National Signing Day 2012: College Football's Post-Signing-Day Top 25

With national signing day in the books, let's take a glance at how things are shaping up in the college football universe in 2012.

This list ranks the top 25 teams coming out of national signing day.

It appears as if several SEC squads will batter each other in their fight for supremacy, while USC has the chops to emerge unscathed from their schedule as a challenger from outside the conference.

Included in this list with each team's top 25 ranking is their 2012 recruiting class ranking from Rivals.

Just Missed the Cut

Boise State - No Kellen Moore and revamped defensive line leave some big questions in Boise.

Missouri - The Tigers have some talent, but not enough to make a huge splash in the SEC.

Oklahoma State - Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon have departed; their production will be tough to replace.

Georgia Tech - With some improvement from Tevin Washington, this team could be a force in the ACC.

25. Utah Utes

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 28

If you are looking for USC's stiffest competition in the Pac-12 South, look no further than the Utes.

Running back John White and a stout defense should anchor this squad, and year two in the BCS should be better for the Utes.

Throw in the return of Jordan Wynn, and the Utes are a legit contender in the Pac-12.

24. Louisville Cardinals

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 40

The Cardinals' recruiting class was not the greatest of the year, but they have some incredibly talented young players returning from a team that was terribly close to a Big East title.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is going to be one of the best in the conference, and if he continues to progress, will be a star.

23. Kansas State Wildcats

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: Not in top 50

So the recruiting class was not that great, but Bill Snyder is a wizard when it comes to getting production out of his players.

Collin Klein will be back to lead the offense, and he wound up tied for second in the country in rushing touchdowns during the 2011 regular season.

22. TCU Horned Frogs

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 36

Gary Patterson and the Horned Frogs have a tough proposition jumping into the Big 12.

The Frogs' always-stout defense will be a key to their success, as will the continued solid play of quarterback Casey Pachall.

Patterson always takes his recruits and gets incredible production out of them.

Should be interesting to watch the Frogs in the Big 12.

21. Auburn Tigers

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 11

The recruiting class was excellent.

Gene Chizik does a great job developing talent, and the Tigers have an abundance of young players ready to step up and make some noise in the SEC.

The question confronting the Tigers seems to be how well the players will adjust to the new staff.

20. Texas Longhorns

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 4

Mack Brown's squad is not quite BCS game material as yet, but they are working back that way.

Defense can always be counted on to win games, and the Longhorns have one of the best to be found outside of the SEC.

Offense is a different story, but 10 wins is not out of the question for the Longhorns in 2012.

19. West Virginia Mountaineers

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 47

Less-than-stellar recruiting class notwithstanding, this team is poised for success in the Big 12 in 2012.

Stars Geno Smith, Stedman Bailey and Tavon Auston are all returning, and the Mountaineers offense should be great.

It will be tough to replace the play of Julian Miller and Bruce Irvin on the defensive line, as well as the loss of coordinator Jeff Casteel.

Even so, Dana Holgorsen's squad is primed for a run toward the top of the Big 12 in their first season if they can figure out the defensive line issues.

18. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 22

Notre Dame, under the leadership of Brian Kelly, is struggling to get back to a place of relevance in the college football universe.

A solid recruiting class helps, and a stout defense led by linebacker Manti Te'o should anchor a team that has some issues on the offensive side of the ball.

The quarterback situation is particularly muddled, and the loss of Michael Floyd is sure to be felt.

17. Washington Huskies

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 20

This team has some issues on the defensive side of the ball, and a tough proposition trying to beat out the top tier of the Pac-12.

As for the offense, Keith Price is all you need to know.

Price is incredibly talented, and had a breakout game for the Huskies in the Alamo Bowl, scoring seven total touchdowns.

With another year of practice under his belt, Price will be a menace to defensive coordinators' plans everywhere.

16. Wisconsin Badgers

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: Not in top 50.

It seems the Badgers are never in the top 50 in recruiting.

That hasn't stopped them from winning the Big Ten two years in a row.

With the return of the nation's leading rusher, Montee Ball, the Badgers offense will once again be solid.

However, with no clarity at the quarterback position and limited experience, the offense is likely to falter a bit.

Throw in the loss of six coaches in the offseason, and the only reason the Badgers are even ranked is because of Ball and a defense that is going to be solid.

15. Michigan State Spartans

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 39

Mark Dantonio has his work cut out for him in 2012.

The passing game is surrounded with questions after the departure of Kirk Cousins and Sparty's top three receivers, and Le'Veon Bell will be called upon to make a difference in the rushing game.

Defensively, the Spartans lost a few key players, but will still be one of the best in the country.

This team will challenge Michigan for the Big Ten's Legends Division title.

14. South Carolina Gamecocks

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 19

The Gamecocks get Marcus Lattimore back from injury, and have an incredibly sound athletic defense.

They will be tough to beat.

Of course, the SEC is ridiculously stacked, and even with the benefit of Lattmore's services, the Gamecocks will likely wind up fourth or fifth in the conference.

13. Clemson Tigers

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 14

The Tigers have yet another excellent recruiting class.

That said, even with the talents of quarterback Tajh Boyd, the Tigers have some issues on the offensive line.

Dabo Swinney has done an excellent job of cultivating talent, so there is no doubt the Tigers will be near the top of the ACC again, but the offense will not be as dynamic as it was in 2011.

12. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 25

Bo Pelini and staff pulled in a solid recruiting class, and it will be interesting to see if any of this class contributes immediately.

As for the Huskers' prospects in 2012, they look good.

Taylor Martinez, in spite of his troubles passing the ball at times, is extremely talented, and with another season of maturity and experience, will show marked improvement in the passing game.

The Huskers defense is is stacked with explosive, young talent, and as the defense goes, so will the Huskers.

Expect Nebraska to challenge for the Big Ten title.

11. Georgia Bulldogs

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 12

Favorable schedule, great coach, great quarterback, scary defense...things are looking good in Athens.

Aaron Murray is the best quarterback the SEC can field, and although the Dawgs offense has some issues to resolve, particularly on the offensive line, they will be effective next season.

That said, it's the defense that will be the key to this team's success in 2012.

Don't be surprised if Georgia is one of the conference's representatives in the top five of the BCS by the end of the 2012 season.

10. Ohio State Buckeyes

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 4

Partially thanks to Urban Meyer's ability to steal recruits from other conference teams, the Buckeyes wound up with a top-five class in his first season as head coach.

Even without such an excellent class, OSU is going to be a solid unit in 2012.

Braxton Miller is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country, and he will flourish in Meyer's offense.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Buckeyes return 10 starters to a unit that ranked 19th nationally in yards allowed in 2011.

Even though OSU must deal with a ban on postseason play, a 10-win season is not out of the question.

9. Virginia Tech Hokies

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 21

You might wonder why the Hokies check in so high.

It's all about the defense.

Ten starters are returning, and this defense will be one of the nation's best.

Logan Thomas leads an offense that has some holes to fill, but will be good enough to make the Hokies the favorite to win the ACC's Coastal Division.

8. Michigan Wolverines

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 7

In spite of a BCS win in 2011, there are still many Michigan naysayers.

Brady Hoke has made all the right moves since arriving, and has this team primed for another run at a BCS berth in 2012.

Denard Robinson, though erratic when throwing the ball, had on of his best passing games against Ohio State last season, and the implementation of Hoke's system has helped both the offense and defense immensely.

The Wolverines are going to have a shot at the national title if they can sneak out a win against Alabama in non-conference play.

7. Florida State Seminoles

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 6

This ranking is contingent on the 'Noles offense developing into a squad that can pave the way for E.J. Manuel and the rest of FSU's skilled offense.

The defense is scary good, and even though they did not live up to expectation in 2011, this team is going to be scary good again next season.

Jimbo Fisher and his staff hauled in a great recruiting class, and with the issues Clemson and Virginia Tech must address, FSU should be the favorite to take the ACC title.

6. Arkansas Razorbacks

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 33

The recruiting class was not the greatest, but Bobby Petrino is excellent at getting production out of his players, no matter what their ranking coming out of high school.

Defense is where the issues lie for the Razorbacks in 2012, with end Jake Bequette, linebacker Jerry Franklin and safety Tramain Thomas all gone.

That said, if the defense is even semi-decent, this offense will be able to put up the points to win games.

Tyler Wilson turned down the NFL for another shot at the SEC title, and Knile Davis will be back at running back after missing the 2011 season due to injury.

5. Oregon Ducks

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 16

Kenjon Barner and De’Anthony Thomas will be the catalysts for this team's offensive success following the departure of Darron Thomas and LaMichael James.

Bryan Bennett is an apt replacement for Thomas, and defensively, the Ducks should be pretty solid.

The Ducks are going to have a tough time challenging USC for the Pac-12 title, but should be the North Division champs, easily.

4. Oklahoma Sooners

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 10

Mike Stoops has seven starters returning to the Sooners defense, and we can expect this unit to be one of the best in the conference.

Landry Jones is back, and Dominique Whaley will be healthy and a key to the rushing attack.

While the Big 12 boasts tons of talent again in 2012, the Sooners should be the clear class of the conference.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 1

Nick Saban has his work cut out for him, but given his talent for recruiting, Alabama will be fine in 2012.

Seven starters are gone from the best defense in recent memory, and this unit will be tested with games against Arkansas and Michigan early in the season.

Offensively, Eddie Lacy, Dee Hart and Jalston Fowler will try to replace the production that departed with Trent Richardson for the NFL, and A.J. McCarron will seek to build on his great performance in the BCS title game.

2. USC Trojans

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 8

The SEC had better be paying attention to USC.

This team appears to be one of the few that will be able to challenge for the BCS title against the best conference in football.

However, Lane Kiffin must develop some young players, and they must develop some depth early in the season in order to remain near the top of the rankings.

The return of Matt Barkley for another season at quarterback is a huge boost, and if the talent Kiffin has recruited can produce, this team will be scary good.

Oregon's run of Pac-12 dominance will end in 2012.

1. LSU Tigers

Rivals 2012 Class Ranking: 17

This team is primed for another run at the SEC title in 2011.

Zach Mettenberger has the talent to provide the offensive spark the Tigers couldn't find against Alabama in the BCS title game.

He will have the chance to learn and grow with one of the most talented offensive lines in the nation protecting him.

The defense returns more talent than most teams have in a decade, including Tyrann Mathieu and Barkevious Mingo.

If Les Miles can avoid clock management issues, this team is in good shape.