2015 MSU Football Depth Chart

Defensive backs: Safety Kurtis Drummond will be missed, but cornerback Trae Waynes leaves a bigger hole after his decision to leave for the NFL a year early. That position is MSU's main question mark. The safety situation looks solid with RJ Williamson and Montae Nicholson. Demetrious Cox expects to move to cornerback.

StylesGShmooth wrote:Has Waynes already announced he's leaving?

Joe Rexrode wrote:That's possible, though the (very unsurprising) decision of Trae Waynes to leave for the NFL is a hit. Shilique Calhoun is not decided yet and seems to be somewhat conflicted, though even if he projects as a second-round pick I would think it would be hard for him to stay.

StylesGShmooth wrote:Has Waynes already announced he's leaving?

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:Burbridge seems like he has star potential

LooseGoose wrote:

And of course the legend that is Arnett could still appear.  Kings, Shelton, Troup I think there are more options at WR than CB.

InTenSity wrote:
Rexrode brought up Arnett last week in his online chat. Apparently he thinks there is still a chance he turns things around.

InTenSity wrote:
Rexrode brought up Arnett last week in his online chat. Apparently he thinks there is still a chance he turns things around.

LooseGoose wrote:

The talent has always been there, the head hasn't. He's got to know if he wants any shot at the League this is the year he HAS to get it together.

InTenSity wrote:What is it that has kept Arnett off the field? I've heard that he won't block and he doesn't run the right routes.

InTenSity wrote:What is it that has kept Arnett off the field? I've heard that he won't block and he doesn't run the right routes.

Ass Dan wrote:I have a theory: I think cook does a lot of locking on to one guy and forcing him to be a star. During the cotton bowl it was obvious he was going to lippett on a lot of plays where he never bothered reading the defense.

I think burbridge is going to be Cook's guy next year and, because of that, you're going to see little drop off in production from what lippett brought to burbridge.

I remember having the same discussion last year after Bennie Fowler graduated. I think cook is the deciding factor in who's going to be our next big receiver, rather than the guy himself.

Truthfully I would love to see aj troup, burbridge and monty madaris all featured prominently next season. Each guy has shown they can play and make an impact, but how they are incorporated remains to be seen.

The biggest mover in the top 10 was Michigan State’s Connor Cook. Why? Sixty-three percent of Cook’s passing yards came through the air (rather than after the catch), the highest percentage of any Power 5 quarterback with at least 100 passes. In other words, Cook did not rely on yards after the catch for his passing yards.

7. Michigan State Spartans

2014 record: 11-2, 7-1 Big Ten

Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense, 1 special teams

Ohio State should be No. 1 after its dominant Playoff performance and with possibly an even better team coming back. Michigan State's march into the national elite, along with the return of quarterback Connor Cook, merits a place in the top-8. Wisconsin's run of very good, not quite great, has withstood one shocking coaching change. It can withstand another, especially with a coach (Paul Chryst) who knows the landscape and can fix the program's primary hindrance (the passing game).

After those three teams, though, I can't make a strong case for more Big Ten Top 25 representation.

Minnesota is on the borderline. The defense once again should be solid, possibly more than solid. But the passing game remains a huge unknown, especially with tight end Maxx Williams gone. The Gophers have taken significant steps under Jerry Kill, but of their 16 wins the past two seasons, only five came against teams that finished with winning records. They also have yet to win a bowl game under Kill. There is more to prove.

This is the point where Nebraska fans have to catch their breath after screaming, "What about us?!" There are things to like about the Huskers' roster, as well as Mike Riley's ability to develop quarterbacks and wide receivers. But Nebraska lost its best offensive player (Ameer Abdullah) and best defender (Randy Gregory). Add in a coaching change and this isn't a Top 25 team -- yet.

Neither is Penn State, although if the Lions can figure out how to keep quarterback Christian Hackenberg upright, they could soon enter the national rankings.

So what does this mean for the Big Ten? The league is no longer the scourge of college football. Ohio State and Michigan State are considered elite programs by anyone who matters. But league-wide respect likely remains in short supply.

It goes back to the central question: How many Big Ten teams are capable of winning it all in a given season?

Ohio State should be capable every year under Urban Meyer. Michigan State should be in most years under Mark Dantonio. Wisconsin could rise to that level, but hasn't quite gotten there in recent years. Penn State and Nebraska? History is on their side and both programs are recruiting well, but both must clear some hurdles. Kirk Ferentz's Iowa teams have shown elite-level capability at times, but the program needs to regain momentum.

Few doubt Michigan's capability as a championship contender. The history and resources are there, and Michigan seemingly has the the coach in Jim Harbaugh to facilitate a rise. But the Wolverines haven't been a national player since the 2006 season. Opposing coaches are conflicted about how much talent is in the program right now. Is Michigan fast-track-able? We'll soon find out.

Using these factors -- and a few others, such as strength of schedule -- I project the preseason AP top 10 every year at the start of February, which in most cases is six months in advance of the poll's release. Now, as you all know, a lot can happen between February and August, including injuries, suspensions and transfers. But over the past six years, I have been very successful using this method, correctly projecting 56 of 60 teams (93.3 percent), including a perfect 10-for-10 again in 2014.

6. Michigan State Spartans
MSU made my article for the first time last year when I pegged them to be No. 8 in the AP preseason poll, and that is exactly where the Spartans opened up. That comeback win against Baylor in the Cotton Bowl was huge, and they do have 13 returning starters (including QB Connor Cook, which is always a good place to start) and a veteran O-line. The Spartans' defense is always solid and has seven starters back. They have one road game against a team that finished in the AP Top 25, and that¹s a big one (Ohio State). They do get to host Oregon in Week 2 with the Ducks breaking in a new QB.

Now let's turn our attention to 2015. I decided to see what the NCAA method would come up with for toughest opponents faced. Below is a chart of the top 25 teams ranked by highest percentage of opponent wins (or toughest schedule). The opponent wins, losses and win percentage are the NCAA's method -- not mine. Here is your list for 2015 based on opponents' win-loss records from 2014.