College football early top 25 for 2016

The defending national champs will turn the page at quarterback and running back, but as always, there's still a boatload of talent on coach Nick Saban's squad. Cooper Bateman is likely to take over at quarterback, and wideout Calvin Ridley shows scary potential after accumulating 89 catches for 1,045 yards and seven scores in his freshman season.

Clemson's season ended in heartbreaking defeat, but quarterback Deshaun Watson is back. If he can stay healthy, the Tigers shouldn't have much of a problem marching through the ACC again.

The Buckeyes had a disappointing season after winning the inaugural College Football Playoff and will lose running back Ezekiel Elliott. With quarterback J.T. Barrett having the offense all to himself, Ohio State should be just fine.

The turnaround in Ann Arbor has been quicker than anyone expected under head coach Jim Harbaugh, and his elite recruiting class should add another spark. Michigan already has an elite defense, and the talent in the quarterback competition this year takes a step up from last year.

If not for quarterback Seth Russell's neck injury last year, Baylor might be the defending national champion. Losing star wideout Corey Coleman is damaging, but the Bears have plenty of weapons behind him.

It shouldn't shock anyone if the Vols give Alabama a run for their money in the SEC in 2016. Tennessee had four losses in 2015, but they were all by one touchdown or less and two were against eventual CFP teams. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs has the ability to become a household name in his senior season.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield is back to lead Oklahoma's offense, but he loses his favorite weapon, wideout Sterling Shepard. Powerful running back Samaje Perine could make up for the loss if he's healthy.

Notre Dame is in an envious position with two great quarterback options, but the loss of wide receiver Will Fuller and running back C.J. Prosise will be difficult to replace. Of course, Brian Kelly has plenty of depth behind them.

Florida State will start its third quarterback in as many years, and it remains to be seen if that becomes an issue. Coach Jimbo Fisher did recruit the top quarterback in the 2016 class, but there's not another Jameis Winston coming.

It sounds like the Tigers will be less conservative after Les Miles was nearly fired last year. With Leonard Fournette still leading the offense at running back, why bother? LSU does need better quarterback play to make the jump after Brandon Harris completed only 53.8 percent of his passes last season.

Maybe Florida would have challenged for the SEC title last season if quarterback Will Grier was never suspended. Grier has transferred, and it remains to be seen if Treon Harris is the answer at quarterback. Coach Jim McElwain is also losing significant talent on defense.

True freshman quarterback Josh Rosen experienced his fair share of growing pains, but the team could be better for it in 2016. The Bruins expect big things from him, even after losing top wideout Jordan Payton.

It will be different in Lansing without Connor Cook at quarterback, but it's not as if he had a great year in his senior season. In fact, the Spartans beat Ohio State without him, showing the great depth that coach Mark Dantonio has built.

Stanford finally loses quarterback Kevin Hogan, but that shouldn't stop Heisman candidate Christian McCaffrey. The question is whether the vertical game beyond McCaffrey can help Stanford keep up with the improving Pac-12 offenses.

Houston extended hot coaching candidate Tom Herman after a 13-1 season, and quarterback Greg Ward Jr. could become a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate in his senior season. Without much competition in the AAC, Houston could be a CFP contender.

Coach Gary Patterson's team miraculously turned a 31-point deficit vs. Oregon into victory. In doing so, the Horned Frogs showed they could survive without quarterback Trevone Boykin and wideout Josh Doctson, whom they'll lose this year. The offense should remain strong with new talent.

Georgia decided 10-3 wasn't good enough, firing Mark Richt in favor of alumnus Kirby Smart. The defense is expected to improve under Smart's leadership, and the return of running back Nick Chubb from a knee injury should get the Bulldogs back in the SEC Championship conversation.

Coach Bret Bielema's team has been inconsistent over the past two seasons, though it has made some strides. It will be different at quarterback without Brandon Allen, but his brother, Austin Allen, could have even more upside. Replacing running back Alex Collins' production won't be as easy.

The tumultuous 2015 season is finally behind the Trojans, with head coach Clay Helton now leading them more permanently. The new quarterback will get the treat of throwing to wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, who could find his sophomore season (89 receptions for 1,454 yards) difficult to top.

Oregon's season ended in gut-wrenching fashion after giving up a 31-point lead to TCU in the Alamo Bowl. There are high hopes for new quarterback Dakota Prukop leading the offense, while running back Royce Freeman remains a Heisman candidate after rushing for 1,838 yards last season.

The losses by Ole Miss, including likely No. 1 overall draft choice Laremy Tunsil, wideout Laquon Treadwell, and defensive linemen Robert and Denzel Nkemdiche, will be impossible to replace. Quarterback Chad Kelly makes those losses easier to swallow, leading the offense in his senior season.

Young quarterback Lamar Jackson has proved to be more than just a developmental project, and coach Bobby Petrino had him humming late last season. Jackson is a possible future Heisman candidate if he can improve his pass accuracy.

Give Mike Leach time and he will develop the same offense he was the architect of at Texas Tech, they said. They were right. Quarterback Luke Falk has turned into a phenomenal quarterback, completing more than 69 percent of his passes last season for 4,561 yards.

Could this be a make-or-break year for coach Gus Malzahn? Some considered Auburn a national championship contender before last season, but the Tigers barely made a bowl game with poor quarterback play and execution. The team still has high hopes for quarterback Sean White, but we've yet to see it.

After what coach Kirk Ferentz accomplished in 2015, we should never doubt him again. Of course, the Hawkeyes were demolished by Stanford in the Rose Bowl and face some key losses on defense.