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Dodd's 2015 Preseason Poll
1 Ohio State: Let's just say the Buckeyes are set are quarterback. Jones will go into the spring as the favorite. Will Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett make it that far before transferring? Include 15 other returning starters and Ohio State is the class of not only the Big Ten but the nation in 2015. The biggest loss is offensive coordinator Tom Herman, who heads for Houston.
2 TCU: A two-time National Coach of the Year, Gary Patterson gets back 15 starters including Heisman Trophy candidate (front-runner?) Trevone Boykin. Baylor coming to Fort Worth helps the chances for an undefeated season.
3 Alabama: Does it matter who plays quarterback? Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin and have shown they can coach the next guy up after Blake Sims. T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake should be back as one for the projected SEC champions.
4 Florida State: Jameis Winston, Nick O'Leary and Rashad Greene are gone. Jimbo Fisher won't blink. He has recruited like a madman (No. 2 nationally at the moment). Dalvin Cook returns at tailback. The quarterback battle will be worth following. Winston's 2014 backup, Sean Maguire, is only signal-caller with experience.
5 Baylor: Art Briles' bitching (over the Big 12 title) will fade when he realizes what's in the tank for 2015. Eighteen starters, not including quarterback Seth Russell, who led the nation in pass efficiency for a couple of weeks when Bryce Petty was injured.
6 Oregon: Until Braxton Miller says, “I'm not transferring to Oregon,” the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year remains a delicious prospect in Eugene. Quarterback is the biggest question mark now that Marcus Mariota is headed for the NFL. Thirteen starters -– counting defensive end Arik Armstead, for now -– will be back.
7 Ole Miss: The Rebels weren't a one-hit wonder. Hugh Freeze gets back receiver Laquon Treadwell and budding superstar Robert Nkemdiche in the defensive line. The Landshark defense returns with a snarl. If Chad Kelly can keep his nose clean, Ole Miss might be better at quarterback with the departure of Bo Wallace.
8 Michigan State: There's a dearth of skill players returning but somehow we think Mark Dantonio will be able to patch together enough to make another Big Ten run. Shilique Calhoun's decision to return on defense is huge. The remaking of the Big Ten continues. .
9 LSU: Let Leonard run! This should be a breakout year for sophomore tailback Leonard Fournette. If quarterback Anthony Jennings develops in his second year as a starter, the Tigers might be an SEC West contender again.
10 USC: Steve Sarkisian's nine wins are the most by a first-year Trojans' coach since 1976 and third-most ever for a USC first-timer. Buck Allen, Leonard Williams and Nelson Alholor have declared early for the draft. Still, the Trojans are loaded beginning with quarterback Cody Kessler who finished only slightly behind Mariota in Pac-12 passing numbers.
11 Boise State: The Broncos haven't gone anywhere under Bryan Harsin. There are still 17 other returning starters even with the loss of tailback Jay Ajayi to the draft.
12 Clemson: The full flowering of a healthy Deshaun Watson as a sophomore will be one of the season's hottest topics. Getting Florida State at home also gives the Tigers a chance in the ACC Atlantic.
13 Mississippi State: Like Ole Miss, the Bullies aren't going away anytime soon in the SEC. This ranking all depends on Dak Prescott staying in school. If he does, a Prescott-D'Runnya Wilson combination remains a scary thing.
14 Auburn: Two things to like about the Tigers' darkhorse chances in the SEC West: Will Muschamp as the new defensive coordinator and Jeremy Johnson as the new quarterback.
15 Missouri: It's time to stop doubting the Tigers. They should be favored to win the SEC East going in. Maty Mauk gets another year of experience. Defensive End U. Should be able to rebuild the position.
16 UCLA: Little Jerry Neuheisel will battle with freshman Josh Rosen to replace Brett Hundley. The winner will be surrounded by four all-conference performers, not including Paul Perkins, the Pac-12's leading rusher.
17 Arizona: The nation's best defender, Scooby Wright III, is back.A budding sophomore quarterback returns in Anu Solomon. Lots of upside for Arizona's first 10-win team in 16 years and only the third in program history.
18 Georgia: Do the Bulldogs even need a quarterback? They have so much depth at tailback they could go to the single wing. Nick Chubb leads the way.
19 Wisconsin: Let's see if Barry Alvarez can keep a coach. Paul Chryst was a safe and familiar pick to replace Gary Andersen. The next star tailback should be Corey Clement.
20 Arkansas: No one wants to play the Hogs the way they finished up 2014. In Bret Bielema's third season, this could be a 10-win team with a punishing defense and run game.
21 Arizona State: With only 11 coming back, Todd Graham had one of the smallest senior classes in the country. That will help in 2015. Tailback D.J. Foster helped things when he decided to return to school. Quarterback Mike Bercovici is an upgrade over Taylor Kelly. Yep, I said it.
22 Utah: Let's hope the Utes don't suffer while Kyle Whittingham and athletic director Chris Hill continue to squabble. Special things are ahead for Utah, which returns tailback Devontae Booker and eight defensive starters.
23 Georgia Tech: Paul Johnson would like to lob a middle finger at all the doubters. “At least for a week or two we don't have to worry about the SEC,” he said after beating Mississippi State in the Orange. Tech has won at least 10 games twice in six years. Justin Thomas is back at quarterback.
24 Florida: The offense can't get any worse, can it? Jim McElwain arrives to pump some life into the O. He should bring plenty of tape from Colorado State for Treon Harris -- or Will Grier. The Rams' Garrett Grayson was a top-five passer this season.
25 Tennessee: Butch Jones called his team the youngest in America. Doesn't that mean it has the most upside in '15? Plenty of raw talent just has to be realized in Knoxville.
