College Football 2011 Preseason Rankings: Grading the First Coaches' Poll

The first edition of USA Today’s Coaches’ Top 25 poll was released today, and it’s already causing quite a stir amongst the college football community.

Now I’ll freely admit, I’m one of those college football fans who gives preseason polls zero credence but I understand that a lot of people tend to get worked up over them because I know it’s still August. What the hell else are we supposed to do right now expect debate the future fortunes of our favorite teams?

We knew Oklahoma was going to take the top spot this year, but as always, there were definitely a few surprises.

Remember, you always have to take the Coaches’ Poll with a grain of salt, considering there are a lot of times when coaches will just give their ranking sheet to an underling or assistant to fill out.

By the time we get to October, there are going to be some major shakeups, so it seems almost pointless to get wrapped up in preseason rankings, but like I said, it’s August, we’ve got time to fill.

With that in mind, here’s how I would grade college football’s first official 2011 Top 25 poll.

The Five Biggest Snubs

1. West Virginia Mountaineers

2. Arizona State Sun Devils

3. Clemson Tigers

4. Iowa Hawkeyes

5. Miami Hurricanes

25. Penn State Nittany Lions

Grade: Correct

It should be interesting to see who emerges as the victor of the quarterback battle between Robert Bolden and Matt McGloin.

Whether it’s Bolden or McGloin who ultimately ends up starting this season, the real story surrounding Penn State will be its defense.

The Nittany Lions bring back two of the top defensive linemen in the Big Ten, DE Jack Crawford and DT Devon Still, and their linebacker and secondary units should be amongst the best in the conference this season.

On offense, RB Silas Redd, one of the highest rated running back recruits of the 2010 class, is set to step up and fill the cleats of Evan Royster, the school’s all-time leading rusher.

With seven starters back on both sides of the ball, coach Joe Paterno should have a great shot at winning the Leaders Division in his 46th year as head coach.

This very well could be Paterno’s final season at the school he helped make famous, and there would be no better way to go out than by winning a Big Ten title.

24. Texas Longhorns

Grade: Overrated

I guess QB Garrett Gilbert’s going to take some time to develop into the star many forecast him to be before the start of last season.

Either that, or maybe he’s just not that good.

Gilbert, who will go into fall camp battling for his job, was an interception machine in his first year as a starter, and his turnover woes and poor decision making were a few of the main reasons the team finished with an embarrassing 5-7 record.

Texas had one of the top defenses in the country in 2010, but Gilbert and the offense couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain.

The Longhorns finished eighth in the Big 12 in total offense and 10th in scoring offense (Yes, even behind Colorado).

The defense, which returns stud front seven players like linebackers Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho along with All-Big 12 caliber defensive linemen Kheeston Randall and Alex Okafor, should be able to withstand the loss of nearly its entire secondary. However, a slight drop off is to be expected.

This is a team that’s lacked a consistent running game since the departure of Cedric Benson and if you can’t run the ball and you’re not getting good play out of your quarterback, it’s hard to win a lot of ball games in the Big 12, no matter how good your defense is.

After last season’s inconsistent effort, the Longhorns have to prove that they’ve got enough offensive firepower to earn their way back into the Top 25.

23. Florida Gators

Grade: Correct

Will Muschamp was one of the most talked about assistant coaches in college football for quite some time and now he’ll finally get his shot to prove to the world that he was worth all of the hype.

Muschamp takes over a Florida team that fell on some hard times in 2010.

Sure, 8-5 may not seem all that bad, but remember, this is a team that won 13 games in three out of the four previous years.

It’s now up to Muschamp to try to replicate all the success former coach Urban Meyer had before last year.

He's brought in Charlie Weis to revamp the offense and try to make something out of QB John Brantley.

So far, Brantley has failed to live up to expectations, but if there’s anybody out there who could turn his career around, it’s Weis.

Brantley will have some great skill talent surrounding him with speedsters like Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey and Deonte Thompson running up and down the field.

On defense, the loss of CB Janoris Jenkins hurts, but there happens to be another Jenkins, LB Jelani Jenkins, who is ready to step up and become a leader.

Jenkins will be the key figure of a front seven that promises to be one of the best in college football this season.

If Weis can get Brantley back on track, the Gators should be able to compete for an SEC East division title in 2011.

22. Georgia Bulldogs

Grade: Correct

Aaron Murray has been one of the hottest names of the offseason and many fans and analysts seem to think he’s the best quarterback the SEC has to offer this season.

