2011 Preseason NCAA College Football Top 25

1. Oregon - The Ducks will be good again.  Can they make another run?  And did Auburn show the way on how to stop them?  They get LSU in Game 1, and it could be an early exit for the Ducks.




2.  Oklahoma - With the return of Ryan Broyles, the Sooners will again be good on offense. The key will be can they replace Murray and Madu.



3.  LSU - We'll see just how important Patrick Peterson was to their team.  They lose Nevis, Ridley, and Toliver as well, though I think they are all replaceable. 

4.  Alabama -  A ton of key losses on offense, but they should be quite good on offense.  You can count on a new starter losing a few games for you, especially if they go with the RS Freshman Sims.

5.  Stanford -  Luck is the real deal, now let's see him do it again. 

6.  Wisconsin - The strong running game will have to carry them with a new QB taking the helm.  They will still be solid though.

7.  Oklahoma St -  I personally think Blackmon should have gone pro, but he and Weeden will get it done again.  It wouldn't surprise me to see them win the Big 12..11..er 10? 

8.  Boise St. -  I'm not a Boise St. fan, but Kellen Moore is a surgeon, give the kid some credit.

9.  Ohio St -  Would have them higher, but the suspensions may loom large against Miami

10.  South Carolina - Jeffrey, Garcia, and Lattimore will only get better this year.  Should win the East again.




11.  Auburn -  You don't just lose possibly the two best players in college football and expect to be the same team. 

12.  Florida St. -  My sleeper pick.  E.J. Manuel finally looked like the recruit he was supposed to be.  Jimbo Fisher will have a solid team next year.

13.  Arkansas -  The fifth SEC team on the list could challenge for the West.  Tyler Wilson takes over at QB and he's pretty good.  Greg Childs will be back as well.

14.  Nebraska -  Taylor Martinez moves the Big 10...11.  He's way too inconsistent for my tastes, but when he's on, he's incredible.

15.  Texas A&M - The move to Tannehill mid-season was obviously the right move.  He'll be back along with Cyrus Gray.  Should be a solid team again.

16.  Michigan St. -  After that shellacking they took in the Cap One bowl, it's hard to give them props.

17.  TCU -  That relentless defense will be back, and in the cupcake conference they could go undefeated yet again.   They start with two tough out of conference games though.

18.  Virginia Tech -  Boy are they losing some offense.  If they replace them, they'll be good.  If they don't they're a 0.500 team.

19.  Mississippi St - Dan Mullen's got something cooking in Starkville.  Lost every big game they played in last year though.  I think they pull out at least one this year.


20.  Georgia  -  Aaron Murray's growing pains are gone.  The run game should be fine, but the security blanket is going to be in the NFL.

21.  Missouri -  Plenty of experience returning on the offensive side.  But they have to replace some guy at QB (<--heavy sarcasm).

22.  Notre Dame -  The Irish came on strong at the end.  Floyd is staying which was badly needed.



23.  Michigan -  Denard Robinson is ridiculous.  Too bad he doesn't play on defense.

24.  Florida -  There's too much talent in Gainesville for them to be that bad.  They never really had an identity.  I think they'll get it figured out.

25. Tulsa -  The Hurricanes return just about the whole team.  Experience means something in college football.