Pre-season Top 25
1. Alabama Crimson Tide: The defending champions start on top with QB Greg McElroy, RBs Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram, and WRs Marquis Maze and Julio Jones back on offense.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes: Terrelle Pryor is finally winning big games (like the Rose Bowl) and if he can continue to develop as a passer, the Buckeyes could win it all next year.
3. Oregon Ducks: RB LaMichael James returns alongside QB Jeremiah Masoli to form one of the best offenses going into next season. Chip Kelly’s team might be thinking of a bigger goal than the Rose Bowl next year.
4. Boise State Broncos: The Broncos could be the first non BCS team ever to reach the title game next year. They return 21 of 22 starters and play Virginia Tech and Oregon State next season.
5. Florida Gators: The Gators lose do it all QB Tim Tebow, along with TE Aaron Hernandez and CB Joe Haden early to the NFL, but still return a strong nucleus of talent. It’s John Brantley’s show now.
6. TCU Horned Frogs: Andy Dalton returns alongside most of the the rest of TCU’s offense, which could have to take over as the dominant side of the field for the Frogs with Jerry Hughes’ departure.
7. Texas Longhorns: The Longhorns lost to Alabama in the title game, but probably found their QB of the future in Garrett Gilbert. The kid played well in stretches, but it’s tough to be thrown onto the big stage like that.
8. Iowa Hawkeyes: Not only did the Hawkeyes prove their season was no fluke, they also showed that they are going to be good next year. QB Ricky Stanzi returns but so do RBs Jewel Hampton and Adam Robinson.
9. Virginia Tech Hokies: Tyrod Taylor returns on the offense along with perhaps the best set of running backs in the country in Darren Evans and Ryan Williams.
10. Miami Hurricanes: The Hurricanes survived a crazy schedule this year to get back on the map. Next season QB Jacory Harris will have to diminish his INTs. Miami has a lot back on both sides of the ball.
11. USC Trojans: Matt Barkley’s freshman season probably didn’t go the way he had it pictured, but his experiences this season will help next year. RBs Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford return. The young D should improve.
12. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: The Yellow Jackets may return RB Jonathan Dwyer and WR Demaryius Thomas, but as of this article neither had made a NFL decision. Paul Johnson will have a decent team either way.
13. LSU Tigers: The strength of LSU next season will probably be the secondary, where both Patrick Peterson and Chad Jones are set to return. QB Jordan Jefferson will be back on a decimated offense.
14. Wisconsin Badgers: Wisconsin returns QB Scott Tolzein and RB John Clay on offense and in total 17 starters on both sides of the football.
15. Oklahoma Sooners: If there was one positive to take from OU’s season, it was that QB Landry Jones received a lot of reps and should be well prepared for next year.
16. Nebraska Cornhuskers: The face of Nebraska leaves, and there’s no doubt that Ndamukong Suh will be missed. Still, the Cornhuskers bringi back Zac Lee and RB Roy Helu on O to go along with a stout D.
17. Oregon State Beavers: James and Jacquizz Rodgers return on an Oregon State team looking to get over the Pac 10 hurdles of USC and Oregon and into the Rose Bowl.
18. South Carolina Gamecocks: Steve Spurrier might finally have some offense returning with QB Stephen Garcia and WRs Tori Gurley and Alshton Jeffery returning.
19. Arkansas Razorbacks: QB
Ryan Mallett will be back, turning Arkansas into what I call “next season’s SEC Ole Miss with less preseason hype”. This team could surprise in the SEC West.
20. West Virginia Mountaineers: RB Noel Devine and WR Jock Sanders will be back, giving WVU the most explosive duo of playmakers on paper in the Big East.
21. Pittsburgh Panthers: RB Dion Lewis might’ve been the best freshman runner in the country this year. Pittsburgh will rely on him again next year. Late in the year they nearly rode him to the Big East title vs. Cincy.
22. Georgia Bulldogs: Fans in Athens are growing impatient with Mark Richt. For Georgia the keys will be finding a running game on offense with RB Wayshaun Ealey, replacing QB Joe Cox, and fixing the defense.
23. Cincinnati Bearcats: Losing Brian Kelly is going to hurt, but this program won’t fall too far in the Big East. QB Zach Collaros is experienced and will be set to lead this team towards another ten win season.
24. Auburn Tigers: In Nick Saban’s shadow, Gene Chizik is slowly building a nice team at Auburn. The Tigers have RB Michael Dyer (nation’s top RB) and QB Cameron Newton (nation’s top JUCO player) coming to campus.
25. Nevada Wolfpack: If you want a non BCS team to watch for in 2010, this is that team. The Wolfpack return QB Colin Kaepernick and RB Vai Taua on an O that had three rushers gain 1,000 yards this year.