Murray may have only gone 6-7 in his first season, as a starter but he got progressively better as the season wore on and he finished the year with over 3,000 yards passing and 24 TDs.

The sophomore slinger will be without star receiver A.J. Green, who bolted for the NFL, and he won’t have Washaun Ealey or Caleb King, Georgia’s top two rushers in 2010, lining up behind him.

What Murray will have, however, are two talented receiving threats, WR Tavarres King and TE Orson Charles, to throw to, and he’ll have one of the SEC’s best offensive lines, led by OT Cordy Glenn and C Ben Jones, to keep him safe.

He’ll also benefit from having RB Isaiah Crowell, one of the top rated recruits of the incoming class, who is already causing quite a bit of buzz.

Crowell might be the latest freshman rusher to take the SEC by storm.

On defense, the Bulldogs will have to figure out how to replace edge rusher Justin Houston, who led the team with 10 sacks last year. But there are enough quality returning starters such as CB Brandon Boykin, S Bacarri Rambo and LB Cornelius Washington to hold down the fort.

If Crowell becomes a freshman sensation and if Murray turns out to be as good as some are saying he is, the Bulldogs could challenge South Carolina for the East division title.

21. Missouri Tigers

Grade: Underrated

If there’s one team and one coach who you should never underestimate, it’s Missouri and Gary Pinkel.

The Tigers have averaged 10 wins over the last four years under Pinkel’s watch, and he’s the type of coach who knows a thing or two about replacing a talented quarterback.

Blaine Gabbert may be gone but his replacement, James Franklin, is loaded with potential.

Franklin, a former four-star recruit, has the versatile skill set to add a new dimension to Missouri’s spread-based attack.

At his disposal, Franklin will have one of the best receiving corps in the country with guys like Michael Egnew, T.J. Moe and Jerrell Jackson all returning.

On defense, the Tigers lose DE Aldon Smith, the No. 7 pick in this year’s draft, but somehow, their defensive end depth will still be as deep as any other team's in the country.

Ends Brad Madison and Jacquies Smith are a devastating pass-rushing duo that combined for 13 sacks in 2010.

In all, Missouri returns 15 starters from a 2010 squad that beat both Oklahoma and Texas A&M and finished the year at 10-3.

The only major question mark is how well Franklin will perform right out of the gate.

If the sophomore signal caller plays well, Missouri could be set up for a monster year.

20. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Grade: Underrated

Through the first two years of the Dan Mullen era, we’ve seen the coach take one of the SEC’s least desirable horses and turn it into a competitive thoroughbred.

Mullen led the Bulldogs to a 9-4 campaign last season, culminating in a 52-14 dismantling of Michigan in the Gator Bowl.

Now it’s time to see if Mullen and his Bulldogs can capitalize on their early success and step up and compete with the big boys of the SEC West.

I’ll say it now: Watch out for QB Chris Relf this season.

Relf, now a senior, may not be the next Tim Tebow, but his arm and athleticism make him a truly versatile weapon who fits perfectly in Mullen’s system.

The senior signal caller will be joined in the backfield by Vick Ballard, a former junior college transfer who busted up defenses in 2010, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards and 19 TDs.

The Relf-Ballard tag team is one of the strongest in the SEC this season, and it’s one that Mullen could potentially ride to the top of the SEC West.

If the defense can bend but not break, this Mississippi State team has the opportunity to do some real damage in the SEC this season.

19. Auburn Tigers

Grade: Overrated

Auburn fans, I hope you enjoyed that title season because things are about to head south in a hurry. The post-Cam Newton era won’t be fun for at least the first year, I can promise you that.

Yes, the Tigers return one of the best backfield duos in the country with Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb, but outside of those two, there really isn’t much to get excited about this year.

Auburn returns just six starters from last year’s national championship team, and although the Tigers won’t be completely rebuilding, there's a lot of work to be done, especially if this team wants to compete in their disgustingly difficult division.

Coach Gene Chizik is bringing in tons of talent on the recruiting trail and there will certainly be brighter days to come. But don’t expect much out of this 2011 group.

If Auburn gets to eight wins this season, it would be a major accomplishment.

Thank god the Tigers padded their schedule with such tough non-conference opponents like Utah State, Florida Atlantic and Samford.

18. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Grade: Underrated

Losing to Navy and Tulsa in consecutive weeks last season was a huge hit to Notre Dame’s already bruised ego, but new head coach Brian Kelly managed to rally his troops and the Irish ended the season by beating old rivals USC and Miami to finish out an 8-5 campaign.

Kelly’s team has a good deal of momentum going into the 2011 season, and it doesn’t hurt that they welcome back a future first round draft pick on both offense and defense.

WR Michael Floyd, who was suspended for a DUI during the spring, should be back and better than ever after putting up his first 1,000-yard receiving season.

Floyd’s counterpart on defense is the equally as talented and feared LB Manti Te’o.

Te’o, who is just a junior, already has nearly 200 tackles in his career, and he’ll definitely be looking to rack up quite a few more takedowns in 2011.

The Irish will go into the fall with an ongoing quarterback battle, pitting Dayne Crist and Tommy Rees against each other. Both have proven to be reliable starters but neither has separated themselves in the race just yet.

If the Irish can get solid play from the quarterback position, this Notre Dame offense should resemble the high-flying and high-scoring attacks we saw when Kelly was the coach at Cincinnati.

Don't be surprised if Notre Dame finishes with its first double-digit win season since 2006.

17. Michigan State Spartans

Grade: Correct

Michigan State entered the 2010 season as a team sitting somewhat off the radar, but it didn’t take long for the Spartans to make the country take notice.

After suffering a heart attack after a thrilling Week 3 overtime win over Notre Dame, coach Mark Dantonio made a valiant return to lead the Spartans to an 8-0 record and a top five national ranking midway through the season.

It’s true the season didn't end the way Michigan State fans had hoped it would.

A 49-7 bludgeoning at the hands of Alabama probably didn’t do much for the Spartans' confidence and momentum. But this team still has the makings of a Big Ten title contender.

QB Kirk Cousins is developing into a sound and reliable starter who knows how to lead the offense down the field at crucial times. Cousins also has one of the strongest running back stables in the country right behind him.

Edwin Baker, who ran for over 1,200 yards last season, is the face of that group.

Cousins and Baker, two of the most underappreciated players in the Big Ten, are sure to catch a lot of people’s attention this fall.

On defense, the Spartans have to figure out a way to make up for the loss of MLB Greg Jones, who led the team in tackles each of the last four seasons.

Michigan State has three future pros, DT Jerel Worthy, CB Johnny Adams and S Trenton Robinson, all returning, so losing Jones may not be the end of the world.

With Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa all on the slate, things won’t be easy for the Spartans in 2011, but this is a team that still has what it takes to contend in the Big Ten.

16. Ohio State Buckeyes

Grade: Overrated

Wow. 16?

Seriously?

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I think Ohio State will compete this year. But come on, 16?

With all that’s gone on over the offseason, you can’t put Ohio State at 16, I’m sorry.

The Buckeyes lose most of their key defensive players from last season, including five of their top six tacklers. They lose reliable receiver Dane Sanzenbacher and three of the team’s most talented returning starters, OT Mike Adams, RB Boom Herron and WR DeVier Posey, will have to sit out the first five games of the season.

QB Terrelle Pryor may never be welcome back in Columbus again but I have a feeling Buckeyes fans didn’t mind the back-to-back BCS games he won for them over the last two seasons.

Joe Bauserman?

Luke Fickell?

I’m sorry, but these are not names that are inspiring much hope.

The Buckeyes should count themselves lucky if they’re able to finish in third place in the Leaders division this season.

15. TCU Horned Frogs

Grade: Overrated

You could give Gary Patterson 11 high school JV players and he would probably still figure out a way to turn them into a top ten defense.

Patterson has proven that he’s college football’s true defensive guru.

The Horned Frogs may lose five out of their top eight tacklers from last year’s No. 1-ranked defense but the unit does return a nice mix of established veterans like linebackers Tank Carder and Tanner Brock and CB Greg McCoy and emerging up-and-comers like DE Stansly Maponga.

TCU should once again field a top-notch defense, but it’s on offense where Patterson will have to work some magic.

Long-time starting quarterback Andy Dalton is off to the NFL and the coaching staff will have to figure out a way to replace eight starters from a year ago.

The talented backfield combination of Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker will carry the offense early on, but you have to wonder if they’ll do enough to keep TCU in the running for the Mountain West title this year.

14. Arkansas Razorbacks

Grade: Correct
                                            
QB Ryan Mallett may be gone, but don’t expect coach Bobby Petrino to start shedding tears.

