My Top 25: Preseason

A college football top 25 is a very strange thing to compile.  Different people think a top 25 should be different things.  Some people see it as a collection of the 25 best teams.  Others see it as the 25 most deserving teams. Rather than go with one school of thought or the other, my top 25 will be a combination of both theories. 

25. Houston- Behind Casey Keenum, the Cougars have a chance to beat any team in the country.  Their two biggest tests are winnable games against UCLA and Texas Tech.

24. Cincinnati- If Zach Collaros can maintain his play from last year, the Bearcats could avoid a drop-off this year.  Their biggest challenge is a home game versus the Sooners of Oklahoma.

23. Stanford- Andrew Luck had a very strong freshman year and should prevent the Cardinals from missing Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart too much.  Their biggest games are on the road at Oregon and at home versus USC and Oregon State.

22. Mississippi- Jeremiah Massoli instantly makes the Rebels a contender in the exceptionally difficult SEC West.  The Rebels toughest games are on the road versus Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU.

21. West Virginia- Heisman contender Noel Devine should keep the Mountaineers competitive in a wide-open Big East.  Their toughest tests are at LSU and at Pitt.

20. South Carolina- Every year the Gamecocks seem to be on the verge of contending.  This year, Stephen Garcia and the Ole Ball Coach should put all the pieces together and make a run at an SEC East title.  Their hardest games are at home versus Alabama and Arkansas and on the road versus Florida.

19. Penn State- JoPa must replace his starting QB, but the rest of his offense is quite experienced.  Penn State is not an elite Big 10 team, but they should win enough to stay ranked.  The Nittany Lions' most difficult tests are at Alabama, Ohio State, and Iowa.

18. Auburn- Cameron Newton should excel in Gus Mazhalan's offense and between the two of them, Auburn should be back this year.  The Tigers' hardest challenges are at home versus Arkansas and LSU and on the road at Ole Miss and Alabama.

17. Miami- Lots of pollsters have the Hurricanes higher than this, but Jacory Harris can't light up the skies behind a leaky offensive line.  Still, the U should have a strong season and weather a brutal schedule.  The Hurricanes' toughest games are at Ohio State, Pitt, and Georgia and at home against Florida State and Virginia Tech.

16. Pittsburgh- Pitt has a very gifted offense behind super-sophomore Dion Lewis and they should be able to play with any team they face.  The Panthers' biggest games are at home against Miami and West Virginia.

15. Wisconsin- The Badgers have a powerful running game and a massive offensive line.  This team isn't great, but those two things and an easy schedule should keep them in the Top 25.  The Badgers' most difficult challenges are on the road at Iowa and at home against Ohio State.

14. Florida- The post-Tebow era will not be terrible, but Florida needs to get used to a lower standard than they have seen the past few years.  John Brantley is talented, but he is no football Jesus.  The Gators' hardest tests are at home against LSU and on the road against Alabama and Florida State.

13. Virginia Tech- VT has a strong running game and a Bud Foster defense can always expected to produce.  The Hokies' hardest games are at home against Georgia Tech, on the road against Miami, and, of course, against Boise State in Washington DC.

12. Oregon State- This is the year that Quizz Rodgers leads the Beavers to a Pac-10 title.  They play an extremely tough schedule, but this team is talented enough to survive it.  The Beavers' biggest tests are at home versus Boise State, USC, and Oregon and against TCU in Jerryworld.

11. Oklahoma- If Landry Jones plays to his potential, this year could be very special in Norman.  The Big 12 South should be a 2-team battle between Oklahoma and Texas.  The Sooners' toughest tests are at home against Florida State and versus Texas in the Red River Shootout.

10. Iowa- The Hawkeyes return almost everyone from a team that played out of its mind last year.  With a healthy Ricky Stanzi, the sky is the limit for Iowa.  The Hawkeyes most difficult games are at home versus Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.

9. Nebraska- Nebraska came within 1 second of beating Texas last year and that was without any semblance of an offense.  This year's team should have a much better offense and the defense should is rumored to be better, even without Suh.  The Cornhuskers' toughest challenge is at home versus Texas.

8. Georgia Tech- The triple option will reign supreme once again behind the experienced hand of three-year starter Josh Nesbitt and soon-to-be superstar Anthony Allen.  I predict that Allen will end up being a better running back the Jonathon Dwyer.  The Yellow Jackets' most difficult tests are at home versus Miami and on the road at Virginia Tech.

7. Arkansas- Behind the huge arm of Ryan Mallett, the Razorbacks have an excellent shot to win the incredibly deep SEC West.  Their toughest games are at home versus Ole Miss and Alabama and the road at Auburn.

6. TCU- If not for the Broncos of Boise, TCU would be the story of this football season.  Still, the Horned Frogs are one of the best and most balanced teams in the nation and they have an excellent shot at qualifying for the BCS for a second straight year.  Their most difficult games are at Utah and versus Oregon State in Jerryworld.

5. Texas- Garret Gilbert showed in the National Championship that he is a big time player and he should star for the Longhorns in the post-Colt McCoy era.  The Longhorns' hardest games are at Nebraska and versus Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout.

4. Florida State- This pick is by far my biggest reach, but I really do believe this year is the year the Noles return to glory.  Their toughest challenges are at home versus Florida and on the road at Oklahoma and Miami.

3. Ohio State- Behind Terrell Pryor, the Buckeyes have the talent to beat anyone in the country.  Unfortunately for them, they will fall in Glendale against Boise State.  The Buckeyes' biggest tests are at Iowa and Penn State and at home versus Miami and Wisconsin.

2. Boise State- The Broncos will conclude this season undefeated and National Champs.  However, until the Tide lose, they are stuck at #2.  Their toughest games are at home versus Oregon State and in Washington DC versus Virginia Tech.

1. Alabama- I do not think the Tide will win the National Title this year, but until they lose, they deserve to be ranked #1.  Bama's toughest games are on the road at LSU and at home versus Ole Miss, Penn State, Florida, and Auburn.