2008 NCAA Football Preseason Rankings: Top 25

Our version of the AP poll, we've projected preseason rankings for the top 25 NCAA college football teams for the 2008 season.

1. Georgia Bulldogs
   Any team that has two potential number one picks (QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshow Moreno) on its roster is bound to be good. At the end of 2007 no team, with the exception of USC, played better or with more swagger. Expect the same in 2008, with a trip to the BCS Championship Game if they do.
2. USC Trojans
   The men of Troy do not re-build, they reload. The 2008 version would unveil a new QB (Mark Sanchez) and a new look offensive line, but with one of the most athletic defenses in the nation and the presence of ultra-talented RB Joe McKnight; the Trojans would rule the PAC-10 and could make a strong move towards the top of the rankings.
3. Florida Gators
   If Florida played in any other Conference, they would have been ranked No. 1. Nevertheless, with QB Tim Tebow and WR Percy Harvin (perhaps the best Gator receiver in the last five years) and a defensive unit with a year under its belt, don't be surprise if the Gators are playing in the BCS game.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
   Ohio State will bring back possibly the most talented overall squad in the nation. The defense led by James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins is prime to dominate. On the offensive side, RB Chris Wells will provide stability. The only question about the Buckeyes is their mental state after two brutal losses against top competition. They should win the Big 10, but there's little chance (the same was believed last year) that they could make it to the Championship game for a record third straight time.
5. Oklahoma Soonerss
   If super freshman QB Sam Bradford was not injured during the later part of the Sooner's season, Oklahoma might well have played in the Championship game. If he stay healthy and the defense gels as coach Stoops believes, Oklahoma could find its way back to the top of college football.
6. Texas Longhorns
   Texas' fortunes rest sorely on the shoulder of the once promising QB Colt McCoy. If he is able to regain some of the magic he displayed during his freshman season, the team is talented enough on defense and offensive skill players to make a push for a bigger bowl game than the Holiday. This team is one of the sleepers in the race for the championship.
7. Missouri Tigers
   QB Chase Daniels and the rest of the Tigers got a taste of what life at the top can be and they want more. Daniels is as talented as any QB in the nation. This fact and a defense that returned 10 starters should give Missouri its first real opportunity to grab sole possession of the Big 12 Conference.
8. West Virginia Mountaineers
   West Virginia's lofty ranking has more to do with the conference the team plays in than any other reason. That aside, any team that is led by as talented a QB (Pat White) as West Virginia is, anything is possible. The defense is solid and blessed with speed. A BCS bid is very likely. Anything more would be a welcome surprise.
9. Wisconsin Badgers
   This is a gut pick. The Badgers are re-tooling on defense and only PJ Hill and TE Travis Beckum stand up on offense; but if the defense gels as expected and Hill has one of those outstanding seasons he is capable of having, Wisconsin can actually challenge the Buckeyes for the conference championship and a trip to a BCS game.
10. LSU Tigers
    The defending National Champions are in the midst of a major re-building effort. Gone are the team's top defensive players and a good chunk of its skill players crop. They need to find a new QB, RB and WR; plus re-fitting its defensive unit. They are such a talented and deep squad that the Tigers could make it to the SEC Championship game.
11. Clemson Tigers
    This is looking like the Tigers' year to rule the ACC. They are loaded on the offensive side and although their offensive line needs patching, they possess the athletics needed to keep scoring points against the best of them. The defense is solid and special teams are looking up. If Clemson does not win the ACC this year, they would have missed a golden opportunity.
12. Kansas Jayhawks
    A dark horse in the BCS Championship race. QB Todd Reesing leads an ever-improving offensive juggernaut. They only need their defense to catch-up. Kansas quietly is building up a top program, which could deliver one of the finest seasons in their vaunted history this year.
13. Arizona State Sun Devils
    Dennis Erickson is building a powerhouse down in the desert. The offense looks promising with experienced QB Rudy Carpenter as the team's leader-- the team could score a bunch of points. It's the defense that needs to step up in order to take the Sun Devils to take the next step.