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#1 Ohio State Buckeyes - 14-1 (8-0)
Ohio State started last season off with many questions, especially with Braxton Miller going down. An early loss vs Virginia Tech made many think that they were dead in the water, but they ran the table the rest of the season and ended up making it into the CFB playoffs and ended up winning it all.
They return a lot of players that were on their championship team of last season. Including Ezekiel Elliot, Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett, Braxton Miller (who will play as a WR in 2015). Their offense also returns talented WRs in junior Michael Thomas, sophomore Jalin Marshall (Marshall will miss the opener vs VT due to suspension though), and Corey Smith. Their offensive line will be as good if not better than last season's, they return 4-5 starters and they And although Bosa and three other Buckeyes will miss the opener, that will be the only game they miss barring any other suspensions. In my opinion, the Buckeyes should be in good hands next season especially considering that there really is only one or two teams in the Big-Ten can get close to matching their depth, and physicality.
Key offensive player: RB Ezekiel Elliot
Key defensive player: DE Joey Bosa
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee - USA Today Sports ______________________________________________________________________________
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#2 TCU Horned Frogs - 12-1 (8-1)
TCU went from being 4-8 to 12-1 in just a season. They almost made it to the CFP last season, but a blown lead at Big-12 foe Baylor and the lack of a championship game in their conference cost them at the end of the season. But they did make it to the Peach Bowl where they demolished Ole Miss, 42-3.
With talented QB Trevone Boykin (who many think can win the Heisman this season), back for a another season, he can only really grow as a player. Especially since they return some of his passing targets from last season in guys like Josh Doctson, Kolby Listenbee, Deante' Gary, and Ty Slanina and with those guys returning, that just makes TCU even more dangerous. On the defensive side, they should be improved also, their defense wasn't necessarily one of the best last season, but with guys like senior DL James McFarland (who could be a top 50 draft prospect) returning for another season, their defense will likely show signs of improvement this season. Their defense will be a more experienced, deeper version next season, especially with the addition of 4-star CB DeShawn Raymond. TCU has some tough games on the schedule like their games at Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State, and at Kansas State. But those are also winnable games for the Horned Frogs, but fortunately for them, they get the game that will likely decide the Big-12 between them and Baylor at home. So look for TCU to be in not just the Big-12 championship conversation, but also the CFP conversation again this season.
Key offensive player: QB Trevone Boykin
Key defensive player: DE James McFarland
Photo Credit: Scott Cunningham - Getty Images
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#3 Alabama Crimson Tide 12-2 (7-1)
Alabama went 12-2 last season, won the SEC and the CFP. But for Bama fans, anything short of a National Championship is disappointing, and I'm sure it's the same with head coach Nick Saban.
One of Alabama's main question on offense is their QB situation, with Blake Sims absence many think transfer QB Jacob Coker will take over that position, but he's gonna have competition. There are other guys that could beat him out, but Bama is so strong at the other positions, that the QB situation isn't as big as it could be. Bama loses Heisman finalist and Biletnikoff winner Amari Cooper (who got drafted #4 overall by the Oakland Raiders) with Cooper heading to the NFL, it makes people wonder how Alabama's offense will be as elite as it was in 2014. The answer is, or at least is in my opinion Tide running back Derrick Henry. Henry is a power back, which is more rare nowadays than it was 10-15 years ago. But because of his size and strength he should be a load to bring down, and because of that Bama's running game should be able to make the loss of Cooper less known on the field. Also, running back Kenyan Drake (who could probably share some snaps with Henry in the backfield) will be back this season after missing a large part of last season with a gruesome leg injury. Bama's defense on the other hand should be in great shape, because of the talent of their front seven that is led by A'Shawn Robinson. Bama brings back seniors LB Reggie Ragland, DB Cyrus Jones, Bradley Sylve, Dillon Lee, Geno Smith, Denzel Devall, D.J. Pettway, Jarran Reed, and Darren Lake to name most of the guys returning. Alabama has one of the toughest schedules, if not the toughest schedule in college football. They open with a tough non-conference opponent in Wisconsin, and then in SEC play they have tough cross-divisional games at Georgia, and vs Tennessee. And they also have to play at Texas A&M, at Mississippi State, and at Auburn. Fortunately for them though, they get Ole Miss, LSU, and Arkansas at home. Although they have a tough schedule, their defense should be as stout as ever. And their offense will have a good running game, and if they can figure out the QB situation they'll be complete on offense. Overall, Bama shouldn't miss a beat this season, they'll be back competing again this season like they have been in the past.
Key offensive player: RB Derrick Henry
Key defensive player: DT A'Shawn Robinson
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#4 Auburn Tigers 8-5 (4-4)
Auburn was predicted by most to finish in the top 3 not only in the SEC West, but also the SEC. Instead they finished forth in the West, sixth overall in the SEC, and they lost to Wisconsin 34-31 in the Outback Bowl.
Auburn's defense was one of the main reasons they finished worse than expected. But their defense can only really improve this season after struggling so much last season, especially with 5-star freshman defensive end Byron Cowart coming in, star LB Kris Frost returning for another year, and Will Muschamp taking the reins of the defense. On the other hand, their offense was definitely a bright spot last season. And yes, Sammie Coates is headed to the NFL, but with star WR Duke Williams returning, Auburn should be as good if not better on offense next year, and even though QB Nick Marshall is gone, they should improve with more of a passing QB in Jeremy Johnson taking the reins as QB for Auburn this season. Their running game will take a hit with Cameron Artis-Payne leaving, but Sophomore Roc Thomas should be able to step in, and give them an immediate impact. Auburn like pretty much all of the other SEC teams have a tough schedule this season. Auburn opens up the season with Louisville, who is a tough non-conference opponent. And they have to go at LSU, at Arkansas, and at Texas A&M. But they get games vs Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia, and probably the most crucial one of all vs Alabama at home. Auburn will likely be a contender for both the SEC championship and a spot in the CFP this season.
Key offensive player: WR Duke Williams
Key defensive player: LB Kris Frost
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#5 Michigan State Spartans 11-2 (7-1)
Michigan State were one of the top picks to win the Big-Ten last season, and they pretty much lived up to that hype, but considering that they had the eventual National champions at home they had the chance to make the CFP and possibly have a rematch with Oregon, but instead they faced Baylor (who they beat) in the Cotton Bowl.
