 2015 records.
So let’s take a shot at projecting those records for every Power Five team. These are far from scientific projections, and sure to be a little inaccurate, but it’ll give you an idea about the expectations for your team going forward.
Alabama
1 of 65
Alabama began 2014 with some uncertainty and ended with a season that, while successful, wound up short of the lofty standards set by Nick Saban in his Tuscaloosa tenure. The Crimson Tide finished with an SEC title and a 12-2 record following a College Football Playoff appearance and a Sugar Bowl loss to Ohio State.
This fall, the Tide will reload a bit. Alabama brings back nine starters, but only two on offense, with star receiver Amari Cooper and tailback T.J. Yeldon off to the NFL. Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin still haven’t settled on a quarterback, but senior Jake Coker remains a strong bet to emerge eventually.
Alabama’s schedule is tough, starting with a neutral-site clash against Wisconsin and including an October at Georgia, home vs. Arkansas, at Texas A&M and home vs. Tennessee. Add in a November featuring a visit from LSU and road trips to Mississippi State and Auburn, and it’s perhaps the nation’s toughest. But the Tide has the talent to handle it and contend for an SEC title.
Projected record: 11-1
Arizona
2 of 65
Arizona broke out last season in Rich Rodriguez’s third season in Tucson. The Wildcats went 10-4 and made the Fiesta Bowl behind an exciting offense that featured talented freshmen in quarterback Anu Solomon and tailback Nick Wilson, among others.
The core of that offense that averaged 34.5 points per game is back, as is do-everything linebacker Scooby Wright III, the nation’s most prolific linebacker (163 tackles, 29 for loss, 14 sacks in 2014).
Arizona returns 11 starters and avoids Oregon in the Pac-12 rotation but must face UCLA and Stanford to open the league season and at USC, vs. Utah and at Arizona State to close it. That isn’t easy, and another double-digit win season will be tough.
Projected record: 8-4
Arizona State
3 of 65
Todd Graham has found a home and is building a power in the desert. Under Graham’s watch, Arizona State has back-to-back 10-win seasons and is poised for another this fall. The Sun Devils return 12 starters and while they must replace quarterback Taylor Kelly and wide receiver Jaelen Strong, an early NFL departure, they have capable replacements in Mike Bercovici and converted tailback D.J. Foster, respectively.
There are question marks on the defensive line, but ASU does return three secondary starters from a year ago. The defense will be tested right away against Texas A&M, and the Devils open the Pac-12 at home vs. USC, at UCLA, home vs. Colorado, at Utah and home vs. Oregon. Ouch. Still, this team has potential to win the Pac-12 South if the cards fall right.
Projected record: 9-3
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Arkansas
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2014 was a special season for Arkansas. Bret Bielema showed why Razorback officials coveted him, breaking a 17-game SEC losing streak in November with shutouts of LSU and Ole Miss, getting the Hogs into a bowl at 6-6 and thumping old rival Texas in the Texas Bowl to create serious momentum for this fall.
Arkansas returns 13 starters, eight on offense, but suffered a serious blow when senior tailback Jonathan Williams was lost for the regular season with a foot injury. Bielema still has junior Alex Collins, who rushed for 1,110 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago, as well as improving quarterback Brandon Allen and four returning starters on the offensive line. Defensive standouts Trey Flowers, Marcus Philon and Martell Spaight must also be replaced.
The schedule is unforgiving: Texas A&M, at Tennessee, at Alabama and Auburn to start the SEC season. Arkansas should be improved, but it’s hard to get serious upward momentum in the nation’s toughest division, the SEC West.
Projected record: 8-4
Auburn
5 of 65
Auburn took a step back in 2013, following a run to the national title game with an 8-5 record. But offseason moves have Tiger fans hopeful that it was just a blip. Former Florida coach Will Muschamp is regarded as one of the nation’s best defensive coordinators, and quarterback Jeremy Johnson has drawn comparisons to former Auburn Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton as he steps into a starting role.
A defense that allowed 26.7 points per game last fall with an anemic pass rush was bolstered by the return of end Carl Lawson from a torn ACL and the arrival of talented rush end Byron Cowart, as well as secondary transfers Tray Matthews and Blake Countess. September will be telling: A Georgia Dome showdown with Louisville and a trip to LSU await. November brings a trip to Texas A&M and visits from Georgia and Alabama.
Should you expect improvement from Auburn? Yes. Will it be enough for an SEC West title? We’ll see.
Projected record: 10-2
Baylor
6 of 65
Oh, so close. That was the story for Baylor last fall. Only a 41-27 loss at West Virginia kept the Bears from the College Football Playoff, and they intend to finish the job in 2015. While quarterback Bryce Petty is gone (replaced by backup Seth Russell), Baylor returns 15 starters, including nine on defense.
Offensively, Baylor has a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in KD Cannon and Corey Coleman, and one of the nation’s best tailbacks in junior Shock Linwood. Oh, and all five offensive line starters return.
In other words, an offense that led the nation by averaging 48.2 points per game won’t slip much. The defense was a bit leaky at season’s end, allowing 28, 46, 27 and 42 points over the final four games, but the offense’s potent nature makes up for plenty of ills.
The end of the season is tough, with November featuring a trip to Kansas State, Oklahoma, a trip to Oklahoma State, a showdown at TCU and hosting Texas. But Baylor is ready for what lies ahead. This is a strong College Football Playoff contender.
Projected record: 11-1
Boston College
7 of 65
Steve Addazio has Boston College on the right track. In two seasons, he’s taken a 2-10 team to consecutive bowl games and winning seasons, albeit both 7-6. Repeating that will be a challenge in the ACC Atlantic Division, especially with only nine starters returning (three offensively).
BC must replace dual-threat quarterback Tyler Murphy but does have an emerging threat in tailback Jon Hilliman, who had 860 yards and 13 scores a year ago. He’ll run behind an offensive line replacing all five starters.
The Eagles get Florida State and Notre Dame at home, but must travel to Clemson and Louisville. They’ll need to feast against the weaker parts of their schedule to get to a third consecutive bowl game.
Projected record: 6-6
California
8 of 65
If you’re looking for a breakout team this fall, California would be an excellent choice. The Golden Bears went from 1-11 in 2013 to 5-7 last fall, just missing postseason play, and are a strong contender to make the leap to bowl status in 2015.
Sonny Dykes’ Air Raid offense is piloted ably by junior quarterback Jared Goff, who has 7,481 yards and 53 passing touchdowns in his first two seasons. Cal averaged 38.2 points per game in 2014 and passed for 346 yards per game.
