Preseason College Football Rankings: Top 25

The Florida Gators come into the 2009 season primed for a repeat. Overall, they have the most talent, speed and agility. Tim Tebow learned from last year loss to Ole Miss. and complacency will not be a problem in Gainesville. Only three teams are poised to challenge the Gators in 2009: Texas, USC and Ohio State.

Of the three, USC is the more talented. The only thing holding the Trojans back is a lack of experience. A new QB, three new LBs and a host of other complementary players will make it difficult for Pete Carroll's team to win out.

Ohio State is in this conversation only because they play on the Big Ten. In any other league (Pac-10, SEC or Big 12) they would play for second place. Nevertheless, if they manage to win out in the Big Ten, and somehow upset the Trojans at home, the Buckeyes will be part of the BCS championship equation.

Texas will have its shot at the title if they defeat Oklahoma again. Everything for Mack Brown and the rest of the Longhorns depends on it.

Every season delivers a surprise or two and this year is no exception. Four schools jump out when discussing dark horse candidates: Oregon, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech and Cal.

The Ducks and Golden Bears will settle their claim to the title on the field. The winner of the September 26th contest will have the inside track to the Pac-10 championship if USC falls. Ole Miss also has an opportunity to claim what was once thought to be unattainable at Oxford. They don't play Florida in the regular season, which will make their path that much more easy.

The sleeper of the bunch has to be Virginia Tech. The Hokies are loaded on defense and with an improved offense, they could be headed to California this New Year.

However, the bottom line is to expect the Gators to win their third national championship in four years.

Onto the rankings...

1. Florida Gators
   If only QB Tim Tebow returned, the Gators will figure in any championship discussion. But the fact that all 11 defensive starters are back, not only puts Florida in title talk, but elevates them to the top. Tebow will once again have a host of weapons to use. RB Jeffery Demps is a 5'8" dynamo who should establish his credentials right off the bat. Expect Florida coaches to explore more passing options for "Superman". Nevertheless, the offense should be explosive. On defense, All-Everything LB Brando Spikes could have been a top 15th pick in this year's draft. He returned to school for one reason: another national championship. He and 'Superman' will get it.
2. Texas Longhorns
   Unlike the Gators, Texas will ride QB Colt McCoy's arm this season. McCoy pulled out a dramatic come from behind win against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, which only enhanced his reputation as one of the best passers in UT's history. WR Jordan Shipley is back which should solidify the receiving corp. There are questions around the line and the RBs, as well along the defensive front seven, but the talent is there for another title run, if they can defeat the Sooners once again.
3. USC Trojans
   Yes, there is a lot of talent to replace. Yes, the schedule is tough early on. Not good signs if you are going to replace a top flight QB, three of the best LBs in the history of the program and a plethora of other talent. Replacing Sanchez is highly regarded freshman Matt Barkley. The offensive line is full of pro prospects and if RB CJ Gable and WR Damian Williams stake their ground early, the offense will be more that adequate. S Taylor Mays is perhaps the best safety prospect in years. He will anchor a very explosive, albeit, inexperienced unit. If they get pass Ohio State on September 12th, watch out!
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
   It seems that every year, no matter what talent they lose, the Buckeyes are vying for a BCS national championship game berth. Thanks to a weak conference, Ohio State has been able to leapfrog others, more talented team and land BCS's slots. This year it will be no different. The only trouble spot looming is September 12th home game against a rebuilding USC squad. If they win, the rest of the schedule looks manageable. But if they, once again lose to a big time program, and at home, the fall from grace will be hard and thunderous. OSU has the talent to play with almost anyone. QB Terrelle Pryor is a budding star. If Coach Jim Tressel can rebuild the defense, which took a very hard hit, there will be roses in Columbus come New Year's.
5. Oklahoma Sooners
   Heisman Trophy winner, QB Sam Bradford will have a tough time repeating his 2009 performance. Not because the team lost several offensive starters, but because teams will decipher how to defend against the Sooners' spread offense. Still, with preseason All Americans Bradford, OT Trent Williams, TE Jermaine Gresham and DT Gerald McCoy this team will be very hard to beat. Besides their annual Red River Rivalry with Texas, Oklahoma faces two tough (at least on paper) opponents on the road: Miami (Fl) in October and Kansas, the Saturday following the 'Game'. A 3-0 mark on those games, and the national champion will be hoisted in Norman.
6. Ole Miss Rebels
   Houston Nutt has quickly assembled a formidable squad. For all the talk about Tebow, McCoy and Bradford, it is Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead who could be the best pro prospect in 2010. Big, mobile and blessed with better-than-average arm strength, Snead is destined for big things. At least Oxford's fans hope so. Nutt is installing a new offense, so the team will need time to adjust. It will have it. They do not face a top team until their fifth game, when the Rebels host Alabama. If All American DE Greg Hardy and the rest of the defense show some spark, there is no reason for this team to not to play in a BCS game. And if they manage to defeat the Gators for the second time in a row, the mythical national championship could be in their grasp.
7. Oregon Ducks
   If USC falls, the Ducks will be more than happy to pickup the pieces. Two years ago, an athletic QB had Oregon at number 2 in the nation. This year, Jeremiah Masoli has the same opportunity. Unlike when Dixon ran the offense, Masoli will have an All American candidate at RB. LeGarrette Blount looks to take his place among the best backs in the nation. The Ducks' defense, with CB Walter Thurmond anchoring the backfield and a solid nucleus managing the front-line, could make noise in the Pac-10. Besides USC, Oregon has two other formidable opponents: Boise State and Oregon State. Talking Roses could be a little far fetched, but an upper bowl game would be a nice reward for new head man Chip Kelly.
8. Virginia Tech Hokies
   Three words to describe the Hokies: they are loaded. This is, without a question, Coach Frank Beamer's best team since the days of Michael Vick. QB Tyrod Taylor is poised to take the next step and Darren Evans leads an explosive group of RBs. What Taylor is expected to do for the offense, DE Jason Worilds is for the defense. Worilds is big play player who should dominate, if he is healthy. The schedule is relative easy, except for the opener against Alabama.
9. LSU Tigers
   One thing to know about Coach Les Miles: he rebounds quickly. Last year's Tigers were a rebuilding team. It took them until the last game of the year, but LSU found their next great signal caller, sophomore Jordan Jefferson. With the multi-talented Jefferson under center and RBs Charles Scoot and Kelland Williams primed for a big year, the Tigers will have no trouble scoring. It is the defense which needs re-tooling. 2008 leading tacklers Kelvin Sheppard and Perry Riley are back, but the line is in a state of flux. The secondary is suspect, at best. Nevertheless, if the defense does not implode like last season, the Tigers will be in the thick of things come November.
10. Pitt Panthers
    The Panthers are here for no other reason that they should win out the diluted Big East. An undefeated campaign is well within reach. RBs Dion Lewis and Shariff Harris will try to compensate for the loss of LeSean McCoy. QB Bill Stull needs to develop more consistency and the receiver corps needs more explosiveness. The defense is another story. The line and linebackers are small, but very athletic, while the defensive backfield is solid. Coach Dave Wannstedt's biggest hurdle is the more talented, but even more inconsistent South Florida Bulls. A win at home versus the Bulls and Pitt will play in its second BCS game.