kepdawg
01-08-2010, 06:30 PM
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Boise State Broncos
4. Oregon Ducks
5. Texas Longhorns
After losing to Alabama in the Citi BCS National Championship Game, the Longhorns will undergo a renovation of sorts in 2010. But few programs are as equipped as Texas to reload from year to year. Replacing quarterback Colt McCoy will be Texas' primary concern. Freshman Garrett Gilbert assumed control of the Longhorns' offense much earlier than expected after McCoy was forced to the sideline with an injury. He'll be the favorite to start at quarterback. Receiver Jordan Shipley and three starters on the offensive line will also have to be replaced. Three starters are leaving on defense, including end Sergio Kindle and tackle Lamarr Houston. All-America safety Earl Thomas could also turn pro. The Longhorns play three of their four nonconference games at home, including a Sept. 25 contest against UCLA, and play Big 12 rivals Oklahoma State and Texas A&M in Austin.
6. Virginia Tech Hokies
7. TCU Horned Frogs
TCU's loss to Boise State prevented it from finishing undefeated, but the Horned Frogs should be in position to make a run at another BCS bowl game in 2010. The Horned Frogs lose only two starters on offense: left tackle Marshall Newhouse and tailback Joseph Turner. Seven starters are coming back on defense, but defensive end Jerry Hughes, linebacker Daryl Washington and cornerbacks Nick Sanders and Rafael Priest are big losses. TCU is expected to open its season at Dallas Cowboys Stadium against Oregon State on Sept. 4. The Horned Frogs also have a home game against Baylor and a road game at SMU in their nonconference schedule.
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers
After the Cornhuskers blasted Arizona 33-0 in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, coach Bo Pelini announced, "Nebraska's back and we're here to stay." Pelini might be right. The Black Shirt defense is definitely back, but Nebraska's offense will have to get better if it's going to contend for a Big 12 championship in 2010. All-America defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will be sorely missed, along with four other starters on defense. Center Jacob Hickman is the only offensive starter leaving. The Cornhuskers play nonconference games against Western Kentucky, Idaho and FCS foe South Dakota State at home and play Washington on the road. They play Big 12 games at Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, but play Texas, Missouri and Kansas in Lincoln, Neb.
9. Iowa Hawkeyes
10. Wisconsin Badgers
11. Florida Gators
12. Oklahoma Sooners
If there was anything good to come out of Oklahoma's nightmarish 8-5 season in 2009, it was that several younger players had prominent positions replacing injured stars. Oklahoma's offense will be more equipped for success in 2010 with quarterback Landry Jones taking most of the snaps in 2009. The running game will be solid if junior DeMarco Murray doesn't declare for the NFL draft. If Murray comes back, Oklahoma will return seven offensive starters. But offensive tackle Trent Williams and guard Brian Simmons will be key losses. The losses on defense will be heavy. All-America tackle Gerald McCoy and cornerback Dominique Franks have already declared for the NFL draft, and end Jeremy Beal and linebacker Travis Lewis are considering doing the same. If they leave, Oklahoma would have to replace as many as eight starters on defense.
13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
14. Cincinnati Bearcats
15. Pittsburgh Panthers
16. Arkansas Razorbacks
17. Miami Hurricanes
18. LSU Tigers
19. Penn State Nittany Lions
20. Southern California Trojans
21. Florida State Seminoles
22. Oregon State Beavers
23. Georgia Bulldogs
24. Stanford Cardinal
25. Navy Midshipmen
LINK (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=4804655)
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Boise State Broncos
4. Oregon Ducks
5. Texas Longhorns
After losing to Alabama in the Citi BCS National Championship Game, the Longhorns will undergo a renovation of sorts in 2010. But few programs are as equipped as Texas to reload from year to year. Replacing quarterback Colt McCoy will be Texas' primary concern. Freshman Garrett Gilbert assumed control of the Longhorns' offense much earlier than expected after McCoy was forced to the sideline with an injury. He'll be the favorite to start at quarterback. Receiver Jordan Shipley and three starters on the offensive line will also have to be replaced. Three starters are leaving on defense, including end Sergio Kindle and tackle Lamarr Houston. All-America safety Earl Thomas could also turn pro. The Longhorns play three of their four nonconference games at home, including a Sept. 25 contest against UCLA, and play Big 12 rivals Oklahoma State and Texas A&M in Austin.
6. Virginia Tech Hokies
7. TCU Horned Frogs
TCU's loss to Boise State prevented it from finishing undefeated, but the Horned Frogs should be in position to make a run at another BCS bowl game in 2010. The Horned Frogs lose only two starters on offense: left tackle Marshall Newhouse and tailback Joseph Turner. Seven starters are coming back on defense, but defensive end Jerry Hughes, linebacker Daryl Washington and cornerbacks Nick Sanders and Rafael Priest are big losses. TCU is expected to open its season at Dallas Cowboys Stadium against Oregon State on Sept. 4. The Horned Frogs also have a home game against Baylor and a road game at SMU in their nonconference schedule.
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers
After the Cornhuskers blasted Arizona 33-0 in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, coach Bo Pelini announced, "Nebraska's back and we're here to stay." Pelini might be right. The Black Shirt defense is definitely back, but Nebraska's offense will have to get better if it's going to contend for a Big 12 championship in 2010. All-America defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will be sorely missed, along with four other starters on defense. Center Jacob Hickman is the only offensive starter leaving. The Cornhuskers play nonconference games against Western Kentucky, Idaho and FCS foe South Dakota State at home and play Washington on the road. They play Big 12 games at Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, but play Texas, Missouri and Kansas in Lincoln, Neb.
9. Iowa Hawkeyes
10. Wisconsin Badgers
11. Florida Gators
12. Oklahoma Sooners
If there was anything good to come out of Oklahoma's nightmarish 8-5 season in 2009, it was that several younger players had prominent positions replacing injured stars. Oklahoma's offense will be more equipped for success in 2010 with quarterback Landry Jones taking most of the snaps in 2009. The running game will be solid if junior DeMarco Murray doesn't declare for the NFL draft. If Murray comes back, Oklahoma will return seven offensive starters. But offensive tackle Trent Williams and guard Brian Simmons will be key losses. The losses on defense will be heavy. All-America tackle Gerald McCoy and cornerback Dominique Franks have already declared for the NFL draft, and end Jeremy Beal and linebacker Travis Lewis are considering doing the same. If they leave, Oklahoma would have to replace as many as eight starters on defense.
13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
14. Cincinnati Bearcats
15. Pittsburgh Panthers
16. Arkansas Razorbacks
17. Miami Hurricanes
18. LSU Tigers
19. Penn State Nittany Lions
20. Southern California Trojans
21. Florida State Seminoles
22. Oregon State Beavers
23. Georgia Bulldogs
24. Stanford Cardinal
25. Navy Midshipmen
LINK (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=4804655)