Complete 2014 College Football Preview

It is finally that time of year again! My social life on Saturdays will officially go by the wayside on August 30^th. I have no problem with that, however. College football is the greatest sport in existence. I spend several hours every day thinking about it and its implications, which is thrilling enough until I actually sit spellbound in front of a TV from 9AM-11PM every Saturday witnessing the pageantry and thrill ride of watching 5-10 games at any given time. Last year, I did my comprehensive preview article, which is about to be renewed for a new season, the first in 8 years where an SEC team is not the reigning champion and the first one ever where we have some form of a playoff! This article will rank the Power 5 conferences with my predictions for season-end standings, some top 5-10 lists of individuals and teams to keep an eye on, my preseason top 25, and finally my Bowl/Playoff predictions. Check it out!

Conference Rankings

Atlantic Coast Conference (#5)

ATLANTIC

7. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (HC: Dave Clawson, 1^st season)

6. Syracuse Orange (HC: Scott Shafer, 2^nd season)

5. North Carolina State Wolfpack (HC: Dave Doeren, 2^nd season)

4. Boston College (HC: Steve Addazio, 2^nd season)

3. Louisville Cardinals (HC: Bobby Petrino, 5^th season)

2. Clemson Tigers (HC: Dabo Swinney, 7^th season)

1. Florida State Seminoles (HC: Jimbo Fisher, 5^th season)

COASTAL

7. Pittsburgh Panthers (HC: Paul Chryst, 2^nd season)

6. Virginia Cavaliers (HC: Mike London, 5^th season)

5. Miami Hurricane (HC: Al Golden, 4^th season)

4. Duke Blue Devils (HC: David Cutcliffe, 7^th season)

3. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (HC: Paul Johnson, 7^th season)

2. North Carolina Tar Heels (HC: Larry Fedora, 3^rd season)

1. Virginia Tech Hokies (HC: Frank Beamer, 28^th season)

The ACC has gotten been constantly shifting teams throughout the past few years. Adding the best of the AAC in Louisville is interesting. I would have loved to see Teddy Bridgewater vs Florida State last year. Anyway, the Hokies have been sputtering in recent years, but the rest of the teams in their division seem primed for a down year after losing key players. I see them as the unlucky squad who has to face the almost certainly unbeaten Seminoles in the title game. The bottom four teams in the Atlantic have basically no chance at challenging for the conference, so as it has been in the past few years, the Florida State-Clemson game will decide the division/conference. Also, look for North Carolina to have a nice year. Larry Fedora has had a couple years to get his legs under him. They have the talent to take the Coastal with some luck.

Offensive Player of the Year: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

Defensive Player of the Year: Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson

Coach of the Year: Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech

Conference Championship Game: Florida State over Virginia Tech

Big Ten Conference (#4)

EAST

7. Rutgers Scarlett Knights (HC: Kyle Flood, 3^rd season)

6. Indiana Hoosiers (HC: Kevin Wilson, 4^th season)

5. Michigan Wolverines (HC: Brady Hoke, 4^th season)

4. Maryland Terrapins (HC: Randy Edsall, 4^th season)

3. Penn State Nittany Lions (HC: James Franklin, 1^st season)

2. Michigan State Spartans (HC: Mark Dantonio, 8^th season)

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (HC: Urban Meyer, 3^rd season)

WEST

7. Purdue Boilermakers (HC: Darrell Hazell, 2^nd season)

6. Minnesota Golden Gophers (HC: Jerry Kill, 4^th season)

5. Illinois Fighting Illini (HC: Tim Beckman, 3^rd season)

4. Iowa Hawkeyes (HC: Kirk Ferentz, 16^th season)

3. Northwestern Wildcats (HC: Pat Fitzgerald, 9^th season)

2. Nebraska Cornhuskers (HC: Bo Pelini, 7^th season)

1. Wisconsin Badgers (HC: Gary Andersen, 2^nd season)

The Big Ten is extremely top heavy and becoming a compelling conference, but the new division realignment is really lopsided. Wisconsin should have very little trouble taking the west, unless Nebraska makes a surprising run with an unproven quarterback. The East is really where the interest lies. Ohio State and Michigan State are the top contenders, and seeing the clash of styles on a more regular basis will be amazing. Michigan looks like they are going to have a slide back this year after losing a lot of offensive talent (their only talent). Maryland appears to be one of the teams that could be a newcomer that no one can really get a read on in year one. They also have Stefon Diggs, one of the most exciting receivers in the nation. Penn State will be great under new coach James Franklin and dynamite QB Christian Hackenberg, but they are still ineligible, sadly.

Offensive Player of the Year: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

Defensive Player of the Year: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

Coach of the Year: Gary Andersen, Wisconsin

Conference Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin

Big 12 Conference (#3)

10. Kansas Jayhawks (HC: Charlie Weis, 3^rd season)

9. TCU Horned Frogs (HC: Gary Patterson, 15^th season)

8. Iowa State Cyclones (HC: Paul Rhodes, 6^th season)

7. West Virginia Mountaineers (HC: Dana Holgorsen, 4^th season)

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys (HC: Mike Gundy, 10^th season)

5. Texas Longhorns (HC: Charlie Strong, 1^st season)

4. Kansas State Wildcats (HC: Bill Snyder, 23^rd season)

3. Baylor Bears (HC: Art Briles, 7^th season)

2. Texas Tech Red Raiders (HC: Kliff Kingsbury, 2^nd season)

1. Oklahoma Sooners (HC: Bob Stoops, 16^th season)

This conference is always hard to predict. Really, the top 7-8 teams could finish in any order depending on how schedules shape up. The most alarming thing about these rankings is probably seeing Texas Tech finishing second. Last year, they started off extremely hot, only to cool off due to a rookie head coach and a walk on true freshman QB. They will be better prepared for success this year, and Kingsbury is an offensive genius. Texas can take the conference, but I am more confident in the Longhorns underachieving than I am in Charlie Strong turning the program around immediately. Oklahoma is the team with all of the returning talent and definite momentum after taking down Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Never count out offensive power Baylor or a Bill Snyder-coached team either. Who am I kidding…I have no idea how this conference will line up.

