Early top 25 rankings for 2015 college football season

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DALLAS -- The 2014 season came to a close Monday night as in the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship. Much like they received every first-place vote in the final , the Buckeyes are unanimously seen as the favorite to repeat as champions again in 2015 thanks to a remarkable collection of talent that is sticking around for another shot at the sport's ultimate prize. Throw in the game's best coach in Urban Meyer, and it's easy to see why the program has the makings of something special on a yearly basis.As we turn our attention from one season to the next, here's a look at the contenders on the road to Glendale, Ariz. -- the site of next season's title game.1. Ohio State2014 final ranking: 1Key returnees: QB J.T. Barrett, RB Ezekiel Elliott, DE Joey BosaThe skinny: Head coach Urban Meyer admitted that the Buckeyes were ahead of schedule in getting to, , the national title game, and that's evident in how many key players will return in 2015. The quarterback situation might be the best in the land, and the defense doesn't lose much.2. TCU2014 final ranking: 3Key returnees: QB Trevone Boykin, RB B.J. Catalon, WR Josh DoctsonThe skinny: The Horned Frogs were one of the most improved teams in the country in 2014  Cameron Maybin Jersey and return the bulk of a talented young roster. The offense should continue to be explosive with while the defense will need to replace a few key contributors but should have the best depth in the Big 12. Getting Baylor at home for a revenge game doesn't hurt either.3. Alabama2014 final ranking: 4Key returnees: OL Cam Robinson, RB Derrick Henry, DT A'Shawn RobinsonThe skinny: Nobody brings in more talent into his program than Nick Saban, and 2015 will once again be a reloading year for the Crimson Tide instead of a rebuilding one. Henry should carry the load for the offense while previously anointed QB Jacob Coker takes over under center. Whatever Alabama loses to the NFL and graduation, it typically makes up for in February by signing the best recruiting cla s in the country.4. Baylor2014 final Jose Fernandez Jersey  ranking: 9Key returnees: WR KD Cannon, OL Spencer Drango, DE Shawn OakmanThe skinny: Replacing veterans like QB Bryce Petty won't be easy, but the return the bulk of their lineup and are gunning for a third straight Big 12 title. The offensive line will be deep and nobody in America should have a better receiving corps than what the can throw out on the field. Plus, having a monster pa s rusher like Oakman can help cover up a lot of flaws.5. Michigan State2014 final ranking: 6Key returnees: QB Connor Cook, DL Shilique Calhoun, DL Lawrence ThomasThe skinny: Cook returns to East Lansing for his senior year and could emerge as the top prospect at the quarterback position in the country. Throw in a defense that has always been stingy under Mark Dantonio (but must deal with a number of replacements, including at coordinator) and a balanced offense and the Spartans are very likely the only thing standing in Ohio State's way during Big Ten play next season.6. Oregon2014 final ranking: 2Key returnees: RB Royce Freeman, RB Thomas Tyner, WR Bralon AddisonThe skinny: The Ducks could yo-yo up and down this list based on a few NFL draft decisions, the most notable of which on Wednesday. Even if the illustrious signal-caller doesn't come back, the skill-position core was one of the youngest in the country in 2014 and no team is better at having the next man step up than the one in Eugene. 7. Ole Mi s2014 final ranking: 19Key returnees: DL Robert Nkemdiche, WR Laquon Treadwell, OL Laremy TunsilThe skinny: The Rebels need to find a quarterback to replace the inconsistent Bo Wallace, but the quality recruiting cla ses coach Hugh Freeze has brought to Oxford should be starting to pay big dividends this upcoming season. There's a ton of talent that will eventually make its way to the draft, but it still might not be enough to get JT Riddle Jersey  out of the loaded SEC West on top.8. Florida State2014 final ranking: 5Key returnees: RB Dalvin Cook, DE DeMarcus Walker, DL Lorenzo FeatherstonThe skinny: Jimbo Fisher has been stockpiling talent in Tallaha see, and he'll need some of it to step up after a rash of NFL draft departures. is the biggest blow, but with the Seminoles' schedule and the amount of players who saw time early on, Florida State should be just fine.9. USC2014 final ranking: 17Key returnees: QB Cody Ke sler, WR/DB Adoree' Jackson, LB Su'a CravensThe skinny Miami Marlins Jersey : The Trojans will be as talented as they always have been, but the scholarship limitations that have hampered the program will start to disappear. The young offensive line and underrated Ke sler will be the strengths for a team that will be looking to get USC back to the glory days and into title contention. 10. Clemson2014 final ranking: 12Key returnees: QB Deshaun Watson, WR Artavis Scott, RB Wayne GallmanThe skinny: The Tigers have lost coordinator , but they should still have the best offense in the ACC thanks to the best young quarterback in the country in Watson. The defense loses a ton, though, so it's a good thing coach Dabo Swinney's team can put up some points.11. Auburn2014 final ranking: 22Key returnees: LB Ca sanova McKinzy, DE Carl Lawson, WR D'haquille WilliamsThe skinny: Gus Malzahn hired the hottest candidate of the offseason to fill his , and that should provide an immediate boost to the Tigers, who will see the return of Lawson off the edge. QB JeremyJohnson has earned high praise around the program and should have no i sues taking over for Nick Marshall in an up-tempo attack. 12. Boise State2014 final ranking: 15Key returnees: LB Tanner Vallejo, DT Armand Nance, WR Shane Williams-RhodesThe skinny: The have to replace QB Grant Hedrick and productive tailback Jay Ajayi, but there's no reason to think they won't be the cla s of the Group of Five once again in 2015. Most of the defense returns, as does the entire offensive line, to form a good foundation for coach Bryan Harsin and company.13. Georgia2014 final ranking: 10Key returnees: RB Nick Chubb, RB Sony Michel, LB Leonard FloydThe skinny: Last season's crop of freshmen running backs was one of the best ever, and Chubb might have been the ring-leader as the sensational replacement for Todd Gurley. He'll be leaned on heavily, but the defense has enough pieces to make a serious run in the SEC East. 14. Oklahoma2014 final ranking: N/RKey returnees: RB Samaje Perine, WR Sterling Shepard, LB Eric StrikerThe skinny: All but a handful of players on defense are headed back to Norman, and they should be able to have one of the more active units in the country on that side of the ball. The key question: Can the offense can make a U-turn from a disappointing 2014 to become consistent in moving the ball? There should be an interesting QB battle if nothing else this spring and fall, as Trevor Knight, Cody Thomas and Baker Mayfield compete to start. 15. Arizona State2014 final ranking: 16Key returnees: RB D.J. Foster, QB Mike Bercovici, DT Viliami LatuThe skinny: Bercovici takes over for the departed Taylor Kelly at quarterback. The Sun Devils are not expected to mi s much of a beat after seeing what the backup did in action when he tore up some Deven Marrero Jersey  Pac-12 defenses. Just about all of the defense retur