Athlon's Preseason Top 25

[Gatorchip]

Return 4 starting OL
Return 2 1st round WRs
Return starting running back
And Mac Jones proved he is a good QB at end of last season.

Pretty much whole offense is back plus we get back all of our injured guys on defense from last year. We will be pretty good

Ok. But how does that compair to what the top 3 SEC teams bring to the 2020 season?

 

[handicappers]

Oregon ranked too low.

Iowa ranged waaay too low.

Why Is VT ranked?

No way college football gets played this season. No way.

 

[socaljim242]

Blind pigs occasionally find acorns too. Like I said, you have one 5 star on your roster, half our starters are 5 stars and were the #1 recruit at their position.

Maybe they have peaked. lol. Hopefully.lol

 

[socaljim242]

Oregon ranked too low.

Iowa ranged waaay too low.

Why Is VT ranked?

No way college football gets played this season. No way.

Oregon is gonna be interesting. Its not the old Oregon (the new old Oregon lol) . They don't have a QB with experience now and they are transitioning to a more power running offense . They have some good O linemen and have recruited more but will they be able to keep up on the the scoreboard. Their defense was good but I have doubts it can hold some teams under 20 which is about the only way they are gonna win because this new Oregon offense is built to be a 24-28 point a game squad. USC is gonna put up over 36 points on them and I don't see Oregon being able to put up more.

 

[PnkPanther]

I question if Minnesota should be so high. Are they really this good or are they a 1-year wonder.

look at how they closed out 2017 and carried momentum over into 2018.

Fleck is cashing in on his success on field in recruiting trail as well. We're getting out of state 4 star kids which was unheard of. Our lower rated recruits used to be our high mark under prior regime.

Mn isn't going 11-2 every year, but they should remain competitive in the west.

This year, I'm little worried about defense, we lost a lot. On offense we return our entire OL, Morgan/Bateman are juniors. Ibrahim is a good RB....

 

[HuskerinBig10]

I question if Minnesota should be so high. Are they really this good or are they a 1-year wonder.

13 returning starters

Ranking Big Ten teams by number of returning starters in 2020

Minny plays in the B1G W. Northwestern, Illinois, Nebraska, and Purdue are all Ws. B1G E Maryland is a W.

FCS Tenn tech is a W​

Tough games could be Michigan State, BYU, and Florida Atlantic.

really tough games Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Iowa is going to have their hands full with them. Iowa will play Northern Iowa and Iowa State, two instate rivals that will give Iowa their best shots. Minnesota will play Tenn Tech the week before Iowa.

Minnesota is going bowling with 6 for sure wins.
three toss up games where they will be favored, two home games, one away game.
Three games they won't be favored, but Minnesota is not a for sure loser in them. two home games, one away game.

My napkin math says Minnesota 9-3.

 

[Rolltide94]

Ok. But how does that compair to what the top 3 SEC teams bring to the 2020 season?

LSU was decimated
Georgia should be pretty good and a clear favorite to win the East. The second place East team barely beat two mediocre ACC teams and Kentucky.

Alabama is third.

Nobody else in the SEC is worth talking about because the talent gap is too big.

 

[Thiefery]

LSU was decimated
Georgia should be pretty good and a clear favorite to win the East. The second place East team barely beat two mediocre ACC teams and Kentucky.

Alabama is third.

Nobody else in the SEC is worth talking about because the talent gap is too big.

Wonder how LSu does without Brady.. Tiger fans act like he was just the passing game coordinator but we seen what the OC did the season before too. To me the SEC is pretty open. I favor Bama and GA to meet up again for the CCG.

 

[Gatorchip]

The second place East team barely beat two mediocre ACC teams and Kentucky.

That sounds bad... all of those close wins. How would they do against Auburn I wonder?

Georgia has recruiting on their side, but Florida has momentum and the best QB in the SEC returning.

Alabama is third.

Only in your heart. The polls and head-to-head vs Auburn are the objective evidence that you are rejecting.

But you're an Alabama fan, so are used to claiming falsehoods. I give you a pass.

 

[Thiefery]

That sounds bad... all of those close wins. How would they do against Auburn I wonder?

Georgia has recruiting on their side, but Florida has momentum and the best QB in the SEC returning.

Guess you missed the part that Kellen Mond is returning this season
Only in your heart. The polls and head-to-head vs Auburn are the objective evidence that you are rejecting.

But you're an Alabama fan, so are used to claiming falsehoods. I give you a pass.

 

[Rolltide94]

That sounds bad... all of those close wins. How would they do against Auburn I wonder?

Georgia has recruiting on their side, but Florida has momentum and the best QB in the SEC returning.


Only in your heart. The polls and head-to-head vs Auburn are the objective evidence that you are rejecting.

But you're an Alabama fan, so are used to claiming falsehoods. I give you a pass.

Good for you, we've lost to Auburn in years when we've beaten you like a drum. When did the SEC poll come out, because last I checked we were both 6-2 and Auburn finished 5-3. If that is the best QB in the SEC, we are all fucked.

