Kandy’s fearless forecast of college football’s top 25 in the final year of the BCS and Bowl Predictions.
1. Stanford
Stanford gets the nod over Ohio State to face the SEC champion in the national title game and, by defeating South Carolina and Heisman trophy runner-up Jadeveon Clowney, is the last school to hoist the BCS Championship. Not quite the yawnfest of the BCS Championship game a few years ago, featuring Alabama and LSU, it’s a defensive slugfest and Stanford prevails with under a minute to go, thanks to safety Jordan Richards’s end zone interception of South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson’s pass.
2. Ohio State University
The final BCS Championship game is not held without controversy as Ohio State, for the second consecutive season, went undefeated and left out of the championship game. By virtue of their narrow victory over Oregon in the Rose Bowl the AP votes Ohio State #1 and Stanford #2, closing out the BCS era with split national champions.
3. Alabama
Alabama’s bid for a perfect season and third straight national championship ends in the SEC Championship against South Carolina. They go on to smack Louisville and end Louisville’s perfect season in the Sugar Bowl.
4. Clemson
A season which began with high hopes of a national championship game appearance vanished in the final regular season game when South Carolina ended the perfect season. ACC champions Clemson go into the Orange Bowl where they defeat Big 12 Champion Oklahoma.
5. Oregon
The only two losses for the year are to the number one teams in the nation, Stanford and Ohio State University. And, on both occasions, they lost on a field goal at the end of the game. Yes, they are worthy of being ranked this high.
6. Georgia
Oregon is followed by another two-loss team in our rankings. Georgia blows out 1-loss Michigan in the Cotton Bowl.
7. South Carolina
South Carolina defeats Alabama in the SEC Championship to advance to their first BCS Championship, only to come up 4 points short against Stanford.
8. Texas A & M
Once again the SEC dominates the rankings with Texas A & M the fourth SEC school in the top ten. Johnny Football Manziel finishes third season in the Heisman voting as his off-season, off the field antics turned off many voters, despite a season that surpassed his Heisman winning campaign.
9. Notre Dame
Turning in a campaign that surprised many doubters, Notre Dame does not collapse as many pundits predicted. They cap off their season with a Fiesta Bowl victory over Florida State.
10. Oklahoma State
The Cowboys fail to impress voters despite their impressive record. Their wins are unimpressive and a late season loss to Oklahoma leaves them outside the BCS games.
11. Florida State
Although they do not appear in their conference championship game, FSU is granted an at-large bid to the Fiesta Bowl as the only blemish on its record was an early season loss to ACC Champions Clemson. The season ends on a low though as the Fighting Irish prevail over the Seminoles in the Fiesta Bowl.
12. Louisville
Despite a perfect regular season, led by Heisman trophy winner Teddy Bridgewater (voters love QB’s), the Cardinals are no match for two-time defending BCS Champions Alabama who take out their frustration of falling just short of a third straight title game appearance on Teddy and crew.
13. Oklahoma
Tough schedule for the Sooners doomed their national title hopes with games against Notre Dame, TCU, Texas, Baylor, and Oklahoma State. They win enough to represent the Big 12 Conference in the Orange Bowl but Clemson is too much for the Sooners.
14. UCLA
Coach Jim Mora has restored UCLA to respectability and by defeating cross-town rival USC the Bruins win the recruiting battle of southern California.
15. Michigan
Michigan surprises every one with an amazing season only to have its’ national title hopes end in a crushing loss to Ohio State. Devastated a second time by a BCS at-large bid snub (the bid goes to Notre Dame, based on the virtue of its BCS contract, and despite the fact that Michigan defeated Notre Dame earlier in the year), the Wolverines head into the Cotton Bowl sulking and are blown out by Georgia.
16. LSU
The Tigers turn in a solid season and are early favorites for national champions in 2015.
17. Northwestern
Solid season turned in by the Wildcats with only two losses to conference powers Ohio State and Michigan.
18. USC
Another disappointing season for USC and local recruits are now going to crosstown rival UCLA.
19. Texas
Texas is not even the best team in its own state anymore.
20. Florida
Florida’s team is no match for SEC powers this year, as it falters in big game match ups in the second half of the season with losses to Georgia, South Carolina and FSU.
21. Wisconsin
Tough season for Wisconsin as the Big 10 rates out as one of the toughest conferences this year.
22. Oregon State
Despite losing to a subdivision FCS team for the second consecutive season, Oregon State inexplicably finishes higher in the final tally ahead of Boise State, Nebraska and TCU. We heard Mike Riley is a likeable coach but this is going a little far, don’t you think?
23. Boise State
The Broncos never regain the faith of voters after an opening week loss to Washington and only crack the top 25 in the final vote.
24. Nebraska
Big 10 also-rans, Nebraska regrets leaving the comforts of the Big 12 where they enjoyed decades of success.
25. TCU
Three losses won’t get you invited to many 5-star recruits’ dinner tables and the Horned Frogs never recoup from an opening week loss to LSU.
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