Although RB Jeremy Langford is headed pro, QB Connor Cook along with three wide receivers decided to return for their senior years. As hard as it'll be for Michigan State to fill in the loss of their top wide receiver Tony Lippett, those three returning wide receivers and freshman WR's Felton Davis III, and Darrell Stewart Jr. should help quiet the loss of Lippett on the field. Their running game will take a hit this season with losses of Jeremy Langford and Nick Hill. But junior RBs Delton Williams, and R.J. Shelton who can play multiple positions will probably get some carries at RB this season also. So those two guys will do their best to replace the two departed seniors. Michigan State lost a pair of key players in Trae Waynes, and Kurtis Drummond, but a lot of talent still remains in their pass defense with players like FS R.J. WIlliamson, SS Montae Nicholson, CB Darian Hicks, and Demetrious Cox. And their front seven that was stout last year returns most of the guys that help them hold offenses under 90 yards per carry (YPC). The Spartans will finish up their home-and-home series vs Oregon in East Lansing this season, but other than that game, their CFP hopes will probably hinge on their game at Ohio State to not only stay in the CFP race, but also their Big-Ten championship hopes. Michigan State has the talent to make it to the CFP this season, and if they can get past those two (or even one) of tough games on their schedule vs Oregon and at Ohio State. So don't be surprised if you hear the Spartans mentioned in the CFP talk this season.
Key offensive player: QB Connor Cook
Key defensive player: DE Shilique Calhoun
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Key offensive player: RB Royce Freeman
Key defensive player: DE DeForest Buckner
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#7 Georgia Bulldogs 10-3 (6-2)
Georgia showed flashes of a team that could make it to the CFB playoff last season, but with Todd Gurley getting suspended, they just couldn't sustain it. They finished 10-3 and defeated Louisville in the Belk Bowl.
Georgia seems to be one of those teams that always has high expectations at the beginning of the season, but this season could be the season that they exceed those expectations. I can tell you one thing, they certainly have the talent too. Georgia gets back three notable running backs in star Nick Chubb, and two other RB's in Sony Michel, and Keith Marshall. They also return senior WR Malcolm Mitchell, and senior TE Jay Rome. But they do lose starting QB from last season Hutson Mason, and star RB Todd Gurley, and those losses won't be easy to replace. But with all the talent at RB, and former Virginia QB Grayson Lambert along with the three other QB's the Bulldogs should be in good shape at QB and RB even though they lost starters from last season at those positions. On the defensive side, Georgia should only improve. The Bulldogs were more on the mediocre side last season, especially comparing them to some of the other top defenses in the SEC. But this season they should be better, not only because 7 starters from last season return. But also because they signed 5-star DT Trent Thompson, along with more than 10 other defensive signees. Georgia has a very, very tough schedule. Their two cross-divisional opponents happen to be Alabama and Auburn. And they have to go at Tennessee, and (although this game doesn't have anything to do with the SEC race, it will probably have a lot to do with the CFP race) at Georgia Tech, and those two games won't be easy. But Georgia will still likely be the team to beat in the SEC East next year, and they should also not just be one of the top teams in the SEC next season, but they will also be one of those teams people are talking about heading down the final stretch of the season.
Key offensive player: RB Nick Chubb
Key defensive player: LB Leonard Floyd
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#8 Baylor Bears 11-2 (8-1)
The main reason Baylor was so successful last season was their offense. They were one of the top teams in the nation in almost every offensive category, but with the late season surgence of Ohio State they missed out on the CFB Playoff barely. And instead they made it to the Cotton Bowl where the fell to Michigan State,
Baylor's offense was as explosive as any offense could be last season, but with the losses of QB Bryce Petty, WRs Antwan Goodly, Levi Norwood, and Clay Fuller along with OT Troy Baker it'll make it harder for them to maintain that same firepower. But they do return RB Shock Linwood, WR Corey Coleman Jr. and explosive speedy WR KD Cannon. They also signed 4-star WR Blake Lynch, and 4-star RB JaMycal Hasty who will try and help them remain atop college football's offensive statistics. Baylor's defense is very young, and since they have that youth on defense they return a lot of the guys they have last season. Most notably, Shawn Oakman who went viral on the internet because of his 6'9" 290 LBS build. Baylor's schedule is relatively weak with the exception of one game at TCU, that will likely decide the Big-12. Baylor will feel the losses of guys like Bryce Petty on the field, but they should still be able to keep the offensive firepower even if it's not as potent as it was last season. Although it'll be even harder to make it to the CFP playoff this season, don't count Baylor out, they do return a lot of what helped them have success last season, and they've recruited well.
Key offensive player: WR KD Cannon
Key defensive player: DE Shawn Oakman
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#9 USC Trojans 9-4 (6-3)
USC looked like one of those teams that are knocking on the door of contending for a PAC-12 championship, they went 9-4 and defeated Nebraska in the Holiday bowl. USC is definitely one of the up and coming teams in college football, especially with all the talent they have.
Losing key players in RB Buck Allen, WR Nelson Agholor, WR George Farmer, TE Randall Telfer, and OT Aundrey Williams on offense is hard to replace. But thanks to their recent recruiting classes, USC not only heads into this upcoming season with a potential Heisman candidate at QB in Cody Kessler, but they also have a star in the making at WR and DB in JuJu Smith-Schuster. along with other guys at the skills positions that can make big contributions. On the defensive side of the ball, they return a lot of talent including Adoree Jackson who is returning from a sensational freshman season. But it won't be easy at all to overcome the losses of star DE/DT Leonard Williams, and LB Hayes Pullard. But if they can make up for those losses at least a little bit they should be alright defensively. USC schedule may be the toughest schedule in the PAC-12. They have to go at Arizona State, Notre Dame, and Oregon. But they do get Stanford, Utah, Arizona, and their arch rival UCLA at home. But even with that tough schedule, they should be up there with the best of them in the PAC-12 and they will probably be one of teams everybody is mentioning in the CFP conversation also.
Key offensive player: QB Cody Kessler
Key defensive player: DB Adoree Jackson
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#4 Auburn Tigers 8-5 (4-4)
Auburn was predicted by most to finish in the top 3 not only in the SEC West, but also the SEC. Instead they finished forth in the West, sixth overall in the SEC, and they lost to Wisconsin 34-31 in the Outback Bowl.
Auburn's defense was one of the main reasons they finished worse than expected. But their defense can only really improve this season after struggling so much last season, especially with 5-star freshman defensive end Byron Cowart coming in, star LB Kris Frost returning for another year, and Will Muschamp taking the reins of the defense. On the other hand, their offense was definitely a bright spot last season. And yes, Sammie Coates is headed to the NFL, but with star WR Duke Williams returning, Auburn should be as good if not better on offense next year, and even though QB Nick Marshall is gone, they should improve with more of a passing QB in Jeremy Johnson taking the reins as QB for Auburn this season. Their running game will take a hit with Cameron Artis-Payne leaving, but Sophomore Roc Thomas should be able to step in, and give them an immediate impact. Auburn like pretty much all of the other SEC teams have a tough schedule this season. Auburn opens up the season with Louisville, who is a tough non-conference opponent. And they have to go at LSU, at Arkansas, and at Texas A&M. But they get games vs Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia, and probably the most crucial one of all vs Alabama at home. Auburn will likely be a contender for both the SEC championship and a spot in the CFP this season.
Key offensive player: WR Duke Williams
Key defensive player: LB Kris Frost
Photo Credit: Brynn Anderson - AP
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#5 Michigan State Spartans 11-2 (7-1)
Michigan State were one of the top picks to win the Big-Ten last season, and they pretty much lived up to that hype, but considering that they had the eventual National champions at home they had the chance to make the CFP and possibly have a rematch with Oregon, but instead they faced Baylor (who they beat) in the Cotton Bowl.
