Preseason College Football Rankings: Top 25

11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
    The Irish are primed for a big comeback year, and they better if Coach Charlie Weis hopes to return to South Bend. The offense is loaded with talented and experienced playmakers. Is this is the year QB Jimmy Clausen will display the ability that made him one of the nation's hottest recruits in decades? If he plays at the level everyone in Irish land believe he can, Notre Dame will go BCS bowling in 2009. Eric Olsen anchors a big offensive line. WRs Golden Tate and Michael Floyd will give Clausen outside options. The defense looks solid, but not particularly fast which could spell trouble against athletic teams. Fortunately for the Irish, only one team on their schedule fills that bill: the USC Trojans.
12. Penn State Nitty Lions
    Aside its meltdown at Iowa, the Nitty Lions played with heart and passion, even in their lopsided loss to USC at the Rose Bowl. There is good and bad news in University Park, PA. On the plus side, talented QB Daryll Clark returns as does RB Evan Royster. So, if Joe Pa' can find two stars among a plethora of quality receivers, the offense should be explosive once again. This being Penn State, you know they will have a loaded LB corps lead by All-American candidate Navorro Bowman. The rest of the unit is solid all around. With a soft schedule (only Ohio State stood up in Big Ten play) the path is set for another BCS run.
13. Cal Golden Bears
    Three teams from the Pac 10 in the Top 15? You better believe it. In fact, if you look for a Dark Horse candidate to make it to the BCS title game, you must look at Berkeley. The Bears have one of the nation's best RB, Jahvid Best, a top notch offensive line and an experienced QB; all the ingredients needed for a potent offense. CB Syd'Quan Thompson leads a shutdown-type defensive backfield. The defensive line is also impressive. Overall, this team will compete for more than the elusive Pac 10 championship in 2009.
14. Oklahoma State Cowboys
    There is no question that the Cowboys will score points. QB Zack Robinson is an underrated playmaker. RB Kendall Hunter is an up and coming player while WR Dez Bryant is simply one of the best WRs in the nation. However, their defense is another story. While CB Perrish Cox has shutdown ability (a must in a pass happy league), the rest of the defense is suspect. Oklahoma State has the talent to move up, but their schedule will most likely prevent it. Besides the usual shootouts against the Longhorns and Sooners, State will play SEC power Georgia.
15. BYU Cougars
    Utah is the fancy pick in the improving Mountain West Conference. But while the Utes are in full fledged rebuilding mode, BYU is ready to make a BCS run. QB Max Hall is back which means a ton of points. TE Dennis Pitta is one of college football's most intriguing commodities. Their line is solid, albeit a little young. Six of the eleven starters on defense are seniors with lots of experience. The path is set for a big time run and if they somehow are able to beat Oklahoma in their opener, watch out.
16. Georgia Bulldogs
    Any other team that suffered the loss of its top QB and RB (both first round choices) would have a hard time competing, but this is no regular program. Head Coach Mark Richt has made the Bulldogs a perennial BCS contender, so you know he is a good recruiter. Replacing QB Matt Stafford is senior Joe Cox. Cox is not the athlete Stafford was, but he is steady and accurate. RBs Carlton Thomas and Celeb King will try to match last year ground production. If they do, Georgia has a chance to be a very scary team.
17. Boise State Broncos
    Coach Chris Petersen has built a powerhouse in Boise, Idaho. Last season, in what was supposedly a rebuilding year, Petersen led the Broncos to a 12-1 record. QB Kellen Moore, a rising star, leads an experienced offense. And with juniors Jeremy Avery and DJ Harper completing a intimidating passing attack, the Broncos will score against anybody, including the Oregon Ducks, which they meet in their season opener. Another 'upset', will most likely mean a trip to a BCS game.
18. North Carolina Tar Heels
    Butch Davis' squad was an injury away from an ACC title berth last season. Quite an accomplishment for a once, middle of the road team. Yes, the 'Heels lost a ton of talent to the NFL, but if there is one thing Davis can do, it's recruiting. North Carolina's roster is full of talented players. QB TJ Yates hopes to return to his 2007 form, when he passed for 2,655 yards and 14 TDs. If he comes close to that production, it could be enough for Carolina to make it to a big time bowl game. Their defense is full of explosive athletes like LB Zack Brown and S Deunta Williams, which mean most of their games will be close. A few breaks here and there, and the Tar Heels could be playing on New Year's.
19. Florida State Seminoles
    Many publications have the Seminoles much higher on their boards. Yes, they have talent and yes, they play in a diluted league. But two things will prevent Bobby Bowden's return to glory. One is State's murderous schedule and the other is inconsistency at QB. FSU plays the second toughest schedule in the nation filled with six 2008 bowl bound teams. It's not fashionable to say it, but Florida State might not even make the top 25 in the end.
20. South Florida Bulls
    The Bulls are primed for a big coming out party, and this could be the year. With a loaded defense led by All American DE George Selvie, USF will be in most games. If QB Matt Grothe can elevate his play, Jim Leavitt's team will take home the Big East crown. It will be tough, but not impossible. The Bulls are a real dark horse.
21. Miami, FL Hurricanes
    How far the 'U' has dropped! Once upon a time, Miami was a perennial top 5 team. Now, they are constantly in rebuilding mode. A program that produced NFL players like trees produce oranges in Florida has gone dry the past two years. The talent level is even below USF, not to mention FSU and Florida. This could be an ugly season in Coral Gables.
22. Nebraska Cornhuskers
    The Huskers are another falling program. But unlike Miami and Florida State, this one is on the way up. Unfortunately for the 'Huskers, they play in a very competitive league. This problem will only be magnified by the introduction of a new QB, 6'2 junior Zac Lee. Nevertheless, Nebraska can be a surprising team in 2009. Five of the team's initial seven games are at home. If they are 4-2 after October 17th, the story could be different.
23. Tennessee Volunteers
    Coming off a losing season and with a new head coach, Lane Kiffin, a man many inside the SEC want to destroy (on the field of course) is tough enough. But when you add the deficiency on offense, where no QB has established himself as a true number one starter and a lack of explosiveness at the RB position, the Vols could be ready for a big, massive downturn. But there is something about Len Kiffin, plus any team that has S Eric Berry on its roster is bound to be good.
24. Nevada Wolfpack
    Chris Ault has quietly assembled a top notch offense with experienced QB Colin Kaepernick at the controls. If their secondary plays a little better, Nevada will improve on its 7-6 2008 record. Aside from Notre Dame and Boise State, the rest of their schedule doesn't look too tough.
25. Iowa Hawkeyes
    It's all about defense for the Hawkeyes. The unit is solid and will keep games close. The big question mark is the offense. QB Ricky Stanzi is accurate, but he is not a playmaker; something Iowa desperately needs if they are going to take another step forward in the Big Ten.