Not surprised by Clemson, but Georgia coming in at number 2. Are they really the number 2? Not surprised by the big drop from LSU. Lost their QB and the OC of the offense and plus the losses to Graduation and the amount of underclassmen. Will be solid on defense. But feel their weak spot will be offense. Like our chances their this season if the injury bug fades and Muschamp can get his act together. Just 6 SEC teams feeling here a down year which will be good to the Gamecocks. ACC has 3 with Clemson leading the pack followed by North Carolina at 19 Florida St. at 23. What you folks think?
2020's Way-Too-Early Top 25: Clemson Leads the Pack After Title-Game Defeat.
View full list from SI here
We've got months to go until the return of college football, but it's never too early to start looking toward next season.
1. Clemson
The Tigers were humbled in the Superdome on Monday night, but they will return Trevor Lawrence, Justyn Ross and other offensive weapons (how many others will depend on some early-entry NFL draft decisions). And the defense, which finished the season No. 6 in yards allowed and No. 3 in points allowed, was young. Throw in the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class and there’s a reason why coach Dabo Swinney said late Monday in New Orleans, “We’re going to have a really, really good football team next year.”
2. Georgia
The top three teams in the SEC are all losing veteran quarterbacks, but the Bulldogs might have scored the coup of transfer season by landing Wake Forest evacuee Jamie Newman, who was second in the ACC in total offense at 287 yards per game. Combine that key transfer with the monster recruiting classes that Kirby Smart has stacked up, and Georgia could be next season’s LSU. (But the offensive line will have to be largely rebuilt.)
3. Ohio State
Justin Fields is back after a Heisman Trophy–finalist season, but he’s going to need a lot of reinforcements at skill positions. The Buckeyes lose four of their top six receivers, and that includes leading rusher J.K. Dobbins. Defensively, end Chase Young and cornerback Jeff Okudah depart and will be likely top-five draft picks. Of course, the cupboard is never bare in Columbus, so Ohio State still looks like the class of the Big Ten.
4. Alabama
The expectation is that running back Najee Harris will stay in school, a big boost as the Crimson Tide deals with its annual early-entry roster churn. Mac Jones showed that he can be a capable replacement for Tua Tagovailoa—if he can hold off incoming freshman Bryce Young. The harder work for Alabama will be restoring a defense that has slipped the past two seasons, but a lot of freshmen got valuable playing time in 2019 and should be ready to make bigger impacts in ’20.
5. Penn State
It’s hard to close the scarlet-and-gray gap in the Big Ten East, but the Nittany Lions have a shot at it in 2020. Aside from the not-insignificant departure of all-purpose threat K.J. Hamler, virtually every key skill-position performer from 2019 is back—including quarterback Sean Clifford, who should take another step forward next season. And on defense, monster linebacker Micah Parsons returns as well.
Remaining SEC Teams in top 25
8. Florida
The emergence of Kyle Trask as a reliable quarterback was a major development in 2019 that should continue to pay dividends in 2020. He could have the best tight end in the country to throw to in Kyle Pitts. A few other playmakers must step forward, but that should happen. The SEC’s No. 2 defense last season also has some holes to fill, but the talent is there as Dan Mullen’s recruiting classes begin to stack up.
10. LSU
It was fun while it lasted. Replacing Joe Burrow and passing game coordinator Joe Brady will be a massive undertaking. But if it’s Myles Brennan or a transfer, the new LSU QB has certified monsters to throw to in Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall. The defense could require a lot of renovation as well, as players make their decisions on whether to stay in school or go pro.
14. Auburn
Gus Malzahn has a ton of returning and maturing offensive weapons and a ton of holes to fill on a defense that was often great. If quarterback Bo Nix makes the expected strides forward after an uneven freshman season, the Tigers could threaten Alabama and LSU in the West—but that will be decided late. Auburn will close the season by hosting the Tigers and then traveling to the Crimson Tide.
