The time for the kick off of the 2017 college football season its almost here. Which members of the Coaches Poll have legitimate championships hopes?
The first major college football rankings of 2017 were recently released and the Amway Coaches Poll caused its usually controversy. However, the time to discuss which teams were over or underrated is over and the time to talk about which ranked teams could actually contend is here.
All 12 teams that have made the College Football Playoff over the last three seasons have been ranked to start the season. Even the most unlikely of participants in the Playoff, the Washington Huskies, appeared in last year’s Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The other teams to participate in the Playoff, so far, include the Oregon Ducks, Oklahoma Sooners, Ohio State Buckeyes, Florida State Seminoles, Michigan State Spartans, and the Clemson Tigers. Four of those six teams are ranked inside the Coaches Poll top 25 once again (Michigan State and Oregon are not ranked).
A few of the most eye-popping things in this year’s Coaches Poll include the former National Champion, Clemson, ranked outside the top 4 and the Texas Longhorns ranked inside the top 25 after notching their third consecutive losing season. The fact that Colorado was left out of the top 25 after finishing No. 15 in the final edition of the 2016 Coaches Poll was surprising as well.
In this article, we take a look at the actual ability of every team in the top 25 to make it to the Playoff and ultimately win a National Title. We look at each team and whether we should buy or sell them as a contender in the National Championship picture. You can view the complete Amway Coaches Poll top 25 rankings here.
Now, let’s take a look at how each top 25 team stacks up as a National Championship contender in 2017.
The Utah Utes have become a consistent, under the radar, power in the Pac-12. They have not won any conference championships, but they seem to topple a few of the traditional powers every single year.
Utah went 9-4 (5-4 Pac-12) last season, with losses in conference to the Washington Huskies, Oregon Ducks, Colorado Buffaloes and California Golden Bears. The Utes always seem to get close to national contention but never quite reaching the level necessary to be in a real position to make the Playoff.
One of the most underrated quarterbacks in the country, senior Troy Williams returns to lead the Utah offense. However, Utah does lose star running back Joe Williams, who departed for the NFL after a tremendous final season with the Utes. Troy Williams notched 20 total touchdowns and has the potential to reach 25 or 30 total touchdowns in 2017.
The biggest question for the Utes is whether they can compete with the top teams in the conference this year. USC, Colorado, Washington, Washington State, Oregon and Stanford are all very skilled opponents that will give Utah all they can take this year. Even BYU promises to be a tough out.
Verdict: Sell
It has become a regular thing now to see a Butch Jones coached Tennessee team in the top 25 before each season. Even though the Volunteers won nine games in each of the last two years, they did not quite play up to their potential.
Losing players like quarterback Joshua Dobbs, running back Alvin Kamara, cornerback Cam Sutton, and defensive end Derek Barnett would hurt any team. Mostly, losing Dobbs will hurt Tennessee’s ability to move the ball on offense.
The replacement for Dobbs will either be freshman Jarrett Guarantano or junior Quentin Dormady. And, the replacement for Kamara is John Kelly, who promises to be a star in 2017.
There’s going to be a lot of new faces on both sides of the ball for the Vols. Quick adjustments need to be made if Tennessee wants any chance to even contend in the SEC East this year. It looks like the time for the Vols to compete at a Playoff level has just about run out with the departure of Dobbs.
Verdict: Sell
All eyes will be on head coach Tom Herman and the Texas Longhorns in Week 1 of the season, as they take on the Maryland Terrapins at home. The non-conference slate is sure to tell us a lot about what the Horns will be like during Big 12 play.
Texas faces the USC Trojans in Week 3 in what could be a make or break game for Herman’s Horns this year. If Texas kicks off their season with at least two wins in the first three games, then they’ll be in good position to make a run in the Big 12. Yet, if they lose to both Maryland and USC, they’ll have an uphill battle in front of them against some of the better Big 12 foes.
The Big 12 has five ranked teams in the Coaches Poll this year, and Texas is the lowest ranked inside the top 25 of those squads. Texas needs to overcome at least two of the following opponents for fans to consider it a successful season: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, West Virginia or Kansas State. Teams like TCU, Texas Tech, Baylor, and Iowa State are not going to be easy wins either.