Although RB Jeremy Langford is headed pro, QB Connor Cook along with three wide receivers decided to return for their senior years. As hard as it'll be for Michigan State to fill in the loss of their top wide receiver Tony Lippett, those three returning wide receivers and freshman WR's Felton Davis III, and Darrell Stewart Jr. should help quiet the loss of Lippett on the field. Their running game will take a hit this season with losses of Jeremy Langford and Nick Hill. But junior RBs Delton Williams, and R.J. Shelton who can play multiple positions will probably get some carries at RB this season also. So those two guys will do their best to replace the two departed seniors. Michigan State lost a pair of key players in Trae Waynes, and Kurtis Drummond, but a lot of talent still remains in their pass defense with players like FS R.J. WIlliamson, SS Montae Nicholson, CB Darian Hicks, and Demetrious Cox. And their front seven that was stout last year returns most of the guys that help them hold offenses under 90 yards per carry (YPC). The Spartans will finish up their home-and-home series vs Oregon in East Lansing this season, but other than that game, their CFP hopes will probably hinge on their game at Ohio State to not only stay in the CFP race, but also their Big-Ten championship hopes. Michigan State has the talent to make it to the CFP this season, and if they can get past those two (or even one) of tough games on their schedule vs Oregon and at Ohio State. So don't be surprised if you hear the Spartans mentioned in the CFP talk this season.
Key offensive player: QB Connor Cook
Key defensive player: DE Shilique Calhoun
Photo Credit: Tom Pennington - Getty Images
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#6 Oregon Ducks 13-2 (8-1)
Oregon pretty much lived up to expectations, they won the PAC-12 and made it to the college football playoff. But with the talent they had last season, it's hard to say that Oregon players, coaches, and fans are completely satisfied with their result.
Oregon will have to replace Heisman winning QB Marcus Mariota, and that won't be easy at all. However, they did get former Eastern Washington QB Veron Adams who was a 2-time finalist for the Payton Award for the best player in the FCS. He also managed to lead Eastern Washington to a stunning upset over Oregon State on the road. In terms of their talent and depth at their skill positions, they should be fine. They bring back Sophomore RB Royce Freeman who had a sensational freshman year, they also bring back Byron Marshall who can play both WR and RB, along with WRs Devon Allen, Dwyane Stanford, Darren Carrington, and Charles Nelson. They also signed 5-star RB Taj Griffin along with 4-star WR Malik Lovette. But the QB position isn't the only position Oregon has to fill, their offensive line will be without 4-year starting center Hroniss Grasu, one of the candidates to replace him is former walk-on Matt Pierson who played some last season. Their defense does lose 3 of the 4 starters in the secondary including Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, but they did sign 4-star CB Ugo Amadi who should help fill that gap. And they also signed 5-star DL Canton Kaumatule who stands 6'7" and weighs around 290 LBS. Oregon has a very tough schedule once again this season. They have to go at Michigan State in just their second game, and then in their in-conference games, they have to notably play at Arizona State and at Stanford. But they do get their two cross-divisional games vs Utah, and USC at home. Overall, they will have some gaps to fill. But with the talent they have, and their recent recruiting, don't be too surprised if they're in the PAC-12 championship again this season.
Key offensive player: RB Royce Freeman
Key defensive player: DE DeForest Buckner
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez - USA Today Sports
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#7 Georgia Bulldogs 10-3 (6-2)
Georgia showed flashes of a team that could make it to the CFB playoff last season, but with Todd Gurley getting suspended, they just couldn't sustain it. They finished 10-3 and defeated Louisville in the Belk Bowl.
Georgia seems to be one of those teams that always has high expectations at the beginning of the season, but this season could be the season that they exceed those expectations. I can tell you one thing, they certainly have the talent too. Georgia gets back three notable running backs in star Nick Chubb, and two other RB's in Sony Michel, and Keith Marshall. They also return senior WR Malcolm Mitchell, and senior TE Jay Rome. But they do lose starting QB from last season Hutson Mason, and star RB Todd Gurley, and those losses won't be easy to replace. But with all the talent at RB, and former Virginia QB Grayson Lambert along with the three other QB's the Bulldogs should be in good shape at QB and RB even though they lost starters from last season at those positions. On the defensive side, Georgia should only improve. The Bulldogs were more on the mediocre side last season, especially comparing them to some of the other top defenses in the SEC. But this season they should be better, not only because 7 starters from last season return. But also because they signed 5-star DT Trent Thompson, along with more than 10 other defensive signees. Georgia has a very, very tough schedule. Their two cross-divisional opponents happen to be Alabama and Auburn. And they have to go at Tennessee, and (although this game doesn't have anything to do with the SEC race, it will probably have a lot to do with the CFP race) at Georgia Tech, and those two games won't be easy. But Georgia will still likely be the team to beat in the SEC East next year, and they should also not just be one of the top teams in the SEC next season, but they will also be one of those teams people are talking about heading down the final stretch of the season.
Key offensive player: RB Nick Chubb
Key defensive player: LB Leonard Floyd
Photo Credit: Nell Redmond - AP
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#8 Baylor Bears 11-2 (8-1)
The main reason Baylor was so successful last season was their offense. They were one of the top teams in the nation in almost every offensive category, but with the late season surgence of Ohio State they missed out on the CFB Playoff barely. And instead they made it to the Cotton Bowl where the fell to Michigan State,
Baylor's offense was as explosive as any offense could be last season, but with the losses of QB Bryce Petty, WRs Antwan Goodly, Levi Norwood, and Clay Fuller along with OT Troy Baker it'll make it harder for them to maintain that same firepower. But they do return RB Shock Linwood, WR Corey Coleman Jr. and explosive speedy WR KD Cannon. They also signed 4-star WR Blake Lynch, and 4-star RB JaMycal Hasty who will try and help them remain atop college football's offensive statistics. Baylor's defense is very young, and since they have that youth on defense they return a lot of the guys they have last season. Most notably, Shawn Oakman who went viral on the internet because of his 6'9" 290 LBS build. Baylor's schedule is relatively weak with the exception of one game at TCU, that will likely decide the Big-12. Baylor will feel the losses of guys like Bryce Petty on the field, but they should still be able to keep the offensive firepower even if it's not as potent as it was last season. Although it'll be even harder to make it to the CFP playoff this season, don't count Baylor out, they do return a lot of what helped them have success last season, and they've recruited well.
Key offensive player: WR KD Cannon
Key defensive player: DE Shawn Oakman
Photo Credit: Kevin Freeman - TheBaylorLariat.com
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#9 USC Trojans 9-4 (6-3)
USC looked like one of those teams that are knocking on the door of contending for a PAC-12 championship, they went 9-4 and defeated Nebraska in the Holiday bowl. USC is definitely one of the up and coming teams in college football, especially with all the talent they have.
