1. USC Trojans
It's been quite a while since we've seen USC at the top of the rankings. But through the hard work of Lane Kiffin and the return of star players TJ McDonald and Matt Barkley, the Trojans are poised to make a run at another National Title. On offense they are loaded. Matt Barkley is a stud and will probably be the top QB taken in the 2013 NFL Draft. He has Robert Woods and Marqise Lee at WR who might be the two best WRs in college football. Then add in RB Silas Redd (Penn State) and Curtis McNeal the offense will be extremely tough to stop. The real key will be the defense. In a offensive minded conference they'll have to stop teams to beat them. Mainly Oregon who they'll have to beat twice to put themselves in a position to play for a National Title.
2. LSU Tigers
Don't let the talk of Tyrann Mathieu being kicked off the team make you think they aren't a favorite for the National Championship. Mathieu was a great player, but LSU is so loaded with talent that they will be able to recover from his loss. Aside from the Mathieu talk, the biggest story has been QB Zach Mettenberger. The former Georgia Bulldog has a cannon for an arm and the Tigers are hoping his passing ability will keep defenses from loading up the box and freeing up their running game. If LSU can get a more explosive offense, they should be right back to the Title Game.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
Ever since Nick Saban has taken over the Crimson Tide program, they've been a major player in college football. This year should be much the same. They've always been known for their top notch defense, however losing 6 starters to the NFL including 3 from the secondary they won't have the same bite. Good thing that the offense should be able to pick up the slack and carry the team for most of the year. QB AJ McCarron is coming into his own and the running game should be fine behind the best offensive line in college football. Their big test will be on Nov 3 when they travel to LSU. The winner of that game could likely decide the SEC and which team goes to the National Title Game.
4. Oregon Ducks
Despite losing QB Darron Thomas and RB LeMichael James, the Ducks are right back into the thick of the National Championship hunt. Bryan Bennett will get the nod at QB and many thought he out played Thomas last year. Losing James is big, but the Ducks still have Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas to carry the load. Add in stud WR Josh Huff and the offense will continue to run at a high octane. But the true story of this team will be their defense. They return 6 starters, but many are considering this to be Chip Kelly's best defense. But the biggest path to their success could be their schedule. They have a weak non-conference slate (Arkansas State, Fresno State, and Tennessee Tech) and the last time they played this easy of a non-conference schedule they were in the National Title Game.
5. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan's success last season was one of the biggest stories in college football. Brady Hoke turned around this program that was underachieving under Rich Rodriguez. The biggest reason was the play of their defense. This year they return 7 starters on a group that DC Greg Mattison has running on all cylinders. But as we've seen in previous years, the team goes as Dennard Robinson goes. If he plays like he did last year, the Wolverines will be the Big 10 favorites. But if he can't stay healthy and goes back to throwing interceptions, the offense will struggle.
6. Oklahoma Sooners
It's pretty telling how good your program is when a 10-3 season is considered to be a downer. But things should improve for the Sooners who return 15 fo their 22 starters and key platyers all over the field. On offense they get back 4 year starter Landry Jones at QB, WR Kenny Stills, and RB Domminque Whaley. But we all know that the Sooners are a defensive team and their loaded again. Oklahoma might have one fo the best secondaries in the nation and that comes in very handy in the pass happy Big 12.
7. Georgia Bulldogs
After being on the hot seat for the better part of the past several years, HC Mark Richt could have his best team yet. The strength of this team in their defense. Jarvis Jones is the leader of the defense and is a dominant threat on the outside rushing the passer. Georgia is also deep along the defensive line and will make it tough for opposing defenses to run the ball on them. On offense QB Aaron Murray returns for his 3rd year as a starter and should continue his development. The only thing holding this offense back is a running game. If they can find somebody to step up in replacement of Isaiah Crowell they could really take off.
8. South Carolina Gamecocks
Last year the Gamecocks went 10-2 and did so without starting QB Stephon Garcia (kicked off) or RB Marcus Lattimore (injury). Their offense struggled at times with Connor Shaw at QB, but as the season progressed, so did he. This year they get Lattimore back which should help the offense, but they also lose WR Alshon Jeffery who was a big part of their passing game. But the biggest losses will be on defense. They'll have to replace most of their secondary and top pass rusher in Melvin Ingram. But this does mean that super sophomore Jadeveon Clowney will get more time. It also doesn't help that they added LSU back to schedule. But there is still a lot of talent there and the Gamecocks will battle Georgia for the SEC West crown.
