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KingKoolKat75
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1. LSU
This is why the whole Les Miles Hot Seat issue was such a big deal – any new coach who would’ve stepped in would’ve inherited a heater. Leonard Fournette is the star of the show, but he’s just a part of the puzzle with just about everyone else back. Almost all the top tacklers return highlighted by a devastating front four. The linebacking corps needs some retooling, but that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Brandon Harris might not be Cam Newton, but he’s going into his third season at quarterback and should be far stronger with his experience and a phenomenal receiving corps to work with. Vadal Alexander is gone on the O line, but everyone else is back
2. Clemson
If you liked last season’s team, that’s nothing compared to what’s coming up next. No one saw 2015 coming after losing almost everyone on the defensive front, but the 2016 team returns with far more experience and loads and loads of talent. QB Deshaun Watson and RB Wayne Gallman lead a killer ground game behind a line that gets back three starters, and almost all the key receivers are back. The defense loses Shaq Lawson up front, but almost all the other top tacklers return.
3. Florida State
The Seminoles took a year off, but now they’ll be back. Ten underclassmen started against Houston, but now they’ll form the nucleus of another national championship-caliber team under Jimbo Fisher. Dalvin Cook will be in the Heisman race from the start working behind a line that returns all five starters. Superstar corner Jalen Ramsey left early, and five other starters are gone from the defense, but it should still be as athletic as any D in the country. There’s a massive loss, though, with PK Roberto Aguayo going to the NFL.
4. Oklahoma
The Orange Bowl might have been a massive disappointment, but the Sooners had an outstanding season – they should be even better. Baker Mayfield is back leading what should be another killer attack with Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon running behind a good line with three starters returning. The receiving corps is fine, while the defense should be great even after losing several key parts. There’s enough depth to make up for the losses of Eric Striker and Charles Tapper up front and CB Zack Sanchez in the secondary.
5. Baylor
Last year the Ohio State quarterback situation was the best in the country, but this year Baylor has the most interesting group. There’s no wrong answer, depending on who’s healthy, and there’s no shortage of big-time skill guys to keep the fun going even after losing WR Corey Coleman. The running backs that went nuts on North Carolina are back, but there’s a problem – that O line needs to start from near-scratch with just one starter back. However, the defense should be stronger with seven of the top ten tacklers returning.
6. Ohio State
It’s going to be an easy narrative that Ohio State has too much to replace to be in the national championship chase. Whatever. Urban Meyer has dealt with far worse. The loss of a boatload of underclassmen hurts the offense, the defensive front four is gutted, and losing Darron Lee from the linebacking corps is an issue, but years of great recruiting should make up for it. There’s more where all the lost underclassmen and lost talent came from. J.T. Barrett is back to lead the offense, and getting Pat Elflein back to anchor the O line will help.
7. Tennessee
Okay, Tennessee, now there’s absolutely no excuse. Butch Jones has had more than enough time to put everything in place, and now he has the team to be a legitimate threat for the national title with almost all the skill players back including QB Josh Dobbs, RB Jalen Hurd, and most of the top receivers. With the expected rise of star DT Kahlil McKenzie, the defensive front seven should be a brick wall. Now all the experience has to translate into production.
8. Alabama
This is based on brand name alone. Of course Alabama has NFL talent waiting in the wings, and of course it’s able to fill in the gaps better than any team in college football, but the defense is gutted with just about the entire front seven needing to be replaced. The excellent rotation should help keep the front three going, and the D will be fine in time. The offensive backfield has to replace the backfield, and two starters are gone up front, but the receivers are special.
9. Michigan
There are some huge holes to fill, but the foundation is in place to be in the Big Ten title hunt. The assumption is that Jim Harbaugh will really kick things into high gear after a year back in the swing of college things. Can the Wolverines solve the quarterback situation right away? The running backs are outstanding and the line should be among the best in the Big Ten. The defensive line and secondary are going to be special, but Harbaugh has to replace his top linebackers.
10. Oklahoma State
If 2014 was a rebuilding season, and 2015 was a retooling and sharpening one, 2016 could be a monster. Star DE Emmanuel Ogbah is leaving early for the NFL, but almost all the key parts are back on defense, the running game should be fantastic behind a line that welcomes back all five starters, and QB Mason Rudolph is a rising star.
