USA Today College Football Rankings 2010: Top 25 Team Breakdowns
One of the days college football fans look forward to most before the season officially begins is here. Today, the USA Today Coaches' Top 25 Preseason poll was released.
This preseason poll gives us a look at which teams will have the inside track towards the 2011 BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Arizona.
Where did your team rank? Which conferences have the most teams? Are the individual rankings justified for each team? We take a look in this team-by-team breakdown of the Preseason Coaches' Top 25 poll.
24t. West Virginia
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Mountaineers head coach Bill Stewart has won nine games in each of the last two seasons and could be in a better position for more now that recent Big East power Cincinnati will likely take a step back without Brian Kelly.
West Virginia will break in a new quarterback, relying on either Geno Smith or Coley White, but the Mountaineers retain a reliable piece with Noel Devine at tailback. Devine has seen his name tossed around among preseason Heisman contenders. He could make a run at New York considering how much the West Virginia offense will rely upon him.
The Mountaineers are one of just two Big East teams in the preseason Top 25. A loss to Florida State in the Gator Bowl last year makes this a conservative spot for West Virginia. It's a fair ranking that leaves West Virginia on the fence just as many are about their 2010 prospects.
24t. Utah
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The Utes come off a 10-3 season (third in the Mountain West Conference) and a win over California in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Utah returns nine starters on offense including sophomore quarterback Jordan Wynn and First Team All-MWC senior tailback Eddie Wide. The Utes return four of their five starters on the offensive line. However, Utah must replace seven starters on defense including their entire starting linebacking corps and both safeties.
Utah should be clicking on offense right out of the gate, but their defensive will be tested in Week 1 when Pittsburgh pays a visit. How quickly that relatively inexperience defense gels could dictate the Utes' season.
Their No. 24 ranking is fair. Utah has made a habit of winning at least nine games in recent years in an increasingly strong conference.
23. Auburn
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The Tigers made a New Year's Day Bowl last season, defeating Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. However, 2009 can be seen as something of a disappointment given the team's 8-5 finish and 3-5 record in the SEC.
Junior college transfer Cameron Newton is likely to win the job under center with good depth at the position behind him. Newton will have a solid group of receivers to throw to in Darvin Adams, Terrell Zachery, and Quindarius Carr.
The Tigers still know how to run the ball and should be led by Onterio McCalebb on an attack that eclipsed over 2,700 yards last season. Returning four of the five starters on the offensive line should offer continuity in the running game.
The Tigers slip in the back of the poll as the lowest ranked SEC, but one that still can make noise if they snatch a few big victories on their conference schedule.
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22. Oregon State
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The Beavers have to believe 2010 is their chance to grab a Pac-10 title. Whether they can do it or not may rest on new sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz. Luckily for Katz, he still has junior running back Jacquizz Rodgers to share the load and senior receiver James Rodgers (91 catchers in 2009) to find down field.
The Beavers have four returning starters on the offensive line with seniors at every level of the defense. This is likely to be a run-first team, but that should give Katz the breathing room to build confidence and improve as the season goes on.
The Beavers ranking may have been higher had they returned a veteran quarterback. Alas they don't and this ranking reflects a bit of a wait and see approach with Oregon State. The quicker Katz improves, the faster they will climb if they can claim big conference victories.
21. Georgia
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The Bulldogs return after a disappointing appearance in the Independence Bowl with a new quarterback (Aaron Murray) and new defensive coordinator (Todd Grantham). The Bulldogs return a lot of muscle on the offensive line which stands to be one of the best units in the country.
Defensively, the Grantham is instituting a pro-style 3-4 defense with the hope of getting after the passer more and creating more turnovers.
Luckily for Murray, a redshirt freshman, he will have one of the best receivers in the country in A.J. Green to throw to. That should help the learning curve for a young QB with a big arm.
If Murray grab the job with two hands and the defense quickly adapts to the new system, Georgia could play up to better potential than their No. 22 ranking. Early games at South Carolina and home to Arkansas will be barometers for this team's season.
20. Florida State
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It's a new era in Tallahassee with Jimbo Fisher taking over for Bobby Bowden and Mark Stoops taking over as defensive coordinator. Thankfully for these two coaches they have a veteran returning quarterback in Christian Ponder, a wholly returning offensive line, running back Jermaine Thomas and a stable wide receiver corps.
In all, the Seminoles return 10 starters for a team could make a run at the ACC Championship Game as long as Ponder stays healthy.
