The start of the 2019 college football season is still more than seven months away.
But now that the dust has settled on a spree of transfers, defections, and coaching changes, it’s time to wipe off the crystal ball.
Apologies in advance, here’s our pre-preseason top 25:
1. Clemson: The Tigers were crowned national champions, then enjoyed a fast-food feast fit for a (Burger) King at the White House this week. Will they be back for seconds next season? Is orange the new ... crimson? We’ll see.
2. Alabama: After not winning the national title for the fifth time in the past decade, the Tide dynasty is as ill as the latest six-weeks-to-live celebrity on the cover of a supermarket tabloid. In other words, it’s just fine. If anyone can pick itself up by the bootstraps, it’s the team with Nick Saban, Tua Tagovailoa, and the best talent in the country.
3. Ohio State: As if the Baker-Kitchens pairing was not enough for headline writers in Ohio — where’s Charlie Frye when you need him? — get ready for the Fields-Day puns, too. Our guess is another 13-1 season, marred only by a nine-touchdown loss at Indiana.
4. Georgia: Third. First. Second. That’s the national ranking of Georgia’s past three recruiting classes, per 247Sports.com. The Dawgs aren’t going anywhere.
5. Oklahoma: The good news: The Sooners return 10 starters on defense. The bad news: The Sooners return 10 starters on defense. Fortunately, Bama transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts should keep the offense rolling.
6. Michigan: Is this at last the season for Jim Harbaugh and the team that cried wolv(erine)? With eight starters back on offense and Don Brown back on D, it could be.
7. Texas: Same boat for the Longhorns. Is Texas back? Seeing as Maryland isn’t on the schedule — and fresh off its first 10-win season in nine years — I dare say it is ...
8. LSU: ... Unless the Longhorns lose to LSU in Week 2. Then LSU is back!
9. Florida: Former Bowling Green assistant and Urban Meyer protege Dan Mullen was the best new hire in 2018.
10. Notre Dame: Hard to imagine the Irish navigating a schedule that includes trips to Georgia, Michigan, and Stanford — and a home game against BG — with fewer than two losses.
11. Oregon: Quarterback Justin Herbert’s unexpected pass on the draft gives the Ducks the edge in the Pac-12.
12. Texas A&M: Jimbo Fisher has the Aggies’ rebuild ahead of schedule.
13. Penn State: Trace McSorley is gone, but the winner of the QB battle between senior Tommy Stevens and blue-chip sophomore Sean Clifford should be capable enough.
14. Iowa State: Back-to-back eight-win seasons for the first time since 1978? Matt Campbell is getting into statue territory.
15. Army: How cool would it be to see Army in a major bowl? The Black Knights — who bring back 13 starters from a program-record 11-win team — re our early Group of Five favorite.
Best of the rest: 16. Washington; 17. Washington State; 18. Syracuse; 19. Central Florida; 20. Northwestern; 21. Nebraska; 22. Utah; 23. Auburn; 24. Mississippi State; 25. Wisconsin.
First Published January 17, 2019, 11:59 p.m.
