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8/2/06 ASN Preseason top 25 Well, here's another attempt at a preseason top 25. I personally don't feel there should be polls until teams actually play a game, or three, but you may as well start somewhere. This list is really based on where I think teams could potentially end up. Schedule, number of returning players and conference affiliation were just some of the factors considered when determining the rankings. The same teams are at the top, but Florida and Notre Dame are lurking and dripping with potential. Louisville could shock - or fold… Watch out for Arkansas as they have a bunch of people returning (19), but do have to play USC and a tough conference schedule in the SEC, so the experience may end up not mattering. Texas A&M is another sleeper. If they beat Texas Tech early in the season it could be off to the races and a 9-0 start. However, if they lose to the Red Raiders and that defense doesn't begin to improve, it won't matter for them either. If Texas gets any production from the quarterback position at all then they could do a little surprising of their own. It's hard to talk of the Horns as a surprise since they won the championship a year ago and will begin the season inside most top 5's, but they really shouldn't be expected to win it all with a new signal caller. They do have a load of talent, however, so they could be in the hunt for another title game if they happen to get by Ohio State early at home. No shocker here, but the SEC is definitely the strongest conference from top to bottom and I expect many a team from that conference to move in and out of the polls as they progress throughout the season. Let's play some football!! 1) Auburn - Will not get left out in the cold if they go undefeated in the SEC this time around. 2) Ohio State - The offense should be awesome with Troy Smith in charge. If a revamped defense can slow down a highly ranked Texas team on the road then the Buckeyes just might be able to duplicate their championship run of '02. 3) Notre Dame - Weis was no fluke in his first year! The Fighting Irish have a seasoned quarterback and a very good offense. The defense (9 starters return), however, holds the key to the season. 4) Texas - The Horns only begin the season in this spot because they're the defending national champions and have the potential to possess a great defense. Talent abounds at most every position, but can a quarterback taking his first college snap get them past Ohio State and Oklahoma? 5) USC - Lost loads of talent to the NFL draft, but the cupboard is not bare and Pete Carroll is still the coach. The Trojans have the talent necessary to field a very good defense in '06. 6) Louisville - This could be a stretch, but the Cardinals will possess a potent offense under the leadership of Brian Brohm (QB), and 9 starters return to what should be a salty defense. Get both Miami and West Virginia at home. 7) Florida - Urban Meyer, a senior quarterback (Chris Leak) - enough said! 8) Miami - They should be favored to win every game and the winner of that Louisville contest easily could have the market cornered on a high poll finish. Gets FSU at home. 9) Florida State - Yes, the Seminoles were gutted by the NFL draft, but they always have talent and this year they probably won't be hit as hard by the injury bug. As usual, the winner of the Miami/FSU game could set itself up for a high finish. 10) Tennessee - There will be several SEC teams ranked highly in the polls before the season is over. The conference is packed. The Vols did lose a bunch of close games last year, so why not them? 11) Virginia Tech- Easy schedule means they'll win enough games to get a decent rank in the end, but they'll stumble somewhere and probably fall to the middle. 12) Georgia - More favorable schedule than some of the other SEC teams + very good talent in spots - the losses (only 9 starters return) = a middle of the pack finish. 13) Oklahoma - A GREAT defense. The loss of Rhett Bomar at quarterback, however, leaves BIG??? Adrian Peterson will have to play a huge role behind a suspect OL for the Sooners to even win the Big12. 14) Michigan - Ho-hum, must place them somewhere, but the schedule is not conducive to a high poll finish. 15) Clemson - Talented team, good defense, strong run game. A potential sleeper in the making. 16) Arkansas - Another sleeper, or so it seems. The Hogs return 19 starters, but will have to beat Auburn on the road to win their division. The Razorbacks are definitely a team to keep your eye on. 17) California - Someone out West is going to climb the polls, I'm just not sure who yet. Cal has some explosive offensive talent, so it may as well be them, for now. 18) LSU - Talent is significantly above average. Conference is tough and schedule is brutal. Good luck Tigers. 19) Boise State - Do these folks ever play anyone until the bowl game? Get ready to see that ugly blue field again. 20) Texas Tech - Mike Leach keeps replacing quarterbacks, but the results are always the same. If he ever gets a top 10 defense - WATCH OUT! 21) Texas A&M - Be quiet, they'll win at least 10 games with that schedule and this poll is being compiled on where I think teams will finish, not start. Excellent OL with an explosive and talented backfield, fiery quarterback and a renewed attitude on defense. Could go much higher. 22) Nebraska - Someone has to win the North division of the Big12, may as well be the Huskers. The winner of that division will be in the top 20. 23) Iowa - Very good offensive skill talent and they get the Buckeyes at home..... If they were to upset Ohio State in that one then they could go up, up and away. 24) West Virginia - Easy schedule! But they had better not lose or they could drop like a rock. Will probably finish quite a bit higher than this, but I'm going to make them earn their way since the only quality opponents they will face are @ Louisville and @ Pitt, both in November. 25) Arizona - Another sleeper team. Like I mentioned above, the Pac10 will have a team or two crawl upward. Mike Stoops has now been on the job long enough and enough talent has been recruited. Could be the year of the Wildcat. |