Stoops is implementing a new defensive style with six returning starters. The FSU defense struggled numerous times last season and needs to step up to bring balance to the Seminoles if they are to make a serious run. The No. 20 preseason ranking is a solid spot for a team that has higher expectations, if not inflated ones.
19. Arkansas
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It is a bit surprising the Razorbacks didn't get a little more love in the poll considering they have Heisman contender in Ryan Mallett under center and an explosive offense that will rival any in the SEC. The key to the Arkansas offense is whether or not they can properly utilize their deep stable of running backs to take pressure off Mallett.
The Arkansas defense is a bit suspect especially in the secondary, but they return seven starters. The unit does not need to be elite, but simply slow down the pass more than it did in 2009.
Eighteen returning starters and a veteran, big arm quarterback could make Arkansas one of the surprises in the SEC this year. Early tests at Georgia and home to Alabama in September will tell us a lot about this team.
18. North Carolina
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We know the Tar Heels are going to play defense this year. With six players like to high on the NFL Draft board next spring, DE Robert Quinn, DT Marvin Austin, LB Quan Sturdivant, LB Bruce Carter, CB Kendric Burney, and S Deunta Williams, the Heels are going to pressure the issue every week with their defense.
However, can the offense step up. Led by junior quarterback T. J. Yates, the Heels offense sputtered at numerous points last season. Senior wide receiver Greg Little is expecting to the guy in the UNC offense but they will need younger, unproven wide receivers to step up.
The Tar Heels can make a run at the ACC title if the offense can step up this season. Starting the year at No. 18 is an indicator that there are believers in head coach Butch Davis' team.
17. Georgia Tech
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The Yellow Jackets are out to defend their 2009 ACC Championship and are in a good position to do so. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt returns to lead the triple-option offense that will use the tandem of Anthony Allen and Roddy Jones to fill the void left by Jonathan Dwyer. Tyler Melton and Stephen Hill are looked upon to fill the spot left by Demaryius Thomas.
Former University of Virginia head coach Al Groh will now run the Yellow Jackets defense. He is installing a 3-4 defense that will have to improve upon the nearly 360 yards per game the unit allowed last season.
In the end, the Yellow Jackets season will boil down to how effectively and efficiently they can run the triple-option with new pieces in place and whether or not the 3-4 defense will have an instant impact on defense.
The No. 17 ranking is a bit low for a defending conference champion with a returning quarterback. Questions on defense are a likely source for that drop.
16. LSU Tigers
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LSU is going to rely on quarterback Jordan Jefferson and receivers Terrence Toliver, Rueben Randle, and Russell Shepard to improve upon an offense that was simply bad and ineffective at times last season. Much of that will fall on their sophomore quarterback Jefferson who needs to take big strides if LSU is going to contend with Alabama in the SEC West.
The LSU defense will have youth on it, but more importantly LSU needs to get back to attacking the passer like they did in recent, previous seasons.
No. 16 may be a bit high for an LSU team has uncertainties on both sides of the ball and plays in a very tough division featuring Arkansas, Alabama and Auburn.
15. Pittsburgh
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The Pitt Panthers are feeling good about themselves and they should. They return a potential Heisman candidate in running back Dion Lewis and national award candidate Greg Romeus.
However, the Panthers' season could hinge on the development of new quarterback Tino Sunseri. Sunseri will benefit from projected first round wide receiver Jon Baldwin in addition to Lewis.
The Panthers return nine starters on defense with only openings at cornerback needing to be filled. Romeus anchors a defense that simply needs make big stops and prevent the Panthers from losing so many close games like they have in recent seasons. Starting at No. 15 shows the coaches faith in the Panthers ability to do that.
If Pitt can finish strong and avoid late-game letdowns, it could finally get back to their first BCS bowl since the Larry Fitzgerald days.
14. Penn State
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Out goes quarterback Darryl Clark, in come the duo of Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin to battle for the position. At least the Nittany Lions still have senior running back Evan Royster who will be the guts and heart of the Penn State offense this season. However, the Penn State offensive line must stay healthy and play better than it did as a unit last year.
Penn State lost a number of blue chips from last year's defense including linebackers Novarro Bowman, Sean Lee and defensive tackle Jared Odrick. That will live space for defensive end Jack Crawford and linebacker Michael Mauti to grab some spotlight.