25. Texas A&M
The other perpetually overrated team from Texas at least gets Clemson off the schedule this season, so that should mean an automatic one-win upgrade. With 2019 and 2020 classes that rank in the top 10 nationally, it’s time for Jimbo Fisher to start earning that massive paycheck.
2020's Way-Too-Early Top 25: Clemson Leads the Pack After Title-Game Defeat.
View full list from SI here
We've got months to go until the return of college football, but it's never too early to start looking toward next season.
1. Clemson
The Tigers were humbled in the Superdome on Monday night, but they will return Trevor Lawrence, Justyn Ross and other offensive weapons (how many others will depend on some early-entry NFL draft decisions). And the defense, which finished the season No. 6 in yards allowed and No. 3 in points allowed, was young. Throw in the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class and there’s a reason why coach Dabo Swinney said late Monday in New Orleans, “We’re going to have a really, really good football team next year.”
2. Georgia
The top three teams in the SEC are all losing veteran quarterbacks, but the Bulldogs might have scored the coup of transfer season by landing Wake Forest evacuee Jamie Newman, who was second in the ACC in total offense at 287 yards per game. Combine that key transfer with the monster recruiting classes that Kirby Smart has stacked up, and Georgia could be next season’s LSU. (But the offensive line will have to be largely rebuilt.)
3. Ohio State
Justin Fields is back after a Heisman Trophy–finalist season, but he’s going to need a lot of reinforcements at skill positions. The Buckeyes lose four of their top six receivers, and that includes leading rusher J.K. Dobbins. Defensively, end Chase Young and cornerback Jeff Okudah depart and will be likely top-five draft picks. Of course, the cupboard is never bare in Columbus, so Ohio State still looks like the class of the Big Ten.
4. Alabama
The expectation is that running back Najee Harris will stay in school, a big boost as the Crimson Tide deals with its annual early-entry roster churn. Mac Jones showed that he can be a capable replacement for Tua Tagovailoa—if he can hold off incoming freshman Bryce Young. The harder work for Alabama will be restoring a defense that has slipped the past two seasons, but a lot of freshmen got valuable playing time in 2019 and should be ready to make bigger impacts in ’20.
5. Penn State
It’s hard to close the scarlet-and-gray gap in the Big Ten East, but the Nittany Lions have a shot at it in 2020. Aside from the not-insignificant departure of all-purpose threat K.J. Hamler, virtually every key skill-position performer from 2019 is back—including quarterback Sean Clifford, who should take another step forward next season. And on defense, monster linebacker Micah Parsons returns as well.
Remaining SEC Teams in top 25
8. Florida
The emergence of Kyle Trask as a reliable quarterback was a major development in 2019 that should continue to pay dividends in 2020. He could have the best tight end in the country to throw to in Kyle Pitts. A few other playmakers must step forward, but that should happen. The SEC’s No. 2 defense last season also has some holes to fill, but the talent is there as Dan Mullen’s recruiting classes begin to stack up.
10. LSU
It was fun while it lasted. Replacing Joe Burrow and passing game coordinator Joe Brady will be a massive undertaking. But if it’s Myles Brennan or a transfer, the new LSU QB has certified monsters to throw to in Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall. The defense could require a lot of renovation as well, as players make their decisions on whether to stay in school or go pro.
14. Auburn
Gus Malzahn has a ton of returning and maturing offensive weapons and a ton of holes to fill on a defense that was often great. If quarterback Bo Nix makes the expected strides forward after an uneven freshman season, the Tigers could threaten Alabama and LSU in the West—but that will be decided late. Auburn will close the season by hosting the Tigers and then traveling to the Crimson Tide.
25. Texas A&M
The other perpetually overrated team from Texas at least gets Clemson off the schedule this season, so that should mean an automatic one-win upgrade. With 2019 and 2020 classes that rank in the top 10 nationally, it’s time for Jimbo Fisher to start earning that massive paycheck.