We have to remember that we’re still talking about a team that could be looking at their fourth consecutive losing record. They also lost to Kansas last season.
Verdict: Sell
The Virginia Tech Hokies have a golden opportunity to start the season 4-0. There opening scheduled sets up more favorable than almost any other top 25 ranked team in the country. They’ll have the opportunity to notch a quality victory over a top 25 opponent in West Virginia in Week 1.
Virginia Tech takes on the West Virginia Mountaineers to open the season at FedEx Field in Landover, MD, home of the Washington Redskins. The next three teams that the Hokies face are Delaware, East Carolina and Old Dominion. All those teams should be easy victories that Virginia Tech should take care of no problem.
Second year head coach Justin Fuente has Virginia Tech back on the right track after a mediocre end to the Frank Beamer era. Fuente got the Hokies back to the 10 win mark and looks to do more of the same again this year.
A lot rests in the hands of freshman quarterback Josh Jackson, who takes over for Jerod Evans, and junior running back Travon McMillian, who had two very good seasons to start his career. McMillian rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns over his two year college career. There’s just something that feels right about the Hokies contending in the ACC this season.
Verdict: Buy
Very few teams have as much returning talent and experience in their backfield as the South Florida Bulls. Between senior quarterback Quinton Flowers and senior running backs D’Ernest Johnson and Darius Tice, you wouldn’t think that the Bulls will miss former running back Marlon Mack too much.
Even with Mack taking up most of the carries, Tice and Johnson combined for more than 1,100 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns last year. Flowers might have been the most impressive of all with USF last year.
In total, Flowers notched 4,500 yards and 42 touchdowns in 2016. More or less, Flowers was like the Lamar Jackson of the Group of Five. Moreover, there’s a chance that Flowers could put together a decent Heisman campaign. Yet, it’s extremely difficult for a Group of Five conference quarterback to win the Heisman.
USF would have to sweep through their schedule undefeated to even have a chance at the Playoff. We all saw, just one season, ago that you need to be perfect to make a run at the Playoff as a Group of Five team when Houston collapsed under the spotlight down the stretch.
Verdict: Sell
Head coach Dana Holgorsen and the West Virginia Mountaineers finally had a big breakthrough in 2016, reaching the 10-win mark. Holgorsen received a five-year contract extension as a result in December due to his improved performance as head coach, according to CBS Sports.
West Virginia is an odd team to figure out this offseason because of how different the team will look in 2017. They lose quarterback Skyler Howard and running back Rushel Shell. However, Florida transfer quarterback Will Grier and senior running back Justin Crawford could very well be a better combination than Howard and Shell.
In limited action to start the season, Crawford rushed for more than 1,200 yards and five touchdowns last year. Crawford also managed an impressive 7.1 yards per carry.
There’s a lot of potential left on the West Virginia offense is incredible but so is the amount of question marks. Losing Shelton Gibson at wide receiver is sure to take an effect as well. The defense, led by Kyzir White and Dravon Askew-Henry in the secondary, has a lot of weight to carry for West Virginia to take another step forward.
Verdict: Sell
Kansas State has plenty experience returning to have a successful run in the Big 12 in 2017. Senior quarterback Jesse Ertz is as tough as they come behind center and as long as he stays healthy this year the Wildcats will be very good.
Watch out for junior wide receivers Dominique Heath and Byron Pringle to take a big step. Heath and Pringle combined for nearly 1,000 yards and eight receiving touchdowns in their sophomore campaigns.
The Kansas State secondary is one of the more underrated parts of this squad. Junior cornerback Duke Shelley and redshirt junior corner D.J. Reed form one of the better pairings in the conference. A solid secondary is a big help to any team facing as much high-powered offense as Kansas State will.
Kansas State’s ability to contend depends on one thing, the ability to win close games. They lost to Oklahoma State and West Virginia each by less than a seven point margin. Both those teams look to be solid again in 2017, but both can be overcome.
