1. Southern California (13-0) Points: 1,547 (60 first-place votes). Final 2004 ranking: 1. Outlook: No school has won three national titles in a row. But with QB Matt Leinart, RB Reggie Bush and WR Dwayne Jarrett among nine returning offensive starters, there's an abundance of talent on that side. The defense has experience issues but still plenty of talented players. Opens: Sept. 3 at Hawaii (ESPN2, 7 p.m. ET). 2. Texas (11-1) Points: 1,405 (2). Final 2004 ranking: 4. Outlook: Longhorns' first trip to the Rose Bowl was memorable as they edged Michigan. QB Vince Young is one of the nation's most dynamic players, and, although the defense will miss LB Derrick Johnson, plenty of experience returns. Ohio State and Oklahoma are among the first five opponents. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette. 3. Tennessee (10-3) Points: 1,259. Final 2004 ranking: 15. Outlook: RB Gerald Riggs and QBs Erik Ainge and Rick Clausen lead an experienced offense, and DT Jesse Mahelona is among the nation's best. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. UAB. 4. Michigan (9-3) Points: 1,242. Final 2004 ranking: 12. Outlook: QB Chad Henne, RB Mike Hart and WR Steve Breaston are back to pace an experienced and productive offense. Opponents scored 75 points in last year's final two games, and improvement defensively is a must. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. Northern Illinois (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET). 5. Oklahoma (12-1) Points: 1,223. Final 2004 ranking: 3. Outlook: After coming up short in consecutive national title games, the Sooners bade farewell to 2003 Heisman winner Jason White. Following a spectacular debut season, RB Adrian Peterson returns to carry the mail, but OU needs to settle issues at QB and on defense. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. TCU (ABC, noon ET). 6. LSU (9-3) Points: 1,109. Final 2004 ranking: 16. Outlook: Les Miles succeeds Nick Saban in Baton Rouge and inherits an experienced team that looks like one of the SEC's best. QBs JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Perrilloux, a true freshman, will battle. Rest of backfield is deep and veteran-laden. Same can be said for defense with upperclassmen virtually everywhere. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. North Texas. 7. Virginia Tech (10-3) Points: 1,090. Final 2004 ranking: 10. Outlook: Defending ACC champ figures to contend again as long as QB Marcus Vick, suspended last season, is the leader he needs to be. He'll be working with a veteran backfield. If OL and secondary can be properly shored up, the Hokies could be looking at another BCS trip. Opens: Sept. 4 at North Carolina State (ESPN2, 7:15 p.m. ET). 8. Miami (Fla.) (9-3) Points: 1,080. Final 2004 ranking: 11. Outlook: Three ACC losses was not the way the Hurricanes wanted their debut in the conference to go. An experienced defense, featuring multifaceted CB Devin Hester, might have to carry the load for a while until new QB Kyle Wright gets his feet wet. Opens: Sept. 5 at No. 12 Florida State (ABC, 8 p.m. ET). 9. Ohio State (8-4) Points: 1,033. Final 2004 ranking: 19. Outlook: Three Big Ten losses in October knocked Bucks out of conference race last year. But with QBs Troy Smith and Justin Zwick and WRs Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes returning along with defense full of experience, OSU should be in the conference mix. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. Miami (Ohio) (ABC, noon ET). 10. Iowa (10-2) Points: 1,014. Final 2004 ranking: 8. Outlook: Under coach Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes have established themselves as a Big Ten and national power. QB Drew Tate emerged as a star last year, but establishing a running game and filling holes along the defensive front will be keys. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. Ball State. 11. Florida (7-5) Points: 910. Final 2004 ranking: 25. Outlook: QB Chris Leak should excel in new coach Urban Meyer's offense. A key will be successfully replacing TB Ciatrick Fason. The Gators get Tennessee and Florida State at home, and while ex-coach Ron Zook was criticized for game-day decisions, he left a lot of talent behind. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. Wyoming. 12. Florida State (9-3) Points: 879. Final 2004 ranking: 14. Outlook: Seminoles face the season without QB Wyatt Sexton (Lyme disease) and CB Antonio Cromartie (knee). Freshmen Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee look to step in at QB. TB Leon Washington should lead ground assault. LBs lead defense that allowed fewer than 20 points nine times last season. Opens: Sept. 5 vs. No. 8 Miami (Fla.) (ABC, 8 p.m. ET). 13. Georgia (10-2) Points: 838. Final 2004 ranking: 6. Outlook: QB D.J. Shockley, who backed up David Greene for three years, gets his shot. He has solid RBs in Thomas Brown and Danny Ware behind him and an experienced line in front, but WRs are largely unproven. DT Kedric Golston helps anchor an experienced defensive front. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. No. 19 Boise State (ESPN, 5:30 p.m. ET). 