🏈 Top 5 Teams To Start 2020?

[alabama mike]

What 5 teams will be on your list to start (not finish) the 2020 college football season? These teams DO NOT have to be in any particular order.

Alabama
Ohio St.
Clemson
Georgia
Penn St.

 

[jdpas29]

ohio st
clemson
alabama
georgia
lsu

 

[rick4bama]

Bama
Clemson
LSU
Ohio St.
Oregon

 

[bamafan9201]

Ohio St
Clemson
LSU
Bama
Baylor

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

Ohio St
Clemson
LSU
Alabama
Georgia

 

[sean]

depending on who wins on the 13th:

if clemson wins...
1 - clemson
2 - lsu
3 - osu
4 - ok
5 - uga

if lsu wins...
1 - lsu
2 - clemson
3 - osu
4 - ok
5 - uga

i think BAMA starts somewhere in the top 10...maybe around 7 or 8. i don't like them starting at #1. i want the guys to have that chip on their shoulder and work for what they get. they need to be the hunters. they need to have that instinct to go out and kill for their dinner every saturday. when they feel disrespected, that's when they're at their best. they tend to play pissed off when they have something to prove.

 

[rick4bama]

i think BAMA starts somewhere in the top 10...maybe around 7 or 8. i don't like them starting at #1. i want the guys to have that chip on their shoulder and work for what they get. they need to be the hunters. they need to have that instinct to go out and kill for their dinner every saturday. when they feel disrespected, that's when they're at their best. they tend to play pissed off when they have something to prove.

I want that to be a Red Wood Tree on both shoulders!

 

[UAgrad93]

Some combination of
Ohio State
Clemson
BAMA
Oregon
LSwho
Georgia
Oklahoma

 

[We All Bleed Crimson]

Clemson
ohio state
Georgia
Oklahoma
Alabama

Pending any more departures....

 

[OldPlayer]

Ohio State
Clemson
Georgia
LSU
Baylor

LSU and Oklahoma lose their starting QBs. Can anyone name their backups? LSU will remain in the top five as a courtesy as many draft-eligible juniors will likely jump to the NFL. Georgia remains in the top five depending on what Fromm does (can anyone name his backup in 2019?). Baylor will start in the top five but won't remain there.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Really guys....if half of jrs eligible to leave come back...and we are close to half...
Top 5 in order.....September 1 in AP.....
Clemson
Alabama
Ohio state
Uga
Lsu

By time playoff committees ranks them....
Alabama
Ohio state
Clemson
Oklahoma
Florida / lsu....winner of that game

Oklahoma...based on their last 2 performance in playoffs....will have to run table to be considered....and clemson will also based ontheir weak schedule...

Florida ooc is Florida State
Lsu is texas
Clemson ooc is @ ND and usce

 

[alabama mike]

Ohio State
Clemson
Georgia
LSU
Baylor

LSU and Oklahoma lose their starting QBs. Can anyone name their backups? LSU will remain in the top five as a courtesy as many draft-eligible juniors will likely jump to the NFL. Georgia remains in the top five depending on what Fromm does (can anyone name his backup in 2019?). Baylor will start in the top five but won't remain there.

Tanner Mordecai for OU.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Bama will be in the Top 10 because they're Bama and not because we might belong. The defensive side of the ball for Bama is a big problem and that includes the coaching situation. I don't believe Nick is going to go into 2020 with this defensive staff. We'll see.

Ten Bears and his fine staff have taken a couple weeks off from football. A well deserved break. He was correct in that he had Bama 9-3 or 10-2 for the regular season with no big trophy.

 

[OldPlayer]

Tanner Mordecai for OU.

One point out of three. 33%. I don't think I can give you an A, but thanks for playing.

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

Tanner Mordecai for OU.

Spencer Rattler, IMO

LSU fans already saying Miles Brennan is better than Burrow

 

[TerryP]

LSU fans already saying Miles Brennan is better than Burrow

Then why are they trying to sign one of two transfers (Newman @ Wake or King from Houston?)

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Spencer Rattler, IMO

LSU fans already saying Miles Brennan is better than Burrow

Same as all fan bases losing a good one....and the next one is better...

 

[SEC Sports]

College football rankings: SN's Preseason Top 25 for 2020

It's never too early to look ahead to next year, and there are familiar schools atop Sporting News' way-too-early top 25 rankings for the 2020 college football season.

www.sportingnews.com

25. Boise State
24. UCF
23. Virginia
22. Arizona State
21. North Carolina
20. Cincinnati
19. Louisville
18. Utah
17. Oklahoma State
16. Texas A&M
The Aggies have consecutive top-10 recruiting classes to build their team in 2020, meaning more difference-makers to help Kellen Mond enjoy his senior season. Isaiah Spiller is back too, and this offense should be much better after a year of experience. The defense is mostly together. For third-year coach Jimbo Fisher, it comes down to making that jump against top-10 teams. The Aggies are 1-7 in that situation the last two seasons. The crossover schedule is more friendly against South Carolina and Vanderbilt, but Texas A&M still visits Auburn and closes the season at Alabama before taking on LSU at home.
15. Michigan
14. Wisconsin
13. Texas
12. Minnesota
11. Auburn
We're going to talk about Gus Malzhan's job security all offseason again, but the Tigers bought some time by winning the Iron Bowl. Sophomore quarterback Bo Nix returns and should improve his consistency as a sophomore. JaTarvious Whitlow will be healthy. The defensive line loses Marlon Davidson, Derrick Brown and Nick Coe, but at least returns Big Kat Bryant and Tyrone Truesdell. The schedule is brutal, and it closes with LSU and Alabama in the final two weeks. Who made that again?