Petrino is hard at work trying to mold his latest quarterback pupil, Tyler Wilson, into his next star gunslinger.

We all got the chance to witness Wilson’s ability in some mop-up work for Mallett last year, and it became quite evident that there wasn’t that big of a drop off between the two.

Luckily for Wilson, he’ll have one of the best sets of skill position players in all of college football surrounding him this season.

RB Knile Davis, the leading returning rusher in the SEC, is the total package who possesses a rare combination of speed and power.

Wilson will also have one of the best receiving corps in the country, led by future pros Greg Childs, Joe Adams and Jarius Wright.

The problem for the junior quarterback is that he won’t have much of an offensive line to keep him protected.

While Arkansas may lack the reinforcements in the offensive trenches, the Razorbacks are certainly fully stocked on the defensive side of the line with preseason All-SEC pick DE Jake Bequette, tackles Bryan and DeQuinta Jones and fellow imposing end Tank Wright.

The leader of the defense won’t be Bequette, though.

LB Jerry Franklin, an accomplished and proven senior, will be the one who makes the Arkansas defensive engine tick.

Bequette, Wright and Franklin will all be playing in the NFL some day soon, as will junior corner Darius Winston, who has a chance to be better than former Arkansas star Chris Houston.

The bottom line is that if Arkansas really wants to contend in the insanely difficult SEC West, the Razorbacks will need Wilson to pick up the offense right from the get go.

They’ll need Knile Davis to produce on a similar level to what he was able to do last year. And they’ll need the defense to be at the very least, above average.

If they get all of that, they could certainly make a run at the West division title.
              

13. Virginia Tech Hokies

Grade: Correct

It seems like Virginia Tech is one of those programs that never really gets the national accolades and attention it deserves.

When some college football analyst just starts randomly spouting off the top power programs in college football, how many times does Virginia Tech come up?

The Hokies currently have a string of seven straight double-digit win seasons, accumulating 73 victories in that time frame. But they never really get the respect they deserve.

Sure, Blacksburg may not be as happening of a place as say Los Angeles or Austin, but the product Frank Beamer has built there is just as good.

This year’s team loses QB Tyrod Taylor, the school’s all-time leading passer, two highly-productive running backs, Ryan Williams and Darren Evans, as well as a few top defenders like CB Rashad Carmichael, DE Steven Friday and S Davon Morgan.

Something tells me, though, that Beamer isn’t about to let his streak of consistent dominance end in 2011.

This year’s Hokies team has some unproven players at key positions, but those unproven players, QB Logan Thomas and RB David Wilson, just so happen to be potential breakout stars.

If Thomas and Wilson handle their new roles well and emerge as playmakers, the defense, led by CB Jayron Hosley and LB Bruce Taylor, two of the most dependable defenders in the country, should be stout enough to handle another run at a double-digit win season and an ACC championship.

12. South Carolina Gamecocks

Grade: Underrated

Every team in America would love to have an offensive trio like the one South Carolina will be putting on the field on Saturdays this fall.

QB Stephen Garcia, RB Marcus Lattimore and WR Alshon Jeffery combined forces to carry the Gamecocks to the SEC Championship game last season, and they’ll be hoping to do the same thing once again in 2011.

Lattimore and Jeffery, who are both preseason All-Americans, are two of the premier offensive weapons in college football and both will have a major influence on South Carolina’s success this year.

Lattimore, a star sophomore, lived up to his 5-star recruit billing, rushing for nearly 1,200 yards and scoring 19 TDs in his first year.

Jeffery established himself as one of the top receivers in college football by hauling in a conference-best 88 catches for over 1,500 yards.

The defense also has two future first round draft picks, DE Devin Taylor and CB Stephon Gilmore, along with solid foundation players such as hybrid safety DeVonte Holloman, DT Travian
Robertson and CB Akeem Auguste.

Oh, and adding the top-rated recruit of the 2011 class, DE Jadeveon Clowney, probably won’t hurt, either.

We’ll find out a lot from South Carolina’s trip to Athens for a crucial conference showdown with Georgia on Sept. 10, and that could be the game that either puts the Gamecocks in the driver’s seat or the one that knocks them off course.

If Steve Spurrier’s squad can take down the Bulldogs, there’s no telling how high this team can climb.

11. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Grade: Underrated

How is this team not in the top ten?