The Bears have winnable nonconference games with San Diego State and Texas, although navigating a midseason stretch at UCLA, home vs. USC and at Oregon won’t be easy. Still, this looks like a bowl team at last.
Projected record: 7-5
Clemson
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Dabo Swinney has molded one of college football’s elite programs at Clemson. The Tigers have four consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins, and they have an excellent shot at a fifth this fall. CU returns only five starters, including just two on defense, but has recruited well and has one of the nation’s most dynamic quarterbacks in sophomore Deshaun Watson. He’ll throw to talented wideouts in Mike Williams, Artavis Scott and freshmen Deon Cain and Ray Ray McCloud, among others.
The defensive line, which returned only two players from the 2014 two-deep, took a big hit when starting defensive tackle D.J. Reader stepped away from the game at least temporarily. But defensive end Shaq Lawson and cornerback Mackensie Alexander are All-ACC-level talents.
This is a very talented group that has its toughest games (Florida State, Georgia Tech and Notre Dame) at home, with Louisville, Miami and South Carolina the toughest road trips. The Tigers will challenge for the ACC title and, with the right breaks, a College Football Playoff spot.
Projected record: 10-2
Colorado
10 of 65
Colorado was once one of the nation’s elite programs, but those days seem long ago. Third-year coach Mike MacIntyre is 6-18 in two seasons and hopeful of a turnaround in his third season in Boulder. The Buffaloes were 2-10 last fall, but lost four games by five points or less, including a pair in double overtime.
Colorado returns 15 starters, led by the talented pass-catch duo of quarterback Sefo Liufau and receiver Nelson Spruce (who had 106 catches for 1,198 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2014). But nine starters return from a defense that allowed 39 points per game, which might not be such a good thing.
Expect Colorado to turn a couple of those close losses into wins, but not enough to be bowl-eligible.
Projected record: 4-9
Duke
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What David Cutcliffe has accomplished at Duke is nothing short of miraculous. Cutcliffe has taken one of the nation’s worst programs and made it respectable, with 25 wins over the last three seasons, including 2014’s 9-4 record and Sun Bowl trip.
The Blue Devils will return 12 starters but must replace quarterback Anthony Boone. They have talented runners in Shaquille Powell, Shaun Wilson and Jela Duncan and a defense that was stingy last fall, allowing 21.8 points per game.
Duke’s schedule is favorable, as it avoids Clemson, Florida State and Louisville from the ACC Atlantic. The Devils host Virginia Tech and Miami and must travel to Virginia Tech, but another bowl bid appears to be in the offing despite a roster that does have questions.
Projected record: 7-5
Florida
12 of 65
Jim McElwain walks into what has traditionally been one of the nation’s best jobs at Florida, but he faces a difficult challenge in his first season. The Gators are coming off a 7-5 season that cost Will Muschamp his job and are looking for an offensive spark after finishing No. 12 in the SEC in both passing and total yards.
McElwain found tremendous success with a pro-style attack at Colorado State and will start sophomore Treon Harris in the season opener, per CBSSports.com's Tom Fornelli. Will Grier will also play in the opener. Harris will be protected by an offensive line that returns only one starter in senior center Trip Thurman. It’s not ideal.
The Gator defense returns seven starters, led by All-America cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, and it’ll do more than its share of heavy lifting again this fall. With a schedule that features trips to Missouri and LSU, a neutral-site game against Georgia and a visit from Florida State to close the season, a bowl bid could be out of reach.
Projected record: 5-7
Florida State
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Jimbo Fisher has built Florida State into a national power. Over the last two seasons, the Seminoles are 27-1 with a national title, a College Football Playoff appearance and a pair of ACC titles. However, FSU will be reloading this fall following a raft of graduations and NFL departures.
The Noles return only 10 starters, three on offense, and only one on the offensive line (sophomore left tackle Roderick Johnson). They’re replacing a Heisman Trophy winner and top overall NFL draft pick in quarterback Jameis Winston, the program’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yardage and receiving touchdowns in Rashad Greene, a talented tight end in Nick O’Leary and a pair of defensive line forces in Eddie Goldman and Mario Edwards Jr., among others.
The Seminoles will have Notre Dame transfer Everett Golson piloting the offense and a raft of talented young players, but must travel to Georgia Tech and Clemson as well as Florida. With so much talent gone, a repeat of 2014’s string of narrow escapes can’t be expected. A small step back should be.
Projected record: 9-3
Georgia
14 of 65
Mark Richt has established himself as one of the nation’s best coaches to never win a national title, with a 136-48 record in 14 years at Georgia. He has a pair of SEC titles, but the lack of national prowess surely doesn’t sit well with a fanbase that hasn’t won a national title since 1980. Is this the year that changes?
The Bulldogs have a talented roster that features 12 returning starters, one of the nation’s top tailbacks in Heisman Trophy candidate Nick Chubb and the consensus top overall recruit in defensive tackle Trent Thompson.
2014 was a disappointing 10-3 with losses to rivals Florida, Georgia Tech and South Carolina. One of the biggest X-factors this fall will be new starting quarterback Greyson Lambert, a graduate transfer from Virginia who won the job in preseason camp. UGA gets Alabama in Athens, but must travel to Tennessee the following week before hosting Missouri in a key SEC East clash. November road trips to Auburn and Georgia Tech will likely determine the Dawgs’ College Football Playoff fate.
The SEC is very tough, but this team has the talent to win the league and more.
Projected record: 10-2
Georgia Tech
15 of 65
Paul Johnson surely silenced plenty of his critics in 2014. Following an ACC title in 2009, Georgia Tech was 28-25 over the next four seasons. But Tech broke out behind sophomore quarterback Justin Thomas, going 11-3 with an ACC Coastal title and an Orange Bowl win over Mississippi State.
Now, here’s the question: Can that success carry over?
Thomas, who is Tech’s leading rusher and passer, is back to run the flexbone offense. But his top two receivers and the top four rushers behind him are gone. Johnson’s coaching talents will certainly be tested in 2015.
A slate that includes trips to Notre Dame and Clemson before mid-October and a visit from three-time defending ACC champion Florida State is tough. But the Jackets look like a serious contender for another trip to the ACC title game, and perhaps beyond if the offense comes together.
Projected record: 8-4
Illinois
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2015 was never going to be easy for Illinois, but the season got much tougher last week when school officials fired embattled coach Tim Beckman following an internal investigation into his interactions with players. Interim coach Bill Cubit will take over a program that made a bowl last season but finished 6-7.
