College Football Coaches Poll: Unranked Teams Who Will Contend in 2010

The coaches have spoken and the first 2010 USA Today Coaches Poll is out.

Right now sports writers and analysts are picking apart the preseason prognostication from the minds of college football coaches in earnest.

The problem with any preseason rankings are obvious. Someone always gets left out and someone who may not be as deserving.

In college basketball it isn't that big a deal but in college football when every game counts you are always behind the 8-ball when you don't get in at the start. That doesn't mean you won't have a chance to have a Top 25 season.

So who are those teams who could change the preseason expectations. Well here is a list of 15 such teams.

Cincinnati

I can see why the Bearcats were left off. They lost their starting quarterback to the draft and they lost their head coach to Notre Dame.

That being said Cincinnati are the two-time defending Big East Champs. The returning players have talent and pride and the projected starter at quarterback in Zach Collaros that has  game experience.

So don't count the Bearcats out cause they may be in the thick of things again in the Big East and perhaps on the national scene.

Clemson

Clemson obviously lost their primary weapon from a year ago in running back C.J. Spiller, but there is plenty of reason to believe they can compete again in the ACC.

For one, they return Kyle Parker fresh off his stint as a baseball player. While he tries to work out his deal with the Colorado Rockies he decided to continue playing college football.

That is good news for the Tigers, and not such good news for ACC secondaries. If Parker can find some targets to throw to and coach Dabo Swinney can find a guy to run the ball then Clemson could find themselves back in the Top 25 by season's end.

Oklahoma State

If the Cowboys could survive 2009 without star receiver Dez Bryant, who sat out the majority of the season for violating NCAA rules, then 2010 could be an improvement.

There is still plenty of talent and if the Cowboys can man-up as much as their head coach then there is always a chance they could lasso themselves back into the Top 25.

South Florida

The Bulls have been quite the upstart but now with a new coach there is a certain level of uncertainty around the program.

But new coach Skip Hotz doesn't have a bare cupboard to work with. There is plenty of talent in South Florida and the Bulls have started competing a bit with the big dogs.

If Holtz can at least keep the status quo for this year there is a good chance they will again be in the Top 25 and competing for a bowl.

Ole Miss

The Rebels have been more in the mix lately, and despite a disappointing finish to what many hoped would be a major break through year.

Chances are with recent loses that there maybe a drop off but Houston Nutt always appears to put a competitive team on the field.

While they may not compete for an SEC championship it wouldn't be surprising to still see them in the Top 25 by season's end.

Arizona

The Wildcats had a nice season last season, making a bowl and making some noise in the Pac-10.

In what will be the Pac-10 as we know its swan song, there is a chance that Arizona could make some noise with the power vacuum left by USC's fall from grace.

If the Wildcats can overcome some early preseason injuries they could be in the mix for a shot at the Top 25.

Arizona State

Like conference and in-state foe Arizona, the Sun Devils are hoping to take advantage of USC's misfortune and have a good season in 2010.

However, can they overcome their history of underachieving. Chances are with the Pac-10 power struggle being especially competitive this season that they have enough talent to make a dent.

Is it enough to earn a Top 25 spot? Not yet, but time will tell.

California

The Bears round out the Pac-10 teams that will try to benefit from USC's woes.

The Bears are another team that seemingly has underachieved under the weight of expectations.

Now that they aren't a preseason darling perhaps someone will step up and fill the void left by Jahvid Best.

If so they might make it back into the Top 25.

South Carolina

Time is running out for the old ball coach. He hasn't been able to reignite the flame that led him to such great heights at Florida.

The man once believed to be an offensive genius has had to rely almost exclusively on his defenses to win him games.

Some have said this may be his best South Carolina team yet, but they aren't even ranked in the Top 25 to start the season. One thing is for sure though, you can't count out Spurrier. He finds a way to win even if it isn't every game.

If you were a betting man the safe money might be that he finds a way to get the Gamecocks in the Top 25 by season's end.

Navy

When Paul Johnson left Navy for Georgia Tech, many thought the Midshipmen would become a lost cause.

Johnson had brought them unprecedented success for a military academy in the modern era.

Navy once again found themselves playing in bowl games and making some noise in the Top 25.

Mississippi State

The Bulldogs are often a forgotten team in the SEC. It is hard when you aren't the top dogs in the conference featuring LSU, Florida, and Alabama.

But the like so many other SEC teams they always seem to have a shot at winning just enough games and getting into the Top 25. We will see if it happens again in 2010.

UConn

UConn has had its fair amount of tragedy but also glory since joining the ranks of the FBS.

Since Coach Randy Edsall began his winning ways everyone has seemingly brought him up as a candidate for any open job. Yet he has stayed.

His belief in the program has trickled to the players and eventually the pollsters and they could find themselves back in the Top 25 again this season.

BYU

Like Navy, BYU is one of those programs that has a rich history, but after experiencing some down years is back.

They may not be the Top 10 team they've been in the past but they are good enough to get in the Top 25.

Obviously they take a hit from being in a non BCS conference, but overall the quality of the program is high and they aren't an easy out for anyone.

Houston

This was a tough choice between the Cougars and the East Carolina Pirates out of Conference USA.

The Conference doesn't get much love and for good reason. The football has not been good, but the last couple of years have seen the Pirates and Cougars duke it out for top billing.

The Cougars win out as the team most likely to get into the Top 25 because ECU is going through a coaching change and is less stable right now.

Notre Dame

It wasn't all that long ago when the Irish were the team that made the Top 10 because they were the Irish.

Now the sheen of the golden domers has tarnished and they are looking to regroup after the tumultuous up and down tenure of Charlie Weis.

Now the Irish are riding the coat tales of past glory to just try and get back in the Top 25. My how, have things changed. Brian Kelly has the experience of making teams winners, but can he do it at one of the most demanding jobs in American?