1. Oklahoma - A talent-packed roster with Heisman-hopeful QB Landry Jones running the offense. Jones also has one of the best groups of receivers to throw to downfield. Overall, they are arguably the most talented team in the country and they should blow through most of the Big 12 conference on their way to the BCS National Title game in New Orleans.
2. Alabama - The Tide lose Heisman Trophy-winning RB Mark Ingram, explosive WR Julio Jones, dependable QB Greg McElroy, and star DT Marcell Dareus, but talent is still simply oozing out of this roster once again. The defense, which has four All-American candidates and several pro prospects, should be one of the country's best. The SEC is relatively weak compared to other years so the Tide could simply roll on to meet the Sooners in New Orleans. They could just as easily be number one right now as anybody.
3. Notre Dame - This may seem like a reach to most folks but when you really study the talent on the depth chart it's hard to imagine this team not putting together one of its best seasons in recent memory.
QB Dayne Crist will need to stay healthy and highly touted RB's Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray need to put together great seasons if the team wants to finally compete for a national title. WR Michael Floyd and LB Manti Te'o are two guys the pro scouts have ranked among the best at their respective positions. IF they can get through their first four games unscathed (South Florida, Michigan, Michigan St, and Pitt) they should be in position to grab a BCS bowl berth before facing Stanford to end the season.
4. LSU - 15 starters return on a deep roster from an 11-2 Tiger team last year. A lot will be hinging on senior QB Jordan Jefferson, who needs to finally put together a strong season from start to finish. They face Oregon on September 3rd in Arlington, TX to start the season and have to travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on November 5th. Those are not easy tasks but if they can pull off a pair of wins in those games it will be hard to overlook them. Can Jefferson pull off a Cam Newton-like performance?
5. Boise State - This team has been dominating a weak WAC conference over the years and now move to a tougher MWC and open the season in Atlanta against Georgia. QB Kellen Moore was a Heisman finalist last season and OT Nate Potter is one of the nation's best. The Broncos won't make it to New Orleans on January 9th but they could go undefeated once again while playing a relatively weak schedule overall.
6. Oregon - RB LaMichael James is as explosive of a player as there is in the country and the offense as a whole is fun to watch. This team was just three points shy of a national championship last season and they should make another fine run, but I have a feeling that some teams will have them figured out this season. Illegal recruiting allegations also may be a bit of distraction but don't count the Ducks out just yet. They open the season against LSU and the winner of that game could go on to play for it all.
7. Florida State - Another solid program with a ton of talent that may just finally put together a great season once again. The D-line looks to be one of the country's best and if the young LB's show up and play well the defense will be stout from top to bottom. DE Brandon Jenkins could be a top ten pick in the draft in 2012.
8. Virginia Tech - This team saw its 2010 season blow up in their faces very quickly after losses to Boise St and James Madison in the first two weeks. The Hokies always put together great defense and special teams units and if first-year starting QB Logan Thomas, a former TE, and RB David Wilson can put together great seasons this team will march into a BCS bowl come January.
9. Texas A & M - The Aggies ripped off late wins against Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas last season and return 18 starters! QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Cyrus Gray, and WR Jeff Fuller are one of the nation's best offensive combos and the defense should continue to improve. They have to travel to Oklahoma to play the Sooners but they get Oklahoma St and Texas at home and Nebraska is now gone to the Big Ten.
10. Nebraska - Looking to take the new-look Big Ten Conference by storm, the Cornhuskers have all the right pieces in place to make a run. However, with some tough road games against Wisconsin, Penn St, and Michigan, it's hard to see them getting through undefeated. An 11-1 season and a bid in the first ever Big Ten Championship game is not out of reach though.
11. Georgia - This has been one of the biggest underachieving programs in the entire country and they were very inconsistent last season. Perhaps this young, talented squad has matured over the off-season and looks to take advantage of a terrible SEC East this year. Boise St (in Atlanta), Florida (in Jacksonville), South Carolina (in Athens), and Auburn (in Athens) are the biggest tests and they do not play any of them on hostile turf. Sophomore QB Aaron Murray could be emerging as the best in the conference.
