Can Dez Bryant take Oklahoma State to new heights? Great pun.
It’s way too early to figure out exactly who will finish atop the college football standings, but as always, that hasn’t stopped me from trying. Actually the top three should be pretty simple for every schmoe with a TV. It’s Florida at the top followed by some comibination of Texas and Oklahoma. After that, it gets a little murky.
Alabama will have an amazing defense, but the offense is full of holes. USC has the opposite problem and also lost star QB Mark Sanchez, no matter whether Pete Carroll thought it was a good idea or not. LSU, Oregon, and Ohio State have talent, but lack experience at some key positions. Then there’s a group of teams with an outside shot to surprise. It should be an excellent year of college football, and there is plenty of talent throughout the top 25, but it looks like there are three clear frontrunners, and a bunch of teams playing catch up. Of course, Ole Miss might have something to say about that.
1.) Florida Gators
Returning Starters: Offense (7) Defense (11)
MVP: QB Tim Tebow
The Gators are the consensus number one team in the country. Period. After holding the “greatest offense in the history of the world” to 14 points in the national title game, returning all 11 defensive starters is a pretty good start. Returning nearly every important backup on that side of the ball ain’t too bad either. Then there’s the offense led by QB Tim Tebow, arguably one of the top 5 college football players of all time. Losing Percy Harvin, Louis Murphy, and the starting OTs will hurt a bit, but there is talent at the ready to fill in. LB Brandon Spikes and DE Carlos Dunlap will be up for nearly every postseason defensive award. Should be another appearance in the BCS Title Game for UF.
2.) Texas Lonhorns
MVP: QB Colt McCoy
Returning Starters: Offense (9) Defense (7)
The Longhorns hopes got a major boost when QB Colt McCoy decided to return for his senior season. Then WR Jordan Shipley, McCoy’s favorite target and roommate, was granted another year of eligibilty. The offensive line will be another year older, and thus another year experienced, and that should help the running game. On defense, the pass rush should be as dangerous as ever with Will Muschamp coordinating and Sergio Kindle moving to DE. The secondary, which cost them the Texas Tech game, should be better as well after a year of learning the ropes.
3.) Oklahoma Sooners
MVP: QB Sam Bradford
Returning Starters: Offense (5) Defense (9)
It was a little surprising that QB Sam Bradford decided to come back to Norman after losing three starters along the O line as well as the top two wide receivers from last year’s Big 12 championship team. Of course, his return, along with that of TE Jermaine Gresham, mean that this offense should once again be incendiary. Trent Williams is a talented tackle who should be a good replacement for Loadholt on the left side. The defense will again be one of the best in the conference with Gerald McCoy and Demarcus Granger at DT, and a hopefully healthy LB corps. The Texas game will determine the fate of this team.
4.) Alabama Crimson Tide
MVP: DT Terrence Cody
Returning Starters: Offense (4) Defense (9)
Losing a majority of the stars from the offensive line will hurt Alabama some. Losing QB JP Wilson and RB Glen Coffee doesn’t help either. But the defense gets almost all of their starters back, and Alabama proved on more than one occasion last seaon that they could win by holding the opponent to poor production. The offense will need time to gel with new starters at most of the key positions, but the defense should be stout enough to provide a few weeks of safety before the offense is really needed.
5.) USC Trojans
MVP: S Taylor Mays
Returning Starters: Offense (9) Defense (2)
It’s tough to pick against USC in the Pac 10. Sure they lost all those linebackers, and Mark Sanchez bolted after only one season as the starter, but there is always talent in Los Angeles, and this year will be no different. Whoever ends up at QB, and it’s looking like Aaron Corp, will have a stable of talented running backs and receivers to work with, and the defensive line should be a strength again. S Taylor Mays will be among the most feared center fielders in the country.
6.) LSU Tigers
MVP: S Chad Jones
Returning Starters: Offense (8) Defense (8)
This is it for Les Miles. One more season like last year and he’ll be out the door. The good news is that this season’s version of the Bayou Bengals looks a lot better, at least on paper. The talent on both sides of the ball is ridiculous, but offensively this may be the best collection of skill in the country. QB Jordan Jefferson will be a year better, and the returns of OT Ciron Black, RB Charles Scott, and WR Brandon Lafell are a big boost. Defensively, the secondary will have to be the strength at first, but guys like S Chad Jones and CB Patrick Peterson are set for huge seasons. Bringing in DC John Chavis was a huge upgrade for the overall play of the defense.
