Preseason Rankings: The Top 25

 The college football season hasn't fully kicked off, but we already got a thrilling finish in Ireland between two ranked teams. Iowa State converted a gutsy fourth down late in the game to hold off Kansas State 24-21. 

Despite not being able to beat Michigan, Ryan Day kept his job and won a Natty.

Ohio State of course enters as the defending National Championship, which is a disgusting, but true sentence to write. They already have a tough task in Week 1 with the Texas Longhorns and Arch Manning trying to snatch that crown. 8 SEC teams lead the way in the Top 25 followed by 5 Big Ten teams, and 4 ACC and Big 12 teams.

 Here's a look at the Top 25 to begin the season:

25. Army

Last Year Finish (7, 12-2, AAC Champs)

A Quick Note: Never in the 131 years of Army football had they won 12 games until last season.

Prediction: 9-3

24. Memphis

Last Year Finish (10, 11-2)

A Quick Note: A great season for the Tigers was thwarted by their inability to even make the AAC Championship.

Prediction: 10-2

23. Tennessee

Last Year Finish (22, 10-3)

A Quick Note: The Volunteers failed to seize their opportunity in the SEC against a weaker Alabama and Georgia team.

Prediction: 10-2

22. Missouri

Last Year Finish (24, 10-3)

A Quick Note: The Tigers must've paid off whoever makes the SEC schedule this year because they avoid Georgia and Tennessee.

Prediction: 10-2

21. Louisville

Last Year Finish (29, 9-4)

A Quick Note: Jeff Brohm's return brought success, but can they finally take the next step and win the ACC?

Prediction: 9-3

Turnovers doomed Kansas State in their season opener.

20. Kansas State 

Last Year Finish (32, 9-4)

A Quick Note: The Wildcats have now played Iowa State in a blizzard and a rainstorm that literally washed away the field.

Prediction: 9-3

19. South Carolina

Last Year Finish (31, 9-4)

A Quick Note: The Gamecocks will try to make their mark in a competitive SEC, but what else is new.

Prediction: 8-4

18. Ole Miss

Last Year Finish (21, 10-3)

A Quick Note: Lane Kiffin has got to be thinking, what else do I have to do to at least make the SEC Championship let alone win it?

Prediction: 9-3

17. Indiana

Last Year Finish (9, 11-2)

A Quick Note: Curt Cignetti brought Indiana their first double digit win total in school history, but will it be sustainable?

Prediction: 8-4

16. Alabama

Last Year Finish (28, 9-4)

A Quick Note: The Crimson Tide are 0-2 against Michigan in the last two seasons.

Prediction: 9-3

Brian Kelly might be on the hot seat if they don't make a conference championship.

15. LSU

Last Year Finish (30, 9-4)

A Quick Note: The Texas Bowl, ReliaQuest Bowl, and Citrus Bowl, are not the bowls Brian Kelly is getting paid to win.

Prediction: 10-2

14. Iowa State

Last Year Finish (13, 11-3)

A Quick Note: The Cyclones were sloppy in their opener but had enough grit to earn a Big 12 win over Kansas State.

Prediction: 9-3

13. Illinois

Last Year Finish (18, 10-3)

A Quick Note: The Illini have found their footing under Brett Bielema.

Prediction: 9-3

12. Boise State

Last Year Finish (6, 12-2, *MWC Champs)

A Quick Note: There is nothing more constant than the phrase Boise State Broncos, Mountain West Champs. That is until they join the Pac 12 next year.

Prediction: 10-2

11. Clemson

Last Year Finish (26, 10-4, ACC Champs)

A Quick Note: The Tigers are like the Houston Astros, they're out of it early and you think they've finally been vanquished, and then they've won the decision by the time the season ends.

Prediction: 9-3

Carson Beck left success at Georgia for the beach in Miami.

10. Miami

Last Year Finish (19, 10-3)

A Quick Note: The Hurricanes were running away with the ACC and then went full Daniel Jones and crashed into missing out completely.

Prediction: 10-2

9. BYU

Last Year Finish (8, 11-2)

A Quick Note: The Cougars were on cruise control until Big 12 slayers Kansas took away their undefeated season and Arizona State finished off their hopes at a conference championship.

Prediction: 10-2

8. SMU

Last Year Finish (14, 11-3)

A Quick Note: The Mustangs showed that they would have no problem transitioning to a Power 4 conference.

Prediction: 9-3

7. Arizona State

Last Year Finish (11, 11-3, Big 12 Champs)

A Quick Note: Predicted to finish dead last the Sun Devils defied the odds, but now that they're a contender what will happen this season?

Prediction: 8-4

6. Georgia

Last Year Finish (12, 11-3, SEC Champs)

A Quick Note: The Bulldogs stumbled into an SEC Championship, but injuries derailed their chances against Notre Dame.

Prediction: 9-3

The Ducks thrived in the Big Ten.

5. Oregon

Last Year Finish (3, 13-1, Big Ten Championship)

A Quick Note: The Ducks won the Big Ten in their first year but lost the important rematch to Ohio State in the playoffs.

Prediction: 11-1

4. Notre Dame

Last Year Finish (2, 14-2)

A Quick Note: The Fighting Irish are hopefully over all the choking they did in yet another National Championship.

Prediction: 11-1

3. Penn State

Last Year Finish (4, 13-2)

A Quick Note: The Nittany Lions are allowed to be at the top again, but James Franklin is still the coach so expect to see them fail to win another Big Ten title.

Prediction: 11-1

2. Texas

Last Year Finish (5, 13-3)

A Quick Note: Arch Manning and the Longhorns get challenged early but should be rolling by the time they see Georgia.

Prediction: 11-1

1. Ohio State

Last Year Finish (1, 14-2, National Champs)

A Quick Note: I'm really hoping that Rufus fights Brutus again when the Bobcats visit Ohio State in Week 3. Oh, and they play Texas, and they're really good, blah, blah, blah.

Prediction: 11-1