Offensive Player of the Year: Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor

Defensive Player of the Year: Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas

Coach of the Year: Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech

Automatic Bid: Oklahoma

Southeastern Conference (#2)

EAST

7. Kentucky Wildcats (HC: Mark Stoops, 2^nd season)

6. Vanderbilt Commodores (HC: Derek Mason, 1^st season)

5. Tennessee Volunteers (HC: Butch Jones, 2^nd season)

4. Florida Gators (HC: Will Muschamp, 4^th season)

3. South Carolina Gamecocks (HC: Steve Spurrier, 10^th season)

2. Missouri Tigers (HC: Gary Pinkel, 14^th season)

1. Georgia Bulldogs (HC: Mark Richt, 14^th season)

WEST

7. Mississippi Rebels (HC: Hugh Freeze, 3^rd season)

6. Arkansas Razorbacks (HC: Bret Bielema, 2^nd season)

5. Texas A&M Aggies (HC: Kevin Sumlin, 3^rd season)

4. Mississippi State Bulldogs (HC: Dan Mullen, 6^th season)

3. LSU Tigers (HC: Les Miles, 10^th season)

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (HC: Nick Saban, 8^th season)

1. Auburn Tigers (HC: Gus Malzahn, 2^nd season)

The SEC West is absurd, almost as much as the Pac-12 North. Everyone is predicting a surprise Ole Miss run or a Mississippi State rise to the top. How is that possibly going to happen with what is ahead of them? I actually think Texas A&M could be a lot better than last year, but they still sit in 5^th place? This is crazy. No one is going undefeated in this conference. The Iron Bowl will likely be the game of the year again. In the East, it is a much clearer path. Georgia has a ton of returning talent, even without Aaron Murray. Missouri cannot do what they did in 2013 again. South Carolina is always going to challenge. Florida isn’t quite ready to rise up yet. Whoever takes the East is going to win the SEC Championship, just because the West is such a war zone that they will all be beaten down by that point.

Offensive Player of the Year: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

Defensive Player of the Year: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida

Coach of the Year: Mark Richt, Georgia

Conference Championship Game: Georgia over Auburn

Pacific-12 Conference (#1)

NORTH

6. California Golden Bears (HC: Sonny Dykes, 2^nd season)

5. Oregon State Beavers (HC: Mike Riley, 14^th season)

4. Washington State Cougars (HC: Mike Leach, 3^rd season)

3. Stanford Cardinal (HC: David Shaw, 4^th season)

2. Washington Huskies (HC: Chris Petersen, 1^st season)

1. Oregon Ducks (HC: Mark Helfrich, 2^nd season)

SOUTH

6. Utah Utes (HC: Kyle Whittingham, 11^th season)

5. Arizona State Sun Devils (HC: Todd Graham, 3^rd season)

4. Colorado Buffaloes (HC: Mark MacIntyre, 2^nd season)

3. Arizona Wildcats (HC: Rich Rodriguez, 3^rd season)

2. USC Trojans (HC: Steve Sarkisian, 1^st season)

1. UCLA Bruins (HC: Jim Mora, 3^rd season)

Now, to what is unquestionably the best and deepest conference in the land, we have the teams out west. The North is going to be a battle. Oregon, Washington, and Stanford will likely split the games between each other. It all depends on if they can escape their rivalry games and how they play against the top of the South. I suspect Oregon will grade out the best, but maybe that is just a fear of getting my hopes up too far for my Huskies. The South appears to be pretty set with UCLA at the top, but USC has the talent and coaches to take over very soon. The window for the Bruins to keep their crown in LA is closing quickly. Colorado definitely improved at the end of last year, and I suspect that they will be able to fight off a few conference wins this year. I am probably underrating Oregon State again, but that has become a tradition, I guess. They should play South Carolina sometime. They are in the same boat every year.

Offensive Player of the Year: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

Defensive Player of the Year: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

Coach of the Year: Jim Mora, UCLA

Conference Championship Game: UCLA over Oregon

Top 5 BCS College Football Playoff Busters

5. Marshall Thundering Herd – They will almost certainly run the table. They do not play anything close to Power 5 talent all season. It depends on how much everyone falls in love with Rakeem Cato if they will even be on the discussion table for the playoff.

                Toughest games: vs Ohio, vs Western Kentucky

4. UCF Knights – Yes, Blake Bortles is gone, but they had enough talent to take a BCS bowl last season. Most of it returns, and they have quite the slate of games this year. If they approach another unbeaten season, they might get enough respect to make a run at the top 4.

                Toughest games: vs Penn State, at Missouri, vs BYU

3. Wyoming Cowboys – With 3-time defending FCS national champion Craig Bohl calling the plays in an already dynamic spread attack, the Cowboys will soon rise to the top of the non-AQ programs. This year will be tough, but don’t completely count them out.

Toughest games: at Oregon, at Michigan State, at Fresno State, at Boise State

2. Boise State Broncos – Under new coach Bryan Harsin, the Broncos will have a new look. He has been on the staff in the past, however, and their tradition of success will likely not take too much of a hit.

                Toughest games: vs Ole Miss, at Nevada, vs Utah State

1. Southern Methodist Mustangs – They have the type of schedule that if they are able to run the table, they will have a good shot at sneaking into the playoff. It is a brutal road, but maybe this is finally their return to national prominence.

                Toughest games: at Baylor, at North Texas, vs Texas A&M, vs TCU

Top 5 Defenses

5. Mississippi State Bulldogs – They ranked in the top 20 last year in total defense, and they really hit their stride late. Losses to the draft were minimal, so look for this to be that team in the SEC that is able to spring upsets simply because they make it ugly.

4. USC Trojans – The Trojans quietly had one of the best defenses last season, despite being in an offensive conference. As the sanctions have slowly gotten lifted, we have started to see the talent and depth on the defensive side of the ball. With Justin Wilcox calling the shots, this will be one of the best units in the nation this season.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide – They lose a handful of All-Americans to the draft. They also had their fourth straight #1 recruiting class filled with defensive talent and athletes. With Vinnie Sunseri returning from injury, they have their leader and rock that will make this another top 5 defense for Nick Saban and Kirby Smart.

2. Florida State Seminoles – They play in a conference without too many challenging offensive attacks, and they return several great players like Jalen Ramsey and Ronald Darby from their National Championship team. They will be stifling again in 2014.

1. Michigan State Spartans – The Spartans lost a host of NFL players, but they still have the scariest defensive line with Shilique Calhoun and Marcus Rush and one of the best coaches/motivators in the nation. They will be near impossible to move the ball against again this season.

Top 5 Offenses

5. UCLA Bruins – They were clicking on all cylinders by the end of 2013 behind Brett Hundley and Myles Jack. If they continue to use the latter on both sides of the ball, then this offense will roll over almost any defense.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes – Braxton Miller could single-handedly make this a top 20 offense, but he has incoming weapons to replace the likes of Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall. Meyer has slowly remade his Florida offense with even more athletic and impossible-to-guard players. This team should torch most Big Ten defenses.

