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Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Way-too-early college football top-25

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

After the pain of watching the Bruins cough up a 3-0 lead in game seven firsthand, my friend said to me, "Now I don't have anything to look forward to until September." Well, this is for you, buddy.

Yep, it's time for the way-too-early college football top-25 prognostications for this year. Who will be No. 1? Where will your team rank? Read on and find out. I can only promise two things - 1. Notre Dame will NOT be anywhere near this list and 2. There will be some rankings that won't be popular.

25. Cincinnati
Cincinnati won't have to worry about the offense. Zach Collaros filled in well for Tony Pike when he was injured last year and should make the quarterback transition pretty seamless. He also has the benefit of most of the offense returning. The problems for the Bearcats lie on defense, especially up front with both starting DE's from last year leaving. The question marks that always surround a new head coach will be there as well.

24. Utah

Underrated my many as always, Utah returns a ton of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Four offensive linemen are back, including senior All-Conference selections Caleb Schlauderaff (G) and Zane Taylor (C) Defensively, the Utes are pretty green, however, especially at linebacker.

23. Navy

Navy gets no respect and perhaps part of that is because it's a service academy, but the fact of the matter is Navy has made it to seven-straight bowl games, winning 8 games or more in each season and winning 10 games twice in that span, including last season. While four of those bowl appearances were losses, two of those losses were by a field goal or less (2006 Meineke Car Care 25-24 loss to Boston College, 2007 Poinsettia 35-32 loss to Utah).

22. LSU

LSU needs to solve its problems on offense because a 112th-ranked unit is not going to get you very far in the SEC. In his junior season, Jordan Jefferson needs to become what the Tigers thought they were getting when they brought him in.

21.UConn

The self-proclaimed fastest-rising college football program in history had a pretty nice season last year, considering all the adversity it faced. Jordan Todman is now the man in the backfield behind a young, but experienced line and could be a household name by season's end.

20. Pitt

The Panthers are very young and have a lot of questions to answer, especially on the offensive line and at quarterback. Tino Sunersi has some big shoes to fill after Bill Stull's surprisingly good year last year.

19. Oregon State

Oregon State turned some heads last season and could compete for a spot in the Rose Bowl if the quarterback situation gets figured out since most of the team at other positions is intact. A passing game to compliment Jacquizz Rogers in the running game would go a long way towards legitimizing the Beavers' attack.

18. Arkansas

Ryan Mallett was quite the surprise for SEC opponents last year, offering a solid passing attack to a team that has been known for its predictability in its playcalling when it comes to run vs. pass. Arkansas' defense needs to improve after being ranked 89th in total defense last year, especially in the secondary, which allowed nearly 250 yards per game through the air.

17. North Carolina

North Carolina's defense steamrolled some pretty legitimate ACC opponents last season and returns six All-Conference talents to that side of the ball. On offense, T.J. Yates was a disappointment under center, but that wasn't completely his fault. As long as his weapons stay healthy, the offense, which didn't lose much of anything in the offseason, should at least be adequate. That's more than last year's team could say.

16. Nebraska

Nebraska suffered the biggest loss in terms of personnel of any team, including Florida, with the exit of Ndamukong Suh. The man just plain dominated opposing defenses by himself. While the Huskers have a solid all-around unit, many players, especially at linebacker, had the comfort of knowing Suh was going to occupy two or sometimes three blockers. The offense is not much to talk about so ball control and defense will again have to steal some games for Nebraska.

15. Penn State

Defenses beware: Evan Royster is coming. The guy just barrels through the line and punishes whomever might be waiting on the other side. He just might be the best senior college running back out there this year and with the line he's got in front of him, it could be a Heisman season in the making, especially with cupcakes like Youngstown State, Kent State, Temple, Northwestern and Indiana on the slate.

14. Virginia Tech

No more Beamer Ball? The defense was a strength of the Hokies in 2009, but it could be a major weakness this season with only five players returning from last year's team that ranked ninth in scoring defense and 12th in total defense. Offensively, Tyrod Taylor and ACC Rookie of the Year Ryan Williams will lead a more-than-capable Hokies offense that has most of its starters returning. The question is whether or not a run-first offense can out-gun teams if the defense falters.

13. Wisconsin

John Clay will be a major cog in the Badgers' machine running behind fellow All-Conference selections Gabe Carimi (T) and John Moffitt (G). The veteran offensive unit is primed to put up some very impressive numbers on the ground. The real question is whether or not the young front seven on defense can prevent any opponents from doing the same.

