This is based on what teams have returning and assumes most players will return but players like McFadden that will obviously go pro are not considered.... (1) Florida - I really dont think you can argue with this preseason #1. Tebow and Harvin will have an explosive offense and the defense returns almost everybody. (2) Oklahoma - Bradford will have a strong O-line and the sooners will find someone to run the ball, the defense is always good. (3) West Virginia - I hate putting a Big East school this high but if Slayton and White return they will get a bunch of love if they dont return then they are out of the top 10 (4) Georgia - their running game will be dominant behind an O-line that returns every starter, their defense will be the question (5) USC - do you really think the voters will put USC out of the pre-season top 5. I hate USC more than OSU (6) LSU - the only reason I have our boys behind USC is because LSU will be the preseason third ranked team in the SEC and I dont think the voters will have 3 out of the top 5 from one conference. And I would not mind this spot at all because the Tigers will be the defending champs and still be able to play the underdog card against UF and UGA and with wins in those two games nobody will be able to keep the Tigers out of the top spot. (7) Ohio State - Top team in the Big 10, will be similar to this past season play a weak schedule look good against bad teams and have a top ranked defense against Akron etc.....and wait for the SEC schools to beat each other up and then move into the top spot. I hate OSU. (8) Missouri - They will get love for what they did this year and for returning a top 4 hiesman finalist at QB. (9) Texas - always overrated and next year will be no different although with a little luck against Oklahoma this team could be poised for a BCS run with an expierenced QB and a top RB in Charles. (10) Clemson - im going out on a limb a little here but they return a quality QB and some good RBs and who else is their to pick from in the ACC. Va Tech losses too much on defense to be in the top 10. Others: Kansas - if they win their bowl game then the JayHawks will get some love next year but probably not top 10 love Tennessee - strong o-line and young defense should improve Va Tech - in a weack ACC the Hockies will always be a preseason top 10 contender Arizona State- only becasue the Pac 10 is going to be down (even for their standards) Illinois - likely the second best big 10 team Auburn - as long as Tubbs is the coach they will be a contender and this is the year of their favorable home schedule.
Yea I dont know about this. I would at least put LSU at 3 or 4 just on talent alone. We dont drop off to far from this year. Our defense will still be really good if we get a great coordinator. But our last 2 recruiting classes have been great.
I need to see the defense improve first. Without knowing who they lose, I like OU at #1. But no question that offense is lethal enough to win if the D becomes merely solid. When did USC fall into the weak category? One year does not make a trend (ie Washington's nosedive since being scheduled).
I apoliogize I forgot OSU v. USC was beginning in 08. That does improve OSU's strength of schedule tremendously.
Why post this four weeks before our bowl game? Or, on the other hand, my Top Ten for the year 2056. 1. LSU 2. UCLA 3. Southeastern Louisiana 4. Rutgers 5. Purdue 6. Florida State 7. Ole Miss 8. SMU 9. John Curtis 10. Cincinnati Possible surprise breakthroughs by perennial weak-sisters: USC Ohio State Oklahoma Virginia Tech Alabama (following the recovery of the darkness of "the Saban years")
Talk is picking up around here that Charles may be gone. Who knows ? UT also has a tougher schedule next year as they pick up Arkansas in place of Arkansas State and Missouri and Kansas instead of this year's Nebraska and Kansas State. And of course, Mack will get punked by Stoops again.
