This may be Jim Tressel’s best team, and the Big Ten schedule is very favorable.  Of course there’s a trip to Austin in Week 2 that will likely make or break the Buckeyes’ national title hopes. 

1. Auburn 

Tommy Tubberville's 2006 team is stacked with plenty of talented returning starters. Brandon Cox will improve on his 15 TDs to eight INTs from last season and the tag-teaming combination of Kenny Irons and Brad Lester will be a deadly combination for opposing defenses when the inexperienced WRs can't pull their weight.  Last year's defense allowed just over 300 yards per game and 15.5 points.  With six studs returning and a very favorable schedule (away games at Mississippi State, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama), things should be looking great for the Tigers.  There are places where Auburn can get tripped up, especially if the offense struggles a bit against the likes of Arkansas or Georgia.  Look for a big statement win against Florida to propel the Tigers into the national title game on Jan. 8. 

1. Notre Dame

This year’s Irish team should be great.  Led by Heisman Trophy candidate, Brady Quinn, Notre Dame is an even greater threat in 2006.  The Irish lost Maurice Stovall (1,149 yards, 11 TDs) but have All-American senior Jeff Samardzija.  There are some concerns on the defensive side of the ball, but the biggest concern is the tough schedule.  That might prevent the Irish from a return to the Fiesta Bowl.  Notre Dame visits USC Nov. 25 in what will be a rematch of a thrilling game last season. 

Can this team actually be as good as the Matt Leinart-led juggernaut?  All signs point to … yes?  The Trojans are probably the country’s most talented team albeit untested in a lot of areas.  Three weeks in November are critical with consecutive dates featuring Oregon, Cal and Notre Dame.  At least those games are all at the Coliseum. 

2. Iowa 

The Hawkeyes have 14 starters returning that are evenly spread across the offense and defense. Behind the experience of QB Drew Tate, Iowa appear destined for greatness this season.  He's cool, calm, and collected in on the field and will lead his troops well during battle. However, there is one potential issue: scheduling.  Iowa lacks a bye week.  This could be a problem if injuries pile up from the tough Big Ten schedule with a road games at Michigan and a home date with Ohio State.  (Penn State is not on this year's schedule.)  Winning one of those two road games will be key if Hawkeyes want to win the Big Ten but I think they will win both of them and then play for the national title. 

2. Ohio State

The Buckeyes have two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates in QB Troy Smith and Ted Ginn. Jr.  Coach Jim Tressel is challenged with a team that will have to outscore opponents instead of simply shutting them down.  The biggest test will come early as OSU travels to Texas in a rematch of last year. Regardless of the outcome, the Buckeyes should be playing for the National Championship. 

They say defense wins championships, and the Hurricanes are obviously hoping that’s true.  Miami has the nation’s premier defense, but the offensive line is relatively weak when compared to other top teams around the country.  The opener against Florida State is one of the highlights of college football’s opening weekend. 

3. Nebraska 

When Bill Callahan changed up the Huskers offense from running the option to a west coast passing attack, the Big Red Nation was shocked! The team failed to win the Big XII North and failed to make a bowl game.  Now it seems that all the proper recruits are in place and Callahan's vision of changing your daddy's Huskers into something modern is alive and kicking.  QB stud Zac Taylor returns to throw to his top two receivers from last year's team.  There are some questions left in the running back positions, and Taylor didn't help any with his -4 total net rushing yards last season.  Corey McKeon and Adam Carriker are back on defense and should beat their combined 16.5 sacks from last season.  Nebraska should easily win the Big XII North this season as their toughest conference games are in Lincoln.  A trips to USC will either make or break this team's championship dreams. 

3. West Virginia

Last season’s freshman sensations QB Pat White and RB Steve Slaton form a dynamic duo. White, a lefty, is the real deal.  Slaton, Sugar Bowl MVP, has size and speed that will wreck havoc on opponents.  The Mountaineers, 11-1 last season, should run the table in what is a very watered down Big East.   

