- Nebraska's season streak ends at 6 Key returnees: QB Deshaun Watson, WR Artavis Scott, RB Wayne Gallman

The skinny: The Yellow Jackets emerged with a surprisingly great year out of the ACC Coastal and should have a team that can repeat with a division title depending on how long it takes the pieces to come together. Chase Goodbread takes a look at why opting out of the 2020 college season wasn't viewed as a feasible option by some 2021 NFL Draft prospects. Alabama (14-1, 7-1 SEC) won its third national title in the past five seasons and fourth since 2009 under head coach Nick Saban by rallying from a 24-21 deficit early in the fourth quarter. Get the latest College Football rankings for the 2020 season. Chase Goodbread explores the potential impact of the decision. The Hawkeyes finished the season with six wins over bowl teams. Reference - … Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman announced on Wednesday that he's opting out of the 2020 college football season to begin his prep for the 2021 NFL Draft. It was the Crimson Tide's 12th consecutive victory, and they did it with help from a most-unlikely hero: junior tight end O.J. The losses to Stanford and Ohio State to end the season don't change what was a tremendous year, though now the Fighting Irish must rebuild following the early NFL departure of five underclassmen.

Below is a graphical representation of how our formula works. 2014 final ranking: 9

Rudock set a program record by throwing for 250 or more yards in five consecutive games. The 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Fournette's 212 yards and four touchdowns weren't surprising, as they helped the sophomore finish the year with 23 scores and an FBS-best 162.75 rushing yards per game.

2014 final ranking: 28 That loss signaled the end for a Spartans senior class that won 36 games over the past three seasons and was led by quarterback Connor Cook, the program's all-time passing leader. 2014 final ranking: 3 Here are the teams that received at least one vote but not enough points to land in the Top 25: Postseason result: Won 45-35 against South Florida in Miami Beach Bowl. Are you a Stathead, too? Big plays did in the Tigers, who allowed four touchdowns of 50 or more yards, including two in the fourth quarter. The skinny: Gus Malzahn hired the hottest candidate of the offseason to fill his defensive coordinator spot in ex-Florida coach Will Muschamp, and that should provide an immediate boost to the Tigers, who will see the return of Lawson off the edge. Key returnees: RB Samaje Perine, WR Sterling Shepard, LB Eric Striker Streeter Lecka/Getty Images. Related: Athlon's 2015 College Football Rankings: No. Oklahoma (11-2, 8-1 Big 12) shook off a midseason loss to rival Texas to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals, providing its conference with its first playoff bid in the new system thanks to a strong run through the league's toughest competition in November.

Injuries knocked TCU (11-2, 7-2 Big 12) out of contention for the conference title and the playoff, but they didn't prevent the Horned Frogs from finishing the season with one of the greatest comebacks in college football history. The Sun Devils are not expected to miss much of a beat after seeing what the backup did in action when he tore up some Pac-12 defenses. It held a fourth-quarter lead on Alabama before falling apart in the final 13 minutes. Key returnees: LB James Burgess, WR James Quick, RB Brandon Radcliff

Postseason result: Won 38-24 against Florida State in Peach Bowl. There's a ton of talent that will eventually make its way to the draft, but it still might not be enough to get out of the loaded SEC West on top.

Find out where your favorite team is ranked in the AP Top 25, Coaches Poll, CBS Sports Ranking, or Playoff Rankings polls and rankings. 2014 final ranking: N/R 2014 final ranking: 4 - Houston makes first appearance in the Top 10 since the 11/27/2011 (67 polls) The Big Ten announced on Wednesday that the conference will begin its football season on the weekend of Oct. 23-24. The skinny: Cook returns to East Lansing for his senior year and could emerge as the top prospect at the quarterback position in the country. But down the stretch, the defense that had shown so much improvement for the Tar Heels fell apart in consecutive losses to end the year. College football scores: Top 25 rankings, results for Week 4 The college football fan's guide to Week 4 games Legendary Kansas running back Gale Sayers dies at 77 Key returnees: QB J.T. The Associated Press began its college football poll on Oct. 19, 1936, and it is now the longest-running poll of those that award national titles at the end of the season. Postseason result: Won 44-28 against Pittsburgh in Military Bowl.