As the 2007 season showed us, preseason rankings don't really mean squat for some teams. There may be a top ten team that finishes the year out of the rankings. There may be a team (or two or three) that rise up from no ranking to a top five ranking. But some teams stay about where they are predicted. I'm here to try to predict the top 25 teams based on talent and the ability of the players and coaches to use the talents that they are given. My rankings have nothing to do with schedules or where I think they'll finish. My rankings are all about who has the more talented team with a coaching staff that can work the talent for all it's worth. So without further ado, here is my 2008 Top 25 Preseason Rankings.
1. Ohio State
Sorry Buckeye haters, this team has 18 returning starters from a team that made it to the national championship. Yes, they lost again, but how many other teams can say that they made it through the crazy 2007 season with a championship berth?
Bottom Line: OSU is motivated to prove they can finally win a national title, and they have the talent to do it.
2. Georgia
The Dawgs return 17 total starters, including Heisman candidate, Knowshon Moreno. Matthew Stafford will lead a great Georgia attack and the defense is going to be among the best in the SEC.
Bottom Line: Georgia has great coaches and players, but they don't have the championship game experience of Ohio State.
3. Oklahoma
The Sooners are looking really good with super efficient quarterback Sam Bradford and the other seven returning starters on offense. The defense returns six and both the offensive and defensive lines should be monstrous.
Bottom Line: The Sooners are the best team in the Big 12, but can Stoops return to his former status as Big Game Bob?
4. Florida
Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin will lead a powerful offense that should be able to score almost at will. This team returns eight starters on both sides and looks to be Georgia's biggest challenger.
Bottom Line: The Gators offense will be great, but the defense needs to step it up.
5. Missouri
The Tigers return six on offense including Chase Daniel at QB and Jeremy Maclin at WR. The offensive line has some questions. The defense returns ten starters and should be among the best in the Big 12.
Bottom Line: If the O line can be good early this team could challenge OU for the Big 12.
6. USC
USC returns four starters on offense and seven on defense which isn't that much compared to some other teams. But this is USC, they have depth across the board. The second string placekicker for the Trojans could probably start quarterback somewhere else, these guys will be fine.
Bottom Line: The Trojans reload on offense and should once again be the P-10 favorite.
7. Clemson
Clemson returns seven starters on both offense and defense, including the ACC's highest rated passer in Cullen Harper. The Tigers are loaded at running back, and the offense shouldn't struggle. The defense should be pretty good too.
Bottom Line: If the offensive line can protect Harper well enough, this should be the best team in the ACC.
8. West Virginia
The offense returns eight, including Heisman candidate Pat White, but the defense returns four. They will have to adjust to life without Rich Rodriguez, and Bill Stewart will have to prove he can coach this talented group.
Bottom Line: The defense needs to be able to slow teams down, and the offense should take care of the rest.
9. Kansas
The Hawks had a dream season last year, and they are back to prove last year was no fluke. Todd Reesing will lead the offense and its seven returning starters. The defense returns nine and should have one of the best group of linebackers in the nation.
Bottom Line: Kansas needs to replace NFL talent at a few positions, but if they can fill the holes they should challenge for the Big 12 North.
10. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders potent offense returns ten starters and should be amazing this year again, but this year they finally have a better than respectable defense that returns eight from a year ago.
Bottom Line: These guys have the firepower to take down OU in the Big 12 South.
11. Auburn (SEC Challenger)
12. LSU (I have a hunch...this might be this year's Michigan???)
13. Wisconsin (Ohio State's Big 10 challenger)
14. Texas (Can they handle Oklahoma and Texas Tech?)
15. Arizona State (USC's Pac 10 foe)
16. Virginia Tech (They need to find one QB, no more two QB system)
17. Tennessee (Can they survive the SEC?)
18. BYU (BCS party crasher?)
19. Illinois (Can they contend for a Big 10 title?)
20. Pittsburgh (LeSean McCoy and Co. could win Big East.)
21. Penn State (JoePa can still coach)
22. Oregon (Everyone wants to know: What will the jerseys look like this year???)
23. South Florida (Can they climb the polls and actually stay there?)
24. Fresno State (Could be this year's Hawaii)
25. Alabama (Dark horse SEC contender)
On the Verge: Wake Forest, South Carolina, California, Boise State, Colorado
Damaris Lewis
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LSU uis way to low, if your gonna put the defending national champs outside of the top ten I need a little more than a hunch to perswade me.