Losing key players in RB Buck Allen, WR Nelson Agholor, WR George Farmer, TE Randall Telfer, and OT Aundrey Williams on offense is hard to replace. But thanks to their recent recruiting classes, USC not only heads into this upcoming season with a potential Heisman candidate at QB in Cody Kessler, but they also have a star in the making at WR and DB in JuJu Smith-Schuster. along with other guys at the skills positions that can make big contributions. On the defensive side of the ball, they return a lot of talent including Adoree Jackson who is returning from a sensational freshman season. But it won't be easy at all to overcome the losses of star DE/DT Leonard Williams, and LB Hayes Pullard. But if they can make up for those losses at least a little bit they should be alright defensively. USC schedule may be the toughest schedule in the PAC-12. They have to go at Arizona State, Notre Dame, and Oregon. But they do get Stanford, Utah, Arizona, and their arch rival UCLA at home. But even with that tough schedule, they should be up there with the best of them in the PAC-12 and they will probably be one of teams everybody is mentioning in the CFP conversation also.
Key offensive player: QB Cody Kessler
Key defensive player: DB Adoree Jackson
Photo Credit: Mike Christy - Arizona Daily Star
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#10 Florida State Seminoles 13-1 (8-0)
Florida State went through the ACC unbeaten last season, and when ever you do that it's a pretty good season to say the least. And it was, but for many people they weren't as impressive as most thought they'd be. They went 3-11 ATS (Against the spread) last season, that's not good at all considering just the season before they went 11-3 ATS. The reason why their ATS record was so bad was mainly because of the way they played vs mediocre opponents, they defeated teams like Oklahoma State (7-6), Florida (7-5), Virginia (5-7), Boston College (7-6), Miami (6-7), and The Citadel (FCS team, 5-7) by only 54 points combined. But they still got the job done, and eventually went to the CFB Playoff where they lost to Oregon.
Florida State heads into the 2015 season with a good bit of question marks, they lost a lot of talent into the NFL Draft and there are some key players on their team that could be suspended or even dismissed at the start of the season because of non-football related incidents. But they do get WR Kermit Whitfield, WR Bobo Wilson, and (if he doesn't get suspended/dismissed) RB Dalvin Cook. On the defensive side of the ball, the Seminoles are in good hands. They notably return DB Jalen Ramsey, DB Nate Andrews, DL DeMarcus Walker, LB Reggie Northrup, and DB Lamarcus Brutus. And their defensive front seven added 4-star Darvin Taylor II, along with 4-star OLBs Sh'mar Kilby-Lane, and Lorenzo Phillips (who transferred to FSU). It won't be easy for Florida State to replace all they lost, especially with a schedule that features games at Georgia Tech, and Clemson. They do get Louisville, and NC State at home, two teams that played them pretty close last season. But, they will likely (once again) be a contender for the ACC championship and maybe more.
Key offensive player: RB Dalvin Cook (If dismissed: QB Everett Golson)
Key defensive player: DB Jalen Ramsey
Photo Credit: Andrew Weber - USA Today Sports
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#11 Clemson Tigers 10-3 (6-2)
Clemson, like Georgia, is usually a team that shows flashes of a team that can be really good. But the question is, if they can sustain it through out a season. Clemson went 10-3 last season, and crushed Oklahoma 40-6 in the Russell Athletic Bowl. But I'm sure a lot of coaches, fans, and players weren't completely satisfied with just 10-3 and a bowl win.
Clemson heads into this upcoming season with a lot of potential. Even with some of the losses on both sides of the ball, Clemson returns star QB Deshaun Watson, along with RBs Wayne Gallman and Tyshon Dye. They did their QB a big favor in signing 5-star OT Mitch Hyatt. And they also added some talent and depth at the skill positions by signing 5-star WR Deon Cain, 4-star ATH Ray-Ray McCloud III, and 4-star (according to some) TE Garrett Williams. Their defense should take a big hit because they lost 7 starters, but they do return DB MacKensie Alexander, DB Cordrea Tankersley, and S Jayron Kearse and those three guys can make a big impact. And their front seven also takes a hit with the loss of DL Vic Beasley, but DL Shaq Lawson, freshman DE Austin Bryant, and LB B.J. Goodson will try to do their best to replace Beasley. Clemson comes into this season with high hopes, and rightfully so. And their schedule is decently favorable to them, they get Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, and Florida State all at home. But, they still have a pretty tough game on the road in their third game this season at Louisville, but for a team of their caliber, their schedule adds up pretty well. And, if they can answer all the questions needed to be answered, they will likely be a contender for not only the ACC crown but also the National crown.
Key offensive player: QB Deshaun Watson
Key defensive player: LB B.J. Goodson
Photo Credit: Joshua S. Kelly - USA Today Sports
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#12 Arizona State Sun Devils 10-3 (6-3)
Arizona State is one of those teams that are on the door step to really competing for a championship. They showed some bright spots last season, like when they beat conference foes like USC and Utah. But they also showed inconsistency.
Arizona State returns a lot of talent, but they also lose key players like QB Taylor Kelly and WR Jaelen Strong, and those two guys won't be easy to replace. But they do have QB Mike Bercovici who played some last season when Taylor Kelly was out with injury, and they have WRs Cameron Smith, Fredrick Gammage, Ellis Jefferson, and Gary Chambers, and D.J. Foster. Their running game should be solid because of the fact they return Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage. D.J. Foster (who could've been up for Heisman at RB) had to move to WR because the backfield is too crowded. Arizona's State defense was more on the mediocre side last season, but this year they should be improved. They return most of their starters from last season (including notable players: LBs Salamo Fiso, Antonio Longino, and DB Jordan Simone). They also added 4-star OLB Khaylan Thomas along with fellow 4-star Joseph Wicker. Arizona State has a pretty tough, but also manageable road to make it to the PAC-12 championship and maybe the CFP this season. They have a tough first non-conference game in Texas A&M in Houston, and they have to go at UCLA, Utah. But they get games vs USC, Oregon, and Arizona at home this season, and that could be big for them. This season could be Arizona State's season to shine in the PAC-12, they have what they need in order to make it to the PAC-12 championship, and maybe, just maybe even a CFP playoff spot.
Key offensive player: WR D.J. Foster
Key defensive player: LB Salamo Fiso
Photo Credit: Christian Petersen - Getty Images
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#13 LSU Tigers 8-5 (4-4)
LSU had a rather disappointing season last season by their standards, they went 8-5 and finished 7th in the SEC with a 4-4 conference record. They were mostly just young and inconsistent last season, in some games like Wisconsin, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Texas A&M they'd played well. In others, like Mississippi State, Auburn, Arkansas and Notre Dame they struggled.