12. Stanford - Despite the change in head coaches this is a talented squad that isn't really changing too much in schemes. QB Andrew Luck is considered the best pro prospect in the country and he's got some quality blockers in front of him. The defense ranked 21st in the country and returns six starters. WR Chris Owusu is one of the best kick returners in the country. Another 11-1 season, a Pac 12 Championship, and a Rose Bowl appearance seems possible.
13. Southern Cal - The Trojans may not be able to play for a Pac 12 Championship and they may not be able to participate in a bowl, but they still have a very good team with a bunch of pro athletes. QB Matt Barkley is as good as any other USC QB in the last couple decades. That says a lot about his abilities.
14. South Carolina - RB Marcus Lattimore and WR Alshon Jeffrey will give coach Steve Spurrier two of the country's top weapons to design his offense around. Too much may be riding on senior QB Stephen Garcia, who needs to throw more TD's and less INT's, and incoming freshman DE Jadeveon Clowney, who had 52.5 sacks his last two years in high school, for the Gamecocks to really compete for an SEC championship.
15. Arkansas - The offense will be explosive once again with a fine set of backs and receivers. The defense should be one of the SEC's best as well. Trips to Tuscaloosa and Baton Rouge will be tough but at worst they look like a three loss team, which should still be enough to get them into a quality bowl game.
16. Wisconsin - With the addition of QB Russell Wilson, who transferred from NC State, the offense looks like it will be one of the best in the Big Ten. RB's Montee Ball and James White both had over 1,000 yards rushing last season and might be the nation's best running back tandem. WR Nick Toon also returns from injury. The defense does not appear to be as strong as usual but they are not talentless either. They also get their toughest opponents at home this year with the real road challenges at Ohio St and Michigan St.
17. TCU - The Horned Frogs are one of the best programs in the country at developing their players and continue to field strong defenses every year. With the biggest test being Boise St they could find themselves playing in a big bowl game.
18. Texas - Once again they are one of the most talented teams in the country but they severely broke down and stumbled to a 5-7 record in 2010 so it's hard to predict just where they will end up this year. QB Garrett Gilbert needs to step up and be a leader but he seems to lack confidence ever since filling in for Colt McCoy and getting smacked by Alabama in the '09 BCS Title game. It is time to take the next step or somebody else will be given the chance.
19. Oklahoma State - QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon could become household names this fall and RB Joseph Randle should average over five yards per carry once again. If the young defense can overachieve a bit this team could surprise everybody once again after going 11-2 last year. The schedule is brutal though and it's hard to imagine them not losing at least two games.
20. Ohio State - They will slip a little bit in the new Big Ten after losing HC Jim Tressel and QB Terrelle Pryor, but don't count this team out of anything. They still have one of the most talented college rosters in the country due to top recruiting classes over the last several years. The defense will be very good and it would not surprise me one bit to see this team roll off 10 wins and claim a spot in a major bowl game.
21. South Florida - The Bull's defense looks like a top 20 unit and they could also be fielding the best offensive backfield in the Big East. QB BJ Daniels didn't play as well last year as he did in '09. If he can get back to form this could be a 10 win team.
22. Arizona State - The Sun Devils have a lot of potential and could be the surprise team in the Pac 12 this year. Their defense should be solid enough to keep them in most games and compete for a conference championship.
23. Michigan - Most people don't even have the Wolverines ranked in the top 40, but from a strictly talent standpoint this ranking makes total sense and when you see what's going on in Ann Arbor these days it's reasonable to say the team has made great strides since new head coach Brady Hoke was hired. QB Denard Robinson and WR Roy Roundtree are threats to score on any given play and the defense will be much improved.
24. Penn State - As good of a college football program as you will find anywhere. They have the players to field a very competitive team once again in 2011 but they finish out the season with back to back road trips to Ohio St and Wisconsin.
25. North Carolina - There are some quality players on this roster, especially in the defensive front seven. If one of the young QB's steps up this team could challenge for an ACC title.
Other teams getting top 25 consideration: Pitt, Miami (FL), Southern Miss, Houston, Michigan State
