Well now that all of the colleges are out recruiting at some of the high school spring games, it looks like a time to predict who will be finishing as the top four teams in the country. Last year, we saw a battle of the two most recent powerhouses in college football (Florida State vs. Oregon), and college's two top coaches (Saban vs. Myer). Who knows what we will see this year.
Looking at top rankings of current players on the rosters, appeal of new additions to the starting core, and who is in the lead for a Heisman, I am left to look at the finals as that following:
1. TCU
2. Ohio State
3. USC
4. Ole Miss
TCU has been one of the favorites for this year since the end of last season. With losing only one offensive player, along with having the current Heisman front-runner, Trevone Boykin, still on the roster, it makes sense that TCU should get to the final four.
It may be difficult to believe, due to a weak Big-12. Baylor will not be as much of a threat without Bryce Petty and West Virginia without Clint Trickett. These weaker games do not merit the number one ranking. That is because this TCU team is primed to do what we saw Florida State do in 2013. TCU will mop the floor with every opponent they face. Without some key players like Malcom Brown and Kevin White no longer in the conference, no one is there to stop them from overtaking Ohio State for the number one spot.
Speaking of Ohio State, why are they at two? Ohio State always seems to lose that one game in the season that makes their championship hopes look dim. This year, I look at three games for the defending champs to be wary of: Virginia Tech, Michigan State, Wisconsin.
Virginia Tech was the one in 14-1 for the Buckeye's last year. This was due to a last minute pick-six made by the Hokie defense. Having a top 25 recruiting class does not help Ohio State's chances either along with being on a neutral field for the game. Michigan State is always a contender for the Big-10 East. With that game being right at the end of the regular season, we could see MSU QB Conner Cook trying to cement his candidacy for a Heisman vote.
Why is Wisconsin on the list? They don't even play OSU. That is because this is the Big-10 Title Game rematch. Wisconsin will be hurt from losing their best offensive weapon in Melvin Gordon, but Wisconsin, like Michigan State, is always in contention for that title, especially with a weak Big-10 West in their favor.
Moving on to USC. Will this be the year they rise once again? I believe so. While having lost DT Leonard Williams and WR Nelson Agholor to the draft may not help, USC has a great starting QB in Kessler along with a recruiting system that could be described as "reloading."
USC is my pick for being the Pac-12 Champions due to the loss of Marcus Mariota in Oregon and Brett Hundley for UCLA. They have a strong schedule with a predicted six ranked match-ups.
Finally we have Ole Miss. With the loss of Bo Wallace, this will be my dark horse. Mel Kiper already has numerous players on both sides of the ball ranked in his top 15 on offense, defense, and Seniors. While they do have a difficult away schedule, playing Alabama, Florida, Auburn, and in-state rival Mississippi State, they have a lot of upside.
If Laquon Treadwell returns to the competitive state he was at before his injury, Ole Miss could be sitting pretty as the SEC Champs. Treadwell averaged about 13 yards per reception before breaking his leg against Auburn last year.
What about the other teams? The other possible teams that could be here are not due to a list of reasons. My first five out due to the game that will decide their fate:
Alabama loses to Ole Miss
Mississippi State loses to Alabama
Florida State loses to Georgia Tech
Arizona loses to USC
Oregon loses to Arizona State
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