Final and Preseason Top 25 for College Football

The last top 25 I have for College Football has a heavy emphasis on what the top 25 should look like to start next season.

1. Alabama: The Tide return numerous offensive players, but they have to replace seven starters on defense. A difficult road slate in the SEC coupled with a non-conference game against Penn State makes it difficult to see Alabama back in the National Championship game next season.

2. Ohio State: In what I'm declaring the year of the Big Ten return, Ohio State could be the best of the group. If Jim Tressel opens up the offense like he did in the Rose Bowl, Pryor and Co. will be extremely hard to shut down. Road games in Madison and Iowa City will be tough tests as well as a non-conference game against Miami. If they get through those tests, the Buckeyes will be well prepared for a National Title game.

3. Boise State: This could also be the year the BCS gets its shakeup. Boise State plays a fairly difficult non-conference schedule, and if they make it through that unscathed, another undefeated season is well within reach and a very good shot at playing in Glendale but for the National Title instead of the Fiesta Bowl.

4. Texas: The best thing that happened in Pasadena on Thursday night? Garret Gilbert getting valuable playing time as he takes over for Colt McCoy next season. The defense should be superb, and Mack Brown knows how to recruit. Texas loses Shipley and McCoy, but they should be alright.

5. Oregon: Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael (is spanish for The Michael) James will be back next season behind an experienced offensive line and with an improved defense. Road games at USC and Oregon State towards the end of the season stick out as potential road blocks to a Pac-10 Championship.

6. Iowa: Don't be surprised to see the experts down on the Hawkeyes going into next season. Iowa has to replace 4/5 of the starting offensive line and 2 key LB's in A.J. Edds and Pat Angerer. That being said, the Big Ten Title runs through Kinnick Stadium with Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin all coming to Iowa City this fall. With 2 linemen getting significant playing time last year the rebuilding of the O-Line shouldn't be as daunting of a task as some will make it out to be, the Hawkeyes could be in Pasadena come Bowl season.

7. Florida

8. Nebraska

9. TCU

10. Wisconsin

11. Virginia Tech

12. Pittsburgh: Pitt could be the school in the best position after Brian Kelly left Cincinnati. Dion Lewis will certainly be in the Heisman discussion next season, but Pitt has some major holes to fill before next season. If those holes are filled adequately, Pitt should win the Big East.

13. Oklahoma

14. Georgia Tech: Paul Johnson has to be thankful that teams don't have multiple weeks to prepare for his offense before every game. The 'wreck will likely lose a few key juniors, but they only had 6 seniors on scholarship, but if Josh Nesbit is able to throw the ball with more accuracy the offense will become even harder to defend and they might be able to win a BCS game.

15. LSU

16. Cincinnati

17. Arkansas

18. Miami

19. North Carolina: If North Carolina finds any sort of offense they could be dangerous (a tall task to ask for as John Schoop is their offensive coordinator). The defense is stacked and the ACC isn't very good, they'll be many people's sleeper pick to make a BCS game.

20. Penn State: Penn State has quite a few holes to fill on defense as well as the need to break in a new QB. The defense shouldn't be a problem to rebuild and the return of Evan Royster with a solid offensive line should help the growth of a new QB. I don't think the Nittany Lions win the Big Ten this year but they'll be a difficult opponent every week. The biggest surprise is that the Nittany Lions scheduled a non-conference game outside of State College and against a school that doesn't play like a high school team (Alabama).

21. Houston

22. Utah

23. USC: With Pete Carroll all but out of Southern Cal, the Trojans will likely face losing a number of great recruits. That being said this is probably a pretty low ranking as the new coach will inherit a great number of starters and a more experienced defense. A road game in Minnesota stands out as the most difficult non-conference game, and the only other possible stumbling block for the Trojans looks to be possibly Notre Dame towards the end of the season.

24.  Florida State: With Jimbo Fischer officially taking over the Seminoles I think recruiting will get instantly better. Mark Stoops comes from Arizona to fix the defense and if he succeeds, the offense will be able to use their talent to put up some points. I think this is the season the 'Noles will start to make a return to their glory days.

25. Oregon State