TCU, Baylor among primary pursuers of Ohio State in CFP race

The preseason pecking orders are set for college football teams in both The Associated Press and the coaches polls, with TCU and Baylor among the contenders to crack the College Football Playoff’s four-team bracket that will determine the national champion.

TCU opened at No. 2 in Sunday’s preseason AP poll, with Baylor at No. 4. For both schools, it marks their highest-ever starting points in any set of AP preseason football rankings. The schools received the same starting positions in the preseason coaches poll released in July. They meet Nov. 27 in Fort Worth.

Ohio State, the defending national champion, opened at No. 1 and received all 61 first-place votes from AP pollsters. The rest of the top 10, in order, included TCU, Alabama, Baylor, Michigan State, Auburn, Oregon, Southern California, Georgia and Florida State.

TCU and Baylor head into the season as the only ranked teams from the Lone Star State. Other regional schools to crack the poll were No. 14 LSU, No. 18 Arkansas and No. 19 Oklahoma.

But as fans of both TCU and Baylor learned last season, lofty rankings in November — let alone August — mean nothing when members of the CFP selection committee convene to finalize and announce their bracket. Despite sharing the 2014 Big 12 title, the league co-champs finished fifth (Baylor) and sixth (TCU) in last year’s final CFP rankings and were omitted from the playoff field.

Participants in this year’s playoff bracket will be announced Dec. 6, with teams that surfaced Sunday in the AP’s preseason Top 25 among the primary candidates to track when games begin Sept. 3.

As the 128 FBS schools wind down drills, here are some notable nuggets, names and storylines to consider heading into the season openers:

Top national games to track

In this year’s CFP race, these 10 regular-season games should help CFP committee members thin the field while setting their four-team bracket:

Sept. 7: Ohio State at Virginia Tech

Sept. 12: Oregon at Michigan State

Oct. 3: Alabama at Georgia

Oct. 17: Southern California at Notre Dame

Nov. 7: Florida State at Clemson

Nov. 21: Michigan State at Ohio State

Nov. 21: TCU at Oklahoma

Nov. 21: Southern California at Oregon

Nov. 27: Baylor at TCU

Nov. 28: Alabama at Auburn

Strong season in DFW

A look at the best regular-season college games to be played in Dallas-Fort Worth this season:

Sept. 4: Baylor at SMU

Sept. 5: Alabama vs. Wisconsin, Arlington (AT&T Stadium)

Sept. 19: SMU at TCU

Sept. 27: Texas A&M vs. Arkansas, Arlington (AT&T Stadium)

Oct. 3: Texas at TCU

Oct. 3: Baylor vs. Texas Tech, Arlington (AT&T Stadium)

Oct. 10: Texas vs. Oklahoma, Dallas (Cotton Bowl)

Nov. 27: Baylor at TCU

Impact additions

A look at 10 newcomers to their schools, or key returnees who did not play during the 2014 season, who could play major roles in shaping this year’s CFP national title race:

Vernon Adams, Oregon QB: Transfer from Eastern Washington threw for 10,438 yards at FCS levels over the past three seasons and projects to replace Heisman winner Marcus Mariota as the Ducks’ starter.

John Chavis, Texas A&M defensive coordinator: Capable of elevating a young Aggies defense in the same manner as past units at LSU and Tennessee. With A&M’s offense, a little defensive improvement could mean a lot.

Jim Harbaugh, Michigan coach: Turnaround efforts at his alma mater will not make Michigan a 2015 playoff contender. But the Wolverines could improve enough to keep others out of the CFP title mix.

Will Muschamp, Auburn defensive coordinator: Former Florida coach is back in his element, calling defenses for an SEC contender. Combined with coach Gus Malzahn’s offensive acumen, it’s a strong 1-2 punch.

Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma offensive coordinator: Record-setting play caller from East Carolina has more talent to work with at OU and knows how to utilize fresh weapons such as RB Joe Mixon and QB Baker Mayfield.

Carl Lawson, Auburn DE: One of the team’s top pass rushers in 2013, Lawson missed last season with a torn ACL. His return gives the Tigers a much-needed boost in one of last season’s deficient areas.

Braxton Miller, Ohio State WR/QB: Former Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year at quarterback (2012-13) moves to WR after missing last year with shoulder surgery. Miller’s legs, speed and instincts remain top notch.

Bralon Addison, Oregon WR: Speedy receiver from suburban Houston missed last season with a torn ACL after grabbing 61 passes for 890 yards in 2013. His return adds another big-play weapon to a gifted Ducks’ arsenal.

Everett Golson, Florida State QB: Transfer from Notre Dame led the Irish to the BCS national title game to cap the 2012 season and will spend his final season as Jameis Winston’s replacement with the Seminoles.

Mike Sanford, Notre Dame offensive coordinator: Clever play caller inherits a loaded offense on a team with CFP title hopes after helping Boise State average 494.3 yards and 39.7 points per game last season.

Fabulous Freshmen at Big 12 schools

A look at 10 freshmen worth tracking in their debut seasons at Big 12 schools:

Malik Jefferson, Texas LB: Five-star signee enrolled in January, starred in the spring game and projects as a Newcomer of the Year candidate. Expect him to shoulder a huge role in rebuilt Longhorns defense.

Joe Mixon, Oklahoma RB: Five-star signee sat out last season because of off-field issues but joins Samaje Perine as part of a stellar young backfield tandem if a rebuilt offensive line clears enough holes.

Mike Freeze, TCU LB: An early enrollee who shined during spring drills, Freeeze should help fill the productivity void left by the departures of Paul Dawson and Marcus Mallett in the Frogs’ 4-2-5 alignment.

Alex Delton, Kansas State QB: Wildcats coach Bill Snyder rarely gushes about freshman quarterbacks but he’s compared Delton to former K-State star Ell Roberson and included him in the mix of possible starters.

Ishmael Zamora, Baylor WR: In a receiver corps loaded with undersized speedsters, Zamora (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) offers a tall, talented target for new QB Seth Russell.

Breiden Fehoko, Texas Tech DT: The team’s most heralded incoming freshman enrolled in January, took part in spring drills and should be a force in the middle of a defensive line that can use his playmaking skills.

Mike Warren, Iowa State RB: The redshirt freshman from Lawton, Okla. (6-foot, 196 pounds) should add some buzz to a listless ground attack that averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last season.

Jerrod Heard, Texas QB: Longhorns coaches say the redshirt freshman will split snaps with incumbent Tyrone Swoops in the opener against Notre Dame. The off-season move to a spread offense fits his skill set.

Tyler Patrick, Kansas WR: Redshirt freshman from The Woodlands showed some flashes in the team’s spring game (4 catches, 43 yards) and should become a vital cog in the passing game as the season unfolds.

Keenen Brown, Oklahoma State WR: Redshirt freshman from Houston turned down offers from Oregon, LSU and Florida to be one of tallest targets (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) in the Cowboys’ receiver corps.

This story was originally published August 23, 2015 at 4:40 PM with the headline "TCU, Baylor among primary pursuers of Ohio State in CFP race."