It’s way too early to even begin talking about the 2015 college football season right? Nope it’s not because here at RSEN we love looking ahead even if the national title game just ended last night. The Ohio St Buckeyes won huge over the Oregon Ducks 42-20 in highly convincing fashion. The Heisman Winner Mariota has most likely played his final game in college but for Ohio St they bring back possibly 15 starters and have the best two deep in the country.
So who are the contenders for the four national semi-final slots in college football? Here are my top 25 teams for the upcoming 2015-16 season, don’t hold me to it thought it’s only January we’ve got eight months to go until kickoff night.
1. Ohio St
Ohio St has the biggest quarterback battle on paper in college football history a third string quarterback who had one of the best stories in all of sports winning the national title, JT Barrett a Heisman candidate before his injury and Braxton Miller the former Big Ten offensive player of the year. I expected Miller to transfer or Jones to enter the draft but we shall see if so Ohio St brings in a top 10 recruiting class and has the best lineman in the country Joey Bosa to lead the defense. If Urban Meyer can repeat in a vastly improving Big Ten conference and avenged the Virginia Tech loss on the road in Blacksburg the Buckeyes could go undefeated and be in Tempe, Arizona lifting the title trophy up once more.
2. TCU
The Horned Frogs some feel gor robbed at a shot to play in the College Football Playoff but there are a couple ways to solve that, don’t lose to Baylor and return 17 starters back including Heisman candidate Trevone Boykin. Boykin was electric last season and Gary Patterson/Sonny Cumbie were the best coaching tandem of the year. This would be the highest ranking in TCU history if starting at No. 2.
3. Alabama
The Crimson Tide just loss Blake Sims, Amari Cooper, T.J. Yeldon and Landon Collins to the NFL but I still see them as a top 5 team, why? Well, Nick Saban and Kirby Smart that’s why, plus the defense should be better especially in the secondary where they struggled with depth and youth. Bama brings in another top 3 recruiting class that includes Kendall Sheffield and Damien Harris both No.1 at their positions and both will get playing time right away. Of course the question mark for Kiffin and Saban on offense will be at the quarterback position it’ll be a three way battle between veteran Jacob Coker, Cooper Bateman and the true freshman 17 year old Blake Barnett.
4. UCLA
Noel Mazzone, Taylor Mazzone and head honcho Jim Mora Jr will be in heaven for he 2015 season especially on offense. UCLA’s offense is on a mission after a strong finish last year to be the No.1 offense in the country. The Bruins return 10 starters back including the top 5 reception leaders on the team. UCLA also have there highest recruiting class ever and will most likely start No.1 overall prospect Josh Rosen at QB next season and he will likely have Coradell Broadus and Alize Jones along with him. Rosen is been dubbed as the next Andrew Luck so Bruin fans could see this season be there best in Westwood history.
5. Baylor
Art Briles’ high-powered offense will be minus his right hand man Phillip Montgomery (Tulsa) and Senior QB Bryce Petty but the Baylor Bears look to try and repeat as the “one true champions” of the BIG XII. Seth Russell takes over the helm on offense and they are loaded everywhere but the biggest thing for the Bears was keeping the sensational Shawn Oakman.
6. Michigan St
Shilique Calhoun and Connor Cook some scouts say are top 10 picks and the Spartans are more than ecstatic to bring them back and one of the better defenses in the country. Mark Dantonio’s Spartans take on Ohio St on the road and host the Oregon Ducks early on for a inter-conference match-up.
7. Mississippi St
Dak Prescott returns to Starkville for another run at an SEC West title and possible Heisman Trophy which at one point he was the front runner for. Prescott could have been a top 50 draft pick but the choice to stay for his Senior year under Dan Mullen was the best for the long term. The Orange Bowl to Georgia Tech was highly disappointing but look to bounce back early next season.
8. USC
USC only losses eight player from the whole Trojan roster and rejoice Southern Cal fans the sanctions are finally all lifted. The Trojans will have depth and some youth which is a great thing if you are head coach Steve Sarkisian. USC returns Cody Kessler, four offensive lineman, talented true freshman Adoree Jackson and JuJu Smith and the best safety in college Su’a Cravens. USC also is projected a top 10 finish in recruiting. Keys will be replacing future first rounders Leonard Williams and Nelson Agholor who both left early for the NFL.
9. Ole Miss
Ole Miss returns a very experienced and talented offensive line that includes Laremy Tunsil a potential top 10 pick at LT. Hugh Freeze’s defense will be just as good as last year led by Junior defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche. The question marks will be Laquon Treadwell’s return off a broken leg and replacing up and down QB Bo Wallace, though Devante Kincaid may be an upgrade over Wallace at the position.
10. Oregon
Jeff Lockie or Morgan Mahalak will have the hardest job in the nation trying to replace the best player in college and Heisman winner Marcus Mariota. Oregon will be a run dominate team and try an make the quarterback have the easiest reads possible with a lighting fast receiving corps. At running back the Ducks will have Royce Freeman, Thomas Tyner, Byron Marshall (FL) and true freshman from Georgia Taj Griffin.
11. Georgia
Brian Schottenheimer replaces Mike Bobo as offensive coordinator and Mark Richt comes back for another shot and quieting his doubters across the country. The SEC East is up for grabs and when you have Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and Keith Marshall as your running backs you are in great hands.
