Preseason NCAA Top 25












#1 Alabama Crimson Tide    
    2016 Record: 14-1
   Head Coach: Nick Saban (11th season, 114-19)
   Conference: SEC

Notes: 
  • The Crimson Tide had 10 players taken in the 2017 NFL draft. While this would hurt some teams, expect Alabama to reload rather quickly. 
  • Brian Daboll replaces Lane Kiffin/Steve Sarkisian as Offensive Coordinator. Daboll is a veteran NFL coach and leaves the New England Patriots for this job.
  • Quarterback Jalen Hurts returns for his sophomore campaign after leading his team to the National Championship game in his freshman year.
Big Games:
  • September 2 vs Florida State
  • November 4 vs LSU
  • November 25 at Auburn








#2 Ohio State Buckeyes    

    2016 Record: 11-2
   Head Coach: Urban Meyer (6th season, 61-6)
   Conference: Big 10


Notes: 
  • The Buckeye's have a new play caller for the offense, former University of Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson
  • Senior quarterback JT Barrett is 26-4 as a starter. He threw for over 2,555 yards and ran for 845 last season.
  • Defensive Coordinator Greg Schiano has some holes to fill after losing cornerbacks Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore, Linebacker Raekwon McMillan, and Safety Malik Hooker to the NFL. 
Big Games:


  • September 9 vs Oklahoma
  • October 28 vs Penn St
  • November 25 at Michigan













#3 USC Trojans    
    2016 Record: 10-3
   Head Coach: Clay Helton (3rd season, 16-7)
   Conference: Pac-12



Notes: 
  • The Trojans started last season 1-3, then won 9 straight games. They capped the season with a thrilling 52-49 Rose Bowl win over Penn St.  
  • Some have Trojan's sophomore quarterback Sam Darnold as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate this season.
  • USC will have to replace two top receivers. JuJu Smith-Schuster was taken by the Steelers in the 2nd round of the NFL draft, while Darreus Rogers went undrafted but was signed as a Free Agent by the Seattle Seahawks.
Big Games:
  • September 16 vs Texas
  • October 21 at Notre Dame
  • November 18 vs UCLA












#4 Florida State Seminoles    
    2016 Record: 10-3
   Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher (8th season, 78-17)
   Conference: ACC



Notes: 
  • Sophomore quarterback Deondre Francois threw for over 3,300 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.  
  • Freshman Cam Akers and Junior Jacques Patrick lead a stable of strong runningbacks. 
  • The Seminoles squeaked past Michigan 33-32 in an Orange Bowl thriller to end last season.
Big Games:
  • September 2 vs Alabama
  • September 16 vs Miami (FL)
  • October 27 at Boston College











#5 Clemson Tigers    
    2016 Record: 14-1
   Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (10th season, 89-28)
   Conference: ACC


Notes: 
  • The Tigers defeated Alabama 35-31 to win the schools first National Championship in football since 1981 
  • Quarterback Deshaun Watson moved on to the NFL. Junior Kelly Bryant, Freshmen Zerrick Cooper and Hunter Johnson will challenge to take Watson's spot.
  • The Tiger defense, led by coordinator Brent Venables, returns most of their core players and should give the new quarterback time to find his way.
Big Games:
  • September 9 vs Auburn
  • September 16 at Louisville
  • November 11 vs Florida State









#6 Washington Huskies    
    2016 Record: 12-2
   Head Coach: Chris Peterson (4th season, 27-14)
   Conference: Pac-12


Notes: 
  • The Huskies won the 2016 Pac-12 Championship, their first conference title in 16 years.  
  • Star quarterback Jake Browning, who threw for over 3,400 yards and 43 touchdowns last season, returns to lead the Huskies.
  • Washington's defense will need to reload after losing four players to the NFL Draft.
Big Games:
  • September 23 at Colorado
  • November 10 at Stanford
  • November 25 vs Washington State











#7 Oklahoma Sooners    

    2016 Record: 11-2
   Head Coach: Lincoln Riley (1st season, 0-0)
   Conference: Big 12


Notes: 
  • Bob Stoops retired in June after 18 years in Norman. Offensive Coordinator Lincoln Riley steps up to take the reigns, his first head coaching job. 
  • 2016 Heisman finalist Baker Mayfield returns to lead the Sooner offense. He threw for over 3,900 yards and 40 touchdowns.
  • The Sooners will have a few holes to fill on the offensive side of the ball after losing running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine, and wide receiver Dede Westbrook to the NFL.
Big Games:
  • September 9 at Ohio State
  • October 14 vs Texas
  • November 4 at Oklahoma State










#8 Michigan Wolverines    
    2016 Record: 10-3
   Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (3rd season, 20-6)
   Conference: Big 10


Notes: 
  • Harbaugh enters his third season at the helm of the Wolverine football program. 
  • Michigan will have some players to replace. They had 11 total players taken in the NFL draft, eight of those were from the defensive side of the ball.
  • Wilton Speight returns for his final season with the Wolverines. He threw for over 2,500 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. 
Big Games:
  • September 2 vs Florida (Dallas)
  • October 21 at Penn St
  • November 25 vs Ohio State









#9 Oklahoma State Cowboys    
    2016 Record: 10-3
   Head Coach: Mike Gundy (13th season, 104-50)
   Conference: Big 12

Notes: 
  • The Cowboys will have one of the best offenses in the nation. Quarterback Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington return for their senior season. While sophomore Justice Hill returns to lead a group of young running backs.
  • While the Cowboy offense thrived last season, the defense left much to be desired. 
  • The Big 12 Championship game returns this season. If the Cowboy defense can find their way, they have a great shot to win it. 
Big Games:
  • September 16 at Pitt
  • October 28 at West Virginia
  • November 4 vs Oklahoma










#10 Penn State Nittany Lions    
    2016 Record: 11-3
    Head Coach: James Franklin (4th season, 25-15)
    Conference: Big 10


Notes: 
  • Juniors Trace McSorley (QB) and Saquon Barkley (RB) both return to lead the offense. Both are also in the early season Heisman talk. 
  • McSorley passed for over 3,600 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. 
  • Barkley rushed for almost 1,500 yards and registered 402 receiving yards and totaled 22 touchdowns.

Big Games:
  • September 9 vs Pitt
  • October 21 vs Michigan
  • October 28 at Ohio State




11. Auburn Tigers

12. Louisville Cardinals

13. Wisconsin Badgers

14. Miami Hurricanes

15. Georgia Bulldogs

16. Standford Cardinal

17. LSU Tigers

18. West Virginia Mountaineers

19. South Florida Bulls

20. Florida Gators

21. Kansas State Wildcats

22. Tennessee Volunteers

23. Washington State Cougars

24. North Carolina State Wolfpack

25. Texas Longhorns

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