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How good were the seasons? Based on schedules, wins, and how hard the victories were – and how bad the losses were – the 2015 College Football Season Rankings

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2015 College Football Season Rankings: No. 3 Michigan State

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– Explanation of the College Football Season Rankings and the components

3. Michigan State Spartans, Big Ten

Even with the blowout loss to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, and despite the controversial loss to Nebraska, this was still a huge step forward for the program that’s been among the very, very good for the last few seasons.

Winning a second Big Ten title in three years, and beating Ohio State along the way in an epic gutcheck win, made a successful year that went beyond the 38-0 embarrassment to the Crimson Tide. Throw in the all-timer of a finish against Michigan, a thriller against Oregon, and enough good Quality Wins to make this a tough run, and this was as good as a season could be without a national title.

Wins: 12 – at Western Michigan, Oregon, Air Force, Central Michigan, Purdue, at Rutgers, at Michigan, Indiana, Maryland, at Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa (Big Ten Championship)

Losses: at Nebraska, Alabama (Cotton Bowl)

Quality Wins: 8 – at Western Michigan, Oregon, Air Force, Central Michigan, at Michigan, at Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa (Big Ten Championship)

Elite Wins: 3.5 – at Michigan, at Ohio State, Iowa (Big Ten Championship)

Bad Wins: 2 – Purdue, Maryland

Elite Losses: 1 – Alabama (Cotton Bowl)

2015 Season Ranking Score 25.24

2015 Record 12-2
2015 Preseason Prediction 10-2
2015 Preseason Ranking 5
2014 Final Season Ranking 10