Early 2012 College Football Top 25

2. Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners went into 2011 as the
big dogs on the block and they stumbled against some high powered
offenses in The Big 12. The Sooners finished with a respectable 10-3
last season and expectations will once again be high in Norman. Senior
quarterback Landry Jones will look to cut down the 15 interceptions that
he threw last season. The Sooners return seven starters on defense, but
the real test will be to finish the season. Oklahoma has the annual
Bedlam Game against their in-state rival The Oklahoma State Cowboys
which will be sandwiched between road games against Big 12 newcomers The
West Virginia Mountaineers and The TCU Horned Frogs.
 
3. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Crimson Tide of Alabama
are coming off of another BCS Championship under head coach Nick Saban
and they are poised to repeat. ‘Bama lost six starters from what might
have been the best defense in the history of college football, but the
cupboard is never bare in Tuscaloosa. Senior linebacker Nico Johnson was
the team’s fourth leading tackler last season and he will look to fill
the leadership void for defensive stallworths such as Donta Hightower
and Mark Barron who are now in The NFL. Offensively The Crimson Tide
have four starters returning on an offensive line that protected
quarterback AJ McCarron last season. McCarron no longer has to look over
his shoulder as Phillip Sims has transferred. It won’t take us long to
see how good Alabama will be as they open up the season at Cowboys
Stadium in Arlington,Texas against The Michigan Wolverines.

4. Georgia Bulldogs

Last season saw The Bulldogs start
off 0-2 and the only question that concerned fans in Athens was whether
head coach Mark Richt would make it through the season. The Dawgs
responded by winning their next 10 ballgames before blowing an early
10-0 lead to The LSU Tigers in The SEC Championship Game and then
blowing a 16-point lead to The Michigan State Spartans in The Outback
Bowl. With junior quarterback Aaron Murray coming off of a season in
which he passed for over 3,000 yards and nine returning starters on
defense, expectations will be high for Georgia.  The Bulldogs avoid
playing Alabama and LSU in the regular season, but they will be the
first team to welcome The Missouri Tigers to The SEC. Richt’s team has a
good chance to make it to Miami for The BCS Championship Game.

5. West Virginia Mountaineers

If you watched The
Mountaineers play last season you know that the 70 points that they
scored in The Orange Bowl was not a fluke. The Mountaineers are not only
poised to compete in The Big 12, but they are planning on winning it in
year number one. Senior quarterback Geno Smith threw 4,385 yards last
season and he gets his dynamic duo of receivers in Steadman Bailey and
Tavon Austin back for another season in Morgantown. Circle your
calenders for November 17th when The Sooners travel to Morgantown to
take on The Mountaineers for a game that could decide The Big 12
Championship.

6. LSU Tigers

Generally when a team goes 13-1 for the
season, they are very proud of that. Unfortunately for The LSU Tigers
people will only remember them for being shutout by Alabama in The BCS
Championship Game 21-0. The Tigers ran roughshod over everyone and had
defeated Alabama in the regular season. Now Tigers head coach Les Miles
must try to get the bad taste out of his mouth. The Tigers will look to
junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger to guide the offense. Defensively
LSU will once again look to be stingy. Defensive back Tyrann Mathieu was
a finalist for The Heisman Trophy last season, but he won’t be alone in
the secondary as he has help in the form of Eric Reid. The Tigers
shouldn’t go through the regular season undefeated this year, but they
will once again be formidable in The SEC.

7. Clemson Tigers

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney came into last season amid
speculation that his reign in Death Valley might be coming to an end.
All The Tigers did was provide nothing but excitement for their fan base
as they won The Atlantic Coast Conference Championship for the first
time since 1991. Now it is time to see what The Tigers can do for an
encore. Clemson has the most explosive offense in The ACC led by junior
quarterback Tajh Boyd. Boyd threw for 3,828 yards and 33 touchdowns last
season. The Tigers return seven starters from a defense that got
torched in The Orange Bowl by West Virginia as they gave up 70 points.
The schedule is favorable to Clemson this year as the toughest road test
for them this season will be when they travel to Tallahassee in late
September to take on The Florida State Seminoles. Clemson should not
only be a favorite to win The ACC, but they should also be in the mix
for The BCS Championship.

