College Football Preseason Rankings 2011: Predicting Preseason Top 25 for 2012

With the release of the first USA Today Coaches' Top 25 poll on Thursday, it feels like we have had enough talk about projecting the future.

How close will these rankings really be to the final poll? We all know it probably won't be close.

So how far-fetched is it to predict the preseason rankings for 2012?

Who knows and who cares.

It could have this year's preseason No. 1 Oklahoma on top, but not likely. Just look at the Sooners line up, and you see a lot of talent that won't be back next year.

There should also be some teams who aren't in this year's preseason rankings because they are on the upswing, and their recruiting classes demand some respect.

If you want to get a little crazy and go way into the future with me, let's take a look at the possible preseason Top 25 for 2012.

25. Boise State

Boise State will be coming off another season of double-digit victories, and the voters will give the Broncos the benefit of the doubt.

A closer examination of Boise's roster shows a large amount of talent will be leaving coach Chris Petersen after this season, most notably quarterback Kellen Moore.

Of course, Boise will reload a little, but there's not enough to warrant a preseason Top 10 placement.

24. Michigan

Michigan may deserve an even higher spot, but for now, let's assume that Brady Hoke will not have completely erased the funk left behind by Rich Rodriguez in 2012.

But Hoke will be close.

Denard Robinson will be a senior, and the defense will be much stronger.

This is also the season the Wolverines may actually be competitive with Ohio State again.

Michigan will be closer to where it belongs, and starting in the Top 25 is a good sign.

23. Tennessee

Derek Dooley's Tennessee Volunteers may be the first big leap of the rankings, but putting them here isn't a huge risk.

This is a big year for Dooley and the Vols as they try to get back to being more competitive in the SEC.

Dooley is doing a fine job recruiting, and he'll have to manage any NCAA sanctions, but 2012 is the right timing for Tennessee to be back in contention.

22. USC

Lane Kiffin and USC will have survived the two-year sanctions by the NCAA and should be eyeing a return to national prominence again.

The Trojans have always attracted most of the top talent in Southern California, and that won't change.

If Matt Barkley actually returns (unlikely) for his senior season, it would be easy to put USC even higher.

The Trojans could fly up the rankings if they get off to a good start in 2012.

21. Miami

I can here you now, "Not Miami!"

Every year, we hear about the talent assembled in Coral Gables only to watch the Hurricanes play undisciplined football or get pushed around and lose to teams with half the ability.

It's going to be different in 2012.

Coach Al Golden did more with less at Temple, so now that he has all of that speed and athleticism, there is no way he can let it go to waste.

Right?

20. Wisconsin

The Badgers are a tough team to project in 2012.

It seems like this is the year Bret Bielema will find a way to win big again when the odds are stacked against Wisconsin.

We know the Badgers are going to have a huge offensive line, and they'll want to ram it down every opponent's throat.

If they have another team like that, you can guarantee Wisconsin will be a legitimate Top 20 team.

19. Arkansas

The toughest part about thinking long range about a Bobby Petrino-coached team is...well...Bobby Petrino.

Will he still be coaching the Razorbacks in 2012?

Let's say he is.

If that's the case, then Arkansas is going to have the players to win enough games to justify starting the season at No. 19.

18. Northwestern

This may be the biggest leap of faith of them all.

You read that right; Northwestern ranked No. 18 to start off 2012. This is a year after Dan Persa is gone.

This pick is more about the respect you have to have in Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald and his knack of coaching up his team and making it tough on opponents.

Could we see the Wildcats playing for a Big Ten Championship? Don't laugh.

17. Auburn

As you keep reading, you'll see the SEC may be better in 2012 than it is in 2011.

Auburn is one of five or six teams who could win the conference championship.

A big reason is the guy above. Michael Dyer may end up being the best running back in the nation by 2012, and if he becomes the next Bo Jackson, he could give the Tigers another Heisman.

16. Oklahoma

Oklahoma may be this year's preseason darling, but the Sooners will not be quite as stocked with talent to start next year.

This isn't to say that Bob Stoops won't be reloading in Norman, but the expectations will be diminished just a bit as Oklahoma drops back closer to the pack in the Big 12.

The future of the Big 12 is always in flux, but if everything stays intact, the conference could be a legitimate contender with the SEC in 2012.

15. Texas

If Texas flops again in 2011, then the Longhorns will likely be on the outside looking in on next year's preseason rankings.

The odds of Texas being sub .500 in consecutive years under Mack Brown are as likely as Urban Meyer never coaching again.

So the Longhorns return to respectability in 2011 and make the complete comeback on 2012.

14. LSU

LSU is another program that appears to bring in better talent each year, and therefore has to be considered a title contender.