3. Auburn Tigers – Replacing Greg Robinson and Tre Mason will be difficult, but they have reinforcements in the likes of Cameron Artys-Payne and such. Nick Marshall seemed to develop some passing skills late in the year, so if this can be more than just a running attack, then Auburn should roll over the overrated SEC defenses.

2. Oregon Ducks – Marcus Mariota returning to school did wonders for this program. With returning backs Byron Marshall and Thomas Tyner, this offense will be unstoppable again, as long as they let Mariota do his thing. There is no more talented player with the ball in his hands in all of college football.

1. Baylor Bears – Playmakers leave, but seeing how they averaged 600+ YPG and 52+ PPG last year, it is clear that the backups got some time. Shock Linwood is one guy I definitely have my eye on to be the next great one at Baylor, taking his place in the backfield alongside All-American candidate Bryce Petty.

Top 5 Coach of the Year Contenders

5. Chris Petersen, Washington – He is one of the elite coaches in the nation, and if he can get the Huskies over the hump in year one, then he will officially be the best coach in college football.

4. Mark Richt, Georgia – He is constantly on the hot seat, but he has the type of returning talent to make a run at a national title once again.

3. Charlie Strong, Texas – He has all of the talent in the world on his squad, but not even the beloved Mack Brown could make the most of it. If he takes Texas to the top of the conference this soon, then he will officially be anointed as the next great one in Austin.

2. Mark Dantionio, Michigan State – Objectively, he should have won the award last year. If Sparty can continue their string of overachieving, then his votes will come flooding in this time.

1. Jim Mora, UCLA – If the Bruins are able to get out of the gauntlet that is the Pac-12, then look for Jim Mora to start getting national notices and offers to take over one of the top programs in the nation.

Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects

5. Leonard Williams, DE, USC – He was the anchor of the improved Trojan defensive line last season. Under the new regime, look for his talent to be maximized and for him to have an All-America caliber year.

4. Cedric Oguehi, OT, Texas A&M – It is getting a little boring seeing all of these Aggie linemen at the top of drafts, but they just keep pumping them out. Playing RT for Johnny Manziel is just as important as LT, and this year he will get to show off his true talent under a more traditional offense.

3. Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska – He is clearly the best pass rusher in the draft discussion. He had a monster year in his JC transfer season, and he will be essentially unguardable in his last year in college.

2. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – We will see how he does without most of his receivers from last year, but his poise and decision-making are far beyond his years. I am not 100% sure that he will declare, especially if he can keep his nose clean.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – There is always a hyped up spread QB in the draft discussion, yet most of them need work actually throwing the ball. He has some of the best arm talent in the nation to go with the WR-type speed and elusiveness. He is going to be a game-changer at the next level.

Top 10 Heisman Contenders

10. Myles Jack, RB/LB, UCLA – His candidacy depends on how much of a role they give him on offense. He was a stub at linebacker, but then he was breathtaking when he took over the full time duties on offense as well. That versatility will bring him votes…if they utilize him as such.

9. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska – His production throughout his career has increased and continued to garner national attention. The passing game is not going to be stellar, so just like the past couple years, it is going to be all Abdullah. Look for an insane year from the tailback.

8. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor – In that offense, anyone can put up 5000 yards passing. He just happens to be a good, maybe even great, one. If the offense is as much of a juggernaut as the past three seasons, then he will get an invite.

7. Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina – He had a big year last season, and he will have the backfield basically to himself. In the SEC, if he has a 1400+ yard season, that is normally enough to get national attention.

6. Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn – He is going to get a lot more publicity this year with finalist Tre Mason leaving for the NFL and being a target from week one. If he continues to develop his passing, then he is going to put up scary numbers in Gus Malzahn’s offense.

5. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia – He finally has the backfield to himself, so we really can see what he can do. He has grown up so much throughout his career. If Georgia is as good as they can be this season, then he will be the sole reason why.

4. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – There is no more important player to his team than Miller is to the Buckeyes. Put the offense on his shoulders, and he will produce. Somehow, he has remained quite underrated throughout his career.

3. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – Winston has the talent and conference to become the second two-time winner ever. If he matures and improves on his stunning freshman year, then he could be right there for another Heisman invite.

2. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – Mariota is going to have stats that are going to blow everyone away. They need to go unbeaten, evidently, for him to have a chance.

1. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA – They are going to be hard to beat, and most of it is going to fall on Hundley’s shoulders, who I believe is the best and most complete QB in the nation. If they have the type of season I am predicting, then this could turn into a no-brainer.

Preseason Top 25

So much of college football these days are dominated by redshirt freshmen and sophomores, seeing how 6 of the last 7 winners of the Heisman trophy were playing in their first or second year of major college football, and four of them played for national championships. If you have the right young core, then your team will succeed. The teams with the top past few recruiting classes and the right talent-maximizing coaches will be the teams to beat at year’s end.

Others receiving votes: Arizona State, Florida, Nebraska, Oregon State, Virginia Tech

25. Mississippi State – They haven’t had a great season in a while, but this year they have all of their key pieces returning. They are probably going to end up with a handful of losses due to their division, but they are as talent-filled as they have been in a long time.

24. Marshall – Rakeem Cato is returning to school, which is about all you need to know. He is the best QB that no one knows about. He could start at most any other school in the nation. They should absolutely roll over the rest of the Conference USA.

23. Texas – They have continued to pipe in the best talent in Texas, yet they underachieve. They finally have what appears to be the right guy for the job in Charlie Strong, who will bring a balance and businessmanlike attitude back to the program.

22. Missouri – They shocked everyone last year (I had them finishing last in the division) by making an SEC Championship appearance, but this year will be slightly more difficult. I do like Maty Mauk, though. That kid can take this team places.

21. Clemson – Losing Sammy Watkins and Tajh Boyd will be a bigger stumbling block than many are projecting. They will take a step back, but they have enough returning playmakers to still be the second best team in the ACC.

20. Texas Tech – The Red Raiders got off to a quick start last year, and basically all of their pieces are returning, aside from star tight end Jace Amaro. The offense should be borderline unstoppable this year, but they need to get a defense to go along.

19. Kansas State – We should be getting accustomed to seeing K-State overachieve with modest talent. They have a few returning playmakers on offense, and a QB who hit his stride late. Bill Snyder will make this the best coached team in the conference by week 3.

