It's finally here. The 2015 College Football season kicks off Thursday with some key games such as Michigan at Utah and #2 TCU at Minnesota. After a wildly successful inaugural season for the College Football Playoff in which #4 Ohio State did the impossible by winning the championship over Oregon with a third-string quarterback in Cardale Jones. The other teams that made the Playoff were #1 Alabama, #2 Oregon, and #3 Florida State. To open up the season, the top four in the AP poll goes as follows: #1 Ohio State, #2 TCU, #3 Alabama, and #4 Baylor. So who will make the second annual College Football Playoff and who will ultimately win it? Read below to find out.
#1. Ohio State (AP Preseason Ranking: #1)
The defending national champions are even better than they were last year, which is terrifying for other teams. They were the first ever unanimous #1 in the AP Preseason Rankings which have been around since 1950. Before them, no team had ever received more than 97% of the first-place votes according to USA Today. The Buckeyes have seemingly no weaknesses, as most of their players are one of the best in the country at their respective positions. One of those players is junior defensive end Joey Bosa, who is arguably the best player in the country and the preseason favorite to be the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. One question mark is at quarterback. However, it is by no means a weakness. It is rather an issue of having two who are some of the best signal-callers in the country. Redshirt sophomore J.T. Barrett and redshirt junior Cardale Jones are battling it out for the job. Whoever wins will be one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Another Heisman favorite is running back Ezekiel Elliott, who along with Georgia's Nick Chubb is the best running back in the country. Add in an outstanding offensive line, wide receiver corps, and defense and it's easy to see why they are the favorites to be the first team to repeat as national champions since Alabama did it in 2011 and 2012. They will need to win at Virginia Tech in the season opener who were the only team to beat the Buckeyes last season. In that game, they will be without Bosa, H-Backs Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson, and wide receiver Corey Smith. Former quarterback and current H-Back Braxton Miller will be counted on right away. After that, they have a home game against #5 Michigan State. If the Buckeyes can get by those two teams they should go undefeated.
Projected Record: 13-0 (Big Ten Champions)
#2. Auburn (AP Preseason Ranking: #6)
This was a difficult one to pick. It was between Auburn and Alabama for who would represent the SEC in the College Football Playoff. However, the decision was Auburn. Alabama has issues in their secondary, which could be their kryptonite when they have to face high-powered passing attacks in #19 Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and of course Auburn. The Tigers' have a new starting quarterback in junior Jeremy Johnson who has been hyped as the next Cam Newton. While this may be a bit much, he is by far a more advanced passer than previous starter Nick Marshall. He has D'haquille "Duke" Williams, one of the best wide receivers in the country to throw to. #1 JUCO running back Jovon Robinson leads the running game. The defense is led by defensive end Carl Lawson and linebacker Kris Frost. Cornerback Jonathan Jones is also very underrated and he deserves to be in the conversation as one of the top-ten corners in the country. Auburn does have a difficult schedule since they play in the toughest division in all of college football, the SEC West. They must go up against #3 Alabama, #9 Georgia, #14 LSU, #17 Ole Miss, #18 Arkansas, and Mississippi State and Texas A&M who just missed the Top 25. It is unlikely they come out unscathed of a loss but they should win most including the Iron Bowl against Alabama which may decide who goes to the SEC Championship and ultimately, the Playoff.
Projected Record: 12-1 (SEC Champions)
#3. Baylor (AP Preseason Ranking: #4)
This was also a difficult one to decide. It was either Baylor or #2 TCU and it will likely be decided by their game against each other on November 27th. Baylor also has a new starting quarterback in redshirt junior Seth Russell after Bryce Petty graduated and was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Russell is a dual-threat quarterback who has arguably the best receiving corps in the country with speedsters Corey Coleman and KD Cannon. Don't forget about 390-pound tight end LaQuan McGowan. They have one of the best offensive tackles in the country in Spencer Drango. The defense is led by defensive tackle Andrew Billings and defensive end Shawn Oakman who are both one of the best at their position. Oakman is overhyped but he has so much potential. He just needs to make sure he doesn't disappear in games like he did last season. Their schedule includes some interesting games such as #2 TCU, #19 Oklahoma, and very good unranked teams in Oklahoma State, Kansas State, and West Virginia. They will likely suffer one loss but this writer believes they will beat TCU and win the Big 12 Championship.
Projected Record: 11-1 (Big 12 Champions)
#4. Clemson (AP Preseason Ranking: #12)
Once again, a tough decision. It came down to Clemson and #8 USC. However, Clemson wins because of one man, sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson. He is a dark-horse Heisman candidate who could be considered the best quarterback in the country by the end of the season. Clemson has arguably the best wide receiving corps in the country, the only real argument is Baylor. Mike Williams and Artavis Scott are very dangerous weapons on their own, add Watson and it can be unstoppable. They continue Clemson's tradition of being known as Wide Receiver U as they also produced NFL stars DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, and Martavis Bryant in the past few years. The nation's #1 defense in the country lost some key members such as Falcons' first-round pick defensive end Vic Beasley and Falcons' fifth-round pick defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. However, they still have top-ten cornerback Mackensie Alexander along with defensive end Shaq Lawson and 5-star true freshman defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. They have a difficult schedule in #10 Florida State, #11 Notre Dame, #16 Georgia Tech, and North Carolina State. This writer believes they will lose to Georgia Tech but then get their revenge by beating the Yellow Jackets in the ACC Championship.
Projected Record: 12-1 (ACC Champions)
Just Missed the Cut: #5 USC, #6 TCU
#1. Ohio State vs. #4 Clemson
This should be an interesting game. Both teams have high-power offense and stout defenses. However, Ohio State simply has too much for Clemson to handle. J.T. Barrett (yes, he will win the job) will have a big game and Ezekiel Elliott will gash Clemson's defensive line. Deshaun Watson will put up a good fight, but Ohio State's defense will be able to stop them enough to win.
Prediction: Ohio State 31, Clemson 20
#2 Auburn vs. #3 Baylor
Another high-power offensive game. Auburn should be able to put up some points but Baylor's defensive line will cause problems. If Shawn Oakman shows up in a big way, he can dominate this game. That's a big "if". Baylor's offense, like usual, will put up big numbers. Corey Coleman and KD Cannon should put up big numbers. Baylor comes out on top.
Prediction: Baylor 35, Auburn 24
National Championship
#1. Ohio State vs. #3. Baylor
Be prepared for a shootout. Baylor's wide receivers will give Ohio State fits. However, Ohio State will dominate offensively. Ezekiel Elliott will put up big numbers (He always does in big games, right Oregon?) and Barrett will throw a couple scores. Bosa will beat Drango and delay Baylor's passing game just enough to pull out the victory and repeat as national champions. (I hate picking Ohio State to repeat but look at that roster and tell me they will lose.)
Prediction: Ohio State 33, Baylor 27