Nebraska welcomes back three of the country’s top defensive players, DT Jared Crick, LB Lavonte David and CB Alfonzo Dennard, to a defense that could be the best in the country this year.

All three could be playing on Sundays this season, but instead, each will return to lead a different level of the Cornhuskers defense.

Crick, one of the top defensive tackles in the country, will be the face of a potentially dominant defensive line, which also features standouts DT Baker Steinkuhler and DE Cameron Meredith.

David will attempt to replicate his success from 2010, when he set a single-season school record with 152 tackles.

Dennard, possibly the top overall defensive back in the nation, will be the key player for a secondary that loses three NFL Draft picks from a year ago, including first-rounder Prince Amukamara.

We all know that the defense should be stellar, but if the Cornhuskers have hopes of winning the Big Ten, they’re going to need a bigger effort out of their offense, most notably the passing game, led by QB Taylor Martinez.

Martinez became an instant overnight celebrity in his first season as a starter, as he paced Nebraska to a 9-1 record and showed off his elusive running ability.

But the rising star sophomore ran into trouble in a late season loss at Texas A&M, and the team proceeded to fall apart after that, losing three out of their last four games to finish the season at 10-4.

This year, Martinez should get plenty of help from playmakers like RB Rex Burkhead, WR Brandon Kinnie and TE Kyler Reed.

If the young quarterback can mature as a leader and stay focused for a full season, Nebraska has the kind of top-notch talent on both sides of the ball that's needed to make a run at both a Big Ten championship as well as a national championship this year.

10. Wisconsin Badgers

Grade: Correct

If you’re looking for a dynamic running back duo, all you have to do is head up to Madison, Wisc., to find it.

Montee Ball and James White combined to rush for over 2,100 yards in 2010, each averaging over six yards per carry.

Ball and White both have the type of strong workhorse mentality to carry the Wisconsin offense as far as it needs to go this season.

The fact that the Badgers just happened to add dual-threat quarterback Russell Wilson, who was quite possibly the best player in the ACC last year, is a nice, little added bonus.

Wilson will take some time learning the Wisconsin system during camp, but if he picks up the playbook quickly, the senior transfer should have a chance to shine.

Wisconsin loses Outland Trophy-winning offensive tackle Gabe Carimi, but his replacement, Ricky Wagner, might have what it takes to be the next Badger to bring home the award.

Carimi wasn’t the only loss for the Badgers..

Gone are DE J.J. Watt, the No. 11 pick in this year’s draft, TE Lance Kendricks and Blake Sorensen, the team’s leading tackler.

The Badgers do, however, get back LB Chris Borland, a former freshman All-American who missed last season with an injury.

Wisconsin will miss Watt, Carimi and the rest of last year’s strong senior group, but with a backfield made up of Wilson, Ball and White, the Badgers will still have a great chance to make it back to Pasadena for the second straight year.

9. Texas A&M Aggies

Grade: Correct

Mike Sherman knew his job was on the line when Texas A&M was 3-3 at the midpoint of last season, so the coach chose to move receiver Ryan Tannehill into the starting quarterback role, and it’s a decision that paid off and saved Texas A&M’s season.

Tannehill proceeded to reel off six straight wins in his first six starts, including victories over Oklahoma, Nebraska and archrival Texas.

The former receiver will return for his senior season as the leader of a team that has the type of talent to climb all the way to the top of the Big 12 mountain.

WR Jeff Fuller has displayed game-changing ability and the backfield duo of Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael should be one of the most productive in all of college football.

The defense loses key impact player Von Miller, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, but emerging sophomore pass-rusher Damontre Moore has what it takes to eventually fill his shoes and become a terrorizing threat on the edge.

The defense will miss Miller, but players like CB Coryell Judie and LB Garrick Williams should pick up the slack.

A whopping 18 starters return for Texas A&M, making them one of the most experienced and talented squads in the country.

If Sherman can keep his team focused, Oklahoma and the rest of the Big 12 had better watch out, because the Aggies have the pieces in place to make a big move this season.

8. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Grade: Correct

Before the start of the 2010 season, if I had you to list your picks for the top quarterback-wide receiver tandems in college football , I have a feeling you probably woudn’t have had Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon at the top.

Both were unproven commodities before last September. Weeden had only completed 16 passes in his career, while Blackmon entered the season with a pedestrian 20 catches on his resume.

Still, that didn’t stop the two from quickly making a huge splash in the waters of the Big 12.