1 Ohio State: Let's just say the Buckeyes are set are quarterback. Jones will go into the spring as the favorite. Will Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett make it that far before transferring? Include 15 other returning starters and Ohio State is the class of not only the Big Ten but the nation in 2015. The biggest loss is offensive coordinator Tom Herman, who heads for Houston.
2 TCU: A two-time National Coach of the Year, Gary Patterson gets back 15 starters including Heisman Trophy candidate (front-runner?) Trevone Boykin. Baylor coming to Fort Worth helps the chances for an undefeated season.
3 Alabama: Does it matter who plays quarterback? Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin and have shown they can coach the next guy up after Blake Sims. T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake should be back as one for the projected SEC champions.
4 Florida State: Jameis Winston, Nick O'Leary and Rashad Greene are gone. Jimbo Fisher won't blink. He has recruited like a madman (No. 2 nationally at the moment). Dalvin Cook returns at tailback. The quarterback battle will be worth following. Winston's 2014 backup, Sean Maguire, is only signal-caller with experience.
5 Baylor: Art Briles' bitching (over the Big 12 title) will fade when he realizes what's in the tank for 2015. Eighteen starters, not including quarterback Seth Russell, who led the nation in pass efficiency for a couple of weeks when Bryce Petty was injured.
6 Oregon: Until Braxton Miller says, “I'm not transferring to Oregon,” the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year remains a delicious prospect in Eugene. Quarterback is the biggest question mark now that Marcus Mariota is headed for the NFL. Thirteen starters -– counting defensive end Arik Armstead, for now -– will be back.
7 Ole Miss: The Rebels weren't a one-hit wonder. Hugh Freeze gets back receiver Laquon Treadwell and budding superstar Robert Nkemdiche in the defensive line. The Landshark defense returns with a snarl. If Chad Kelly can keep his nose clean, Ole Miss might be better at quarterback with the departure of Bo Wallace.
8 Michigan State: There's a dearth of skill players returning but somehow we think Mark Dantonio will be able to patch together enough to make another Big Ten run. Shilique Calhoun's decision to return on defense is huge. The remaking of the Big Ten continues. .
9 LSU: Let Leonard run! This should be a breakout year for sophomore tailback Leonard Fournette. If quarterback Anthony Jennings develops in his second year as a starter, the Tigers might be an SEC West contender again.
10 USC: Steve Sarkisian's nine wins are the most by a first-year Trojans' coach since 1976 and third-most ever for a USC first-timer. Buck Allen, Leonard Williams and Nelson Alholor have declared early for the draft. Still, the Trojans are loaded beginning with quarterback Cody Kessler who finished only slightly behind Mariota in Pac-12 passing numbers.
11 Boise State: The Broncos haven't gone anywhere under Bryan Harsin. There are still 17 other returning starters even with the loss of tailback Jay Ajayi to the draft.
12 Clemson: The full flowering of a healthy Deshaun Watson as a sophomore will be one of the season's hottest topics. Getting Florida State at home also gives the Tigers a chance in the ACC Atlantic.
13 Mississippi State: Like Ole Miss, the Bullies aren't going away anytime soon in the SEC. This ranking all depends on Dak Prescott staying in school. If he does, a Prescott-D'Runnya Wilson combination remains a scary thing.
14 Auburn: Two things to like about the Tigers' darkhorse chances in the SEC West: Will Muschamp as the new defensive coordinator and Jeremy Johnson as the new quarterback.
15 Missouri: It's time to stop doubting the Tigers. They should be favored to win the SEC East going in. Maty Mauk gets another year of experience. Defensive End U. Should be able to rebuild the position.
16 UCLA: Little Jerry Neuheisel will battle with freshman Josh Rosen to replace Brett Hundley. The winner will be surrounded by four all-conference performers, not including Paul Perkins, the Pac-12's leading rusher.
17 Arizona: The nation's best defender, Scooby Wright III, is back.A budding sophomore quarterback returns in Anu Solomon. Lots of upside for Arizona's first 10-win team in 16 years and only the third in program history.
18 Georgia: Do the Bulldogs even need a quarterback? They have so much depth at tailback they could go to the single wing. Nick Chubb leads the way.
19 Wisconsin: Let's see if Barry Alvarez can keep a coach. Paul Chryst was a safe and familiar pick to replace Gary Andersen. The next star tailback should be Corey Clement.
20 Arkansas: No one wants to play the Hogs the way they finished up 2014. In Bret Bielema's third season, this could be a 10-win team with a punishing defense and run game.
21 Arizona State: With only 11 coming back, Todd Graham had one of the smallest senior classes in the country. That will help in 2015. Tailback D.J. Foster helped things when he decided to return to school. Quarterback Mike Bercovici is an upgrade over Taylor Kelly. Yep, I said it.
22 Utah: Let's hope the Utes don't suffer while Kyle Whittingham and athletic director Chris Hill continue to squabble. Special things are ahead for Utah, which returns tailback Devontae Booker and eight defensive starters.
23 Georgia Tech: Paul Johnson would like to lob a middle finger at all the doubters. “At least for a week or two we don't have to worry about the SEC,” he said after beating Mississippi State in the Orange. Tech has won at least 10 games twice in six years. Justin Thomas is back at quarterback.
24 Florida: The offense can't get any worse, can it? Jim McElwain arrives to pump some life into the O. He should bring plenty of tape from Colorado State for Treon Harris -- or Will Grier. The Rams' Garrett Grayson was a top-five passer this season.
25 Tennessee: Butch Jones called his team the youngest in America. Doesn't that mean it has the most upside in '15? Plenty of raw talent just has to be realized in Knoxville.