2016 NCAA Football: Ranking The Top 25 (Spring Edition)

2016 NCAA Football: Ranking The Top 25 (Spring Edition)

By Geoffrey Knox

April 28, 2016

Well, it seems like it’s been forever, but after almost four months there was finally some football to watch. Sure, it was the springtime version where everything’s a scrimmage and nothing counts, but it was good to see some on-field activity. The sad thing is that’s going to have told hold you over until August. So now, based on what we’ve read up to this point and seen over the last few weeks, here’s a preseason top 25 in NCAA football. Enjoy.

arrow-left — It's been a long time since the Miami Hurricanes have been relevant, but we enter a new era with new head coach Mark Richt. Regardless of what some people in Athens want to believe, this is an excellent coach who will be fine in the ACC.

arrow-right — It's been a long time since the Miami Hurricanes have been relevant, but we enter a new era with new head coach Mark Richt. Regardless of what some people in Athens want to believe, this is an excellent coach who will be fine in the ACC.

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arrow-left — Here are the facts. Mike Leach is an excellent head coach, and his quarterback threw for 4,561 yards last year, completed 69 percent of his passes and tossed 38 touchdowns. What's scary is that could be improved upon next year.

arrow-right — Here are the facts. Mike Leach is an excellent head coach, and his quarterback threw for 4,561 yards last year, completed 69 percent of his passes and tossed 38 touchdowns. What's scary is that could be improved upon next year.

arrow-left — Wisconsin won 10 games last year with Corey Clement missing the majority of the season due to injury. He'll be back, and so will the Badgers. They just need to decide if it will be Bart Houston or Alex Hornibrook leading them on offense.

arrow-right — Wisconsin won 10 games last year with Corey Clement missing the majority of the season due to injury. He'll be back, and so will the Badgers. They just need to decide if it will be Bart Houston or Alex Hornibrook leading them on offense.

arrow-left — TCU seems comfortable in their new conference, but now they'll have to trust the offense in the hands of someone who isn't named Trevone Boykin. Still, it appears that this has developed into a program that will stay relevant for quite some time.

arrow-right — TCU seems comfortable in their new conference, but now they'll have to trust the offense in the hands of someone who isn't named Trevone Boykin. Still, it appears that this has developed into a program that will stay relevant for quite some time.

arrow-left — They just don't seem to go away. Don't forget they were in the national championship game two years ago. Skill players seem to grow on trees for this team. Mike Helfrich is just going to have to decide who's going to be distributing the ball to them.

arrow-right — They just don't seem to go away. Don't forget they were in the national championship game two years ago. Skill players seem to grow on trees for this team. Mike Helfrich is just going to have to decide who's going to be distributing the ball to them.

arrow-left — Things were a little rocky for the Huskies last year, but they ended the season on a high note by winning their last three games. This upcoming season, they'll be putting all the pressure on the capable shoulders of Jake Browning and Myles Gaskin.

arrow-right — Things were a little rocky for the Huskies last year, but they ended the season on a high note by winning their last three games. This upcoming season, they'll be putting all the pressure on the capable shoulders of Jake Browning and Myles Gaskin.

arrow-left — It looks like a switch was flipped in Chapel Hill. They registered 11 wins last year, score at will and had a stretch where the defense held seven out of eight teams they faced to 20 points or less. They'll look to build on all of that in 2016.

arrow-right — It looks like a switch was flipped in Chapel Hill. They registered 11 wins last year, score at will and had a stretch where the defense held seven out of eight teams they faced to 20 points or less. They'll look to build on all of that in 2016.

arrow-left — Iowa hasn't won a bowl game since 2010, but they won 12 games last year. This year, they intend to show that none of it was a fluke. Plus, they still have a chip on their shoulders as it appears most of the country still doesn't take them seriously.

arrow-right — Iowa hasn't won a bowl game since 2010, but they won 12 games last year. This year, they intend to show that none of it was a fluke. Plus, they still have a chip on their shoulders as it appears most of the country still doesn't take them seriously.

arrow-left — Lamar Jackson returns to lead an offense he appears to be thriving in. The Cardinals are also returning eight starters on defense. They may not be ready to challenge the Clemson Tigers or Florida State Seminoles yet, but they're getting close.

arrow-right — Lamar Jackson returns to lead an offense he appears to be thriving in. The Cardinals are also returning eight starters on defense. They may not be ready to challenge the Clemson Tigers or Florida State Seminoles yet, but they're getting close.

arrow-left — The Kirby Smart era begins, and fans of the Bulldogs hope that he brought a little magic with him from his former program. Nick Chubb will be returning from injury. A little fine tuning and Georgia could be right back in the running in the SEC East.

arrow-right — The Kirby Smart era begins, and fans of the Bulldogs hope that he brought a little magic with him from his former program. Nick Chubb will be returning from injury. A little fine tuning and Georgia could be right back in the running in the SEC East.

arrow-left — Technically, this is Clay Helton's debut as the head coach. Last year, the Trojans appeared in the conference championship game. Cody Kessler is gone now, but the cupboards have long been stocked with talent. That doesn't figure to change much.

arrow-right — Technically, this is Clay Helton's debut as the head coach. Last year, the Trojans appeared in the conference championship game. Cody Kessler is gone now, but the cupboards have long been stocked with talent. That doesn't figure to change much.