12. LSU
The Tigers need a defensive coordinator that is worthy because losing Chavis is bigger than most fans think. Les Miles has an amazingly talented defense coming back and are young, fast and big at the wide-out position but need to find balance on offense to win the SEC again. Brandon Harris and Anthony Jennings were beyond bad last season and LSU is hoping to get a transfer in our for one of the two to improve their accuracy to help out Heisman threat Leonard Fournette.
13. Florida St
The amazing 29 game winning streak is over and the Noles’ lose Goldman, Edwards Jr both CB’s Darby/Williams, Greene and the whole offensive line not to mention the former Heisman winner Jameis Winston next season so it may be a bridge season for FSU. But, in Jimbo Fisher we trust and they have recruited incredibly well the past three season landing in the top 10 in every overall class, so it’s time for the youngster to step up. Sean McGuire or possibly Braxton Miller will be the QB next, regardless of who it is they have some big shoes to fill.
14. Clemson
The Deshaun Watson and Dabo Swinney era officially begins after a up and down year filled with injuries and quarterback changes. Clemson gets their two toughest games at home in 2015 versus Notre Dame and Florida St. Let’s see if the Tigers can turn the corner and win the ACC and possibly play for it all in January.
15. Arizona
The Pac-12 south champs have the deepest wide receiver core in the country and Rich Rodriquez has toys Anu Solomon, Nick Wilson and Jared Baker back to score 40 plus points a game this season. Zona may be know for their offense but the best defensive player in the Pac-12 is Scooby Wright, the 6’3 all-american linebacker leads the way and Wildcat fans no Oregon in the regular season this time.
16. Oklahoma
To say the Oklahoma Sooners had a bad year would be an understatement, the BIG XII losses and the embarrassing Clemson blowout were enough to fire the whole offensive staff. OU needs Lincoln Riley the former ECU offensive coordinator to find a balance with the loaded Sooner backfield but also needs to help Trevor Knight improve at the QB position too. OU had some big early entrees that included Jordan Phillips and Dorial Green-Beckham but other than that OU retains the core of one of the most talented two deeps in the country.
17. Mizzou
The Tigers are due for a third straight year with ten wins and another shot at the SEC East title led by Maty Mauk and company. Gary Pinkel and his Missouri Tigers lose Shane Ray (SEC DPOTY) but retunrs the whole back seven for another year.
18. Texas A&M
Aggieland will be rocking and rolling as always since Kevin Sumlin and Jake Spavital have set foot in the door and now add a top five defensive coordinator to the mix in John Chavis (LSU) and you have something special brewing in College Station. Kyle Allen will start at quarterback and have weapons Noil, Jones-Seals and “dose Tre’s” at running back. Oh and I forgot to mention the best defensive lineman in the conference Myles Garrett.
19. Tennessee
Butch Jones has Tennessee as SEC champion dark-horse for 2015-16′ season. The Vols need consistent quarterback play (an on-going theme in the SEC) from Joshua Dobbs and the youth needs to turn into experience real quick. Vols may be be one year way from serious contention but I could see them winning 9 or 10 ball games this upcoming season.
20. Arkansas
Bret Bielema and the Razorbacks played a tough hard nosed brand of football all year and I expect them to be even more explosive and seasoned in 2015′. Jonathan Williams, Brandon Allen and Alex Collins all return and the core of the defense does as well.
21. Auburn
Gus Malzhan has his work cut out for him this upcoming season on defensive but bringing in Will Muschamp was possibly just what the Tiger defense needed. Get use to hearing Jeremy Johnson to Duke Williams next year and watch out for JUCO transfer Jovon Robinson at 6’0 220 with 4.5 flat speed he is possibly the most talented running back Malzhan has ever coached.
22. Arizona St
The Sun Devils were suppose to drop off because of senior losses but this coaching staff is underrated and ASU does one of the best jobs at recruiting JUCO players as well as high school stars. Mike Bercovici will be a sixth year senior taking over for Taylor Kelly and Todd Graham will have DJ Foster and Demario Richard in the backfield, two of the most versatile backs in the nation. ASU gets USC and Oregon at home next season and looks for revenge over Arizona in Tucson.
23. Notre Dame
We have no clue if Mailk Zaire or Everrett Golson will be behind center next year but we do know that the Fighting Irish a very talented defense led by Jaylon Smith and a talented group of receivers. If they can keep Ronnie Stanley at left tackle and Golson cuts down on his turnovers Brian Kelly and the Irish could sneak into the conversation for the CFP.
24. Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets bring back 14 starters from last year’s surprising team but do lose their top two wide receivers who were special player makers in the red zone. Junior QB Justin Thomas is the best signal caller Paul Johnson has ever had for this triple option attack. Thomas passed for 1,719 yards with 18 touchdowns and ran for 1,068 yards 8 touchdowns and only 11 turnovers. Tech has to survive road games at Notre Dame, Virginia, Miami-FL, Duke and Clemson.
25. Miami-FL
Speed, Speed and more Speed is back at the U for Al Golden but it’s not hard to get players at Miami it’s tough to develop them and to find a QB. Golden found his quarterback last season unexpectedly in true freshman Brad Kaaya. Kaayya will have to pick up the load for the offensive with the loss of Duke Johnson.
Others receiving votes- Boise St, Wisconsin, BYU , Michigan, Louisville, Florida, Penn St, Kentucky, Utah, Stanford
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