Way Too Early Preview: College Football 2015
Last year’s college football season was filled with some incredible moments, but nothing will help fans get over the off-season hump. From now until September there will be no college football, as teams utilize spring and summer practices to put together the pieces.
Even though we have seven months to wait, here is my way too early College Football look-ahead.
1. The Ohio State University, Big Ten Conference
2014 Record: 14-1 (8-0), National Champions
Returning Starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense
The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off of one of the most impressive seasons in school history. The Buckeyes won 14 games on the year, and held off Alabama and Oregon to win the inaugural College Football Playoff. It is usually tough for National Title teams to hang onto their key pieces, but that isn’t the case for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State will return seven starters on both offense and defense next year including: DE Joey Bosa, RB Ezekiel Elliot and QB Cardale Jones. The trio of Bosa, Elliot and Jones played a huge factor for the Buckeyes last season and I expect them to play an even bigger role going forward.
With a weaker schedule, the Buckeyes look poised for another undefeated regular season. Hey, even Vegas likes Ohio State, as the Buckeyes are currently favored to win the Nation title at 5-1.
2. University of Southern California, Pac 12 Conference
2014 Record: 9-4 (6-3), Holiday Bowl Winners
Returning Starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense
The USC Trojans were one of my biggest winners on National Signing Day, as they pulled in a class dripping with talent and potential. Young talent is not the only positive for USC next season as the Trojans are returning 15 starters on both sides of the ball.
Senior quarterback, Cody Kessler, will have to step up if the Trojans hope to be competing for a National Title. The 6-foot-1 California native threw for 3,826 yards last season and completed 70 percent of his passes. Kessler also threw 39 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
The Trojans will need Kessler to put up numbers like that again if they plan to compete in a competitive Pac 12 South.
3. Texas Christian University, Big 12 Conference
2014 Record: 12-1 (8-1), Peach Bowl Winners
Returning Starters: 10 Offense, 6 Defense
Teams should be extremely worried as TCU returns nearly all of its offensive starters next year. The Horned Frogs scorched opponents last season as they put up 46.5 points per game ranking second in the country.
TCU also had the seventh overall passing offense in the country with 326.2 yards per contest. Quarterback Trevone Boykin should be able to maintain those offensive numbers as he will have his favorite target back next year.
Josh Docston, a 6-foot-4 Texas native, tallied over 1,000 yards on the season and came down with 11 touchdowns. Boykin and Docston will have to be in sync next year if the Horned Frogs want to repeat their success.
4. Baylor University, Big 12 Conference
2014 Record: 11-2 (8-1), Cotton Bowl Losers
Returning Starters: 8 Offense, 9 Defense
Baylor has a huge advantage going into next season: depth. The Bears return all but three starters on offense and two starters on defense. However, the Bears will lose their quarterback and Heisman trophy candidate, Bryce Petty.
Petty led the bears to the No. 1 scoring offense in the country at 48.2 points per game. Replacing a quarterback is never easy, but the Bears have some really good quarterbacks waiting for their turn. Seth Russell and Jarrett Stidham are two young quarterbacks who are going to have to step up for this Baylor offense.
Fortunately for Russell and Stidham, the Bears have offensive weapons galore. Baylor returns receivers Corey Coleman and KD Cannon. Coleman and Cannon both recorded more than 1,000 yards receiving and combined for 19 touchdowns.
And let’s not forget the Bears also have Shock Linwood back. Linwood helped take pressure off of Petty running for 1,252 yards last season and 16 touchdowns. I can’t wait for the Bears to travel to Fort Worth, Texas to take on TCU on November 27. It should be a battle of unbeaten teams.
5. The University of Alabama, SEC
2014 Record: 12-2 (7-1), Sugar Bowl Losers
Returning Starters: 2 Offense, 7 Defense
You may look at Alabama’s returning starters, and say the cupboard is bare. Hey, I looked at Alabama’s returning starters and thought the cupboard was bare.
However, Nick Saban, knows the cupboard is not bare. Saban brought in one of the Nation’s top recruiting classes for the fifth year in a row, and added depth at key positions.
The Tide will lose key players such as QB Blake Sims, WR Amari Cooper, RB T.J. Yeldon and SS Landon Collins. The losses may hurt, but the good news for Alabama is they have a lot of options going into next year.
They will have a four man quarterback race during spring practices. Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell will join Florida State transfer Jake Coker and freshman Blake Barnett as they compete for the starting job.
An inexperienced offensive will take the field for Alabama, but they will grow quickly. Saban also still has a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball, making it an easier transition for the four new starters. I expect Alabama to compete for another National Title next season, but I still think they are a year or two away from winning one.
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