2012 Preseason College Football Rankings: LSU and Teams Looking for Redemption

The 2012 regular season may be over 30 weeks away, but some teams are already supremely focused on that glorious first weekend of September.

Some teams have a disgustingly bad taste in their mouths from a disappointing 2011 season and are eager to wash it away.

With high expectations in 2011, the following three teams are poised to make fans forget about 2011.

LSU Tigers

The Tigers are finally through with the Jordan Jefferson/Jarrett Lee era and can look forward to much better play from the position in 2012. Transfer Zach Mettenberger pushed Aaron Murray for the starter's role his freshman year in 2009 before demolishing the competition in a year of community college. He is expected to start this season.

Now he takes over an offense that returns its two stud running backs and the majority of the second-best defense in the nation, including Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu.

The sting of Monday’s loss hurts, but the future is still very bright.

Oklahoma Sooners

Bob Stoops’ team failed to live up to the lofty expectations that come with being ranked No. 1 in the preseason, but the pollsters may have jumped the gun by a year.

The Sooners got an incredible gift when QB Landry Jones decided to return for his senior season. Four starting offensive linemen will be back as will receivers Kenny Stills and Jaz Reynolds. Running back Dominque Whaley is going to be one of the best in the nation. This is going to be one explosive offense.

They lost a few key cogs upfront on defense, but with another strong recruiting class, the Sooners won’t miss a beat.

Better late than never should be their 2012 slogan.

Oregon Ducks

With QB Darron Thomas, RB Kenjon Barner and WR Josh Huff all slated to return, the offense is going to be just as deadly as ever.

Sure, the loss of LaMichael James hurts, but there is more than enough talent (and speed) to adequately replace him.

With Stanford expected to be worse without Andrew Luck, it’s a two-team battle for Pac-12 supremacy with USC.