USA TODAY International Edition
Familiar names set to contend again
The 2017 college football season is over, and it’s time to start thinking about 2018. Here is the USA TODAY Sports way-too-early Top 25 for next season:
1. Clemson (12-2): Dabo Swinney and his staff will bring back a senior starter at quarterback in Kelly Bryant, will again tout a stable of skill talent, will be stronger on the offensive front and will have a slight rebuild on defense behind tackle Dexter Lawrence.
2. Alabama (12-1): While the cast changes, some constants will remain. One is the continued excellence of a defense because the Tide find another one or two national names. Another is a physical offense that might hit on an offseason quarterback controversy but perhaps be better for it.
3. Ohio State (12-2): Like Alabama, OSU will lose a number of major players to the NFL, but the inherent talent base will keep Urban Meyer and his team among the nation’s elite.
4. Georgia (13-1): retool its offense around Georgia QB Jake will Fromm, have to though there are options in the backfield to replace Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. What’s clear? The Bulldogs are beginning an extended run alongside the premier programs.
5. Wisconsin (13-1): If the biggest issue is its defense — and with 10 starters back on offense, that’s the question — the Badgers are in good shape.
6. Penn State (11-2): The Nittany Lions will have a roster that matches up with almost any team in the country.
7. Oklahoma (12-2): The big question — other than Kyler Murray trying to follow Baker Mayfield — is whether the defense can improve.
8. Washington (10-3): After a relatively drab season, all things considered, look for Washington to be a factor in the Playoff race.
9. Miami (Fla.) (10-3): It probably will take another recruiting class or two to get this roster’s talent level on par with a Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State or Georgia, but that time is coming. The Hurricanes should compete for an ACC crown and take another step toward knocking Clemson off the top of the heap.
10. Michigan State (10-3): Michigan State’s bounce-back 2017 season paints a bright picture for 2018, with an offense built around QB Brian Lewerke and a defense that returns the wide majority of this season’s main contributors.
11. Virginia Tech (9-4): Justin Fuente has the Hokies on a collision course with an ACC title, maybe as soon as 2018. Look for quarterback Josh Jackson to make an enormous leap in his second year as the starter. 12. Stanford (9-5): Stanford’s hopes
do hinge on RB Bryce Love’s decision regarding the NFL, but the Cardinal will get better play at quarterback and bring back each of their four leading receivers.
13. Auburn (10-4): Auburn has been dinged by losses to the NFL, though retaining quarterback Jarrett Stidham is a huge development. 14. Boise State (11-3): The offense is ready to roll behind Brett Rypien, running back Alexander Mattison and a strong front. But the big story for the Broncos is a loaded defense.
15. Notre Dame (10-3): There is experience back at key spots, including quarterback, and the schedule is one of the friendliest in recent program history.
16. Michigan (8-5): These are strange times for Michigan, which had enormous hopes upon Jim Harbaugh’s arrival but has yet to crack the upper echelon of the FBS. Can Harbaugh find a quarterback?
17. Southern California (11-3): While the talent is there, the program needs to be fine-tuned before retaking the field in
September — and that starts with the coaching staff.
18. Florida State (7-6): There’s no doubt about the talent, obviously, and maybe the fresh voice Willie Taggart brings to the table will breathe life into a tired football facility.
19. LSU (9-4): This is a top-10 team in pure talent, as is always the case. Whether this current coaching staff can get the Tigers into that class remains up for debate.
20. Kansas State (8-5): It will be a pretty typical bunch of Wildcats: physical on offense, explosive in the running game, underrated in the front seven and opportunistic on special teams.
21. Florida Atlantic (11-3): The second Group of Five team on this list, FAU shouldn’t take a step back in head coach Lane Kiffin’s second season. The offense will have taken even firmer hold and the defense will get a nice influx of talent to keep the Owls at the top of Conference USA.
22. TCU (11-3): TCU has some personnel issues to address on both sides of the ball, making the 2018 team less experienced than the 2017 version. If not the class of the Big 12, TCU will be a contender for a repeat appearance in the conference title game.
23. Oklahoma State (10-3): Oklahoma State isn’t a darkhorse Playoff contender but is definitely a threat to win eight or nine games. It won’t always be a smooth ride, however.
24. Iowa State (8-5): After breaking through in a big way this past fall, Matt Campbell has Iowa State destined to become an even bigger thorn in the sides of the established programs in the Big 12.
25. Mississippi State (9-4): A whole lot of optimism greets Joe Moorhead’s first season.