The 2006-2007 is barely over and… well, here we go again. Here’s my attempt at the 2007 Pre-Pre Season College Football Top 25:
1) Florida
Whatever will Urban Meyer without Chris Leak? A lot, I suspect. If you’re not sick of hearing about TE-BOW by now, you will be by the time the Gators run through the SEC. The Gators get four of their starting offensive lineman back to give Tebow time to run the Meyer spread attack. The Gators have to fill some holes on defense, but the schedule should give the Gators some help this year – Tennessee, Auburn, and FSU are all home games. In fact, UF only plays four away games (plus the Georgia game in Jax).
2) USC
The Trojans look to have ten starters back on defense and a Heisman-caliber QB in John David Booty. Despite the projected loss of all-everything WR Dwayne Jarrett, USC has plenty of depth ready to take the field on offense, too. Since Pete Carroll started working his magic in LaLa Land, the Trojans have been chock full of potential All-Americans just riding the pine. Carroll will roll them out and run through the Pac10 – again.
3) West Virginia
The Mountaineers have a soft OOC schedule (Ball State, Marshall, Mississippi State, Maryland and ECU) and lots of talent coming back. QB Pat White and RB Steve Slaton will be back to lead the offense. The road to the BCS still runs through Morgantown for the Big East and the ‘Eers will be stocked up on couches.
4) Texas
Mack Brown has sowed, so now he intends to reap. QB Colt McCoy is back as a sophomore with Limas Sweed, Quan Cosby and company to throw to, so he should better his his 29 freshman TDs. Texas just hired Larry Mac Duff as Defensive Coordinator, which means the Longhorns LBs and secondary should improve. UT has class upon class of top recruits to draw on – which is why Texas is the class of the Big XII.
5) Virginia Tech
The Hokies have some questions to answer at QB after the Chick-fil-A Bowl “performance” of Sean Glennon. There’s some depth there, so VaTech should be OK. You’ve still got Brandon Ore and 7 or 8 guys that can catch the ball. VPI had one of the stingiest defenses in the country and should be fine on that side of the ball. The ACC is up for grabs if VaTech wants it.
6) Wisconsin
Another top team with a QB to replace, but it’s easy at Wisconsin: hand the ball to Heisman candidate P.J. Hill and get out of the way. The Badgers draw the short straw on scheduling. Wisconsin gets Michigan at home and Ohio State on the road – back to back. The good news? If the Badgers run the gauntlet, they should be looking at a BCS bowl.
7) Michigan
Forget the egg the Wolverines laid in the Rose Bowl, Michigan will be one of the best teams in the country. QB Chad Henne is back for his fiftieth season and he’s got Mike Hart back. The defense has some holes to fill, especially in the middle of the line with DT Alan Branch leaving early. As long as Michigan forgets the Rose Bowl, they’ll be just fine in 2007.
8) Nebraska
The Cornhuskers finished flat but showed some sparks of NU glory this year. The Huskers get Arizona State QB transfer Sam Keller eligible this year and that should mean more firepower for Nebraska. The road to the BCS is there for the taking in the Big XII and the Huskers have a clear path to the conference title game.
9) Ohio State
All the Buckeyes really need on offense is a QB to replace Troy Smith. The defense (which suffered this year against top competition) returns mostly intact with a full season under their belts. Mr. Sweatervest has gotten a lot of game experience for his returning players and the Buckeyes will be tough to beat in the Big10.
10) Arkansas
Heisman favorite Darren McFadden is back to lead the Hogs. Houston Nutt needs to diversify the offense to be successful, and to quiet QB Mitch Mustain’s family. Arkansas has road games at LSU and Tennessee, but – more than the schedule – replacing SEC sack leader Jamaal Anderson and CB Chris Houston are huge priorities for the Hogs.
11) LSU
12) Oklahoma
13) Auburn
14) Rutgers
15) Tennessee
16) Florida State
17) TCU
18) Georgia
19) Clemson
20) Alabama
21) BYU
22) Oklahoma State
23) Wake Forest
24) Arizona
25) Maryland
TrojanWire 
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