“So you’re saying there’s a chance”- Lloyd Christmas, Dumb and Dumber

We’ve seen the way-too-early top 25 rankings and the post-signing day reshuffling of those lists. We know who the favorites to make the second college football playoff are going to be heading into next season.

And we surely know that there will be talk of teams that have a chance to have a breakthrough season and “contend” in some way for conference championships and thus playoff berths around the Power 5.

Here are five teams, though, that you likely won’t see listed, except for perhaps in a “could possibly challenge for a division” category, but that have a shot to have an even bigger 2015 if the ball bounces their way.

The five teams below, along with why.

1- Tennessee: There will be plenty of offseason talk about the Vols challenging for the SEC East this season, but there has been such a great talent infusion in Knoxville, along with key positions on offense like running back (Alvin Kamara/Jalen Hurd) and quarterback (Joshua Dobbs) upgraded so significantly that there is a chance Tennessee could have a very, very big year, particularly with the SEC East being somewhat unpredictable.

2. North Carolina: The Tar Heels are loaded on offense. People may not realize this, but they are. Quarterback Marquise Williams, the entire offensive line, three great receivers and a stable of running backs off of a unit that was pretty good in 2014 to start with. Gene Chizik takes over the defense and while that side of the ball will be less than ideal, it should at least be better. Plus, the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference is a crap shoot. If the Heels can get off and running this year and at least slow the opposition down, then there’s a chance for Larry Fedora’s fourth season to be special.

3. Virginia Tech: While the Hokies did not have a good offense last season, everybody is back and we did see glimpses and flashes here and there when everyone was healthy. Combine what figures to be an improved group in terms of scoring points with a defense that was once again excellent and has most everyone back on an outstanding defensive front and in the secondary and the Hokies could get back to the top of the Coastal Division and if they can get to the ACC Championship game with one loss or undefeated, they are just a win away from the playoff.

4. Arizona State: The Sun Devils have enough talent at receiver to make up for the significant loss of Jaelen Strong, but everybody else is back at the skill positions and quarterback Mike Bercovici filled in just fine for Taylor Kelly last year. Arizona State’s defense was extremely young in 2014, yet carried the Sun Devils to midseason wins against Stanford, Utah and Washington. In 2015, USC and UCLA both figure to be better in the Pac-12 South- and Utah and Arizona will still linger, but Todd Graham’s group has just as good of a shot as any.

5. Texas: Call me crazy, but the Longhorns are playing a tougher brand of football and will definitely improve from 6-7 in Charlie Strong’s second year. This won’t be a popular statement, but being more physical than the rest of the Big 12 (outside of TCU and Kansas State) gives Texas an advantage. The Horns are almost a special preparation, much like a spread team (which most of the Big 12 is now) used to be. There are good football players in Austin and a few breaks here or there (and a big upset in Fort Worth and maybe one in Waco) and Texas can win the league and get in the playoff hunt.