7.) Penn State Nittany Lions
MVP: RB Evan Royster
Returning Starters: Offense (6) Defense (4)
This is going to be a tougher season than some think. Losing the top three receivers is going to put a lot more pressure on QB Darryl Clark. He was very effective as a game manager last year, and he made a few big plays of his own, but the onus will be on him to produce even more in 2009. RB Evan Royster was a pleasant surprise last season, but the O line needs a few key replacements. LB Sean Lee is back after sitting out 2008 with an injury, and he’ll team with LB Navarro Bowman to form a formidable corps. The Nittany Lions will need to catch a few breaks this year, but they could find themselves in a position to win a second consecutive Big Ten title if the rest of the league continues it’s slump.
8.) Cal Golden Bears
MVP: RB Jahvid Best
Returning Starters: Offense (7) Defense (8)
Cal lost some talent in their LB corps, but the secondary should have a great one in CB Syd’Quan Thompson. QB Kevin Riley looks like he could be in for a big year, and he’ll get plenty of help in the running game from RB Jahvid Best. Best is undersized, but he’s one of the fastest players in the country, and he should be even better than he was last year. A lot of this team’s success will hinge on Riley’s development, but the Pac 10 doesn’t appear to be too strong this year, and the Bears should win 9 games.
9.) Georgia Bulldogs
MVP: WR AJ Green
Returning Starters: Offense (7) Defense (7)
Georgia always seems to surprise when no one is expecting much from them. They won the SEC after losing David Greene, but then dropped three games in 2009 as the trendy preseason number one pick. So it will be interesting to see how they do in a year full of mixed opinions. QB Joe Cox has gotten a the go ahead from the coaches, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Aaron Murray starting by the end of the year. RB Caleb King should be able to step in at tailback, but Knowshon Moreno left some big holes to fill. Defensively the Dawgs should be better with DT Geno Atkins, LB Rennie Curran, and S Reshad Jones back. If UGA can avoid the injury bug that hangs around Athens on a consistent basis, they could be a surprise team yet again.
10.) Oregon Ducks
MVP: QB Jeremiah Masoli
Returning Starters: Offense (5) Defense (5)
There are plenty of reasons to doubt the Ducks in 2009. The lost WR Jaison Williams. They lost RB Jeremiah Johnson. They lost DE Nick Reed. They lost CB Jairus Byrd and S Patrick Chung. And they lost HC Mike Bellotti. But they didn’t lose everything. CB Walter Thurmond played the pass as well as any DB on the team last year. And giant RB LeGarrette Blount should be an awesome replacement in the running game. Then there’s QB Jeremiah Masoli who really came on after nailing down the starting spot halfway through the season. If he can keep the momentum going from the Holiday Bowl win over Oklahoma State, this team could finally be the group to unseat USC in the Pac 10.
11.) Ohio State Buckeyes
MVP: QB Terrelle Pryor
Returning Starters: Offense (5) Defense (8)
I’m not nearly as high on Ohio State as some guys seem to be. The defense lost some very key contributors to the NFL, and the offense lost Beanie Wells, Alex Boone, Brian Robiskie, and Brian Hartline. That’s a lot of slack for QB Terrelle Pryor to pick up. Thankfully for those in Columbus, he appears up to the task. A lot of the load of winning the Big Ten again will fall on his sophomore shoulders, and he’ll have to be amazing early on to keep them in the hunt. DE Cameron Heyward will help the defense, and his ability to get to the passer will be key to easing the young secondary into the swing of things. I could see this team having a great year, but the Big Ten won’t come as easily as it did before last season.
12.) Ole Miss Rebels
MVP: QB Jevan Snead
Returning Starters: Offense (9) Defense (8)
No one saw last year coming. After excellent recruiting by Ed Orgeron, Houston Nutt stepped in and took the Rebels to the next level. Helping him was QB Jevan Snead. Snead is one of the most accurate passers in the SEC, and he gets a nice collection of offensive playmakers back. Losing Michael Oher and Peria Jerry will affect the offensive and defensive lines, but John Jerry and Greg Hardy should pick up the slack. Ole Miss has the talent in place to take another major step forward, but the SEC is a tough conference for maintaining success.
