Jacks Follman's Preseason College Football Top 25

Jacks Follman’s Preseason College Football Top 25

Six Pac-12 teams make Follman's independent solo CFB rankings

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Posted on November 6, 2020


  By Jack Follman, SuperWest Sports

Each week I’ll give you my college football Top 25, with commentary on the Pac-12 teams I rank. Disagree? Let me know on Twiter @jackfollman.

1. Clemson (7-0)

2. Alabama (6-0)

3. Ohio State (2-0)

4. Notre Dame (6-0)

5. Georgia (4-1)

6. Wisconsin (1-0)

7. Texas A&M (4-1)

8. Florida (3-1)

9. Oklahoma State (4-1)

10. Miami (5-1)

11. Cincinnati (5-0)

12. Indiana (2-0)

13. USC (0-0)

I give the Trojans the slight edge over the Ducks as they were hurt far less by opt outs, and have far and away the better quarterback situation. Few teams in Pac-12 history have won the Conference with a new starter at QB, and the Trojan offense should be very good. USC also should be able to make up for a questionable defense that still has some very nice returning pieces, such as Talanoa Hufanga and Drake Jackson.

14. Oregon (0-0)

The Ducks are loaded with talent, particularly on defense, where veterans Jordon Scott and Demmodore Lenoir will be paired with Kayvon Thibodeaux, Mykael Wright, and some immediate-impact recruits, capable of shining the way Thibodeaux did last year. Losing Penei Sewell, Jevon Holland and several other veterans from their secondary, on top of the key pieces they lost from 2019—including Justin Herbert, which looks like a much larger loss than it may have a couple months ago—figures to hurt the Ducks. A lot of this ranking comes from the credibility Mario Cristobal established in winning the Pac-12 last year, as well as a lack of faith in the rest of the Conference.

15. BYU (7-0)

16. Iowa State (4-2)

17. Oklahoma (4-2)

18. Texas (4-2)

19. Auburn (4-2)

20. Northwestern (2-0)

21. Cal (0-0)

The Bears were the best Pac-12 team to not get hit by opt outs at all after Camryn Bynum came back. They have some big pieces (namely Evan Weaver) to replace on defense, though the offense doesn’t have much to write home about, other than one of the few proven Conference QBs in Chase Garbers. Yet, under Justin Wilcox, it feels like Cal is a sleeper to win the Pac-12, or at least be a Top 25 team.

22. Washington (0-0)

Washington lost Chris Petersen, first and foremost, along with a few players early to the draft who could have come back, and two defensive stars in Levi Onwuzurike and Joe Tryon to opt outs. Consequently, everyone has sold their stock. They still seem like a borderline Top 25 to me and, at worst, should have a good defense, as well as an overall roster with just about as much talent as any other Pac-12 team, other than USC. Quarterback remains a huge question mark.

23. Utah (0-0)

Utah feels like a perennial Top 25 team and South contender as long as Kyle Whittingham is coaching. The Utes have major rebuilding to do on defense and in their offensive backfield where Tyler Huntley and Zack Moss are finally gone. The offensive line, after struggling with growing pains last year, could actually be their strength and be the best unit in the Conference by the end of the year. I have faith they’ll be able to slide in new talent on defense to be close to where they have been in recent years.

24. Arizona State (0-0)

The talk of the Sun Devils focuses on Jayden Daniels and Herm Edwards and there’s a lot to like there, especially with the lack of other proven playmakers at QB in the conference. However, the Sun Devil defense is the wild card for me. They have about a half a dozen players who I could easily see being Second-Team All-Pac-12-level players, if they can progress just a little more off what they did in 2020.