re: 2020 FB Recruiting & Roster

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College football saw plenty of change in spring football. Schools like Northwestern, Auburn and Ohio State prepare to move forward with a new big-name quarterback. Some programs said goodbye to key talents (or added some) with another wave of transfer portal action.

What does it mean for the top 25?

At the top, does Clemson belong as the preseason No. 1 after its 15-0 season or do the returning weapons for Alabama bode well for the Crimson Tide?

Here is how the preseason rankings shake out heading into summer workouts.

25. Wisconsin
24. Baylor
23. Syracuse
22. Boise State
21. Penn State
20. Army
19. Nebraska
18. Stanford
17. Northwestern
16. Auburn
15.Iowa State
14. UCF
13. Florida
12. Washington
11. Notre Dame
10. Texas
9. Oregon
8. Texas A&M
7. LSU
6. Michigan
5. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
3. Georgia
2. Alabama
Alabama fell from the No. 1 spot in the USA Today rankings with the changes on the coaching staff as the biggest development of the offseason. Nick Saban’s new staff, however, is in place with no signs of slowing down. The Crimson Tide are again projected to win the conference and make a College Football Playoff. The hype will again surround Tua Tagovailoa after a runner-up finish in the Heisman Trophy race. But how about Jerry Jeudy? The wide receiver could be one of the best. Alabama has a slew of weapons on offense, and the return of players like Raekwon Davis and Trevon Diggs is big on the other side of the ball. Can any player step up to replace the disruption caused by Quinnen Williams?

CBS Sports says, “The spring provided a look at the Tide's revamped and overhauled coaching staff, even if a few key faces — such as offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian — aren't new to the program. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Alabama and Clemson are the nation's best teams entering the summer.”
1. Clemson
The Tigers climbed ahead of Alabama in the USA Today preseason rankings. Clemson must rebuild its defensive line. Recruiting has been so strong under Dabo Swinney that the Tigers are expected to be just fine in the front seven. Offensively, this might be the most-frightening offense in school history. Trevor Lawrence (30 touchdowns, 3,280 yards), Justyn Ross (1,000 yards, nine touchdowns), Tee Higgins (936 yards 12 touchdowns) and Travis Etienne (1,736 yards, 26 touchdowns) are all back as well as four starters on the offensive line.

CBS Sports says, “It's all sunshine and rainbows in the wake of the program's latest national championship. Not that everything is peachy: Clemson lost wide receiver Amari Rodgers to an ACL tear in March, potentially robbing the offense of an all-conference weapon. Rodgers is a good one, but I think Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers will be OK.”

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