- Feb 13, 2016
- 2,681
- 3,332
Um...I think you just added another question with no answer.
SDS: Early 2017 Top 25
- Thread starter BMF
- Start date
Um...I think you just added another question with no answer.
- Jun 19, 2014
- 9,556
- 15,654
Founding Member
We should be around 23.
The Dabo fellatio stops with Watson leaving.
The Dabo fellatio stops with Watson leaving.
- Sep 8, 2014
- 25,447
- 59,444
SEC Country has us 12th, Michigan 19th (some other head-scratchers too):
https://www.seccountry.com/sec/the-way-too-early-top-25-for-2017-alabama-is-the-clear-no-1
19. Michigan
No current Top 25 team’s depth chart will feature as much turnover as Michigan’s. The Wolverines are set to lose their entire starting defense, both boundary receivers, star tight end, starting running back, three offensive linemen … heck, even the do-it-all kicking specialist is leaving. Jim Harbaugh has a treasure trove of young talent, but a Big Ten championship would appear to be a minor miracle at this point.
12. Florida
The Gators have fielded an excellent defense and plenty of talent at the offensive skill positions in two consecutive seasons, and 2017 should be no different. Jim McElwain’s missing ingredient has been consistent quarterback play. He’ll be hard-pressed to find it next fall with rising redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks an early favorite to win UF’s starting job.
11. Oklahoma State
An elite offense is sometimes all you need to win the Big 12, and the Cowboys might have the conference’s best in 2017. Mason Rudolph (4,152 total yards) will be back to lead a unit that racked up 38.6 points per game.
10. Oklahoma
If quarterback Baker Mayfield lights up the Big 12 again, he’ll do it without Heisman finalist Dede Westbrook and all-time rushing leader Samaje Perine. Don’t expect the defense to keep scoring low; the Sooners (28.8 points allowed in 2016) are saying goodbye to three key linemen, an inside linebacker and their free safety.
9. Wisconsin
There’s nothing sexy about the Badgers, but that didn’t stop them from nearly capturing the Big Ten title this past season. Expect more of the same in 2017. Wisconsin’s is losing some key pieces (top two running backs, starting receiver, left tackle and both outside linebackers) but none of the departures are fatal for this plug-and-play program.
8. USC
Sam Arnold’s star was born with an all-time performance in the Rose Bowl, but he’s saying goodbye to two of his top receivers, both of his tackles and his tight end. Plenty of young talent returns on the defensive side.
7. Auburn
The Jarett Stidham Era is set to begin, and he’s going to get plenty of help from the Tigers’ elite running back duo of Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson. Auburn has enough overall talent to give Alabama a serious challenge if Stidham — a Baylor transfer — can find his footing in the SEC.
6. Washington
The Huskies are losing four key underclassmen to the NFL, and coach Chris Petersen will be forced to rebuild his secondary. But most of the offense — including All-Pac-12 quarterback Jake Browning — will return for a shot at back-to-back conference titles.
5. Florida State
Good luck to ACC offenses next season. The Seminoles are losing their leader — defensive end DeMarcus Walker — but nine of 11 defensive starters are coming back. Quarterback Deondre Francois needs to take another step forward to compensate for the loss of running back Dalvin Cook and the potential loss of receiver Travis Rudolph. But the Noles have 5-star running back Cam Akers coming in next season.
4. Clemson
Might we see the 2016 champion shift to a run-based attack in 2017? Two-time Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson and halfback Wayne Gallman are off to the NFL, and Watson’s favorite target, Mike Williams, is likely to join them. But Clemson returns four young starters on the offensive line. Roughly 80 percent of the two-deep defensive depth chart is returning, too.
3. Penn State
Star receiver Chris Godwin is departing for the NFL, but the Nittany Lions will bring back all 10 other offensive starters — as well as plenty of depth — after racking up 49 points in the Rose Bowl. The defense will take a minor hit with both defensive ends leaving town, but the linebackers and secondary are still in great shape.
2. Ohio State
Urban Meyer’s revenge tour will be painful for the Big Ten. Heisman candidate J.T. Barrett is returning for his senior season, and he’ll be joined by halfback Mike Weber. The entire defensive line is back, too. It’s going to be an upset if OSU doesn’t claim a College Football Playoff spot for the third time in four years.
