College Football Preview: Rankings, Conferences, Etc

Another college football season is upon us and it is time to dissect a few things: Top 25 Rankings, Conference Previews, and a few more things to look forward to.

TOP 25 (Preseason/Week 1)
1) Alabama (end of 09: 1) vs. San Jose State
2) Ohio State (end of 09: 5) vs. Marshall
3) Boise State (end of 09: 4) vs. #10 Virginia Tech
4) Texas (end of 09: 2) vs. Rice
5) Florida (end of 09: 3) vs. Miami (OH)
6) TCU (end of 09: 7) vs. #24 Oregon State
7) Oklahoma (end of 09: NR) vs. Utah State
8) Nebraska (end of 09: 14) vs. Western Kentucky
9) Iowa (end of 09: 6) vs. Eastern Illinois
10) Virginia Tech (end of 09: 10) vs. #3 Boise State
11) Oregon (end of 09: 11) vs. New Mexico
12) Miami (FL) (end of 09: 18) vs. Florida A&M
13) Wisconsin (end of 09: 16) at UNLV
14) Pittsburgh (end of 09: 15) at Utah
15) Georgia Tech (end of 09: 12) vs. South Carolina State
16) North Carolina (end of 09: NR) vs. #21 LSU
17) Penn State (end of 09: 9) vs. Youngstown State
18) Florida State (end of 09: NR) vs. Samford
19) Arkansas (end of 09: NR) vs. Tennessee Tech
20) USC (end of 09: 21) at Hawaii
21) LSU (end of 09: 17) vs. #16 North Carolina
22) Auburn (end of 09: NR) vs. Arkansas State
23) Georgia (end of 09: NR) vs. LA Lafeyette
24) Oregon State (end of 09: NR) vs. #6 TCU
25) Cincinnati (end of 09: 8) at Fresno State

Dropped out from end of 09: #13 Brigham Young, #19 Utah, #20 Mississippi, #22 Clemson, #23 Texas Tech, #24 West Virginia, #25 Oklahoma State

The next best 5 for Week 1:
West Virginia: vs Coastal Carolina
Utah: vs. Pittsburgh
Stanford: vs. Sacramento State
Houston: vs. Texas State
Connecticut: at Michigan


CONFERENCE PREVIEWS

ACC

ATLANTIC:
Florida State
Boston College
Clemson
Maryland
North Carolina State
Wake Forest

COASTAL:
Virginia Tech
Miami (FL)
Georgia Tech
North Carolina
Duke
Virginia

Championship Game: Florida State vs. Virginia Tech/Miami (FL)

Big 12

NORTH:
Nebraska
Kansas State
Missouri
Colorado
Kansas
Iowa State

SOUTH:
Texas
Oklahoma
Texas Tech
Oklahoma State
Texas A&M
Baylor

Championship Game: Nebraska vs. Texas/Oklahoma

Big East

Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
West Virginia
Connecticut
Rutgers
South Florida
Louisville
Syracuse

CHAMPION: Pittsburgh

Big Ten

Ohio State
Iowa
Wisconsin
Penn State
Purdue
Michigan
Minnesota
Michigan State
Northwestern
Illinois
Indiana

CHAMPION: Ohio State

Pac-10

Oregon
USC
Oregon State
Stanford
Arizona
UCLA
Washington
California
Arizona State
Washington State

CHAMPION: Oregon

SEC

EAST:
Florida
Georgia
South Carolina
Tennessee
Kentucky
Vanderbilt

WEST:
Alabama
Arkansas
LSU
Auburn
LSU
Mississippi
Mississippi State

Championship Game: Florida vs. Alabama (but don't sleep on either Georgia, Arkansas, or Auburn)

Conference USA: East Carolina vs. Houston in Championship Game

Mountain West: TCU

MAC: Ohio/Temple vs. Ball State

Sun Belt: Troy or Florida Atlantic

WAC: Boise State


AND Lastly, a little preview regarding the Heisman race.

Players to watch as the season progresses:

HB Mark Ingram (Alabama): Returning winner playing with defensing national champions

QB Tyrelle Pryor (Ohio State): He looks to be ready for a break out season with a national championship contender team

QB Kellen Moore (Boise State): He had 39 TDs to 3 INTS a year ago. This year could be a repeat and he has the chance to lead his team to a potential title game.

QB Ryan Mallet (Arkansas): He is a mobile quarterback, who can lead Arkansas to the SEC title game and championship this year.

QB Jake Locker (Washington): He does not play for the best team in the country, but if he can get them close to a Pac-10 crown; he can stay in the conversation.

QB Case Keenum (Houston): He had an awesome year statically last year and could do the same again. His fortunes will depend on how well the team plays. They faltered down the stretch as did his Heisman hopes.


This year looks to be an exciting season with no true clear cut best team ala last year. Alabama and Ohio State are probably early favorites, but as college football has shown; top 5 teams will lose at some point.