College Football Preseason Top 25

It is the official end of summer and we button up the chinstraps and begin anew kicking off the color and pageantry of NCAA college football for another season. There will be plenty of stories throughout the year, plenty of surprises and certainly, a heavy dose of colossal contests and mind boggling upsets.

To get you properly set up for the season, I present you with my preseason Top 25 and some commentary on each team. In addition, I have selected a preseason All America Team for your review. Unfortunately, The Gators are the team to beat.

PRESEASON TOP 25

1. Florida
The Fighting Gators, defending national champions, return their entire defense, which is unheard of, along with Heisman Trophy winning signal caller Tim Tebow. The Gators have exceptional depth, a stable of speedy backs, a fleet footed receiving core and a pair of pass rushing bookends. Tennessee is running at the mouth, but the Vols have no chance. A road tilt at LSU could prove hazardous while a rivalry game at home against up and coming FSU might be something if it were not in Gainesville. A favorable schedule a stacked depth chart of talent sends Florida right back to the title game.

2. Texas
Behind signal caller Colt McCoy, a Heisman contender to be sure, the 'Horns will be potent offensively. Up front, Texas returns more offensive starts on the line than any other top 25 team, and if you can protect an experienced gunslinger like McCoy, points will come a plenty. It is one the defensive side of the ball where the Longhorn fortunes will be told. DE Sergio Kindle will lead this group and there is experience with the backers and the backfield. The schedule is favorable.

3. Oklahoma
Heisman winner Sam Bradford will lead an experienced group of backs and receivers, including running back DeMarco Murray. The Sooners have quite a weapon in tight end Jermaine Gresham, but up front, the losses are significant as only one starter returns. DT Gerald McCoy will anchor the line and Ryan Reynolds returns at linebacker. OU will be right there, but for them to get the title, it will be on Bradfords arm.

4. Southern Cal
The Trojans have arguably the most talent of anyone in the country, and boy howdy are they physical. They remind you of one of the old Big Ten or Big Eight teams. In addition, they are very fast and play that way, stretching the field. But, that may be the problem in 2009. USC will have an inexperienced quarterback for the first time in moons on top of losing their quarterbacks Coach. Rut row! Only 3 defensive starter return, and although the talent level is high, these numbers a national title team do not make.

5. Louisiana State
A scout told ESPN Radio's Beano Cook that no team has more NFL talent on hand than the Tigers of LSU. Believe it! However, is there a game winning signal caller on hand? For most of 2008, the answer was no. But, in destroying a good Georgia Tech team in the Peach Bowl, Jordan Jefferson played brilliantly, and if this what we can expect from him; lookout! The defense is always stout and up front are led by Charles Alexander. LSU is a team to watch as they host Florida.

6. Oklahoma State
Not since the triplets were roaming around Lincoln has a group of offensive weapons like this been on hand. Cowboy dual quarterback Zac Robinson, who in any other year might be first team All American, directs an offense with award candidates running back Kendall Hunter and wideout Dez Bryan. They will be tough to stop, so the defensive prowess of Okie State may not matter. But, in actual fact, it will be improved. I was just about the only one to have Oklahoma State ranked in my preseason poll a year ago, and now everyone has them in the top ten. For good reason, as they could go even farther than you think.

7. Ole Miss
The Rebels, under new Coach Houston Nutt, snuck up on everyone in 2008, including Florida at Gainesville. Texas Tech did not like it either int he Cotton Bowl. No sneaking up in '09, but Ole Miss won't need to. They have a great signal caller in Jevon Snead and a very solid offensive line. The are strong and tough on defense, led by DE Greg Hardy. Mississippi gets both Alabama and LSU at home, should win the rest, and could be BCS bound.

8. Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech hopes to break the ACC streak of not winning big BCS games, and with the eighteen starters they return, this could be the year. Standout RB Darrell Evans was lost in the opening days of camp to a knee injury, and that hurts. But, dynamic quarterback Tyrod Taylor is special and finds a way to get it done, land or air or both. The lunch bucket defense of the Hokies is always dominant, and 2009 will not be any different. Va. Tech is very good, but an opening game win over Alabama could springboard the Hokies on to bigger things.

9. Ohio State
Ohio State had a boatload of talent, and quarterback Terrelle Pryor is ready to emerge into the great one he is expected to be. The Bucks return three up front, so that will help a green running game. The defensive line is a strength for OSU, but there are few starters returning elsewhere. Ohio State is not as strong as years past, but if they can somehow beat USC at home, they could run the table. If they go undefeated and make the title game, they will get killed.

10. Oregon
Oregon sent a telegram on their arrival in the Holiday Bowl a year ago. The Ducks are tough, got quite a bit of speed and play vertical. Running back Legarrett Blount is an honors candidate. Defensively, they attack the offense and are led in the backfield by Walter Thurmond. The one unstable thing to consider with the Ducks is timing of a coaching change, which is expected to be business as usual. It usually isn't.

11. Alabama
It seemed Alabama arrived back on the national stage in 2008 a year early. And while the Tide are stacked and primed for a national title run, they must replace the most important player on the field, the quarterback. With that in mind, Bama's strength is on defense, where nose tackle Terrance Cody and roaming linebacker Rolando McClain. Bama has an honors candidate on the offensive line, and if the quarterback play becomes a strength, they could challenge for the west in the SEC.


12. Florida State
Florida State is on the way back, but is really a year away from being really good. In '09, FSU will be very strong offensively returning quarterback Christian Ponder and the entire offensive line. The 'Noles are high on running back Jermaine Thomas there are some quality wideouts. Mickey Andrews has a young group on defense, particularly on the line. Dekoda Watson anchors the backers and Partick Robinson is a superb corner. But it all begins up front for Seminoles, so they will have to come together quickly. The schedule is very rough, ending at Florida.

13. Penn State
The Lions were on their way a year ago and then got punted at Iowa. That is ok since they had no business anywhere near the title game. Penn State got absolutely blasted by So. Cal in the Rose Bowl. The Lions return signal caller Darryl Clark, who is solid and running back Evan Royster, so they hope to run and bring the new receivers on slowly. Penn State is always stout defensively and will be so again. There is simply not enough firepower for this team to be a national contender.

14. California
Optimism is high in Berkley as outstanding running back Jahvid Best returns for his junior season after rushing for over 8 yards per carry in 2008. The entire front on defense returns so is the is the year Cal can unseat USC in the PAC-10? A three game stretch at Oregon, hosting USC and at UCLA will tell the tale for Cal.

15. North Carolina
If you are looking for a sleeper, look no further than Butch Davis and Tar Heels. They had their moments a year ago, but on offense the return of signal caller T. J. Yates will help UNC light up the scoreboard. UNC lost some fantastic wideouts but they do have weapons offensively. The entire front on defense returns, led my Marvin Austin, who is ready for a breakout year. UNC returns some other quality players on the stop side, so while they seem poised to put up points, a stout defensive unit may lead UNC to their best season in many a moon.

16. Georgia Tech
Paul Johnson came to Atlanta and brought with him his wishbone offense and immediately created problems for opposing defensive coordinators. Tech returns 18 starters, including quarterback Josh Nesbitt and running back Jonathan Dwyer. They will continue to be tough to deal with on offense. Tech lost some talent up front on the defensive side, but all the linebackers and defensive backs return, so look for improvement on the stop side. Georgia Tech could be ranked higher, but the blasting they took at the hands of LSU in the bowl game remains fresh in the mind of me, and certainly them.

17. Texas Christian
Always an attacking defensive unit, led by end Jerry Hughes, the Horned Frogs will be aggressively be in every game. The Owls return their quarterback but have some holes on the defensive side. Intriguing games at Virgina and at Clemson will set the tone.