13.) Oklahoma State Cowboys
MVP: WR Dez Bryant
Returning Starters: Offense (9) Defense (7)
The offense will be amazing. Zac Robinson, Kendall Hunter, and Dez Bryant make up a pretty nice set of triplets. But the offense wasn’t the problem last year. Defensively the Cowboys have a long way to go. The Big 12 is kinder to shootout type teams than most conferences, but they won’t be able to take the next step without some semblance of a defense. OT Russell Okung looks like the top OT in the nation, and Robinson should be even more efficient as a senior, but the other side of the ball is a major concern. If they can pull an upset over Texas or OU then they could appear in their first Big 12 title game.
14.) Virginia Tech Hokies
MVP: RB Darren Evans
Returning Starters: Offense (9) Defense (7)
This might be a little high for the Hokies, but I think they’re the frontrunner to win the ACC again. Tyrod Taylor continues to improve, and while he’s not Mike Vick, he is certainly an upgrade over some of the other guys they’ve had at the position since Vick left. RB Darren Evans looks poised to have a monster sophomore season. The defense is always a strength in Blacksburg, and Kam Chancellor is one of the most underrated defenders in the sport. The schedule is very difficult, but the Hokies should be in a position to win another ACC title if they can knock off Georgia Tech on the road.
15.) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
MVP: RB Jonathan Dwyer
Returning Starters: Offense (9) Defense (7)
After a shockingly successful season, things took an ugly turn in the Peach Bowl loss to LSU. That’s what can happen when a team has a month to prepare for the option. Of course, the return of nearly every offensive starter is a big reason for hope. RB Jonathan Dwyer will likely have a monster season, and RB Roddy Jones is back with his 8.5 ypc average. QB Josh Nesbitt has nowhere to go but up in the passing game, and the O line should be more suited to the scheme. The Defensive line took some major hits this offseason, but Paul Johnson’s squad has some talent on that side of the ball, and the offense should once again own the time of possession. A win over Va Tech at home could send this team to the ACC championship game for a rematch.
16.) Boise State Broncos
MVP: QB Kellen Moore
Returning Starters: Offense (6) Defense (5)
Jeremy Childs and Ian Johnson are gone, and you never know how a sophomore QB will do after losing a large part of his supporting cast, but he should be well protected by his offensive line. The defense will again be strong with most of the starters back, and the WAC title appears to be there for the taking. Of course, a standard of undefeated seasons has been set in Boise, and it will be on Moore to keep that going in 2009.
17.) TCU Horned Frogs
MVP: OLB Jerry Hughes
Returning Starters: Offense (7) Defense (4)
TCU is the favorite in the Mountain West for one major reason. They play defense. BYU should have another potent scoring attack, but they don’t play defense. Utah looks like a solid program, but they lost too much talent to be a serious contender this year, in my opinion. Getting Jerry Hughes back at LB is huge for this defense. Hughes could have been a first day pick had he left school, but he should be a terror for opposing offenses all season long. And he’ll have to be considering they lost seven starters. QB Andy Dalton returns to lead the attack along with six other starters from 2008.
18.) Kansas Jayhawks
MVP: WR Dezmon Briscoe
Returning Starters: Offense (7) Defense (7)
The Jayhawks slipped some last year, but the offense looks as potent as ever in 2009. WR Dezmon Briscoe is one of my favorite players, and he should be in for another great year. Of course WR Kerry Meier has great hands, and might draw some of his cathces away this season. Then there’s QB Todd Reesing who’s entering his third year as the starter, and looks to have a monster 2009 with his top two targets back along with RB Jake Sharp. The defense took a major hit with the losses of LBs Joe Mortensen, James Holt, and Mike Rivera. But they should be effective enough offensively to finally win the Big 12 North.
19.) UNC Tar Heels
MVP: S Deunta Williams
Returning Starters: Offense (6) Defense (9)
Had Hakeem Nicks returned for his senior season, this would have been the sexy pick to win the ACC championship. But despite the losses at WR, this club could still take another step toward becoming elite in the league. QB TJ Yates has nailed down the starting job, and that consistency will help. Losing three starters on the O line could go either way. It’s not exactly like those guys were blowing open holes all season. The defense should be strong with DT Marvin Austin, who needs to play up to his talent level more often. The secondary, which led the nation with 19 picks in 2008, should again be feared with the return of S Deunta Williams and CB Kendric Burney.
