Saturday Blitz
Fansided

College Football Rankings: Post-spring 2017 Top 25

By Connor Muldowney

Apr 22, 2017; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) is hit by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Hootie Jones (6) as he scores during the A-day game at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) is hit by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Hootie Jones (6) as he scores during the A-day game at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Apr 22, 2017; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley (9) passes the ball during the second quarter of the Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium. The Blue team won 26-0. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley (9) passes the ball during the second quarter of the Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium. The Blue team won 26-0. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

Jake Browning is a generational talent for the Washington Huskies. He did his fair share to lead the Huskies to their first-ever College Football Playoff berth in 2016, losing to Alabama. Chris Petersen’s squad loses some key players on defense, but many offensive weapons return. Dante Pettis and Myles Gaskin are back as lethal offensive options, but like most teams in limbo, the defense will be key.

Jim Harbaugh has turned Michigan into a perennial powerhouse and he’s done it with a fiery attitude, top recruiting classes and finally tapping into potential from stars already on the roster. He loses about 40 players from his 2016 team, which might cause a slight step back, but the Wolverines have high hopes. Brandon Peters is being hyped as the next great quarterback, but can Wilton Speight hold him off? The defense will once again be elite with Rashan Gary entering his second year.

Ed Orgeron is taking over for his first full season as head coach of the Tigers and the expectations are fairly high. Gone is Leonard Fournette and a number of key players from the secondary, including Jamal Adams, but returning are guys like Derrius Guice, Arden Key and a hopefully-improved Danny Etling. The quarterback situation has raised some questions, but if it can be resolved, the Tigers should have a special season.

If Baker Mayfield can stay out of trouble for the rest of the offseason, the Sooners will have no doubts heading into 2017. Although his top receiver has moved on to the NFL for the second straight year, the former Texas Tech walk-on has proven himself more than capable of creating a new No. 1. Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine are gone from the backfield, but this offseason is reloading and returning all five starters on the offensive line. Will the defense be better than the mediocrity that was 2016, though?

Talk about the Big Ten’s most surprising team from 2016. Penn State went from recruiting top classes and underachieving under James Franklin for a couple of years to finally putting everything together to excel in 2016. Penn State finished the season strong, winning the Big Ten title and making a trip to the Rose Bowl, only to lose in a thriller to USC. Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley return as a nice QB/RB duo and Juwan Johnson might be a breakout receiver star. The defense returns plenty.

Home/College Football News