Anyone want to take a stab at the top 10 for 2010 since we have a bunch of time off before anymore meaningful games? I haven't done a ton of research on it yet, but here is what I have came up with so far.

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Miami (FL)
5. USC
6. Florida
7. LSU
8. Virginia Tech
9. Georgia Tech
10. Iowa

I think the Oregon/Ohio State position and the Georgia Tech/Iowa position could flipflop depending on the bowl results.

iowa? umm, no.

they might not even be in the top 25

We don't even know who half the rosters will be?

rocket31 wrote: iowa? umm, no.

they might not even be in the top 25

Really, why do you say that?

They return some major starters including Stanzi, Robinson, McNutt, DJK, and Wegher just on offense along with several OL players.

I'm sorry, there is no way Miami will be #4 pre-season. I will be surprised if they put three teams from the ACC in the Top 10. A lot of how the pre-season rankings will will be determined by how the bowls shake out.

Too early. I will wait until after the Bowl Games and who declares for the NFL draft.

mallymal614 wrote: Too early. I will wait until after the Bowl Games and who declares for the NFL draft.

Agreed!

It's never too early to debate.

Iowa has a lot returning, if they can beat Georgia Tech don't be surprised to see them squeak into the top 10 next year.

If you don't know what half of the rosters look like, or have a good idea of what the majority of the rosters will look like next year (assuming most great juniors will leave), you don't pay much attention to college football.

Why not Miami at 4? Most of a very good, young 3 loss team will be back. Remember a young 4 loss Florida in 2007? Ranked #5 to begin 2008, how did that work out for them?

I think its reasonable to put UC in the top ten. They return the majority of their potent offense and a majority of their less than stellar defense (but they should be more mature and physically stronger). If Brian Kelly stays theres no reason to believe they won't contend for a 3rd straight Big East title.

Oklahoma will be back in the top 10.

Boise State still only has like 2 senior starters. They'll definitely be top 10.

goosebumps wrote: I think its reasonable to put UC in the top ten. They return the majority of their potent offense and a majority of their less than stellar defense (but they should be more mature and physically stronger). If Brian Kelly stays theres no reason to believe they won't contend for a 3rd straight Big East title.

Agree with you there, if Kelly stays and they hang tough with Florida, I can see them being a top 10 team to begin the year. I don't think either will happen (Kelly will be gone, Florida will win by a good margin), but I'll adjust if they prove me wrong.

The last 2 years, Alabama and Florida have dominated the SEC. It won't be the case next year. Both will come back down to earth, especially Florida, and probably be in the 9-3/10-2 range. Florida especially could lose a ton on defense. Meanwhile, teams like Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi State and Arkansas should all be able to improve.

LSU will be the favorite followed by Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and then you have everyone in the mix after that. Next year quite possibly be the most parity the SEC has ever had and the division titles could come down to the final weekend. That hasn't happened in a few years, especially in the East.

Florida is going to lose Tebow, Cooper, Hernandez (NFL?), Cunningham, Dunlap (NFL?), Stamper, Spikes, Haden (NFL?), Wright (NFL?). Doubtful they lost them all, but there will be hits.

Alabama is a team I follow very closely, and as much as I love them, they won't be a top 15 team at the end of the season.

They are losing A LOT on defense in McClain, Cody, Deaderick, Reamer, Javier Arenas, Kareem Jackson, Luther Washington, Eryk Anders, and Justin Woodall.

They'll get Marcel Dareus, and Dante Hightower back, along with Mark Barron, and Dre Kirkpatrick will step in at one CB spot, along with Milliner most likely as well, but they will be VERY young, and very raw.

If Bama doesn't win this year, they won't win for a few more years. Not to mention they are losing their two best offensive lineman in Drew Davis and Mike Johnson, as well as their only pass catching TE in Colin Peek.

Also, it's way too hard to tell what teams will be like next year. With a potential uncapped year, we may see significantly more underclassmen declaring for the draft, especially from teams like Florida who have 3 studs on defense that will be first day picks like Haden, Major Wright, and Carlos Dunlap. Wright may stay because he's most likely a 3rd as of now, but Haden and Dunlap are most likely already writing checks they can't cash until around next August when they get their first round pay checks.

1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. LSU
4. Ole Miss
5. Georgia
6. Auburn
7. Arkansas
8. USC
9. South Carolina
10. Florida - again

Even though some of those teams lose alot of guys, history has shown the voters tend to over rank teams every year based on the name of your jersey. Sure some years they deserve to be ranked high, but if there is any question they will give them the benefit of the doubt (examples include Notre Dame, USC this season, Oklahoma, etc.).

Little Danny wrote: Even though some of those teams lose alot of guys, history has shown the voters tend to over rank teams every year based on the name of your jersey. Sure some years they deserve to be ranked high, but if there is any question they will give them the benefit of the doubt (examples include Notre Dame, USC this season, Oklahoma, etc.).

Well, to be fair, they had good reasoning for all three teams.

Notre Dame's high scoring, pro style offense that featured Tate and Clausen were really expected to do a lot of good things, and they weren't terrible until the end of the season.

Oklahoma could have very well won more games if Bradford wasn't injured. Losing your Heisman candidate QB will hurt any team.

USC may not be justified as much because they lost so much on defense, but they figured that the #1 recruit in Barkley would fit in very well with the 4 headed monster at RB along with Damian Williams, Hazelton and Anthony McCoy catching for him, along with a stellar OL.

The better examples would be Ole Miss and Va Tech. Teams that had the potential, but had QB's that they had given unrealistic expectations with Snead and Tyrod Taylor. Although, despite Ryan Williams great season, Va Tech was expected to have a two headed monster of Williams and Evans.

Overall I agree with your point, Danny. I'm just saying that at the beginning of the season, those teams you listed could easily be justified.

mallymal614 wrote: Too early. I will wait until after the Bowl Games and who declares for the NFL draft.

This

I'll try to make a list keeping in mind who I think may or may not leave early.

1 Oregon
2 Ohio State
3 Boise State
4 Alabama
5 Texas
6 Florida
7 Miami FL
8 Southern Cal
9 Iowa
10 Texas Christian

1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Alabama
4. Florida
5. Iowa
6. Boise State
7. Oklahoma
8. LSU
9. USC
10. TCU

I threw some darts at the wall and this is what happend

USC will be top 5 for sure. OSU will be top 5 for sure.

j_crazy wrote: 1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. LSU
4. Ole Miss
5. Georgia
6. Auburn
7. Arkansas
8. USC
9. South Carolina
10. Florida - again