1. Ohio State
It’s not going to matter who plays quarterback — Cardale Jones, JT Barrett or Braxton Miller (more on him later) — this team is loaded everywhere. Urban Meyer left Florida and college football as the game’s best recruiter, and he has returned as the game’s best at Ohio State. The lines of scrimmage return nearly intact, and there’s speed all over the field in all three phases of the game. The only question is the deepest area of the team (quarterback), and that could shake out as soon as later this month.
2. TCU
Ten seniors on offense, a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback (Trevon Boykin) and six starters returning from a defense that was one of the most disruptive in the nation over the last month of the season. Who looked more impressive this bowl season than TCU? Besides, Frogs coach Gary Paterson has some major juju from the way he handled the CFP snub.
3. Baylor
First All-American DE Shawn Oakman decided he would return for his senior season. Then All-American OT Spencer Drango announced the same. Those two key personnel moves are as critical for what happens on the field, as what plays out off it with team chemistry. At some point, the Bears must finish a season right (the last two have been gut punches). QB Seth Russell played well for an injured Bryce Petty this season, and it should be a smooth transition to the starting spot in 2015.
4. Arkansas
The Hogs as the highest-ranked SEC team can only mean one thing: get ready for a whole lot of ground and pound Crawl Ball in the biggest games of the year in the SEC. All of them — at Alabama, at LSU, at Ole Miss — away from Fayetteville. The best way to win on the road in the SEC is controlling the line of scrimmage, something the Hogs will do with the best combination of offensive and defensive lines in the league. That and the running of TBs Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams.
5. Oregon
This ranking comes with a caveat: if injured Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller transfers to Oregon (a perfect spot for his dual threat game), the Ducks move two spots to No. 3. If not, Jeff Lockie takes over for Marcus Mariota, and the offense isn’t as multi-faceted with the quarterback run. But the Ducks still will be salty on defense and have elite skill players at tailback (Royce Freeman, Thomas Tyner) and wideout (Darren Carrington) to ease Lockie’s transition.
6. Auburn
The best pickup of the offseason: Auburn landing former Florida coach Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator. The Tigers were woeful at times on defense this season, and weren’t much better when they made it all the way to the BCS National Championship Game in 2013. What happens when Muschamp, the game’s best defensive coordinator, straightens out the mess on The Plains? It allows coach Gus Malzahn to focus on new QB Jeremy Johnson, who Malzahn says can be a star.
7. UCLA
The Bruins lose their best player (Brett Hundley), and maybe the best to ever play quarterback in Westwood. And they’re loaded everywhere else. TB Paul Perkins had the quietest 1,500 yards ever, and WRs Jordan Payton and Thomas Duarte will help new quarterback Jerry Neuheisel (or true freshman Josh Rosen) early. Then there’s the UCLA front seven, a group that has consistently improved under Jim Mora and returns star LBs Myles Jack and Deon Hollins.
8. Georgia
The third team from the SEC, and the team that should have performed better than it did the last three seasons. The Dawgs are loaded on offense (remember that guy named Chubb?), and are fast and athletic on defense. The only question is who plays quarterback (Brice Ramsey, Jacob Park or someone else) — and how does he mesh with new OC Brian Schottenheimer? Here’s your partial answer: the new QB can’t be any less effective than Hutson Mason.
9. Michigan State
The biggest news post-regular season for the Spartans: QB Connor Cook is staying for his senior season. Bigger than beating Baylor in the Cotton Bowl, bigger than another double-digit win season for recruiting. Losing DC Pat Narduzzi will be an adjustment, but remember that Dantonio is a former DC and much of what the Spartans do on defense is based on Dantonio’s principles.
10. USC
For the first time in five years, USC will be close to full strength on scholarships, and star QB Cody Kessler decided to return for his senior season. WR JuJu Smith is the next great USC receiver, and WR/CB/PR Adoree Jackson might be the most exciting player in the game.