1. Alabama
Losing the national title game won’t have any effect on the Crimson Tide’s standing next August. Nick Saban’s team will bring back its starting quarterback, top three running backs and top two receivers on offense, and there’s little question that a reloaded defense will be elite again. ‘Bama looks ready to steamroll the SEC for what seems like the millionth time.
https://www.seccountry.com/sec/the-way-too-early-top-25-for-2017-alabama-is-the-clear-no-1
19. Michigan
No current Top 25 team’s depth chart will feature as much turnover as Michigan’s. The Wolverines are set to lose their entire starting defense, both boundary receivers, star tight end, starting running back, three offensive linemen … heck, even the do-it-all kicking specialist is leaving. Jim Harbaugh has a treasure trove of young talent, but a Big Ten championship would appear to be a minor miracle at this point.
12. Florida
The Gators have fielded an excellent defense and plenty of talent at the offensive skill positions in two consecutive seasons, and 2017 should be no different. Jim McElwain’s missing ingredient has been consistent quarterback play. He’ll be hard-pressed to find it next fall with rising redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks an early favorite to win UF’s starting job.
11. Oklahoma State
An elite offense is sometimes all you need to win the Big 12, and the Cowboys might have the conference’s best in 2017. Mason Rudolph (4,152 total yards) will be back to lead a unit that racked up 38.6 points per game.
10. Oklahoma
If quarterback Baker Mayfield lights up the Big 12 again, he’ll do it without Heisman finalist Dede Westbrook and all-time rushing leader Samaje Perine. Don’t expect the defense to keep scoring low; the Sooners (28.8 points allowed in 2016) are saying goodbye to three key linemen, an inside linebacker and their free safety.
9. Wisconsin
There’s nothing sexy about the Badgers, but that didn’t stop them from nearly capturing the Big Ten title this past season. Expect more of the same in 2017. Wisconsin’s is losing some key pieces (top two running backs, starting receiver, left tackle and both outside linebackers) but none of the departures are fatal for this plug-and-play program.
8. USC
Sam Arnold’s star was born with an all-time performance in the Rose Bowl, but he’s saying goodbye to two of his top receivers, both of his tackles and his tight end. Plenty of young talent returns on the defensive side.
7. Auburn
The Jarett Stidham Era is set to begin, and he’s going to get plenty of help from the Tigers’ elite running back duo of Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson. Auburn has enough overall talent to give Alabama a serious challenge if Stidham — a Baylor transfer — can find his footing in the SEC.
6. Washington
The Huskies are losing four key underclassmen to the NFL, and coach Chris Petersen will be forced to rebuild his secondary. But most of the offense — including All-Pac-12 quarterback Jake Browning — will return for a shot at back-to-back conference titles.
5. Florida State
Good luck to ACC offenses next season. The Seminoles are losing their leader — defensive end DeMarcus Walker — but nine of 11 defensive starters are coming back. Quarterback Deondre Francois needs to take another step forward to compensate for the loss of running back Dalvin Cook and the potential loss of receiver Travis Rudolph. But the Noles have 5-star running back Cam Akers coming in next season.
4. Clemson
Might we see the 2016 champion shift to a run-based attack in 2017? Two-time Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson and halfback Wayne Gallman are off to the NFL, and Watson’s favorite target, Mike Williams, is likely to join them. But Clemson returns four young starters on the offensive line. Roughly 80 percent of the two-deep defensive depth chart is returning, too.
3. Penn State
Star receiver Chris Godwin is departing for the NFL, but the Nittany Lions will bring back all 10 other offensive starters — as well as plenty of depth — after racking up 49 points in the Rose Bowl. The defense will take a minor hit with both defensive ends leaving town, but the linebackers and secondary are still in great shape.
2. Ohio State
Urban Meyer’s revenge tour will be painful for the Big Ten. Heisman candidate J.T. Barrett is returning for his senior season, and he’ll be joined by halfback Mike Weber. The entire defensive line is back, too. It’s going to be an upset if OSU doesn’t claim a College Football Playoff spot for the third time in four years.
1. Alabama
Losing the national title game won’t have any effect on the Crimson Tide’s standing next August. Nick Saban’s team will bring back its starting quarterback, top three running backs and top two receivers on offense, and there’s little question that a reloaded defense will be elite again. ‘Bama looks ready to steamroll the SEC for what seems like the millionth time.