Vince Young is gone, and the Longhorns’ strength is clearly no longer at quarterback.  Luckily, this team is loaded with enough talent on both sides of the ball to remain near the top of the national rankings.  Even though everyone is talking about Ohio State this year (including me), I would not be shocked to see Texas knock off the Buckeyes again. 

4. California 

This team has a great chance to go undefeated and play in the BCS Title Game.  Along the road, they'll need just a bit of help from lady luck when playing teams such as USC and Arizona State.  Head coach Jeff Tedford as been great at quietly cultivating QBs that produce big numbers; Nate Longshore should turn into just one of those players under Tedford's system.  Cal's defense should be able to keep most opponents under 100 yards rushing and the passing defense should maintain its high quality as the top-2 pass disrupters are back.  Look for Cal to have some big wins and a couple of shutouts.  I like Cal to win the Pac-10. 

4. LSU

The offensive line is the only major area of concern surrounding the Tigers.  Momentum is on their side after a blowout victory over Miami in the Peach Bowl.  Junior LaMarcus Russell hopes his receiving core will be more consistent this season.  There is no doubting the talent on this team, but the Tigers must play at Florida, at Auburn and at Tennessee.  A return to the SEC Championship game might be a year away. 

Les Miles gets his team ready for a slate that includes just four road games.  However, three of those four away games are biggies (Florida, Auburn and Tennessee).  LSU needs to watch out for the scary Oct. 21 game against Fresno State a week before facing the Volunteers. 

5. Miami 

UM failed to make it to the ACC Championship Game last year because of two things: Kyle Wright's 10 INTs and a fan base that left the Orange Bowl only half full. This year Larry Coker returns the passing and rushing leaders and has a schedule that should make for a one-loss or an undefeated season. The trip to Jacksonville to meet the Atlantic division champ is likely provided on the outcome of the game with VT on Nov. 4 (home field advantage means little in that series) and a less stressful opener against FSU.  If Coker fails to produce a magical season, things might get dicey with his coaching contract. 

5. USC

The Trojans failed at a three-peat last season, but Pete Carroll’s team has more than enough blue-chip players to be the Pac-10 favorite and major force nationally.  Junior John David Booty will take over at QB, while junior Chauncey Washington will try to replace Hesiman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and LenDale White, both first-round draft picks. 
 

Marshawn Lynch is a legitimate Heisman candidate.  The Bears’ opener at Tennessee is one of the most intriguing non-conference matchups all season.  Cal’s third game of the season – against Division I-AA Portland State – is one of the country’s least intriguing matchups of the year. 

6. Oklahoma 

The Sooners return nine starters from a defense that, on average, allowed less than 100 yards rushing per game.  Seniors Rufus Alexander and Zach Latimer combined for nine sacks, almost 200 tackles, and 14 tackles for loss.  The offense is a little suspect, with mostly sophomores and juniors filling the ranks, but the players do have the talent and the schedule is quite favorable (toughest away games are at Oregon and Missouri).  Oklahoma should win the Big XII title, but might slip up against Texas.  

6. Texas

The Longhorns, defending national champions, will obviously miss QB Vince Young.  But there's great talent in the backfield, an experienced offensive line and a defense that may not miss a beat.  Texas,  with a 22-game winning streak, will look to freshman Colt McCoy and Jevan Snead at QB. 

Brandon Cox seems a bit iffy at QB, but if he turns into what Tiger fans believe he will, Auburn could be a national title threat.  The backfield is one of the best in the country.  Can someone please explain why the Tigers would schedule Buffalo? 

7. USC 

Only 10 starters are returning for Pete Carroll this year.  Will the other 12 players be able to replace the talent of Reggie Bush and Matt Lienart?  It'll be hard to say, but the Trojans do have a very tough,  easily overlooked road opener playing at Arkansas.  John Booty should prove to be a decent quarterback, but his supporting cast to help get those first downs in short yardage situations are questionable.  If the defense can improve upon last season's 22.8 ppg they gave up, the offense should be able to put up enough points to win most of the games.  (Most does not mean all!).

