#10 Clemson
The Tigers return freshman-phenom DeShaun Watson along with one of the best receiving corps in the nation. They lost a lot on the defensive side of the ball from last season but still have talent to step up. Their schedule also sets up very nicely with three of their biggest games at home.
Key Games: vs Notre Dame, vs Georgia Tech, vs Florida State, @ South Carolina
#9 Michigan State
The Spartans have won at least 11 games in four of the past five seasons mainly with defense. This year they return QB Connor Cook who is one of my Heisman sleepers. Michigan State is seemingly just outside of the top 5 all season and I expect nothing different this year.
Key Games: vs Oregon, @ Michigan, @ Ohio State
#8 Baylor
Art Briles offenses always put up video game numbers and this should year should be no different with the return of two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,200-yard rusher along with its entire offensive line. They're question marks will be on defense and at quarterback but it's been years since a Baylor quarterback had even an average season.
Key Games: vs Oklahoma, @ Oklahoma State, @ TCU (All back to back)
#7 Florida State
Adding Golson to an extremely talented offense, hopefully featuring Heisman candidate Dalvin Cook, is just what the doctor ordered for this team. If the defense steps up (and there's really only one way to go from last year) and plays to even half of their potential, then this team could very well end up in the New Year's Day Playoff competition.
Key Games: vs Miami, @ Georgia Tech, @ Clemson
#6 USC
Steve Sarkisian is making things happen in USC. Quarterback Cody Kessler is an extremely underrated player who accounted for 3,505 yards and 36 touchdowns last season and will be surrounded by talent. Despite losing All-American Leonard Williams to the NFL, the USC defense is still loaded with talent lead by Safety Su'a Cravens and they will be looking to return to the top of college football.
Key Games: vs Washington, @ Notre Dame, vs Arizona, @ Oregon, vs UCLA
#5 Oregon
Replacing superstar quarterbacks has not been an issue for Oregon the last few years. They return one of the best running backs in the nation in Royce Freeman (1,365 yards last season) along with its leading receiver in Byron Marshall. Until the beat a legitimate team that doesn't hand them 5+ turnovers, I will be skeptical about Oregon but they certainly have the talent returning this year. We will see what they are made of early vs the Spartans.
Key Games: @ Michigan State, @ Washington, @ Stanford, vs USC
#4 Alabama
Saban's teams should never start outside of the top 5, when was the last time 'Bama didn't have the number one recruiting class in the nation? They have the most talent in the nation and an actual horse they can hand the ball off to named Derrick Henry. Ohio State did hand it to them in the playoff last year, but I know the Crimson Tide are buckling down to erase last year's terrible season-ending loss. The key will be finding a quarterback and it doesn't sound like Jake Coker is what they were hoping he'd be.
Key Games: vs Wisconsin, vs Ole Miss, @ Georgia, vs Tennessee, @Auburn
#3 Auburn
Gus Malzahns offense is always one of the best offenses in the country. This year they will plug in 6'5" junior Jeremy Johnson to take the reigns of an offense returning a very deep group of receivers. The key, however, will be the addition of Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator. Despite having a terrible team for much of his time at UF, Muschamp has had a consistently stifling defense to lean on and it should not take him long to implement his scheme in Auburn.
Key Games: vs Louisville, @ LSU, vs Ole Miss, vs Georgia, vs Alabama
#2 TCU
The Horned Frogs return 9 offensive starters including one of the nations best players in quarterback Trevone Boykin. TCU will have to rebuild their defense but Gary Patterson never seems to have too much trouble putting an elite defense on the field.
Key Games: vs Texas, @ Oklahoma State, @ Oklahoma, vs Baylor
#1 Ohio State
The Buckeyes, as you've likely heard, return three quarterbacks that could start for most other teams in the country, but it isn't just about their situation behind center. They also return star running back Ezekiel Elliot who ran for 246 yards and four touchdowns in last year's national championship game and an abundance of talent across their defense. It also helps that they don't play anyone until the last two weeks of the season. Urban Creyer has turned the program around and, barring a miracle, they should be in the end of the year playoff.
Key Games: @ Virginia Tech, vs Michigan State, @ Michigan
Sleepers: Arizona, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Ole Miss.
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