Essentially though, the Penn State will rest on whether either of the quarterbacks and new team leaders on defense can step up. This ranking may prove to be high if such growth does not occur, but a few clutch wins in conference on the road at Iowa and/or at Ohio State could be season saving victories.
13. Miami Hurricanes
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The expectations are climbing in Coral Gables and they should with returning quarterback Jacory Harris and senior running back Damien Berry. However, the 'Canes running attack suffered a major blow when Graig Cooper was lost for the season during last season's bowl game against Wisconsin.
On defense, the Hurricanes must do a better job after getting after the quarterback. The unit finished near the bottom of the ACC in sacks last season and will have tests right out of the chute with games at Ohio State, at Pitt and against Clemson. If the defense cannot get pressure early in the season, and suffer early losses because of it, the feel-good mentality in Miami may begin to wane.
The pollsters put stock in Miami to continue their improvements under Randy Shannon, but at No. 13 it is still a bit of a wait-and-see approach.
12. Wisconsin
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The expectations are running high in Madison that this year's Badgers team can make a serious run at the Big Ten title. Returning are quarterback Scott Tolzien and All Big-Ten batting ram John Clay. Tolzien, now a senior, will be required to do more with his arm than just handing off to Clay behind a massive, veteran offensive line.
Defensively, Wisconsin needs to improve against the pass and while they finished fourth in the conference in points per game allowed (24.3), improving that stat should help them avoid let downs like the ones the Badgers have suffered in recent seasons.
Nevertheless, this is a well-balanced team with upperclassmen leadership on both sides of the ball. The pollsters are believing in Wisconsin, but it may be tough to really buy stock until the Badgers show they can win the games they should win.
11. Oregon
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The dismissal of quarterback Jeremiah Masoli puts pressure on (likely) new quarterback Nate Costa to step up and lead a team that returns 10 starters on offense. Running back LaMichael James will miss the season opener, but the Ducks should manage a victory over New Mexico without him.
When he returns, this is still an offense capable of racking up huge chunks of yardage every week. The question is whether Costa can have the Ducks flying at 412 yards per game like they did last year under Masoli.
The Ducks return eight starters on defense but have question marks on the defense line. Regardless, this team will only go as far as the offense can carry them this season.
As for their ranking, No. 11 is ambitious considering no one quite knows how the Ducks will function without Masoli. They can certainly compete for Pac-10 title in 2010, but starting at No. 11 may have been a bit ambitious.
10. Iowa Hawkeyes
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The Hawkeyes and their fans are dreaming of a national championship game appearance this season, and justifiably so. Iowa returns senior quarterback Ricky Stanzi and a group of four running backs (1 senior, 3 sophomores) which should give the Hawkeyes very good balance on offense.
It is on defense though where Iowa hopes to really win ball games. Seniors Adrian Clayborn, Karl Klug and Christan Ballard lead one of the nation's best defensive lines that is rounded out by defensive end Broderick Binns.
Iowa returns nine defensive starters in all, but must replace two spots in the linebacking corps. Nevertheless, this is an Hawkeyes team that ranked in the top 10 nationally in five defensive categories. If the Hawkeyes can somehow manage to improve upon that, they could be looking at their first outright Big Ten title under Kirk Ferentz.
The pollsters may have even undersold Iowa a bit at No. 10, but if they can cruise the Big Ten unscathed it will not matter where they start the season.
9. Nebraska
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The Cornhuskers return 15 starters on both sides of the ball, but it is at two positions that could dictate their season. Quarterback Zac Lee, who returns from arm surgery, but stake his unchallenged claim to the position while the defense must replace the crater-sized void left by Ndamukong Suh.
Defensive tackle Jared Crick will be looked at to fill Suh's enormous shoes on a defense with seven returning starters. Defensive backs Prince Amukamara and Eric Hagg will need to show further improvement in the pass-happy Big XII.
Running backs Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead will be relied on to bring balance to the Cornhuskers offense that will need to be more consistent than it was in the second half of 2009.
Nebraska appears unchallenged to return to the Big XII title game, but the team's stock at No. 9 won't hold much water if they get there in ugly fashion.
8. Oklahoma
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The Sooners can put the lost 2009 season behind them and start fresh with returning quarterback Landry Jones and a duo of offensive playmakers in DeMarco Murray and Ryan Broyles. The offensive line, however, must step up and replace left tackle Trent Williams and Brody Eldridge.