LSU has the talent to be an elite team, but they need to find a QB that can at the least be a game manager and not turn the ball over. The QB situation was one of the reasons LSU struggled last season. Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris both didn't really step up last season, Jennings took the job over mainly because of his experience edge over Harris. Jennings and Harris both have talent, but the decision making of both of the guys were more so a down side last season for the Tigers. Everywhere else is a bright spot pretty much, they have possible Heisman candidate Leonard Fournette at RB, along with a talented WR tandem in Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre. Their defense does lose Jermauria Rasco, SS Ronald Martin, and D.J. Welter, but that's all they lose. They return a lot of guys off of last season's defense. And yes, they might face some minor problems since DC John Chavis left for Texas A&M but their talent should be able to outweigh the loss of Chavis, and they'll have more experience this season compared to last. LSU's 2015 football schedule isn't doing them any favors. Although they get Auburn, Arkansas, and Texas A&M at home, they get SEC West foes, Mississippi State, Alabama, and Ole Miss on the road. But, if LSU can improve their passing game this season behind likely starter Brandon Harris, they can do something special, because they're stacked everywhere else on their roster.
Key offensive player: RB Leonard Fournette
Key defensive player: DB Tre'Davious White
Photo Credit: Scott Halleran - Getty Images
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#14 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 11-3 (6-2)
Georgia Tech finished as one of the ACC's best teams last season, and they made it into the ACC championship game where they lost to Florida State 37-35. They finished 11-3 and ended up defeating Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl
Georgia Tech heads into this season with lots of talent, they return six starters on offense. However, the four of the guys that aren't returning on offense are guys from their backfield. And Redshirt freshman B-back C.J. Leggett tore his ACL in April and will be out for this season. But they did add Stanford B-back transfer Patrick Skov and they signed freshmen Quaide Weimerskirch and Broderick Snoddy. So those guys will likely take on most of the heavy loads for their rushing attack this upcoming season. And although Georgia Tech isn't known for their passing attack they could be at least decently lethal from the passing game this season. They do lose now 49ers WR DeAndre Smelter, but they signed freshmen WRs Christian Philpott and Brad Stewart, and they also return two Junior WRs in Micheal Summers and Antonio Messick who will can really help them this upcoming season in the passing game. Their defense gave up 25.7 PPG which is a good bit better than average, but one of the reasons their defense was better than the national average was because they forced 18 interceptions. This season they could be better. Yes, they do lose LB Quayshawn Nealy, DB Isaiah Johnson, and DL Shawn Green. But those are the only starters they lost on their defense from last season, they return eight starters on defense (they notably return: DL Keshun Freeman, Paul Davis, and Demond Smith). And they signed 12 new defensive players from this years class. So hopefully for Georgia Tech fans they'll be able to be even better on defense this season and they'll continue to force turnovers. Georgia Tech has to go at Notre Dame, at Clemson, and they have to face Florida State in a cross-divisional game, but the FSU game is at home though. And their in-state rivalry game vs Georgia is also at home. So although it's tough, it's also manageable. So never count out the Yellow Jackets' potent rushing attack, and with some of the pieces they added to the passing game, and on the defense, could get them back to another ACC championship.
Key offensive player: QB Justin Thomas
Key defensive player: LB Paul Davis
Photo credit: David Goldman - AP
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#15 Ole Miss Rebels 9-4 (5-3)
Ole Miss was one of those surprise teams last season, they started off the season great but they just couldn't sustain it. And after they lost close games to SEC West foes LSU and Auburn, it really looked as if the life got sucked out of them. They finished out their SEC schedule with a blowout loss at Arkansas and a win vs in-state rival Mississippi State, and eventually ended out getting hammered by arguably the BIG-12's best team TCU in the Peach Bowl.
Ole Miss returns 16 total starters from last season's team (9 offense, and 7 defense). So they'll be pretty stacked overall, they do lose starting QB from last season Bo Wallace but rising QBs Chad Kelly, Ryan Buchanan, and DeVante Kincade will provide good depth at the QB position. And they are stacked with talent at the WR position with the return of star WR Laquon Treadwell, TE/WR Cody Core, WR Quincy Adeboyejo, and WRs Markell Pack and Quintavius Burdette. And at the RB position they return all but two RB that had 30+ rushing attempts from last season (Jaylen Walton, and Jordan Wilkins. I'Tavius Mathers and Mark Dodson transferred), also head coach Hugh Freeze is gaining more confidence in rising Junior RB Akeem Judd. Their "Land Shark" defense was #1 in the country last season. This season they do lose five pretty notable players in Cody Prewitt, Senquez Golson, D.T. Shackelford, Keith Lewis, and Serderius Bryant, those guys won't be easy to replace. But they return the Nkemdiche brothers (Denzel, and Robert), and guys like DB Mike Hilton (who led the team in solo tackles last season), DL C.J. Johnson, Issac Gross, Christian Russell, and DB Trae Elston. And with the success of their recent recruiting classes on both offense and defense they should be stacked this upcoming season. Last season was Ole Miss' debut of being a top 15 team this decade, they had talent but they couldn't sustain it. This season they have even more experience and they return most of the talent they had last season, along with recruiting very well. But their schedule isn't necessarily favorable to them. They have to go at Alabama, Auburn, and Mississippi State notably. But they do get games vs Texas A&M, Arkansas, and LSU at home. But overall, look for Ole Miss to make some noise again this season,
Key offensive player: WR Laquon Treadwell
Key defensive player: LB Denzel Nkemdiche
Photo Credit: Joe Murphy - Getty Images
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#16 UCLA Bruins 10-3 (6-3)
UCLA was one of the top teams in the PAC-12 last season, but they dropped two crucial games in a row vs Utah and at Oregon, and then later lost to Stanford. They finished the season 10-3 (6-3) and defeated Kansas State in the Alamo Bowl.
UCLA was one of the top teams in the PAC-12 last season mainly because of QB Brett Hundley, but this upcoming season they'll be with out him. New rising freshmen Josh Rosen will take the reins at QB, and he'll have big shoes to fill. But he's definitely talented, and I'm sure can at least remotely replace Brett Hundley the way they need him too. At the skill positions, UCLA is pretty stacked. They return RB Paul Perkins along with four talented WRs in SR Jordan Payton, JR Thomas Durate, SR Devin Fuller, and Eldridge Massington, their offensive line returns 4 pretty talented lineman and they will be key in keeping young QB Josh Rosen off the turf. Their defensive does lose DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa along with ILB Eric Kendricks and S Anthony Jefferson, but they return pretty much everybody else. They notably get back talented LB Myles Jack (who can play RB, but plays LB a little more) along with DB Ishmael Adams, and DT Eddie Vanderdoes, they also signed talented 4-star DeChaun Holiday. UCLA has the talent to win the PAC-12 this season, and maybe even get into the CFP. Their schedule is relatively tough, they have to go at Arizona, at Stanford, at Utah, and at USC. And they are inexperienced, but if their talent and their coaching can outweigh that, they should be contending for a spot in the CFP this season.
