Football season already? When did that happen?
Anyway, it’s time to start up the BlogPoll again, with a preseason Top 25 poll to shake out the wrinkles and cobwebs and whatever else may be shaken out of a BlogPoll. I’ve honestly tried to pay attention to things leading up to the season, but it looks like this is gonna be a cram session. I get so much better when I can actually see teams play and get a feel for things other than “up-side” or “skill sets” (both terms which I will now permanently ban from my vocabulary, never to be used again) and rank logically to that. For now, I feel I have nothing to go on.
Cheating off other BlogPollers, it looks like DJL has done his homework, Brian has effectively copy-proofed his version, EDSBS has Orson-ized theirs*, and here I sit.
(*-Orsonize: To write alot, then write some more, add a picture, write some more, make me laugh, some YouTube, a little more writing, and then a Phil Fulmer joke.)
One thing I know is that alot of folks seem to be christening Ohio State #1. I could see that happening down the road, but they have some questions to answer first. Same with Notre Dame. Top 5-ish for both to start, but they need to work to climb past that.
Any-hoo… on with my guesses.. errr… rankings:
1) Auburn – They’ve got the same number of questions as the other “power” schools crowding the top 5-7 spots, but they don’t seem to be in as much bulk at key spots as the others. Making it through a tough-as-usual SEC might be a task, but coming into the year, the Tigers have as much claim as anyone to the top spot.
2) Texas – They bring alot back from their national championship team, all over the place. Unfortunately, the one spot they didn’t bring back might be the one that makes a #2 ranking look silly. But still, Vince Young’s replacement isn’t named “Simms” or “Applewhite”, the ‘Horns should be back at it in ’06, or looking toward Oklahoma if…
3) Ohio State – …the Buckeyes have anything to say about it. Replacing half their defense is one thing, replacing pretty much the entire back half is another. They say this new crop is just as talented as any in the last decade, but they only have two weeks to prove they’re ready. Ideal situation watch… OSU takes a nap at 5-0, and hears “Ay Ziggy Zoomba” in their nightmares.
4) LSU – Defense wins championships. If the rest is enough to get them by, they should be one of the best.
5) USC – Replacing a group of all-world studs isn’t easy…and they have to replace Matt Leinart, too! Regardless, the Trojan Horse seems to be in full reloading mode, and their run of (insert a not necessarily whole number of your choosing here) national championships gives them a little benefit of the doubt on whether they can fill the holes and be a Top 5 team again.
6) Miami – Show me even a little bit of offense and we’ll talk Top 5. Promise.
7) Notre Dame – Still trying to figure if some of last year’s closeness was divine intervention or a team that was coming together. They slipped by Michigan and got roughed up by Ohio State and USC. Hell, they even gave MSU one of their NCAA-mandated six, and only six, wins last year. BUT, they bring a lot back, and if the experience factor (and a few triple word scores) come around, they can prove that last year’s BCS appearance was no fluke. (Not winning a bowl game this century, however…still not a fluke.)
8) Florida – Still questioning, as athletic as Chris Leak is, if he’s the right fit for Mrs. Meyer’s Husband’s style of ball. If he is, #8 will look ridiculously low. If it’s the same ol’ song and dance in Gainesville, well, they should still be good enough to finish Top 10.
9) Michigan – Probably higher than a lot of ballots cast, but not by much, and I still have this sneaking suspicion that parts of last year were played in a parallel universe. You know, like the whole thing. Injuries, replays, more replays, Garrett Rivas and his automatic leg from 40+ going all “Choose Your Own Adventure” anytime he was within the 25, Chad Henne’s jaw throwing like a rag doll, then firing a laser beam when it mattered vs. PSU, punting, punting, punting, 47 laterals still being one too few, THE BAND IS ON THE FIELD!!!, and stocks in Ann Arbor noose factories keeping the Dow Jones Average steady all by themselves for a stretch in mid-January. I think things are much better than they appeared last year. Henne’s a better QB than that, and they have 35 capable backs ready to carry the ball, but hopefully only need Mike Hart to do the job this time. If they spent spring practice on not practicing that “only guard this half of the field late in the fourth quarter” defense, the Maize and Blue could be the surprise of the season. Know what to expect as a U-M fan… 8-4. (Bonus points to Michigan for creatively eliminating the bye week that usually falls in early November and replacing it with Ball State and Indiana. It’s like two, two, two bye weeks in one!)
10) Oklahoma – Provided Adrian Peterson can carry the load until they get a quarterback that wants to stay on the team. I think he can.
11) California – Replacing a chunk of O-line and finding a new QB isn’t pretty, but they have a stable of signal callers to choose from. Fortunately for them, the PAC-10 should be the PAC-10 again, throw up a whirlwind of points and hope you come out as one of the two decent teams from the conference. USC has one spot locked up, who’s got next?
12) Georgia – They’ve got a green offense, but one that could be special if they get it up to speed in a hurry.
13) Tennessee – Like Ohio State, they should have plenty of offense to get them by, but unlike Ohio State, their secondary’s progress isn’t so much a matter of “when?” as “how?”, with a whole lot of prayin’ and KFCin’ in between.
14) West Virginia – Studs on offense and a Big East schedule to romp through with it. Handle Louisville and 14 should be way too low for the ‘Neers.
15) Florida State – The cupboard is plenty full and fast on offense, but maybe not enough so to offset what could be a shaky defense.
16) Nebraska – Defense good. Mongo like corn.
17) Iowa – What a mystery team. Could easily win the Big 10, could also easily go Michigan-esque on the world. They’ll be interesting.
18) Louisville – All kinds of offense and the two tough tests of the schedule coming into their backyard.
19) Clemson – Young, but could be potent. Which is better than being young and impotent.
20) Arizona State – Just like Cal, but with a bit less talent all around. Could be a force in the PAC-10 race for second, or could be fighting for a bowl bid.
21) Northern Illinois – Just like Bowling Green in ’03, NIU’s roster lines up pretty well for the Big Ten preseason schedule they’ve got set up. I thought this was gonna be a “token pick”, but I’m already seeing the Huskies pop up around the BlogPoll. They should be able to give OSU a run right out of the gate, and even be in good shape for a win over Iowa. If the polling world is given that much chance to take notice early, the PR machine could be running full speed come November.
22) Virginia Tech – If they, you know, find and offense and all. The best news out of VT this offseason is that Blacksburg-area McDonald’s stores are breathing a little easier, as are the middle schools.
23) Georgia Tech – Just picking teams off other polls right now.
24) Penn State – Don’t think they’ll match the surprise of last year, but they won’t be bad enough to question JoePa’s sanity. Wha? They’re doing that anyway? Okay then. A vicious road schedule isn’t doing the hole-plugging any favors, especially when the two biggest come very, very early.
25) Michigan State – They bring a whole lot back including 30th-year quarterback Drew Stanton. October 7 at Michigan is the only real road test, depending on how Penn State shakes out.