Defensively, the Sooners return six starters including defensive end Jeremy Beal and defensive tackle Adrian Taylor.
This should be a very balanced Sooners team that may again have its conference fortunes rest on what it does against Texas.
7. Texas Christian
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The Horned Frogs should again be in the driver's seat of the Mountain West Conference as they return conference player of the year quarterback Andy Dalton and a tandem of running backs Matthew Tucker and Ed Wesley. Wide receiver Jeremy Kerley will be Dalton's go-to guy while offensive tackle Marcus Cannon is a bona fide NFL prospect.
Losing Daryl Washington and Jerry Hughes is a blow to the defense, but TCU has the skilled players in place to give the team strong enough balance to what should be an explosive offense.
No. 7 for TCU is no hype. This is a team that could easily play in another BCS game in January if not more.
6. Virginia Tech
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The Hokies will need quarterback Tyrod Taylor to step up and make this offense an explosive element with returning running backs Ryan Williams and Darren Evans. Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin give Taylor weapons on the edge.
The Hokies defense and special teams is one of the most sure things in college football. Head coach Frank Beamer will have those units ready go to Week 1 against Boise State. If the offense can develop as anticipated, Virginia Tech could finally get back to their long desired championship game.
5. Boise State
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The expectations have never been higher in Boise and rightfully so. The Broncos lost only one starter on both sides of the ball and the bowl experience to make it all the way to the national championship if they can get through early games against Virginia Tech and Oregon State.
Quarterback Kellen Moore is a legitimate Heisman contender with NFL-caliber talent all-around him on the offense including running backs Doug Martin and D.J. Harper and wide receiver Austin Pettis.
The Broncos will rely on that offense to get them through their early showdowns and then blowout their weak WAC schedule en route to Glendale-this time for the BCS National Championship.
Starting the year at No. 5 means the Broncos just have to go undefeated and hope the teams in front of them falter. That's easy enough, right?
4. Texas Longhorns
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Like Oklahoma, the Longhorns head into a new season with a new identity under center. Garrett Gilbert takes the reins of the Longhorns who have plenty of strength on defense and at running back led by Tre Newton and Vondrell McGee.
The Longhorns have some question marks on the offensive line, but it's difficult to see Texas having a down year with the amount of sheer talent they have on the field.
The Longhorns made it to the title game last year and No. 4 is a bold statement with a team debuting a new quarterback, but it's tough to discount the Longhorns.
3. Florida
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The Gators too enter a new era with quarterback John Brantley taking over for the venerable Tim Tebow. Behind Brantley will be junior running back Jeff Demps and wide receivers Deonte Thompson and Omarius Hines. The Gators offensive line will feature four seniors but sophomore left tackle Xavier Nixon will may have his hands full keeping Brantley clean.
Defensively, the Gators are led by senior strong safety Ahmad Black and four seniors in the front seven.
The Gators break in a new face of the team, but this still a squad with as much talent as team in the country.
No. 3? Tough to argue against it, but that's putting a lot of preseason stock in the Gators.
2. Ohio State
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Ohio State is already thinking about making its third trip to Glendale for a national championship appearance. Led by junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor and a stable of running backs in Brandon Saine, Dan Herron, Jamaal Berry, and Carlos Hyde, and wide receivers DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher the Buckeyes return all of their offense weapons.
The OSU offensive line is anchored by center Mike Brewster, guard Justin Boren and tackle J.B. Shugarts.
Defensive, the Buckeyes return key cogs at every level including senior Cameron Heyward, linebackers Brian Rolle and Ross Homan and cornerback Chemdi Chekwa.
Ohio State is a preseason favorite because of its talent all over the field. If Pryor can make the jump many expect of him, the Buckeyes could very get their third crack at a national title in the last five seasons.
1. Alabama
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The defending national champions start at as the nation's top ranked team as they should. They return the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner in Mark Ingram and senior quarterback Greg McElroy. Junior wide receivers Marquis Maze and Julio Jones give McElroy the same weapons he had a year ago while the offensive line returns three starters led by left tackle James Carpenter.
The Alabama defense, however, returns only two starters and must replace leaders like Rolando McClain and Terrence Cody. How quickly that defensive unit gels, especially at the linebacker position, may determine if the Crimson Tide can repeat.
The Tide get Penn State at home in Week 2 which should go their way, but battles with Arkansas and Florida to begin the SEC schedule will be stiff challenges.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
