1. Georgia 11-3 1 Sept. 4 vs. Ga. Southern
Award winners all over the place -- David Greene for Heisman, Davey O'Brien etc. Fred Gibson for the Biletnikoff. David Pollack for the Nagurski. LSU is the defending SEC champ and co-national champ, but it comes together this year for the Dawgs. The biggest news of the spring was Taylor's season-ending knee injury in the spring game. Usually, that would have caused the Dawgs to slip out of the top spot, but once again, there is plenty of depth behind him. Unless more injuries hit, Mark Richt has no excuse for winning another SEC title and perhaps more.
2. LSU 13-1 4 Sept. 4 vs. Oregon State
Marcus Randall is a better athlete at quarterback than the departed Matt Mauck but will play the same way. Coaches aren't sure about Randall's decision-making, so they will, at least initially, just ask him to manage games and let the rest of the offense win them. The Tigers lose the heart of their defensive line, their best receiver and quarterback. Any other team would be crying. The Tigers are reloading. The tiebreaker with Georgia might come down to that game being in Athens.
3. Oklahoma 12-2 3 Sept. 4 vs. Bowling Green
The defense lost three All-Americans (Derrick Strait, Teddy Lehman and Tommie Harris) and might still be the best in the country. Tailback Kejuan Jones moved up the depth chart in the spring. That's before, of course, the arrival of prep superstar Adrian Peterson in the fall. Heisman winner Jason White will have plenty of support again. With the Big 12 being down slightly, the Sooners should waltz to the conference title. But isn't that what we said last year?
4. Southern California 12-1 2 Aug. 28 vs. Virginia Tech
With the loss of Jacob Rodgers, Will Poole and Mike Williams (for now), USC can't be as strong. Can it? The offensive line was hurt by the loss of potential All-American offensive tackle Winston Justice, who ran into legal trouble. Defensive tackle Shaun Cody is moving to defensive end to take over for Kenechi Udeze. Quarterback Matt Leinart will be the odds-on favorite for the Heisman. Tailback Reggie Bush will have a breakout season. The Trojans will win the Pac-10 again, but another national championship? Right now, it's too much to ask.
5. Miami (Fla.) 11-2 6 Sept. 6 vs. Florida State
The season is defined in the opener against Florida State. The rivalry gets ratcheted up even higher with both teams now in the ACC. Larry Coker cut out a lot of controversy by naming Brock Berlin the starter early in the spring. That doesn't mean Kyle Wright won't play (especially given Berlin's history). The 'Canes have lost 20 first-round draft choices in the past five years. It never seems to catch up to them. The season seems to hinge on a rebuilt defense (only four starters return) and Berlin's reliability. Don't count them out of the Orange Bowl. They are always sniffing around a national championship.
6. Florida State 10-3 5 Sept. 6 at Miami (Fla.)
OK, so Darnell Dockett and Greg Jones are gone. TB Leon Washington and DLs Eric Moore and Chauncey Davis figure to rise up and become the next set of stars. On offense, Chris Rix must step up in his fifth year and be a difference-maker instead of a guy who just manages a game. The Seminoles will continue to feast on ACC opponents. If they get past Miami, the 'Noles miss Virginia Tech this year and have a chance to defend their title in the new ACC.
7. Texas 10-3 7 Sept. 4 vs. North Texas
We've been fooled before ranking the 'Horns near the top. Until they actually break through and beat Oklahoma, an annual top 10 spot is reserved for them, but there is no room at the very top. This might be the year. Mack Brown has to reload at receiver, but the defense is young and angry -- or should be -- after having 65 hung on it by the Sooners.
8. Michigan 10-3 9 Sept. 4 vs. Miami (Ohio)
So John Navarre is gone, so what? Every Wolverines starter at quarterback since 1989 has made an NFL roster. Matt Gutierrez, who never lost a game as a high school starter at Concord De La Salle, is the leader in the clubhouse after the spring. Clayton Richard, a Parade All-American from Lafayette, Ind., is in the mix. So is Pennsylvania recruit Chad Henne, who will join them in the fall. Senior Dave Underwood seems to be the favorite to replace Chris Perry. You know Michigan will be big in the offensive line, serviceable at quarterback and nasty on defense. The Wolves go in as Big Ten favorites.
9. Florida 8-5 11 Sept. 4 vs. Middle Tenn.
Looks like a breakout year for the Gators. Chris Leak was 6-3 as a freshman starter. The Gators beat both LSU and Georgia. With some more defensive consistency, Florida will be a factor in the SEC race. Coach Ron Zook probably has to win more than eight this year to keep Steve Spurrier's shadow from becoming a permanent presence on the sideline again.
10. Kansas State 11-4 8 Sept. 4 vs. W. Kentucky
Significant doubt about the athleticism at quarterback. Dylan Meier is the favorite to replace Ell Roberson. Indiana transfer Alan Webb will resume the battle in the summer. Coach Bill Snyder was down on his team after the spring game. Still, the Wildcats are the favorites to win the Big 12 North and at least try to defend their 2003 conference championship. Heisman candidate Darren Sproles lost his mother to cancer in the spring, but he should ready to make a run at 1,800 yards (again) this fall.