Kansas played one top 25 team last season and barely beat a team that LSU beat 48-7, and this season is playing 5 top 25 teams in the regular season, so I don't see them finishing in the top 10 or even having a ten win season.
Pitt hasn't done near anough to be in the top 20, after going 5-7 last season, I'm gonna need to see them win a few games before I'm willing to put them as a top 25 team.
Clemson has proven time and time agian that they can't win big games, having a losing record against top 25 oppontents in the last 5 seasons, and his season they play 3 top 25 teams, and I don't see them making it i the top 10 or more with 3 losses while playing the WEAK ACC schedule
Ohio state won'r have my vote for number one until they pony up and play a chalenging schedule and beat a great SEC team
*LSU*
West Monroe, LA
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Solid blog though Cincy,Louisville, and Rutgers need to be up there
Ny
Seaside Park, NJ
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sorry for all typo's, I clicked save comment before I had the chance to spell check my last post
*LSU*
West Monroe, LA
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Good blog. Although, Auburn is in the ACC.
I anticipate this getting a lot of angry comments from LSU fans.
Personally, my top 5 is:
1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. USC
4. Oklahoma
5. Florida
The Pitt Panther:…
Telford, PA
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what is this ..."spell check".... you speak of?
hairgut the Dawg
Lawrenceville , GA
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I meant to say Auburn is in the SEC
The Pitt Panther:…
Telford, PA
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LSU has QB questions and will have to rely on the defense to carry them. The defense only returns five. I realize they have talented people to fill holes but it takes time to get used to playing against the level of competition in the SEC.
The transitive property doesn't work. Missouri destroyed Colorado, a team that OU lost to yet Mizzou lost to OU twice. It just doesn't work. This is based on talent not where they will finish and I believe that Mark Mangino can squeeze every last drop of talent out of this team.
Pitt beat West Virginia and returns eight on offense and seven on defense. LeSean McCoy will carry this team, but he has a good supporting cast.
Once again, I'm talking talent not where they will finish, and Missouri had this same problem, they couldn't win big games but that changed last year when they won five straight in order to have a shot at the North.
Ohio State plays USC, is that not tough enough?
mj122345mcm
Harrisonville , MO
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MJ, you have to admit that this team is not better than LSU, LSU played 8 top 25 teams last season, Kanasa played 2 counting the bowl game, and now that they are forced to play a big boy shcedule, there is no way the finish in front of LSU.
The defense only returns 5, where are you getting your stats from?
Kirsten Pittman, Tyson Jackson, Ricky Jean Francis, Jacob Cutrera, Darry Beckwith, Chad Jones (started for a while over Curtis Taylor), Curtis Taylor.
And that makes 7 and at LB Kelven Shepard played 1 of every 3 plays last season and Marlon Favorite played alot for Glen Dorsey when he was injured. so where they aren't getting a starter back, they have a guy with plenty of exprience.
On offense LSU is bringing back 8 starters and if there QB is even half decent, this team will have the best offense in the SEC.
LSU will be fine.
Pitt had Mccoy last season, how come they wern't good last year, and everyone with a brain knows that the WVU game was a fluke.
Idoits like you expect Pitt's running game to carry them, but when you take a gander at the stat sheet it proves you very wrong. Last season Pitt rank ed 71st in the nation in Running the football which is horible already, but when you ad the fact that Pitt lost most it's starters on the O-line, this could be one of the worst running teams in the Big East.
Ohio State plays USC, is that not tough enough? OSU plays 3 top 25 opponents this season, Georiga plays 7, so no that is not tough enough.
*LSU*
West Monroe, LA
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Overall I'mdeclaring this poll retarded
*LSU*
West Monroe, LA
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Overall I'mdeclaring this poll retarded
*LSU* immuned to Olympic fever | 08/19/08, 02:53 PM
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Thanks for making me laugh yet again! Some fo your comments are classic.
84
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also the big ten has 5 top 25 teams, and OSU plays all of them, although only 1 is in the top 15, thought I would chime in
84
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USC, Wisconsen, and Penn State, a few polls have Illi up there, but I don't see your 5th team
*LSU*
West Monroe, LA
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Classic in a good way or bad way?
