Way Too Early 2010 College Football Top 10

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Yes, it's January. Yes, it's less than a week after the 2010 BCS National Championship.

But who cares? It's never too early to look ahead to next year.

As of right now, the top 10 is a complete mosh pit until we know who is entering the NFL Draft and who is coming back for another year of Saturday afternoon battles.

Right now, these projections are if all the players that could go stay at school for their senior years.

The SEC has won four consecutive BCS national championships and could be in store for a fifth consecutive if Alabama finds its way to Glendale in January 2011.

Here's an early look at next year's BCS bowl schedule:

Jan. 1 Rose Bowl (Pac-10 Champion vs. Big Ten Champion)

Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl (Big 12 Champion vs. At-large No. 3)

Jan. 3 Orange Bowl (ACC Champion vs. At-large No. 2)

Jan. 4 Sugar Bowl (SEC Champion vs. At-large No. 1)

Jan. 8 National Championship in Glendale, Arizona (BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2)

No. 10 TCU Horned Frogs

Returning Starters: nine on offense, seven on defense

Out-of-conference Schedule: vs. Oregon State (Arlington, Texas), vs. Baylor, @ SMU, TBA

The Horned Frogs had a disappointing end to their 2009 season with a loss to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. A return trip to the BCS is not out of the question with nine offensive starters, including quarterback Andy Dalton and all receivers coming back.

The defense for TCU will be the big question mark, losing five critical players.

The opener at Cowboys Stadium against Oregon State will be a big litmus test to see how TCU's season will end up.

No. 9 Wisconsin Badgers

Returning Starters: 10 on offense, six on defense

Out-of-conference Schedule: @ UNLV, vs. San Jose State, vs. Arizona State, vs. Austin Peay

After being down for a couple years, Wisconsin is back to being a consistently nationally-ranked program. Only losing your tight end on offense helps too.

Big Ten leading rusher John Clay returns, along with all five linemen that plowed the way for Clay's breakout year.

The defense will be the primary focus, as three starters along the defensive line will need to be replaced.

Wisconsin will have to battle with Ohio State and Iowa for the Big Ten title next year. The Badgers have the Buckeyes at home in the middle of October, followed immediately by a trip to Iowa City against the Hawkeyes.

No. 8 Iowa Hawkeyes

Returning Starters: six on offense, nine on defense

Out-of-conference Schedule: vs. Eastern Illinois, vs. Iowa State, @ Arizona, vs. Ball State

Iowa returns six starters on offense, but four of the five players leaving are along the offensive line. It will be essential for the Hawkeyes to rebuild the line if they want to have any success running the ball.

After thumping Georgia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl, it appears as though quarterback Ricky Stanzi is ready to lead his team on a journey to the Rose Bowl, or even a berth in the national championship game.

Iowa will have the advantage of playing Big Ten foes Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State at home next season.

No. 7 Texas Longhorns

Returning Starters: six on offense, eight on defense

Out-of-conference Schedule: @ Rice, vs. Wyoming, vs. UCLA, vs. Florida Atlantic

Honestly, I thought Texas would be in trouble next year with the loss of both Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley. Then, the second half of the national championship game happened.

Garrett Gilbert looks like a legitimate Big 12 quarterback and will more than likely lead the Longhorns into next season. Gilbert will need to adjust to a offensive line with three new starters and find a new favorite target besides Shipley.

The defense could take a major blow if All-American safety Earl Thomas decides to leave school early, especially since they're already losing Lamarr Houston and Sergio Kindle.

Back-to-back games against Nebraska and Oklahoma will determine Texas' fate.

No. 6 Nebraska Cornhuskers

Returning Starters: 10 on offense, six on defense

Out-of-conference Schedule: vs. Western Kentucky, vs. Idaho, @ Washington, vs. South Dakota State

Yes, I know Nebraska loses Ndamukong Suh and their offense is questionable at best. Yet, I'm still putting them as the highest-ranked Big 12 team right now. Bo Pelini has this team back to where it belongs, among the nation's elite.

