Auburn’s Nick Marshall runs for a touchdown during the first half of the NCAA BCS National Championship college football game against Florida State in Pasadena, Calif.On this day a year ago, the BCS title game was the furthest thing from the minds of anyone involved with the Auburn football program. There was a better chance for the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus to catch the Easter Bunny eating Nick Saban’s secret stash of Oatmeal Creme Pies than for anyone in Orange and Blue thinking a new coach could turn the 3-9 mess into a title shot.
For the Florida State Seminoles, losing 11 players to the NFL after the 2012 season meant there were serious holes.
So of course they met Monday night for the national championship. With that in mind, here’s an all-too-early look at the prospective top 25 when college football starts back in August.
• 1. Florida State: The Seminoles are crazy-talented and in truth actually were built for next year, since 12 of their 22 starters are in their second or third year in the program, including redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston, the Heisman Trophy winner. That said, no team has more undecided players who may leave for the NFL than FSU. Still, with Winston returning and the slew of recruits and waves of talent, the Seminoles will be the team to beat next year.
• 2. Stanford: There’s a very real chance that the Cardinal could return 10 starters on each side of the ball. No wonder coach David Shaw repeatedly declined offers from interested NFL teams and any other offer this side of a free football phone with a Sports Illustrated subscription.