7. Auburn

RB Kenny Irons (SEC-leading 1,263 yards and 13 TDs) stepped in nicely for Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. Irons again will be the focal point of an offense led by QB Brandon Cox. Coach Tommy Tuberville’s Tigers have question marks on the line, which must be answered in the Sept. 16 game with LSU. 

Chris Leak trying to run an Urban Meyer offense is a bit unorthodox but something tells me this Florida team will surprise.  The Gators should be unbeaten when they travel to Auburn in mid-October. 

8. Arkansas 

Don't laugh!  The Razorbacks return 19 starters and should make for Houston Nutt's best team in years. The national title will be very tough for the Hogs to muster with tough games against USC, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU all on the schedule.  Look for Arkansas to pull more than a few big upsets this season and to become this year's  media darling.  The QB position will likely be filled by freshman Mitch Mustain, but he has plenty of experienced skill position players returning to help him out when things get tough, especially with the running back combo of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.  The experienced O-line will be able to protect Mustain long enough to make the short and medium passes.  

 8. Michigan

The Wolverines, coming off their worst season in 21 years, are looking to rebound.  Michigan has a third-year starting QB (Chad Henne), a workhorse runner (Mike Hart) and a game-breaking receiver (Steve Breaston). Coach Lloyd Carr shook up his coaching staff hoping for better results. 

There really should be an all-Brady Quinn channel on TV, don’t you think?  OK, well, NBC does show Notre Dame all the time, but I still wouldn’t mind seeing more Brady.   

9. Texas 

As Texas went on to a victory in the BCS title game last season, everyone was talking about how amazing Vince Young was. The media made it sound like all the victories solely were a product of that particular QB.  Who did they forgot about? Well there was Jamaal Chambers who, last year as a freshman, averaged 7.4  ypc on his way to running for 906 yards!  Ramonce Taylor took it to the house 12 times. Billy Pittman accounted for 750 yards through the air.  The defense was tough last year and was led by Michael Griffin (124 tackle, four tackles for loss, and three interceptions).  All of these supporting players are back.  The eyes of Texas are definitely upon this very talented Mack Brown team.  Don't be surprised, however, if the Longhorns suffer one letdown this season, particularly on the road at Texas Tech. 

9. Clemson

Surprise? Not really.  Coach Tommy Bowden’s Tigers seem poised for a breakthrough in the ACC, even while breaking in new QB Will Proctor.  With the offensive line back intact, his primary duty is handing off to flashy sophomore RB James Davis and true freshman C.J Spiller. 

The Noles need to get better on defense – quickly – if they’re going to finish near the Top 10.  The offense should be improved. 

10. Pittsburgh  

Senior QB Tyler Palko is back to improve upon Pitt's 5-6 record in 2005.  The defense should be much improved over last year as leading tackler HB Blades returns for his final season.  He should be able to rack up the sacks and lead the defense to win some close games, including those against Louisville and Pittsburgh.  Pitt should be able to lay claim to their first conference title in decades. 

10. Florida

There are great expectations for Year 2 of the Urban Meyer era.  Senior QB Chris Leak will need to show more mastery of the offense, and a running game needs to emerge.  Even if everything goes right, and the defense lives up to its suffocating billing, the schedule is pretty rough. 

Michigan was just one of several traditional powers to have an off year in 2005.  Things should be better this season, and why wouldn’t they be with a schedule that includes home games against Ball State, Central Michigan and Vanderbilt! 

11. Virginia Tech 

A very un-Frank Beamer like year in 2005 caused many qualms for the Hokie faithful. Look at all those personal foul penalties in the last two games! Those problems led Beamer to institute a new code of conduct for the players and the coaching staff. Other changes include a new QB coach (Mike O'Cain) and a new starting QB (Sean Glennon). Jimmy Williams is no longer protecting the backfield, but the defense will be just as good behind the LB duo of Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall. The schedule is set up for a dream season, and potentially a perfect one if the game in Coral Gables goes the Hokies' way.

11. Louisville

The Cardinals are prime challengers for West Virginia in the Big East.  Louisville has a two-pronged Heisman Trophy campaign with junior QB Brian Brohm and senior RB Michael Bush.  Coach Bobby Petrino has taken the Cardinals to 29 victories in three seasons. 

