6. Florida State Seminoles
2015 record: 10-3, 6-2 ACC
Returning starters: 11 offense, 6 defense, 1 special teams
Key losses: CB
Jalen Ramsey, DT
Nile Lawrence-Stample, LB
Reggie Northrup, LB
Terrance Smith, FS
Lamarcus Brutus, QB
Everett Golson, K
Roberto Aguayo
Outlook: After winning a national championship in 2013 and reaching the College Football Playoff in '14, it was a bit of a rebuilding campaign for the Seminoles this past season. But FSU might be ready to challenge Clemson in the ACC, especially with every starter expected back on offense. The biggest question heading into spring practice: Can redshirt freshman
Deondre Francoischallenge quarterback
Sean Maguire for the starting job? On defense, the Seminoles will have to replace two starting linebackers and two starting defensive backs. FSU opens the 2016 season against Ole Miss in Orlando, Florida, and it will also play Clemson and North Carolina at home during ACC play.
For more on how the Seminoles will look in 2016, check out Florida State's recruiting profile
and ESPN RecruitingNation's class rankings.
7. LSU Tigers
2015 record: 9-3, 5-3 SEC
Returning starters: 9 offense, 9 defense, 1 special teams
Key losses: OT
Vadal Alexander, LB
Lamar Louis, LB
Deion Jones, FS
Jalen Mills, OT
Jerald Hawkins
Outlook: After surviving an attempted coup, Tigers coach Les Miles probably knows his team is going to have to challenge Alabama in the SEC West if he's going to keep his job. He took a big step in doing that by hiring Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. Miles also seems intent on keeping offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, even after the Tigers ranked 111th in the FBS in passing yards (173.1) and 57th in scoring (30.7). Of course, having
Leonard Fournette gives LSU a chance to beat anybody it plays. The Tigers will open 2016 against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, and they'll play home games against Ole Miss and Alabama.
For more on how the Tigers will look in 2016, check out LSU's recruiting profile
and ESPN RecruitingNation's class rankings.
8. Stanford Cardinal
2015 record: 12-2, 8-1 Pac-12
Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense, 2 special teams
Key losses: QB
Kevin Hogan, OT
Kyle Murphy, G
Joshua Garnett, TE
Austin Hooper, LB
Blake Martinez, DE
Aziz shyttu, FS
Kodi Whitfield
Outlook: What more does Stanford's David Shaw need to do to be considered among the most elite coaches in the country? He has led the Cardinal to three Rose Bowls and one Fiesta Bowl in his first five seasons as coach. The Cardinal will have to replace a couple of key offensive linemen and quarterback Kevin Hogan this coming season, but Heisman Trophy runner-up
Christian McCaffreywill be back to make fans' jaws drop again. Defensively, the Cardinal will have to replace leading tackler Blake Martinez and two starters in the secondary. The Pac-12 schedule includes road trips to UCLA, Washington, Arizona, Oregon and Cal, as well as a nonconference trip to Notre Dame.
For more on how the Cardinal will look in 2016, check out Stanford's recruiting profile
and ESPN RecruitingNation's class rankings.
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2015 record: 10-3
Returning starters: 5 offense, 5 defense, 2 special teams
Key losses: OT
Ronnie Stanley, C
Nick Martin, WR
Will Fuller, RB
C.J. Prosise, WR
Amir Carlisle, DL
Sheldon Day, LB
Joe Schmidt, LB
Jaylon Smith, CB
KeiVarae Russell
Outlook: The Fighting Irish must replace some key skill players on offense, especially after receiver Fuller and tailback Prosise left early for the NFL draft. The good news: A boatload of players are coming back from injuries that forced them to miss most of 2015, including quarterback
Malik Zaire, tailback
Tarean Folston and tight end
Durham Smythe. There are also heavy personnel losses on a defense that needs to improve, including Russell and Smith, who have both declared for the draft. Notre Dame will play only three true road games (at Texas, NC State and USC) in 2016, along with neutral-site games against Syracuse, Navy and Army.
For more on how the Fighting Irish will look in 2016, check out Notre Dame's recruiting profile
and ESPN RecruitingNation's class rankings.
10. Houston Cougars
2015 record: 13-1, 7-1 AAC
Returning starters: 7 offense, 5 defense, 1 special teams
Key losses: OT
Alex Cooper, OT
Carter Wall, WR
Demarcus Ayers, RB
Kenneth Farrow, LB
Elandon Roberts, SS
Adrian McDonald, FS
Trevon Stewart, CB
William Jackson III, CB
Lee Hightower
Outlook: The Cougars stunned Florida State 38-24 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl to cap a remarkable season in 2015, but their biggest upset might have been keeping first-year coach Tom Herman. With Herman and quarterback
Greg Ward Jr. coming back, the Cougars might be on the verge of even bigger things this coming season. Top receiver Demarcus Ayers is leaving early for the NFL draft, and both starting offensive tackles and top tailback Kenneth Farrow are also departing. The UH defense will have to replace three starters in the secondary and three of its top four tacklers. The Cougars will open the season against Oklahoma at NRG Stadium in Houston, and they'll play AAC road games at Cincinnati, Memphis and Navy.
Schlabach: Clemson still No. 1 in the Way-Too-Early Top 25
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seriously though i dont do preseason predictions, way too much can change in one season to the next in cfb,. florida somehow won the east this year. sc should be better, but the east should be better as well. 2015 was the worst east since we wont it back in 2010.
But losing this much talent could make this one of those seasons
The B1G is wide open for this upcoming year. At least JT will be healthy and get to practice from day one
fukk all of them
