This much is clear: It's good to be a college football fan. Another year, and another instant-classic national championship game: Alabama 26, Georgia 23, SEC haters 0. With the 2017 season in the books, it's time to take a way-too-early at what the top 25 might look like for 2018. For now, the Crimson Tide look well-positioned to get coach Nick Saban a record-breaking national championship No. 7.

No. 1 Alabama: Sure, Alabama was likely going to be No. 1 when we began researching our rankings before the title game. But with the emergence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, not to mention a new wave of offensive forces in Najee Harris, Devonta Smith, Henry Ruggs III, Jerry Jeudy (and more), the ceiling feels even higher for the Tide. There are some critical losses – Calvin Ridley and Minkah Fitzpatrick come to mind – but this was a young team in 2017. The offense clearly looks like it's going to be more dynamic and improve. Defensively, do the Crimson Tide ever really take a step back? Look for Mack Wilson to become the Tide's next great inside linebacker.

No. 2 Georgia: There’s no reason to think Georgia is going anywhere. Bolstered by two straight top-three recruiting classes, the Bulldogs are built to endure losses. It’ll hurt to lose players like Nick Chubb and Roquan Smith – expected to declare for the NFL draft – but the return of Jake Fromm (with competition from Justin Fields), D’Andre Swift and a deep stable of defenders makes that easier to overlook. Expect the 2017 and 2018 classes for Georgia to form the framework for more SEC title runs.

No. 3 Clemson: Following the Tigers’ Sugar Bowl loss, Dabo Swinney said he expects many more Alabama-Clemson clashes, and there’s no reason not to believe him. The majority of Clemson’s offensive contributors are set to return, including quarterback Kelly Bryant and the freshman running back tandem of Tavien Feaster and Travis Etienne. The defense will suffer some NFL losses, but the Tigers are recruiting at a level that allows them to overcome that attrition.

No. 4 Ohio State: The most talented team in the country outside of Alabama, the Buckeyes are well equipped to contend yet again under Urban Meyer. The offense won’t skip a beat with Dwayne Haskins or Joe Burrow taking over for J.T. Barrett, especially with J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber returning. There are many losses on defense to overcome – Sam Hubbard and Denzel Ward to name a few – but Nick Bosa and talented underclassmen such as Jeffrey Okudah are ready to step into those spots.

No. 5 Wisconsin: If you don’t believe in the Badgers now, you probably never will. But Wisconsin is legit, and it will be a contender again in 2018. The majority of the team’s offense is back next season, including quarterback Alex Hornibrook and star running back Jonathan Taylor. Defensively, there are some major losses, including Garret Dooley and Nick Nelson, but the Badgers have shown the ability to retool on that side of the ball. This isn’t the old school Big Ten Wisconsin of 10 years ago; they’re talented and fast. Expect them to challenge for a CFB Playoff spot once again.

No. 6 Miami: The Hurricanes were ahead of schedule for most of 2017, but their 2018 roster should put them in position to avoid another late-season fade. Most of the offense, led by quarterback Malik Rosier, returns. The same can be said on defense, where Chad Thomas is the only major departure. If the Hurricanes can survive a difficult non-conference slate – vs. LSU and at Toledo – they’re set up for a national title run.

No. 7 Oklahoma: Baker Mayfield is gone, but don’t expect too much of a dropoff for the Sooner offense with Kyler Murray under center. It helps that weapons such as Marquise Brown and CeeDee Lamb return to help him out. By the way, expect Bobby Evans to emerge as one of the best tackles in the country with Orlando Brown headed to the NFL. The defense is where the Sooners must make strides. Losing Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Steven Parker are huge blows, and an overall young unit in 2017 needs to improve quickly. If the Sooners can even be average on defense, they should win a fourth straight Big 12 title.

No. 8 Michigan State: Mark Dantonio worked a magic trick in 2017 by turning the least experienced team in the FBS into a 10-win team. With almost the entire two-deep returning, including quarterback Brian Lewerke, the Spartans are set up for another CFB Playoff run in the always difficult Big Ten East.