Junior Wes Lunt is a talented passer, but he’ll be without his best receiver for a good chunk of 2015 as sophomore Mike Dudek recovers from a torn ACL.
Illinois’ schedule isn’t easy. The Fighting Illini travel to North Carolina, Iowa and Penn State, and host Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin. We’ll see how mentally tough this team is, but losing their coach two weeks before the season will surely have an impact.
Projected record: 3-9
Indiana
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Kevin Wilson enters 2015 facing some pressure. He’s 14-34 in four seasons at Indiana, but the Hoosiers are hoping for a breakthrough year following a 5-6 record in 2014. With a healthy Nate Sudfeld back, the offense has some stability. UAB transfer Jordan Howard (who excelled before the Blazers dropped football) will try to replace NFL-bound Tevin Coleman, who rushed for 2,000-plus yards last season.
The defense returns six starters, but it allowed 32.8 points per game last fall, No. 13 in the Big Ten. Indiana’s schedule is quite manageable, with Southern Illinois, Florida International, Western Kentucky and a trip to Wake Forest as the nonconference slate. The Hoosiers have Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State in the first month of Big Ten play, so a strong start will be key to getting back to a bowl game.
Projected record: 6-6
Iowa
18 of 65
Kirk Ferentz is now the nation’s third-longest tenured coach (behind Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer and one day behind Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops), but there are signs that his tenure at Iowa might be growing stale. Despite a highly favorable schedule, Iowa could only manage a 7-6 record last fall, and Ferentz shuffled his quarterback depth chart (promoting backup C.J. Beathard while incumbent Jake Rudock transferred to Michigan) and responsibilities on his coaching staff.
Iowa again has a favorable slate that doesn’t include Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan or Penn State from the Big Ten East. The Hawks must travel to Wisconsin and Nebraska but host Minnesota and Pitt.
The key to success will be a more wide-open offense with Beathard, who is willing to take downfield chances. Iowa has one of the Power Five’s easiest schedules, but can it take advantage?
Projected record: 8-4
Iowa State
19 of 65
Paul Rhoads’ seat has gotten decidedly hotter in the last two years. Iowa State has won a total of five games in two seasons, and with a renovated Jack Trice Stadium, the pressure will be on for improvement following a 2-10 2014 that featured wins over rival Iowa and Toledo and an 0-9 Big 12 mark.
The Cyclones return 10 starters and have a promising receiver corps with D’Vario Montgomery, Quenton Bundrage and Allen Lazard, but must improve a defense that yielded 38.8 points per game last season and allowed 528.9 yards per game (No. 125 nationally). The Big 12 slate will be unforgiving again, with TCU, a trip to Baylor, a home game with Texas and a trip to Oklahoma the toughest stretch. It’s hard to see this team improving all that much from a year ago.
Projected record: 3-9
Kansas
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Thanks, Charlie Weis. That’s what David Beaty has surely said a few times this summer. Weis’ disastrous tenure in Lawrence ended last fall, but his strategy of using junior college transfers as a “quick fix” will surely be felt for years to come as Beaty attempts to rebuild the Kansas program.
The Jayhawks return only five starters in 2015 and have one of the nation’s thinnest overall rosters, and that won’t help them much in the ultra-tough Big 12. Making matters worse, returning leading rusher Corey Avery and returning leading receiver Rodriguez Coleman were dismissed for violation of team rules, and starting senior linebacker Jake Love gave up football for medical reasons.
Kansas opens with an FCS foe in South Dakota State, and that’ll likely be the only game the Jayhawks are favored in all season. It’s gonna be a long year.
Projected record: 1-11
Kansas State
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Bill Snyder’s second run as Kansas State head coach has gone very well. The Wildcats are coming off a 9-4 season and an Alamo Bowl bid—and return 12 starters from that team. However, they must replace quarterback Jake Waters (sophomore Jesse Ertz will get the first shot) and standout receivers Tyler Lockett and Curry Sexton, as well as leading tackler Jonathan Truman.
K-State has a tough October, visiting Oklahoma State, hosting TCU and Oklahoma, then traveling to Texas before hosting Baylor on Nov. 5. This will be a bowl team, but it could take a step back from a year ago.
Projected record: 7-5
Kentucky
22 of 65
Kentucky was oh-so-close to a bowl bid last season. The Wildcats started 5-1 but lost their final six games, including a 44-40 defeat to rival Louisville in the season finale. This fall, Mark Stoops’ bunch hopes to take the next step while returning 12 starters, including junior quarterback Patrick Towles, who’ll work with new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson.
The Wildcats must improve defensively after yielding 31.3 points per game last fall, next to last in the SEC. They return six defensive starters, including three in the secondary, and the line should be improved as well.
A nonconference slate where Louisville is the only real challenge will help the quest for a bowl, although UK does draw Auburn and Mississippi State from the SEC West rotation. Trips to South Carolina and Georgia won’t be easy either. The hope is that a Nov. 21 visit from FBS newbie Charlotte would lock down a bowl trip, not the season finale against the Cardinals.
Projected record: 6-6
Louisville
23 of 65
Louisville’s first season in the ACC was better than many expected: The Cardinals made Bobby Petrino’s homecoming memorable with a solid 9-4 season, although that was tarnished by a Belk Bowl blowout at Georgia’s hands.
The Cardinals return just seven starters from that team and hope that new starting quarterback Reggie Bonnafon can help the offense take another step forward. That won’t be easy with three top receivers, including NFL first-round pick Devante Parker, gone.
Transfers must contribute on both sides of the ball: wide receivers Ja’Quay Savage and Jamari Staples, defensive end Devonte Fields and defensive backs Josh Harvey-Clemons and Shaq Wiggins. The schedule features chances to shine like the Georgia Dome opener against Auburn, a Thursday night visit from Clemson and a trip to Florida State. But things could get worse before they get better for Louisville.
Projected record: 7-5
LSU
24 of 65
There are programs where 8-5 might be acceptable, but LSU isn’t one of them. A raft of early NFL departures caught up with the Tigers, who went just 4-4 in the tough SEC West. With 13 starters returning, hopes are high, particularly with the presence of uber-talented sophomore tailback Leonard Fournette.
If quarterback Brandon Harris can play more consistently than Anthony Jennings and connect with talented wideouts like Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre, LSU’s offense should flourish. Going from John Chavis to Kevin Steele as defensive coordinator is a concern, but if the offense improves it’ll carry the whole team with it. November, when LSU travels to Alabama and Ole Miss and hosts Arkansas and Texas A&M, will determine how people in Baton Rouge ultimately feel about 2015.
