Coaches Poll Was Close, But Slightly Missed...Tweaked Top 25

You know it's really not a great idea to even have a preseason top 25, but they are loved by college football fans. We wait all spring and summer and are chomping at the bit for just a taste of that sweet college football.

And here is our taste. Preseason top 25 polls. I mostly liked the coaches poll but I think they missed on a few teams. Here is my version of the top 25.

1. Alabama

I know, I don't like it either, but they are still scary and haven't hurt in any recruiting class in the past few years, meaning they have filled all necessary roles and done so efficiently. The Bammers will be a very good squad this year, but hopefully, someone will knock them off.

2. Boise State

This team has one big negative that I absolutely hate about them. Their conference.

This will get a little better in the future, as the Mountain West is viewed slightly better than the WAC, but still not very good. Should have sought other opportunities during the expansion craze, in my opinion. Returning all but one starter and a very winning-minded coach, plus the heavily weighted schedule in their favor (minus Va Tech, the only team worth mention on their schedule).

I just wish they had played someone other than TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. It's always easier to justify placing these great teams from subpar conferences high in the rankings when they play the great teams from great conferences. Just makes them more comparable.

3. Ohio State

These guys took Oregon's lunch last year in the Rose Bowl. The biggest reason I like this team is the linebackers they are returning (seven total defensive starters). Cameron Heyward is a beast, look for him to be the leader of the defense.

The biggest thing that can hurt this team is Terrell Pryor. He is a great talent, but he's got happy feet. Needs to settle down and throw the ball. It's one thing to be elusive, it's another to try to do the running back's job and your own at the same time.

He will have some powerful and fast backs at his disposal, let's see how he plays it (possible upset later by Wisconsin).

4. Florida

One thing you must love about SEC schools is the strength of schedule. These guys have a lot to prove this year. Mainly that this is not Tim Tebow's team, it's Urban Meyer's. Now that he has his heartburn under control, he should be back to being dominant.

John Brantley showed moments of some real talent last year, he looks to be a very good quarterback. The defense is going to fill seven new spots. This is going to leave them a little thin at depth, but because of top-notch recruiting in recent years, I think they will be okay.

5. Iowa

Yes, Iowa.

This defense makes me cringe with fear. Easily will be the best D squad in the nation. With a difficult schedule, they may pull away in the actual rankings and hit the BCS at full speed if they come away with key victories against Wisconsin and Penn State (both home games).

I like the experience that is returning on offense, and the area of concern (O-line) is getting a big, fat, and strong facelift. Stanzi, the QB, needs to stay healthy though, due to lack of depth at the position. They will also be without their RB for the season opener due to disciplinary action. He will be back for the second game though.

6. Oklahoma

Sam Bradford is gone! But oh wait, Landry Jones can start now after having already played in Bradford's injury absence. With all of that experience and the promise he showed through those games, I see this team doing very well. My pick for the Red River Rivalry.

7. Texas

Lots of new faces and new leaders. Mack Brown makes a better politician than football coach, and he's an excellent coach. You will never hear him let Texas sound like they aren't the best in the nation, even when they aren't. Transition year for Texas (possible upsets: Oklahoma & Texas A&M).

8. TCU

These guys lost very few players from last year's Fiesta Bowl team. Although the few they lost were major role players, recruiting has gone very well for the Horned Frogs. They plan to stay fast and physical.

9. Wisconsin

Returning a ton of starters on this high-powered offense. A few questions on defense, but a strong linebacker core will help the newer players gel nicely.

10. Miami (Fla.)

Miami lost to Wisconsin last year in a close one in the Champ Sports Bowl. Besides being left hungry for an ACC championship as well as a bowl victory, they are returning 14 starters, eight of which are on the stout defense. The schedule leaves lots of places for these guys to improve in the rankings, including Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and Florida State.