Award winners all over the place -- David Greene for Heisman, Davey O'Brien etc. Fred Gibson for the Biletnikoff. David Pollack for the Nagurski. LSU is the defending SEC champ and co-national champ, but it comes together this year for the Dawgs. The biggest news of the spring was Taylor's season-ending knee injury in the spring game. Usually, that would have caused the Dawgs to slip out of the top spot, but once again, there is plenty of depth behind him. Unless more injuries hit, Mark Richt has no excuse for winning another SEC title and perhaps more.
2. LSU 13-1 4 Sept. 4 vs. Oregon State
Marcus Randall is a better athlete at quarterback than the departed Matt Mauck but will play the same way. Coaches aren't sure about Randall's decision-making, so they will, at least initially, just ask him to manage games and let the rest of the offense win them. The Tigers lose the heart of their defensive line, their best receiver and quarterback. Any other team would be crying. The Tigers are reloading. The tiebreaker with Georgia might come down to that game being in Athens.
3. Oklahoma 12-2 3 Sept. 4 vs. Bowling Green
The defense lost three All-Americans (Derrick Strait, Teddy Lehman and Tommie Harris) and might still be the best in the country. Tailback Kejuan Jones moved up the depth chart in the spring. That's before, of course, the arrival of prep superstar Adrian Peterson in the fall. Heisman winner Jason White will have plenty of support again. With the Big 12 being down slightly, the Sooners should waltz to the conference title. But isn't that what we said last year?
4. Southern California 12-1 2 Aug. 28 vs. Virginia Tech
With the loss of Jacob Rodgers, Will Poole and Mike Williams (for now), USC can't be as strong. Can it? The offensive line was hurt by the loss of potential All-American offensive tackle Winston Justice, who ran into legal trouble. Defensive tackle Shaun Cody is moving to defensive end to take over for Kenechi Udeze. Quarterback Matt Leinart will be the odds-on favorite for the Heisman. Tailback Reggie Bush will have a breakout season. The Trojans will win the Pac-10 again, but another national championship? Right now, it's too much to ask.
5. Miami (Fla.) 11-2 6 Sept. 6 vs. Florida State
The season is defined in the opener against Florida State. The rivalry gets ratcheted up even higher with both teams now in the ACC. Larry Coker cut out a lot of controversy by naming Brock Berlin the starter early in the spring. That doesn't mean Kyle Wright won't play (especially given Berlin's history). The 'Canes have lost 20 first-round draft choices in the past five years. It never seems to catch up to them. The season seems to hinge on a rebuilt defense (only four starters return) and Berlin's reliability. Don't count them out of the Orange Bowl. They are always sniffing around a national championship.
6. Florida State 10-3 5 Sept. 6 at Miami (Fla.)
OK, so Darnell Dockett and Greg Jones are gone. TB Leon Washington and DLs Eric Moore and Chauncey Davis figure to rise up and become the next set of stars. On offense, Chris Rix must step up in his fifth year and be a difference-maker instead of a guy who just manages a game. The Seminoles will continue to feast on ACC opponents. If they get past Miami, the 'Noles miss Virginia Tech this year and have a chance to defend their title in the new ACC.
7. Texas 10-3 7 Sept. 4 vs. North Texas
We've been fooled before ranking the 'Horns near the top. Until they actually break through and beat Oklahoma, an annual top 10 spot is reserved for them, but there is no room at the very top. This might be the year. Mack Brown has to reload at receiver, but the defense is young and angry -- or should be -- after having 65 hung on it by the Sooners.
8. Michigan 10-3 9 Sept. 4 vs. Miami (Ohio)
So John Navarre is gone, so what? Every Wolverines starter at quarterback since 1989 has made an NFL roster. Matt Gutierrez, who never lost a game as a high school starter at Concord De La Salle, is the leader in the clubhouse after the spring. Clayton Richard, a Parade All-American from Lafayette, Ind., is in the mix. So is Pennsylvania recruit Chad Henne, who will join them in the fall. Senior Dave Underwood seems to be the favorite to replace Chris Perry. You know Michigan will be big in the offensive line, serviceable at quarterback and nasty on defense. The Wolves go in as Big Ten favorites.
9. Florida 8-5 11 Sept. 4 vs. Middle Tenn.
Looks like a breakout year for the Gators. Chris Leak was 6-3 as a freshman starter. The Gators beat both LSU and Georgia. With some more defensive consistency, Florida will be a factor in the SEC race. Coach Ron Zook probably has to win more than eight this year to keep Steve Spurrier's shadow from becoming a permanent presence on the sideline again.
10. Kansas State 11-4 8 Sept. 4 vs. W. Kentucky
Significant doubt about the athleticism at quarterback. Dylan Meier is the favorite to replace Ell Roberson. Indiana transfer Alan Webb will resume the battle in the summer. Coach Bill Snyder was down on his team after the spring game. Still, the Wildcats are the favorites to win the Big 12 North and at least try to defend their 2003 conference championship. Heisman candidate Darren Sproles lost his mother to cancer in the spring, but he should ready to make a run at 1,800 yards (again) this fall.
