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10 Top college football teams who should start looking to 2017

By Michael Collins

Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Buckeyes defeated the Fighting Irish 44-28. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Buckeyes defeated the Fighting Irish 44-28. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Bram Kohlhausen (6) is pressured by Oregon Ducks linebacker Eddie Heard (32) during the 2016 Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Bram Kohlhausen (6) is pressured by Oregon Ducks linebacker Eddie Heard (32) during the 2016 Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

TCU Horned Frogs

2015 Finish: 11-2, 3rd in Big 12
Key 2016 Losses: QB Trevone Boykin, WR Josh Doctson, RB Aaron Green, C Joey Hunt, FS Derrick Kindred, WR Kolby Listenbee, K Jaden Oberkrom, OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai

TCU has shown they can reload on offense in the past, but the loss of Boykin is going to be a huge one to overcome. Obviously the backups performed admirably at the end of the season, but we’ve seen this happen before, and once promoted to full-time starter there is a drop off.

The other challenge facing Gary Patterson’s team is the improvement of the teams around them in the Big 12, with Oklahoma returning a ton of experienced talent (including quarterback Baker Mayfield), and Texas reeling in a huge recruiting class. Not to mention, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas Tech will all have a say in the thick of it.

Unless Patterson can suddenly get this team to play solid defense, they’ll have a lot of trouble scoring enough points to keep up with many of the Big 12 teams.

Next: Pitt Panthers

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