No. 9 Auburn: The Tigers’ 2018 hopes received a huge boost when Jarrett Stidham opted to return college for one more year. The Tigers need to replace a trio of good linemen (Austin Golson, Braden Smith and Darius James) and Kerryon Johnson, but they’ve recruited well enough to do so. The same could be said of losses like Carlton Davis and Tray Matthews on defense. Auburn proved it can beat the big boys in 2018. Now, with Washington and LSU on the schedule within the first three weeks, it needs to show it again.

No. 10 Washington: Washington opens its 2018 schedule in Atlanta against Auburn, so ESPN probably won’t be chiding the Huskies for playing cupcakes again. That season opener will be a highlight game, and Washington will have the majority of its contributors coming back for it. Outside of wide receiver Dante Pettis and defensive tackle Vita Vea, the Huskies return pretty much everyone. That includes quarterback Jake Browning, running back Myles Gaskin and tight end Hunter Bryant. A young Husky defense that finished eighth nationally this season brings all but three starters back.

No. 11 Penn State: There’s no doubt losing Saquon Barkley hurts, but James Franklin’s recruited well enough now to endure losses like those. Really, a bigger question is how the offense will function without Joe Moorhead. Thankfully for the Nittany Lions, quarterback Trace McSorley returns for what will likely be a Heisman-contending campaign. Penn State has holes to fill on defense, notably at linebacker and in the secondary, but talented underclassmen like Lamont Wade and Micah Parsons should help plug those gaps.

No. 12 Michigan: Perhaps the most volatile team on this list, Michigan could vault into the Top 10 if Shea Patterson is eligible. But regardless of that, the Wolverines should be much better in 2018, returning the large majority of their contributors. Expect the team’s young receivers to only improve and for Rashan Gary to emerge as an All-American. If Michigan can get a little more explosive on offense, it’s more than capable of winning the Big Ten East. If you can do that, you can win a national title.

No. 13 Stanford: The Cardinal would receive a major boost if Bryce Love opted to return. But regardless of his decision, this is a talented team capable of winning the Pac-12. Stanford’s offense had a different sort of pop when K.J. Costello became the starter late in the season, and the rising junior should only improve behind an offensive line that brings almost everyone back. Stanford has a lot of holes to fill in its front seven, especially at defensive tackle with Harrison Phillips, but the Cardinal have young pieces like former four-star prospect Michael Williams ready to emerge.

No. 14 Florida State: Perhaps a bit ambitious in Willie Taggart’s first season in Tallahassee. But I’m betting the Seminoles revert to their mean in 2018, which means nine-plus wins. They did so every year from 2010 onward, and the talent is still there despite some losses to the NFL Draft like Josh Sweat and Derwin James. Whether it’s James Blackman or Deondre Francois under center, they’ll be supported by a deep stable of skill talent and an offensive line that brings back all but one starter. The defense is going to take a bit of a step back, but expect highly-touted recruits like Brian Burns and Stanford Samuels to emerge in starting roles.

No. 15 LSU: The Tigers will have to endure a brutal schedule in 2018, but they have the talent to slot in the top 15. Departures like D.J. Chark, Derrius Guice and Danny Etling will hurt, but the large majority of the team’s starters will return next season. Dave Aranda, with a young and talent defense, should have LSU swarming. The bigger question is the offense. Myles Brennan is the next guy up at quarterback, and the hope in Baton Rouge is he’ll end a long string of forgettable starters at the position. Another big question is who LSU will bring in to run the offense after Matt Canada’s departure.

No. 16 Virginia Tech: The Hokies have won nine-plus games in Justin Fuente’s first two seasons. Don’t expect that to change in Year 3. Virginia Tech returns redshirt quarterback Josh Jackson and the majority of its offensive starters for a unit that should only become more explosive as Jackson matures. Defensively, the Hokies were one of the stingiest units in the country. They might take a slight step back with heavy losses on the second level, but Fuente’s recruited well since he arrived. Expect the ACC Coastal to be a Virginia Tech/Miami battle once again.

No. 17 Mississippi State: Joe Moorhead stepped into a terrific situation in Starkville. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald returns, as does almost the entire offense outside of star left tackle Martinas Rankin. The defense brings back nearly as much production as the offense does, returning the team’s top four tacklers. Moorhead will have the offense humming in Year 1. If Bob Shoop can do the same with the defense, you’re looking at a Bulldogs team capable of challenging the 10-win barrier.

