2010 College Football Preseason Rankings: Why Ohio State is No. 1

College football fans are the closest thing we have in this country to European soccer fanatics.

I have seen people get into fights during tailgates and we all know how much grown men (a.k.a. boosters) can affect a sport played mostly by kids who aren't even able to legally drink yet.

Everyone gets passionate about their teams, especially since making enough noise can actually affect where your team finishes in the standings (since we don't have a playoff system in place!).

So here is the best top 25 preseason ranking you will ever find, full of surprises, reasons, and prognostications.

Enjoy.

25 Washington Huskies

If you say Washington Huskies, the only thing that comes to mind is Jake Locker. And as they say, as he goes so does the team.

After starting out with a bang with a win over USC, Coach Steve Sarkisian took a couple steps back with some late season losses in 2009.

Running back Chris Polk comes into his sophomore season with 1,000 yards already on his resume.

This could be the reach of my rankings but here it goes:

Prediction: 9-3

24 Utah Utes

The Utes have 12 starters coming back but only four of them on defense, so they better score some points.

They are stacked at running back with Matt Asiata and former understudy Eddie Wide, and quarterback Jordan Wynn has a year under his belt.

This is the last year that coach Kyle Whittingham can beat up on Mountain West opponents, so he better take advantage of it. Utah becomes part of the Pac-10 next year.

Prediction: 9-3

23. Florida State Seminoles

Christian Ponder is a lock to be a first round pick and might be in New York as one of the Heisman finalists by the end of the year.

This is going to be the year of the quarterback in college football and he's one of the better ones.

FSU has 11 starters coming back and they are pretty evenly distributed on offense and defense.

Jimbo Fisher has a lot to prove after school legend Bobby Bowden was pushed aside, so he better start proving it.

Prediction: 9-3

22 Arkansas Razorbacks

Before breaking his foot this spring, Ryan Mallett was on the short list of Heisman candidates for the upcoming season.

He'll recover and most likely lead the Razorbacks to second in the SEC West behind last year's national champion, Alabama.

The Razorbacks return 18 starters an Mallett was named first team All-SEC.

If this isn't their year, I don't know when it's going to come.

Prediction: 10-2

21 University of Connecticut Huskies

Everbody loves UConn coach Randy Edsall for turning that program around.

Well for his next magic trick he has to get his team into the top 25, and he will.

Did you know that the Huskies lost all five of their games by four points or less?

Yes, that can be extremely frustrating, but it can also mean that you are this close to turning the corner.

No big stars to look out for other than the coach. They did have a 1,000 yard rushing sophomore (Jordan Todman) so he could really blow up this year.

Prediction: 9-3 and a nice little bowl.

20 West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia has been a ranked team for the better part of the 2000's so I don't think it will stop this year.

Noel Devine seems like he has been there forever and Coach Bill Stewart can actually say he is out of the shadow of Rich Rodriguez if he keeps putting together ranked teams.

They have three ranked teams to worry about, and the rest of the schedule is more than manageable if sophomore quarterback Geno Smith can lead the way.

Prediction: 9-3

19 USC Trojans

It really doesn't matter how good the Trojans are this year, because they will be going nowhere after the season ends.

No bowl, no conference title, nothing.

All they can do is hope that Lane Kiffin gets a feel for things, and doesn't get chastised, sued, or fired before the season ends.

They also get to see if sophomore QB Matt Barkley has made any progress.

One bright spot for Trojan fans is incoming freshman Dillon Baxter. The word is he reminds everyone of Reggie Bu--...umm, forget it.

Prediction: 9-3

18. North Carolina Tar Heels

The North Carolina offense was ranked somewhere in the 100's last season. but the defense was No. 6 in the nation.

They have 19 starters coming back, and since nine of those are on that defense, they should be really good again.

QB Bryn Renner had a great spring, so that could also be good.

Prediction: 9-3

17 Oregon State Beavers

No USC to worry about and a final season with both Rodgers brothers (TB Jacquizz Rodgers, WR James Rodgers), so things could be looking up for the Beavers.

Combine that with the upheaval over at their in-state rival and this could be a really special year for OSU.

Prediction: 9-3

16 Georgia Bulldogs

New starter Aaron Murray has to take over for the Bulldogs since QB Zack Mettenberger was dismissed from the team, but they still have the best receiver in the conference, if not in the country, in AJ Green.

