2009 Pre-Season Top 60 teams in College Football

Unlike future Coaches polls, I'm not going to be anonymous with my poll for College Football next season.  But unlike the coaches, I'm putting out a Top 60 list.  Bigger is always better.

1. Florida

Hard to dispute the Gators not being #1 going into 2009.  They return 17 starters from last year's National Championship, and they have ESPN's golden child in Tebow.  You will be pretty hard pressed to find a poll where Florida isn't #1.  The SEC is weak this year and Florida should cruise to the SEC title game.

2. Oklahoma

Bradford, Gresham, McCoy, and a healthy Murray all return in pursuit to finally get a bowl win.  The Sooner's Senior class is looking to avoid being the only group of Sooners to lose every bowl game they have been in.  This team has some question marks but they are still loaded and are the team to beat in the Big XII yet again.

3. USC

Might be a tad bit high when you consider all the Trojans have lost, but again its USC.  The Trojans will still be a Top-5 team this coming fall.  The receiving targets projected QB starter Aaron Corp will have, will be very good for a guy who is getting broken in as the starter.  Can the Trojans though live up to expectations for once and win the games they are expected to win?

4. Ohio State

Terrelle Pryor is going to be HUGE in 2009.  I would not be stunned if Pryor is the Heisman winner this season.  The Buckeyes suffered some big-time losses in Malcom Jenkins and "Beanie" Wells but that won't stop this Big Ten juggernaut.  The Bukeyes still have one of the best secondaries in all the land and sophomore Running Back Daniel Herron will give the Buckeyes a new dimension to their running game they haven't seen in quite some time.

5. Ole Miss

This is everyone's pre-season darling going into 2009 and I'm taking the bait as well.  The only team in the SEC that can compete with Florida this season, but they won't be able to prove it until the SEC title game as the two teams don't play against one another in the regular season.  QB Jevan Snead is one of the best in the nation, and big-time playmaker Dexter McCluster will be causing fits all day for opposing defenses.  The biggest element I like about Ole Miss comes down to head coach Houston Nutt.  This guy is one of the more under appreciated coaches in all of College Football.  The guy knows how to win in the big-time SEC.

6. Texas

Colt McCoy returns for his Senior campaign, and yet again it looks like McCoy will have to be THE man in the running department for the Horns.  Last year McCoy caught everyone by surprise with his efficient and balanced QB play.  This year won't be as kind unless the Horns get some production in Cody Johnson and Vondrell McGee.  The defense should be one of the best in the Big XII.

7. Virginia Tech

It's Tyrod Taylor's team now; there's no Sean Glennon to hold him back now. And that's one of the reasons why the Hokies look like a National Championship contender and the elite team in an improved ACC.  But all of that National Championship talk hinges on that opener in Atlanta against Alabama.

8. Oklahoma State

Explosive is the word I think of when talking about the 2009 Cowboys.  The skill players on offense are some of the best in the land with QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, and WR Dez Bryant.  A total of 13 starters return from a team that won 9 games and gave Texas and Oklahoma all they could handle.

9. Oregon

Most BCS teams you can rip for not playing a tough non-conference schedule and just relying on the strength of their conference to get them by.  You can't rip Oregon this year.  The Ducks open up @ BCS-Busting favorite Boise State on the season-opening Thursday night, then host Purdue and last year's only undefeated team in Utah who looks to be a Pre-Season Top 25 team this year.  The Ducks have the fire power to go through that slate unscathed with stud RB LeGarrette Blount.  The Ducks defense should be very strong led by DE Will Tukuafu who is one of the premiere defensive players in the Pac-10.

10. Penn State

Six of the Nittany Lions first seven home games are in Happy Valley.  So expect the Nittany Lions to be very high in the early releases of the BCS polls.  Only eight starters return from last year's team and nine if you include star linebacker Sean Lee who has fully recovered from an ACL injury he suffered in 2008's Fall Camp.  The Nittany Lions have a good shot to win the Big Ten, it could come down to the November 7th matchup with Penn State hosting the Buckeyes.

11. Alabama

Last year ended on a sour note for the Crimson Tide as they were completely exposed by a much more driven and hungry Utah team in the Sugar Bowl.  But Bama did establish themselves as a team who will be a force to reckon with again in the SEC.  This year's Bama squad will be a grind it out kind of team with only 4 starters returning on offense and 9 on defense.  The Bama D should be the best in the SEC led by DT Terrence Cody and ILB Dont'a Hightower.

12. LSU

If anyone thinks LSU is going to drop-off after a 8-5 campaign, think again.  QB Jordan Jefferson who is only a Sophomore is going to make LSU a National Title contender again, possibly this season.  The Tigers host Florida on October 10th in the daunting 8 p.m. time slot in Death Valley.  That will be the game to get a gage on where LSU is heading.

13. Cal

QB Kevin Riley and RB Jahvid Best form one of the better backfields in the Pac-10.  The Bears have been a solid team for years now under head coach Jeff Tedford but haven't taken the program to another level getting to a BCS bowl.  With USC, Oregon State, and Arizona at home this season, the time is now for Cal to win a Pac-10 title.