18. Boise State
Boise State is poised to be a BCS team, and it begins immediately as they host on the blue turf the Quack Attack right out of the gate. Get that done and it is clear sailing for the Broncos. It seems they are not quite as good this year as in the recent past but they could well be undefeated.

19. Georgia
The loss of quarterback Matt Stafford is huge for the Bulldogs. Although they Dawgs have a gem in receiver A. J. Greene, they lost most of the rest of their proven firepower. Georgia has been somewhat suspect on defense and will have to step it up for the Dawgs to contend with Florida. Tackle Gene Atkins leads the group. UGA is at Oklahoma State to start, and that could get ugly and mentally damage the Dawgs.

20. Nebraska
Nebraska is a year away from really challenging in the Big 12, but they can and will win the north division. The 'Huskers will rely on and experienced offensive line and I-back Roy Helu as they break in a new signal caller in Zac Lee. It is defensively, coach Pelini's calling card, where Nebraska will be improved behind a very disruptive tackle in Ndamukong Suh. A young but athletic linebacking core and an experienced backfield will bring back the Blackshirt lore. If the quarterback situation becomes a strength, then look out!

21. Brigham Young
Max Hall is an outstanding signal caller for Brigham Young, and with utility back Harvey Unga, the Cougars will lite up the scoreboard. Sackmaster end Jan Jorgenson leads the defensive unit. The Cougars start with a neutral game versus Oklahoma and host Florida State two weeks later. Got to give them credit, they are not ducking anyone.

22. Utah
Utah had a tremendous season a year ago, stomping Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. But the UTes have suffered signinficant losses in terms of personnel. The have built a solid base, but it will be too tough a task to be BCS bound again. Utah does not have any games it cannot win on the schedule, but they are not the team they were a year ago.

23. Kansas
Behind quarterback Todd Reesing and wideout Dezmon Briscoe, the Jayhawks will be quite prolific on offense. It is stopping folks where KU will be questionable as they lose the entire linebacking core and lack any dynamic playmakers. Coach Mangino has brought in some JUCO recruits in an effort to shore up this side of the ball.

24. Michigan State
The Spartans appear to be on the right track under Coach Mark Dantanio and with 17 starters back, MSU could be in position to challenge for the Big Ten. Unfortunately, the Spartans will have a new quarterback and must replace Javon Ringer at running back. Greg Jones anchors the defense.

25. Notre Dame
Jimmy Clausen had a coming out party in the Irish bowl victory over Hawaii and that has got everyone fired up for 2009. Notre Dame will be better but it is a very favorable schedule that could leave the Irish with 10 or more wins. Althought here are several holes, the is talent spinkled around, particularly on offense. Anything worse than 9-3 would be a major disappointment.

POSSIBLE BREAKTHROUGHS: Oregon State, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Texas Tech, West Virginia, Miami, Wisconsin, Wake Forest, Iowa, South Florida, N.C. State and Rutgers.

ALL AMERICA TEAM

OFFENSE

WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
WR Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas
WR Julio Jones, Alabama
TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
OL Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
OL Rodney Hudson, Florida State
OL Kris Dowd, Southern Cal
OL Mike Johnson, Alabama
OL Ciron Black, LSU
QB Tim Tebow, Florida
RB Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
RB Jahvid Best, California
RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech

DEFENSE

DE Jerry Hughes, Texas Christian
DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
DT Terrance Cody, Alabama
DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
DE Sergio Kindle, Texas
OLB Rolando McClain, Alabama
ILB Brandon Spikes, Florida
ILB Joe Pawelek, Baylor
OLB Eric Norwood, So. Carolina
DB Eric Berry, Tennessee
DB Taylor Mays, Southern Cal
DB Jordan Lake, Baylor
DB Walter Thurmond III, Oregon
DB Patrick Robinson, Florida State

K Alex Henery, Nebraska
P Derrek Epperson, Baylor
KR Brandon James, Florida
NC David Oku, Tennessee