Projected record: 9-3
Maryland
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Coach Randy Edsall led Maryland to a solid Big Ten debut in 2014, getting the Terrapins into a bowl game and finishing 7-6 with wins over Michigan and Penn State. Maryland returns 10 starters but is breaking in a new starting quarterback in junior Caleb Rowe, who has a solid arm.
Brandon Ross and Wes Brown will try to improve an anemic ground game behind an offensive line that returns just two starters. Defensively, All-Big Ten cornerback William Likely is a playmaker in the secondary.
Maryland must travel to West Virginia, Ohio State and Michigan State but gets Penn State in Baltimore and Wisconsin at home. This looks like another bowl season, but not much better.
Projected record: 6-6
Miami
26 of 65
Is there anyone in America with a hotter seat than Al Golden? It’s doubtful. Golden enters his fifth season at Miami at 28-22 following a disappointing 6-7 season that ended with an Independence Bowl loss to South Carolina. And it doesn’t get any easier. Miami returns just eight starters, including three on offense.
Sophomore quarterback Brad Kaaya was the ACC Rookie of the Year, but the Hurricanes have just one returning offensive line starter and must replace offensive difference-makers like the program’s all-time leading rusher, Duke Johnson, and NFL first-round pick Phillip Dorsett.
Miami draws Clemson from the ACC Atlantic and has to play Nebraska, at Cincinnati, at Florida State, Virginia Tech and Clemson in a five-game span. Ouch. Golden might be lucky to make postseason play this fall, which doesn’t bode well for his job prospects.
Projected record: 6-6
Michigan
27 of 65
We’ve heard all about Jim Harbaugh. His motivation. His homecoming. His khakis. Now, we get to find out something much more interesting: How fast can he turn around Michigan’s program? The fun starts this week against Utah.
Brady Hoke left a rather moribund program behind, as 2014’s 5-7 record was no fun for anyone to watch. That said, the turnaround might not happen quickly. Iowa transfer Jake Rudock and holdover Shane Morris are competing at quarterback, but with Devin Funchess gone to the NFL, junior Amara Darboh (473 yards in 2014) is the top returning option. The offensive line does return four starters.
The defense returns six starters and will get a boost from the return of highly regarded safety Jabrill Peppers, who redshirted following leg injuries. Michigan has Oregon State and BYU at home in nonconference play, and gets Michigan State and Ohio State at home while traveling to Penn State and Minnesota.
That said, a bowl bid in year one of the Harbaugh era could be an accomplishment.
Projected record: 6-6
Michigan State
28 of 65
There’s no questioning Michigan State’s status as a national power. Over the last two seasons, the Spartans are 24-3 with a Big Ten title and Cotton and Rose Bowl wins, and the only teams to beat MSU are Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oregon. MSU returns 11 starters, but among them are senior quarterback Connor Cook, one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, and senior end Shilique Calhoun, a standout pass-rusher.
However, Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Kurtis Drummond, leading rusher Jeremy Langford and leading receiver Tony Lippett must all be replaced. Oregon visits on Sept. 12 for one of the season’s biggest nonconference games, and a Nov. 21 trip to Ohio State should decide the Big Ten East and Big Ten titles. This is a strong College Football Playoff contender, and the record will reflect that.
Projected record: 11-1
Minnesota
29 of 65
Jerry Kill is 25-26 in four seasons at Minnesota, but that doesn’t reflect the job he’s done with the Gopher program. Last fall, the Gophers went 8-5, stayed in contention for the Big Ten West title until the final day of the season and made the Citrus Bowl. Repeating that could be tough, however.
Leading rusher David Cobb and tight end Maxx Williams are both in the NFL, and the offense returns just four starters. The defense returns seven starters, including All-Big Ten corners Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Eric Murray, and will be strong again.
Minnesota opens by hosting TCU and must travel to Ohio State, Iowa and Colorado State. However, the Gophers do host Wisconsin, Nebraska and Michigan and should contend for the West crown once more.
Projected record: 8-4
Mississippi State
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2014 was a year to remember for Mississippi State. One year removed from a 7-6 record, the Bulldogs shot to the top of college football, winning 10 games, spending five weeks at No. 1 nationally and making the Orange Bowl.
Repeating those feats won’t be easy. MSU will return just seven starters from that group, including senior dual-threat quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Dak Prescott. He has a solid target in junior De’Runnya Wilson, but only two offensive line starters return.
Only three starters return from a solid defense, led by linebacker Beniquez Brown. The Bulldogs must travel to Auburn and Texas A&M in back-to-back weeks but do get Alabama and Ole Miss at home in November. However, the lack of front-line experience should lead to a step backward.
Projected record: 6-6
Missouri
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Go ahead. Underestimate Missouri. The Tigers and Gary Pinkel are just fine with it. College football pundits did so the last two seasons, and the results were a pair of SEC East championships and 11-win seasons. This fall, Missouri returns 12 starters, but its returning receivers have just 10 career catches combined. That could be an issue for inconsistent junior quarterback Maty Mauk.
Defensively, the Tigers have a green line but will welcome one of the nation's top overall recruits in tackle Terry Beckner Jr. However, the linebacker and secondary groups are strong, and Missouri has a manageable SEC schedule, despite a trip to Georgia, with SEC West crossover games against Arkansas and Mississippi State and a neutral-site game against a good BYU team in Kansas City.
Projected record: 8-4
North Carolina State
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North Carolina State took a big leap forward in Dave Doeren’s second season in Raleigh. The Wolfpack went 8-5 with a bowl win over Central Florida, and more is expected from a roster that returns 14 starters. Senior quarterback Jacoby Brissett is an excellent, dangerous mobile threat.
The Wolfpack has a strong running game and an experienced secondary that returns all five starters from a year ago, led by senior free safety Hakim Jones. The nonconference schedule should leave State 4-0 entering October, and the ‘Pack does get Atlantic rivals Clemson and Louisville at home, while traveling to Virginia Tech and Florida State. This should be an improved team, if not an ACC Atlantic contender.
Projected record: 9-3
Nebraska
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Know that friend of yours who winds up with someone nice after breaking up with an abrasive personality? That’s Nebraska, who tabbed all-time nice guy Mike Riley from Oregon State following Bo Pelini’s firing. Do nice guys really finish last? The Cornhuskers hope not. Riley inherits some talent, although a foot injury that will sideline explosive receiver De’Mornay Pierson-El for a healthy portion of the season hurts.
