Some programs have started college football spring practice and most will have done so within the next couple of weeks. With that said, its time for a very early look at the top 25. This will change as we get closer to the season and position battles are completed and players drop off of teams for whatever reason.
1LSU (11-2, 7th last season) – The Tigers return most of the roster and the entire core aside from Steven Ridley who foolishly entered the NFL Draft. As long as LSU gets average quarterback, the difficult schedule won't be a problems with the possible exception of the trip to Alabama.
2Oklahoma (12-2, 8th) – Sooners are loaded again, but where will they blow it this time? It happens every year. The only question is which game and then can a one-loss Oklahoma make it through this season?
3Oregon (12-1, 2nd) – Suffer heavy losses, but get the stars back for another run at the title. The schedule is a whole different animal this year though with Stanford on the road and a neutral site game against LSU to open the season.
4Ohio St. (12-1, 6th) – If the Buckeyes survive the suspensions, they will be better for it down the stretch and in future seasons. The question is if Ohio St. can get through the first six (five with suspended players and the re-adjustment game) undefeated with Miami, Michigan St. and Nebraska all on the schedule.
5Texas A&M (9-4, 14th) – Why so high? The Aggies lost only one game after Ryan Tannehill was inserted as the starter (against LSU) and 19 starters return. I expect the best Texas A&M team since the 1998 Big 12 Champs.
6Alabama (10-3, 11th) – I'm not as sold as every analyst seems to be that Alabama is just going to plug any old inexperienced quarterback and win the national title again. I just don't believe that is happening with consecutive quarterbacks.
7Florida St. (10-4, 17th) – Loads of talent returning and the quarterback position will be just fine without Christian Ponder.
8Boise St. (12-1, 10th) – Only really lost the receivers and some of the line. Kellen Moore and much of the nasty defense return. Might be starting with a slightly lower profile but very much still a title contender.
9Oklahoma St. (11-2, 12th) – With all its draft eligible stars back, the Cowboys should be plenty good, depending on how well the offense works with former coordinator Dana Holgerson in West Virginia.
10Stanford (12-1, 4th) – Offense will be explosive, but I'm not sold on the defense at this point and Owen Maricic will be missed greatly.
11Wisconsin (11-2, 5th) – The Badger running game will be revved up and ready to go with all its guys back. Just beware of a week 3 date with Northern Illinois, not coached by former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doersen.
12South Carolina (9-5, NR) – The SEC East title came a year early because of the down division. This season is actually the year the Gamecocks were built for and it will show, as long as Spurrier doesn't play musical quarterbacks again.
13Missouri (10-3, 22nd) – How does a team lose a first-round early entry quarterback and move up to start the next season? When the team was built for next season and everyone is returning except for said early entry quarterback. If Gabbart had stayed, this team is in the top 5.
14West Virginia (9-4, NR) – Beware the Mountaineers. With Dana Holgerson in the fold calling plays and a favorable Big East schedule, a national title run is possible if West Virginia can pull a home upset of LSU in late September.
15Arkansas (10-3, 13th) – Despite Tyler Wilson's great performance in relief at Auburn, I need to see him against a real passing defense before I anoint this team a contender like some are. The Auburn secondary was a joke until late in the season last year.
16Maryland (9-4, 19th) - Randy Edsall is in an unfortunate position (though he placed himself there). The last coach won nine games and was considered to be boring and stuck at a ceiling so he was forced out. Edsall is much the same in personality and style of offense and has capped out at eight wins for UConn. There will be little to no grace period here, but the team is good enough that it shouldn't matter.
17Florida (8-5, NR) – Gators problems were less lack of talent and more bad coaching, execution and play calling. Will Muschamp and Charlie Weis will get that fixed to some degree, but it will take a couple of years to fully get away from spread offense jitterbug, speedster athletes.
18Penn St. (7-6, NR) – The team was incredibly young last season and Joe Paterno knows it. When they mature next season, JoePa is going to get his one last shot at a national title. As for this season, nine wins and a solid ranking look doable.
19Virginia Tech (11-3, 16th) – The Hokie defense slipped last season while the offense picked up the slack. With a new starter, the defense needs to regain its previous form.
20Notre Dame (8-5, NR) – Quarterback controversy at the Golden Dome: take the super talented guy who put up good numbers but lost and is coming off two major knee surgeries or the guy who lacks the same overall skills but won four games in a row down the stretch. It's a truly tough call.
21TCU (13-0, 3rd) – Frogs will be plenty good, but top ten isn't happening this season, even if it takes until the Boise St. road trip at the end of the year to figure that out.
22Mississippi St. (9-4, 15th) – Bulldogs should be improved again under Dan Mullen. Of course with the East in a little better shape this season, the record could be the same or a game worse.
23Michigan St. (11-2, 18th) – Sparty just isn't that good. Ranked because I would feel bad not ranking an 11-2 team with most of the roster back from a year ago. That said, Spartans were incredibly lucky last season and were steamrolled in the two toughest games (at Iowa and Alabama in the bowl game)
24Nebraska (10-4, 21st) – Who knows what we are going to get out of this offense. It still has no identity. If they find one, look out because the defense will be strong again.
25Louisville (7-6, NR) – Year two is quantum leaf year many times and while this isn't a national title run waiting to happen, the Cardinals could win the Big East if West Virginia falters.
Others Considered (in no certain order)
Auburn (14-0, 1st) – Just lost too much to be ranked in the preseason. Beat Mississippi st. in week two and that will be rectified.
Arizona St. (6-6, NR) – Just didn't accomplish enough to be ranked despite returning virtually the entire team.
Georgia (6-7, NR) – Make or break year for Mark Richt. Georgia could easily win the SEC this season or could be coach hunting in December. Either would please many Georgia fans.
Arizona (7-6, NR) – After a five game losing streak to finish the season, Wildcats must be wondering what they did to deserve the punishment they are about to receive. Rematches with five of the six team Arizona lost to happen before the end of October including another game against bowl opponent Oklahoma St.
USC (8-5, NR) – Trojans still ineligible for post season and still insufferable.
Syracuse (8-5, NR) – Orange reclamation project is in full swing after bowl berth last season. Now the goal is to protect the home field where Syracuse was run over all season.
Georgia Tech (6-7, NR) 0 The Triple-option hit a speed bump last season, but Georgia Tech shouldn't be down to long.
Texas (5-7, NR) – The problems here run much deeper than Florida. Until they prove they have the talent, Texas will remain here (and clubbing UCLA early doesn't count).
San Diego St. (9-4, NR) – Team is fairly loaded for new coach Rocky Long. Would be ranked easily if Brady Hoke had stayed.
NC State (9-4, 20th) – Still unknown exactly what Russell Wilson is doing. Whether its baseball or football, Wolfpack should be decent still
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