In his first year as a starter, Weeden threw for over 4,200 yards and 24 TDs. And Blackmon became one of college football's biggest breakout stars, leading the country with 20 TD catches and earning the prestigious Biletnikoff Award.

It will be interesting to see what kind of dynamic there will be now that pass-happy coordinator Dana Holgorsen, along with highly-productive running back Kendall Hunter, are both gone.

The Weeden-Blackmon combo should still be one of the best passing duos in the business and if the Cowboys can figure out how to find a proper offensive balance, they should be able to put a scare into their in-state rival and possibly even take home the Big 12 crown this season.

7. Boise State Broncos

Grade: Correct

QB Kellen Moore seems to have an equal amount of supporters and critics, but no matter what you say about Moore, there’s no denying the fact that he’s a winner.

His 38-2 record speaks for itself.

Moore has been the face of Boise State’s rise to national prominence but it’s been coach Chris Petersen who has been the architect.

Petersen has transformed the Broncos from a dangerous fringe team into a legitimate national title contender.

Everybody who is saying that Boise State doesn’t have the players, please stop.

During Petersen’s tenure, Boise has produced 10 NFL draft picks, including first-rounders Ryan Clady and Kyle Wilson, and the Broncos have another first-rounder coming soon with senior DT Billy Winn.

Winn isn’t the only future pro on the Broncos defense, either.

Ends Tyrone Crawford and Shea McLellin and safety George Iloka will also be playing on Sundays in 2012.

With seven starters returning on each side of the ball, it’s easy to see that Boise State once again have what it takes to scare the heck out of the BCS folks.

Replacing receivers Titus Young and Austin Pettis won’t be easy, but it’s the only major problem that the team has to solve in order to be successful this year.

The competition in the Mountain West will be a step up for sure. But if the Broncos can take down Georgia in Atlanta at the beginning of the season, it could set up a potential run to the elusive big game.

6. Stanford Cardinal

Grade: Overrated

The Andrew Luck hype machine is already in full swing, but you do have to wonder who was more instrumental in Stanford's breakout 2010 season, Luck or former coach Jim Harbaugh?

Harbaugh established a winning culture in Cardinal country and the team is surely going to miss his presence on the sideline.

Harbaugh’s former pupil didn’t do himself any favors by deciding to return to Stanford for another year instead of becoming the top overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Luck and the Cardinal will now have to deal with increased pressure and expectations as they battle for the new Pac-12 title.

David Shaw, last year’s offensive coordinator, now takes control of the ship, which should please Luck because he had so much success in Shaw’s system in 2010.

The star quarterback will miss receivers Ryan Whalen and Doug Baldwin, but he’ll still have enough playmakers around him to be successful.

RB Stepfan Taylor and WR Chris Owusu have the chance to be upper echelon players in the Pac-12, and offensive linemen David DeCastro and Jonathan Martin, two preseason All-Americans, have already proven that they are elite level talents.

The defense takes a substantial hit at each level, but there are also three important leaders, S Delano Howell, LB Shayne Skov and DE Matthew Masifilo, who return to ease the pain.

We know that this year’s Stanford team is going to revolve around Luck, but we’ve seen the dreaded No. 1 preseason quarterback curse take its toll on many other top-rated players in the past.

5. Florida State Seminoles

Grade: Correct

Remember two years ago when the Florida State defense was just a complete and absolute embarrassment?

Seems like so long ago, doesn’t it?

Since the dismal 2009 season, players like LB Nigel Bradham, DE Brandon Jenkins and cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Greg Reid have helped to change the defensive culture in Tallahassee, and they’ve managed to transform the unit from laughingstock into a formidable looking collection of talent.

Bradham, Jenkins, Reid and Rhodes are all proven difference-makers, and they’ll be the key pieces for a defense that should be one of the best in the sport this season.

On offense, it’s all about new QB E.J. Manuel.

We’ve already seen glimpses of greatness from the up-and-coming signal caller, but that was in mop up duty. As we know, there’s a different type of pressure when the success of an entire season weighs on your shoulders.

Because the defense should be so dominant, Manuel won’t have to be spectacular; he’ll just need to be smart with the ball, make a few big third down runs and keep everybody in the huddle focused.

Don't be shocked if Manuel gives you something more than that, though.

Coach Jimbo Fisher knows what this team is capable of and you could hear it in his voice during spring practices.

Fisher saw Gene Chizik and Chip Kelly, two fellow coaches who were also in their second year, battle for a national championship last season.