Verdict: Buy
With quarterback Brad Kaaya gone, it’s time for the Miami Hurricanes to usher in a completely new era under second year head coach Mark Richt. Junior quarterback Malik Rosier or freshman quarterback N’Kosi Perry will take over in Kaaya’s absence.
The expectations seem a little high for the Canes coming just one season after a nine win effort. However, it looks like Miami finally has the right head coach for the first time since Butch Davis to lead them back to glory. It feels like so long ago that the Canes were always a National Championship contender.
The defense has one of the best young players in the nation in sophomore linebacker Shaquille Quarterman. The young linebacker totaled 84 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery in his freshman season.
Very few conferences are going to have more Playoff contenders than the ACC, which makes it tough for an improving program like Miami to put it all together in just one season.
Verdict: Sell
Not many can boast having one player on each side of the ball that is among the best in the nation, if not the absolute best, at their position. Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson brought home the Heisman in his sophomore campaign. Junior cornerback Jaire Alexander intercepted five passes last year and could be a first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Jackson could be even better in 2017 and that is a scary thought for any team in the ACC that will face Louisville. Surrounding him with talent that he trusts is the big thing for Jackson to take a mental step forward. That is the most important thing for the most polarizing player in college football to improve.
Related Story: Lamar Jackson could be even better in 2017
Players like senior wide receiver Reggie Bonnafon, junior tight end Micky Crum, and senior running back Jeremy Smith are all good skilled position players that Jackson should be able to trust. There’s no doubt that Louisville has every bit of the resilience it would take to make a Playoff run, but their mediocre finish to the 2016 season presents some red flags. Still, they have the reigning Heisman tophy winner.
Verdict: Buy
Florida looks to claim their third consecutive SEC East crown in 2017. However, a pattern of back-to-back division champions seems to have emerged over the last six seasons in the SEC East. First it was the Georgia Bulldogs that took home the division title in 2011 and 2012, then the Missouri Tigers the following two years, and the Gators brought home the last two.
That does not bode well for Florida if that trend holds up. However, Florida and Georgia are the clear-cut favorites to bring win the SEC East Championship. Then, defeating the SEC West Champion is a whole other ordeal.
Notre Dame transfer Malik Zaire could be a program-saving sort of quarterback or he could be a complete bust. Zaire never panned out in South Bend. He might just need a change of scenery to find success.
Once again, the skilled players and defense is extremely solid behind wide receiver Antonio Callaway, running back Jordan Scarlett, and defensive end CeCe Jefferson. It’s just hard to see a team from the SEC East overcoming as many obstacles as it would take to compete in the national picture.
Verdict: Sell
Much like the Florida Gators, the Georgia Bulldogs have an uphill battle in front of them to contend this year. It’s also somewhat surprising that Georgia was ranked ahead of Florida in the first place. Florida has more returning talent and won the division the last two seasons.
However, Georgia’s quarterback Jacob Eason has the opportunity to establish himself as one of the best in the country. Eason and the running back duo of Sony Michel and Nick Chubb is a frightening thought for opposing defenses to deal with.
More: Eason already among the most NFL ready QBs in college football
Head coach Kirby Smart needs the defense to take another step forward in 2017, but they were improved in 2016. Defensive lineman and former No. 1 overall recruit Trenton Thompson can be a forced to be reckoned with and establish himself as a potential first round pick one of the next two upcoming NFL Drafts.
For the same reason that Florida will not contend for a Championship in 2017, Georgia will not either. Sell the Bulldogs.
Verdict: Sell
The Stanford Cardinal are the forgotten team in the Pac-12. Head coach David Shaw established a consistent contender that has not quite gotten over the hump yet. With the departure of running back Christian McCaffrey, Stanford has some things to figure out on offense.
Watch out for the combination of quarterback Keller Chryst and running back Bryce Love to take the Pac-12 by storm in 2017. Chryst tossed 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions while Love averages an incredible 8.2 yards per carry in his career.
