1. Alabama – All major skill guys return and talent across the rest of the roster.
2. Florida State – Loss of Dalvin Cook limits offensive explosiveness but young talent on D.
3. USC – Star QB losses some skill players but USC has recruited well around most important piece.
4. Ohio State – Offensive performance at end of year concerning but and of youth returns + experienced QB.
5. Washington – The underclassmen losses were not unexpected. QB-RB combination returns with great coach.
6. Penn State – Tremendous end to season. RB might be best in country returning.
7. Oklahoma – All the key skill players are gone which will hurt. Still best in Big 12 on paper.
8. Clemson – Most of key cogs on offense are gone. Life after DeShaun takes Tigers down a notch.
9. Michigan – Still should be able to run up score against weak competition after losing lots of seniors.
10. Georgia – Team ready for biggest jump. Loaded backfield and big arm QB. One bad quarter away from 4-0 finish.
11. Oklahoma State – Did well to retain Rudolph and Washington but can D get stops.
12. Auburn – Transfer QB plus deep running game. Lose some key players on D.
13. Wisconsin – RBs leave but the machine keeps on churning.
14. LSU – Best 4 loss team in country returns star RB and talent across field.
15. Stanford – Will miss McCaffrey less than we’d think. Snuck to a 10-3 season somehow.
16. Louisville – Disaster of a finish in ’16 but Lamar keeps them in Top 20.
17. Florida – Some minor strides on offense at end of year. Lose top players in secondary.
18. Kansas State – Returns most of team including QB. Might be ready for jump.
19. Colorado – Losing QB shouldn’t hurt too much. Was it just a one year run?
20. West Virginia – Running game strong, defense was best in years last year.
21. Tennessee – Still talent but lose lots of players. Seem to only be consistent in bowl games.
22. TCU – Should have more success. Returns most of roster in ’17.
23. Utah – Almost always solid. Can’t have Utah outside of top 25 the way they play.
24. UCLA – With Rosen healthy, should start next year fresh. Talent on O.
25. South Florida – Best Group of 5 team although RB left early. Only team to score 30 every game.
26. Miami – Very disappointing that Kaaya’s leaving but running game still strong.
27. Mississippi – Young talented QB and talent from strong recruiting classes remain.
28. Washington State – Falk returns but top two WRs leave. D has been better than expected 2 years straight.
29. Virginia Tech – Surprising early departures change trajectory for what could have been trendy pick.
30. Arizona State – Look for bounce back with everyone back on offense.
31. Texas – Coaching change should make a difference but we thought Texas was good after Week 1.
32. Northwestern – Despite loss of Carr, workhorse RB is back. Lose top defender.
33. Texas A&M – Explosive playmaker at WR but can they get him the ball. Lose possible top pick.
34. Boise State – Disappointing season not winning MWC but look stronger than SDSU this year.
35. Oregon – Hard to peg after horrid year. Talent remains at skill positions but D is so, so bad.
36. Notre Dame – Similar to Oregon, one horrible season so hedge with a mid-30s ranking.
37. Pittsburgh – Team surprised by becoming offensive juggernaut and worst pass D in country.
38. Kentucky – Lost Stanley Williams but most of this team returns and finished regular season strong.
39. North Carolina State – A lot of players return. This team competed with best in ACC like Clem, FSU
40. Arkansas – Hard to tell where this team is. Identity isn’t running the ball anymore but experienced QB.
2. Florida State – Loss of Dalvin Cook limits offensive explosiveness but young talent on D.
3. USC – Star QB losses some skill players but USC has recruited well around most important piece.
4. Ohio State – Offensive performance at end of year concerning but and of youth returns + experienced QB.
5. Washington – The underclassmen losses were not unexpected. QB-RB combination returns with great coach.
6. Penn State – Tremendous end to season. RB might be best in country returning.
7. Oklahoma – All the key skill players are gone which will hurt. Still best in Big 12 on paper.
8. Clemson – Most of key cogs on offense are gone. Life after DeShaun takes Tigers down a notch.
9. Michigan – Still should be able to run up score against weak competition after losing lots of seniors.
10. Georgia – Team ready for biggest jump. Loaded backfield and big arm QB. One bad quarter away from 4-0 finish.
11. Oklahoma State – Did well to retain Rudolph and Washington but can D get stops.
12. Auburn – Transfer QB plus deep running game. Lose some key players on D.
13. Wisconsin – RBs leave but the machine keeps on churning.
14. LSU – Best 4 loss team in country returns star RB and talent across field.
15. Stanford – Will miss McCaffrey less than we’d think. Snuck to a 10-3 season somehow.
16. Louisville – Disaster of a finish in ’16 but Lamar keeps them in Top 20.
17. Florida – Some minor strides on offense at end of year. Lose top players in secondary.
18. Kansas State – Returns most of team including QB. Might be ready for jump.
19. Colorado – Losing QB shouldn’t hurt too much. Was it just a one year run?
20. West Virginia – Running game strong, defense was best in years last year.
21. Tennessee – Still talent but lose lots of players. Seem to only be consistent in bowl games.
22. TCU – Should have more success. Returns most of roster in ’17.
23. Utah – Almost always solid. Can’t have Utah outside of top 25 the way they play.
24. UCLA – With Rosen healthy, should start next year fresh. Talent on O.
25. South Florida – Best Group of 5 team although RB left early. Only team to score 30 every game.
26. Miami – Very disappointing that Kaaya’s leaving but running game still strong.
27. Mississippi – Young talented QB and talent from strong recruiting classes remain.
28. Washington State – Falk returns but top two WRs leave. D has been better than expected 2 years straight.
29. Virginia Tech – Surprising early departures change trajectory for what could have been trendy pick.
30. Arizona State – Look for bounce back with everyone back on offense.
31. Texas – Coaching change should make a difference but we thought Texas was good after Week 1.
32. Northwestern – Despite loss of Carr, workhorse RB is back. Lose top defender.
33. Texas A&M – Explosive playmaker at WR but can they get him the ball. Lose possible top pick.
34. Boise State – Disappointing season not winning MWC but look stronger than SDSU this year.
35. Oregon – Hard to peg after horrid year. Talent remains at skill positions but D is so, so bad.
36. Notre Dame – Similar to Oregon, one horrible season so hedge with a mid-30s ranking.
37. Pittsburgh – Team surprised by becoming offensive juggernaut and worst pass D in country.
38. Kentucky – Lost Stanley Williams but most of this team returns and finished regular season strong.
39. North Carolina State – A lot of players return. This team competed with best in ACC like Clem, FSU
40. Arkansas – Hard to tell where this team is. Identity isn’t running the ball anymore but experienced QB.
