Florida State finished the season ranked No. 1 in the national rankings, and in order to stay there it will need to continue to recruit well and replace the pieces that helped it win a national championship.
The 2014 Florida State recruiting class
ranks No. 5 according to 247Sports with Alabama ranked No. 1. Of the 12 BCS Bowl teams, nine rank in the top 25, but only four are in the top 10.
Making it back to the BCS Bowl Games will thus depend on how well teams can replace the talent they lose to graduation. Here's a look at each of the 12 BCS teams focusing on who they lose and who they gain on signing day.
Be sure to head to the
MaxPreps Signing Day Home for the latest updates on the nation's top football recruits.
Signing Day: Who's In, Who's Out for BCS Teams
Michigan StateComplete list of 2014 commitsThe Spartans finished the season 13-1 overall, defeating Stanford 24-20 in the Rose Bowl.
Losses: The Spartans won't lose a huge amount of players to the NFL draft, however the secondary will be hurt with the departure of potential first-round pick cornerback Darqueze Dennard and safety Isaiah Lewis. Linebackers Max Bullough and Denicos Allen will also need replacing.
Gains: The Spartans replace on Bullough with another as
Byron Bullough will step in at linebacker for brother Max. Michigan State also landed a talented offensive lineman in
Brian Allen of
Hinsdale Central (Ill.) and bolstered the secondary with
Vayante' Copeland of
Thurgood Marshall (Dayton, Ohio). Defensive tackle
Enoch Smith Jr. of
Mount Carmel (Chicago) will provide some size up front.
StanfordComplete list of 2014 commitsThe Cardinal finished 11-3, falling to Michigan State 24-20 in the Rose Bowl.
Losses: The Cardinal could lose as many as eight players to the NFL draft, headlined by guard David Yankey, defensive end Trent Murphy, free safety Ed Reynolds, inside linebacker Shayne Skov and defensive end Josh Mauro.
Gains: Stanford will restock at defensive end with
Uriah Dillion Leiataua of
Dominguez (Compton, Calif.) and
Harrison Phillips of
Millard West (Omaha, Neb.).
Bobby Okereke of
Foothill (Santa Ana, Calif.) is the top linebacker prospect while running back
Christian McCaffrey of
Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and quarterback
Keller Chryst of
Palo Alto (Palo Alto, Calif.) are the top incoming skill position players.
BaylorComplete list of 2014 commitsThe Bears ended the year 11-2 after falling to Central Florida 52-42 in the Fiesta Bowl
Losses: The key losses for the Bears occur on the offensive line, and the offensive and defensive backfields. Guard Cyril Richardson is projected to go in the first round while running back Lache Seastrunk is a possible third-round pick. Safety Ahmad Dixon is also a possible third rounder.
Gains: The Bears stay instate with 24 recruits coming from Texas. Among those on the list include defensive back
Davion Hall of
Liberty-Eylau (Texarkana, Texas), tight end
Blake Mahon of
Coppell (Texas) and
Josh Malin of
Steele (Cibolo, Texas).
Central FloridaComplete list of 2014 commitsThe Knights captured the Fiesta Bowl with a 52-42 win over Baylor and finished the year with a 12-1 record.
Losses: The Knights likely only lose one player to the NFL draft, but he's a good one. Quarterback Blake Bortles could potentially be the top quarterback drafted and some mock drafts have him as the No. 1 player selected in the entire draft. Another possible draft pick is running back Storm Johnson.
Gains: The Knights will try to replenish the quarterback position with the likes of
Chris Davis Jr. of
Oviedo (Fla.),
Tyler Harris of
Pierce County (Blackshear, Ga.) and
Mac Loudermilk of
Valdosta (Ga.).
AlabamaComplete list of 2014 commitsRanked No. 1 much of the season, Alabama lost its final two games, including a 45-31 loss to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.
Losses: The Crimson Tide could have as many as 12 players drafted in the 2014 NFL draft, including three in the first round. Losses include linebacker C.J. Mosley, offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio and safety Hasean Clinton-Dix. Coach Nick Saban will also need to find a new signal caller as quarterback A.J. McCarron is expected to go somewhere in the third or fourth round.
Gains: The offensive line gets possibly the nation's top prospect in
Cameron Robinson of
West Monroe (La.). Replacing Mosley will be
Christian Miller of
Spring Valley (Columbia, S.C.), while All-Americans
Marlon Humphrey of
Hoover (Hoover, Ala.) and defensive end
Da'shawn Hand of
Woodbridge (Va.) give Alabama two of the top recruits at their positions.
OklahomaComplete list of 2014 commitsThe Sooners ended the year with an 11-2 record, including a 45-31 win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Losses: The Sooners are keeping most of their talent, although wide receiver Jalen Saunders, cornerback Aaron Colvin, center Gabe Ikard and fullback Trey Millard could be drafted in the late rounds.