20.) USF Bulls
MVP: DE George Selvie
Returning Starters: Offense (5) Defense (6)
A lot of people, including myself, expected big things out of South Florida last year, and it just didn’t happen. And now the offense loses WR Taurus Johnson along with three starters from the O line. Not to mention the fact that all-star LB Tyrone McKenzie left for the NFL as well. QB Matt Grothe is still around however, and is as gritty as they come. DE George Selvie will be looking for a big year after managing only 5.5 sacks as a junior. He knows his stats will have to improve to solidify his spot in round one of the 2010 draft. This team has a lot of question marks, but there are a few bright spots, and the running game should be better after RB Mike Ford dropped 20 pounds this offseason.
21.) Nebraska Cornhuskers
MVP: DT Ndamukong Suh
Returning Starters: Offense (6) Defense (7)
The Cornhuskers were a bit of a surprise in Bo Pelini’s first year at the helm. Not too many people expected them to do that well so soon. Now it’s time to challenge for the Big 12 North title. That won’t be easy after losing QB Joe Ganz and WR Nate Swift along with three starters off the O line. But the good news is that Pelini’s forte’, the defense, should be very nasty. DT Ndamukong Suh is one of the best at his position in the nation, and he’ll live in opposing backfields this season. RB Roy Helu will be counted on to produce early while new QB Patrick Witt settles in. It won’t hurt that he averaged 6.4 ypc last year.
22.) Illinois Fighting Illini
MVP: WR Arrelious Benn
Returning Starters: Offense (8) Defense (4)
Ron Zook could be set for another surprise run at the top teams in the league. The offense was awesome last year, and QB Juice Williams is back for another year of frustrating D coordinators across the Big Ten. WR Arrelious Benn looks like the most talented WR in the nation, and Williams should be one year better at getting him the ball. The O and D line’s took some hits, and losing CB Vontae Davis will hurt, but it’s not always a bad thing to get rid of blockers who gave up more sacks than any other team in the league. The offense will have to outscore opponents early on while the D gets it feet wet, but this is a sleeper team in the Big Ten.
23.) Iowa Hawkeyes
MVP: OT Bryan Bulaga
Returning Starters: Offense (7) Defense (8)
Iowa needs a big season. It won’t be easy after watching Shonn Greene run over the conference before running to the NFL a year early. QB Ricky Stanzi’s growth will be key with no established rushing threat. He has to cut down on the costly interceptions he threw so many times in 2008. The defense should be tough, however, despite the losses of DT Mitch King and CB Bradley Fletcher. With eight starters back, the Hawkeyes should be able to buy the offense some time. Kirk Ferentz appears to be back on his game, but this season will take a lot of good coaching with no stars to speak of anywhere on the team.
24.) ECU Pirates
MVP: DE CJ Wilson
Returning Starters: Offense (10) Defense (9)
Somehow, after shocking Virginia Tech and West Virginia, the Pirates were able to keep HC Skip Holtz in Greenville. That might have more to do with this team’s success in 2009 than any specific player. Of course, getting QB Patrick Pinkney back won’t hurt. Pinkney can be dangerous when he’s on, and he’ll be another year wiser this season, but he’ll still have to prove himself against Rob Kass. Whoever ends up at QB will have a hellacious defense on their side. Nine starters are back from a unit that ranked first in CUSA in total defense. DE CJ Wilson is a special player and S Van Eskridge isn’t far behind. The defense will have to carry the offense again, but they appear to be up to the task.
25.) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
MVP: WR Golden Tate
Returning Starters: Offense (10) Defense (7)
I hesistated to put Notre Dame here, but I feel like the confidence of winning a bowl, even if it was over Hawaii, will really help this team in 2009. QB Jimmy Clausen has to finally play with some consistency and live up to his hype, but he has the tools around him to do so. OT Sam Young is one of the best in the country, and WR Golden Tate is a flat out playmaker. The schedule is again navigable, and the defense could be decent with six starters back. However, it looks like the nine starters back on offense will have to be the guys who help big Charlie keep his job. The talent is there, but it’s time for that skill to translate into wins.
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