Preseason Top 25

Preseason Top 25
By The Gold Sheet

1-FLORIDA...Tim Tebow's decision to return for his senior season was a double dose of good news for Urban Meyer. First, it delays Meyer's need to replace Tebow in the Gator lineup for another year. More importantly, however, it makes Florida the early favorite to claim its third BCS crown in four years. The Gators could probably make a run at the crown even without Tebow, as one of the nation's best defenses returns all 11 of its starters as well as its key backups. And the attack is more than just Tebow, with plenty of potent complementary weapons led by explosive RB Chris Rainey. Add to that another crop of hungry blue-chippers, who usually get their chance to show their stuff under Meyer. The Gators even catch a break in the SEC, where their Eastern half doesn't appear as menacing as in recent years. Anything less than another appearance in the title game would be a disappointment.

2-TEXAS...They're still steamed in Austin about being bypassed for the Big XII and BCS title games by an Oklahoma bunch the Horns beat fair and square in Dallas last October. Texas Tech, however, beat Texas fair and square, too, to set off the chain of events last season, but that's a subject for another day. The bigger news for Horn backers is the fact that Mack Brown has finally figured out the way to beat Bob Stoops, with UT holding a decided edge in recent Red River Rivalry battles. Although a handful of impact performers have departed, QB Colt McCoy and plenty of playmakers are still in the fold, so we like Texas' chances vs. OU again. And beyond that, the rest of the schedule is tailor-made for a run to the BCS championship game.

3-SOUTHERN CAL...We understand (sort of) why Pete Carroll made such a fuss over Mark Sanchez' decision to leave a year early for the NFL, because it threw open the competition at QB a year earlier than planned and suddenly made a question mark of the most important position on the field for another possible Trojan national contender. And this was a season Carroll wanted the "O" to be humming from the outset as he reloads a defense that might miss its many starters who graduated to the NFL. But don't feel sorry for Carroll, who as usual has plenty of talent on hand just itching to make a contribution. The bigger question is if the Trojans can avoid the Pac-10 banana peels that have cost them a shot at the last three BCS title games.

4-OKLAHOMA...All eyes are already on that mid-October showdown vs. you-know-who at the Cotton Bowl, which became even more compelling once Heisman winner Sam Bradford stunned the college football world by effectively announcing that he would rather play for the Sooners than the Detroit Lions this fall. Bradford or not, we don't expect the attack to put up another 60 ppg with four OL starters gone, although the "D" should be pretty good with nine starters back in the fold. Still, success in Norman these days is measured by the big games on the schedule, and it's worth noting that HC Bob Stoops' record vs. Texas and in bowls has waned in recent years.

5-VIRGINIA TECH...Looking for a potential BCS title game sleeper? Try Frank Beamer's Hokies, who won the ACC (and dumped Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl) in a supposedly rebuilding year in '08, and who take that momentum and 17 returning starters into the fall. Expect another typically nasty and opportunistic Bud Foster defense, as well as Beamer's trademark big-play special teams, to wreak havoc as usual. But the upgrade in '09 figures to come on offense, where QB Tyrod Taylor has reportedly eliminated the "hitch" in his throwing motion, and where RS frosh Ryan Williams has Blacksburg folk excited about a potential dynamite 1-2 RB combo with returnee Darren Evans. We'll know early if VT is a serious title game threat, with Alabama on deck in the opener at Atlanta and Nebraska visiting Lane Stadium a few weeks later.

6-OLE MISS...After previous coach Ed Orgeron's improved recruiting efforts set up the pins, Houston Nutt has knocked them down in Dick Weber-like fashion since taking over the Rebel reins a year ago. Indeed, there hasn't been this much excitement in Oxford since the last days of Johnny Vaught's long-ago regime that featured Archie Manning at QB, as a victory over Florida and a 6-game win streak to conclude '08 (that included romping past Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl) have convinced the Ole Miss faithful that the sky's the limit in '09. SEC scouts say ex-Texas transfer Jevan Snead had a better command of the "O" in spring, and plenty of complementary weapons (including the versatile Dexter McCluster) return, not to mention 8 starters from a disruptive stop unit. And don't forget that the Rebs get to host Alabama in this year's showdown October 10.

7-BOISE STATE...The Broncos are familiar with the BCS buster role (one they filled in 2006), and with three unbeaten regular seasons in the past five years, precedent has been set for Boise to make another run at the big-bowl lineup. HC Chris Petersen should have another loaded offense, featuring mature-beyond-his-years soph QB Kellen Moore and plenty of big-play weapons in the Bronco arsenal, but don't forget about an underrated "D" that ranked among the nation's stat leaders a year ago. Boise figures to be a considerable favorite in all of its WAC games, so its BCS candidacy will likely hinge on non-conference dates on the blue carpet vs. Oregon (in the opener) and at dangerous Tulsa a few weeks later.

8-ALABAMA...The timetable for the "Nick-tator" to restore Bama's gridiron glory was moved up a year after last season's Tide came within 15 minutes of qualifying for the national title game. Another run at the BCS would come as no surprise despite the fact Saban has to fill a few important gaps on the "O" (including savvy QB John Parker Wilson and star OT Andre Smith). SEC sources report Wilson's longtime caddy Greg McElroy ought to be able to move the chains and clock as did Wilson while being capable enough to get the ball into the hands of homerun threats such as soph WR Julio Jones, who's expected to be used in more roles this fall. Meanwhile, the stop unit returns almost everyone from what was the third-best scoring "D" in the land last year. But the key tests that will go a long way in determining Bama's BCS fate are both away from Tuscaloosa (the opener at Atlanta vs. Virginia Tech and an Oct. 10 date at Ole Miss).

