Houston Jag Fan
09-01-2007, 06:43 PM
Here is a look at my top 25 college football teams heading into the 2007 college football season. Aside their name is their record from last year which does not directly effect were they are in the rankings but rather what does is who they have returning to play this upcoming season. All these teams I have listed I feel will have very good seasons but the only way we can find out is to wait and see. Don't get me wrong their are a lot of other teams that could have and should have been in my top 25 but they are just on the outside looking in and will have to prove it.
1. USC (11-2): Led by heisman candidate quarterback John David Booty, the best backfield in the nation and a stifling defense I have no reason to think that USC wont be number one at seasons start to seasons end.
2. West Virginia (11-2): With the return of quarterback Patrick White and running back Steve Slaton this offense is going to have a lot of fire power to it and could very well be in the National Championship hunt.
3. Michigan (11-2): The Wolverines are looking to avenge their Rose Bowl loss to Southern California and with the return of quarterback Chad Henne, running back Mike Hart, wide receiver Mario Manningham and a stellar defense Michigan should be near the top.
4. Florida (13-1): Florida went 13-1 last year under quarterback Chris Leak and many other talented players no longer their but with talented playmaking sophomores Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin the Gators should not fall to far from last year.
5. Wisconsin (12-1): The Badgers will go far behind sophomore sensation running back P. J Hill and a stellar defense, they have a outside chance of going undefeated but quarterback Tyler Donovan must get a solid rhythm with the offense first.
6. Texas (10-3): Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy will try and carry Texas on his back, they will need a huge season from him and a win to start, just watch they will go far this year.
7. LSU (11-2): Loosing quarterback JaMarcus Russell, receiver Dwayne Bowe and star safety LaRon Landry is not easy to over come but the Tigers still have a tremendous amount of talent starting with a stellar defense led by defensive linemen Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey.
8. Louisville (12-1): Louisville returns a strong offensive group led by quarterback Brian Brohm and if they can get past West Virginia on November 8th they could be on their way to a undefeated season.
9. California (10-3): California will give Southern Cal a run for their money with a talented offense starting with heisman candidate wide receiver DeSean Jackson and a strong running game.
10. Arkansas (10-4): The Razorbacks will go as far as All American running back Darren McFadden can take them, look for them to reach a bowl and challenge for the SEC title.
11. Virginia Tech (10-3): Led by a strong defense with the likes of linebackers Vince Hall, Xavier Adibi and corner Brandon Flowers this wont be a easy defense to get past. On the field and off the field the Hokies will dedicate this season to those lost in the sad shooting tragedy last April.
12. Penn State (9-4): Competing with Wisconsin and Michigan wont be easy but with a well balanced team along with all American linebacker Dan Connor on defense the Nittany Lions will be no push over.
13. Oklahoma (11-3): With the losses of quarterback Paul Thompson and All American running back Adrian Peterson their are no guarantees Oklahoma will match their 11-3 record from last year but a easy schedule and a stifling defense is definitely something to watch.
14. Auburn (11-2): Another year, another great Auburn running back, another Auburn running back gone and another one coming, gone is Kenny Irons, taking his place in a long line of great Tiger running backs Brad Lester, expect Auburn to contend for the Sec title in what should be a photo finish.
15. Ohio State (12-1): Ohio State lost four of their best skill players and will have new starters at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver, it will be a rebuilding year for the offense so expect the Buckeyes to lean heavily on their defense.
16. UCLA (7-6): UCLA pulled the upset of the year 13-9 over USC last year, expect a strong running game and smashing defense to keep these Bruins in the Pac-10 race all season long.
17. Rutgers (11-2): Rutgers after a incredible 11 win season last year returns a solid core of players including quarterback Mike Teel and All American running back Ray Rice, expect to see another out standing season for the Scarlet Knights.
18. Boise State (13-0): The Cinderella story of football last year, Boise State went undefeated with a 13-0 record that included a thrilling 43-42 victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta bowl. With the loss of quarterback Jared Zabransky don't expect the Broncos to go undefeated but they wont be easy.
19. Nebraska (9-5): The Cornhuskers have a talented offense and defense returning but trying to match a 9-5 record from last year wont be easy with opponents like USC, Wake Forest, Texas, and Missouri, look for Nebraska to lean on the arm of senior quarterback Sam Keller.
20. Georgia (9-4): The Bulldogs will go as far as young sophomore quarterback Matthew Stafford can take them and they must find away to put their opponents away.
21. Missouri (8-5): The Tigers led by a strong pass game will be their every step of the way to contend for the Big 12 North title, Look for Missouri to make it to another bowl game and avenge last years heart breaking Sun Bowl loss to Oregon State.
22. Hawaii (11-3): Led by record setting All American quarterback Colt Brennan the Warriors should be in contention for the Wac title the whole season but must find a way to defeat Boise State this year.
23. TCU (11-2): After going 11-2 last year and destroying Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl 37-7 the Horned Frogs have the expectations of another strong season and will try to take home the Mountain West title, new starting quarterback Marcus Jackson must find away to lead TCU past Texas and BYU if they want any shot at the Mountain West title.
24. Florida State (7-6): Florida State is the dark horse of the NCAA, no one expects them to finish first in the ACC but with the return of legendary and now almost 80 year old coach Bobby Bowden,a experienced quarterback in Drew Weatherford and a solid defense look for the Seminoles to be near the top.
25. Clemson (8-5): Junior quarterback Cullen Harper will have to replace Will Proctor but luckily has a outstanding running back in James Davis, the team has a lot of talent and will challenge for the ACC title but must find ways to replace a lot of talent that included defensive linemen Gaines Adams who was taken in the NFL Draft.
