Five Top 25 College Football Teams That Could Shock The World

The 2010 college football season kicked off this week, and the newspapers, blogs and airwaves have been filled with people boasting about who they believe can walk away as national champions this year.

While history has proven that the early rankings rarely reflect what we see by December, the vast majority of people are only talking about a few teams. 

These would include Alabama the defending champs, Ohio State, Florida, Texas, and even Boise State, who has created quite the debate about whether they are deserving of their No. 3 ranking, despite not having played their crucial first game against Virginia Tech. 

But are we really going to see these usual suspects yet again compete for the BCS Championship?  Or are we due for some new blood? 

Seeing that repeat champions are hard to come by, other teams like Florida and Texas are slightly rebuilding and Ohio State's tendency to choke under pressure, this year offers an opportunity to see something fresh this year for the title game in January.

Here is a look at five teams in the preseason top 25 that could shock the world, and be playing for a national championship. 

5) Auburn Tigers

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Defensive end Antonio Coleman #52 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates a victory against the Northwestern Wildcats in the Outback Bowl January 1, 2010 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Preseason ranking: 22

Games vs. Top 25 teams:  4

At Home:  3

Toughest game:  At Alabama, Friday, Nov. 26

There isn't a ton of talk about this team in the always-stacked SEC.  With sexier names like Alabama and Florida, and sexier looking teams like Arkansas, Auburn seems to fall through the cracks. 

But with a very manageable schedule, and almost all their hard games at home, Auburn could win the SEC West if Alabama stumbles. 

With SEC Conference Champions routinely getting into the championship game, if Auburn could run the table, they can get their chance that they feel they never received several years ago.

4) Miami Hurricanes

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 03: Quarterback Jacory Harris #12 of the Miami Hurricanes drops back to pass against the Oklahoma Sooners at Land Shark Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Miami defeated Oklahoma 21-20. (Photo by Doug Benc/

Preseason ranking: 13

Games vs Top 25 teams: 6

At Home:  3

Toughest game:  At Ohio State Saturday, Sept. 11

Could this season mark the return of "The U"?  We will find out soon enough when they play at Ohio State next week. 

While their schedule looks imposing six preseason top 25 opponents, two of them, North Carolina and Pittsburgh could be unranked by next week. 

Their schedule is by no means an ease mind you, but if they could get by their rivalry game with Florida State on Oct. 9 unscathed, they should be able to stay undefeated through a showdown with ACC power Virginia Tech on Nov. 20. 

Coach Randy Shannon has re-built this once great power and with Heisman hopeful Jacory Harris looking better than last year, there could be a Hurricane coming to us in January.

3) Wisconsin Badgers

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MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 26: John Clay #32 of the Wisconsin Badgers carries the ball against the Michigan State Spartans on September 26, 2009 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Preseason ranking: 12

Games vs Top 25 teams:  2

At Home:  1

Toughest game:  vs. Ohio State Saturday, Oct. 16

I would love to take credit and say I knew Wisconsin would be a sleeper, but listening to Mad Dog Radio on XM.  So there's my shameless plug for the station.

However, when you look at the fact Wisconsin is returning a lot of players, and has a fairly easy schedule, you begin to realize that it could be a great year for football in the dairy state.  

The Badgers only have two games against preseason top 25 teams in Ohio State on Oct. 16, and at Iowa the week after.  Their hardest non-conference game is against Arizona State. 

There are no doubt some other tough games, like road contests against both Michigan and Michigan State.  But with no conference championship game in the Big 10 still, the favorable schedule for the Badgers produces some hope that they could go undefeated and surprise everyone.  

2) Oregon Ducks

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EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 04: Running back Kenjon Barner #24 of the Oregon Ducks turns the corner and scores a touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the New Mexico Lobos at Autzen Stadium on September 4, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve

Preseason ranking: 11

Games vs Top 25 teams:  2

At Home:  0

Toughest game:  At No. 14 USC Saturday, Oct. 30

I really am surprised that the Ducks are not getting more chatter about being a national title contender.  There are lots of dominoes falling in place for a team that people may not remember, won the Pac-10 last year.  

Oregon brings back a good amount of its roster and has a very manageable schedule.  While they have to travel to USC, we all know has nothing to play for this year.  

Additionally, Oregon State will not be ranked by next week. 

Oregon meanwhile has every other difficult in conference game at home, and it's hardest non-conference game is against a Tennessee squad that is still in shell shock over the sudden departure of Lane Kiffin. 

The Ducks tasted the BCS last year, could they quack their way to a title this year? 

1) TCU Horned Frogs

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ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 04: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates a touchdown run against the Oregon State Beavers in the third quarter at Cowboys Stadium on September 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Get

Preseason ranking: 6

Games vs Top 25 teams:  1

At Home:  Neutral field at Dallas Stadium

Toughest game:  Vs. #24 Oregon State Saturday, September 4th. 

The Boise State Broncos are getting all the talk about being the first non-BCS team to play for a national championship. 

On one hand, it's understandable.  They're coming of yet another undefeated season (capped off by beating TCU in the Fiesta Bowl) and they're ranked third in the polls. 

However, if they lose their first game against Virginia Tech, which is very possible, all the talk they've received will be for naught.

It makes you wonder why TCU is getting virtually no talk about their title hopes, considering they're in a very similar position as their non-BCS brothers.  

The Horned Frogs are ranked sixth in the polls, and just beat their only ranked opponent on their schedule tonight in Oregon State. 

Now, TCU will undoubtedly play against other top 25 opponents later on this season as other Mountain West rivals ascend the ranks.

TCU still has games against Baylor, SMU, BYU, Air Force and Utah but there is no reason to believe they can't run the table again in 2010. 

There is no doubt TCU needs a lot of help.  Not only do they need to go undefeated, but they need almost every BCS team to lose a game. 

If Wisconsin and Oregon ran the table as well, the Horned Frogs would be out of luck.

However, the same thing can be said for the Broncos of Boise State, but that hasn't stopped anyone from talking about the blue carpet boys playing for a championship. 

So if Virginia Tech were to beat Boise State on Monday, perhaps TCU can finally start to receive some much more deserved attention.

Who do you think belongs on this list?  Is it some other team in the top 25, or is it another club no one is even considering?