18. USC – Steve Sarkisian was able to turn around Washington immediately, and now he steps into the biggest gig on the west coast. He has all of the talent he needs, and the sanctions are basically gone. He can return this struggling program to the top of the heap in a year or two.

17. Texas A&M – Yes, Johnny Manziel is gone, but Kevin Sumlin still has an elite offensive line and a dynamic group of returning defensive players. We have yet to see a decent defense under Sumlin, but the returnees have the experience to be moderately good.

16. Wisconsin – The team, aside from the opener against LSU, has a very manageable schedule. If they survive week one, they could run the table in a slightly down Big Ten.

15. South Carolina – Another season, another case of me probably underrating Steve Spurrier. I do not understand how he does it, but this is probably going to be another boring 11 win campaign.

14. Baylor – Bryce Petty returning to school was key for this program. They will not have the historic offensive output they had last year, but it can be close. Look for another high-flying, no defensive year for the Bears.

13. Washington – There is no better developer of talent than Chris Petersen, and he actually has some serious weapons to play with this year. This team is talented enough to take the conference, but we will see how long it takes for the coaches to implement their system.

12. Notre Dame – They are not a sexy pick to be up this high, but their schedule shapes up nicely and they will likely have their QB Everett Golson back after a season-long suspension.

11. LSU – Week one against Wisconsin will tell a lot about this team, who won’t have another real challenge until October. They were young last year, so this seems like time for the Mad Hatter to rally the troops and get in title contention.

10. Stanford – The Cardinal have become a staple in the top 10 over the past few years. Every year, it seems like they lose too much talent and seem poised for a step back. They reload, and they have a rock at QB. Look for another great year for David Shaw, future coach of the Oakland Raiders.

9. Ohio State – I find it hard to fathom how bad the defenses at Ohio State have been under Urban Meyer. That will likely change this year. Braxton Miller can put up points on his own, but if the defense is still as bad as we saw at the end of last season, then they will not make it out of the Big Ten Championship Game again.

8. Michigan State – The Spartans were undeniably the best team at the end of last season, with Connor Cook becoming one of the most reliable QBs in the nation and a stifling defense that shut down everyone. They return the key members of the defensive line and will likely have another ugly-looking season of double digit wins.

7. Georgia – Aaron Murray has finally graduated, so the Bulldogs might actually have a chance to win a big game or two. Todd Gurley should torch every defense he lines up against, as he has the past two years.

6. Oklahoma – The Sooners finally appeared to solve their QB issue at the end of the season. Their team was really young, and they blossomed late. This team might not lose a game, but the Big 12 schedule is a gauntlet of rivalries and tough environments.

5. Auburn – Tre Mason and a host of talent left in the draft, but Auburn’s past couple recruiting classes under Gus Malzahn have assured that they are back and ready to challenge for national titles on a more regular basis.

4. Oregon – With Marcus Mariota returning and an improving defense rising up the ranks, Oregon should be in position to take the Pac-12 North crown back from Stanford. They will likely get two shots at UCLA as well.

3. Alabama – The Crimson Tide have to replace one of college football’s greatest champions at QB, but weren’t we talking about the same thing when Greg McElroy graduated? This program is a machine.

2. Florida State – Yes, Jameis Winston lost many of his key targets on offense, but the defense is still stout and Winston will be a more mature player his sophomore season. They will almost certainly run the table in a weak ACC.

1. UCLA – The Bruins have probably the best returning quarterback in the nation in Brett Hundley. They have the most versatile player since Charles Woodson in Myles Jack. They have the right coach. This is their year.

Bowl Predictions

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Auburn over Ohio State

Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma over Marshall

Fiesta Bowl: Oregon over Wisconsin

Orange Bowl: LSU over Notre Dame

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Rose Bowl): Georgia over Florida State

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Sugar Bowl): UCLA over Alabama

National Championship Game: UCLA over Georgia

The playoff was difficult to figure out in year one without any basis for how the new committee is going to vote. I figured at least a few SEC teams will weasel their way in there. Marshall is going to be undefeated, and the top-ranked non-Power 5 team is guaranteed a spot in the big bowls. Defending champs Florida State really have a cakewalk schedule again, but UCLA is the best and most dynamic team in the nation. They should be the champions when all is said and done. It will be fascinating to follow this race as the season goes along.

So, there you have it. Feel educated and ready for the season? Are you as pumped as I am to finally see some live games? Who do you think will be in the inaugural CFP? Let me know in the comments.

Complete 2013 College Football Preview

Football season is almost here! I care more about college football than any other sport, so even though “almost here” means that the first slate of games is in like six weeks, the Conference Media Days and fall practices are starting. I am not jumping the gun too much, after all, I predict the next year’s Oscars in March. Without further ado, check out the complete, extensive, and probably unintentionally biased college football preview!

Conference Rankings and Breakdown

After sifting through these rankings, not only will you know where your team will finish in 2013 within its conference, but you will also know where your BCS (I cannot wait until next year when that no longer exists) conference stands as a whole. This is not an exact science, obviously, since teams are coming in and out of conferences seemingly daily, and there was a stretch last year when West Virginia looked as if it would roll over the Big 12 before getting taken to the woodshed by Texas Tech and losing 6 of its last 8. We have no real basis for predicting how some of these teams will do (I am looking at you Big East American Athletic Conference!). It should be fun, though. Check it out.

American Athletic Conference (#6)

10. Memphis Tigers (HC: Justin Fuente, 2^nd season)

9. Temple Owls (HC: Matt Rhule, 1^st season)

8. Southern Methodist Mustangs (HC: June Jones, 6^th season)

7. South Florida Bulls (HC: Willie Taggert, 1^st season)

6. Connecticut Huskies (HC: Paul Pasqualoni, 3^rd season)

5. Central Florida Knights (HC: George O’Leary, 10^th season)

4. Houston Cougars (HC: Anthony Levine, 2^nd season)

3. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (HC: Kyle Flood, 2^nd season)

2. Louisville Cardinals (HC: Charlie Strong, 4^th season)

1. Cincinnati Bearcats (HC: Tommy Tuberville, 1^st season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

Defensive Player of the Year: Jamal Merrell, LB, Rutgers

Coach of the Year: Tommy Tuberville, Cincinnati

Automatic BCS Bid: Cincinnati

This conference is going to be interesting. The top three teams are very well defined at this point. It is going to probably be another split at the top, even though Rutgers lost nearly half of its starting lineup to the NFL. Cincinnati is going to get an immediate boost from new head coach Tommy Tuberville who turned Texas Tech into a formidable team in the Big 12 quickly. He is inheriting a lot of talent too. Louisville has the best coach and QB and, with some luck, could potentially run the table. The AAC has great offenses all over the place, but the few with solid defenses will rise to the top.