Written by Michael Phillips
(Note) I wrote like 3 weeks before the college season then decided to post them. Please let me know what you think, this is just all my opinion of who will finish first through twenty five
1. USC (11-2): Led by heisman candidate quarterback John David Booty, the best backfield in the nation and a stifling defense I have no reason to think that USC wont be number one at seasons start to seasons end.
2. West Virginia (11-2): With the return of quarterback Patrick White and running back Steve Slaton this offense is going to have a lot of fire power to it and could very well be in the National Championship hunt.
3. Michigan (11-2): The Wolverines are looking to avenge their Rose Bowl loss to Southern California and with the return of quarterback Chad Henne, running back Mike Hart, wide receiver Mario Manningham and a stellar defense Michigan should be near the top.
4. Florida (13-1): Florida went 13-1 last year under quarterback Chris Leak and many other talented players no longer their but with talented playmaking sophomores Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin the Gators should not fall to far from last year.
5. Wisconsin (12-1): The Badgers will go far behind sophomore sensation running back P. J Hill and a stellar defense, they have a outside chance of going undefeated but quarterback Tyler Donovan must get a solid rhythm with the offense first.
6. Texas (10-3): Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy will try and carry Texas on his back, they will need a huge season from him and a win to start, just watch they will go far this year.
7. LSU (11-2): Loosing quarterback JaMarcus Russell, receiver Dwayne Bowe and star safety LaRon Landry is not easy to over come but the Tigers still have a tremendous amount of talent starting with a stellar defense led by defensive linemen Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey.
8. Louisville (12-1): Louisville returns a strong offensive group led by quarterback Brian Brohm and if they can get past West Virginia on November 8th they could be on their way to a undefeated season.
9. California (10-3): California will give Southern Cal a run for their money with a talented offense starting with heisman candidate wide receiver DeSean Jackson and a strong running game.
10. Arkansas (10-4): The Razorbacks will go as far as All American running back Darren McFadden can take them, look for them to reach a bowl and challenge for the SEC title.
11. Virginia Tech (10-3): Led by a strong defense with the likes of linebackers Vince Hall, Xavier Adibi and corner Brandon Flowers this wont be a easy defense to get past. On the field and off the field the Hokies will dedicate this season to those lost in the sad shooting tragedy last April.
12. Penn State (9-4): Competing with Wisconsin and Michigan wont be easy but with a well balanced team along with all American linebacker Dan Connor on defense the Nittany Lions will be no push over.
13. Oklahoma (11-3): With the losses of quarterback Paul Thompson and All American running back Adrian Peterson their are no guarantees Oklahoma will match their 11-3 record from last year but a easy schedule and a stifling defense is definitely something to watch.
14. Auburn (11-2): Another year, another great Auburn running back, another Auburn running back gone and another one coming, gone is Kenny Irons, taking his place in a long line of great Tiger running backs Brad Lester, expect Auburn to contend for the Sec title in what should be a photo finish.
15. Ohio State (12-1): Ohio State lost four of their best skill players and will have new starters at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver, it will be a rebuilding year for the offense so expect the Buckeyes to lean heavily on their defense.
16. UCLA (7-6): UCLA pulled the upset of the year 13-9 over USC last year, expect a strong running game and smashing defense to keep these Bruins in the Pac-10 race all season long.
17. Rutgers (11-2): Rutgers after a incredible 11 win season last year returns a solid core of players including quarterback Mike Teel and All American running back Ray Rice, expect to see another out standing season for the Scarlet Knights.
18. Boise State (13-0): The Cinderella story of football last year, Boise State went undefeated with a 13-0 record that included a thrilling 43-42 victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta bowl. With the loss of quarterback Jared Zabransky don't expect the Broncos to go undefeated but they wont be easy.
19. Nebraska (9-5): The Cornhuskers have a talented offense and defense returning but trying to match a 9-5 record from last year wont be easy with opponents like USC, Wake Forest, Texas, and Missouri, look for Nebraska to lean on the arm of senior quarterback Sam Keller.
20. Georgia (9-4): The Bulldogs will go as far as young sophomore quarterback Matthew Stafford can take them and they must find away to put their opponents away.
21. Missouri (8-5): The Tigers led by a strong pass game will be their every step of the way to contend for the Big 12 North title, Look for Missouri to make it to another bowl game and avenge last years heart breaking Sun Bowl loss to Oregon State.
22. Hawaii (11-3): Led by record setting All American quarterback Colt Brennan the Warriors should be in contention for the Wac title the whole season but must find a way to defeat Boise State this year.
23. TCU (11-2): After going 11-2 last year and destroying Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl 37-7 the Horned Frogs have the expectations of another strong season and will try to take home the Mountain West title, new starting quarterback Marcus Jackson must find away to lead TCU past Texas and BYU if they want any shot at the Mountain West title.
24. Florida State (7-6): Florida State is the dark horse of the NCAA, no one expects them to finish first in the ACC but with the return of legendary and now almost 80 year old coach Bobby Bowden,a experienced quarterback in Drew Weatherford and a solid defense look for the Seminoles to be near the top.
25. Clemson (8-5): Junior quarterback Cullen Harper will have to replace Will Proctor but luckily has a outstanding running back in James Davis, the team has a lot of talent and will challenge for the ACC title but must find ways to replace a lot of talent that included defensive linemen Gaines Adams who was taken in the NFL Draft.
Written by Michael Phillips
(Note) I wrote like 3 weeks before the college season then decided to post them. Please let me know what you think, this is just all my opinion of who will finish first through twenty five