_With the college football season over and the inaugural College Football Playoff in the books, Maneater staff writer Andrew McCulloch offers his ridiculously early Top 25 rankings for next year._
**#1: Ohio State**
As the defending champs, Ohio State will own the No. 1 spot in the polls until they’re dethroned. The Buckeyes return the core of their championship roster, but they also have three starting quarterbacks coming back to Columbus. Urban Meyer has a tough decision to make come August, but no matter their quarterback, the Buckeyes will be one of the nation’s elite.
**#2: Texas Christian**
The Horned Frogs were shut out of the CFP, but that didn’t stop them from making a statement. TCU blasted Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl and put the rest of the college football world on notice. The Frogs return 10 starters from one of the country’s most efficient offensive units (46.5 ppg), and if that production continues, it’s easy to see why they would be at the heart of next year’s playoff discussion.
**#3: Baylor**
Coach Art Briles thought his squad was also wrongfully excluded from the CFP, but the Bears didn’t do themselves any favors blowing a 20-point fourth quarter lead in the Cotton Bowl. Veteran quarterback Bryce Petty is gone, but Baylor still returns 17 total starters for 2015. With all nine offensive _and_ defensive linemen coming back, Briles might just have his most physical team to date.
**#4: Michigan State**
The Spartans ended their season in a big way with a miraculous Cotton Bowl comeback, but they look ready to take the next step. Michigan State only lost two games in 2014, to Oregon and Ohio State — the National Championship participants. Quarterback Connor Cook did this team a big favor by opting to return for his senior season and with a top-five defense opposite him, the Spartans are a legitimate threat to steal the Big Ten title.
**#5: Oregon**
Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota is gone and that loss can’t be overstated. But even without the best player in college football, the Ducks are still legitimate playoff contenders. Oregon also loses standout cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and half of its offensive line. But Mark Helfrich has a system in place, and the Ducks won’t rebuild but reload. Another Pacific-12 Conference championship is still well within reach.
**#6: Georgia**
The Southeastern Conference won’t (shouldn’t) have a squad in the top five to start next season, but don’t sleep on Georgia. Sure, the Bulldogs lose star running back Todd Gurley, but they’ll have 2014 SEC Freshman of the Year Nick Chubb stepping in. Chubb ran for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns in only half a season as the starter. Georgia also brings back four starters along the offensive line and star receiver Malcolm Mitchell. If they can avoid any major slip-ups, the Bulldogs should be playing for an SEC Championship come December.
**#7: Southern California**
The Trojans are becoming a sexy top-five pick entering 2015, but don’t buy the hype just yet. USC loses its best offensive and defensive players to the draft, receiver Nelson Agholor and defensive end Leonard Williams. That’s not easy to replace, especially when you consider the Trojans’ thin depth chart. But quarterback Cody Kessler will be one of the nation’s best, and USC should finally be back to competing for championships.
**#8: Alabama**
It might come as a shock to see Alabama ranked so low to start, but Nick Saban has his work cut out for him. Star receiver Amari Cooper is gone. So are quarterback Blake Sims, running back T.J. Yeldon, linebacker Trey DePriest and safety Landon Collins. All in all, the Crimson Tide return nine starters and only two on offense. The talent is there, but can Saban weather the attrition and get his squad back to championship form?
**#9: Notre Dame**
Assuming quarterback Everett Golson elects to stay in South Bend, the Fighting Irish are going to be scary good in 2015. Notre Dame returns 19 starters, the most of any top-25 team. The team’s top five rushers and top three receivers are back, including all five starting offensive linemen. On the opposite side of the ball, 10 starters return from a young defensive unit and two more — cornerback KeiVarae Russell and defensive lineman Ishaq Williams — come back after serving academic suspensions during 2014.
**#10: UCLA**
The Bruins didn’t live up to the hype in 2014, but hype machine is already back up and running in Pasadena. Quarterback Brett Hundley is off to the National Football League but the other 10 offensive starters are back. The Bruins were plagued by youth and inexperience with 50 freshmen and sophomores on their roster last season. But with another offseason and some veteran leadership, UCLA should go toe-to-toe with Oregon and USC in the Pac-12.
**#11: Ole Miss**
Bo Wallace ended his Ole Miss career with his most embarrassing performance of the season. But his departure may actually be a blessing in disguise for the Rebels, who return 17 total starters. With the exception of Wallace, all of the Ole Miss’ offense returns captained by star receiver Laquon Treadwell and tackle Laremy Tunsill. And with defensive end Robert Nkembdiche leading the nation’s No. 1 defense (16 ppg allowed in 2014), the Rebels should take another step forward in 2015 and compete for the SEC title.
**#12: Auburn**
Auburn loses its starting quarterback (Cameron Marshall) along with its leading receiver (Sammie Coates) and rusher (Cameron Artis-Payne). But the Tigers made a major offseason acquisition with the hire of defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. Auburn was downright dreadful defensively last season, and Muschamp brings that unit instant improvement. Gus Malzahn’s high octane offense will click again and Auburn will be one of the top dogs in the SEC.
**#13: Arizona**
Arizona showed you every reason not to be excited for 2015 with the way its season ended. Oregon smashed the Wildcats in the Pac-12 Championship and they choked late in the fourth quarter of the Fiesta Bowl to lose on the last play of the game. But with quarterback Anu Solomon and All-American linebacker Scooby Wright coming back, the Wildcats have enough weapons to stay competitive in a murderous Pac-12 South.