Gains: The Sooners traveled to California to pluck away three of that state's top recruits, including running back
Joe Mixon of
Freedom (Oakley, Calif.), linebacker
Curtis Bolton of
Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.) and receiver
Dallis Todd of
La Mirada (Calif.). Six-foot-six receiver
Mark Andrews of
Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) will provide a large target.
Oklahoma State
Complete list of 2014 commitsThe Cowboys finished the season 10-3 and ended the year with a 41-31 loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.
Losses: The big loss is at cornerback, where Justin Gilbert could go in the first round. The Cowboys must also replace wide receivers Josh Stewart and Tracy Moore, along with defensive tackle Calvin Barnett.
Gains: The Cowboys have four receivers committed, three of them from Texas:
James Washington of
Stamford,
Chris Lacy of
DeSoto and
Keenen Brown of
Alief Taylor (Houston). Oklahoma State also got its quarterback of the future in
Mason Rudolph of
Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.).
Juwan Offray of
Karr (New Orleans) is the top recruit in the secondary.
Devon Thomas of
Broken Arrow (Okla.) will provide some speed in the backfield.
MissouriComplete list of 2014 commitsEnded the year ranked No. 5 after defeating Oklahoma State 41-31 in the Cotton Bowl.
Losses: Finding pass rushers will be a key for the Tigers, who must replace defensive ends Kony Ealy and Michael Sam. Wide receiver is also a priority with the loss of L'Damian Washington and Marcus Lucas.
Gains: Wide receiver
Darnell Green-Beckham is set to become a Tiger, joining brother Dorial who is already on the roster. Missouri has 28 players committed including defensive ends
Grant Jones of
Hickman (Columbia, Mo.) and
Walter Brady of
Florence (Ala.).
Ohio StateComplete list of 2014 commitsOhio State lost its final two games of the season, including a 40-35 setback to Clemson in the Orange Bowl, to finish 12-2.
Losses: The Buckeyes have four players who could go in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. They include linebacker Ryan Shazier, cornerback Bradley Roby, running back Carlos Hyde and offensive tackle Jack Mewhort.
Gains: The Buckeyes got a pair of great linebackers in All-Americans
Dante Booker of
St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) and
Raekwon McMillan of
Liberty County (Hinesville, Ga.). They also got the top player in Indiana with running back
Terry McLaurin of
Indianapolis Cathedral. Homegrown
Marshon Lattimore of
Glenville (Cleveland) could provide a spark at receiver or defensive back.
ClemsonComplete list of 2014 commitsFinished the season with an 11-2 record and a 40-35 win over Ohio State in the Orange Bowl.
Losses: Finding replacements at wide receiver will be crucial for the Tigers as both Sammy Watkins, a potential high first-round draft pick, and Martavis Bryant are both leaving early for the NFL. Clemson must also replace quarterback Tajh Boyd and offensive lineman Brandon Thomas.
Gains: The Tigers need a replacement for Boyd and they may have gotten him in multi-talented
Deshaun Watson of
Gainesville (Ga.). Wide receiver is also an area of concern and Clemson addressed it by picking up
Demarre Kitt of
Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.).
Auburn
Complete list of 2014 commitsAuburn saw a late lead slip away in the BCS championship game and fell to Florida State, 34-31.
Losses: The Tigers won't lose much from a team that nearly won the national championship. Along the offensive line, potential first-round draft pick Greg Robinson is leaving early as are highly-regarded defensive end Dee Ford and running back Tre Mason.
Gains: The Tigers get an outstanding linebacker in
Tre' Williams of
St. Paul's Episcopal (Mobile, Ala.) while
Racean Thomas of
Oxford (Ala.) shores up the running back position.
Raashed Kennion of
First Coast (Jacksonville, Fla.) fills in for the departure of Ford at defensive end, however the Tigers have yet to account for a replacement for Robinson on the offensive line.
Florida State
Complete list of 2014 commitsThe Seminoles ended the year undefeated at 14-0 and ranked No.1 in the nation after beating Auburn 34-31 in the BCS Championship Game.
Losses: The Seminoles return Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, but the defense will take a hit. Defensive tackle Tim Jernigan is a likely first round pick while cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and linebacker Telvin Smith could each go in the second round. Winston will be without wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who could go in the first round.
Gains: In addition to Winston, the Seminoles picked up a pair of athletic quarterbacks in
Treon Harris of
Washington (Miami) and
J.J. Cosentino of
Central Catholic (Pittsburgh). Winston also got a talented new target in receiver
Travis Rudolph of
Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach, Fla.) and a backfield mate in
Dalvin Cook of
Central (Miami). The Seminoles also bolstered the defense with hometown hero
Jacob Pugh of
Godby (Tallahassee, Fla.) and
Delvin Purifoy of
Pensacola Catholic (Fla.).