The main question for Stanford lies with their ability to defeat the USC Trojans and/or Washington Huskies to win the entire conference. It’s something that Stanford has not done before but do not sleep on their ability to pull off such a feat sometime in the near future.
However, it does not feel like it is the right time for Stanford to take the next step and claim a Pac-12 Championship and also get into the Playoff.
Verdict: Sell
Everything is in place for the Auburn Tigers to return to the National Championship for the first time since 2013 with Nick Marshall. Something just feels different with Baylor transfer quarterback Jarrett Stidham taking things over with the Auburn offense. He’s a different talent than the last few quarterbacks that Gul Malzahn had to work with.
If Stidham does not work out then Auburn is definitely in trouble. However, Stidham was tremendous in limited action with Baylor back in 2015 when he threw 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Junior cornerback Carlton Davis and senior safety Tray Matthews lead one of the best secondaries in the country. Junior defensive lineman Dontavious Russell and Andrew Williams have the bulk of the responsibility of the defensive line on their shoulders.
There’s an overall lack of talent at receiver for Auburn, but that should be more than made up by the running back duo of Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson. Something special is brewing at Auburn and the Alabama Crimson Tide need to watch out.
Verdict: Buy
As long as the LSU Tigers cannot figure out the offense then they will not be able to win the SEC West. However, first year offensive coordinator Matt Canada could change things around after a failed tenure with Cam Cameron.
Quarterback Danny Etling tossed 11 touchdowns and five interceptions last year. Yet, running back Derrius Guice is the star of the team, rushing for nearly 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns in the absence of Leonard Fournette. Wide receiver D.J. Chark could be in for a big year as well if Etling can find his way.
If LSU wants to contend the defense will have to be as good as usual. Arden Key and Donte Jackson are two of the best defenders in the SEC and have to lead the defense at all levels. There’s been much talk as to how good Key can be. His upside is reportedly as high as the becoming the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
With Auburn and Alabama looking so good heading into the 2017, things do not look very good in terms of LSU’s chances to contend.
Verdict: Sell
The Oklahoma schools have been much of the talk of the Big 12 over the past few months. The Oklahoma State Cowboys and Oklahoma Sooners are two of the best teams in the country with how good each offense can be.
Oklahoma State is led by senior quarterback Mason Rudolph and senior wide receiver James Washington, both of which look to build Heisman campaigns in 2017. Moreover, the Pokes have the overall best offense in the nation.
The biggest question is if the defense can hold opponents off the scoreboard. Head coach Mike Gundy has not built the most balanced teams during his time in Stillwater. Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer needs to take the onus on himself to prepare for teams like Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas State, West Virginia and others for the Cowboys to make a big leap this year.
As long as Oklahoma State can finally defeat the Sooners in Bedlam, they’ll have a clear path to the College Football Playoff. It’s worth noting the addition of the Big 12 championship game could set up a rematch for the two Oklahoma schools, possibly with a playoff appearance on the line.
Verdict: Buy
As the lowest ranked Big 10 team inside the top 25, Wisconsin is fitting into their usual underdog role once again. They have one of the clearest paths to the College Football Playoff of any team in the country. If they can carry the momentum over from their Cotton Bowl victory against the Western Michigan Broncos, they’ll take care of all games that they should win anyway in 2017.
The only tough non-conference test comes from the BYU Cougars, and possibly the Lane Kiffin coached Florida Atlantic Owls. In conference, Wisconsin avoids playing both the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions, at least during the regular season. Their toughest test is the Michigan Wolverines at home.
The front seven for Wisconsin could be the best in the nation, even with the loss of linebacker T.J. Watt. Jack Cichy, Garret Dooley and Chikwe Obasih will all be playing on Sundays eventually and will continue to make the lives of opposing offense difficult, especially in the running game.
All signs point to an under-the-radar run for Wisconsin to the Big 10 Championship Game once again. The only difference needs to be the Badgers actually winning it this time around.
Verdict: Buy
The Jim Harbaugh effect officially took hold of the Coaches Poll voters. Even with a two-game losing streak to finish off the 2016 season and the loss of more than a dozen starters, the Michigan Wolverines still find themselves ranked No. 9.
