The 2016 college football season came to a thrilling close on Monday with the College Football Playoff championship game between No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Clemson at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Tigers scored the game-winning touchdown with one second left to upset the Crimson Tide, 35-31.
With that in mind, Sporting News already has a Top 25 in mind for the 2017 season. It has familiar faces at the top — our top nine teams played in the New Year’s Day Six this season — and that includes all four playoff teams.
MORE: Barrett gets one last chance at Ohio State
Of course, this is going to change in the spring and in the preseason, but it’s always a good time to talk about college football. You can never start too soon.
SN's college football Top 25 for 2017
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide opened the season as the AP No. 1 three times under Nick Saban, and there's a good chance that happens again in 2017. Jalen Hurts’ progression under new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will be scrutinized. Alabama, however, has enough pieces to keep the program at the top. It always does.
2. USC Trojans
The Trojans now have a quarterback who tilts the field in Sam Darnold, and Clay Helton can build off all that momentum from his Rose Bowl win in the offseason. USC will have to handle the hype, but it appears this Pac-12 power is ready for that spotlight again.
3. Clemson Tigers
Deshaun Watson will be gone, but the Tigers have built a program built for long-term success. Dabo Swinney will embrace that challenge: Remember, he has six straight seasons of 10 or more victories. Clemson’s depth through recruiting will show up as usual.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
Yes, we know what happened in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. Urban Meyer, however, addressed that with coaching changes on the offense, and J.T. Barrett returns for his senior season. Keep in mind, Meyer is 9-1 against Penn State and Michigan. The Buckeyes also get the Nittany Lions in Columbus this time.
5. Florida State Seminoles
Dalvin Cook and DeMarcus Walker are gone, but the Seminoles stockpiled enough talent around quarterback Deondre Francois to ensure more success is on the way. The opener against Alabama in the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be the most-talked about matchup of the offseason, and with good reason. It’s going to be a top-five showdown.
6. Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners’ high-flying offense should be full-go with Baker Mayfield at the controls. Oklahoma will be picked to win the Big 12 again, but the real perception-changer is at Ohio State on Sept. 9. The Sooners need to show what they learned from this year’s blowout.
7. Penn State Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions are rolling with two Heisman Trophy contenders in Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley in their backfield, and the carry-over effect for Sporting News Coach of the Year James Franklin is obvious. Penn State will be in contention for the Big Ten East championship again.
8. Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines lose a huge senior class, and the biggest challenge for Jim Harbaugh will be to retool the offensive line and secondary. Harbaugh, however, has recruited at an elite level, and that will show up. The Wolverines also get the spotlight against Florida in Jerry World to start the season. The Wolverines should be good for 10 wins, but can they finish the job and win that first Big Ten title since 2004?
9. Washington Huskies
The Huskies lose several impact players to the NFL, but Jake Browning returns after a sophomore season in which he threw for 43 touchdowns. Chris Petersen’s program isn’t going to drop off after one good season, but it will be tested by Stanford and Oregon in the Pac-12 North.
10. Georgia Bulldogs
Here’s the team that will be talked about than anybody else in the offseason. Running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel stayed in school, and Jacob Eason should make a big jump as a sophomore. At least, that’s what we’re counting on. Kirby Smart should be excited about Year 2. Bulldogs fans will be.
11. LSU Tigers
Ed Orgeron’s first full season as head coach should be successful, especially if it continues to revolve around Heisman Trophy candidate Derrius Guice. The Tigers should be in good shape early, but the November schedule is brutal.
12. Louisville Cardinals
Is this too low for a team that returns Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson? The late-season slide is a bit of a concern, and the Cardinals are stuck in a tough division. The Cardinals will have to prove themselves all over again in the ACC.
13. Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin is 21-6 the last two seasons under Paul Chryst. It’s business as usual for the Badgers, who need Alex Hornibrook to continue to evolve. They’ll be the front-runner for the Big Ten West championship again. The schedule is easier too, with November showdowns against Iowa and Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium.
14. Florida Gators
The Gators have won back-to-back SEC East Division championships, but lost some key defensive pieces to the NFL Draft. Yet Jim McElwain’s team seems to find a way in those games that shape the division race. The quarterback derby will be interesting in the spring, and the opener against Michigan in Jerry World is a great first test.
15. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Mason Rudolph and James Washington decided to return, and that’s good news for a Cowboys team inching closer to that Big 12 championship. One key scheduling note — the home game against Oklahoma was moved up to Nov. 4. The Cowboys have three regular season games afterward.
16. Stanford Cardinal
The Cardinal continue to be a model of consistency under David Shaw. Stanford has won 10 or more games five of the last six seasons, and will be right back in the Pac-12 North Division hunt.
17. Virginia Tech Hokies
The Hokies will have to account for the loss of Jerod Evans, Isaiah Ford and Bucky Hodges, but Justin Fuente’s 10-win season in Year 1 is a sign the program is in good hands. We’ll find out more in the opener against West Virginia.
18. West Virginia Mountaineers
Will Grier could be the starting quarterback for the Mountaineers next season, a team coming off a 10-win campaign that should be in the mix for a Big 12 championship. The opener against the Hokies should be fun, too.
19. Auburn Tigers
We’ll find out if Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham can compete for the starting job, but the tandem of running backs Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson should continue making big plays for the Tigers.
20. Kansas State Wildcats
Quarterback Jesse Ertz and four offensive linemen are back, and Bill Snyder continues to have consistent success with the Wildcats. West Virginia and Oklahoma have to come to Manhattan, Kan., next season. Kansas State could not-so-quietly challenge for a conference title.
21. Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes
Brad Kaaya is gone, so second-year coach Mark Richt’s first priority will be to sort out the quarterback battle. The Hurricanes won their last five games in 2016 and should build on that success.
22. Colorado Buffaloes
Mike MacIntyre made the Buffaloes one of the best stories of the 2016 season, but the season-ending losses to Washington and Oklahoma State showed there's still a long way to go. Can Colorado do it again?
23. Texas Longhorns
This might be too low. Tom Herman should have a much-needed, instant impact on the program, and he gets to build on both sides around Shane Buechele and Malik Jefferson.
24. Tennessee Volunteers
The Vols have to replace a lot of talent, so Butch Jones’ recruiting must show through in a tough September that includes games against Georgia Tech, Florida and Georgia.
25. South Florida Bulls
The combination of a motivated Charlie Strong and a dynamic quarterback in Quinton Flowers works for us. Here's our early pick for a Group of 5 buster.