Atlantic Coast Conference (#5)

ATLANTIC

7. Duke Blue Devils (HC: David Cutcliffe, 6^th season)

6. Virginia Cavaliers (HC: Mike London, 4^th season)

5. Pittsburgh Panthers (HC: Paul Chryst, 2^nd season)

4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (HC: Paul Johnson, 6^th season)

3. Virginia Tech Hokies (HC: Frank Beamer, 27^th season)

2. Miami-Florida Hurricanes (HC: Al Golden, 3^rd season)

1. North Carolina Tar Heels (HC: Larry Fedora, 2^nd season)

COASTAL

7. Boston College Eagles (HC: Steve Addazio, 1^st season)

6. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (HC: Jim Grobe, 13^th season)

5. North Carolina State Wolfpack (Dave Doeren, 1^st season)

4. Maryland Terrapins (HC: Randy Edsall, 3^rd season)

3. Florida State Seminoles (HC: Jimbo Fisher, 4^th season)

2. Syracuse Orange (HC: Scott Shafer, 1^st season)

1. Clemson Tigers (Dabo Swinney, 6^th season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson

Defensive Player of the Year: Lamarcus Joyner, S, Florida State

Coach of the Year: Larry Fedora, North Carolina

Conference Championship Game: Clemson over North Carolina

This conference seems to be all but over already. Clemson is the prohibitive favorite with the majority of the key components of its squad returning from last year’s bowl victory over LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl (maybe the best matchup the bowl has ever had). They are going to put up crazy offensive numbers once again led by Heisman contender Tajh Boyd. They would be a dark horse candidate for the BCS title game if they didn’t have Georgia and in-state rival South Carolina in the non-conference. Florida State is going to have a bit of a disappointing season finishing third in the Coastal division without 4-time bowl winner E.J. Manuel and with newcomer Syracuse bumping them down a spot. The other side is going to come down to who can avoid bad losses to the Dukes and Boston Colleges of the world. Miami is poised for a good year, as is returning VT quarterback Logan Thomas, but I feel like North Carolina takes the Atlantic Division fresh off of its bowl ban. They continue to get top level talent, and Fedora can really build a program. That will be an entertaining title game for sure.

Big Ten Conference (#4)

LEGENDS

6. Minnesota Golden Gophers (HC: Jerry Kill, 3^rd season)

5. Iowa Hawkeyes (HC: Kirk Ferentz: 15^th season)

4. Northwestern Wildcats (HC: Pat Fitzgerald, 8^th season)

3. Michigan State Spartans (HC: Mark Dantonio, 7^th season)

2. Michigan Wolverines (HC: Brady Hoke, 3^rd season)

1. Nebraska Cornhuskers (HC: Bo Pelini, 6^th season)

LEADERS

6. Penn State Nittany Lions (HC: Bill O’Brien, 2^nd season)

5. Illinois Fighting Illini (HC: Tim Beckman, 2^nd season)

4. Indiana Hoosiers (HC: Kevin R. Wilson, 3^rd season)

3. Purdue Boilermakers (HC: Darrell Hazell, 1^st season)

2. Wisconsin Badgers (HC: Gary Andersen, 1^st season)

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (HC: Urban Meyer, 2^nd season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State

Defensive Player of the Year: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State

Coach of the Year: Urban Meyer, Ohio State

Conference Championship Game: Ohio State over Nebraska

This conference is an interesting case. We have last year’s ineligible team that made undefeated look easy and returns a host of its starters, including Heisman frontrunner Braxton Miller. Nebraska is coming off a whipping at the hands of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game after going undefeated in the Legends Division. Wisconsin had a Rose Bowl berth, but they lost their coach before the game. Michigan is poised to have a rebound year of sorts when they will not have to be handcuffed by the electric play and limited passing game of Denard Robinson. Devin Gardner looked better than Robinson in glimpses last season. Michigan State is one of those that everyone feels will drop down each year, but they just linger around and take the top teams down to the wire. Penn State is going to have a huge falloff, though. It is years 2-4 of their sanctions that will really be hard on the Nittany Lions. The lack of scholarships and hope for any of the recruits to play in a bowl game is lost. It will be tough sledding for reigning national coach of the year Bill O’Brien. Oh, and watch out for Northwestern. That team can play. They have Kain Colter and Venric Mark coming back, which may be enough to contend in a tough Legends Division.

Southeastern Conference (#3)

EAST

7. Missouri Tigers (HC: Gary Pinkel, 13^th season)

6. Vanderbilt Commodores (HC: James Franklin, 3^rd season)

5. Kentucky Wildcats (HC: Mark Stoops, 1^st season)

4. Florida Gators (HC: Will Muschamp, 3^rd season)

3. South Carolina Gamecocks (Steve Spurrier, 9^th season)

2. Tennessee Volunteers (HC: Butch Jones, 1^st season)

1. Georgia Bulldogs (HC: Mark Richt, 13^th season)

WEST

7. Mississippi State Bulldogs (HC: Dan Mullen, 5^th season)

6. Auburn Tigers (HC: Gus Malzahn, 1^st season)

5. Arkansas Razorbacks (HC: Bret Bielema, 1^st season)

4. Texas A&M Aggies (Kevin Sumlin, 2^nd season)

3. Louisiana State Tigers (HC: Les Miles, 9^th season)

2. Mississippi Rebels (HC: Hugh Freeze, 2^nd season)

1. Alabama Crimson Tide (HC: Nick Saban, 7^th season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia

Defensive Player of the Year: C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama

Coach of the Year: Butch Jones, Tennessee

Conference Championship Game: Alabama over Georgia

Everyone will cry that ranking the SEC 3^rd is ridiculous, but they are just so weak at the bottom that they cannot stand up with the two deepest conferences. In the East, we have the defending division champion Georgia with its 4-year starting QB coming back, as well as its game-breaking young running backs. They should not have too much of an issue getting back to the Conference Title Game, but Tennessee, with new head coach Butch Jones, may be the only conference loss for the Bulldogs. They get Georgia at home, but they have three tough road games, which will make it difficult for them to actually take the division. Look for a huge bounce back from the Volunteers. Florida lost way too many starters to compete this year, and South Carolina is going to be in that usual 9-10 win range and miss out on the big time bowls. On the West side, we have Alabama. That is really all there is. I cannot see them losing to the Aggies again, even though the game is in front of the 12^th Man in College Station. A&M lost a bunch of starters, and they will fall back the middle of the conference. Bielema will get the Razorbacks back, but it will take a while after the mess they have been put through the last couple seasons. LSU is always going to be around, but they just do not have the offense. Ole Miss is on the rise and will greatly improve on the 7 wins from a year ago. Once conference play gets going, their spread attack will be in full force and they will be a tough out. None of that really matters, though. The Tide will roll, maybe go undefeated this year, and almost certainly return to the National Championship Game.