9. Wisconsin Badgers
You would think after being the back to back Big 10 Champions, more people would be talking about Wiscosin. Instead the Big 10 teams we are hearing about are Michigan and Ohio State. Part of that might be the fact that Russell Wilson has left and practically their entire coaching staff. But the Wisconsin program has a system in place that should allow them to keep the momentum rolling. Wilson may be gone, but they secured another transfer in Danny O'Brien (Maryland) who gives them 17 starts under his belt. This should help, but we all know that this is RB Monte Ball's offense and he'll get the ball even more than last year. Add in that Wisconsin has an easy road to the Big 10 Title Game (Ohio State and Penn State ineligble) makes them a team to watch out for.
10. Clemson Tigers
After a breakout year that got Clemson to their first BCS game, the Tigers are looking to build off their success and take it to another level. They should be pretty well set on offense with Taj Boyd, Sammie Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins, and Andre Ellington all back. This also gives the Tigers another year in OC Chad Morris' offense which should only make them better. But the big story is their defense. They were so embarrassed by the thrashing that West Virginia gave them that they fired DC Kevin Steele and replaced him with one of the top DCs in the game in Brent Venables (Oklahoma DC). If Venables can improve the defense, this team has the firepower and talent to make some serious noise.
11. Arkansas Razorbacks
Poor Arkansas. For the past couple of years they've been the 3rd best team in the SEC, however they happen to be in the same division as the two best teams. However Arkansas gets both LSU and Alabama at home this year. No better of a time to make a move to the top of the conference. Things looked to be optimistic for them, they returned stud QB Tyler Wilson and get back RB Knile Davis. The defensive was continuing to get better and the two paired together was ready to break through to the top. But then HC Bobby Petrino's off the field behaviors got him fired and the school tabbed crazy John L Smith to be the interm coach. Smith is fimilar with the program (special teams coach last year) but he has a history of doing some odd things. If he can stay out of the way, the Razorbacks could be very good. If not, they could struggle with no real future leader in place.
12. Virginia Tech Hokies
Always a favorite in the ACC and a darkhorse National Championship candidate, this year is no different for the Hokies. Their lead by Heisman Trophy candidate Logan Thomas at QB who really emerged as the end of last season and is looking to continue the upward swing. They'll need to count on Thomas even more without the services of speedy RB David Wilson. But VaTech is known for having great RBs and they're hoping rFr Michael Holmes is that next good back. But with all that said, VaTech has been built off defense and speical teams and we know those will be good again. Their big key is getting past Clemson who they have to go on the road to play this year.
13. Michigan State Spartans
I really want to have Michigan State higher here. They easily have the best defense in the Big 10 and have a really good running game. They have two of the best cornerbacks in the nation and maybe the most feared pass rusher in William Gholston. But the thing holding them back from being ranked higher is questions about their QB and WR positions. The biggest one is replacing Kurt Cousins at QB. Andrew Maxwell will get the nod at QB, but if they want to make it back to a 2nd straight Big 10 Title game they'll need him to be more than just a game manager.
14. Ohio State Buckeyes
There sure has been a lot of buzz Ohio State this off season. Sure Urban Meyer has taken over, but this is still a team coming off a 7-6 season and can't participate in any post season games. Meyer has brought his high intensity and spread to the Horshoe and that has really got people excited. But this offense is still sketchy in certain areas. Mainly the skill positions. DaVier Posey is gone, so is Dan Herron. Meyer kicked TE Jake Stoneburner off the team and he was their only returning threat. But they do have QB Braxton Miller whose speed and quickness should fit into the offense well. But the Buckeyes are going to need to rely on their defense to win a majority of their games.
15. Texas Longhorns
Despite having some of the best talent in all of college football, the Texas Longhorns have struggled to play at a high level. A big part of that has been the QB position. Despite all the talented QBs that come out of Texas, the Longhorns haven't had somebody come out and take the job over. Right now Chase McCoy and David Ash are battling for the job. If the Longhorns want to go from average team to National Title contender, they need one of those two players to step up and take over. Because all the other pieces are there.
16. Kansas State Wildcats
It's safe to say that everybody was surprised with the season that Kansas State had last year. They were so good that they should have earned a Sugar Bowl invite. KState is lead by Heisman Trophy contender Colin Klein at QB. It doesn't always look pretty, but Klein does it all for the Wildcats. He is a tough runner and at his size (6'5 226) is very tough to bring down and is a better passer than many people think. He is the heart and sole of their offense and if he's going, they are tough to beat. On defense they are lead by Aurther Brown who is all over the field making plays. KState should be good again this year, however they have the dubious honor of traveling to their toughest opponents (Oklahoma, TCU, West Virginia, and Baylor) which will make it hard for them to get back to 10 wins again.
17. Florida State Seminoles
I guess I don't get it. For the past couple of years there has been a lot of hype about Florida State in the pre-season. Last year they got all the way up to #5 before being beat down by Oklahoma and then dropping games to Clemson and even Wake Forrest. Now this year they are right back into the top 10 in the pre-season polls with nothing to show for it. Yeah they return a lot of starters, but they have to replace both offensive tackle positions and the team hasn't shown that they are "back" yet. So I'm taking the wait and see approach. But don't get me wrong, they'll have a shot to win their division, but they aren't one of the ten best teams in the nation.
