Sporting News Preseason Top 25

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1 Oklahoma

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You can’t use the “Alabama wasn’t motivated” excuse anymore. And while we’re talking about the Sooners’ whipping of the most talented team in college football in last year’s Sugar Bowl, let’s give some credit to the OU offensive coaches. In 15 bowl practices, they figured out how to make Trevor Knight comfortable at the most important position on the field. Add to that the Stoops brothers finally figuring out what it takes to stop the pass-happy offenses in the Big 12, and you’ve got a nice recipe for a return to the top of college football.

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2 Oregon
3 Florida State
4 Alabama

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For all the hype of quarterback Jacob Coker transferring to Tuscaloosa from FSU, we still don’t know what the Tide has — other than a ton of inexperience at the most important position on the field. They dealt with it before, three years ago, but those questions produced a unique player (AJ McCarron) and one of the best runs in school history. This team is loaded everywhere else, and should have enough to win the SEC and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP).

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5 Auburn

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Everyone has a flaw; Auburn’s is the same as last season: defense. But coach Gus Malzahn and his offense are so good, it won’t matter. The loss of tailback Tre Mason is big, but Malzahn says there’s talent at the spot. Two names to remember: Roc Thomas, a five-star signee, and redshirt freshman Peyton Barber. Two young guys who have to carry the ball in a college game.

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6 Stanford
7 Baylor
8 UCLA
9 Ohio State
10 South Carolina

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Who in their right mind would think South Carolina, a habitually underachieving before Steve Spurrier’s arrival, would get bored with 11-win seasons? The Gamecocks could easily make it four in a row this fall, especially if QB Dylan Thompson becomes the one thing Spurrier hasn’t had in his time in Columbia: a true thrower of a quarterback.

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11 LSU

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Best possible scenario last season: LSU, already out of the SEC West Division race at the end of the regular season, gets some critical playing time for QB Anthony Jennings. The best thing for a young quarterback is a strong defense, and the Tigers will be significantly better defensively (and last year they were solid). And don’t forget freshman tailback Leonard Fournette, maybe the best at his position in high school since Adrian Peterson.

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12Michigan State
13 Arizona State
14 Notre Dame
15 Georgia

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For the first time in three years, Georgia enters a season with some legitimate questions at quarterback. Hutson Mason was serviceable in the three games he played for injured Aaron Murray last year. Serviceable isn’t winning the SEC East Division. The Dawgs are strong on both sides of the ball, but never underestimate the value of an experienced quarterback who protects the ball.

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16 USC
17 Nebraska
18 Texas A&M

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Kevin Sumlin got a fat raise in the offseason ($5 million per) for third- and fourth-place finishes in the SEC West. Here is where we’ll see if Sumlin (and his system) made the player (Johnny Manziel), or if the player elevated a program. Considering Sumlin’s track record with quarterbacks dating all the way back to Sam Bradford at Oklahoma, the safe bet is Kenny Hill or Kyle Allen will put up big numbers.

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19 Wisconsin
20 Ole Miss

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A young team getting better, a young team gaining confidence. And a dangerous team in the SEC West Division race — especially if QB recruit Jeremy Liggins (all 296 pounds of him) becomes a dangerous changeup for starter Bo Wallace. Young players have to make significant improvement on defense, including rising star DE Robert Nkemdiche at end.

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21 Washington
22 Florida

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The Gators are ranked because there’s too much talent on the roster and the bad breaks from 2013 can’t possibly happen again. Everyone is healthy, everyone is excited with a new tempo offense and the only thing left is for QB Jeff Driskel to reach expectations. If he plays as well as coach Will Muschamp thinks he can, Florida has enough talent to win the SEC East.

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23 Texas
24 North Carolina
25 UCF