No. 18 TCU: The Horned Frogs will lose a ton of offensive talent, but they’re well-equipped to endure. Kenny Hill’s replacement will either be rising sophomore Shawn Robinson or true freshman Justin Rodgers. Both were highly-thought of prospects, and Robinson impressed in Fort Worth this season. Around them is a bevy of young talent including running back Sewo Olonilua and wide receiver Jalen Reagor, who be an All-Big 12 challenger next year. There are losses on defense, but Gary Patterson’s shown an ability year in and year out to endure those. Plus, the front is in good shape with Ben Banogu and Ross Blacklock returning. Add in a Top 25 recruiting class, and the Horned Frogs are again set up to challenge for a Big 12 title.

No. 19 UCF: We’ll slot the 2017 national champions – depending on who you ask – here. A year after going 13-0, including a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn, the Knights should again be a Group of Five contender. The entire coaching staff might be gone with Scott Frost headed to Nebraska, but the majority of his team remains. Star quarterback McKenzie Milton will be fortified by an offense that returns 10 of 11 starters, while the defense brings back its entire secondary. Much of UCF’s potential depends on how Josh Heupel mixes his style with an in-place formula for success. But the Knights, a year after 13-0, aren’t going anywhere.

No. 20 West Virginia: No team benefited more from NFL early-entrant decisions than West Virginia, which saw both Will Grier and David Sills opt to return to Morgantown. With them on board, the Mountaineers’ explosive offense will keep humming in 2018. West Virginia’s defense had its struggles this year, but with eight returning starters the unit should only improve. And for those wondering why a 7-6 team slots in the top 20, consider that with Grier under center it lost to a trio of Top 25 teams by 11 points or less. Once Grier got hurt in Week 11, the Mountaineers went 0-3.

No. 21 Kansas State: The Purple Wizard is back in Manhattan for another season, and the Wildcats bring back nearly everyone. Seriously, other than three losses on defense, Kansas State will return all of its starters from a Cactus Bowl win over UCLA. With that much experience back and a pair of intriguing options at quarterback – Skylar Thompson and Alex Delton – Kansas State is again equipped to surprise a few people nationally.

No. 22 South Carolina: Will Muschamp is succeeding ahead of schedule at South Carolina, and the Gamecocks should be better in 2018, especially on offense. Jake Bentley is back for his junior year, and he’ll benefit from the return of star wide receiver Deebo Samuel. The departures of defensive standouts like Skai Moore will hurt, but Muschamp has a history of fielding above-average units on that side of the ball. The SEC East won’t be much better in 2018 outside of Georgia. There’s a window for South Carolina to continue trending upward.

No. 23 Oregon: Never mind the bowl result, the Ducks are a really good team with Justin Herbert under center. If he’s healthy for all of 2018, Oregon will challenge Washington and Stanford in the Pac-12 North. It helps that the Ducks’ defense should only continue to improve in Year 2 under Jim Leavitt – Troy Dye is a stud at linebacker, by the way. Mario Cristobal isn’t Taggart, but he inherited a roster capable of winning immediately.

No. 24 Southern Cal: Losing Sam Darnold hurts. There’s no way around that. USC will remain a freakishly talented team in 2018 with the majority of its starters returning. But without Darnold, this team goes from national title contender to merely an interesting Pac-12 challenger. Expect Stephen Carr to emerge as the next great Trojans running back with Ronald Jones headed to the NFL. But the Trojans will be as good as whoever emerges in the quarterback battle between Matt Fink, Jack Sears and JT Daniels, who was awesome in the Army All-American Bowl after reclassifying from the 2019 to the 2018 class.

No. 25 Utah: Tyler Huntley brought a completely different element to Utah’s offense in 2017, and he should only improve heading into his junior season. An explosive athlete and runner, if Huntley can even make marginal strides as a passer he’ll become one of the better QBs in the Pac-12. Utah will lose nearly its entire front four, but six of seven of the team’s starters on the second level come back. Kyle Whittingham’s led the Utes to four straight winning seasons. I wouldn’t expect that to change in 2018.

Teams That Just Missed the Cut



Notre Dame

Texas

Florida Atlantic

Purdue

Texas A&M

UCLA

Boise State