College Football Rankings: 2016 Way-Too-Early Top 25 -
This is why the whole Les Miles Hot Seat issue was such a big deal – any new coach who would’ve stepped in would’ve inherited a heater. Leonard Fournette is the star of the show, but he’s just a part of the puzzle with just about everyone else back. Almost all the top tacklers return highlighted by a devastating front four. The linebacking corps needs some retooling, but that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Brandon Harris might not be Cam Newton, but he’s going into his third season at quarterback and should be far stronger with his experience and a phenomenal receiving corps to work with. Vadal Alexander is gone on the O line, but everyone else is back
2. Clemson
If you liked last season’s team, that’s nothing compared to what’s coming up next. No one saw 2015 coming after losing almost everyone on the defensive front, but the 2016 team returns with far more experience and loads and loads of talent. QB Deshaun Watson and RB Wayne Gallman lead a killer ground game behind a line that gets back three starters, and almost all the key receivers are back. The defense loses Shaq Lawson up front, but almost all the other top tacklers return.
3. Florida State
The Seminoles took a year off, but now they’ll be back. Ten underclassmen started against Houston, but now they’ll form the nucleus of another national championship-caliber team under Jimbo Fisher. Dalvin Cook will be in the Heisman race from the start working behind a line that returns all five starters. Superstar corner Jalen Ramsey left early, and five other starters are gone from the defense, but it should still be as athletic as any D in the country. There’s a massive loss, though, with PK Roberto Aguayo going to the NFL.
4. Oklahoma
The Orange Bowl might have been a massive disappointment, but the Sooners had an outstanding season – they should be even better. Baker Mayfield is back leading what should be another killer attack with Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon running behind a good line with three starters returning. The receiving corps is fine, while the defense should be great even after losing several key parts. There’s enough depth to make up for the losses of Eric Striker and Charles Tapper up front and CB Zack Sanchez in the secondary.
5. Baylor
Last year the Ohio State quarterback situation was the best in the country, but this year Baylor has the most interesting group. There’s no wrong answer, depending on who’s healthy, and there’s no shortage of big-time skill guys to keep the fun going even after losing WR Corey Coleman. The running backs that went nuts on North Carolina are back, but there’s a problem – that O line needs to start from near-scratch with just one starter back. However, the defense should be stronger with seven of the top ten tacklers returning.
6. Ohio State
It’s going to be an easy narrative that Ohio State has too much to replace to be in the national championship chase. Whatever. Urban Meyer has dealt with far worse. The loss of a boatload of underclassmen hurts the offense, the defensive front four is gutted, and losing Darron Lee from the linebacking corps is an issue, but years of great recruiting should make up for it. There’s more where all the lost underclassmen and lost talent came from. J.T. Barrett is back to lead the offense, and getting Pat Elflein back to anchor the O line will help.
7. Tennessee
Okay, Tennessee, now there’s absolutely no excuse. Butch Jones has had more than enough time to put everything in place, and now he has the team to be a legitimate threat for the national title with almost all the skill players back including QB Josh Dobbs, RB Jalen Hurd, and most of the top receivers. With the expected rise of star DT Kahlil McKenzie, the defensive front seven should be a brick wall. Now all the experience has to translate into production.
8. Alabama
This is based on brand name alone. Of course Alabama has NFL talent waiting in the wings, and of course it’s able to fill in the gaps better than any team in college football, but the defense is gutted with just about the entire front seven needing to be replaced. The excellent rotation should help keep the front three going, and the D will be fine in time. The offensive backfield has to replace the backfield, and two starters are gone up front, but the receivers are special.
9. Michigan
There are some huge holes to fill, but the foundation is in place to be in the Big Ten title hunt. The assumption is that Jim Harbaugh will really kick things into high gear after a year back in the swing of college things. Can the Wolverines solve the quarterback situation right away? The running backs are outstanding and the line should be among the best in the Big Ten. The defensive line and secondary are going to be special, but Harbaugh has to replace his top linebackers.
10. Oklahoma State
If 2014 was a rebuilding season, and 2015 was a retooling and sharpening one, 2016 could be a monster. Star DE Emmanuel Ogbah is leaving early for the NFL, but almost all the key parts are back on defense, the running game should be fantastic behind a line that welcomes back all five starters, and QB Mason Rudolph is a rising star.
College Football Rankings: 2016 Way-Too-Early Top 25 -
Those are terrible.
