Last year's first, Ohio State, begins first in the NCAA 1-128 re-rank

Paul Myerberg | USA TODAY Sports

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This is not a repeat: Ohio State tops the USA TODAY Sports 1-128 preseason re-rank. If you can recall, the Buckeyes also led the way in the final re-rank to end the 2014 season. Typically, I've found that national champions — and defending national champions — tend to hold the top spot.

There's simply too much talent to ignore, even as the Buckeyes enter the season opener without five contributors, including All-America defensive end Joey Bosa, and head into the second half of August having yet to decide on a starting quarterback.

Ohio State is followed by Baylor, which is set to field the best team in program history; Auburn, now with one of the nation's top defensive coordinators in Will Muschamp; and Alabama, even if the Crimson Tide have a quarterback quandary of their own.

Then comes Boise State — and yes, the Broncos are going to be very, very good. Rounding out the best of the best: TCU, Oregon, Arizona State, Michigan State and Stanford.

What the Pac-12 Conference lacks in a clear leader it makes up with pure depth: No. 7 Oregon, No. 8 Arizona State, No. 10 Stanford and No. 11 UCLA will fight it out to represent the conference in the College Football Playoff.

In total, the preseason top 25 of the re-rank features six teams from the Pac-12, five from the Southeastern Conference, four apiece from the Big Ten Conference, the Big 12 Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference, one from the Mountain West Conference and one Football Bowl Subdivision independent.

And lastly, let's give a hearty welcome to the newest member of the FBS in Charlotte, which clocks in last in the initial in the 1-128. Last in the re-rank, last in Conference USA, first in our hearts.

1. Ohio State | 2. Baylor | 3. Auburn | 4. Alabama | 5. Boise State | 6. TCU | 7. Oregon | 8. Arizona State | 9. Michigan State | 10. Stanford

11. UCLA | 12. Florida State | 13. Clemson | 14. Mississippi | 15. Oklahoma | 16. Georgia | 17. Southern California | 18. Georgia Tech | 19. Arizona | 20. Virginia Tech

21. Notre Dame | 22. Nebraska | 23. Missouri | 24. Wisconsin | 25. Texas | 26. Louisville | 27. Louisiana State | 28. Penn State | 29. Oklahoma State | 30. Cincinnati

31. Arkansas | 32. North Carolina | 33. Tennessee | 34. Minnesota | 35. Memphis | 36. Duke | 37. Western Kentucky | 38. Brigham Young | 39. Northern Illinois | 40. South Carolina

41. Marshall | 42. Utah State | 43. Utah | 44. North Carolina State | 45. Mississippi State | 46. Miami (Fla.) | 47. Texas A&M | 48. San Diego State | 49. California | 50. Navy

51. Louisiana Tech | 52. Texas Tech | 53. Toledo | 54. Georgia Southern | 55. Western Michigan | 56. Temple | 57. Kansas State | 58. Central Florida | 59. Pittsburgh | 60. Iowa

61. Louisiana-Lafayette | 62. Bowling Green | 63. Houston | 64. Michigan | 65. West Virginia | 66. East Carolina | 67. Rice | 68. Air Force | 69. Florida | 70. Boston College

71. Maryland | 72. Washington | 73. Colorado State | 74. Arkansas State | 75. Ball State | 76. Rutgers | 77. Kentucky | 78. Middle Tennessee State | 79. Appalachian State | 80. Nevada

81. New Mexico | 82. Northwestern | 83. Ohio | 84. Washington State | 85. South Alabama | 86. Akron | 87. Texas State | 88. Syracuse | 89. North Texas | 90. Old Dominion

91. Tulane | 92. Colorado | 93. Buffalo | 94. Wyoming | 95. Indiana | 96. Louisiana-Monroe | 97. Fresno State | 98. Oregon State | 99. Virginia | 100. Southern Mississippi

101. San Jose State | 102. Illinois | 103. South Florida | 104. Florida International | 105. Hawaii | 106. Florida Atlantic | 107. UTEP | 108. Tulsa | 109. Massachusetts | 110. Troy

111. Central Michigan | 112. Purdue | 113. Miami (Ohio) | 114. UTSA | 115. Iowa State | 116. Wake Forest | 117. SMU | 118. Army | 119. Connecticut | 120. New Mexico State

121. Vanderbilt | 122. Kent State | 123. Eastern Michigan | 124. Kansas | 125. Georgia State | 126. UNLV | 127. Idaho | 128. Charlotte

New to the top 25 (from final 2014 re-rank):

No. 15 Oklahoma (No. 37). Adding Lincoln Riley as offensive coordinator will lift the Sooners' attack out of the doldrums.

No. 20 Virginia Tech (No. 63). I have nothing but the utmost faith in this defense. The offense? If just average, the Hokies can win the ACC.

No. 21 Notre Dame (No. 30). I'm not as sold as most on Notre Dame's Playoff chances, but this is certainly a talented and athletic bunch.

No. 22 Nebraska (No. 26). Add a massive coaching upgrade to a smooth schedule and you have the opportunity for an auspicious debut for Mike Riley and his staff.

No. 25 Texas (No. 54). I believe in what Charlie Strong is doing in Austin. The Longhorns won't win the Big 12, but they'll be better than most expect.

Out of the top 25 (from final 2014 re-rank):

No. 35 Memphis (No. 23). It will be hard to match last year's breakthrough in the win column, but the Tigers don't lack for star power between Justin Fuente and star quarterback Paxton Lynch.

No. 41 Marshall (No. 22). The Herd will fight with Western Kentucky for the Conference USA title, but the change at quarterback will lead to a decline in offensive punch.

No. 42 Utah (No. 20). One of the top five teams in the Pac-12 South Division is going to reach a bowl game but not figure into the Rose Bowl hunt. I'm thinking Utah's that team.

No. 45 Mississippi State (No. 16). It seems silly to discount the one SEC West Division team with a proven quarterback, but my concerns with the Bulldogs certain largely on the defensive side of the ball.

No. 56 Kansas State (No. 21). Doubt Bill Snyder at your own risk — or mine, rather — but the lack of experience under center paints the Wildcats as a team outside the Big 12 title picture.

PRESEASON AMWAY COACHES POLL TOP 25