Big 12 Conference (#2)

10. Kansas Jayhawks (HC: Charlie Weis, 2^nd season)

9. West Virginia Mountaineers (HC: Dana Holgorsen, 3^rd season)

8. Iowa State Cyclones (HC: Paul Rhodes, 5^th season)

7. Kansas State Wildcats (Bill Snyder, 22^nd total season)

6. Baylor Bears (HC: Art Briles, 6^th season)

5. Texas Christian Horned Frogs (HC: Gary Patterson, 13^th season)

4. Oklahoma Sooners (HC: Bob Stoops, 15^th season)

3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Kliff Kingsbury, 1^st season)

2. Texas Longhorns (HC: Mack Brown, 16^th season)

1. Oklahoma State Cowboys (HC: Mike Gundy, 9^th season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor

Defensive Player of the Year: Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas

Coach of the Year: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State

Automatic BCS Bid: Oklahoma State

The Big 12 is the deepest conference in college football right now. Everyone except the pathetic Jayhawks is viable and bowl ready. There are legitimately 6 or 7 teams that could take the conference this year. Texas has a host of returning starters, and we have to think that the defense will be improved from last year. Texas Tech is going to continue putting up big numbers offensively with Kingsbury as head coach, adding to their sneaky good defense. Kansas State may take a step back without Colin Klein, but Snyder can coach them up better than anyone. TCU can make a run in their second year in the conference. Oklahoma is going to look totally different with Blake Bell as the full time QB. Baylor is going to be an offensive juggernaut, but I just cannot take them totally seriously until they field a competitive defense. The team that has been up there a lot recently that will wind up with the conference title is Oklahoma State. They have the important starters back, minus Joseph Randle. They are poised and well coached. Their schedule looks pretty manageable, with the only tough road games in Austin and Lubbock. No team is going to finish with less than two losses this year. The conference is way too competitive.

Pacific-12 Conference (#1)

NORTH

6. California-Berkeley Golden Bears (HC: Sonny Dykes, 1^st season)

5. Washington State Cougars (Mike Leach, 2^nd season)

4. Oregon State Beavers (HC: Mike Riley, 13^th total season)

3. Washington Huskies (HC: Steve Sarkisian, 5^th season)

2. Stanford Cardinal (HC: David Shaw, 3^rd season)

1. Oregon Ducks (HC: Mark Helfrich, 1^st season)

SOUTH

6. Colorado Buffaloes (HC: Mike MacIntyre, 1^st season)

5. Arizona State Sun Devils (HC: Todd Graham, 2^nd season)

4. Arizona Wildcats (HC: Rich Rodriguez, 2^nd season)

3. Utah Utes (HC: Kyle Whittingham, 9^th season)

2. Southern California Trojans (HC: Lane Kiffin, 4^th season)

1. California-Los Angeles Bruins (HC: Jim Mora, 2^nd season)

Offensive Player of the Year: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA

Coach of the Year: Mark Helfrich, Oregon

Conference Championship Game: Oregon over UCLA

The best conference in the land is going to be a battle. I cannot see any of the teams going unbeaten in conference this year. The North is, of course, the best division in all of college football. Stanford and Oregon are arguable two of the five best teams in the nation. Oregon State is in that Michigan State mold, where everyone underestimates every single year. Washington has a senior quarterback and could make some noise with a 9 or so win season. Washington State proved last year that they can be a tough team to contend with at home. Leach’s offense promises to be much more consistent this year. California has a new coach and a lot of talent. Other than maybe the top two, the other four could finish in any order. I feel like the Ducks will wind up with the North title, with their only loss coming against UCLA at home. The South is probably going to come down to the Los Angeles schools. UCLA has a chunk of its division champion team back, most importantly Brett Hundley. USC should certainly have a better season than last year without the curse of the preseason #1 ranking. Utah is slowly climbing up the ranks as it gains more Pac-12 ready talent. The other three teams are all still breaking in new head coaches. MacIntyre is a great hire for Colorado. He turned San Jose State into a 10 win team, just two years removed from a 1-12 laughing stock. He will get Colorado back to the middle in the next couple years. The South champ is going to be UCLA, but I cannot see them beating Oregon twice in the same year. Ducks get the Rose Bowl berth.

Top 5 BCS Busters

5. Tulsa Golden Hurricane – The 11 win team from a year ago has their returning starting QB Cody Green.  Their Conference USA schedule is manageable. This is a team that definitely needs to run the table to get in the BCS, however.

                Toughest games: at Oklahoma, vs Iowa State, at Louisiana Tech

4. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs – They blew everyone away last year with their high powered offense and skill position talent. While their quarterback and receiver are gone, they still have standout running back Kenneth Dixon and a very doable road to the BCS.

                Toughest games: at NC State, at Kansas, vs Tulsa

3. Boise State Broncos – They are always going to be in the running. Last year was an off year for them, when they only won 11 games. This year, their schedule shapes up nicely. Senior QB Joe Southwick seemed to really be running the offense well at the end of the year.

                Toughest games: at Washington, at Utah State, vs Nevada, at BYU, at San Diego State

2. Northern Illinois Huskies – The BCS team from last year is set to make another run this year. They will not start off the year under anyone’s radar, however. The MAC may not be as great as it was last year, either. They need to be undefeated this year, and seeing how Jordan Lynch played last year, that isn’t out of the question. Losing their head coach may hurt them a bit, though.

                Toughest games: at Iowa, at Purdue, at Kent State

1. Arkansas State Red Wolves – They may have lost standout dual threat QB Ryan Aplin and head coach Gus Malzahn, but this team was as complete as any last year. They basically dominated the Sun Belt. I expect more of the same this year.

                Toughest games: at Auburn, at Missouri, at Louisiana-Monroe

Top 5 Defenses

5. Michigan State Spartans – They lost William Gholston to the NFL, but they still return a few key starters, including elite cornerback Darqueze Dennard. They are always well coached and huge up front. Expect their defense to keep them in a bunch of games again this year, as its offense will not be up to par just yet.

