šŸˆ SI releases its "too early top 25" for 2017-18

18Champs

18Champs

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  • 1
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    ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE


    Until the Crimson Tide stop reloading, we should assume they will do it every year.

  • 2
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    USC TROJANS
    Quarterback Sam Darnold is presiding over a renaissance in Troy.





  • 3
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    PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
    Three years into a full allotment of scholarships, the Nittany Lions will be deeper and better.

  • 4
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    FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
    Quarterback Deondre Francois grew up this year, and the return of safety Derwin James from injury will solidify the defense.

  • 5
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    LSU TIGERS
    Ed Orgeronā€™s first full season in Baton Rouge is built for success considering he returns one of the best defensive coordinators in the game, Dave Aranda, and one of the nationā€™s best running backs, Derrius Guice.

  • 6
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    CLEMSON TIGERS
    Even with Deshaun Watson leaving, Clemson is now built to compete year-in and year-out.

  • 7
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    OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
    New coordinator Kevin Wilson should invigorate the offense, but Penn State and Michigan remain problems.



    COLLEGE FOOTBALL
    Clemson's classic win over Alabama proves each team is equipped for sustained glory



  • 8
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    OKLAHOMA SOONERS
    Quarterback Baker Mayfield could lead the Sooners to three Big 12 titles in three seasons.

  • 9
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    WASHINGTON HUSKIES
    The Huskies have a lot to replace in the secondary, but Chris Petersen is just getting started.

  • 10
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    MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
    The Big Ten East remains college footballā€™s toughest division at the top.



 
  • 11
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    WISCONSIN BADGERS
    Alex Hornibrook has to continue to grow, but the best news for the Badgers is that their 2017 Big Ten schedule is much easier.






  • 12
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    OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
    The Mason Rudolph-to-James Washington connection will be used frequently in 2017, and the Cowboys should have a strong ground game with running back Justice Hill returning, too.

  • 13
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    LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
    Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson is back, and thatā€™s all you need to know.


  • 14
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    AUBURN TIGERS
    Quarterback transfer Jarrett Stidham, formerly of Baylor, is immediately eligible and heā€™ll get help on the ground from the Tigersā€™ running back duo of Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson.


  • 15
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    GEORGIA BULLDOGS
    The return of quarterback Jacob Eason and running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel is huge for the Bulldogs, who will be an early favorite in the SEC East.


  • 16
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    TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
    Fans in Knoxville are running out of patience with Butch Jones, but maybe a new offensive coordinator makes the difference for the Vols.


  • 17
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    STANFORD CARDINAL
    Four starters on the offensive line are back in 2017 for coach David Shaw, who has maintained one of the most consistent programs in the country the last five years. The off-season status of quarterback Keller Chryst, who injured his right knee in the Sun Bowl, is unknown.


  • 18
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    TEXAS LONGHORNS
    First-year coach Tom Herman was gifted plenty of talent on both sides of the ballā€” most notably quarterback Shane Buechele and linebacker Malik Jefferson ā€” though the Longhorns will miss running back Dā€™Onta Foreman.


  • 19
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    FLORIDA GATORS
    Itā€™ll be a battle in spring ball amongst quarterbacks, with Luke Del Rio feeling pressure from two redshirt freshmen, Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. The Gators have a lot to replace defensively, but have won back-to-back SEC East titles.


  • 20
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    WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
    With Florida quarterback transfer Will Grier running the offense, the Mountaineers should contend for the Big 12 championship after a 10-win campaign in 2016.

  • 21
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    KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
    Donā€™t doubt the wizardry of Bill Snyder. The Wildcats return quarterback Jesse Ertz, running back Alex Barnes and four offensive linemen, plus 2016 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the year D.J. Reed, a cornerback who broke up 16 passes in his first season on campus.


  • 22
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    OREGON DUCKS
    First-year coach Willie Taggartā€™s most impressive recruiting win so far came when he convinced running back Royce Freeman to return to school. Heā€™ll get to run behind an experienced line (four of Oregonā€™s starting offensive linemen were redshirt freshmen in 2016) and play with a sophomore quarterback, Justin Herbert, who had a terrific freshman season.


  • 23
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    MIAMI HURRICANES
    Replacing quarterback Brad Kaaya is priority No. 1 in Coral Gables, but an experienced defense can help the Hurricanes, who won five in a row to end the 2016 season.


  • 24
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    UCLA BRUINS
    Is this the season the Bruins finally live up to the hype? A healthy Josh Rosen (shoulder surgery midway through 2016) will be key to challenging USC for the Pac-12 South title.


  • 25
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    SOUTH FLORIDA
    First-year coach Charlie Strong pairs with dynamic quarterback Quinton Flowers, a darkhorse Heisman candidate, to lead the early Group of Five favorite.




Also considered: Washington State, Boise State, TCU, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame
 
If our elite of the elite rival our 2008 recruits as predicted from folks who measure such stuff, I do see us clicking right along. If we can find an OT that wants to play OG we should be improved on the OL, even with Cam leaving early. With enough LB talent for 3 SEC teams, we should be all that. Ditto with the QB, RB, and WR positions. Number 1 seems about right.
 
rocknthefreeworld said:
Witha playoff, the previous year champion and runner up should be #1 and 2 going into the next season in my book. You still have to win a lot of games to stay in the top 4.
Click to expand...

to be completely honest, i really don't care who's ranked where this far in advance of the season. i don't even care where we're ranked during the season. as long as we're in the top 4 at the end of the season, that's all that matters to me. and then obviously i want us to win it all; but that should go without saying.




.....even though i just said it.


....or typed it


....whatever....;):p
 
sk33tr said:
to be completely honest, i really don't care who's ranked where this far in advance of the season. i don't even care where we're ranked during the season. as long as we're in the top 4 at the end of the season, that's all that matters to me. and then obviously i want us to win it all; but that should go without saying.




.....even though i just said it.


....or typed it


....whatever....;):p
Click to expand...

Bama has got quite the record of consecutive #1 seasons going at some time during the season. Getting that out of the way would be cool and it will shut down a lot of premature, "the dynasty is over."
 
TUSKstuff said:
Bama has got quite the record of consecutive #1 seasons going at some time during the season. Getting that out of the way would be cool and it will shut down a lot of premature, "the dynasty is over."
Click to expand...

meh, let them talk. it's all it is, anyway; just talk.

none of these so-called "experts" knows what's going on behind the scenes. the only ones that do are the coaches and the players. so unless it comes from them, i'm inclined to not listen to the "experts".

almost every time one of them talks about some dynasty being over, it comes back to bite them in the ass and make them look like an idiot. something they need no help in doing, in my opinion.
 
i think Bama drops down a bit next season. now people have lots of good tape to watch and, unless the passing game comes up quite a bit, quality opponents will be able to slow down our offense a bit more efficiently.

I think oklahoma and florida state are the most likelies for the championship game.

Miami should be ranked higher even though they lose their QB.

LSU still has QB problems and should be more like #12.

Ohio state/mich is a toss up but one of them will win Big10. Penn state is better but I don't buy them just yet. #10 for the nittanies.
 

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