College Football: Which of Last Year's Contenders Are This Year's Pretenders?

Larry Burton (Panama City Beach, Fla.)—Taking a look at the top 10 teams in the BCS final polls for last year, some seem to be contenders yet again while others may be simply pretenders. In order of last year's finish let's take a look back and a projection forward.

Alabama—Contender

There is no doubt that Alabama will be a contender yet again this year for the big prize. The biggest obstacle in the way of the Tide is their own laziness and apathy. If they avoid that pitfall, they should be in the mix for a repeat.

Texas—Pretender

They may still be in the mix for a BCS Bowl and another Big 12 Championship, but they aren't poised to make another title run this year. Too many good players departed with too many question marks. They will be a solid team however.

Cincinnati—Pretender

Like many rock bands, Cincy is a one-hit wonder and should settle back into the pack. Still, it's better to make the big time once than never at all.

TCU—Pretender

Last year TCU had a chance to show they were contenders but got blown out by another BCS buster proving they just aren't prime time contenders just yet. They should be a solid team however, just not a top-shelf unit.

Florida—Contender

It's almost sacrilegious to live in Florida and say Florida could be better off without Tebow, but now defenses will have to watch more than one player. John Brantley should do well and Florida could give Alabama all it wants in another SEC Championship Game. The winner of course will certainly be a contender.

Boise State—Contender

It's hard to keep denying these boys. Someday they are going to kick the door down and who knows, it might be this year. If a major conference team stumbles, Boise State may be there to jump in and take their spot. It's just a question of time.

Oregon—Pretender

If Ohio State didn't prove it, the team did themselves with offseason crime waves and suspensions. This was a team that could have been great and now they're not worth a duck.

Ohio State—Pretender and Contender

Ohio State has a schedule to be envied. Iowa and Miami earlier could challenge and beat them, but even if they finish the regular season undefeated and make it to the BCS Championship, (which I think they could) the SEC winner will once again expose them as Big Ten Pretenders. So for much of the season, they'll be strong contenders, but come the game game, they'll fall. One day that will change, just not while your present dog is still living or Jim Tressell is coaching.

Georgia Tech—Pretender

Teams that haven't seen the wishbone for a while are beginning to figure it out. Tech could challenge for the ACC, but that's about all. They're just not a top-shelf team.

Iowa—Pretender

To finish out the top 10, let's go with the Hawkeyes. Iowa is such a good school year in and year out, but they always have a injury or a suspension or some other glitch that always takes them out of contention. Until they show they can play a whole season to the limit of their capabilities, they're pretenders.

Looking over the rest of the top 20 and trying to spot a contender, only Virginia Tech stands out. After a year of two close losses, Va. Tech could be the surprise contender again this year. Tyrod Taylor should be ready to spark a good team this year.

Time will tell how any prediction comes out but for now the look is the SEC will once again be the dominant conference atop in college football.