Oct. 14 finds the Tigers on the road at Temple.  Why? 

12. Michigan 

There are enough returning starters for the 2006 Wolverines that one would think Michigan would finish higher than #12, but the schedule is tough with away games at Notre Dame, Penn State, and Ohio State.  The consecutive years of going to a bowl game will increase to 31, but this year there will be no Big Ten title and no Rose Bowl.  Lloyd Carr's team  for 2007 will be in fine shape and will definitely be one of the top-5 preseason teams, barring any major defections for the NFL draft and barring the termination of his coaching career in Ann Arbor. 

12. Oklahoma

Good News: The healthy return of junior RB Adrian Peterson, a top Heisman Trophy candidate. Bad news: Sophomore QB Rhett Bomar was kicked off the team Aug. 1, a blow for a team that had national-title hopes and still may battle for the Big 12 title. 

The Mountaineers could have had a shot at the national title with a team this strong.  Unfortunately, the computer rankings will never be high thanks to a weak schedule.  

13. Texas Tech 

The Red Raiders are one of the "surprise" teams for 2006. Their only bad loss last season was to Texas. With the right motivation, head coach Mike Leach could motivate his team for the big upset against the  Horns since the talent is already in place. TT has been to seven straight bowl games. They will probably make a return to the Cotton Bowl. 

13. Florida State

Even in a “down” season, the Seminoles won their 12^th ACC title.  Experience gained by sophomore QB Drew Weatherford will be a major plus, but FSU must find a running game.  Weatherford could be a surprise Heisman finalist.  Defensive losses? Four of the NFL Draft’s top 19 picks were FSU defenders.   

Yes, I’m probably picking the Bulldogs too high. 

14. Ohio State 

The early game at Texas will decide the course for the season: Win big, and this can be a great year; win a close one, and this will be a nail biter of a season; lose this, and the call's for Jim Tressel's resignation will come out in full force.  Behind QB Troy Smith, the offense should be able to score tons of points and each of those points will be crucial as the defense returns only four seniors, two who were starters from the 2005 season.  The lack of defensive experience will raise blood pressure across the Buckeye nation.  

14. Georgia

The Bulldogs must settle on a quarterback and improve their run defense, but the well-stocked backfield and special teams play are reason enough to make Florida sweat in the SEC East race. 

Give the Ducks big props for having the guts to play Fresno State on the road.  Hardly any Division I-A teams would take such a gamble.  Oregon is probably the best team in the country that no one is talking about.  

15. Florida 

Urban Meyer was a great hire for the Gators for the 2005 season. For this go-around he'll have to work on games plans with extra concerted effort against the lesser teams. (Remember last year's 2-OT win against Vandy & South Carolina.) The top 3 rushers return and so does QB Chris Leak. This season's defense should be tough with many returning, experienced players. The only problematic games on the schedule are the one at Auburn and the season ender with Florida State. 

15. Iowa

Despite taking some big personnel hits on defense, the Hawkeyes again will be Big Ten contenders because of QB Drew Tate and RB Albert Young, along with a very solid offensive line.  Coach Kirk Ferentz, fresh off his contract extension, usually manages to have Iowa in the hunt.  

It will be interesting to see how Brian Brohm returns after the ACL injury.  With all of the experience returning, it would not be a surprise if Louisville actually finishes in the Top 10.  

16. Penn State  

JoePa's 41st season should be a good one. The defense will be strong and should buoy the satisfactory offense. Look for a ground attack behind Tony Hunt. A victory at Notre Dame on Sept. 9 will make way for a very interesting game in The Horseshoe two weeks later. This won't be another 11-1 season, but a trip to a New Years bowl is not a far stretch.  

16. Miami

Reaching the ACC Championship Game is practically a must for Coach Larry Coker, who finds himself on the hot seat.  UM’s defense should be outstanding with plenty of talented safeties.  The play of junior QB Kyle Wright will determine the team’s direction. 