10. Florida
Dan Mullen led the Gators to back-to-back New Year's Day 6 Bowl wins, and he has upgraded the talent with each recruiting cycle. Kyle Trask and Emory Jones will fight for the quarterback job, but it would be hard to take that away from Trask given how he filled in this season. The return of cornerback Marco Wilson is a lift for a talented defense that loses CJ Henderson. Florida is close to getting back to the SEC championship game, but Georgia remains the biggest hurdle.

9. Penn State
James Franklin signed a longterm extension, and he continues to build the program toward a Playoff breakthrough with big recruiting classes. Sean Clifford, Journey Brown, Pat Freiermuth and Jahan Dotson lead what should be a high-scoring offense while Micah Parsons can step into Yetur Gross-Matos’ role as one of the best defenders in college football. Road trips to Virginia Tech and Michigan in the first five weeks won't be easy, but it still comes down to Ohio State. The Buckeyes which visit Happy Valley on Oct. 24.

8. Notre Dame
The return of veteran quarterback Ian Book is the biggest plus for Brian Kelly heading into his 11th season, and Jafar Armstrong and Jahmir Smith need to step up at running back. Javon McKinley, Braden Lenzy and Tommy Tremble give Book solid options in the receiving game. Secondary will be a question mark on defense. The schedule is fun with a trip to Ireland against Navy in the opener, an Oct. 3 visit to Lambeau Field for Wisconsin and the Nov. 7 blockbuster against Clemson in South Bend. The Irish are 33-6 the last three seasons. They will be in the Playoff conversation again.

7. Oklahoma
The Sooners are facing the backlash of a fourth Playoff loss in six seasons, but Lincoln Riley didn't go to the pros and Oklahoma is still the favorite to win the Big 12. Spencer Rattler had a year to learn behind Jalen Hurts, and that will pay off. Jadon Haselwood is the next breakout star at receiver, and the defense will face the same old questions with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. September features a visit from Tennessee and a trip to Army. The Sooners still have a lot of questions, but that might not be answered unless they get back to the Playoff.

6. Oregon
The Ducks are trending upward under Mario Cristobal, and the next step is the College Football Playoff. Justin Herbert's loss is the first order of business, but the new starter (who could come from the transfer portal) will run a talented offense that could still include Johnny Johnson III and CJ Verdell around an offensive line that features Penei Sewell. Sophomore Kayvon Thibodeaux leads the defense, and five-star linebacker Justin Flowe will be an instant-impact player (don’t forget about fellow five-star linebacker Noah Sewell, younger brother of Penei). Ohio State visits Autzen Stadium on Sept. 12 for an early test.

5. Georgia
Jake Fromm is gone, as well as the vast majority of Georgia's offensive line. But the Bulldogs will be in position to make the same run to the SEC championship game around a talented roster Kirby Smart has built with a string of top-five recruiting classes. There will be a wide-open battle and the transfer portal could factor in. Zamir White and James Cook will keep the ground game going, and George Pickens could emerge as the best receiver in the FBS. Rising redshirt-sophomore linebacker Azeez Ojulari could make the jump to All-American. The road trip to Alabama on Sept. 19 is the next chance to win the big game.

4. LSU
What will LSU and Ed Orgeron do for an encore without Joe Burrow? Myles Brennan will finally get his shot at quarterback, and Ja'Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall Jr. are back for another season. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire's draft decision will impact the running game. LSU's defense returns mostly intact and can build around sophomore Derek Stingley Jr. and another loaded recruiting class. Steve Ensminger, Joe Brady and Dave Aranda stayed put, too. Texas and Alabama visit Tiger Stadium, but there are road trips to Florida, Auburn and Texas A&M.

3. Alabama
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III, offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and safety Xavier McKinney are gone, and Nick Saban faces the challenge of getting back into the College Football Playoff for the first time. The quarterback battle among Mac Jones, Taulia Tagovailoa and freshman Bryce Young will be the focus of the spring, and there likely won't be an answer until the opener against USC. Receivers DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle are back, and Najee Harris has yet to make a decision. Dylan Moses' decision to return should help shore up a defense that wasn't up to Alabama’s championship standard. Georgia visits Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 19. We'll know then if this team can handle LSU and Auburn in November.

2. Ohio State
The Buckeyes lost star players J.K. Dobbins, Chase Young and Jeff Okudah to the NFL, but Heisman Trophy finalist Justin Fields returns to a still-loaded roster. The receiving corps will be the deepest in the country. Expect Garrett Wilson to be a breakout star while five-star receiver Julian Fleming joins the fun. Wyatt Davis and Josh Myers return to a nasty offensive line. Shaun Wade's decision to return to school helps a defense that will rebuild the line around Tyreke Smith and Zach Harrison. Road trips to Oregon and Penn State are the biggest potholes to another Playoff run. Second-year coach Ryan Day can work with that.

1. Clemson
The beat goes on under Dabo Swinney. The Tigers figure to suffer some attrition to the NFL, but the offense runs around the junior trio of Trevor Lawrence, Lyn-J Dixon and Justyn Ross. Clemson also has the No. 1 recruiting class coming in, and defensive lineman Bryan Bresee will play right away. Coordinators Tony Elliott and Brent Venables stayed on, and that continuity should lead to a sixth straight ACC championship run. Including conference title games, the Tigers have won 22 straight in the ACC. The toughest game on the schedule is the Nov. 7 trip to Notre Dame.

 

[alabama mike]

Then why are they trying to sign one of two transfers (Newman @ Wake or King from Houston?)

Both are seniors and can play immediately. If King leaves Houston, that is really going to hurt them this coming season bc he sat out for a red shirt after a few games. The WR did as well but I cant think of his name at the moment.

 

[Vabama77]

Don't see bama being ranked below 4th to start year. Georgia has taken massive losses along with Lsu. Our defensive issues will get sorted out and I think we ll be more hungry than ever.