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish – This defense will hold most offenses to low numbers again, despite losing all everything linebacker Manti Te’o. They still have probably the most elite defensive line in the country, with Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt leading the way.

3. South Carolina Gamecocks – They have Jadaveon Clowney, which basically justifies them being on this list. He is the freakiest edge rusher I have seen in a long time. Add in a few other key returning starters from one of the better defenses last year, and you have one of the stingier potential defensive squads for 2013.

2. Stanford Cardinal – The Cardinal lost a few of their main contributors from a year ago, but David Shaw has shown an ability to replace his stars with almost no transition period. Expect Shayne Skov and company to continue the new tradition of defensive dominance by Stanford.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide – They may have lost another crop of players to the NFL, but once again, they are going to be loaded defensively. Led by likely All-American LB C.J. Mosley, this group is going to be scary good again, being as tough to move the ball on as any defense in the last few years.

Top 5 Offenses

5. Baylor Bears – We saw how well first time starter Nick Florence could do after the team lost RGIII (that is almost 45 PPG, by the way). Now they have Bryce Petty as the signal caller, who has the potential to be every bit as good as Florence. Lache Seastrunk could be a Heisman contender. Tevin Reese stretches the field as well as any Big 12 receiver. Look for some scary numbers by this offense, especially because their defense cannot stop anybody.

4. Clemson Tigers – Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins are back. They have lit up the ACC the past two seasons, and this year will be no different. I understand that DeAndre Hopkins is in the NFL and was a major component to the potency of that passing game, but Watkins is the game-breaker. Roderick McDowell should fit in nicely as a replacement for Andre Ellington. They should destroy ACC defenses.

3. Georgia Bulldogs – This could wind up being the most balanced offense in all of college football. Aaron Murray is coming into his fourth year as QB. Todd Gurley is as electric and talented as any running back in the nation. Malcolm Mitchell heads a dynamic receiving core as well. They should be able to score at will this year. Their defense is also going to be suspect, so they will put up monster numbers.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide – I could have put them number one. A.J. McCarron is more than just a game manager now. He is going to be given the keys to the offense, and he has all of the tools to be a great pocket passer. T.J. Yeldon is the next in line of the Alabama running backs who will dominate and get drafted high. Kenny Bell and Amari Cooper may be the two best receivers in the SEC. They proved against Notre Dame that they can pound even the most talented of defenses.

1. Oregon Ducks – Once again, the Ducks are probably going to be the best offense. Chip Kelly groomed Mark Helfrich to make the transition seamless, and there is no indication that it won’t be just that. Marcus Mariota and De’Anthony Thomas is a great running tandem, but Mariota can definitely throw the ball too. He is their best QB I have seen. Josh Huff is a solid wide out, while Colt Lyerla is a versatile and unguardable weapon. They should roll over almost every team they play and put up video game numbers once again.

Top 5 Coach of the Year Contenders

5. Dabo Swinney, Clemson – He is a hot commodity in the coaching world right now. Everyone seems to really like the guy, and his team is fun to watch. If he can coach his talented team to a BCS game and potentially an undefeated season, then he will be recognized in one form or another.

4. Butch Jones, Tennessee – If Jones can take that mess of a Tennessee team out of the muck and into contention for a SEC Championship Game berth, which I expect he will, then he will be up there for this award. He has followed Brian Kelly each step so far and improved on what he left him, but this time it is a rebuilding job. He can turn it around in one year. A division title will almost guarantee a spot on the Coach of the Year shortlist.

3. Mark Helfrich, Oregon – If he can get his team out the Pac-12 without a loss, then he deserves to be commended. With the investigations and bad press that the team has had, as well as losing one of the greatest offensive minds in recent memory, Helfrich would deserve to be in the conversation if he can win big and basically outshine his predecessor.

2. Nick Saban, Alabama – He is the coach of the likely National Champions. Most of the time, however, this award goes to a coach that does something truly special with a team, not necessarily the coach of the best team. He will get his votes, though, especially if he can get out of the SEC without a loss.

1. Urban Meyer, Ohio State – Like Saban, most people expect his squad to be dominant. He already showed last year that the talent was already there and that it just needed the right coach. If they go undefeated again, it would be the first time since 1994-1995 Nebraska that a team has back-to-back unbeaten seasons. He would deserve the award just for that.

Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects

5. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – People may question his level of competition against the putrid Big East, but that Sugar Bowl victory against the vaunted Florida defense proved that he is the real deal.

4. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU – After Ziggy Ansah got taken so high in the 2013 draft, it is clear that Van Noy will follow suit in 2014. He was actually the best defender on the team, always making big plays and putting up crazy numbers for an outside linebacker.

3. Marqise Lee, WR, USC – He may be a bit short for the prototypical NFL receiver, but he is ridiculously talented. When he has the ball, he is electric. When he doesn’t have the ball, he is making people look silly. His hands are as good as it gets. He will be an instant impact player at the next level.

2. Taylor Lewan, T, Michigan – He has been the talk of the Big Ten in terms of linemen for a couple years now. He is every bit as talented and athletic as Jake Long, the former #1 pick. He will almost certainly be the first left tackle taken in the draft.

1. Jadaveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina – He is one of the craziest athletes in the nation. He is a pure pass rusher with sub 4.45 speed. Unless a team really wants a QB, then he will be the first pick in the draft for sure.

Top 10 Heisman Contenders

10. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – With how poorly he has handled his historic Heisman win a year ago, I cannot see him winning again. However, when Tim Tebow had his win as the first sophomore, he was invited back both subsequent seasons whether he deserved it or not. People still love him and he will continue to be in the spotlight from now until December.

9. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor – He has the talent and the offense around him to put up some stupid numbers in 2013. His team will need to be a threat in the Big 12 for this to be realistic, but his numbers should speak for themselves.

8. Jadaveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina – He is going to need to build on what he did last year for him to really compete for an invitation to New York. Defensive players are getting more national Heisman attention recently, so he will be on everyone’s watchlist to start the year and maybe to end the year if he can have an Ndamukong Suh-level season of dominance and big plays.

7. T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama – Once Eddie Lacy left for the NFL, he was placed on everyone’s shortlist. He will be given the platform and carries to have just as impressive of a season as invitees Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram before him. Sharing the ball with Lacy was the best thing for him. Look for him to have a ridiculous season.

6. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia – He is going to continue to be scrutinized for not being clutch until he can beat Alabama or win a BCS bowl. If he can put together an undefeated regular season, then he will be a finalist for sure. He just needs to block out all of the negative attention and just conduct what should be an unstoppable offense.

5. Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska – All three seasons of his career, he has garnered early Heisman attention for his big plays and monster numbers. He is finally the unquestioned starter and proved last year that he is the most clutch quarterback in the country. He can win the Heisman if they win the Big Ten. A battle of undefeated teams in the Big Ten Title game would be the best thing for him.

4. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson – He has everything going for him right now. Last year, he was a top 10 level Heisman contender. This year, with all of the weapons he has coming back and a probable Orange Bowl run in front of him, he is a frontrunner. Let’s see how he can do with expectations.

3. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He seems to have a bit of Colin Kaepernick in him, except he plays at a big school. If he has an even better and more efficient sophomore campaign, then he will be an easy Heisman finalist, since his team is likely headed for another 11-12 win regular season.

2. A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama – At some point, the conductor of one of the most impressive runs in modern college football history has got to be recognized. He is efficient, poised, and clutch. Another unbeaten season will guarantee his candidacy.

1. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – The clear frontrunner this year has to be the most dynamic quarterback in the nation. In Urban Meyer’s offense, Miller thrived last year. If he can stay healthy, then his numbers will be sick and he will run away with this vote.

Preseason Top 25

Others receiving votes: Baylor, Miami, Mississippi, Rutgers, Syracuse, TCU, USC, Washington

25. Cincinnati – Head coach Tommy Tuberville will get them there. He is left a host of talent, and they will make a run at it in the AAC.

24. Northwestern – The Wildcats have key returning starters on offense, and they have showed recently that they really have a winning pedigree. We will have to see how the team does with some real expectations in the Legends Division.

23. Oklahoma – They are always in the running and wind up disappointing. I expect the offense to go through some growing pains early on, but it could really get rolling behind power running QB Blake Bell.

22. Florida State – The Seminoles are faced with another year of high expectations, which is not good for that squad. Every year is the same hype, and every year they wind up being a pretty good but not great team with elite talent.

21. Florida – The losses on the defensive side of the ball are going to force the offense to carry the team early on, which will be a great change of pace for the defensive-minded coaching staff.

20. Louisville – This may seem a bit low for the Cardinals, but other than Teddy Bridgewater, there just is not too much pull for Louisville. They will likely have a huge year again, though. The matchup with Cincinnati in December will likely decide who gets the BCS nod.

19. Texas A&M – Johnny Football has been a media hound recently, but maybe that is just ESPN looking for a story. The team had some huge losses to the draft, but Manziel should be able to shoulder the pressure to put together another nice season and pull a couple more upsets.

18. Wisconsin – There may be a slight transition period after losing their coach and Montee Ball, but they can reload and make another run toward a Rose Bowl berth.

17. Boise State – The team has a bunch of starters coming back, and we know at worst that they will be a well coached team that will win 10 games. I don’t foresee the early offensive struggles like last year.

16. Texas Tech – This team is a dark horse in the Big 12. The offense will be potent. If the defense is solid like last year, then watch out for the Kliff Kingsbury-coached squad.

15. LSU – The Tigers are looking at another elite defense and good running game. We will see if Zach Mettenberger has grown in the offseason.

14. Texas – They have some 20 returning starters, so they have to be great. They will likely still struggle on offense since none of their QBs are great, but they will be a veteran and well coached bunch. If they do not contend this year, that could be the end of Mack Brown in Austin.

13. Oregon State – There is no real reason for them to be up this high, but there isn’t a reason they shouldn’t be either. Storm Woods and company will make the offense viable. The defense is always stingy when they are not playing Oregon. They will be a “surprise” team again.

12. Michigan – Devin Gardner could be the guy who could take the team to the Promised Land, but not quite this year. He is the next Ryan Tannehill. The rest of the team stacks up well. They will be right there contending for a division title with…

11. Nebraska – The Cornhuskers need to win this year. Martinez may well hold every relevant record in school history, but without a conference title, all of that will not mean much. They have the returning talent to do just that.

10. UCLA – The early season matchup with Nebraska will be interesting. That will be a nice barometer to measure where the team will fall in 2013. They looked like the best team in the Pac-12 at times, but they also looked very stale at times. I expect Brett Hundley to make them more of the former this year.

9. South Carolina – The team is going to be all about defense. They have a nice group of skill position players ready to step up, but they aren’t exactly Marcus Lattimore and Ace Sanders. That defensive front will keep them around the top 10 all year.

8. Oklahoma State – The Cowboys are looking at having one of the elite offenses in the nation once again. The stable of QBs has settled down to just one, Clint Chelf. He has the talent to be the best QB in the conference.

7. Notre Dame – How will Everett Goldson respond during his sophomore campaign after getting hammered in the National Championship Game? Pretty well, I suspect. Brian Kelly has never really had a great team coming back since he always upgrades. You can’t get much higher than Notre Dame. Look for another title run this year.

6. Clemson – The offense of the Tigers is going to be scary. For them to finally compete legitimately for a BCS title, they need to improve on defense. Their offense will mask a lot of their deficiencies, however.

5. Georgia – Week 1: Georgia at Clemson. Be there. It is set up to be a classic offensive show and battle to see who is a legit top 5 team and who is going to come up short once again.

4. Oregon – The Ducks will not leave the top 10 all year, unless they drop to Tennessee in the non-conference. They are reloaded and set for another National Title run.

3. Stanford – The Cardinal are going to be incredible once again. With Kevin Hogan at QB, the team was on a different level. Losing their horse Stepfan Taylor is a blow, obviously, but they have reserves. Oregon at Stanford on 11/7…should be another unforgettable matchup with a BCS Title spot potentially on the line.

2. Ohio State – After seeing how they played last year with nothing to play for, I cannot think that this year they will be any weaker. If they slip up, it will be surprising, maybe even shocking. A battle of unbeatens against Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship would be a sight to see.

1. Alabama – Surprised? I didn’t think so. They are the favorite, and they should be. However, last time they were basically a unanimous #1 in 2010, they lost 3 games in the regular season. Can you see that happening again? Nah me neither.

BCS Predictions

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State over Cincinnati

Orange Bowl: Stanford over Clemson

Rose Bowl: Oregon over Nebraska

Sugar Bowl: Georgia over Texas

BCS Championship Game: Alabama over Ohio State

So, there you have it. What do you think? Your top 25? Other rankings? Any notable snubs or overlooks? Let me know in the comments!