The Vols fell off the map a year ago but should be significantly better this time around.  If Erik Ainge doesn’t improve though, it might not make much of a difference.  Tennessee gets a Top 25 ranking based on tradition.  

17. Boise State 

Chris Peterson has big shoes to fill with the departure of Dan Hawkins.  With 18 starters returning and only 10 teams having an easier  schedule, the Broncos should continue their WAC conference dominance. All 3 QBs are back, including Jared Zabransky who passed for over 2500 yards last year.  His three favorite receivers return, so his stats should easily surpass last year's, including his terrible 18-16 TD-INT ratio.  Because the Broncos play in the WAC, they won't be taken serious when it comes to the BCS games.  Such a shame. 

17. TCU

If the 2006 rules would’ve been in place last season, the Horned Frogs would’ve qualified for a BCS bowl. They’re still a good bet and solid favorites to defend their Mountain West Conference championship. Senior QB Jeff Ballard won all eight of his starts. TCU’s explosive defense helped it to a plus-21 turnover margin.  

It only seems like Drew Tate has been around forever.  With Tate back, the Hawkeyes will be nearly unbeatable.  In fact, Iowa and Ohio State should both be undefeated when they meet on Sept. 30. 

18. FSU 

Bowden's glory days might be over, dag-gunnit, but those 'Noles should be able to have one more good season. Unfortunately the very favorable schedule (only four away games) will be spoiled with a loss at Miami to start the season and Maryland later on. Drew Weatherford may have passed for more than 3,200 yards, but the 18 INTs he threw last year will  come back to haunt him again. The defense will need to come together quickly if the Seminoles want to have any chance at the ACC title.

18. Penn State

Don’t look for another 11-1 season from Coach Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions.  But expect them to be solid in the Big Ten, even though QB Anthony Morelli has a tough act to follow (league player of the year Michael Robinson). Senior Paul Posluszny might be the nation’s best LB. 

JoePa and Company surprised nearly everyone by coming out of nowhere for a sensational 11-1 year in 2006.  Breaking in a new QB and practically an entire defense is cause for concern but the Lions should be strong again. 

19. Arizona State 

The Sun Devils should have a potent offense behind returning QB Rudy Carpenter.  WR Derek Hagen is gone, but Rudy Burgess can pull up the slack.  All the top RBs return and should be able to leave the opponent's defense in the dust as they plow through the dusty desert of Tempe.  The defense will allow too many points, which will keep the Sun Devils from being able to win the tough, big games.  

19. California

The Golden Bears’ offense, led by Heisman Trophy candidate RM Marshawn Lynch, has plenty.  The defense, best in the Pac-10, returns seven starters.  Since the 2003 season, the Bears are the only league team to defeat perennial Pac-10 front-runner USC. 

Offensive coordinator Chris Peterson takes over now and should have the Broncos’ offense on fire again.  Boise State could be a BCS-buster if it can beat Oregon State and Utah, and defeat Fresno State in the annual WAC showdown. 

20. Colorado 

This will be Dan Hawkins first year at the helm of a BCS school.  Do you think he has what it takes to repeat as this year's Urban Meyer? The Buffalo's defense will be stellar, but coach Hawkins' is more known for his offense.  (When was the last time you can remember Boise State not scoring 50 or 60 points in a game?)  This will be a tough season as the Buffalos transition, but a few years down the road and Colorado will be a tough competitor in the Big XII. 

20. Nebraska

The Cornhuskers haven’t reached the Big XII Championship game since 1999.  Coach Bill Callahan’s program is ready to make the next step.  Nebraska’s Blackshirt defense led the nation in sacks (50), and QB Zac Taylor set school records for passing yards and TDs.  Callahan’s rough transition to college ball has finally ended. 

The Horned Frogs came close to crashing the BCS party a year ago, although the lone loss was to a bad SMU team. 