He knows that the road to the top isn’t as long as it used to be.

Great change can come in a hurry these days.

With Fisher in charge, it shouldn't be long before Florida State is back on top of the college football world.

4. LSU Tigers

Grade: Correct

The LSU offense has run out of excuses. It’s now time to either put up or shut up. Last year, LSU ranked 11th in the SEC in total offense, averaging just 343 yards of output per game.

That type of production is certainly not going to get you to the national title game.

This season, a lot is going to be asked of key offensive skill players like QB Jordan Jefferson, WR Rueben Randle and RB Spencer Ware, three players who have a ton of talent but also have a ton to prove.

The key will be the maturation and development of Jefferson, who has the skills but has yet to come close to producing the desired results.

Jefferson doesn’t have to be a world beater; he just has to do a better job of moving the offense down the field with more consistency.

LSU probably won’t need to score a ton of points if the defense can play up to its potential.
It’s true, the Tigers lose their three best defenders from a year ago, CB Patrick Peterson, LB Kelvin Sheppard and DT Drake Nevis. But they’ve also got plenty of reinforcements who are making their way up the depth chart.

Even though they lose Peterson, the Tigers will still have one of the best cornerback combos in college football with Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Matheiu.

They’ll also have a plethora of pass-rushers on the edge with ends like Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery and Kendrick Adams.

This is a team that can survive the grueling tests of the SEC West; all they’re going to need is more consistency out of the quarterback position.

If they can get that, a run to the big game is definitely a possibility.

Jordan Jefferson, let’s see what you got.

3. Oregon Ducks

Grade: Overrated

After leading Oregon to the national title game last season, QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James both return to give the Ducks one of the most dangerous backfields in the country.

The only problem?

Oregon’s offensive line, which will be led by first team All-Conference guard Carson York, has to replace three starters and they’re going to take some time to gel.

It’s a good thing the Ducks will have a few cream puffs to start off the season with, so they can get the kinks worked out up front.

Oh wait, scratch that, they have to go down to Cowboys Stadium to take on No. 4 LSU, a team with one of the scariest and fastest defensive front sevens, in the season opener.

Uh oh.

The fact that the Ducks only return 11 starters, including suspended star CB Cliff Harris, means that it will be an uphill battle for Chip Kelly’s crew to get back to a BCS game.

Yes, Oregon will still play fast, but don’t be surprised if their opponents figure out a way to catch up this season.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Grade: Overrated

It’s rare that you see a team get better after losing a quarterback who finished his career with a 23-3 overall record, a Heisman-winning running back and a wide receiver, who was a top ten draft pick.

Then again, most teams don’t have a defense as good as the one Alabama will put on the field in 2011.

With the best linebacker corps in the country, a secondary that features three future pros and a disruptive force up front in DT Josh Chapman, this Alabama defense is capable of shutting down every opposing offense it battles with in 2011.

I do, however, question how consistent Alabama’s offense will be week in and week out , even if RB Trent Richardson outplays his award-winning predecessor, Mark Ingram.

With Richardson running behind one of the best offensive lines in the country, there’s no doubt that the Tide will be able to run all over teams. But will the passing game be good enough to survive in college football’s most stacked division?

How about we let coach Nick Saban find a quarterback before we go putting Alabama in the title game?

1. Oklahoma Sooners

Grade: Correct

Going into the season, Oklahoma is the best team on paper and it’s only fair that the Sooners get the nod for the top spot.

QB Landry Jones and WR Ryan Broyles are two of the best players in America and it’s hard to see many defenses slowing down Oklahoma’s passing attack, which ranked third in the country last year.

If the running back combination of Roy Finch and Brandon Williams produces as expected, the Sooners should average over 40 points per game this season.

On defense, star LB Travis Lewis returns for his senior year to lead a talented unit that has future pros on all three levels.

As we saw in Columbia last season, Big Game Bob’s Sooners don’t exactly perform at their best when they’ve got the target on their back. But this is a team that’s got so much talent returning and they’ve also got the added incentive of playing for fallen teammate Austin Box, who tragically died in the spring.

Oklahoma belongs at No. 1 right now but it won't be an easy ride to the title game. The Sooners have to get through a schedule that includes five teams in this poll, three of which, Florida State, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, that are ranked in the top ten.  

It certainly won’t be a cakewalk but Oklahoma has the type of weapons to go wire to wire.