The deadline for college football's draft-eligible underclassmen to declare for the 2020 NFL Draft passed on Friday. A record-tying 111 players have confirmed their intent to forgo their remaining eligibility and jump straight to the league.
That, of course, raises the challenge of how those players' respective teams will handle their loss on 2020 rosters.
MORE: 2020 NFL Draft declaration tracker
For some schools, that turnover comes with being a perennial blue-blooded powerhouse. It's simply expected each offseason. Other schools, however, will find out for the first time what exactly that turnover can feel like.
Conversely, some schools will return a majority — if not all — of their draft-eligible underclassmen. And even those who lost major talents saw one or two key contributors return, enough to build the team around heading into 2020.
As with all things, "winners" and "losers" fall on a spectrum: What may be a win to one team would be a loss for another. Our projections from the early draft entries try to reflect that. With that, here's a look at the college football teams that hit or missed from the NFL's early draft entry period:
NFL Draft deadline winners
Ohio State
Ohio State expected to lose Heisman Trophy finalist Chase Young and All-Americans J.K. Dobbins and Jeff Okudah. The Buckeyes, however, received a few pleasant surprises elsewhere.
Cornerback Shaun Wade, who was controversially called for targeting in the Playoff semifinal loss to Clemson, decided to return to school. So did linebacker Baron Browning. That will help shore up a defense that loses co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who took the head coaching job at Boston College.
The bigger gains might be on the offensive line, where All-American Wyatt Davis returns along with tackle Thayer Munford and center Josh Myers. That's good news for Heisman Trophy finalist Justin Fields (yep, Ohio State had two) and an offense loaded for another Playoff run under second-year coach Ryan Day.
Oklahoma State
The Cowboys could be a Big 12 contender after the decisions of two key offensive pieces to return for another season.
Chuba Hubbard, who led the FBS in 2019 with 2,094 rushing yards, is the biggest name to return. Oklahoma State got a bonus, however, when receiver 2018 Biletnikoff finalist Tylan Wallace, who averages 17.2 yards per catch for his career, also returned for another season. That should lead to a dynamic offense around sophomore quarterback Spencer Sanders.
Cornerback Rodarius Williams, who had 58 tackles and six passes defended this season, also returns. If Oklahoma State can stay healthy, then maybe it can make a real run to the conference championship game.
Texas
The Longhorns didn't live up to preseason expectations, but they didn't lose any underclassmen to the NFL Draft. That's a bonus for Tom Herman, who finally has all his players in place after hauling in four straight top-25 recruiting classes. The last three ranked third, third and 10th, respectively.
The biggest returner is quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who gives Texas four-year experience at the most important position. Tackle Samuel Cosmi also returned to school. Adding to that, rival Oklahoma will lose several key pieces from its offense, including early draft entree CeeDee Lamb. Will the Longhorns take advantage and get “back” once and for all?
MORE: 2020 NFL Mock Draft
NFL Draft deadline losers
LSU
The Tigers won the national championship, the culmination of a perfect season that ranks among the best of all time. But the price of perfection is LSU must now deal with roster attrition from players who have nothing left to achieve in college: Nine Tigers players have declared their intent to depart for the NFL draft, most in the FBS (and three more than second-place team Alabama).
The offense — which already lost Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow to graduation and passing game coordinator Joe Brady to the Carolina Panthers — must also replace running back Clyde-Edwards Helaire, receiver Justin Jefferson, tight end Thaddeus Moss, center Lloyd Cushenberry and offensive tackle Saahdiq Charles.
The defense also took heavy losses. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda took the Baylor job, and two-time SN All-American safety Grant Delpit left along with linebackers Patrick Queen, Jacob Phillips and K'Lavon Chaisson.
Georgia
Georgia's offense lost three-year starting quarterback Jake Fromm and star tailback D'Andre Swift to the NFL, as well as three starting offensive linemen in Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson and Solomon Kindley. That's the core of a group that made three straight runs to the SEC championship game, and it doesn't even include the loss of versatile five-star lineman Cade Mays, who transferred to Tennessee.
At least the defense returned defensive end Malik Herring, linebacker Monty Rice and defensive backs Richard LeCounte III and Eric Stokes.
Miami
The Hurricanes are coming off a rough showing in their 14-0 loss to Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl, and they lost four key players off that team.
Cornerback Trajan Bandy is gone, and Jonathan Garvin, who had nine sacks this season, also declared early. Receiver Jeff Thomas and leading rusher DeeJay Dallas also left a team that couldn't finish better than 6-7.
Wisconsin
The losses were expected, but Wisconsin must find a way to replace two-time unanimous All-American running back Jonathan Taylor (2018-19) and consensus All-American center Tyler Biadasz (2019). Receiver Quintez Cephus, who emerged as Jack Coan’s favorite target this season, also declared for the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Badgers have a system in place that has replaced those pieces in the past, but the competition in the Big Ten West is only going to get better.
MORE: Composite top 25 for 2020 college football season
NFL Draft deadline: Breaking even
Alabama
The Crimson Tide lost quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III, offensive tackle Jedrick Wills and safety Xavier McKinney to the 2020 NFL Draft. But the Crimson Tide also return several key pieces for 2020.
That includes Najee Harris (who has emerged as one of the best multi-purpose running backs in the FBS), All-American receiver DeVonta Smith and offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood — all potential first-round picks on offense. Veteran linebacker Joshua McMillon returns for a sixth season of eligibility. But the biggest win was the return of linebacker Dylan Moses, a preseason SN All-American who missed all of 2019 with a knee injury. He and McMillon can help Alabama's defense return to the Saban standard.
Clemson
The Tigers lost All-American linebacker Isaiah Simmons, star receiver Tee Higgins and cornerback A.J. Terrell to the NFL, key players off a team that reached the College Football Playoff championship game each of the last two seasons.
But Clemson received unexpected good news with the return of star running back Travis Etienne, who has 4,038 career rushing yards, 56 rushing touchdowns and an absurd 7.8 yards-per-carry average. Getting Etienne back only means good things for Clemson's offense — especially rising junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Notre Dame
The Irish will have a top-10 team coming off an 11-win season, but they did take some losses to the NFL Draft. Leading rusher Tony Jones Jr. and top tight end Cole Kmet left for the NFL Draft, as did safety Alohi Gilman on defense.
But the Irish return quarterback Ian Book, who will be a three-year starter, and tackle Liam Eichenberg on offense. On defense, the Irish got a big return in cornerback Shaun Crawford. Notre Dame has enough talent back around Book to stay in the top 10 — and perhaps get back to the Playoff.
