We’re less than a day removed from watching Clemson celebrate the national championship inside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., but it’s not too soon to look ahead to 2017. A lot will change between now and the start of next season: Recruits will bolster depth charts and shake up competitions at certain positions, and transfers will change teams hoping to log significant playing time right away. Still, we have a pretty good sense of which programs should be in the running for the College Football Playoff, as well as which programs look more likely to fall short of bowl eligibility and finish near the bottom of their respective leagues. We’ll put out another ranking of teams after spring practice wraps up and then adjust those rankings before Week 1, but for now, here’s how we think the nation’s top squads stack up:
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Until the Crimson Tide stop reloading, we should assume they will do it every year.
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Also considered: Washington State, Boise State, TCU, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame
