College Football 2009 -

I haven't noticed any college football talk, so I thought I'd attempt to get a little started over here. I live and die for college football; I am from Alabama, so that's not a big surprise. Here's my top fifteen heading into the season:

1. Florida (With Tebow back, this team looks almost identical to the '08 Gators.)

2. Southern California (Will USC get tripped up by Stanford or Oregon State this year?)

3. Texas (McCoy is a leader and will have the Horns in the thick of things.)

4. Oklahoma (Kings in the Big XII as of late, but can't seem to get back to the national title mountain top.)

5. Virginia Tech (Hokies return a vast array of experience on both sides of the ball and play in a conference where they have a chance to dominate. Game against Alabama on September 5th in Atlanta will tell us a lot about Tech.)

6. Alabama (The Crimson Tide has to replace two All-Americans on the offensive line and have a new starter at QB in Greg McElroy, a product of powerful Southlake High School in Dallas. Bama defense might be best in America if secondary lives up to its expectations.)

7. Ole Miss (Are the Rebels for real? I think so. Jevan Snead returns at QB and figures to be the second best signal-caller in the SEC behind Tebow. Rebels also return key players like Greg Hardy along the defensive front and Ole Miss has the most favorable schedule in the SEC with both Alabama and LSU coming to Oxford.)

8. Oklahoma State (I'm 40! I'm a Man! It appears that the Pokes have turned around their program since the 2007 whipping at the hands of Troy University and Gundy's crazy-eyed rant in that now infamous news conference. Okie State can put up points in a hurry; can their defense catch up?)

9. Ohio State (Finally! A team from the Big Eleven makes my top ten. As Pryor goes, so goes the Bucks on offense; however Tressell is an outstanding coach and will have OSU ready to quietly ascend the polls.)

10. Georgia Tech (One of the surprise teams in college football in 2008, the Ramblin' Wreck should be in great position to make a ton of noise in the ACC. Paul Johnson installed an 'ol school offense last season that was immensely effective and even produced a big win over arch rival Georgia.)

11. Boise State (The Broncos are my pick to be the BCS-busters this season - a tough game against Oregon is on the schedule early, but if the Smurf Turf Ponies can get by the Ducks, then BSU will be off and running - all the way to Tempe.)

12. LSU (LSU had a big dropoff last year and really faltered down the stretch losing to Alabama, Ole Miss, Arkansas, and nearly escaping a humiliating home loss to the Troy Trojans. If Jefferson can settle in a become a good leader under center, LSU will be ranked much higher than this at season's end. The Bayou Bengals have the toughest schedule in the SEC having to visit Georgia, Alabama, and Ole Miss.)

13. Penn State (Joe Pa continues to make it happen in Happy Valley. Penn State's offense appears to be in good shape and well-balanced, while the defense will always be one of the tough in the conference and in the country.)

14. Oregon (If the Ducks can make it by Boise State early on, then the boys from Eugene will be in position to make some serious noise. If USC weren't in the Pac Ten, the ugly uniform guys would be my pick to win the league.)

15. Georgia (Georgia was last season's preseason #1, but it didn't take long for the Red Clay Hounds to stumble into relative obscurity. Gone is Matt Stafford and taking his place isn't a lot of experience, but there is a wealth of talent. If UGA's defense can keep the Dawgs in the thick of things early, the offense just might have time to catch up and make the race for second place in the SEC East no contest.)

* Michigan State, Florida State, Arkansas, and Oregon State were considered for my top 15.