Commotion coming from down dorm room hallways, Corso dancing around in team garb, and crazed maniacs in face paint running through quads across the country? That’s right, college football is back in action, and it starts off this Saturday, September 5th. With new recruits and a new gameplan for most teams, the landscape will be different as we enter year two of the Playoff system. Check out my rankings this week, before the season starts.

Let’s start with some brief analysis of my top 10.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes: With Heisman candidate Ezekiel Elliot at full strength and both J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones to choose from, the Buckeyes are looking as good as ever.

2. Texas Christian Horned Frogs: Duel-threat QB-WR Trevone Boykin as well as running back Aaron Green lead the likely Big 12 champions.

3. Auburn Tigers: If the Wisconsin Badgers can beat Alabama in Week 1 and Auburn wins the Iron Bowl, the gauntlet of the SEC West is theirs. One of those two things will happen.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide: If it doesn’t, you can’t count out Alabama. The Tide always find a way to win, especially with Nick Saban, and DT A’Shawn Robinson will push the Tide towards the top.

Nick Saban, Alabama coach, will charge the Crimson Tide into the 2015 season.
Nick Saban, Alabama coach, will charge the Crimson Tide into the 2015 season.

5. Baylor Bears: If QB Seth Russell can figure out a way to connect to standout freshman WR Chris Platt, this team will go deep into the Big 12, and will pose a shot at TCU for the championship.

6. USC Trojans: Yes, I know that this is my school; however, they deserve to be here. Cody Kessler is a standout QB and three-way player Adoree Jackson is a star. With the help of Su’a Cravens and five-star recruit Iman Marshall on defense, the Trojans are scary.

Su'a Cravens will have the Trojans defense back in action this fall in Los Angeles.
Su’a Cravens will have the Trojans defense back in action this fall in Los Angeles.

7. Michigan State Spartans: The Spartans seem to always figure it out. The defense is unbelievable, and Connor Cook will figure out the passing game. If they stabilize the run game, it can be mostly smooth sailing.

8. Georgia Bulldogs: The SEC East is strong, but nowhere near the West. The Bulldogs haven’t even named a quarterback yet and they are still fine because of how strong the rest of the team is, which says something.

9. Oregon Ducks: Oregon has told fans what to wear for certain games this year, which is nothing but classic Oregon. Vernon Adams will lead the way for a team playing the weak PAC-12 North.

Charles Nelson will be a key component to the Ducks' success this season.
Charles Nelson will be a key component to the Ducks’ success this season.

10. Florida State Seminoles: Florida State, led by Sean Maguire and Dalvin Cook, should maintain its status in the ACC, and Jimbo Fisher will lead them to the success that they will eventually want. They will need to figure out how to navigate the on-field leadership vacancy left by Jameis Winston, but I see little problems in navigating that road.

Here’s my 11-25.

11. Clemson

12. Notre Dame

13. LSU

14. Georgia Tech

Justin Thomas will look to lead Georgia Tech towards progress in the ACC.
Justin Thomas will look to lead Georgia Tech towards progress in the ACC.

15. UCLA

16. Arizona State

17. Wisconsin

18. Mississippi

19. Oklahoma

20. Stanford

21. Arizona

The Arizona Wildcats will always be a force to be reckoned with in the Pac 12 South.
The Arizona Wildcats will always be a force to be reckoned with in the Pac 12 South.

22. Missouri

23. Boise State

24. Tennessee

25. Arkansas

 

 


On to football season! I’ll be updating my rankings next Monday, after what should be a wild Week 1.

Here are a few key matchups this weekend:

Wisconsin vs. Alabama (Cowboys Stadium)

Ohio State at Virginia Tech

Texas at Notre Dame

Virginia at UCLA


All images courtesy of Getty Images. 

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