8. Michigan Wolverines

There is once again a buzz in
Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is extremely weird to come into a season and not
see The Michigan Wolverines not being included in the top 25. The
Wolverines are getting back to that under head coach Brady Hoke. In
Hoke’s first season, The Wolverines contended for a Big Ten Title and
they won The Sugar Bowl. Now the next step is to win The Big Ten. The
Wolverines return eight starters on defense including all four starters
in the secondary. Michigan will have to replace defensive tackle Mike
Martin whom they lost to graduation as he was the heart and soul of the
unit. The Wolverines still have quarterback Denard Robinson who is Mr.
Everything. Robinson improved as a passer last season while he still led
the team in rushing with 1,176 yards. Entering his senior campaign,
Robinson will look to cut down on his 15 interceptions from 2011 as he
will be one of the early favorites in The Heisman Race.

It will not take us long to see if The Wolverines are back on the
national scene. Michigan will open the season against Alabama at Cowboys
Stadium pitting two of the most storied teams in college football
against each other.

9. Arkansas Razorbacks

Originally The Razorbacks were
higher on this list, but once the scandal involving former head coach
Bobby Petrino surfaced that changed everything. Razorbacks athletic
director Jeff Long scrambled in March to find a replacement and he went
to John L. Smith as the next head coach. Smith will be charged with
maintaining an Arkansas team that was expected to contend for a BCS
Championship prior to Petrino’s departure. The Razorbacks still have
senior quarterback Tyler Wilson to lead the team. All eyes will be on
Wilson this season as scouts from The NFL have him pegged as a potential
first-round draft pick. The Razorbacks only lost two games last season
to LSU and Alabama respectively. The Hogs get both teams at home this
year, but you wonder if the fire will be there without Petrino.

10. Florida State Seminoles

The Seminoles have been
getting top recruiting classes since Jimbo Fisher became head coach in
2010. Little by little Florida State is starting to once again make
noise in The ACC and know it is time for The ‘Noles to once again do it
on the national scene. The Seminoles enter 2012 loaded on both sides of
the ball as they return nine starters on offense and defense including
the entire defensive line. For Florida State, the running game has to
improve. Last season the leading rusher was freshman Devonta Freeman
with 579 yards. Florida State returns four starters on the offensive
line which should aid the running game. The road will definitely test
The Seminoles this season as they travel to South Florida, North
Carolina State, Virginia Tech and Miami.

11. TCU Horned Frogs

Going to a new conference will
not be a daunting task for Texas Christian University. After a short
stay in The Mountain West Conference, The Horned Frogs will enter The
Big 12 Conference where they will renew rivalries with some of their old
foes from The Southwest Conference such as The Texas Longhorns and The
Baylor Bears. The Horned Frogs have the firepower to come in immediately
and contend for The Big 12 Title. Quarterback Casey Pachall threw for
nearly 3,000 in his first season as a starter. The schedule will be
tougher than what TCU has been facing recently. In their last five
games, The Horned Frogs will go up against conference powers Oklahoma
State, West Virginia, Kansas State, Texas, and Oklahoma. TCU now has
their chance to dance with the prom queen.

12. Kansas State Wildcats

The Wildcats were a
Cinderella team in 2011. Kansas State came out of nowhere to win 10
games and earn a spot in The Cotton Bowl. The Wildcats won’t sneak up on
anyone in 2012, but they are still poised to have a good season. The
Wildcats have Mr. Everything in senior quarterback Collin Klein. Klein
is the poor man’s Tim Tebow as he is a tough runner and a solid thrower.
Klein threw for 1,918 yards last season while rushing for 1,141.
Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder will need to get his troops ready for a
tough schedule. The Wildcats host The Miami Hurricanes while going on
the road for games against Oklahoma, West Virginia, TCU, and Baylor.

