Overview
- USA TODAY’s Big Ten order out of spring lists Ohio State No. 1, Oregon No. 2 and defending champion Indiana No. 3.
- Bleacher Report’s national Top 25 ranks Ohio State No. 1 overall, with Georgia No. 2 and Indiana No. 3.
- Indiana won the title at 16-0 last season and reloaded with transfers Josh Hoover at quarterback and Nick Marsh at receiver, yet it opens spring lists behind Ohio State and Oregon.
- The College Football Playoff now guarantees a berth only to the highest-ranked champion from the non-power conferences, cutting the chance of multiple such teams in the field.
- An NCAA gambling inquiry into Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby clouds his status, and potential replacement Will Hammond is still working back from a knee injury.