Way-Too-Early 2013 Preseason Top 25

While we’re savoring Monday night’s mega-matchup between Notre Dame and Alabama for the BCS national title like everyone else, we also have an eye on next season. And surprise, we have ‘Bama as the top-ranked team in the country to start 2013.

Right behind the Tide is an Ohio State program antsy to contend for a national title again. Despite finishing last year 12-0, the Buckeyes missed out on postseason play of any kind due to an NCAA-imposed bowl ban. Could we have a Nick Saban vs. Urban Meyer showdown in Pasadena next January?

We shall see…

2013 College Football Preseason Top 25
	RK	2012 Rec.	Current RK	COMMENT
	1	12-1	2	Tired of the Tide yet? Well, unless Nick Saban leaves for the NFL, another BCS national title game is likely. The offensive and defensive lines lose a lot but QB AJ McCarron, RB T.J. Yeldon and WR Amari Cooper will keep the offense humming and the defense should reload as usual.
	2	12-0	NR	It was in Urban Meyer’s second year at Florida that the Gators won it all. Can he pull off the same feat at Ohio State? The dangerous combo of QB Braxton Miller and RB Carlos Hyde on offense and a defense that significantly improved during 2012 makes it a very real possibility.
	3	12-1	4	QB Marcus Mariota, RB De’Anthony Thomas and most of the Ducks’ offensive line is back, so scoring won’t be a problem. And the defense is talented despite losing DE Dion Jordan and LB Michael Clay. Now with Chip Kelly returning to Eugene, the big question is: Will the Ducks be bowl eligible with NCAA sanctions looming?
	4	12-0	1	The Irish will try to replicate the magic of 2012 without LB Manti Te’o, TE Tyler Eifert and RB Theo Riddick. But QB Everett Golson will continue to improve, the defense is in good hands and the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation will fill the talent cupboard back up.
	5	12-2	6	QB Kevin Hogan will have the luxury of developing even further behind a stout offensive line, although he needs a new workhorse running back with Stepfan Taylor gone. The defense returns almost entirely intact and could help the Cardinal bust through to the BCS title game.
	6	11-2	21	QB Teddy Bridgewater took a major step forward in 2012 and his MVP performance in the Sugar Bowl makes him a Heisman candidate in 2013. Coach Charlie Strong’s decision to stay with the Cardinals instead of bolting for elsewhere makes this a program on the up-and-up with tons of returning starters.
	7	11-2	3	Can the Gators offense catch up with their game-changing, stingy defense? A Top 5 recruiting class can only help. QB Jeff Driskel was accurate (64.8% completion) in his first year starting, but he needs to be more of a playmaker and less a game manager. The “D” loses a lot but is still oozing talent.
	8	11-2	9	The pressure will be on Johnny Manziel to duplicate (if not exceed) his Heisman heroics – no easy feat considering how everyone will be gunning for him, he lost his OC (Kliff Kingsbury) to Texas Tech, should lose OT Luke Joeckel to the NFL and the defense loses a lot of key players. Then again, don’t doubt Johnny Football.
	9	12-2	7	We’ve heard about how many members of the Georgia defense were bound to play on Sundays, and almost all of them are headed there. But star QB Aaron Murray is back in Athens for one more year. His return gives the Bulldogs one of the best offenses in the nation with “Gurshall” in the backfield and a monster offensive line.
	10	11-2	10	While it’ll be important for RBs Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds to try and replace Marcus Lattimore, the offense will really be about QB Connor Shaw and WRs Bruce Ellington, Ace Sanders and Damiere Byrd. One-man wrecking crew Jadeveon Clowney paces a defense that should be strong again.
	11	11-2	14	If QB Tajh Boyd (36 passing TDs in 2012) and WR DeAndre Hopkins leave for the NFL, the Tigers fall way down this list. If they stay? The duo will combine with WR Sammy Watkins for an offense that should pick up where it left off and rampage its way through the ACC.