It’ll be interesting to see how junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. fits into a pro-style offense. Even with Randy Gregory’s departure to the NFL, there’s talent on the defensive line and the defense as a whole. Facing BYU and Miami in the first month of the season will test this group, but having Wisconsin, Michigan State and Iowa visit Lincoln while avoiding Ohio State certainly helps boost hopes of a Big Ten West title.
Projected record: 8-4
North Carolina
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Larry Fedora was hired to take North Carolina to the next level in the ACC, but it really hasn’t happened yet. In three seasons under his watch, the Tar Heels are 21-17, including a disappointing 6-7 in 2014. The Heels allowed 39 points per game last fall, worst in the ACC, which cost defensive coordinator Vic Koenning his job.
Fedora brought in former Auburn coach Gene Chizik to turn things around, and he does inherit six defensive starters. If Chizik can improve that group, an offense that returns 10 starters, led by senior quarterback Marquise Williams, should carry its share of the load.
The Heels averaged 33.2 points per game, third-best in the ACC, last fall and should be explosive again. North Carolina avoids Clemson, Florida State and Louisville from the ACC Atlantic and must travel to Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and N.C. State. This should be a bowl team, but its ceiling will depend on defensive improvement.
Projected record: 7-5
Northwestern
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What happened to Northwestern? A program seemingly on the brink of big things in the Big Ten has taken a big step back with consecutive 5-7 seasons. The Wildcats return 15 starters, 10 on defense, from a team that lost four games by eight points or less in 2014.
Coach Pat Fitzgerald, entering his 10th season in Evanston, no longer looks like a hot young coaching candidate, but this group should be improved from a year ago and will certainly be hungry.
A season opener against Stanford is tough, and so is a trip to Duke, but Northwestern avoids Michigan State and Ohio State and gets Penn State at home. Trips to Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin could be tough, but with a little luck the bowl drought will be over.
Projected record: 6-6
Notre Dame
36 of 65
Notre Dame was, at best, up and down in 2014. The Fighting Irish began the season 6-0 and finished the regular season by losing five of their last six games before rebounding with a Music City Bowl win.
Here’s betting they’ve learned from that turmoil. Brian Kelly’s team returns 16 starters and should be much better, especially defensively. The Irish bring back 10 starters on that side of the ball and also get senior corner KeiVarae Russell back from academic suspension.
Malik Zaire is the man at quarterback following turnover-prone Everett Golson’s transfer to Florida State following spring practice. How quickly he adjusts to being an offensive leader could determine the season’s trajectory. The schedule isn’t easy, with Georgia Tech, Clemson, Texas and Southern California on the docket. But if Zaire can run the offense ably, the Irish could threaten for the College Football Playoff.
Projected record: 10-2
Ohio State
37 of 65
Come Monday night, all eyes will be on Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia. The college football world will be fixated on whoever runs out at quarterback first with Ohio State’s offense: J.T. Barrett or Cardale Jones. The two have waged a fierce battle for the Buckeyes’ QB role, and little has emerged about their progress, which is just the way coach Urban Meyer likes it.
No matter who leads the way (or if both split snaps), Ohio State is the nation’s most talented team, with defensive end Joey Bosa, tailback Ezekiel Elliott and many more, including the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, new H-back/receiver Braxton Miller.
Ohio State’s run to a national title was a year ahead of schedule, which should only be concerning for their Big Ten and national rivals. The Buckeyes are a deep, talented group, and the Virginia Tech and Michigan State games are the only ones that should really concern fans.
Another unbeaten record and College Football Playoff berth appear on the horizon if Meyer can keep his team focused the way he wants to.
Projected record: 12-0
Ole Miss
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2014 was a year to remember in the Grove. Ole Miss won nine games, including a historic win over then-No. 1 Alabama in Oxford and an Egg Bowl win over archrival Mississippi State. That was good, but Rebel fans want more from Hugh Freeze and Co.
Freeze returns 16 starters, led by star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and junior defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, one of college football's most talented defensive linemen. Former Clemson quarterback Chad Kelly, an exciting dual-threat passer, is the replacement for mercurial Bo Wallace at quarterback, and he has an excellent weapon to utilize in receiver Laquon Treadwell.
The Rebels remain a very talented group. Games at Alabama, Auburn and Mississippi State won't be easy, but Texas A&M and LSU come to Oxford. If Kelly can handle the spotlight, this team’s ceiling is high.
Projected record: 8-4
Oklahoma
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Oklahoma is hoping that new beginnings are the answer. Bob Stoops is the second-longest tenured coach in the FBS behind Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer, but 2014 was one of his most difficult seasons. The Sooners slipped from a preseason College Football Playoff pick to 8-5, and Stoops cleaned house on his offensive staff, hiring pass-happy East Carolina offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley.
Riley chose Texas Tech transfer and fellow Air Raid quarterback Baker Mayfield as his starter, and Mayfield will run an offense headlined by steady senior receiver Sterling Shepard and burly, quick tailback Samaje Perine.
Oklahoma also must improve a secondary that gave up 276.9 yards per game, ninth in the 10-team Big 12. OU has an early test against Tennessee and a tough finish to the season at Baylor, vs. TCU and at rival Oklahoma State, but expect the Sooners to have more fun in 2015.
Projected record: 9-3
Oklahoma State
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Last fall, Oklahoma State endured some growing pains with a young roster, but finished strong with an overtime Bedlam win over Oklahoma and a Cactus Bowl win over Washington. With 14 starters returning, the Cowboys figure to be improved this fall.
That largely depends on the development of freshman quarterback Mason Rudolph, who was solid after Mike Gundy burned his redshirt in November. The Cowboys have questions in the backfield but are strong at receiver.
Defensively, seven starters return, headlined by pass-rushing end Emmanuel Ogbah. November will be either one to remember or forget. OSU has TCU, a road trip to Iowa State and home games against Baylor and Oklahoma to close the regular season.
Projected record: 8-4
Oregon
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Once again, Oregon will be one of the most intriguing teams in college football. And it starts at quarterback, where Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams needed all of two weeks to pass Jeff Lockie in the battle to replace Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.
Adams was an FCS All-American and is a dynamic dual-threat talent who picked up Oregon’s spread offense with lightning speed. The Ducks will surround him with a strong running game keyed by sophomore tailback Royce Freeman. FoxSports.com's Stewart Mandel says Adams is a perfect fit in Oregon's offense.
A road trip to Michigan State, looking for revenge after 2014’s Mariota-led loss in Eugene, will be a must-watch game. So will a November stretch at Stanford and home vs. USC, which could lead to a second consecutive College Football Playoff bid. The Ducks will be fun and relevant again in 2015.