But 2011 is the Tigers' season, so after a huge year, there is going to be a small drop off.

Therefore, LSU will start near the middle of the rankings and slide one way or the other.

13. Ohio State

By this time next year, there won't be as many distractions, and the coaching situation will be finalized at Ohio State.

Those are all good things.

The Buckeyes should have enough returning talent to reach at least nine wins in 2012, so a No. 13 ranking is a good start.

Any fall out from the Terrelle Pryor/Jim Tressel saga won't be felt until 2013.

12. Florida

Under Will Muschamp, the future is bright at Florida.

It's amazing sometimes to see how much a team improves from the first to second season under a new coach.

That's what will happen with the Gators, as they will start the season on the outside of the Top 10, but Florida could move quick with some key early wins.

11. West Virginia

Just like Florida, West Virginia will be in its second season with Dana Holgorsen in charge.

Quarterback Geno Smith will be more comfortable in the offensive scheme, and the Big East could be there for the taking.

It will also be pretty obvious that WVU isn't led by the lovable Bill Stewart anymore, and pollsters will show the Mountaineers much more respect than in recent years.

West Virginia will also have one of the nation's best receiving corps and potentially, another stout defense.

10. Virginia Tech

It's Virginia Tech and Frank Beamer.

The Hokies have a lot of a young talent, including quarterback Logan Thomas, who will be in his second season as the starter.

Virginia Tech also has one of the nation's best home-field advantages going.

9. Oregon

Maybe this is too low for Oregon, but if the Ducks don't perform better in a BCS Bowl this year, the pollsters are going to remember when they vote.

Darron Thomas will still be at quarterback, and Chip Kelly will more than likely still be calling the offensive plays.

It's still unclear how potential NCAA issues could impact the Ducks.

8. Texas A&M

Mike Sherman was close to being shown the door at Texas A&M until the Aggies caught fire.

Now he's stealing recruits from Texas and Oklahoma, and the Aggies are building a solid foundation.

This will be the season everyone is predicting A&M to win the Big 12 and be a dark horse BCS Championship contender.

Starting the season at No. 8 gives the Aggies the ability to get into the right position.

7. TCU

In TCU's first season in the Big East, the rankings will reflect the thought that Horned Frogs will roll through their conference schedule.

Of course, games in the north late in the season are no guarantees.

But if you look ahead right now, it's easy to see TCU has equal, if not more, talent than the best in the Big East.

In fairness, the Big East would love to have a team ranked this high at any point in the season.

6. South Carolina

Steve Spurrier has been a punchline for a few years, but no one can knock the players he has attracted to Columbia over the past three to four seasons.

Stephon Gilmore, Marcus Lattimore and now Jadeveon Clowney.

While the Gamecocks believe they are legitimate SEC contenders this season, it may be more true in 2012.

5. Alabama

As long as Nick Saban is coaching at Alabama, you feel an obligation to put the Crimson Tide in the Top Five to start every season.

He's the best coach with a Top 10 recruiting class every year.

If the Tide aren't here, where else do you rank them? No. 4? OK, that works too.

4. Georgia

Here is the next major leap of faith.

If 2011 is a disaster, then Georgia may have a new coach and a rebuilding project in 2012.

But if all goes as Mark Richt expects, the Bulldogs will ride the strong arm of Aaron Murray to the SEC Championship Game this year.

So that makes Georgia a favorite to win the SEC in 2012.

3. Notre Dame

Brian Kelly's third season at Notre Dame is when it all comes together.

His offense averages about 44 points a game, and the defense plays well enough to not lose games.

While Notre Dame fans believe the Fighting Irish have been relevant in college football since 1992, it's actually possible they may be right in 2012.

2. Nebraska

It may only be Nebraska's second season in the Big Ten, but the Cornhuskers will finally make a serious move on the national scene in 2012.

Taylor Martinez will be a junior and more confident, while Bo Pelini will be more in touch with is feelings and not yell so much.

OK, maybe neither of those will be true, but Nebraska will finally avoid that one-game or two-game mental lapse that keeps the Cornhuskers from reaching their potential.

1. Florida State

Is it 1989?

Nope, but Florida State is close to returning to the glory days when Bobby Bowden was still in his prime and Deion "Prime Time" Sanders was one of the more exciting, but hated players in the game.

It's Jimbo Fisher's turn, and he will have nearly completed the resurrection of Florida State by the time 2012 rolls around.

The Seminoles might get a shot at the top spot this season, but with the talent that is being stockpiled in Tallahassee, FSU is ready to return to the top of the preseason rankings.

Whether Fisher and 'Noles can remain here will make for an interesting 2012.