2010 College Football Preseason Rankings: Under-The-Radar Rankings

The slower pace of summer has finally set in and abhorrent temperatures have started to scramble the brain.

The monotony of baseball and World Cup soccer is not enough to scratch that little competitive itch that sports fans have just out of reach on their backs.

We need something to tide us over until better weather and better programing prevail.

That might have a little something to do with why college football's experts release their preseason rankings around this time every year. A time when college football fans are grasping for straws on any information that might keep them talking until September.

The Top 3 magazines are published by Phil Steele, Lindy's Sports, and Athlon Sports. Phil Steele has been the most accurate in recent years.

Naturally, all three publications differentiate on their opinions of whom should be in the Top 25, with each giving different teams the snub.

So, here's a list of 10 teams that were given the Top 25 snub by one or more of these magazines.

10. Notre Dame

Who Snubbed Them: Lindy's and Athlon

Who Picked Them: Phil Steele, #16

Notre Dame had their fair share of off-season drama, with the firing of Head Coach Charlie Weis, and the subsequent coaching search that had their name in the media for weeks.

The Fighting Irish finally settled on Brian Kelly, stealing him from Cincinnati.

Coach Kelly inherits a team full of talent that failed to produce under Charlie Weis, going 6-6 in 2009.

However, all six of those losses were by 7 points or less.

Expect there to be some drop off at key positions due to wide receiver Golden Tate and quarterback Jimmy Clausen jumping ship to the NFL.

However, Brian Kelly has proven he can win no matter who his quarterback is, playing four different QBs and still winning a Big East title in 2008.

9. South Carolina

Who Snubbed Them: Lindy's and Athlon

Who Picked Them: Phil Steele, #21

South Carolina finds itself at the top of the SEC East this year, and have a chance to use their highly rated defense to win that title.

Head Coach Steve Spurrier is overdue for a prominent return to the SEC, and this program returns 16 starters this year.

Quarterback could be a position of instability.

Don't be surprised if Coach Spurrier pulls Stephen Garcia in favor of highly touted freshman Connor Shaw.

The Gamecocks play one of the toughest schedules in college football, pulling Alabama from the West.

Although, with a tough defense, solid offense, and Coach Spurrier behind the curtain, don't be surprised if you see them in the SEC championship game.

8. Cincinnati

Who Snubbed Them: Phil Steele and Athlon

Who Picked Them: Lindy's, #22

The Bearcats were the victims of Notre Dame's coaching search, as Head Coach Brian Kelly left to take that job.

Cincinnati had hired Brian Kelly away from Central Michigan in 2006. They figured since it worked so well the first time, they would go back to Central Michigan again to find their new coach.

Butch Jones takes over a Cincinnati team that has won 18 straight regular season games and lost in back-to-back BCS bowls.

Coach Jones will implement a 4-3 defense after a failed 3-4 defense was dead last in the Big East in total defense.

The defense is unproven, but young and full of talent.

The defensive woes went unnoticed though, as the Bearcats' offense stole the show.

Quarterback Zach Collaros will have a full season to show everyone that he is the best hurler in the Big East.

Also, USC wide receiver transfer, Vidal Hazelton impressed during the spring game.

With a deep and talented receiving core, and a knack for winning, this year's Cincinnati squad will be looking to stave off West Virginia and Pittsburgh for a third straight Big East title.

7. Arizona

Who Snubbed Them: Lindy's and Athlon

Who Picked Them: Phil Steele, #25

The Arizona Wildcats managed to make Phil Steele's Top 25, but aren't ranked anywhere near as high in the other two publications.

Mr. Steele might know something that nobody else does.

The Wildcats clawed their way to a second place finish in the Pac-10 in 2009, but were firmly trounced in the Holiday Bowl by Nebraska.

Quarterback Nick Foles leads an Arizona offense that returns eight starters and put up gaudy numbers in 2009.

Tailback Nic Grigsby gives opposing defenses a reason to study something other than Arizona's deep and talented wide receiving core.

The defense returns only four starters, but the ones that are coming back are All Pac-10 quality players. Defensive end Ricky Elmore and cornerback Trevin Wade could contend for national awards.

The Pac-10 is experiencing a down year with USC and Oregon's offseason troubles.

Arizona's schedule is favorable, so the timing is ripe for the Wildcats to prove their doubters wrong and Phil Steele right.