Projected record: 11-1
Oregon State
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It’s time for a new beginning in Corvallis. Following the stunning departure of longtime head coach Mike Riley to Nebraska, Oregon State pulled off a big surprise by luring Gary Andersen away from Wisconsin. Andersen is highly regarded on the West Coast, but immediate success could prove tough.
The Beavers return nine starters, including just two from a defense that allowed 31.6 points per game last fall, ninth in the Pac-12. They also must replace quarterback Sean Mannion, but bring back four starting offensive linemen.
Road trips to Michigan, Arizona, Utah and Oregon will test this group and likely keep it out of bowl contention for another season.
Projected record: 3-9
Penn State
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Year two in Happy Valley is shaping up to be a good one for James Franklin and Penn State. The Nittany Lions return 15 starters from 2014’s 7-6 team, led by star quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Hackenberg threw 12 touchdowns against 15 interceptions a year ago, but was often running for his life behind a porous offensive line.
He has a very talented target in DaeSean Hamilton and 2014’s leading rusher, Akeel Lynch, will line up beside him. The Lions also return seven defensive starters, led by defensive tackle Anthony Zettel.
The schedule is highly favorable, with no Wisconsin or Nebraska from the Big Ten West, although Penn State must travel to Ohio State and Michigan State. The Lions are poised for improvement in 2015.
Projected record: 9-3
Pitt
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Has Pitt found stability with Pat Narduzzi? The Panthers certainly hope so. Narduzzi, who found success as Michigan State’s defensive coordinator, is Pitt’s fifth head coach in seven seasons. He inherits a team that went 6-7 a year ago but has talent, including the ACC Player of the Year in James Conner, who rushed for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2014. Quarterback Chad Voytik and wideout Tyler Boyd are a nice combination as well. Boyd had over 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first two seasons.
The defense will take on more of an attacking style this fall with new coordinator Josh Conklin. It allowed 26.3 points per game last fall, No. 11 in the ACC. Pitt avoids both Clemson and Florida State from the ACC Atlantic, which will help. The Panthers must travel to Iowa and Virginia Tech, as well as Georgia Tech and Duke.
Home games against Notre Dame, Louisville and Miami highlight November. This should be a slightly improved team under Narduzzi’s watch.
Projected record: 7-5
Purdue
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Purdue hoped Darrell Hazell would be the answer to its problems, but that hasn’t been the case thus far. Hazell is 4-20 in two seasons, including a 3-9 mark last fall, and while the Boilermakers return 16 starters, they will have experience. But will the lumps they took last fall pay off?
Purdue’s defense allowed 31.7 points per game last fall and must improve. It still will start only two seniors this fall. The Boilermakers have Virginia Tech in nonconference play and draw Michigan State, as well as a trip to Wisconsin. This doesn’t look like a bowl team, or one that’s close to it.
Projected record: 2-10
Rutgers
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Rutgers surprised some with a solid debut in Big Ten play, going 8-5 with a Quick Lane Bowl win over North Carolina. But the Scarlet Knights could be headed for a big step back this fall. Rutgers returns only eight starters (three on offense). Senior receiver Leonte Carroo is one of the better pass-catchers in the Big Ten, and Rutgers does boast a deep backfield.
However, a defense that allowed 30.2 points per game last fall is a concern, as is the controversy surrounding coach Kyle Flood’s intervening with a RU professor on behalf of a player’s eligibility. NJ.com's Keith Sargeant said Flood defied academic support staff in contacting a professor on behalf of likely defensive starter Nadir Barnwell.
Rutgers will host Michigan State, Ohio State and Nebraska but must travel to Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin. If Flood’s situation doesn’t unfold the way he’d like, this could get ugly.
Projected record: 5-7
Southern California
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Steve Sarkisian’s second season as Southern California coach holds real promise. The Trojans return 14 starters from a 9-4 team and added a good recruiting class to an already-talented roster recovering from serious NCAA sanctions that stripped 30 scholarships over three seasons.
Senior quarterback Cody Kessler (who threw 39 touchdowns against five interceptions last fall) is one of the nation’s most underrated players, and he has a great target in wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Defensively, sophomore corner Adoree’ Jackson is one of college football’s most versatile players, contributing in all three phases of the game. Linebacker Su’a Cravens is a hybrid who makes plays all over the field.
Trips to Arizona State, Notre Dame and Oregon aren’t easy, but this roster can compete with the Pac-12’s elite and challenge for the College Football Playoff, living up to Trojan fans’ lofty standards.
Projected record: 10-2
South Carolina
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2014 was a year Steve Spurrier and South Carolina would rather forget. Following four consecutive 11-win seasons, the Gamecocks got off on the wrong foot in a 52-28 home loss to Texas A&M and never really recovered, finishing 7-6 with an Independence Bowl win over Miami.
USC returns 10 starters, but just four on offense. Versatile wide receiver Pharoh Cooper will be one of the SEC’s best wideouts, and Spurrier hopes new starting quarterback Connor Mitch can get him the ball early and often.
New co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke was brought in to revamp a defense that was awful last fall, allowing 30.4 points per game, No. 12 in the SEC. He’ll use a 4-3 scheme that has shuffled players around. How quickly they pick it up could help determine how much the Gamecocks can recover in 2015.
A neutral-site game with North Carolina opens the season, and games with Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Clemson will test the defense as well. Don’t expect significant overall improvement this fall.
Projected record: 7-5
Stanford
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Stanford hopes 2015 brings a return to form. Following consecutive Pac-12 titles, the Cardinal finished 8-5 with a Foster Farms Bowl win over Maryland, but David Shaw’s team did finish strong. Stanford ended 2014 with three consecutive wins by at least three touchdowns, building momentum for 2015.
Twelve starters return (eight on offense), led by steady senior quarterback Kevin Hogan. Expect the offense to be better this fall, with sophomore tailback Christian McCaffrey taking a bigger role in the running game over Remound Wright. McCaffrey is far more athletic than the plodding Wright.
Stanford opens with Northwestern, Central Florida and Southern California, which could prove difficult. So is a season-closing stretch that includes visits from Oregon and Notre Dame. However, the Cardinal should prove that 2014 was just a bump in the road.
Projected record: 9-3
Syracuse
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Entering his third season, Scott Shafer could be facing a make-or-break year in Syracuse. The Orange took a big step back last fall, going from a bowl team to 3-9. And they return only seven starters, three on defense.
