Phil Steele, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Predicting 11-25 of preseason AP poll

College Football, UCLA Bruins, Ole Miss Rebels, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, LSU Tigers, Clemson Tigers, Arizona State Sun Devils, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Wisconsin Badgers, Missouri Tigers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Oklahoma Sooners, Boise State Broncos, Tennessee Volunteers, Stanford Cardinal

In February, I took an early look at predicting the preseason AP top 10 for 2015. Below, I've continued the predictions with Nos. 11-25, taking into account -- among other factors -- returning starters, bowl game performance and 2014 postseason ranking.

Before I get to the rankings, it's important to make the point that this is not my preseason 11-25 for 2014, but rather what I am projecting the AP poll's 11-25 will look like to start the season.

To recap, here's my predicted top 10 for the 2015 AP preseason poll:

1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2. TCU Horned Frogs
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Baylor Bears
5. Oregon Ducks
6. Michigan State Spartans
7. USC Trojans
8. Florida State Seminoles
9. Auburn Tigers
10. Georgia Bulldogs

Now, here's how I predict the preseason AP poll's 11-25 will look later this summer:


11. UCLA Bruins

The first thing that comes to mind as to why UCLA belongs here is coach Jim Mora. Prior to his arrival, the Bruins went through a stretch of six seasons in which they averaged 5.7 wins per season. Since taking over the Bruins, he has averaged 9.7 wins per year, including back-to-back 10-win seasons. While the Bruins lose quarterback Brett Hundley, they return 18 starters including a 1,500-yard rusher, seven of their top eight receivers and 13 of their top 17 tacklers.


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