18. West Virginia Mountaineers
Things went pretty well for West Virginia in HC Dana Holgerson's first season. The Mountaineers finished the season 10-3 with the offense picking up steam throughout the season and it ended with a 70-33 beatdown of Clemson in the Orange Bowl. In the off-season the Mountaineers joined the Big 12 Conference where they actually fit in pretty well. Not in location (like TCU), but in style of play. The Big 12 is known for high flying offenses, and you don't get anymore high flying than Dana Holgerson. However the biggest different West Virginia will see is the step up in compition. No longer are they playing the Rutgers and Pittsburghs. Now they'll be seeing the Oklahoma's and the Texas. And they'll need every bit of their explosive offenses if they want to contend for a league title in year 1.
19. Nebraska Cornhuskers
In their first season as members of the Big 10, the Huskers were favorites to win the conference. However they fell apart at the end of the season and ended up not even making the Big 10 Title Game. This year there isn't a whole lot of hype around the team, but that may be a good thing. Bo Pelini's teams have always been known for their defense, but it may be the offense that has to carry the load to start the season. Offensively they return all their skill position players and if Taylor Martinez can get back to his running ways, it could be very hard to stop them. On defense they should be good, but lack the difference makers they've had the previous coupld of years. The Huskers should be good, but they aren't one of the elite teams in the Big 10.
20. Florida Gators
Despite all the talent on the roster, the Gatros have struggled under Will Muschamp to gain any consistencey and get back to the program that was a regular contender for the SEC Title. But things may change this year. The Gators return 17 starters and 10 of them are on defense. Best case scenario for the Gators is the young talent has finally developed and another year in the system allows them to challenge for the SEC West Title. But there is still a lot of inexperience and lack of playmakers on the offense that could really hold this team back.
21. Stanford Cardinal
In my opinion we will really get to see how good of a coach David Shaw really is. Sure he had success last year, but he also had an offense that had Andrew Luck at QB, Coby Fleener at TE and David DeCastro and Jonathan Martin along the offensive line. Those three players will make a lot of coaches look good. This year they have to break in a new QB and fill some big shoes along the line. Luckily they still have Stepfan Taylor at RB who can carry the load. But the strength of this team will be their defense. Shayne Skov and Chase Thomas as the two headliners of this defense that has a lot of talent. They'll need the defense because they cannot count on the offense to simply outscore teams like they did at times last year. Stanford will be solid, but they won't reach the same success they've had recently.
22. Lousiville Cardinals
In year 3 of the Charlie Strong era, the Cardinals are the favorites to win the Big East and make it back to the BCS since the days of Bobby Petrino. Unlike Petrino, Strong has built this team on a strong (pun intended) defense. This year should be even better with 8 returners on that side of the ball. On offense the Cardinals return promising QB Teddy Bridgewater who is looking to improve an offense that had to switch play callers mid-season. Louisville's schedule also stacks up nicely with a weaker non-conference that could allow them to approacth the 10 win mark.
23. TCU Horned Frogs
For the longest time Non-AQ schools like Utah, Boise State, and TCU have wanted a chance to play with the big boys. Utah got their chance by joining the Pac 12, now TCU gets their shot by joining the Big 12. TCU will get to show if they truely belong with the big boys. However this may not be the best year. Their defense was ravaged by a drug ring that resulted in key defensive players being kicked off the team, including their returning tackle leader. But HC Gary Patterson is a defensive guru and will work his butt off to make up for the losses. Combine that with the continued development of QB Casey Pachal and the Horned Frogs shouldn't be any form of a push over.
24. FIU Golden Panthers
It's not too often we see Sun Belt Conference teams in the pre-season rankings, but this FIU team isn't your standard Sun Belt team. The Panthers return 17 of 22 starters on a team that won 8 games last year. 10 of those starters are defensive players. FIU should roll through an improved Sun Belt, but will be put to the test against #22 Louisville (who they beat last year) and Central Florida. If they can beat both of those teams it isn't out of the question for them to go undefeated. But no matter what, FIU is one of the top 25 teams in the nation.
25. Boise State Broncos
I believe we will finally get to see how good of a program Boise State really is. The Broncos lose a lot of big time players including 4 year starter Kellen Moore. HC Chris Peterson will have to break in a new QB and still have the Broncos playing at a high level. Luckily the Mountain West isn't the same conference anymore without BYU, TCU, and Utah. Boise State still has more talent on their roster than their conference opponents and should still be a contender for 9 or 10 wins. But they won't be a darkhorse favorite for the National Title like they have in past years.