Shafer will need more from fifth-year starting quarterback Terrel Hunt to spark an offense that averaged just 17.1 points per game last fall and is adjusting to a new system under coordinator Tim Lester. Syracuse hosts LSU and Clemson and travels to Florida State and N.C. State. It’s hard to see more than three wins from this group, which could spell big trouble for Shafer.
Projected record: 3-9
TCU
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TCU was the biggest surprise of 2014, going from 4-8 to 12-1 and finishing just out of the College Football Playoff. Only a 61-58 loss at Baylor separated Gary Patterson’s team from what would have been a most surprising berth in their first year with the Air Raid passing offense.
This fall, the Horned Frogs will sneak up on no one. They boast 15 returning starters, 10 on offense, led by Heisman Trophy candidate and versatile quarterback Trevone Boykin. Boykin threw for 3,901 yards and 33 touchdowns and is a first-tier Heisman Trophy candidate. There are questions on defense, where two linebackers, including leading tackler Paul Dawson, must be replaced, but the offense, which averaged 46.5 points per game last fall (No. 2 nationally), won’t miss a beat.
TCU gets a rematch with Baylor in its regular-season finale, but first it must survive a final stretch including Texas, Kansas State, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. That would test anyone, but TCU has the offensive firepower to become a College Football Playoff contender again.
Projected record: 11-1
Tennessee
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Butch Jones is building an SEC power at Tennessee. The Volunteers broke through last fall, making their first bowl since 2010 and capping the season with a TaxSlayer Bowl rout of Iowa. Tennessee played 23 freshmen last fall, which means the Vols should be even better with a year’s experience.
They’ll return 16 starters, including standout sophomores like tailback Jalen Hurd and defensive end Derek Barnett. One key will be the development of junior quarterback Josh Dobbs, who improved as the season wore on in 2015.
Tennessee has a big Week 2 game against Oklahoma at home, but October, which features home games with Arkansas and Georgia and a trip to rival Alabama, will tell the most about UT’s readiness to be a true SEC East contender.
Projected record: 8-4
Texas
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Charlie Strong’s first season as Texas head coach didn’t exactly go as planned. Strong immediately put his culture of discipline into action, booting nine players from the Longhorns roster. Meanwhile, Texas struggled on the field, finishing 6-7 following a Texas Bowl thumping at Arkansas’ hands.
Texas returns 11 starters this fall but does add a talented recruiting class highlighted by linebacker Malik Jefferson, who should be an immediate starter. Quarterback Tyrone Swoopes, pushed into action last fall following David Ash’s career-ending concussion, has held off freshman Jerrod Heard for now, but doesn’t have much room for error.
The Longhorn offense, which averaged 21.4 points per game last fall, must be more prolific for Texas to rise above mediocrity. The Horns start with a trip to Notre Dame, and a visit from Cal won’t be a gimme, either. We’ll know plenty about this group following the start of Big 12 season featuring Oklahoma State, a trip to TCU and the annual Red River Showdown vs. Oklahoma.
Here’s guessing that fans should learn to be patient with Strong. Don’t expect immediate fruits from his labor.
Projected record: 7-5
Texas A&M
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Kevin Sumlin’s Texas A&M teams have never had a problem scoring points. Their issue has been stopping people. Last fall, the Aggies averaged 35.2 points per game but yielded 28.1, with the nadir a 59-0 embarrassment at Alabama. Sumlin did something about it, luring defensive coordinator John Chavis away from LSU to fix his defense.
Chavis will start with a strong defensive line keyed by end Myles Garrett (11.5 sacks a year ago) and Daeshon Hall. Offensively, sophomore quarterback Kyle Allen made the job his own at season’s end and held off freshman Kyler Murray this summer. Wide receivers like Ricky Seals-Jones, Josh Reynolds and Speedy Noil will make his job easier this fall.
A&M begins with a tough neutral-site showdown against Arizona State in Houston, which will test the defense immediately. A five-game stretch featuring Mississippi State, Alabama, Ole Miss and Auburn will let us know how close the Aggies really are to SEC West contention.
Projected record: 7-5
Texas Tech
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Kliff Kingsbury’s Texas Tech honeymoon ended last fall, and with good reason. The Red Raiders slipped to 4-8 thanks in large part to one of the nation’s most porous defenses. The Red Raiders allowed 41.3 points per game, fifth-worst nationally. New defensive coordinator David Gibbs hopes to stem the tide significantly this fall after being hired away from Houston. Tech returns seven starters, including four in the secondary.
Patrick Mahomes has spent preseason battling Davis Webb for the starting role and is expected to start the season as the quarterback, per Don Williams of the Amarillo Globe-News. He’ll run a potent offense that can score with almost anyone and returns eight starters, including four on the offensive line.
Texas Tech will score points, but the defense’s progress will ultimately determine how high the Raiders can rise this fall. We’ll find out quickly what Tech is made of: a three-game stretch at Arkansas, vs. TCU and vs. Baylor in late September and early October will tell us plenty.
Projected record: 6-6
Wisconsin
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Meet the new guy. Pretty similar to the old guy. When Gary Andersen bolted for Oregon State following just two seasons, Wisconsin didn’t think twice about replacing him with Pitt coach Paul Chryst. Chryst is a Madison native and a former Wisconsin player and assistant under Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema, a perfect fit for the Badgers.
Wisconsin should be one of the Big Ten’s best teams again in 2015. The Badgers must replace Heisman Trophy runner-up Melvin Gordon but have a ready-made replacement in junior Corey Clement, who excelled as his backup last fall. Senior quarterback Joel Stave needs to be steadier after throwing nine touchdowns against 10 interceptions last fall.
A defense that finished No. 4 nationally in total defense returns seven starters and is buoyed by a strong, experienced secondary. The Badgers begin with a tough neutral-site game against Alabama and must travel to Nebraska, but avoid Ohio State and Michigan State and get Iowa at home. That’s the recipe for another solid season.
Projected record: 9-3
UCLA
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Los Angeles can be a tough sports market to gain attention with its myriad professional teams and Southern California all crowding for space. But UCLA and Jim Mora Jr. are doing their best to get noticed. The Bruins have consecutive 10-win seasons and will be a strong College Football Playoff contender in 2015.
UCLA returns 17 starters, led by standout tailback Paul Perkins and versatile linebacker/tailback Myles Jack. The biggest question is at quarterback. Talented dual-threat Brett Hundley left for the NFL following his junior season, and highly regarded freshman Josh Rosen has won the job. How quickly will he pick up the learning curve? The Bruins' season could depend on it.
