College Football Rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 for 2019

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during the second half of the Alabama Crimson Tide's game versus the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 7, 2019, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by David Dennis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 31: Kellen Mond #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies in action against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field on December 31, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Key returners: Kellen Mond, Jhamon Ausbon, Quartney Davis, Camron Buckley, Justin Madubuike
Key departures: Trayveon Williams, Otaro Alaka, Tyrel Dodson, Landis Durham, Kingsley Keke, Daylon Mack, Jace Sternberger
Coaching change: None

Jimbo Fisher shocked the nation a year ago when he left Florida State to take the job at Texas A&M and people were confused with the move because it seemed like a lateral one, at best.

However, the talent he is pooling up in College Station is impressive and he is already molding the Aggies into serious SEC contenders despite a four-loss first season with the program. His Aggies hung tough with Clemson at the beginning of the year and didn’t get dismantled by Alabama — more than most teams can say — and blew the doors off NC State in the Gator Bowl, 52-13.

Two of the Aggies’ four losses came against teams that played for the national title and they weren’t completely out-matched in both games.

Texas A&M may not be as far away from title contention as people think, though replacing Trayveon Williams and Jace Sternberger won’t be easy. Add that to major defensive departures from Otaro Alaka, Tyrel Dodson, Landis Durham, Kingsley Keke and Daylon Mack and you have a team that will need to reload.

Luckily, the third-ranked recruiting class, per 247Sports, can do just that.

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