Rivals.com 2008 Preseason Rankings

[Adidas410s]

1. USC (11-2)
Putting USC at the top is a safe pick because the Trojans annually win their conference, earn a BCS bid and play their best at the end of the season.
2. Georgia (11-2)
Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno will give the Bulldogs one of the nation's top quarterback/tailback duos.
3. Ohio State (11-2)
The Buckeyes' title hopes could depend on whether potential first-round picks Vernon Gholston, James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins stay in school.
4. Oklahoma (11-3)
Quarterback Sam Bradford will try to build on his outstanding freshman campaign while leading a team that could return as many as 17 starters.
5. Missouri (12-2)
The Tigers should return three 2007 Rivals.com All-America selections in quarterback Chase Daniel, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and free safety William Moore.
6. Florida (9-4)
You know that offense will rack up some points, but the Gators' defense must get a whole lot better.
7. West Virginia (11-2)
The Mountaineers hope the expected returns of Pat White, Steve Slaton and Noel Devine on offense will compensate for heavy graduation losses on defense.
8. LSU (12-2)
The Tigers lose tons of talent on both sides of the ball, but they have plenty of former four- and five-star prospects ready to replace them.
9. Auburn (9-4)
Auburn's biggest losses are on the sideline, as they must adjust to a new offense and find a replacement for departed defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.
10. Clemson (9-4)
With so much talent back on offense and defense, the Tigers can't come up short in a big situation again. Can they?
11. Kansas (12-1)
The Jayhawks could be even stronger than they were this season. They'll need to be better now that they no longer avoid Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech.
12. BYU (11-2)
If the Cougars beat Washington and UCLA in September, they might not lose all season.
13. Virginia Tech (11-3)
The Hokies' hopes of contending for anything beyond an ACC title rest on whether cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Victor Harris return to school.
14. Texas (10-3)
The Longhorns are banking on Will Muschamp's arrival to boost a defense that struggled up until its bowl game this season.
15. Wisconsin (9-4)
The Badgers have a big question mark at quarterback, but they look solid just about everywhere else.
16. Illinois (9-4)
Rashard Mendenhall's decision to enter the NFL Draft will make it tougher for the Illini to prove they're not just a one-season wonder.
17. Texas Tech (9-4)
The Harrell-to-Crabtree combination will give Big 12 defensive coordinators plenty of sleepless nights next season.
18. Oregon (9-4)
The Sun Bowl proved how dangerous this team can be if it gets consistency from its quarterback, but the Ducks must go on the road to face USC, California, Arizona State and Oregon State.
19. Arizona State (10-3)
Rudy Carpenter returns to work behind a retooled line that has to do a better job of protecting him.
20. Penn State (9-4)
The last time Penn State had a quarterback as run-oriented as Daryll Clark, Michael Robinson led the Nittany Lions to an Orange Bowl title.
21. Tennessee (10-4)
Uncertainty at quarterback and offensive coordinator prevents us from ranking the Vols any higher.
22. USF (9-4)
The offense should be better than this season's, but the Bulls will have a tough time replacing cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams.
23. Michigan (9-4)
The Wolverines could have some growing pains as they adjust to new coach Rich Rodriguez and his spread offense.
24. South Carolina (6-6)
This is a leap of faith considering how the Gamecocks ended 2007, but we're guessing South Carolina should have one of the nation's most improved teams.
25. Wake Forest (9-4)
Jim Grobe's decision not to go to Arkansas assures that Wake Forest once again will have the coaching edge in just about every game it plays next fall.

[NastySlot]

keep and eye on tech.........i believe they should be ranked ahead of texas early..they both have the same situation on D....but tech's offense is a lot better then texas.

[NastySlot]

wow..i just notice where kansas was ranked........way to high...but it is early and i guess until they lose to oklahoma and tech......they can hold that spot...........they could also lose to texas.

[Hill Man]

TTech is returning 10 of 11 starters on offense.. lock and reload..
If the defense can improve at any measure then they will legitamtly challenge for the big 12 title for the first time. They get UT and OKS at home and do not have Mizzou on the schedule..
however they get Kansas and OK on the road...

[RMAC]

Originally posted by Hill Man
TTech is returning 10 of 11 starters on offense.. lock and reload..
If the defense can improve at any measure then they will legitamtly challenge for the big 12 title for the first time. They get UT and OKS at home and do not have Mizzou on the schedule..
however they get Kansas and OK on the road...

Best case we go 11-1, losing to BlowU. Worst we go 8-4 again, which is still a respectable season. But like it or not, all roads to the Big XII to through Norman and Satan's son, Bob Stoops. Next year will probably be our best for the next few. After Harrell graduates, Crabtree will be off to the show as he'll be 3 year removed, and why not just leave w/ the 3 year starter at QB.

[eagles_victory]

Mark May picked Texas number 3 last night. But if Quan leaves along with Jermicheal and Jamall it could be a long year.

Im not sold on Tech very much this team had a problem with consistency and had a couple bad losses including one at home to Colorado. Kansas is going to get rocked by having to play UT OU and Tech next year.

[NastySlot]

Originally posted by eagles_victory
Mark May picked Texas number 3 last night. But if Quan leaves along with Jermicheal and Jamall it could be a long year.

Im not sold on Tech very much this team had a problem with consistency and had a couple bad losses including one at home to Colorado. Kansas is going to get rocked by having to play UT OU and Tech next year.

the consistency thing can be said for almost all the teams in the conference....this would be a good reason why I think the big xii is overrated.

[Phil C]

I've heard some polls have Notre Dame no. 1. Either way you have to take this with a grain of salt because you won't know until a couple of years from now. A lot of things can happen such as injuries, not able to keep grades up, attrition, transfers, etc.

[Emerson1]

Originally posted by Phil C
I've heard some polls have Notre Dame no. 1. Either way you have to take this with a grain of salt because you won't know until a couple of years from now. A lot of things can happen such as injuries, not able to keep grades up, attrition, transfers, etc.

This is actual team rankings, not the recruiting class for this year.

[Phil C]

Originally posted by Emerson1
This is actual team rankings, not the recruiting class for this year.

Oops!

[sahen]

darn no baylor...we suck again...ha

[crzyjournalist03]

Originally posted by sahen
darn no baylor...we suck again...ha

Baylor will be lucky to win more than one conference game next year I'm afraid.

[sahen]

Originally posted by crzyjournalist03
Baylor will be lucky to win more than one conference game next year I'm afraid.

we will be lucky to win more than one game period...haha...w/ a nonconference schedule that looks like wake forest, northwestern state (our only win prolly), at uconn, and washington state...im hoping we find some way to go 2-2 in nonconference cause come big 12 time w/ a new coach it is prolly gonna be ugly...