Michigan kicks off the season against the No. 16 Florida Gators in what could be a Week 1 defeat. They also face Penn State and Wisconsin on the road and the Ohio State Buckeyes at home. The Wolverines have one of the hardest schedules in the entire country.
Harbaugh will need to work some type of magic for Michigan to still find themselves in College Football Playoff contention come November. Altogether, Michigan is projected to start 11 freshman.
Moreover, junior quarterback Wilton Speight had a rocky finish last year and his leash will be short to start 2017. Things do not look very promising for the Wolverines this season.
Verdict: Sell
The Oklahoma Sooners had an exciting offseason, and in some ways it was not always a good thing. Legendary head coach Bob Stoops retired, leaving former offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley to take the helm in Norman.
Riley has a quarterback in Baker Mayfield that would help ease the transition of any first year head coach on any team. Mayfield threw 40 touchdowns and less than 10 interceptions just one season ago. He does not have All-American wide receiver Dede Westbrook anymore, but he does have some talented options in receivers Jeff Badet and Jeffery Meade to break in. Tight end Mark Andrews is another proven option to throw to.
The defense needs to make major strides to win another Big 12 Title in 2017, but they have the right personnel to do that. Senior cornerback Jordan Thomas and senior defensive tackle Matthew Romar can become two of the best in the Big 12.
The Big 12 will ultimately be decided by the Oklahoma schools this year and they might get chance to play twice because of the addition of the Big 12 Championship Game at the end of the season. The real question is which of the two do you believe in more?
Verdict: Buy
The fact that the Washington Huskies could possibly be the second best team in the state of Washington should be a scary thought for their fans. The departure of wide receiver John Ross will change the dynamic of the offense more than some people may think. Senior receiver Dante Pettis is the guy that quarterback Jake browning will rely on this year.
You could see the changing of the guard already when Washington was defeated by the USC Trojans near the end of the 2016 regular season. The Huskies are lucky they faced Colorado and not USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game. However, their run in 2016 is nothing to scoff at and will go down as one of the best runs in program history.
Outside of senior linebackers Keishawn Bierria and Azeem Victor, the Washington defense is extremely inexperienced. Freshman cornerback Byron Murphy has a tall task in front of him to keep up against some of the better secondary options at receiver in the conference. As good as the offense was, the defense carried much of the weight in 2016. Losing so many experienced players does not favor a return trip to the College Football Playoff.
Verdict: Sell
Very few teams garnered less respect than the Penn State Nittany Lions between the end of 2016 up to now. Even with their defeat of the Ohio State Buckeyes and a Big 10 Championship along with a near victory in the Rose Bowl over USC, they’re still ranked four spots behind OSU.
Quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Saquon Barkley could be the best QB-RB duo in the country. McSorley’s ability to escape the pocket and hit deep routes is not a common skill set found in college football and makes him a matchup nightmare. Barkley, on the other hand, is one of the two clear-cut top running backs in college football along with LSU’s Derrius Guice.
Penn State needs to overcome either Michigan or Ohio State if they want any chance to return to the Big 10 Title Game. An experienced defense coupled with one of the best offense in the conference could help them possibly run through the regular season undefeated.
Continuing their crazy momentum from the middle to the end of the 2016 campaign is the biggest key to the Nittany Lions being able to further their pedigree in 2017.
Verdict: Buy
The fact that the National Champions were not ranked inside the top four is incredulous at best. Even with the loss of superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Clemson Tigers should still have been put ahead of a team like the USC Trojans or the Florida State Seminoles.
However, there are some position battles that need figuring out. The most important of those position battles are for the starting quarterback spot. Junior Kelly Bryant is the favorite to start the season but it’s likely that freshman and former 5-star recruit Hunter Johnson will get a chance at some point early in the year.
Running back Wayne Gallman (who was one of the most important supporters to Watson last year) is gone as well. Redshirt junior C.J. Fuller and sophomore Tavien Feaster could form the one-two punch that Clemson is accustomed to having in the backfield. Yet, there’s a lack of depth at running back behind Fuller and Feaster.
