2015 College Football Season

[scottie]

ESPN.COM has TCU #1 in their Way-Too-Early top 25:

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...op-25-rankings

1. TCU
2. Ohio St.
3. Baylor
4. USC
5. Oregon
6. Michigan St.
7. UCLA
8. Georgia
9. Clemson
10. Alabama

They got 3 out of the 4 playoff teams with last year's Way-Too-Early pics, big whiff on Stanford though:

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...op-25-rankings

1. FSU
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Stanford
...
9. Ohio St.
(TCU not listed)

[smokymountainrain]

TCU makes sense, since they were the best team in the country this year and they return just about everybody.

[Jeff Lebowski]

TCU makes sense, since they were the best team in the country this year and they return just about everybody.

Maybe TCU will be good enough win the B12 this year!

[smokymountainrain]

Maybe TCU will be good enough win the B12 this year!

[USUC]

I'm skeptical TCU can equal or better this year's performance. Good for them if they do but that is a tough act to follow. Stoops has cleaned house offensively with his coaching staff this year. Wonder if he has any shot at a playoff. Texas is a couple of years away. Baylor will be on the periphery but probably lose one or two they shouldn't.

[byu71]

Wow and to think not that long ago we were on par with those guys (TCU). Do they have tough entrance requirements? Who would you put them on par with? Tougher than Utah? I am speaking of entrance requirements.

[Flystripper]

I'm skeptical TCU can equal or better this year's performance. Good for them if they do but that is a tough act to follow. Stoops has cleaned house offensively with his coaching staff this year. Wonder if he has any shot at a playoff. Texas is a couple of years away. Baylor will be on the periphery but probably lose one or two they shouldn't.

They return pretty much everybody, so unless they get caught up in a drug sweep again, I see them as the team most likely to make the playoffs.

[Green Monstah]

Wow and to think not that long ago we were on par with those guys (TCU). Do they have tough entrance requirements? Who would you put them on par with? Tougher than Utah? I am speaking of entrance requirements.

I don't think so. UT and A&M snag a lot of the smart kids whose parents can't afford private school tuition. Of those who can, they often go out of state (Vandy, Washington & Lee, etc.). Those who stay in state and private will usually go to Rice or SMU. TCU gets a crack at the leftovers. I'm sure it's a great school and all, but based on the grads I know, I just don't think the entrance requirements are terribly stringent--especially for athletes.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

That article must not have gone through the editing department yet, only 2 SEC teams listed. I expect a full apology and correction from ESPN soon.

[wapiti]

Kinda funny that they think Utah will be able to replicate this year's performance. Offense loses Clay, Tonga (not that they used him), and Anderson. Defense loses Orchard, Rowe, and Blechen. They still don't have a QB or an OC. I think the good Dr. Hill will get his wish in 2015 as they stumble to a 5 win season and make the tough decision to fire KWhitt.

[TripletDaddy]

SC in the top 4? Sweet, I hadnt heard about the coaching change.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Kinda funny that they think Utah will be able to replicate this year's performance. Offense loses Clay, Tonga (not that they used him), and Anderson. Defense loses Orchard, Rowe, and Blechen. They still don't have a QB or an OC. I think the good Dr. Hill will get his wish in 2015 as they stumble to a 5 win season and make the tough decision to fire KWhitt.

Not having a QB or an OC is no big deal with replicating last year. We didn't have a QB or an OC last year either.

Orchard is a loss, but it has been a long time since Utah hasn't had a good defensive line. I'm not so worried about that loss. Blechen was overrated. If the Utes get Tevin Carter back, no one is going to worry about Blechen being gone. Tevin Carter was a beast and the Utes second best defensive player before he got hurt. Getting Paul back will also be huge. I'm not remotely worried about the defense next year.

I could see anywhere from 5-8 wins for the Utes next year.

[USUC]

Not having a QB or an OC is no big deal with replicating last year. We didn't have a QB or an OC last year either.

Orchard is a loss, but it has been a long time since Utah hasn't had a good defensive line. I'm not so worried about that loss. Blechen was overrated. If the Utes get Tevin Carter back, no one is going to worry about Blechen being gone. Tevin Carter was a beast and the Utes second best defensive player before he got hurt. Getting Paul back will also be huge. I'm not remotely worried about the defense next year.

I could see anywhere from 5-8 wins for the Utes next year.

This is actually the most reasoned prediction from a Utah fan I've heard thus far. I have heard a lot of "With all the returning starters and an easier schedule, 9 to 10 wins is almost a certainty. "

[TripletDaddy]

Not having a QB or an OC is no big deal with replicating last year. We didn't have a QB or an OC last year either.

Orchard is a loss, but it has been a long time since Utah hasn't had a good defensive line. I'm not so worried about that loss. Blechen was overrated. If the Utes get Tevin Carter back, no one is going to worry about Blechen being gone. Tevin Carter was a beast and the Utes second best defensive player before he got hurt. Getting Paul back will also be huge. I'm not remotely worried about the defense next year.

I could see anywhere from 5-8 wins for the Utes next year.

While people may have their reasons for writing the Utes off next season, lack of QB and instability at OC arent very convincing reasons to do so.

[TripletDaddy]

So utah has co-offensive coordinators and an assistant head coach this season.

that is going to be a lot of turnover to replace next year.