**#14: Clemson**
The Tigers are another trendy pick entering 2015, but there isn’t a whole lot to back that up. Clemson demolished Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl, but coach Dabo Swinney only gets 10 starters back from that squad. The Tigers will hurt from a ton of attrition in the trenches, most notably All-American defensive end Vic Beasley. Clemson should still be the favorite to win the Atlantic Coastal Conference, but the Tigers still have a lot to prove before they can be taken as serious playoff contenders.
**#15: Boise State**
The Broncos flew under the radar for most of 2014 but earned a huge Fiesta Bowl win over Arizona to cap off another 12-win season. They lose quarterback Grant Hedrick and running back Jay Ajayi, arguably their team’s two best players. But Boise State returns 33 of 34 linemen throughout the program, and that depth in the trenches will make them a favorite in every game this season.
**#16: Louisiana State**
Running back Leonard Fournette burst onto the scene in his freshman season and with another offseason under his belt, the sophomore will be one of America’s top rushers in 2015. The defense took a hit when defensive coordinator John Chavis abandoned ship for Texas A&M, but Les Miles should have another top-flight group ready to step up. And if the Tigers somehow manage to land either Braxton Miller from Ohio State or Everett Golson from Notre Dame, there’s no telling how good this offense could be.
**#17: Arizona State**
Todd Graham and the Sun Devils were a few plays away from playing for a Pac-12 championship, but Arizona State might actually realize that goal in 2015. A strong defensive unit returns nine starters, and starting running back D.J. Foster elected to return to Tempe for his senior season. The Sun Devils have a brutal schedule, including Oregon, USC, UCLA, Texas A&M and in-state rival Arizona. If Arizona State can navigate that difficult slate, then a second Pac-12 championship appearance will be awaiting.
**#18: Georgia Tech**
The Yellow Jackets showed their full potential when they pulled off late season victories over Clemson, Georgia and Mississippi State. The Orange Bowl champs lose a lot of offensive weapons, including their two leading rushers and receivers. But quarterback Justin Thomas is back to pioneer coach Paul Johnson’s triple-option offense. The defense returns eight starters, and in a weak ACC, the Jackets should be an early-season favorite to win the conference championship.
**#19: Arkansas**
This one might surprise you, but the Razorbacks were a few plays away from being a 10-win team in 2014. Arkansas suffered close losses to Alabama, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Missouri, all of which could have easily gone the other way. The Hogs’ rushing attack was filthy, and that will continue with the two-headed monster of Jonathon Williams and Alex Collins returning. The Razorbacks also return quarterback Brandon Allen and four starters on the biggest offensive line in college football. Arkansas is a legitimate threat in the SEC West.
**#20: Florida State**
The Seminoles won 29 games in a row before being bounced from the CFP by Oregon. But 2015 will have a different feel to it. Former Heisman winner Jameis Winston is gone, and so are most of Florida State’s other weapons. Three offensive starters return, and if the ‘Noles can’t come up with an immediate solution at quarterback, this season will be a huge step back for a program that has dominated the college football landscape for the past two seasons.
**#21: Wisconsin**
Things were looking pretty grim in Madison heading into bowl season. The Badgers were blasted in the Big Ten title game, coach Gary Anderson took another job and star running back Melvin Gordon declared for the draft. But Wisconsin rebounded with a big bowl win over Auburn to gain some momentum heading into the offseason. In a weak Big Ten West, the Badgers should have a clear path to another championship game.
**#22: Tennessee**
Coach Butch Jones is one of the nation’s top recruiters, and his efforts are beginning to pay dividends. With three classes now under his belt, Jones’ players are finally starting to take the field. Last season was huge for the Volunteers, as it saw them return to postseason play, and a blowout bowl win was an added bonus. Tennessee will take another big step forward in 2015, and the Vols will be looking for an SEC East title.
**#23: Stanford**
Stanford had a bit of a down year in 2014, but with a favorable schedule ahead, things appear to be looking up. Next season, the Cardinal will play UCLA, Oregon, Notre Dame and Arizona in Palo Alto, with their biggest road matchup coming at USC. Quarterback Kevin Hogan returns as a fourth-year starter, and coach David Shaw will have another stingy defense.
**#24: Oklahoma State**
Nobody ended the year with more momentum than Oklahoma State. The Cowboys lost five straight games before rallying to beat rival Oklahoma to gain bowl eligibility. Then they went and upset Washington in the Cactus Bowl to finish with a winning record. Oklahoma State returns two starting quarterbacks in a pass-heavy offense that will keep them in any game this coming season.
**#25: Missouri**
Mizzou did the unbelievable and successfully defended its SEC East Championship. The Tigers will try to make it three in a row in 2015, but it will be their tallest task yet. Star defensive ends Markus Golden and Shane Ray are gone, as are Missouri’s four leading receivers and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year Marcus Murphy. The Tigers have a whole lot of talent to replace, and quarterback Maty Mauk has to show some major improvement this offseason. But as we saw in 2014, never discount Gary Pinkel’s squad.
_Others to watch: Minnesota, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Utah, Virginia Tech_