Jan. 12--1. Clemson: The 2016 Tigers will have it all -- the nation's best quarterback in Deshaun Watson, as many as 17 starters returning and the motivation of a stinging loss in the national title game.
2. Stanford: Any team with Christian McCaffrey is to be feared. The intrigue surrounds who will succeed QB Kevin Hogan -- Ryan Burns or Keller Chryst, nephew of Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst.
3. Alabama: So much talent leaves, so much returns. The Crimson Tide lose QB Jake Coker and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry plus defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, who takes over at Georgia.
4. Michigan: DBs Jabrill Peppers and Jourdan Lewis might be the best 1-2 defensive combo in the Big Ten. If QBs John O'Korn or Wilton Speight can ably succeed Jake Rudock, Jim Harbaugh's crew could be lethal.
5. LSU: Leonard Fournette will make a Heisman run behind an experienced line, and new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda will call the signals in the season opener against his former team, Wisconsin, at Lambeau Field.
6. Florida State: The Seminoles return a full boat on offense, all 11 starters. Sean Maguire might be pushed by redshirt freshman Deondre Francois, Rivals.com's top-rated dual-threat QB in the 2015 recruiting class.
7. Oklahoma: The Sooners lose top pass rusher Eric Striker, but the sensational QB-RB combo of Baker Mayfield and Samaje Perine returns. A dangerous opening stretch awaits -- dates against Houston, Ohio State and TCU, all by Oct. 1.
8. Notre Dame: Losing touchdown maker Will Fuller and C.J. Prosise early to the NFL hurts, but this is a talented roster. And the Irish can't get so unlucky with injuries two seasons in a row, right?
9. Iowa: A lousy Rose Bowl performance combined with a weak schedule (no Ohio State or Michigan State; nonconference games versus Miami of Ohio, Iowa State and North Dakota State) could yield lots of wins -- and skepticism.
10. Michigan State: Will the blowout loss to Alabama linger or motivate? Either way, coach Mark Dantonio has a huge challenge because of massive personnel losses, including QB Connor Cook and offensive linemen Jack Allen and Jack Conklin.
