Hello college football fans! I just wanted to take the time to remind you, college football is just two weeks away and that means it is officially time to talk about these rankings. I’m no expert by any means, but I decided to give this college football ranking thing a try. Let’s see how accurate my predictions will be by the end of the season.
1. Clemson
The Coaches Poll put Clemson at number one a few days ago, and I might have to agree with their assessment. They are going into the season as the obvious ACC favorites. For what seems like the 1000th year in a row, they are also coming into the season as the national title favorites along with Alabama. Can they win two years in a row? Of course they can!
Quarterback and Heisman front-runner Trevor Lawrence will return this season with running back Travis Etienne and wide receiver Justyn Ross ready to help him make the plays. The only problem with this scenario? They did lose a lot of talent on defense to the NFL draft.
Last year: 15-0 (8-0 ACC)
2. Alabama
In the history of the College Football Playoff we have yet to see Alabama miss a season. Every year they lose talent to the draft and assistants are hired as head coaches elsewhere. Every year Nick Saban finds a way to get his team to the top spot.
Yes, the loss to Clemson last year was a bit humiliating, but that just adds fuel to the fire. We all know that was just a minor set back. They will come back this season and completely annihilate every team they face, but I just don’t think they can defeat Clemson.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was unstoppable in the regular season, but in the SEC championship and the playoffs, he only had seven touchdowns and FOUR interceptions. FOUR. In three games. With QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Jerry Judy and LB Dylan Moses among the returning stars, Saban might prove me wrong. I am pretty certain about one thing though… Let’s just start preparing for another Alabama-Clemson showdown this season.
Last year: 14-1 (8-0 SEC)
3. Georgia
Georgia football fans like to call themselves the Beast of the (SEC) east. They faced Alabama in the 2018 National Championship and 2018 SEC title game. They were pretty close to victory on both occasions, but they fell short of the prize. To add insult to injury, they lost to the Longhorns in the 2019 Sugar Bowl.
Maybe this season Kirby Smart will finally bring the trophy home. He has the talent and the schedule that will put the Bulldogs back in the playoffs. Quarterback Jake Fromm and running back D’Andre Swift will both be making a return this year along with a very experienced offense. Of course, they also have eight defensive starters returning, and let’s not forget, they were named the second-best defense in the SEC.
Last year: 11-3 (7-1 SEC)
4. Oklahoma
Lincoln Riley is unstoppable. He has been the head coach at OU for two seasons. In that time he has accumulated two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, two Big 12 titles and two trips to the College Football Playoffs.
Just this week, he named Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts the starting quarterback for the season. If Riley wants another Heisman Trophy winning, he has one. With a Big 12 offense, we can expect ridiculous stats all season long. Defensively, they might have a few issues.
Let’s not forget the Big 12 is not known for their defense. Last season, the Sooners allowed more than 450 yard per game. At some point, simply relying on out-scoring the other team will fail.
Last year: 12-2 (8-1 Big 12)
5. Michigan
If you hadn’t heard, Michigan has a new offensive coordinator this year. Where did this new OC come from? Alabama.
He is expected to revive the Wolverines’ offense with a spread attack with the help of quarterback Shea Patterson and leading receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins. The defense was actually pretty strong last season… until they faced Ohio State. Hey! It happens. Big rivalry games like that brings out the best and the worst of teams, but if Jim Harbaugh and Michigan are going to beat Ohio State, it will be this season.
The offense should be more explosive with the arrival of Josh Gattis and, while the defense might not have much star power outside CB Lavert Hill, defensive coordinator Don Brown is one of the nation’s best.
Last year: 10-3 (8-1 Big Ten)
6. Ohio State
After the drama of last season, Urban Meyer decided it was time to step down as head coach of ‘the’ Ohio State University. Ryan Day who served as interim head coach during Meyers suspension was named the official head coach after Meyer’s departure. New team. Same goals. A third consecutive Big Ten title and eighth consecutive win against Michigan.
Along with their new head coach, the Buckeyes also added former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich as their passing game coordinator. Georgia transfer quarterback Justin Fields and running back J.K. Dobbins will be the stars of the show.
On the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes have added new co-defensive coordinator and former Michigan defensive line coach Greg Mattison. With the new hire and DE Chase Young making a return, defense should be an immediate impact, but will it be enough to beat Michigan?
Last year: 13-1 (8-1 Big Ten)
7. LSU
In the first nine games of the 2018 season, the LSU Tigers averaged 363 yards per game. This season, they are adding Joe Brady as passing game coordinator and receivers coach. Coming from the New Orleans Saints where he served as offensive assistant, Brady comes to the Tigers with the experience they need to avoid another 7OT game like the one they had against Texas A&M last year. Quarterback Joe Burrow should have no problem adjusting to the new run-pass option.
The adjustments should help them face their tough schedule. Half of LSU’s opponents this season are expected to be ranked in the Top 25. That could either help or hurt them in the rankings. Of course they have to face Alabama too and they didn’t do so great last season. Who can forget that 29-0 score?
Last year: 10-3 (5-3 SEC)
8. Notre Dame
The Irish are 22-4 the past two seasons. They even made it into the College Football Playoffs last season. This year, the Irish hope to make head coach Brian Kelly the first coach at Notre Dame with three consecutive double-digit win seasons. Lou Holtz was the last to hold that honor from 1991 to 1993. The Irish will see the return of quarterback Ian Book.
If Notre Dame plans to make it to the playoffs again, they must focus on their triad games at Georgia, Michigan and Stanford. They have eight returning starters on offense and six returning starters on defense, so getting to the playoffs is attainable … if they can take Georgia down.
Last year: 12-1
9. Florida
The Gators had a tough start to the 2018 season. Two games in and fans were starting to worry. Some were starting to wonder if a Bowl game was even possible, but somehow, someway the Gators pulled through and finished the season 10-3.
Much to head coach Dan Mullen’s relief, they made it to the postseason and defeated Michigan 41-15 in the Peach Bowl. Their offense average 426 yards per game, a huge upgrade from the previous eight seasons. The Gators have not won the SEC Championship since 2008; you might remember a quarterback by the name of Tim Tebow.
If Florida wants to get back to that SEC Championship this year, they will need to be ready to face Georgia.
Last year: 10-3 (5-3 SEC)
10. Oregon
This season, the Ducks are projected to dominate the Pac-12… assuming Justin Herbert stays healthy. In the last two seasons, Oregon has averaged 40.3 points per game with Herbert as the starter. When he was injured in 2017, the Ducks averaged 15 points per game. The Ducks need Herbert and Herbert needs the Ducks to get him to New York City for the Heisman ceremony.
Also returning, is five-star defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux who can certainly stop any opponent the Ducks face. Why aren’t they higher on the list? Because the Ducks just can’t handle road games. The last three seasons the Ducks have gone 4-12 on the road. It’s a huge contrast from their 15-5 record at home.
Last year: 9-4 (5-4 Pac-12)
If our college football ranking left you wanting more college football, head over to Last Night’s Game and check out their latest article, 5 Things You Need to Know About College Football!