Quarterback Zac Lee will have to improve to keep the Cornhuskers afloat, but he will have the advantage of losing only his center and playing a very weak out-of-conference schedule.

On defense, there is no way to replace Suh, but this will still be one of the top defenses in the nation. The "Blackshirts" have been missing for a while, and this may be the year we finally see them back on a national stage.

No. 5 Virginia Tech Hokies

Returning Starters: eight on offense, four on defense

Out-of-conference Schedule: vs. Central Michigan, vs. James Madison, vs. East Carolina, vs. Boise State(Washington, D.C., TBA

The Hokies return every single player who scored a touchdown for them this season. In addition, running back Darren Evans will return after missing last season with a torn ACL.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor has developed into a very balanced quarterback and should have a fantastic senior year, despite the fact that the Hokies need to replace two offensive linemen along the left side.

The main problem will be repairing the defense now that defensive end Jason Worilds has declared for the NFL draft. Defensive coordinator Bud Foster will have his work cut out for him trying to put new faces on the field.

The matchup with Boise State at FedEx Field should be an early season highlight.

No. 4 Oregon Ducks

Returning Starters: 10 on offense, nine on defense

Out-of-conference Schedule: vs. New Mexico, @ Tennessee, vs. Portland State

Oregon looked like a middle-of-the-pack Pac-10 team in their season-opening loss to Boise State. Little did we know that the Ducks would make it to the Rose Bowl.

Another trip to Pasadena could be in the works as Oregon loses only its tight end on offense. Jeremiah Masoli is back under center, and freshman sensation LaMichael James will return as one of the best sophomore running backs in the nation.

On defense, the Ducks lose only two defensive linemen out of the whole group.

Unlike the fairly favorable schedule this year, the Ducks will have to succeed in trips to USC, California and Oregon State in conference play if they want to make it back to Pasadena.

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes

Returning Starters: nine on offense, six on defense

Out-of-conference Schedule: vs. Marshall, vs. Miami (FL), vs. Ohio, vs. Eastern Michigan

Terrelle Pryor finally looked like the quarterback that Ohio State recruited in the Buckeyes' Rose Bowl win over Oregon. If Pryor can keep that up, Ohio State could be an offensive juggernaut in the Big Ten next year. Losing only a tight end and a lineman helps too.

The Buckeyes will need to focus on rebuilding their secondary after the losses of Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman. But if the offense can score, the weak spot could be overshadowed.

An early season showdown with Miami (FL) will be interesting, as will the final three games of the season (Penn State, @ Iowa and Michigan). Ohio State will also have to travel to Madison to take on the Badgers in Big Ten play.

No. 2 Boise State Broncos

Returning Starters: 11 on offense, 10 on defense

Out-of-conference Schedule: vs. Toledo, @ Wyoming, vs. Oregon State, vs. Virginia Tech (Washington, D.C.)

Call me crazy, but if you told me a team went undefeated and loses one member on its two-deep depth chart, I would put them at the top, except for reasons on the next slide. However, people see the name Boise State and drop the Broncos down a couple spots.

This year will be different, however, as Boise only loses cornerback Kyle Wilson. They also have the non-conference schedule that they have been looking for with a big home game against Oregon State and a monumental neutral site game against Virginia Tech.

If the Broncos were to go undefeated for a third straight year, they would deserve a right to play in the national championship game.

No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide

Returning Starters: eight on offense, four on defense

Out-of-conference Schedule: vs. San Jose State, vs. Penn State, @ Duke, vs. Georgia State

The only reason Boise State isn't No. 1 is because of the guy in the picture. Running back Mark Ingram is back, along with most of the playmakers on the Tide offense. There should be no problem scoring points in Tuscaloosa this season.

The major problem for Alabama is how they will respond after losing seven starters on defense, and possibly an eighth if linebacker Rolando McClain goes pro.

Then again, Nick Saban is the best coach in college football right now and should be able to keep the Tide at the top.

Home games against Penn State and Florida will go a long way in telling if 'Bama can return to the national championship game for the second straight year.