12. USC

Put aside what Lane Kiffin is making to coach USC and ask yourself one question: Is he capable of winning with a big-time program? The answer is that nobody knows. Last year was a lackluster one for Kiffin in Tennessee and he was in a horrible situation in Oakland, so the jury is still very much out on the wunderkind. Add to that the fact that USC collapsed against supposed lesser teams and settled for the Emerald Bowl last year. Still, USC has a stable of horses in the backfield to carry the football and keep the pressure off of Matt Barkley, who had his growing pains as a freshman starter, but should make strides this season. The real question mark lies in the defensive backfield, which lost three All-Conference selections, including Taylor Mays.

11. Georgia Tech

The triple option has all of its major pieces back in Josh Nesbit (QB), Anthony Allen (RB) and Roddy Jones (RB) as well as a very athletic offensive line and should again be a devastating attack for the Yellow Jackets. Altogether 19 of the Jackets' 22 starters are returning this year after posting an ACC championship season the year prior.

10. Miami

Miami's defense was the only one to hold Georgia Tech under 100 yards rushing. In fact, they were the only team to hold GT under 200 yards rushing. That should tell you just how solid the Hurricane's defense is. Most of that squad is back for another go-around, including three All- ACC team members in Allen Bailey, Colin McCarthy and Brandon Harris. Miami's offense has the tools to be very, very good, but Jacory Harris needs to learn that it's not all about armstrength and start playing more disciplined.

9. Oklahoma

Everything that could possibly have gone wrong for Oklahoma did last season. Still, through all that, some good things happened. Landry Jones emerged as an effective quarterback, who will only get better this season with almost all of his targets from last year back on the field. There are questions about how good the defense can be for OU with Gerald McCoy leaving for the NFL and newcomers filling in at linebacker, but the Sooners have never had a problem with coming up with top-level talent.

8. Iowa
The Hawkeyes' defense is just plain scary with very few - if any - weaknesses. Adrian Clayborn could be involved in the Heisman conversation this year after posting 11.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss, both of which land him in the nation's top-10. Injuries hampered the offense last year and even when healthy, it won't blow the doors off anyone of merit, but with a defense as good as Iowa's, pretty good is all the offense has to be.

7. TCU
The MWC is becoming a more and more legit conference, so the best team in that conference needs to be treated with that kind of respect. Jerry Hughes, who was tied with Iowa's Clayborn in total sacks, is gone, so that's a blow, but the Horned Frogs have a very good defensive unit all the way around. Cornerback is a concern because both sides of the field are manned by new starters this year, but that's where the excellent line play of the Frogs' ends and tackles comes into play. Offensively, TCU is very similar to last season.

6. Florida
It will be interesting to see Florida post-Tebow, but still expect them to be a mid-to-upper-level top-10 team. The intriguing thing will be the way they use John Brantley in the offense. With Tebow at the helm, the Gators' offense relied on the quarterback being mobile. Brantley is much more of a pocket passer, but a dynamic running attack behind him could make up for the fact he can't move much. Defensively, the Gators lost a lot, including Brandon Spikes, but the secondary remains one of the toughest in the country.

5. Oregon

It's sad to say it, but Oregon is turning into the Bengals of college football. Lots of athletic ability, but a longer wrap sheet. Jeremiah Masoli, who was one of the best in the Pac-10 last year is gone for his extra-curricular activities, so quarterback automatically becomes a point of concern. LaMichael James, who came on the scene when LaGarrett Blount was suspended for his idiocy against Boise State, is back as the explosive catalyst for the Ducks' offense, though he's had his brushes with the law as well. Can he carry the offense by himself? Quite possibly as he will have a seasoned line in front of him. Altogether, most of last year's unit returns and if some people step into key spots, like quarterback, you are definitely looking at this year's Pac-10 champion again.

4. Texas
Colt McCoy is gone, leaving big shoes to fill at quarterback. Luckily, the newcomer will have lots of help with three returning wideouts and a host of able-bodied running backs in the mix. Three All-Conference o-linemen are also missing, along with Jordan Shipley, so Mack Brown will have a lot of work to do to get the unit into shape. Defensively, he's pretty well set, however, even though Earl Thomas skipped out for greener pastures in the NFL. The Longhorns have seven starters coming back to a unit that allowed less than 17 points and just 251.9 yards per game.

Want No. 3-1? Stay tuned.