13. Nebraska Cornhuskers

For The Cornhuskers, the
first season in The Big Ten was successful. They were in contention for
The Legends Division Title and they made a New Year’s Day bowl game. Now
that The Cornhuskers have gotten their feet wet it is time to go
forward. Defensively it wasn’t the famed “Black Shirts” unit that we
have grown to appreciate as Nebraska allowed two opponents to score over
40 points against them. The Cornhuskers bring back eight starters on
defense, but this team’s success will boil down to junior quarterback
Taylor Martinez. Martinez has been up and down with his decision making
in the pocket and it is time for him to take his game to the next level.
The Huskers will have to contend with Michigan and Michigan State for
supremacy in The Legends Division. Nebraska plays both teams in
successive weeks late in the season as it should determine who goes to
Indianapolis for The Big Ten Championship Game.

14. South Carolina Gamecocks

The Gamecocks are indeed a
true Jekkyl and Hyde team because you never know what you will get. The
Gamecocks had issues offensively last season which prevented them from
contending for a national title. Junior quarterback Connor Shaw is now
the guy as he doesn’t have to look over his shoulder. Gamecocks head
Steve Spurrier will be crossing his fingers hoping the junior running
back Marcus Lattimore will be able to return from a knee injury that cut
his 2011 campaign short. South Carolina returns six starters on defense
led by sophomore defensive end Jadeveon Clowney who had 8 sacks as a
true freshman. Last season The Gamecocks were expected to win The SEC
East, but they lost out to Georgia even though South Carolina defeated
them in the head-to-head contest. In October, The Gamecocks host The
Dawgs which will be followed by road games against LSU and Florida.
There is never a chance for a team to breathe in The SEC.

15. Missouri Tigers

We can add The Missouri Tigers to
the growing list of teams that will call a new conference home in 2012.
The Tigers said adios to The Big 12 for a tougher passage in The SEC.
The jury will be out on The Tigers as they have always had an uptempo
spread offense under head coach Gary Pinkel. That style worked in The
Big 12 where defense was not mandatory, but will it work in The SEC
where the defenses are as equally fast?

16. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The toughest opponent that The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame
faced in 2011 was themselves. The Irish were minus 15 in the turnover
margin which makes it amazing that they won eight games. The Irish
return a ton of firepower offensively, but it will come down to junior
quarterback Tommy Rees. Rees must cut down on the 14 interceptions that
he threw last season including the costly ones in the red zone. Rees is
facing off the field issues after a fracas at a campus party which
leaves his status questionable. Head coach Brian Kelly could turn to
true freshman Gunner Kiel to be the man to lead The Irish offensively.
Notre Dame returns seven starters on defense led by linebacker Manti
Te’o and safety Zeke Motta who will both draw the interest of NFL
scouts. Notre Dame will earn plenty of frequent flyer miles this year as
they will travel to Dublin, Ireland, Norman, Oklahoma, and Los Angeles,
California to take on Navy, Oklahoma, and USC respectively.

17. Oregon Ducks

The Ducks finally got over the hump
by winning their first Rose Bowl since 1917. I don’t know how the 2012
season will end for Oregon, but I can guarantee you they will have one
of the fastest teams in the country. Former Ducks running back LaMichael
James was fast, but running back Kenjon Barner and wide receiver
De’Anthony Thomas are electric. Sophomore quarterback Bryan Bennett saw
some mop up duty last season while backing up Darron Thomas and now he
will be in charge of keeping Oregon’s high-powered offense going full
speed ahead. The Ducks have had their way the past few seasons in The
Pac-12 as they have only lost four conference games since 2008. The rest
of The Pac-12 is catching up, but The Ducks will still be formidable.

