Fansided

College football rankings 2018: FanSided preseason Top 25

By Connor Muldowney

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs with the football during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs with the football during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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EVANSTON, IL – NOVEMBER 11: Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Clayton Thorson (18) throws the football during the college football game between the against the Northwestern Wildcats and the against the Purdue Boilermakers on November 11, 2017, at Ryan Field in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL – NOVEMBER 11: Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Clayton Thorson (18) throws the football during the college football game between the against the Northwestern Wildcats and the against the Purdue Boilermakers on November 11, 2017, at Ryan Field in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Before you criticize the Wildcats being in the Top 25, take a look at what they did a season ago in the Big Ten as well as what they bring back.

Northwestern returns seven starters to an offense that ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten, including starting quarterback Clayton Thorson. The success of this side of the ball depends on how well he can recover from the brutal knee injury he suffered in the Music City Bowl vs. Kentucky.

Thorson passed for 2,844 yards and 15 touchdowns last season but it’ll be interesting to see just how well he does without Justin Jackson behind him in the backfield. Jeremy Larkin has the tools to be the next star at running back, though.

Pat Fitzgerald’s defense was just the eighth-best in the conference last season, but it did rank No. 34 in the country. It brings back six starters to a unit that allowed just 20 points per game last season — good for 20th nationally. Moreover, sophomore Paddy Fisher has first-team All-Big Ten written all over him.

As a 10-win team a year ago, the Wildcats pushed Wisconsin in the Big Ten West and they look like the biggest threat to do just that again in 2018.