*LSU*
West Monroe, LA
Total Comments (3043)
Why the Pitt hatred? Last year they were without their #1 QB and their #1 WR. Their passing game will be MUCH better which will help their running game. Last year, everyone knew that McCoy was getting the ball and they still couldn't stop him. This year, he won't have to face 8 in the box and he'll do much better. You should also factor in that Wannstache has racked up very good recruiting classes every year since he arrived. This should be the year we see the dividends.
Also, how was the 13-9 game a fluke? Pitt would have won that game even more convincingly if the refs hadn't called two phantom holding calls, that took away a touchdown and a first down, at the end of the game. That game easily could have been 20-7.
2007 records should have no bearing on rankings for 2008. Not when you're losing all the people that made you great in 2007.
The Pitt Panther:…
Telford, PA
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UM is in the AP, good way, Fckin hystercial.
84
Total Comments (7228)
I agree that LSU is rated too low, but then again this is a speculation, a prediction. LSU don't get wrapped around this guys predictions, we will all see this play out over the next few months. LSU will be solid as usual. I see another 10 win season. If UGA gets the BCS game we will get the Sugar Bowl. We're ranked 6th and 7th in the Coaches and AP polls. It's going to be alright. The thing that people don't realize is that LSU is stacked 3 deep on defense in every position. Why do you think the best Defensive tackle in the country had to ride the pine for the first couple of years? Was he not talented? Hardly. It that D-line U as I have recently heard LSU described has players just waiting to get their chance. Look At Ricky Jean Francios. He came in after the regular season and was the National Championship MVP. I'm telling you these guys are stacked DEEP on defense.
CenLA Tiger
Tigerland, LA
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...agreed LSU may be a tad low...Clemson maybe a spot or two high.....good job and well thought out....
privateer
Total Comments (221)
First of all, you need to chill out and button up your homerism because it's showing.
Once again, LSU, this is on talent, not on where they finish it has nothing to do with schedule. LSU returns seven on offense and five on defense according to Sports Illustrated and Blue Ribbon College Football Preview and ESPN, all of which are good sources of information I do believe. Kansas returns eight on offense, including their quarterback, and nine on defense from the Orange Bowl team. That's a lot of returning talent. The schedule isn't too good and I predict them to FINISH below LSU as you do.
Ok, LeSean was only a freshman last year. He has a year of experience and an offseason to get better. Although they lose three offensive lineman, they get one JUCO player who is ready to go and the other two have the skills, they just need the experience. And last year, all Pitt had was the running game. They have put together good recruiting and good coaching and they should have themselves a good passing game. They were 104th in passing last year, but this year they have the would-be starter for last year if he hadn't got injured. The receivers don't have starpower, but overall QB Bill Stull will have loads of talent and good options. With the passing game a threat, defenses have to focus on the run and the pass which will give McCoy a better season than last year. And even if the offense isn't quite as good as expected, this defense was fifth in the nation in total defense and they return seven starters from that group.
The WVU game was a fluke? Really? Why do you say that? Do you think the Mountaineers weren't prepared to play them, because I know for a fact that Rich Rod would not let them overlook a rivalry. Anyone with a brain knows that anything can happen in a rivalry game. And if that was a fluke, then I'm guessing you think all of last year was a fluke with all those upsets...and your team won the "fluky" season......
It's not exactly OSU's choice on who they play most of the time...and wouldn't they be stupid to schedule a bunch of powerhouses in the non-con? The easier the schedule, the easier you get into the national championship if you are in a BCS conference, like it or not. The teams with the cupcake schedules such as Kansas last year got rewarded so why not schedule cupcakes? Georgia's non-con, the part that they control, is Georgia Southern, Central Michigan, @ Arizona State, and Georgia Tech. Ohio State's is Youngstown St., Ohio, @ USC, and Troy. OSU has the tougher part of the schedule that they control, so you don't need to dog on their schedule since they have no way of controlling the other team's in the Big 10's talent.
mj122345mcm
Harrisonville , MO
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Not to mention a rivalry game that would have put them in the National Championship....
mj122345mcm
Harrisonville , MO
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im not a fan of kansas. not sure they should be so high. but yes! some love for the buckeyes! although i think georgia is better
ohio state and…
Columbus, OH
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