6. Clemson

Who Snubbed Them: Lindy's and Phil Steele

Who Picked Them: Athlon, #25

Anytime you need to replace the production of a tailback like CJ Spiller, you can expect a transition period.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, that transition period is now.

Thirteen other starters are back for Clemson, including seven of their top nine tacklers.

Clemson was a breath away from winning the ACC title, which it hasn't done since 1991.

Clemson has some powerful lineman coming back this year, returning four starters on the offensive line, and Da'Quan Bowers at defensive end.

However, they face one of the tougher ACC schedules.

5.Georgia Tech

Who Snubbed Them: Phil Steele and Athlon

Who Picked Them: Lindy's, #17

Even Phil Steele admits he has undervalued Georgia Tech in the past, and fears he might have done the same again this year by placing them at #33.

Georgia Tech returns 14 starters to a team that went 11-3 in 2009.

But, they play a lot of tough away games, including at Virgina Tech and at Georgia.

The Yellow Jackets are switching to a 3-4 defense this year under new coordinator Al Groh. This matches their personnel better, but might have a bit of a learning curve attached to it.

Quarterback Joshua Nesbitt will keep the offense as potent as ever, so long as he stays healthy.

There should not be too much drop off in production when Anthony Allen takes over for Jonathan Dwyer at running back.

If Coach Groh controls the defense, Georgia Tech can contend in the ACC again.

4. Missouri

Who Snubbed Them: Lindy's and Phil Steele

Who Picked Them: Athlon, #21

The Missouri Tigers have some big time production to replace from wide receiver Danario Alexander, but they bring back starters at 16 other positions from a team that 8-5 last year.

Coach Gary Pinkel, now a fixture at Missouri, has put a lot of trust in quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Gabbert has a ridiculously strong arm, and if he can identify the playmakers the Tigers have an opportunity to do something special on the offensive side of the ball.

The Tigers have a huge weapon in the nation's most accurate kicker, Grant Ressel, who converted on 26 out of 27 field goals last season.

The Tigers have a tough Big-12 schedule this year though, with only three home games, one of which is Oklahoma.

3. Oregon State

Who Snubbed Them: Everyone

Who Picked Them: No one.

Oregon State is ranked in the Top 40 by all three publications, but didn't crack anyone's Top 25.

Head Coach Mike Riley continues to defy preseason rankings year in and year out, winning games with players that are not highly rated or recruited.

The Beavers play one of the toughest schedules in the nation this year, playing TCU, Louisville, and Boise State before starting an unfavorable Pac-10 schedule.

Tailback Jaquizz Rodgers and his brother, wide receiver James Rodgers, will use an experienced offensive line to produce points for the Beavers in 2010.

15 starters come back to an Oregon State squad that went 8-5 and contended for a Pac-10 championship.

The Pac-10 is wide open again this year, and if the Beavers catch fire with some non-conference wins, you can expect for Mike Riley to baffle the experts again.

2. Nevada

Who Snubbed Them: Everyone

Who Picked Them: No one.

Nevada came in as high as #29 in Phil Steele's publication, but couldn't manage to crack the Top 25, despite going 8-5 in 2009 and returning 15 starters.

Tailback Vai Taua and quarterback Colin Kaepernick both rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year. Now, with an experienced line returning, expectations are to repeat last year's success.

The Wolfpack play a favorable WAC schedule, with Boise State needing to travel to Reno for the anticipated match-up.

Head Coach Chris Ault always has Nevada competing at a high level, and if they can get off to a hot start, the Wolfpack can ultimately finish in the Top 25.

1. Utah

Who Snubbed Them: Phil Steele and Athlon

Who Picked Them: Lindy's, #25

Utah kept their name in the media this summer when it announced it would finally be joining a BCS conference, accepting an invitation to join the Pac-10.

The Utes went 10-3 in 2009, despite a tough Mountain West schedule.

The schedule this year, though, will be more manageable with the TCU and BYU games at home.

Quarterback Jordan Wynn has wiped off most of the green and has a chance to build on a successful freshman campaign.

14 starters return, including Wynn and 1,000 yard rusher Eddie Wide.

Utah's defense will feature experience from linebacker Chad Manis, and talent from freshman linebacker VJ Fehoko.

Utah has won nine straight bowl games, the longest streak in the NCAA, and they look to get back to another bowl this year, despite tough games against Pittsburgh and at Notre Dame.

Utah has the potential to make some noise in the Mountain West on their way out, and earn another Top #25 ranking.

No matter what the experts say.