	12	12-2	12	Jimbo Fisher is starting to reel in some perennially impressive recruiting classes in Tallahassee, which should help ease the burden of losing QB E.J. Manuel and star DE Bjoern Werner. The defense should be elite again, but only if a streaky offense can be more consistent will the ‘Noles finally be back to competing for national titles.
	13	10-3	8	Emerging QB Zach Mettenberger and a solid group of running backs give Les Miles one of his finest offenses in Baton Rouge. But the defense has already been crushed by early defections with DEs Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, DT Bennie Logan, LB Kevin Minter, S Eric Reid and CB Tharold Simon all off to the draft.
	14	10-3	11	The return of four offensive linemen should ease the transition of QB Blake Bell from “Belldozer” to all-around signal-caller, as should capable RB Damien Williams. Retention is not as strong on the other side of the ball, where four departing seniors in the defensive line rotation need replacing.
	15	9-4	13	The Beavers lose only 15 members of a team that surprised everyone with a 9–4 campaign in 2012. Four returning starters on the offensive line will make life comfortable for whichever QB gets the starting nod, Sean Mannion or Cody Vaz. Wonderfully-named RB Storm Woods is also back after rushing for 13 TDs as a frosh.
	16	9-4	23	David Ash’s up-and-down 2012 season ended on a nice high note with a comeback victory over Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl. With all five O-linemen back, can Ash mature even more as a passer? The defense has holes to patch up after being gashed repeatedly in 2012.
	17	8-5	18	QB Devin Gardner is nowhere near the home run threat that Denard Robinson was, but he proved to be a significantly better passer toward the end of 2012. Now the Wolverines just need to find a running game without “Shoelace.” UM’s defense will again be among the Big Ten’s stoutest.
	18	10-3	20	Is this the year the Wildcats make a run for Pasadena? Northwestern had a fabulous 10-win season and returns almost its entire offense, including QBs Trevor Siemian and Kain Colter and RB Venric Mark. The outlook looks positively Rosy in Evanston.
	19	9-5	17	With the departure of Johnathan Franklin, a new RB must step up in support of rising star QB Brett Hundley in his sophomore season. Coach Jim L. Mora must also address a defense that had trouble making stops in the Bruins’ biggest games in 2012 and was crushed by Baylor in the Holiday Bowl.
	20	8-5	NR	The Pokes had three different starters at QB in 2012 yet still managed to finish seventh in the FBS in passing offense (331.7 YPG), and RB Joseph Randle should be back after rushing for over 1,400 yards. But only if a defense that allowed 47.2 PPG in OSU’s five losses improves can OSU get back to a BCS bowl.
	21	8-5	NR	The Sun Devils have stars on both sides of the ball in QB Taylor Kelly (29 passing TDs) and DT Will Sutton (Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year). Can ASU avoid the mid-season snide that torpedoed its 2012 season after it went 5–1 at the outset before dropping four straight?
	22	8-6	NR	With record-breaking RB Montee Ball gone, it’s up to speedsters James White and Melvin Gordon to keep the Badgers’ run game chugging along. If he stays healthy, QB Joel Stave should solidify a position that was a bugaboo for Wisconsin in 2012. But a fourth straight Rose Bowl appears to be a reach.
	23	11-2	19	“Rebuilding year” in Boise means an 11–2 record and a share of the MWC title. QB Joe Southwick will improve in his second year as the starter, and the underappreciated defense will be solid again. Most important is that the Broncos retained head coach Chris Petersen.
	24	10-4	16	QB Taylor Martinez’s improvement as a passer will have him in the early Heisman discussion in 2013 and the Huskers offense humming. But HC Bo Pelini has to do something about a defense that got beat up in Nebraska’s four losses, allowing an average of 53.5 points to UCLA, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Georgia.
	25	7-6	NR	This team is too talented not to be ranked, as USC tries to erase the memories of 2012. A new defensive coordinator and a top-notch recruiting class will help. Without QB Matt Barkley, RB Curtis McNeal and WR Robert Woods, the Trojans will only go as far as QB Max Wittek, WR Marqise Lee and an improved “D” take them.