21. Louisville 

The curse of the Big East hit the Cardinals hard last year, losing inexplicitly to South Florida which started their slide from Big East champ to Big East chump.  Bobby Petrino knows how to win, and will get his team started in the right direction.  Being in a league with only three real teams will help getting to a BCS game, but the SOS will hurt in the BCS standings.  I'm calling it now: Pittsburgh will beat Louisville and West Virginia this season and win the Big East. Louisville will beat West Virginia and should make a repeat appearance in the Gator Bowl, provided Notre Dame makes a BCS game or turns into the big flop they really are. 

21. Oregon

The Ducks, coming off a 10-2 season, have equal confidence in QBs Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf (Ryan’s younger brother). The defense needs work, but hey, this is the Pac-10. Circle Sept. 16, the day that suddenly QB-hurting Oklahoma comes to Autzen Stadium, maybe an occasion when Oregon climbs the national charts. 

Filling out teams 21 to 25 on the ballot is really difficult.  This truly could be one of about 10 different schools.  Georgia Tech gets the nod because its one of the few teams in the country to have a 4-year starter at QB in Reggie Ball. 

22. Alabama 

Without Brodie Croyle, the Tide will have to roll over the competition behind the legs of Kennth Darby (1,300 yards, 5.2 ypc) and Jimmy Johns. The O-line returns most of the starters, but are still too young to be  taken as a serious hole-making machine.  With games at Arkansas and Florida early on the schedule and an easy October schedule, Alabama should get into the polls and climb their way to a third straight bowl. 

22. Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets return four-year starting QB Reggie Ball.  He’ll throw to Calvin Johnson, perhaps the nation’s top WR.  Coach Chan Gailey wants contention for the ACC title.  The season opener is hard to ignore: Sept. 2 vs. Notre Dame. 

The Utes will be more like the 2004 Fiesta Bowl team than last year’s underachievers.  Utah has a chance to make some big national noise, facing UCLA to start the season, and getting home dates with both Boise State and TCU. 

23. Boston College 

Tom O'Brien always has decent team, but never sensational ones.  It's hard to say why, as BC is the only real football school in the northeast and has an alumni base that supports the team.  Maybe it's just the intangibles; things that add up during the season or particular games, that just provide to be too much to a team to overcome.  Assume the same type of season this year that BC has been known to produce: A second or third place finish in its side of the conference, and a good bowl game. 

23. Arizona State

The Sun Devils averaged 36.8 points and 519.1 yards per game last season, but finished 7-5.  More fireworks were expected from QB Sam Keller, who passed for 2,165 yards and 20 TDs before season ending thumb surgery, but after being demoted to backup duty last week, Keller transferred to Nebraska. Sophomore Rudy Carpenter moves into the starting role. ASU’s defense must improve. 

It’s almost as if the Hokies are starting from scratch.  While Virginia Tech begins the season in the Top 25, I’m not sure how long they’ll stay there. 

24. Tennessee 

Rocky Top crumbled last season with a 5-6 losing record. That loss to Vandy was devastating and inexcusable. Erik Ainge should put up good numbers for the Vols, but the defense will sorely miss QB sacking stud Parry Haralson (8.5 sacks, 8 tfl). Phillip Fullmer knows he cannot have another losing season or he'll be gone faster than George O'leary's stint at Notre Dame. The bowl game will be back in style for the Volunteers.  
  

24. Texas Tech

The Red Raiders break in another new QB.  Sophomore Graham Harrell follows the four-season rotation.  They may be 8-0 entering Oct. 28 game vs. Texas. 

Adrian Peterson is everything for the Sooners, and opponents know that stopping the run will mean stopping OU. 

25. Georgia Tech
 
Chan Gailey has Reggie Ball back for another season, but the schedule is tough with roadies at VT, Clemson, and Georgia. Miami & Notre Dame each come to Atlanta for a visit. The Jackets might be able to pull off  their second straight season opening upset. (Anyone else thinking that a #2 Notre Dame team might be way overrated?) 

25. South Carolina

South Carolina isn’t ready to win the SEC East, but it is good enough to make other members nervous.  Steve Spurrier won’t hesitate to make a switch if QB Blake Mitchell regresses.  Sophomore WR Sidney Rice might be the SEC’s top game-breaker.