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Phil Steele’s projected Top 25 released, SEC dominates again

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Cyrus Jones (5) is congratulated by head coach Nick Saban on an interception during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Cyrus Jones (5) is congratulated by head coach Nick Saban on an interception during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Early college football rankings are always fun to look at, so where does expert Phil Steele have some of last year’s top teams ranked in his projections for 2015?

Heading in to the 2015 college football season, not many people are sure if the Ohio State Buckeyes can repeat as champs even though they’re returning a majority of starters. Basically every preseason ranking has the Buckeyes No. 1 on the list, but that doesn’t mean a national title will be an easy road for the Buckeyes to travel.

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Ohio State will have to play top Big Ten foe Michigan State this season in a rematch of last year’s game that had a playoff-type feel in East Lansing. The Buckeyes came out on top and ran all the way to the national title game, beating Alabama and Oregon on their way there.

Every year, college football expert Phil Steele releases a Top 25 projection of what he thinks will be the ranking at the start of the season. This year, his way too early list has already been released and it is extremely SEC-heavy.

In fact, there are three SEC teams in the top 10: Alabama (3), Auburn (9) and Georgia (10). Outside of the top 10, the SEC has six more teams:

That gives the SEC nine teams in a projected Top 25 for next season — an unthinkable one-third of the ranking is from the Southeastern Conference. I’m not sure if that’s accurate or just more national media bias toward the conference from the south.

The Big 12 has just three teams on the list with TCU (2), Baylor (4) and Oklahoma (22) only. That’s kind of a surprise seeing as many people believe it’s one of the top-three conferences in the nation.

Dec 31, 2014; Atlanta , GA, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Trevone Boykin (2) throws the ball against the Mississippi Rebels in the 2014 Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell/CFA Peach Bowl via USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2014; Atlanta , GA, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Trevone Boykin (2) throws the ball against the Mississippi Rebels in the 2014 Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell/CFA Peach Bowl via USA TODAY Sports /

Not too many surprises on the list, however, except for maybe a Boise State appearance at No. 23 which is interesting to see since it’s losing a top running back from last season and the Broncos no longer have head coach Chris Petersen to lead them.

Florida State will be Jameis Winston-less next season and it doesn’t matter much as they are still in the top 10 at No. 8. Never count out a Jimbo Fisher-coached squad.

Well, that’s it for the most notable teams in Phil Steele’s projections as the SEC is once again the conference to look out for despite being handled in many bowl games a season ago, including the College Football Playoff.

SEC bias strikes again.

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