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Notre Dame football: Early 2021 college football top-25 rankings

By Daniel Morrison

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 12: Notre Dame Fighting Irish players face off at the line of scrimmage against the USC Trojans during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 12: Notre Dame Fighting Irish players face off at the line of scrimmage against the USC Trojans during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Army football. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Army football. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: Early 2021 college football top-25 rankings

Receiving Votes

Here are several teams just on the outside of the top-25 rankings, stuck on the outside looking in. All of these teams have an argument to be in the top-25, but they also come with faults and aren’t good enough to be in the top-25 until they prove that they’ve corrected those faults.

So, here are those teams that would be considered to be “receiving votes.”

Auburn

It has been a long, and embarrassing offseason for Auburn, whose defensive coordinator went to boosters and tried to steal the head coaching job before the AD had to put his foot down and make a cultural changing hire in Bryan Harsin. A lot of who Auburn is in 2021 depends on how well new coach Bryan Harsin adapts, which remains to be seen.

He inherited a healthy program at Boise State and never got them to the heights they’d been before him, but they were always good. Auburn certainly has top-25 talent, but they also have turmoil culturally and a quarterback who needs to step up.

Appalachian State

For the first time in years, the class of the Sun Belt won’t come into the season with the best quarterback in the Sun Belt. In fact, they don’t even know who their quarterback is going to be, yet.

Zac Thomas is moving on, and that could make for a transition year. The Mountaineers do still boast the most talented roster in the Sun Belt, but not having a quarterback could be devastating.

Ole Miss

Ole Miss had one of the worst defenses in the country in 2020, but they also had one of the best offenses. There’s really no reason to expect them to take a step back in 2021, at least offensively. If quarterback Matt Corral cuts down on turnovers, he had 14 interceptions, he could easily be a dark horse Heisman contender.

Given the number of transfers this offseason and the presumption of a one time transfer without sitting out a season coming this season, and it’s easy to see their defense taking a jump.

SMU

Under Sonny Dykes the Mustangs have come back to prominence, particularly on offense behind their air raid attack. They’ll need to replace Shane Buechele, who really made the offense run this upcoming season.

Luckily for SMU, they have a new Big 12 transfer coming in, Tanner Mordecai from Oklahoma. Mordecai would have started at Oklahoma in 2020, had it not been for Spencer Rattler. Add in an exciting young running back, Ulysses Bentley IV, and this offense is still going to hum for the Mustangs.

Army

Before Jeff Monken got to West Point in 2014, they had four winning seasons since 1990. In Monken’s seven seasons they have added four more winning seasons. He’s done an incredible job, and coming off a 9-3 campaign and a Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy there are no signs of slowing down. Most of the key players on their roster returns, they’re incredibly disciplined, and will likely win nine or ten games in 2021.

Nevada

Did anyone play as surprising, but as under the radar football as Nevada? The Wolf Pack quietly went 7-2 and beat Tulane down in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. They did miss the Mountain West Championship Game, because of a surprise loss to Hawaii and a loss to conference champion San Jose State.

Unlike San Jose State, Nevada returns their quarterback Carson Strong, who threw 27 touchdowns to 4 interceptions in nine games. He should put up monster numbers next season.

UCLA

Under Chip Kelly, UCLA has shown massive improvement, even if they’re still losing a bunch. Yes, 3-4 is 3-4 and you are what your record says you are, but they lost all four games by one score or less, and they looked like the better team in several of their losses. A lot of talent returns, and you have to expect them to take another step forward.

Memphis

Memphis has questions on offense, make no mistake about it. Brady White, Kenny Gainwell, and Damonte Coxie all need to be replaced. That’s going to be a massive test for Ryan Silverfield, who is in just his second season as the head coach in Memphis.

If he’s able to, however, there is still tons of speed and firepower on this team to keep replicating the recent success that had them in the Cotton Bowl in 2019.

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