Key offensive player: RB Paul Perkins
Key defensive player: LB Myles Jack
Photo Credit: Harry How - Getty Images
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#17 Arkansas Razorbacks 7-6 (2-6)
Last season, Arkansas had a lot of potential. They showed flashes of a contender, they had multiple games where they were very, very close to winning, but it took them until November to finally get over the hump when they shutout both LSU and Ole Miss in front of their home fans. They became bowl eligible and ended up defeating Texas 31-7 in a bowl game.
Arkansas has lost some talent from last season's team on defense (notably: DE Trey Flowers, LB Braylon Mitchell, LB Martrell Spaight, DE Darius Philon and DB Tevin Mitchel), it's never easy to replace talent especially on defense. But they get back LB Brooks Ellis along with DE JaMichael Winston, DB Jared Collins, DB D.J. Dean Jr, SS Rohan Gaines, and Taiwan Johnson), and they also signed 4-star DT Hjalte Froholdt along with another 4-star DT Jeremy Ledbetter, those guys can really help their defensive line. Although their defense does lose some talent, they should be alright overall. Their offense was one of the best running teams in the country last season, they were also the only team to have two 1,000 yard rushers (Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins), and they do return both guys, except Williams will likely miss this entire season because of a foot injury he suffered in practice. That hurts them, but even though it's unfortunate for one of their top running backs to go down, if there was one team that could deal with their top rusher going down, it'd be Arkansas. Alex Collins, Kody Walker, and Korliss Marshall will be able to lessen the blow, and they can still be only or one of the only teams in the country to have two 1,000 yard rushers especially with one of the best if not the best offensive lines in the country to run behind. At the QB position, Arkansas may have one of the most underrated QBs in the country in Brandon Allen. Allen (who is heading into his 5th CFB season) quietly had a solid 20 TD, 5 INT season in 2014, he also has reliable targets to throw the football to (notably: Senior WR Keon Hatcher, junior TE Junter Harvey, junior TE Hunter Henry, and sophomore WR Cody Hollister, and junior WR Drew Morgan). This could be Arkansas' season to compete in the SEC again, they could very well be a 10-win team this upcoming season. However, they do have to play at Tennessee, at Alabama, at Ole Miss, and at LSU, which means they're going to have to get it done on the road to reach double digit wins this season which won't be easy. But after-all, the Razorbacks did play top teams close last season on the road.
Key offensive player: RB Alex Collins (It was RB Jonathan Williams)
Key defensive player: LB Brooks Ellis
Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove - USA Today Sports
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#18 Wisconsin Badgers 11-3 (7-1)
Wisconsin was one of the top teams in the Big-Ten last season, they were very talented but just one demintional. Their passing game was not good to say the least last season, they ranked 118th overall in the FBS in pass yards per game, and they ranked 96th overall in the FBS in pass yards per attempt. But they still managed to go 11-3 and win the Capital One Bowl vs Auburn behind Heisman trophy candidate Melvin Gordon.
Wisconsin does lose RB Melvin Gordon this season, but they return talented junior RB Corey Clement who will likely take the bulk of their rushes this season, and they return junior RB Dare Ogunbowale who will likely be the second string RB this season. New head coach Paul Chryst (who's coming from Pitt) probably won't run the ball as much as Wisconsin did last season, but they'll still be one of the more talented rushing teams in college football, and although they only return two offensive lineman, those two offensive lineman (C Dan Voltz, LT Tyler Marz) maybe the best lineman duo in the Big-Ten. QB Joel Stave struggled with turnovers last season. However, they hired Joe Rudolph (who also came from Pitt) as their OC, and he can probably help Stave make better reads. They return multiple WRs/TEs from last season including WR Alex Erickson who will likely be their top target this season, and with time they'll continue to gel. Their defense was stout last season, they only gave up 20.8 PPG (17th in the FBS), and without their performance in the Ohio State game, their defense could've been even better statistically. This season they lose some talent in guys like FS Peniel Jean, and ILB Michael Trotter, but they still return some talent that's gonna grow even more like DL Arthur Goldberg, DB Michael Caputo, and LB Joe Schobert, and they have moved former QB Tanner McEvoy to FS. McEvoy who is a very good athlete will be able to help their secondary, and they also signed 4-star S Arrington Farrar who can help their secondary a good bit also. Wisconsin has the personnel to make it back to another Big-Ten championship game, especially since they don't have to face Ohio State or Michigan State. So watch out for the Badgers to be playing in their 4th Big-Ten championship in the last 5 seasons.
Key offensive player: RB Corey Clement
Key defensive player: DB Michael Caputo
Photo Credit: Lubern Figaro - Getty Images
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#19 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-5)
Notre Dame started off the season 6-0, and with a lot of high expectations. But after their close 31-27 loss at then #1 Florida State, they just couldn't sustain the same type of execution they played with earlier in the season. They finished 2-5 after starting the season 6-0, but they did end up defeating LSU 31-28 in the Liberty Bowl.
Notre Dame returns a lot of starters, they return 7+ players on both offense and defense. On offense, they did lose QB Everett Golson who transferred to FSU. But rising junior Malik Zaire will step in this season and take his place, some have Zaire a Heisman trophy dark horse, and with not just his talent, but also with the pieces he has around him that's possible. Notre Dame notably returns RB Tarean Folston, but unfortunately for them. RB Greg Bryant won't play this season because of being academically ineligible, and just a few days ago, he's decided to transfer elsewhere. Malik Zaire's top target C.J. Prosise returns for another season, along with WRs Will Fuller, Amir Carlisle, Chris Brown, and Corey Robinson. And their offensive line should be pretty strong this season because they return four of the five lineman they started last season, so Folston will have a good line to run behind. Their defense was mediocre last season, they gave up 29.2 PPG (84th in the FBS). But their defense can only really get better. They return 10 of 11 starters from last season including senior DL Sheldon Day, and junior LB Jaylon Smith who will be a force to be reckoned with for opponents. Their signing class added four 4-star 2015 recruits in DB Shaun Crawford, OLB Josh Barajas, ILB Tevon Coney, and DT Elijah Taylor. So their defense will likely be at least a little better this season than last. Many have Notre Dame finishing as a top 10 team this season, and I guess that's debatable. And although they're talented and they return a lot of starters, they'll likely have to go undefeated to have a chance at making it to the CFB Playoffs, because they don't play in a conference championship game, and also they have to play vs Georgia Tech, at Clemson, and vs USC. I don't see them running the table in all three of those games, but we've seen things ton crazier happen in CFB. So you probably shouldn't be too surprised if the Fighting Irish are in the CFP conversation this season.
Key offensive player: QB Malik Zaire
Key defensive player: DL Sheldon Day
Photo Credit: Robert Franklin - South Bend Tribune
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#20 Stanford Cardinal 8-5 (5-4)
Stanford didn't really live up to their expectation last season. Like LSU from the SEC, the Cardinal were expected to be near the top of their conference. With some losses early in the season, they just couldn't get back to playing the way they've played in the previous three seasons before that. They still ended up winning 8 wins including the bowl game.
