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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Texas Christian head coach Gary Patterson prepares to lead his team onto the field against Stanford in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images)
Texas Christian head coach Gary Patterson prepares to lead his team onto the field against Stanford in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images) /

The question marks surrounding TCU heading into the 2018 season may be enough to cause the Horned Frogs to lose out on votes in the preseason Top 25, but they quietly finished 11-3 last season and even though Kenny Hill is gone, talent is returning at the quarterback position.

Gary Patterson is no stranger to winning and he’s officially closer to 200 wins as a head coach than 100 after picking up 11 a season ago. He will conjure up a winning recipe with his roster.

Again the talent level is still high and the defense will be a strength. Back is defensive end Ben Banogu who finished with 8.5 sacks last season and is looking to hit the double-digit mark as a senior. He should lead a solid pass rush. The Horned Frogs ranked first in the Big 12 in every major statistical category, defensively, last season and that should continue in 2018.

Shawn Robinson, a sophomore, should be enough to replace Hill. He passed for 184 yards and three touchdowns in limited time last season but he was a highly-touted recruit a couple of years ago for a reason. He could be the dual-threat that Patterson needs to have another successful offense.

Darius Anderson will lead the way in the backfield after a near-800 yard season and Robinson will have relatively inexperienced targets in the passing game, but he’s been developing a strong connection this offseason.