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We haven't seen anyone play yet, and there are a myriad of new coaches and coordinators and freshmen with Heisman dreams.... Yet we feel the need to start off with some sort of order for the teams.

Some say that you guess the teams that are going to play for the national title, and you rank them based upon the odds.  That makes sense to a degree, but it leaves for too much speculation.  What if a star player has a sub-par season or someone goes down with an injury.  Since it is college football, you also have to worry about players making the grade, or teenagers acting like teenagers and getting suspended for something.

You also have the flipside of the equation.  Sometimes it takes a kid 2-3 years to fully adjust to college life.  Once he has his priorities in order, he can focus on football and have a breakout year.  He could propel his team to a big time upset of one of the favorites.

You have match-up issues to worry about.  Last season, Florida absolutely housed Tennessee 59-20.   The Vols then went out and took Georgia behind the woodshed 35-14.  So UF should easily beat UGA, right?  Wrong.  The Dawgs got on a hot streak and whipped the Gators 42-30 in late October.

Hot streaks, cold streaks, injuries, suspensions, momentum, rivalries, breakups and make-ups.... There are just too many variables to accurately predict who will be in Miami this year for the title game at this point.  Sure, you could guess, and you would have about a one in sixty chance of being right on both teams.

All we can do right now is to say which teams look the best right now.  Schedules have no bearing, because if the teams successfully navigate the gauntlet laid before them, it doesn't matter how tough we thought it will be for them to do so in August.

As the games are played, some teams will weed each other out, and some teams will weed themselves out.  Eventually we will end up with two teams playing for the title, and 117 wishing they were. 

Here are the 25 that I feel are the best right now, and why.

1. UGA - They are loaded.  Moreso than any other team.  They have 2 Heisman candidates on offense, and return a lot form last year's nasty defense.

2. OSU - They also return a load of folks from last year's team that went to the title game, and added uber-recruit Terrell Pryor.  Say what you want about their performance in the title games, but the Sweater Vest knows how to win in the regular season.

3. Florida - The offense was spectacular last year, and added even more weapons this year with Chris Rainey, Emmanuel Moody and lightning-in-a-bottle sprinter Jeffrey Demps.  They also have more depth at DT (which hurt them last year), and the secondary has a year under their belts.  The biggest concern is the lack of depth at safety.  They are counting on Freshman Will Hill to help them out.

4. Oklahoma - Sam Bradford had a great freshman year, but can they find someone to run the ball?

5. USC - USC always has a nasty defense, but a lot of questions on offense.  Sanchez is unproven, no one knows who the tailback will be, and none of the WRs have yet stepped up.

6. Missouri - Chase Daniel is back, as are most of his weapons.  They also return 10 starters on defense.  I am still not buying them as a true contender unless they go into Lincoln and take care of business.

7. LSU - they are stacked with athletes, but can they find that chemistry and toughness after losing almost all of their leaders from a year ago?  Breaking in a new QB in the SEC will not be easy.

8. Auburn - The Tigers lost their defensive coordinator to Texas, and defense has been their hallmark for years under Tuberville.  They also brought in the spread offense, but have yet to settle on a QB.

9. Wisconsin - They can run the ball, and will have a great defense, but will never be a contender until they develop a downfield passing game.

10. Clemson - Yeah, they are loaded on offense, but Tommy Bowden always finds a way for his team to underachieve.  If they show me something against Alabama, I might buy in.

11. South Florida - they return a lot on offense, but lost their heart and soul on defense.  Selvie will be a beast, and they are on the upswing... but not quite in the elite.

12. WVU - the losses of Steve Slaton, and Owen Schmidt are gonna hurt.  The loss of Rich Rodriguez is gonna hurt a lot more.  I am not sold on Bill Stewart who is 9-25 lifetime as a head coach.

13. Texas - Their defense was awful in 2007, so they went out and got Will Muschamp, but he is not a miracle worker.  They also need to find a back to take some pressure off of their fragile QB.

14. Utah - plenty of talent coming back, and an opening day chance to prove that they belong.  They could jump big time in the next few weeks.

15. Pitt - a ton of talent and one of the best backs in the nation return for the Panthers.  If they are going to make a move in Wandstat's tenure, it has to be this year.

16. Michigan - folks are worried about Michigan due to the lack of a running QB, but they forget that Rich Rod threw it mercilessly while he was an OC at Tulane and Clemson.  Still, there will be growing pains.

17. Texas Tech - I know that they will put up a bazillion yards, but until they play some defense and beat the top teams consistently, I don't buy it.

18. Wake Forest - Grobe will once again field a fiesty team of overachievers.  If he ever starts getting top flight talent, they will dominate the ACC.

19. Illinois - losing a disgruntled Mendenhall will hurt, as will the loss of Lehman.  They will upset someone, and then turn around and lose to some slapdick team.  Book it.

20. Penn St - Joe Pa will have his boys respectable, but not enough to threaten OSU for the league title.

21. Kansas - they have Reesing coming back after a terrific season last year, but he lost a few of his big uglies up front.  We will know if they are for real after they go to USF on September 12^th.

22. Va Tech - They lost their best RB, and several key members of their defense, but Frank Beamer won't let them slip too far.

23. Tennesee - a new offense, coordinator, and a new starting QB doesn't bode well for scoring, but they have arguably the best secondary player in the SEC to anchor their defense.  Expect Fulmer to play very conservative ball (again) this season to stay afloat.

24. Oregon - They have a very talented secondary, but in the Pac 10 you gotta score.  The Ducks will be breaking in a new QB and RB to replace Dixon and Stewart.

25. BYU - They have a great QB and leader in Max Hall, and their defense is anchored by DE Jan Jorgensen.  This is another team that has a chance to jump big time in the month of September.