Clemson’s defense has a trio of superstars to lead them on the defensive line including Austin Bryant, Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins. However, the uncertainty at quarterback presents a problem for this entire team. Back-to-back National Championships are not likely for Clemson.
Verdict: Sell
USC’s return to glory runs through quarterback Sam Darnold and head coach Clay Helton. If they continue the run that the Trojans started in the final 10 games of 2016, then USC can win the Pac-12 and make their first appearance in the College Football Playoff.
However, if Helton proves to be another failed head coach in Pasadena, it will be a long season for USC fans. The college football world needs to put the Darnold hype on hold at least until Week 1 of the season. Darnold was tremendous taking over for Max Browne last year, but he still has a lot to improve upon if he takes USC to the Playoff.
Running back Ronald Jones, linebacker Cameron Smith, and cornerback Iman Marshall round out a talented team in almost every aspect.
The USC Trojans are the clear favorite to win the Pac-12 in 2017, but how many times have we said that in year’s past and it did not happen. With no by week in sight, the 2017 campaign is going to be grueling. However, if Darnold is everything he’s supposed to be USC could be in for a special season.
Verdict: Buy
The Florida State Seminoles rounded out the 2016 campaign in style with a big Orange Bowl victory over the Michigan Wolverines. We’ll see what happens with FSU in the absence of All-American running back Dalvin Cook. However, there’s a large amount of hype surrounding freshman running back Cam Akers.
Quarterback Deondre Francois ultimately holds the Seminoles’ fate in his hands. If Francois has the type of season that Jameis Winston put together in 2013, the last time that Florida State won the National Championship, then they’ll have a chance to do the same in 2017.
Entering 2016, Florida State’s defense looked like one of the best in country, if not the best. However, it became apparent that would not play out the way that head coach Jimbo Fisher picture when Florida State gave up 63 points to Lamar Jackson and the Louisville Cardinals.
Safety Derwin James has been touted as one of the best overall players in the country when he’s healthy. Defensive lineman Josh Sweat and Derrick Nnadi give the impression that the Noles could actually have the best defense in the country this year. FSU is the favorite to take home the ACC crown this season.
Verdict: Buy
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett and running back Mike Weber completely failed to generate any type of offense in a rough loss to end the Buckeyes’ season in 2016. A 31-0 loss in the College Football Playoff Semifinals made a lot of people question if Ohio State belonged in the field in the first place.
However, it’s a new season and Ohio State have a chance to appear in third Playoff in four years. Head coach Urban Meyer has established a program that is always among the very best in college football and it’s hard to ever count Ohio State out of any National Championship.
The loss of safety Malik Hooker and cornerback Marshon Lattimore should be made up for by the extremely talented front seven including Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard, and Michael Hill. They’ll have to slow down some talented offenses in Penn State and Oklahoma this year.
Even though Ohio State rarely tops people’s minds as the favorite to win the 2017 National Championship, they’ll likely be right there at the end of the year.
Verdict: Buy
It seems like we would not even have to make a slide for this one. However, the Alabama Crimson Tide are at the top of the preseason rankings once again, at least they’re ranked No. 1 in the Coaches Poll.
From sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts to running back Bo Scarbrough to wide receiver Calvin Ridley, the Tide have one of the best groups of talent in the country of any offense. And the defense should dominate most of their opponents once again.
Defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick should be a top 10 pick and has been talked about, along with Derwin James and Arden Key, as being the best defensive players in the nation. Watch out for players like defensive end Da’Shawn Hand and cornerback Trevon Diggs to really have breakout seasons in 2017.
Expect nothing less from head coach Nick Saban and the Tide than to be right there with teams like Ohio State and Florida State in the Playoff. However, Alabama does face the Seminoles in Week 1, so we’ll get to see, early, what both teams are made of.
Next: Ranking the top 50 players in college football in 2017
Alabama consistently sets the bar for greatness in college football nowadays and they’ll look to continue their dynasty by adding another National Championship in 2017.