9-PENN STATE...It's no coincidence that since Joe Pa began accepting various shady characters in Happy Valley (check the local police blotter if you don't believe us) and downgraded his non-conference schedule like Bill Snyder used to at Kansas State (Akron, Syracuse, Temple, and Eastern Illinois all visiting Beaver Stadium this fall), the Nittany Lions have resurfaced as a national force. Perhaps Penn State gets exposed again in the postseason as it did last January in the Rose Bowl. But until then, the return of QB Daryll Clark and another watered-down Big Ten slate will camouflage some new faces on "O" and the rebuilt nucleus of last year's gritty defense. Expected top conference challengers Iowa and Ohio State also must visit Happy Valley.

10-LSU...Was that a sneak preview of '09 that we saw in the Chick-fil-A Bowl last New Year's Eve, when James Carville's favorite team ran roughshod over Georgia Tech? After an unsteady 2008, the Bayou Bengal QB situation appears to have been elevated by the emergence of Jordan Jefferson, who hinted at becoming a real playmaker down the stretch as a true frosh and claimed the starting job as his own in spring. Expect lots of fireworks this fall with top RB Charles Scott & top WR Brandon LaFell back in the fold. If Les Miles can plug the gaps on a rebuilt DL (and there are no shortage of capable candidates ready to step in), the "D" could be special while returning almost all of its playmakers in the back seven. Unfortunately, LSU's toughest expected challenges (Georgia, Alabama, and Ole Miss) all take place away from Baton Rouge this fall.

11-CAL...Although HC Jeff Tedford's well-established rep as a QB guru has taken a bit of a hit the past few seasons, Pac-10 sources say this fall's Cal bunch has its best chance to make noise in the national rankings since the 2004 team narrowly missed out on the BCS. For once in Berkeley, it's a nasty defense with one of the country's most-decorated secondaries (all starters return) that is getting most of the preseason attention, but the potential is also there for the "O" to erupt if one of the QBs (holdover Kevin Riley likely to get the first call) heeds Tedford's sage advice and properly utilizes the nation's leading returning rusher, electric Jahvid Best, and a slew of Plaxico Burress-sized WRs. A three-game stretch just before midseason vs. Minnesota, Oregon, and USC will determine if the Golden Bears are a true BCS contender or merely bound for another minor bowl.

12-OHIO STATE...Since BCS appearances have become almost de rigueur (four straight years) in Columbus, it would be foolish to disregard the Buckeyes as a threat to get back despite some of the significant holes HC Jim Tressel has to fill. But remember that Tressel's OSU has nonetheless thrived in more-severe rebuild modes lately, and this fall brings high hopes that ballyhooed soph QB Terrelle Pryor, who hinted at becoming a terror last fall, will emerge as a true playmaking force after reportedly upgrading his passing skills in the offseason. If a rebuilt defensive front can deal with Navy's option in the opener, and if the Buckeyes somehow avenge last year's embarrassment vs. USC on September 12 at the Big Horseshoe, there's a good chance OSU will carry an unbeaten record into its November 7 showdown at Penn State.

13-GEORGIA TECH...Who said Paul Johnson's spread option wouldn't translate from Navy to Georgia Tech? Thanks to Johnson's underrated game management skills, the Jackets were mostly able to keep opponents off balance and win 10 games by running a similar version of Johnson's Navy's option last fall. Tech now figures to really buzz in an attack with all 11 starters (including QB Josh Nesbitt & RB Jonathan Dwyer) back and a year more comfortable with the nuances of the offense. Meanwhile, the Tech "D" might own the ACC's best back seven, although newcomers are being counted upon in a restructured DL that Johnson hopes will have settled in by the time the schedule gets rough in October (4 of 5 road games, sandwiched around an Atlanta visit from ACC favorite Virginia Tech).

14-OKLAHOMA STATE...Looking for a BCS sleeper? Try OSU, which returns enough firepower (including QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, & WR Dez Bryant) to outscore Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, or anyone else on the Cowboy schedule. Of course, that was the same scenario as a year ago when the "D" wasn't up the challenge, and to that end HC Mike Gundy has imported d.c. Bill Young from Miami to shore up a platoon that allowed more than 400 yards and nearly 30 points pg in '08. Relocating a non-existent pass rush will certainly be one of Young's first objectives. No matter, OSU will be in every game with a dynamic strike force that was not only explosive but also well-balanced (over 3000 yards both running and passing!) last fall.

15-TCU...HC Gary Patterson knows the formula for success in Fort Worth, recording at least 11 wins in three of the past four campaigns. And more than a few Mountain West observers believe that TCU, not undefeated Utah, was really the league's best team last season. Although some graduation losses mean that it might be hard to replicate the disruptiveness of the nation's top-rated "D" from '08, expect another speed-based platoon to effectively implement shrewd d.c. Dick Bumpas' pet 4-2-5. Meanwhile, a school record-breaking offense returns jr. QB Andy Dalton and enough playmakers to light up the scoreboard again. The Frogs, who get Utah at Fort Worth in November, could even be peripheral BCS contenders if they survive a couple of rare early trips to ACC land (Virginia & Clemson).