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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BRONX, NY – DECEMBER 27: Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Rachad Wildgoose (5) prior to the 2018 New Era Pinstripe Bowl between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Miami Hurricanes on December 27, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Key returners: Alex Hornibrook, Jonathan Taylor, A.J. Taylor, Danny Davis, Zack Baun, Scott Nelson
Key departures: T.J. Edwards, David Edwards, Andrew Van Ginkel, Ryan Connelly
Coaching change: None

For Wisconsin, an 8-5 season is nothing more than a disappointment. It was one of those seasons that a Big Ten West title would have been considered a lock. Iowa was slightly above average, Northwestern was in that same boat and Wisconsin still couldn’t win the division.

Alex Hornibrook had a tough year which concluded with concussion issues which held him out of the bowl game and there’s a chance he could find himself in a serious quarterback battle with incoming freshman Graham Mertz in 2019. The talented incoming quarterback is ranked the No. 102 overall recruit and fourth-best pro-style quarterback in the class, per 247Sports.

Paul Chryst’s team will be right up there with Northwestern, Iowa and even Nebraska next season as Big Ten West a serious Big Ten West contender.

The Badgers are also returning one of the best running backs in college football in Jonathan Taylor who just rushed for 2,194 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore. He could be a serious Heisman contender as long as the Badgers return to 10-plus win form.

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