Playing in the SEC won't help but with an easy out of conference schedule they should be in good shape to challenge for a big bowl.

Prediction: 9-3

15 LSU Tigers

They have a brutal SEC schedule to go through, but then again, so does the whole conference.

But they have enough talent on both sides of the ball to stay ranked.

Prediction: 9-4

14 Nebraska Cornhuskers

Ndamukong Suh is gone but they do have seven defensive players returning. More importanly they have 10 of the 11 returning on offense.

Quarterback Zac Lee and tailback Roy Helu should lead the 'Huskers right to the top of the Big 12 North.

Prediction: 9-3

13 Pittsburgh Panthers

With Big Ben missing for six games the Panthers might be the best football in Pittsburgh for a while.

Coach Dave Wannstedt has a stud running back in Dion Lewis. He should be able to ride him close to a BCS Bowl game. Close.

Prediction 9-3

12 Penn State Nittany Lions

This should be a re-loading year for Penn State, if not rebuilding.

No more worries about when Joe Paterno is going to retire and no worries about if Bowden is going to catch him.

If the new QB (it is a four-QB competition to replace outgoing Daryll Clark) can pick up the system and get the ball to Evan Royster, they should be fine.

If not for Alabama, Iowa, and Ohio State on the schedule, they'd go undefeated.

Prediction: 9-3

11. Oregon Ducks

Even though the Ducks have lost some of their swagger due to the off-field incidents, they have two things in their favor:

They trounced USC last year and effectively ended their reign on top of the Pac-10, and they still have LaMichael James.

Although the loss of Jermiah Masoli will keep them from challenging nationally.

Prediction: 10-2

10 Miami Hurricanes

QB Jacory Harris should continuing connecting to his favorite target Travis Benjamin if the 'Canes want to continue with their efforts to bring glory back to the "U".

They have had some really strong recruiting classes which have led to wins, finally, on the field.

Prediction: 9-3 or even 10-2

9 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

QB Josh Nesbitt is the key to everything, but with some help from RB's Anthony Allen and Roddy Jones, this rushing attack is going to continue on, even without Jonathan Dwyer.

New defensive coordinator Al Groh has switched them to the 3-4 scheme, but it's the triple option that every team worries about.

Prediction: 10-2

8 Oklahoma Sooners

RB DeMarco Murray, WR Ryan Broyles, and QB Landry Jones have to make up for the losses of Jermaine Gresham and No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford.

But this is Oklahoma and Stoops keeps the cupboards filled.

Prediction; 10-2

7. Iowa Hawkeyes

Coach Kirk Ferentz has 14 starters back, and he also gets back his stud tailback Jewel Hampton, who missed the whole season last year with injury. They will definitely challenge for the Big Ten Title.

Prediction: 11-1

6. TCU Horned Frogs

QB Andy Dalton and wideout Jeremy Curley lead an explosive offense that could cause the BCS problems again. If they go undefeated and no one else does, do they get in the title game?

Prediction: 11-1

5. Texas Longhorns

QB Garrett Gilbert takes over for Colt McCoy, but he has a lot of weapons back at his disposal. Heck, if not for an unfortunate turnover, Gilbert could have been a title-winning quarterback already.

With 13 returning starters, Texas can challenge for it all.

Prediction: 11-1

4. Virginia Tech Hokies

QB Tyrod Taylor and RB Ryan Williams are both studs and the VT special teams is always good for at least one win a year. The offense also has eight returning starters.

This could be the year they sneak up on everybody.

Prediction: 11-1

3 Boise State Broncos

Fear the blue field!

No national title contender has more returning starters than the Broncos do with 19.

With a good year, QB Kellen Moore could be in New York in December. Or raising a title trophy.

Prediction: Undefeated

2 Alabama Crimson Tide

With only 10 starters back and only two on defense some teams might be worried.

But...Roll Tide.

They could easily repeat, but I see trouble in the title game.

I also see a Heisman winner having to split carries. Will that cause some chaos on the team?

Prediction: Undefeated (...until the title game)

1. Ohio State University

They have 16 starters back, including 10 of them on offense.

This is the year that Terrelle Pryor pulls a Vince Young in the title game and shocks the world.

Prediction: National Champions.