Stanford is one of the more experienced teams in college football, they return a solid QB in senior Kevin Hogan for another season. And although he's lost some pieces like Ty Montgomery, Devon Austin, and Jeff Trojan. He not only returns reliable TE Austin Hooper, he also returns senior Devon Cajuste (who'll likely be his top WR), junior Francis Owusu, and RB Christian McCaffery who can also be used in the passing game as well. Their running game has been one of the main reasons they've been so successful in recent history, and this season they should be good once again. They return senior RB Remound Wright, RB Barry Sanders Jr, and RB Christian McCaffery will also get a good amount of reps this upcoming season. Their offensive line will take a hit because of the loss of LT Andrus Peat (who got drafted 13th overall by the Saints), but that's the only offensive lineman they lose. They return the four other lineman (senior LT Kyle Murphy, senior G Johnny Caspers, senior G Joshua Garnett, and senior C Graham Shuler) who will play a vital part in not only blocking for their run game, but also protecting QB Kevin Hogan. Their defense was one of the best defenses in CFB last season, they only gave up 16.4 PPG (2nd in the FBS). But this season they lose six of their front seven from last season, they do return top tackler LB Blake Martinez and DE Solomon Thomas who both have a lot of potential. Their secondary does lose all four of their starters from last season, including star DB Jordan Richards who got drafted by the Patriots (64th overall). 4-star S Frank Buncom IV will probably get some playing time and he may even start this season for the Cardinal. So this season's secondary is young, but with time they'll continue to grow. Stanford's schedule has some tough games, but there are a good bit of winnable games. They do have to play at USC, but they get Arizona, UCLA, Oregon, and non-conference opponent Notre Dame at home. If Stanford can fill some defensive holes, and if their offense can continue to put points on the board they'll be in contention for 10+ wins, and maybe more.
Photo Credit: Richard Mackson - USA Today Sports
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#21 Missouri Tigers 11-3 (7-1)
Missouri quietly made it into another SEC championship last season for the second time in a row, they had a bad early season loss vs Indiana, but they then later got on a winning streak and notably won games at Texas A&M, at Tennessee, vs Arkansas, and then after their 42-13 loss vs Bama in the SEC championship game, they beat Minnesota 33-17 in the Citrus Bowl.
Missouri has lost some talent from last season on offense. In the passing game they return solid Junior QB Maty Mauk for another season, but he has lost some targets in guys like WR Bud Sasser, WR Darius White, and WR Jimmie Hunt. But TE Sean Culkin, WR Nate Brown, WR Wesley Leftwich, and WR J'Mon Moore will do their best to replace those guys. They also signed 4-star (3-star according to some) 6'7" 220 LBS WR Justin Smith who can make an immediate impact to their passing game. In the backfield, Missouri took a hit in losing RB Marcus Murphy to the NFL, but they return talented 1,000+ yard rusher Russell Hansbrough for another season, also although Sophomore RB Ish Witter didn't play that much last season, he'll be their #2 back. And 4-star freshman RB Chase Abbington will probably get some carries this season also. Their defense was pretty stout last season as they gave up 21.1 PPG (19th in the nation), but talented defensive lineman Shane Ray and Markus Golden are both gone to the NFL, and DL Harold Brantley unfortunately got in a car wreck this summer and will miss this whole season. So talented 5-star DT Terry Beckner Jr. will start as a true freshman, sophomore Charles Harris, freshman Rocel McWilliams,and junior Josh Augusta will all likely have to step into the spotlight this season on the defensive line. They return talented senior LB Kentrell Brothers, sophomore Michael Scherer, and junior Donavin Newsom, those guys will be vital for their defense this upcoming season. Their secondary returns both senior DBs in Kenya Dennis and Ian Simon, but they'll have to find replacements for Braylon Webb and Duron Singleton, Missouri has been quietly good these past two seasons and this season shouldn't be much different. Their schedule has a few tough games like at Georgia, at Arkansas, and vs BYU in Kansas City in November, their other cross division opponent is Mississippi State, but they do get them at home. But overall their schedule is pretty doable for them. Yes, they have lost some talent on both sides of the ball. But if we've learned one thing from their past two seasons, it's that we should never count them out.
Key offensive player: Senior RB Russell Hansbrough
Key defensive player: Senior LB Kentrell Brothers
Photo Credit: Troy Taormina - USA Today Sports
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#22 Arizona Wildcats 10-4 (7-2)
Arizona started off their season in 2014 looking like an elite team, they upset Oregon in Autzen Stadium and seemed to have all the momentum going their way, but after their close 28-26 loss to USC just the next week they lost that momentum, and couldn't get back to playing the way they did at the start of the season. They finished ended up getting to the PAC-12 championship with a 10-2 record but faced Oregon again where they lost 51-13, they played Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl and suffered their forth loss of the season.
Arizona returns rising RS sophomore QB Anu Solomon who had a tremendous season in 2014 will have the reins at QB. He did lose one of his top targets in WR Austin Hill, but they return WR Cayleb Jones (who'll most definitely be Solomon's top target this season), WR Samajie Grant, WR Trey Giffey, WR Nate Phillips (who missed all of Arizona's last five games with a injury), and David Richards. So their pretty stacked at the WR position, at RB, they do lose solid RB Terris Jones-Grigsby to graduation, but they return top ball carrier Nick Wilson who is coming off of a sensational freshmen season where he led the Wildcats with 1,375 yards rushing. Senior RB Jared Baker will likely be the Wildcats #2 back, and sophomore RB Zach Green may get some carries as their #3 back, also QB Anu Solomon who poses a threat as a runner will probably run the ball a good bit this season, because they run the spread option a lot anyway. Their defense is headlined by one of the best if not the best LB in the country in junior Scooby Wright III, he brought home The Chuck Bednarik award, The Lombardi award, The Bronko Nagurski award, and The Jack Lambert trophy last season, and this season shouldn't be much different. The Wildcats also return fellow junior LBs Cody Ippolito, Derrick Turituri, and DeAndre' Miller who will fill in the spots of the other three starting linebackers for Arizona. Their secondary was a down side last season, and this also happens to be the spot where they lost the most experience. They lost Jared Tevis, Jourdon Grandon, Tra'Mayne Bondurant, and Jonathan McKnight all to graduation. But junior DB DaVonte' Neal (who converted from WR), junior S Tellas Jones, senior S Jamar Allah, and freshmen DB Sammy Morrison will all do their best to replace what Arizona lost last season. Arizona's schedule features a few really tough road games, at Stanford, at USC, and at Arizona State. They do get UCLA and Utah at home, and they avoid Oregon from the South division, but their schedule certainly won't be easy. Arizona has the talent on all sides of the ball, and if they can sustain their elite play throughout the season, they'll be a team to watch out for this season.