18. Virginia Tech Hokies

Since moving to The ACC in
2004, The Virginia Tech Hokies have been the gold standard of the
conference by winning The ACC four times. The Hokies won 11 games last
season, but they were dominated in two games against Clemson. The Hokies
only return three starters on offense, but one of those players is
junior quarterback Logan Thomas. At 6’6″ 254 lbs., Thomas is a load for
tacklers and he has the arm to deliver the ball down the field. The
Hokies return nine starters on the defensive side which has been Hokies
head coach Frank Beamer’s bread and butter in Blacksburg. It will be a
typical season for The Hokies. People will overlook them to start the
season in The ACC, but come November they will once again be in the mix
for another conference crown.

19. Utah Utes

Eight wins in the first season as a
member of The Pac-12 was not bad for The Utes as they contended for The
Pac-12’s Southern Division Title. The Utes have proven that they can
play with the big boys and now it is time to see what they can do for an
encore. The Utes will be a veteran group with a combined 16 starters
returning on both sides of the football. Whittingham has a good problem
on his hands in trying to decide on his quarterback. Jordan Wynn came
into 2011 as the starting quarterback until an injury cut his season
short. Jon Hays stepped in and fill in admirably. Senior tailback John
White IV was a workhorse for The Utes last season going over 1,500 yards
rushing on the season. The Utes will host The USC Trojans in October
and they have road games against UCLA, Washington, and Colorado which
will go along way in determining if they will be in the upper-tier of
The Pac-12.

20. Florida Gators

In Will Muschamp’s first season as
head coach of The Gators they lost six games, but with the tough
schedule that Florida had last season most teams would have lost nine
games. The Gators were a young team that took their lumps and they hope
to contend in The SEC East. With 18 starters returning, The Gators must
improve in the turnover category where they were minus 12 last season.
Muschamp is backing on sophomore quarterback Jacoby Brissett taking a
leadership role for the offense as he struggled as a freshman. The
defense will keep The Gators in games, but they will need some explosion
on offense to win in The SEC.

21. California Golden Bears

The Golden Bears might have one of the best wide receivers in
the nation in junior Keenan Allen. Last season Allen had 98 receptions
and at 6’3″ he is a tremendous leaper. Allen will not be enough by
himself to push California to win The Pac-12 North. It will take a team
effort led by senior quarterback Zach Maynard. The Bears also have one
of the best recruiting classes in 2012 and they will also have the
luxury of being back on campus this season as the renovation to Memorial
Stadium will be done.

22. Washington Huskies

The Huskies put up 56 points in
The Alamo Bowl, but they fell to RG3 and The Baylor Bears 67-56. Nick
Holt is out at defensive coordinator and Justin Wilcox will look to fill
that void. When you see quarterback Keith Price, initially you think of
him as a runner, but he threw for over 3,000 yards last season. Head
coach Steve Sarkisian’s crew is on the verge of once again contending
for a championship in The Pac-12.

23. Wisconsin Badgers

The Badgers lost a ton of talent
offensively, but running back Montee Ball surprised everyone when he
decided to return to school for his senior season.  Sophomore
quarterback Joe Brennan is expected be the starter this season for The
Badgers. Like most starting quarterbacks at Wisconsin before him,
Brennan will enter the role under the radar and before you know it he
will be a household name throughout Madison. The schedule is not a tough
one so The Badgers should once again be in contention to win The Big
Ten.

24. Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans are no longer the little brother to The Michigan
Wolverines as they have beaten them four years in a row. Spartans head
coach Mark Dantonio has his team believing every season that they can
win The Big Ten Conference. The Spartans came close last season losing
to Wisconsin in The Big Ten Championship Game. The Spartans must replace
the leadership of former quarterback Kirk Cousins. Junior quarterback
Andrew Maxwell will be charged with keeping the newly formed machine in
East Lansing going. Defensively The Spartans will be led by defensive
end William Gholston. Gholston had 13 sacks last season and has the
potential to be an All-American by the time that the season is over.

25. Oklahoma State Cowboys