I'll give Mullen credit, he usually coaches up shitty players well, he did it at Mrs. State and based on his quantity over quality so far at Florida, he plans to do the same. Does Dan know you don't have to offer 3 stars in December(of their Junior year)...I don't know, maybe he did have to at Mrs. State, guess old habits are hard to break.

 

[Rolltide94]

Wonder how LSu does without Brady.. Tiger fans act like he was just the passing game coordinator but we seen what the OC did the season before too. To me the SEC is pretty open. I favor Bama and GA to meet up again for the CCG.

I think their problem is going to be not just the coaches, but the lack of spring. It is going to hurt the teams that lost offensively the most. LSU lost most of theirs, we bring back the majority of ours. LSU has a lot of talent, so they will be dangerous, and they get Texas early and Florida mid-season, but they get us, Auburn and A&M in November.

 

[Boise4Life]

Return 4 starting OL
Return 2 1st round WRs
Return starting running back
And Mac Jones proved he is a good QB at end of last season.

Pretty much whole offense is back plus we get back all of our injured guys on defense from last year. We will be pretty good

The receivers have been simply ridiculous for a while now. Is Jones going to beat out Young for the starting job? He’s good but I would doubt that. I guess we’ll see what the kid has to offer. I watched some of his tape and he looks like a complete stud.

 

[Gatorchip]

Good for you, we've lost to Auburn in years when we've beaten you like a drum. When did the SEC poll come out, because last I checked we were both 6-2 and Auburn finished 5-3. If that is the best QB in the SEC, we are all fucked.

I'll give Mullen credit, he usually coaches up shitty players well, he did it at Mrs. State and based on his quantity over quality so far at Florida, he plans to do the same. Does Dan know you don't have to offer 3 stars in December(of their Junior year)...I don't know, maybe he did have to at Mrs. State, guess old habits are hard to break.

4th place says what?

 

[Olyduck]

Under Harbaugh:
Michigan has been ranked Preseason 4 times
Michigan has finished ranked 4 times

Since joining the SEC:
A&M has been ranked Preseason 3 times
A&M has finished ranked 3 times.

How many conference championships does Harbs have?

 

[Rolltide94]

The receivers have been simply ridiculous for a while now. Is Jones going to beat out Young for the starting job? He’s good but I would doubt that. I guess we’ll see what the kid has to offer. I watched some of his tape and he looks like a complete stud.

Maybe with a Spring. He might be better than Jones at some point in the season, but not starting out. I think we will see more balance on offense, we have two stud receivers and two running backs that were #1 in their respective recruiting classes, I'd be surprised if we didn't use them.

 

[iowajerms]

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
5. Penn State
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. LSU
9. Notre Dame
10. Oregon

I agree with Top 4. Alabama or Clemson at #1 right now. I think Penn State might be a little high. I don't think they should be above the 2nd or 3rd SEC team. I am fine with Oregon at #10. I don't see anyone below them I can put above them.

11. Texas A&M
12. Wisconsin
13. Auburn
14. Oklahoma State
15. Michigan
16. Texas
17. Iowa State
18. North Carolina
19. USC
20. Minnesota

I look at this list and think of blue bloods that are down or rising teams that were not very good not too long ago. I wonder when the last time a preseason poll didn't have a mid-major in the Top 20?

21. Cincinnati
22. UCF
23. Boise State
24. Virginia Tech
25. Iowa

Top mid majors and 2 teams you don't want to rank too high or not rank at all.

 

[Olyduck]

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
5. Penn State
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. LSU
9. Notre Dame
10. Oregon

I agree with Top 4. Alabama or Clemson at #1 right now. I think Penn State might be a little high. I don't think they should be above the 2nd or 3rd SEC team. I am fine with Oregon at #10. I don't see anyone below them I can put above them.

11. Texas A&M
12. Wisconsin
13. Auburn
14. Oklahoma State
15. Michigan
16. Texas
17. Iowa State
18. North Carolina
19. USC
20. Minnesota

I look at this list and think of blue bloods that are down or rising teams that were not very good not too long ago. I wonder when the last time a preseason poll didn't have a mid-major in the Top 20?

21. Cincinnati
22. UCF
23. Boise State
24. Virginia Tech
25. Iowa

Top mid majors and 2 teams you don't want to rank too high or not rank at all.

2 years ago

 

[Olyduck]

Oregon is gonna be interesting. Its not the old Oregon (the new old Oregon lol) . They don't have a QB with experience now and they are transitioning to a more power running offense . They have some good O linemen and have recruited more but will they be able to keep up on the the scoreboard. Their defense was good but I have doubts it can hold some teams under 20 which is about the only way they are gonna win because this new Oregon offense is built to be a 24-28 point a game squad. USC is gonna put up over 36 points on them and I don't see Oregon being able to put up more.

you have doubts a team that held 8 teams under 20 can hold teams under 20?
you think a team that only managed 24 is gonna put up 36 and you dont think a team that put up 56 can out score them?

 

[ericd7633]

How many conference championships does Harbs have?

How is that relevant when he's never been predicted to win one?