Rosen says he's just trying to fit in, per Joey Kaufman of the Orange County Register. "I just have to learn how to calm down, control my emotions, play within myself and not be a hero," he said.
An opening month including Virginia, BYU and a league opener at Arizona will say plenty. So will a season-ending stretch at Utah and USC. But there's no doubt this team will contend for a Pac-12 title—as long as Rosen matures quickly.
Projected record: 10-2
Utah
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Following a pair of 5-7 seasons, Utah bounced back in a big way in 2014, finishing 9-4 and capping the season with a Las Vegas Bowl blowout of Colorado State. The Utes return 11 starters, highlighted by senior tailback Devontae Booker, who rushed for 1,512 yards with toughness and speed. Coaches want senior quarterback Travis Wilson to find more consistency this fall.
Utah ranked second in the Pac-12 in total defense last fall. The Utes have a high-profile opener with Michigan and end September with a big trip to Oregon. Back-to-back October games against Arizona State and at USC will also be telling. Look for Utah to acquit itself well in league play again in 2015.
Projected record: 7-5
Vanderbilt
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Some coaches' honeymoons with fanbases fall apart after a few months. Derek Mason's fell apart after less than 60 minutes. James Franklin built a culture of winning at Vanderbilt, putting together three consecutive nine-win seasons before bolting to Penn State.
Mason, his replacement, lost his opener to Temple 37-7, and it never got much better, as Vandy slipped to 3-9. Mason fired both his offensive and defensive coordinators and could be coaching for his job this fall.
The Commodores return 17 starters, but that might not be such a good thing given the team's across-the-board struggles last fall. With an opener against Conference USA preseason favorite Western Kentucky and road games at Middle Tennessee and Houston, Vandy could be favored in as little as one game (FCS foe Austin Peay).
Projected record: 2-10
Virginia
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There's no doubt Mike London needs to win—and win now. Entering his sixth season at Virginia, London is 23-38 as the Cavaliers head coach with only one winning season. The Cavs just missed a bowl last fall at 5-7, but this season is crucial for his job security.
Virginia returns nine starters, led by standout sophomore safety Quin Blanding, but didn't do itself any favors with scheduling. The Cavs open at UCLA and host Notre Dame and Boise State in September. They avoid Clemson and Florida State from the ACC Atlantic and get Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech at home, but they must travel to Louisville and Miami. A strong start is crucial for any hopes of postseason play.
Projected record: 5-7
Virginia Tech
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Frank Beamer is the longest-tenured coach in FBS, entering his 29th season at Virginia Tech. He has enjoyed tremendous success, but since an ACC title game appearance in 2011, the Hokies are just 22-17 and .500 in ACC play. That has raised questions about Beamer's future, but he hopes to silence them this fall.
Tech returns 16 starters from a 7-6 team, including eight from a defense that allowed 20.2 points per game last fall, second-best in the ACC. Junior corner Kendall Fuller is an All-American and one of the nation's best overall defenders.
Offensively, quarterback Michael Brewer, who had 2,692 yards passing with 18 touchdowns against 15 interceptions, seeks more consistency while throwing to a receiver group that includes talented pass-catchers in Isaiah Ford, Cam Phillips and Bucky Hodges.
The season-opening visit from Ohio State will be a huge challenge, but Tech avoids both Clemson and Florida State from the ACC Atlantic. The Hokies must visit Georgia Tech and Miami but get to host Duke, North Carolina State and Pitt at Lane Stadium.
This has the potential to be a bounce-back year for Beamer and Tech.
Projected record: 9-3
Wake Forest
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Jim Grobe didn't leave Dave Clawson much in Winston-Salem. The Demon Deacons bottomed out last fall, going 3-9 with wins over Gardner-Webb, Army and Virginia Tech in Clawson's debut season. Wake was particularly inept offensively, averaging just 14.8 points and 39.9 rushing yards per game.
Wake returns 13 starters this fall, but the Deacons will be one of the nation's youngest teams again, with only four projected senior starters. Wake's offensive line must show improvement after allowing 48 sacks last fall and letting quarterback John Wolford get pummeled.
One of the biggest strengths of the entire team is the linebacker corps, led by senior Brandon Chubb. But true depth is lacking across the board. And the schedule, with trips to Notre Dame and Clemson and visits from Florida State and Louisville, is unforgiving. This won’t be an easy second season for Clawson.
Projected record: 2-10
Washington
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Chris Petersen's first season as Washington's head coach was up and down. The Huskies started 4-0 but won just two of their next seven games and dropped a 30-22 Cactus Bowl decision to Oklahoma State to finish the season 8-6.
Entering the second year in Seattle, Petersen returns just nine starters and will be breaking in a new quarterback following Cyler Miles' departure. In addition, a number of talented defenders, most notably All-American linebacker Shaq Thompson, are gone, but safety Budda Baker is a budding star.
The Huskies open with Petersen's old Boise State team, and an October stretch at USC, home vs. Oregon and at Stanford will be season-defining. This group doesn't appear to have what it takes to hang with the Pac-12's elite, however.
Projected record: 6-6
Washington State
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Mike Leach was supposed to be the savior of Washington State's program, but so far, it hasn't worked that way. The colorful Leach is 12-25 in three seasons, including a 3-9 mark last fall. The Cougars do return 13 starters this fall and have a great fit for Leach's Air Raid offense in sophomore quarterback Luke Falk.
However, a defense that yielded 38.6 points per game will have to improve under new coordinator Alex Grinch, who focuses on a fast system that likes to fly around.
The nonconference schedule is manageable, with a trip to Rutgers the biggest challenge. But the Cougs must survive an October that includes trips to Cal, Oregon and Arizona and a home date against Stanford. This doesn't look like a bowl team just yet.
Projected record: 4-8
West Virginia
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Following a subpar 4-8 record in 2013, Dana Holgorsen bought himself some time at West Virginia last fall. The Mountaineers were only 7-6 but were competitive across the board, handing Baylor its only loss and losing on a last-second field goal to TCU.
Holgorsen is breaking in a new quarterback, Skyler Howard, into his Air Raid scheme. Howard filled in for an injured Clint Trickett last season and threw for 829 yards and eight touchdowns. He'll hand off to junior Rushel Shell, a powerful runner.
The Mountaineers will bring back a solid secondary but must improve against the run, as they allowed 168.2 yards per game there last fall. Maryland is the toughest nonconference game, but October will test WVU with trips to Oklahoma, Baylor and TCU and a home game against Oklahoma State.
Projected record: 7-5
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