arrow-left — Michigan State has 36 wins over the last three years, but they got demolished the last time we saw them. 12 starters from last year's team are gone, but there's a rumor floating around that they have this coach and people think he's really good.

arrow-right — Michigan State has 36 wins over the last three years, but they got demolished the last time we saw them. 12 starters from last year's team are gone, but there's a rumor floating around that they have this coach and people think he's really good.

arrow-left — Tennessee has been victorious the last six times they've taken the field. Their four losses were all by a grand total of 17 points. Look out because this could be a sleeper team in the SEC East.

arrow-right — Tennessee has been victorious the last six times they've taken the field. Their four losses were all by a grand total of 17 points. Look out because this could be a sleeper team in the SEC East.

arrow-left — Houston opens with the Oklahoma Sooners in a game everybody's probably going to be watching. There's not much you can improve on following a 13 win campaign where you win all four games against ranked opponents, but they'll try to do just that.

arrow-right — Houston opens with the Oklahoma Sooners in a game everybody's probably going to be watching. There's not much you can improve on following a 13 win campaign where you win all four games against ranked opponents, but they'll try to do just that.

arrow-left — Notre Dame seems to be recruiting very well these days, so the depth is there. They've lost several players and don't appear to be decided on a starting quarterback, but expect solid efforts from this team week in and week out.

arrow-right — Notre Dame seems to be recruiting very well these days, so the depth is there. They've lost several players and don't appear to be decided on a starting quarterback, but expect solid efforts from this team week in and week out.

arrow-left — Stanford will win the Pac-12 again. You can go ahead and write that down. This team is smart, physical and Christian McCaffrey does everything except play defense. Expect quality play from them all year.

arrow-right — Stanford will win the Pac-12 again. You can go ahead and write that down. This team is smart, physical and Christian McCaffrey does everything except play defense. Expect quality play from them all year.

arrow-left — In one year, Harbaugh took the same team we saw the year prior and made them more focused and more efficient. Now he'll have the opportunity to bring his guys in. He's an excellent coach, and this will be an excellent team shortly.

arrow-right — In one year, Harbaugh took the same team we saw the year prior and made them more focused and more efficient. Now he'll have the opportunity to bring his guys in. He's an excellent coach, and this will be an excellent team shortly.

arrow-left — This team is loaded. It seems like everybody is back including Leonard Fournette who ran for close to 2,000 yards last year and seemed like he was in the end zone every time you looked up. Will this be the year they finally get over the hump?

arrow-right — This team is loaded. It seems like everybody is back including Leonard Fournette who ran for close to 2,000 yards last year and seemed like he was in the end zone every time you looked up. Will this be the year they finally get over the hump?

arrow-left — There's only one team that's beaten the Alabama Crimson Tide in each of the past two seasons. This time they play them at home. Hugh Freeze has 12 new starters this year, but he also has Chad Kelly playing quarterback. It seems to have worked so far.

arrow-right — There's only one team that's beaten the Alabama Crimson Tide in each of the past two seasons. This time they play them at home. Hugh Freeze has 12 new starters this year, but he also has Chad Kelly playing quarterback. It seems to have worked so far.

arrow-left — This team makes offense look easy. They put up points in bunches, and that didn't change much when Seth Russell and Shock Linwood got injured. Think of what things will look like next year with both of those guys back if they stay healthy.

arrow-right — This team makes offense look easy. They put up points in bunches, and that didn't change much when Seth Russell and Shock Linwood got injured. Think of what things will look like next year with both of those guys back if they stay healthy.

arrow-left — Ohio State loses 15 starters from last year's roster, but they've been at or near the top in recruiting for the entire time Urban Meyer has been around. Expect this well oiled machine to keep doing what it has been the last few years.

arrow-right — Ohio State loses 15 starters from last year's roster, but they've been at or near the top in recruiting for the entire time Urban Meyer has been around. Expect this well oiled machine to keep doing what it has been the last few years.

arrow-left — It's interesting to say winning 10 games constitutes an off year, but that's what the Seminoles are saying. This team is really your best shot at hanging a loss on Clemson and preventing them from returning to another playoff appearance.

arrow-right — It's interesting to say winning 10 games constitutes an off year, but that's what the Seminoles are saying. This team is really your best shot at hanging a loss on Clemson and preventing them from returning to another playoff appearance.

arrow-left — Oklahoma's better than they looked in the last game we saw them play. They'll be a factor all year and will be led by Baker Mayfield. Last year he completed 68 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns.

arrow-right — Oklahoma's better than they looked in the last game we saw them play. They'll be a factor all year and will be led by Baker Mayfield. Last year he completed 68 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns.

arrow-left — The defense is a mystery because many of the guys we knew are going to be playing on Sundays now. On offense, Deshaun Watson will be returning looking to duplicate his 47 total touchdowns from last year. Keep in mind that was without Mike Williams.

arrow-right — The defense is a mystery because many of the guys we knew are going to be playing on Sundays now. On offense, Deshaun Watson will be returning looking to duplicate his 47 total touchdowns from last year. Keep in mind that was without Mike Williams.

arrow-left — You probably already saw this coming. There's no reason to believe anyone other than the Crimson Tide would top this list. When you win it all and bring in the top recruiting class, it's hard to argue. Why can't they find a quarterback, though?

arrow-right — You probably already saw this coming. There's no reason to believe anyone other than the Crimson Tide would top this list. When you win it all and bring in the top recruiting class, it's hard to argue. Why can't they find a quarterback, though?

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