11. Virginia Tech

With a high-powered offense returning most starters and adding a few crucial components at wide receiver that were missing last year, the Hokies look good. But on defense, they return five starters. With teams like Boise St. and Miami (Fla.) in their schedule, the defense will need to get good fast (Boise St. in week one).

12. LSU

Les Miles is going to have to deliver more than eight or nine wins this season to keep the LSU faithful happy. He may have that recipe cooking with two great quarterbacks returning, and a talented wide receiving core at his fingertips. The defense was good last year, but they will only return four of those starters.
 

13. Penn State

Sustaining heavy losses at QB, three at LB, and a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year DE, Penn State looks to refill very big shoes in 2010. It can most certainly be done, and they seem to have a knack for playing tough teams close. With one of the toughest schedules in college football, they have a chance to move up a lot.

14. UNC

These guys bring back 19 starters, many of which are on the defense which ranked ninth in the country last year. Also a three-year starting QB will return in Yates. They will be tough to score on and possess a particularly challenging schedule. If they want to prove something, this is the year for it.

15. Nebraska

Shutouts in bowl games are pretty impressive. These guys will need to step up on defense after about four key losses, including Suh, though. If the defense can hold up and be as good as last year, then watch out for these guys.

People SHOULD wonder how they would have done in the BCS if the refs had called the end of the Texas-Nebraska game correctly.

16. Oregon

An easy schedule won't help these guys too much. Two or three games worth watching all season, and two versus opponents that should be easy steamrolls for a team returning this many starters. We'll see if they can keep their players out of jail and off suspension this year. Also, some questions with the new QB.

17. Auburn

They're bringing in Cam Newton, the No. 1 JUCO player in the nation at QB. They are also filling a hole in the O-line with a different top JUCO prospect. Auburn has addressed their needs well, and will have a three-headed running attack monster. Also, look for defensive players that have been injured the past few years to make an impact, including Airon Savage, Zac Etheridge. Impact defensive player in Demond Washington too. Favorable schedule.

18. Arkansas

Mallet and Wingo both return for this offense. This is good news for the Razorbacks. Now what to do about defense? This will be the biggest area of concern and will be tested by the likes of 'Bama, Auburn, LSU, and Georgia.

19. Florida State

Everyone will be relying on Ponder. If there is any evidence that FSU will have a great running game, I have not found it. This could spell trouble with some of the defenses they will face, including Miami and Florida.

20. Georgia

Switching to the 3-4 this year while trying to break in a new redshirt freshman quarterback. Has all of the makings of a setup year, which means UGA a year or two years from now will be ranked much higher.
 

21. Pitt

These guys return a beast in Dion Lewis at RB, while also bringing back a monster in Greg Romeus at DE. There are some other roles to fill, but I would go as far as to put Lewis on the Heisman watch for the year. This team will probably win the Big East.

22. West Virginia

Schedules don't get much easier than WVU's. Returning Noel Devine should prove disastrous to opponents. Look for lots of wins, just not many quality wins. I see very little room for improvement in ranking here.
 

23. Utah

Only returning four starters to the defensive side of the ball. That's a lot of holes to fill successfully. Bringing a little more experience to the offense is good for this team, but it likely will not be enough to topple the TCU juggernaut of the Mountain West. The Utah schedule will not be very beneficial to the Utes, because it is rather weak.

24. Oregon State

Oregon St. will be tested early and often. Starting off against TCU, then a couple weeks later against Boise St, and a finisher against Oregon. They are also using a young QB and relying heavily on him. Also, the defense is sparse at LB, but they will be able to cover that hole up nicely with the defensive recruiting going on there the past few years.

25. Cincinnati 

Lots of firepower on offense and Butch Jones is apparently good at keeping the offense open. The questions for this team are on defense. They were less than brilliant last year, so it is probably a good thing they are bringing back a good amount of talent. The year of experience will be a good thing.

So there it is. I understand the insignificance of my opinion, but I really feel like I justified it. I used a grading formula including elements factoring weighted averages of last year's rank, bowl outcome, and returning players + recruiting (three years).