14. Louisville (11-1) Points: 758. Final 2004 ranking: 7. Outlook: High-scoring Cardinals head for the Big East and are an immediate threat for a BCS berth. QB Brian Brohm got lots of experience backing up Stefan LeFors a year ago, and RBs and WRs are solid. Offense might have to carry the day early as defense gains more experience. Opens: Sept. 4 at Kentucky (ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET). 15. Auburn (13-0) Points: 723. Final 2004 ranking: 2. Outlook: Tigers' best season in decades fell short of a national title, and now QB Jason Campbell, RBs Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams and DB Carlos Rogers are gone. Little-used sophomore Brandon Cox takes over at QB, and although the receiving corps is experienced, the defense might have to carry the load early. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. Georgia Tech (ESPN, 8:45 p.m. ET). 16. Purdue (7-5) Points: 616. Final 2004 ranking: not ranked. Outlook: QB Kyle Orton has departed, but sometime-starter Brandon Kirsch should smoothly step in for a team that has an abundance of experience. In a scheduling quirk, the two Big Ten teams the Boilermakers don't play are two of the best, Michigan and Ohio State. Opens: Sept. 10 vs. Akron. 17. Texas A&M (7-5) Points: 366. Final 2004 ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Last year's 6-1 start wasn't sustained after Aggies were upset by Baylor. But this is a maturing team, with 17 starters back, including dynamic QB Reggie McNeal, and should be even more dangerous as the comfort level with coach Dennis Franchione's system rises. The opener will tell a lot. Opens: Sept. 3 at Clemson (ABC, 8 p.m. ET). 18. Arizona State (9-3) Points: 304. Final 2004 ranking: 20. Outlook: Sun Bowl MVP Sam Keller takes on QB responsibilities full time after filling in for injured Andrew Walter in postseason. RB situation in flux after Loren Wade was charged in connection with shooting death of former ASU player Brandon Falkner, but the receivers are experienced. Opens: Sept. 1 vs. Temple. 19. Boise State (11-1) Points: 303. Final 2004 ranking: 13. Outlook: Broncos enter this season with a 26-game winning streak in Western Athletic Conference play. QB Jared Zabransky has an experienced cast around him. A win at Georgia would get them off to a great start. Opens: Sept. 3 at No. 13 Georgia (ESPN, 5:30 p.m. ET). 20. California (10-2) Points: 293. Final 2004 ranking: 9. Outlook: Most important tasks are replacing QB Aaron Rodgers and RB J.J. Arrington. Nate Longshore and junior college transfer Joseph Ayoob will battle for the QB job, and Marshawn Lynch, who averaged almost 9 yards a carry in 2004, is expected to step into Arrington's spot. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. Sacramento State. 21. Texas Tech (8-4) Points: 247. Final 2004 ranking: 17. Outlook: Senior Cody Hodges looks like the next QB to put up outlandish numbers in coach Mike Leach's high-flying offense following the departure of Sonny Cumbie. Some retooling of the OL will be necessary. Defense has been improving. Opens: Sept. 10 vs. Florida International. 22. Boston College (9-3) Points: 237. Final 2004 ranking: 21. Outlook: Eagles finished tied for first in their final year in the Big East, and as they enter the ACC, they're attempting to extend their streak of bowl appearances to seven. QB Quinton Porter returns the controls after redshirting last year. Defense looks strong up front behind E Mathias Kiwanuka, who was Big East defensive player of the year. Opens: Sept. 3 at BYU (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET). 23. Virginia (8-4) Points: 210. Final 2004 ranking: 23. Outlook: Impressive defense features Butkus Award finalist Ahmad Brooks, one of the nation's top LBs. QB Marques Hagans and TB Wali Lundy look for a big senior years and will likely have to deliver if UVa is to compete with ACC powers. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. Western Michigan. 24. Alabama (6-6) Points: 194. Final 2004 ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Crimson Tide were off to a good start last year, then QB Brodie Croyle hurt a knee and they dropped six of nine. His health will be a key, but the defense was one of the nation's best and almost every key contributor is back. Opens: Sept. 3 vs. Middle Tennessee. 25. Pittsburgh (8-4
I don't know about picking Texas, but I think USC will drop a regular season game this year. It would be awesome to see the Hogs take them down early!!! I will be the biggest Arkansas fan on that day.
They say the QB battle will be between Jamarcus and Ryan...I just don't think Ryan is quite ready to take over a team vying for a NC. I guess if you listen to that Matt should go ahead and transfer...
The first of two polls to screw LSU & place OVERRATED Tennessee well above LSU. They even dumped LSU out of the Top 5. THANK THE BIASED SEC EAST & THEIR UNDYING DEVOTION TO FAT PHIL & THE REST OF THE ROCKY TOP CONVICTS DURING THE RECENT MEDIA DAYS o: :thumb: o: Expect the AP to be just as kind to Tenn. & just as crappy to LSU, maybe even having LSU not as high as #6. It comes out in another 2 weeks. LSU will have to run the table & get some help getting Michigan & Texas/OU out of there. Man, this sucks to start out the season out of the Top 5 while this overrated Tenn bunch gets all the press. LSU needs to whip the hell out of this overrated SEC media darling Tennessee.
you said LSU must beat UT handily. thats bogus. LSU only needs a 10 OT win by one point. it means the same in inter-sec games and polls.