14. Florida State

The Noles are amidst controversy in their program stemming from possible academic fraud; but that isn't stopping this year's team from having a great year.  Head Coach Bobby Bowden looks to be in the first of his final two years with the school, and he wants to get out on a high note.  The Seminoles finally have consistent QB play in Christian Ponder.  Ponder is the best Noles QB since Heisman winner Chris Weinke was in Tallahassee.

15. Boise State

Some Pre-Season prognostications have the Broncos as high as #9 going into 2009.  I don't see Boise as that high but you always need to have this program on the Top 25.  They definitely aren't some nice little story their a legit program and only look to be getting better as they are still a young team led by Sophomore QB Kellen Moore.  The Broncos are a BCS-Buster favorite this season even with their youth.  Imagine how good they will be one or two years from now.

16. North Carolina

Butch Davis' hard work on the recruiting trail started to pay dividends in Chapel Hill last season, getting the Tar Heels to their first bowl game since 2001.  This year's Tar Heels squad is led by the talented defense.  Nine starters return led by DT Marvin Austin who was a top recruit in 2007 and is already in his Junior season.  Don't plan on North Carolina to be letting up anytime soon because Davis continues to churn out great recruiting classes.

17. Miami

Head Coach Randy Shannon needs to show improvement if he wants to stay off the hot-seat.  This is the year to start bringing Miami back to prominance with talented skill players in QB Jacory Harris and RB Graig Cooper.  The Hurricanes have opportunities in their schedule to put them back on the map, particularly the Labor Day showdown against Florida State in Tallahassee and a home meeting with Oklahoma.

18. Nebraska

Joe Ganz graduated leaving a void at QB for the Huskers.  Patrick Witt was expected to be the starter but he bolted the program prior to Spring Ball leaving junior Zac Lee as the top gunslinger.  Expect solid play from Lee and the Huskers in general this season.  Head Coach Bo Pellini got the program back on track with a 9-win campaign and a bowl victory, this year nothing less than an appearance in the Big XII title game will be a disappointment especially with how weak the Big XII North is.

19. Georgia Tech

Paul Johnson's opption attack he brought from Navy last year surprised everyone in the College Football world that the option could be successful in "BCS" football.  The Yellow Jackets still have their top rusher in Jonathan Dwyer is one of the best RBs in the nation, and Josh Nesbitt returns with a year of starting experience in the option.

20. TCU

The Horned Frogs despite losing two-game last season still had a Top 10 finish which is uncommon for teams in the "Non-BCS" conferences.  TCU year-in and year-out has the elite athleticsm on the defensive side of the ball in the MWC.  This year the Horned Frogs D is anchored by DE Jerry Hughes.  Hopefully for Hughes he doesn't buckle to the hype like TCU's star DE in 2007 Tommy Blake.  One thing of concern for TCU is that they need to get consistent play from QB Andy Dalton.

21. Oregon State

The Beavers return only 10 starters from last year's 9-win team that was one game shy of going to the Rose Bowl.  Seven of those 10 are on the offensive side of the ball led by RB Jacquizz Rodgers who burst onto the College Football landscape in a huge upset win over #1 ranked USC.  Then the Beavers have two reliable QBs in Lyle Moevao who is the returning starter and Sean Canfield.  The Beavers could be seeing themselves in some shootouts this season.

22. BYU

BYU has had three straight 10-win seasons and is looking for a school record 4th this season.  QB Max Hall returns who is 21-5 as a starter for the Cougars, and one of his top targets in TE Dennis Pitta returns.  The Cougars need to replace last year's national leader in receiving yards in Austin Collie.  Guys like O'Neill Chambers and return Mormon missionary McKay Jacobson need to pick up the slack.

23. Notre Dame

The Irish have a favorable schedule that plays well for them this season.  Their opener however will be very difficult in Nevada but from there I wouldn't expect to lose another game other than USC.  If the Irish can't win 9 games with this schedule, Charlie Weis needs to get canned.  Now is the time for guys like Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, and Kerry Neal on defense to shine.

24. Nevada

Nevada is one of the more underrated teams going into 2009.  I've already stated they could possibly be an 11-1 team this season.  The Wolfpack have one of the best offenses in the nation running their "Pistol" scheme.  If Nevada wins the opener against Notre Dame expect big things.

25. Utah

Last year's only undefeated team in all of College Football has some concerns but still should be a solid team in 2009.  The Utes will be led primarily by their defense that returns 7 starters led by safety Robert Johnson and Linebacker Stevenson Sylvester.  Utah needs to figure out who their QB is going to be.  All indications point to the more athletic Corbin Louks who gives Utah a better runner out of the pocket.

The Rest:  26-60

26. Arkansas

27. Georgia

28. Michigan State

29. Texas Tech

30. Arizona

31. Kansas

32. Cincinnati

33. Iowa

34. East Carolina

35. Wisconsin

36. Stanford

37. Houston

38. Clemson

39. West Virginia

40. Rutgers

41. Illinois

42. Colorado

43. NC State

44. Baylor

45. Northwestern

46. Boston College

47. Minnesota

48. Central Michigan

49. Pitt

50. Western Michigan

51. Tennessee

52. Arizona State

53. South Florida

54. Wake Forest

55. South Carolina

56. UNLV

57. UConn

58. Navy

59. Auburn

60. Duke

Who are some of your top teams in College Football this season?  Post your thoughts in the comments section or shoot me an e-mail at mitchburgundy@gmail.com