FanNation

Move over, world wide leader of sports. Continuing my premature preseason rankings of 2008.

#1 - #5
#6 - #10
#11 - #15

#16 - Tennessee.
I had a hard time choosing whether to put the Vols at 16 or Penn State. Since both teams do lose their starting QB (which actually helps Penn State in my opinion...) - but any rational fan knows Tennessee will have a generally better slate of athletes to reload with than will Penn State. Or, you can throw the SEC - Big Ten - Superior Athlete argument garbage out the window like I did, and compare their recruit classes the last 4 years. Here's a clue - Tennessee wins hands down. I can't wait to see who Big Phil puts in as the starter for 2008, but I wouldn't be surprised if UT had a few growing pains on offense (especially with the division being rather stout next year).

8/30, UAB
9/6, at UCLA (one of a number of surprising 08 N-C games)
9/20, Florida ("Nayyy-land will be a-sway-in")
9/27, at Auburn (Jordan-Hare is always a tough venue)
10/4, Northern Illinois
10/11, at Georgia (the last time in Sanford, UT hung 51 on UGA)
10/18, Mississippi State
10/25, Alabama (there is so much hate here, expect lots of boos)
11/1, at South Carolina
11/8, Wyoming
11/22, at Vanderbilt
11/29, Kentucky
12/6, SEC Championship Game

#17 - Penn State.
I am one who thinks, Penn State will far a little better until Clark (presuming he is the starter, likely) than "Mr. Mo". Clark reminds me more of a Michael Robinson, the same Robinson who led Penn State to a 2005 Orange Bowl win, share of the Big Ten title, #3 final ranking, and 12-1 record. The Nittany Lions have the skill players in place to contend in the Big Ten pending a quarterback. In most (if not all) of PSU's 2007 losses, questionable QB calls and decisions clearly factored in the game. Have no fear PSU fans, if the bowl game win over Texas A&M is any indication, PSU should be in good hands the next few years.

8/30, Coastal Carolina
9/6, Oregon State (interesting N-C matchup #15,954 for 2008)
9/13, at Syracuse (this would have been a good game in the 90s)
9/20, Temple
9/27, Illinois
10/4, at Purdue
10/11, at Wisconsin
10/18, Michigan (here's to breaking the UofM losing streak)
10/25, at Ohio State
11/8, at Iowa
11/15, Indiana
11/22, Michigan State

#18 - Auburn.
I intially had AU higher, but losses on that stingy defense and the loss of Muschamp will hurt. Not to mention, the offense will break in a new QB and offense. These kind of changes come with growing pains. As with all the SEC powers though, AU has plenty of talent waiting in the wings for a decent season. I don't expect them to contend for the conference until 2009, however. Regardless, September will make or break next year's season for THE WAR EAGLES.

8/30, Louisiana - Monroe (hey, they beat 'Bama at home in 2007)
9/6, at West Virginia (this is going to be such a good game...)
9/13, at Mississippi State (tough game after the WVU trip)
9/20, LSU (tough game after trips to WVU & MSU...)
9/27, Tennessee (wrapping up a tough September for Auburn)
10/4, at Vanderbilt
10/11, Arkansas
10/18, Southern Miss
11/1, at Ole Miss
11/8, Tennessee - Martin (who?!)
11/15, Georgia
11/29, at Alabama (can AU keep the streak going?)

#19 - Oregon.
Oregon proves that bowl game results shape the next season's rankings. Their offense absolutely mowed through a seemingly stout USF team, apparently having shaken off the post-Dixon slide that cost them a shot at the 2007 national title. The loss of Steward (and obviously Dixon) will hurt tremendously, so this could be an overration. I still expect OU to be generally competitive enough to win at least 8 or 9 games in 2008.

8/30, Washington (kicking the conference schedule off EARLY, eh?)
9/6, Utah State
9/13, at Purdue
9/20, Boise State (great measuring stick for both program's seasons)
9/27, at Washington State
10/4, at USC (the Trojans will be out for revenge)
10/11, UCLA
10/25, at Arizona State
11/1, at California
11/8, Stanford
11/15, Arizona
11/29, at Oregon State

#20 - Cincinnati.
It would surely help the Bearcats if transfer QB Mauk gets a 6th year of eligibility (due to his previous injury at Wake Forest) - but regardless, Brian Kelly will have this team ready. So much so, if they can best West Virginia, they could surely make a run for a conference championship. This Cincy team also had a stout, bend but don't break defense, most of which will be returning. 16 starters in all; of a team that fielded a #13 ranked defense (18.8 ppg); #16 scoring offense (36.3 ppg); and lead the nation in takeaways (42) - mind you under a first year coach - sounds like they'll be pretty good in 2008 to me. They could actually be a little underrated at #20, we'll see. Right now, Cincy is the only Big East team with 13 scheduled regular season games, which could change. Their schedule has yet to be finalized by the AD. (* games = non-conference)

Home Games:
8/28, Eastern Kentucky*
Miami (Ohio)*
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
Syracuse
South Florida

Away Games:
Oklahoma*
Akron*
Marshall*
Hawaii*
Connecticut
Louisville
West Virginia

Look for #21 - #25 tomorrow.