Key offensive player: QB Anu Solomon
Key defensive player: LB Scooby Wright III
Photo Credit: Casey Sapio - USA Today Sports
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#23 Texas A&M Aggies 8-5 (3-5)
Texas A&M started the season off with a big (or at least we thought) road win at South Carolina, and many people at the time thought that the Aggies were poised for a CFP run, but after starting the season with a 5-0 record, they fell out of the CFP conversation with three losses in a row (including a 59-0 blowout loss to Alabama). They ended up making it to the Liberty Bowl where they defeated West Virginia 45-37.
Texas A&M returns a lot of talent, including sophomore QB Kyle Allen who'll be the starter for the Aggies this season, and he should have no shortage of talented targets to throw to. Texas A&M may have the best WR corp in all of CFB, they lose WR Malcome Kennedy, but they also return WRs Josh Reynolds, Ricky Seals-Jones, Speedy Noil, Edward Pope, Boone Niederhofer, and Sabian Holmes. And they also signed 5-star WR Christian Kirk who will play and maybe even start the whole season as a true freshman, the Aggies are stacked at WR. And at RB they lose Trey Williams to the NFL, but they return reliable senior RB Tra Carson, along with sophomore RB James White who will be the #2 RB, and they return fellow senior RB Brandon Williams who'll likely play as the #3 RB in their depth chart. Their defense struggled a lot last season, they gave up 216.0 rush yards per game (111th in the FBS), and their defense also gave up 234.8 pass yards per game (84th in the FBS). But new DC John Chavis looks to turn things around, they do lose DB Deshazor Everett and S Howard Matthews from last season's secondary. But they return sophomore S Armani Watts, senior DB De'Vante Harris, sophomore transfer S Justin Evans, and sophomore DB Victor Davis. Their front seven should be even better than it was last season, especially with sophomore LB/DE Myles Garrett returning from a sensational freshmen season, and with 5-star freshmen DT Daylon Mack coming in who will make an immediate impact. Texas A&M opens this season with a tough non-conference opponent in Arizona State, and they notably get Arkansas, Ole Miss, and LSU on the road. They do get Mississippi State, Alabama, and Auburn all at home, and they kinda lucked out on getting South Carolina and Vanderbilt from the East side of the SEC. Texas A&M is one of those teams that could finish in the top three or in the bottom three in the SEC West. But they have the talent and the coaching to be scary good this season, so look out for the Aggies in the SEC West to possibly be a dark horse team.
Key offensive player: WR Josh Reynolds
Key defensive player: LB/DE Myles Garrett
Photo Credit: Shanna Lockwood - USA Today Sports
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#24 Oklahoma Sooners 8-5 (5-4)
Oklahoma did well early in the season in 2014, but after they dropped a game at TCU they just weren't the same the rest of the season. They finished 8-4 in the regular season and got blown out by Oklahoma 40-6 in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
Oklahoma returns a lot of key players this season, but one of the guys that wasn't on Oklahoma last season is Baker Mayfield who beat out QB Trevor Knight for the starting job, he'll have some key targets returning, including one of the best WRs in the nation in senior WR Sterling Shepard who will be very key in their success this season. The Sooners also return senior WR Durron Neal, WR Michiah Quick, WR KJ Young, WR Jordan Smallwood, and WR Austin Bennett. So they have a lot of depth at WR, and in the backfield they return outstanding sophomore RB Samaje Perine who set the FBS single-game record with 427 yards rushing as just a freshman. RBs Alex Ross, Joe Mixon, and Rodney Anderson add even more talent to a stacked stable of backs. Their offensive line lost three starters, but the two returning offensive lineman are both seniors so'll likely be able to help any new guys grow throughout the season. Their defense was rather pedestrian last season, they gave up 25.9 PPG (56th in the FBS) and they also gave up 276.2 yards per game through the air (which is 120th in the FBS), although their defense was top 10 in the nation in both rush yards per game, and yards per rush. This season their defense has the potential to be better on defense, they return senior LB Eric Striker (who is their defensive leader), and they also return LB Dominque Alexander, along with DE Charles Tapper, DL Matthew Romar, and DL Jordan Wade. Their secondary can only really improve from giving up so many yards through the air last season, they lose DB Julian Wilson to the NFL. But they return S Ahmad Thomas, veteran DB Quentin Hayes, and junior safety Zach Sanchez who was the team's leader in forced turnovers. The Sooners have one of the tougher schedules in the Big-12, they have to play a pretty tough non-conference opponent in Tennessee in the second week of the season. And in Big-12 play they have to play at Kansas State, and at Baylor. They do get TCU at home, but their schedule is still though either way. Oklahoma will have to exceed expectations in order to win the Big-12 this upcoming season, but if they can limit their mistakes on offense, and the big plays on defense they have a chance to make some noise in the Big-12 this season.
Key offensive player: RB Samaje Perine
Key defensive player: LB Eric Striker
Photo Credit: Andrew Weber - USA Today Sports
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Tennessee Volunteers 7-6 (3-5)
Tennessee didn't have a great season in 2014, but they definitely showed that they're a rising team in the SEC. They became bowl eligible for the first time since 2010 last season, and they defeated Iowa 45-28 in a bowl game.
Tennessee returns junior QB Joshua Dobbs who has a chance to be one of the best QBs in the SEC this season. The Vols WR corp (like Texas A&M's) is one of the most talented and dangerous in the nation. Tennessee returns two star WRs in junior WR Marquez North, and senior Alton "Pig" Howard, they also return Von Pearson, Jason Croom, Josh Smith, Johnathon Johnson, and Ethan Wolf (TE) who'll all play a big part in their passing game. Their running game returns talented sophomore RB Jalen Hurd who will start at RB this season, and they get transfer RB Alvin Kamara who'll step in right away and be a reliable #2 back. QB Joshua Dobbs poses a very good threat running the ball also, so look for him also to run the ball a good bit this season. Their offensive line struggled last season, they return four of their starters from last season's line, but they'll still need to improve in order to be one of the SEC's best lines. Their defense returns three key defensive backs from last season's team in junior DB Cameron Sutton, S Brian Randolph, and S LaDerrell McNeil. Sophomore DB Emmanuel Moseley will likely step in for Justin Coleman this season. Their front six loses star LB A.J. Johnson to the NFL, but they return LBs Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and Chris Weatherd, they also signed return talented sophomore DL Derek Barnett who is coming off an outstanding freshmen season, and their defensive line adds 5-star DT Kahlil McKenzie who can make an big immediate impact for they defensive line. Tennessee's schedule is one of the easiest schedules in the SEC (which isn't saying that much). They have a pretty tough non-conference opponent in Oklahoma, they also draw Arkansas and (of course) Alabama from the West, and them getting Georgia at home will be pretty big in terms of SEC East implications. Overall, their schedule is pretty doable for them. Tennessee's expectations are higher than they've been in a while, and rightfully so. Tennessee has a lot of returning talent, and they also have signed some guys that can make a impact right away. So although they maybe a year away from contending for a national championship, they will certainly be a forced to be reckoned with in the SEC this upcoming season.
Key offensive player: QB Joshua Dobbs
Key defensive player: DL Derek Barnett
Photo Credit: Richard Shiro - AP
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