2012 College Football Preseason Top 25 Rankings: The college football season is getting closer, and it is time to start singling out the teams that have a chance to compete for conference titles, as well as the national title. It is important to remember that while not every team that ends up having a strong season starts the year ranked in the top 25, a majority of them do. You don’t have to be ranked No. 1 to open the year to win the national title, but being in the top 25 is practically a must. With that in mind, here is how the top teams in the country stack up for the upcoming football season.
2012 College Football Preseason Top 25 Rankings
1. LSU Tigers: A four-headed monster at running back and a vicious defense led by a “Honey Badger” should give the Tigers a chance at avenging last year’s loss in the BCS title game.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide: The offensive line is the best in the country, and the defense is still talented enough to allow the Crimson Tide to repeat as champs.
3. USC Trojans: Heisman frontrunner Matt Barkley will be throwing a lot of touchdowns to Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, and the Trojans will celebrate the end of their postseason probation in a big way.
4. Georgia Bulldogs: Aaron Murray is a star at quarterback, and the defense is loaded with playmakers. Dodging all the big boys from the SEC West gives the Bulldogs a shot at a special season.
5. Oregon Ducks: Oregon’s speed has been lethal, and the Ducks have plenty of it again as they look for their fourth title in as many years with coach Chip Kelly at the helm.
6. Oklahoma Sooners: The Sooners are easily the most-talented team in the Big 12, but quarterback Landry Jones has a lot to prove after disappointing last year.
7. Florida State Seminoles: The defense is elite, but quarterback E.J. Manuel and the offense have to figure out a way to show up in crunch time if the Seminoles are going to rejoin the ranks of the elite.
8. Michigan Wolverines: Quarterback Denard Robinson is the most-exciting player in the country, but with a shaky defense, the Wolverines will only go as far as his arm and legs will carry them.
9. Arkansas Razorbacks: Despite the drama off the field, quarterback Tyler Wilson has enough weapons at his disposal to make the Razorbacks dangerous yet again.
10. South Carolina Gamecocks: South Carolina’s defensive line is downright scary, and workhorse running back Marcus Lattimore returns from an injury. If Connor Shaw performs well at quarterback, the Gamecocks could win the SEC East.
11. Michigan State Spartans: Breaking in a new quarterback is never fun, but a nasty defense and a power running game has always been a recipe for success in the Big Ten.
12. TCU Horned Frogs: TCU has enough offensive firepower to compete in its first year in the Big 12, and a defense that always seems to be one of the best in the nation could be the X-factor.
13. Clemson Tigers: Quarterback Tajh Boyd, receiver Sammy Watkins and running back Andre Ellington form an elite offensive trio, but the 70-point hemorrhage allowed by the defense in last year’s Orange Bowl raises question.
14. Wisconsin Badgers: Picking up transfer Danny O’Brien at quarterback solidifies an offense that centers on the ultra-productive Montee Ball at running back.
15. Ohio State Buckeyes: Ohio State isn’t postseason eligible, but Braxton Miller and Ubran Meyer’s spread offense should be ruining the Big Ten title dreams of plenty of teams this season.
16. West Virginia Mountaineers: There is plenty to love about Geno Smith and the offense, but a suspect defense doesn’t bode well in West Virginia’s first year in the pass-happy Big 12.
17. Virginia Tech Hokies: The defense is stout yet again, but dual-threat quarterback Logan Thomas will have to carry the load for a young, unproven group on offense.
18. Boise State Broncos: Kellen Moore will be missed under center, but the Broncos are still the class of the Mountain West Conference.
19. Texas Longhorns: A stout hard-hitting, stingy defense and a powerful running game will try to compensate for a mess at the quarterback spot.
20. Oklahoma State Cowboys: Mike Gundy has built a program with staying power, but his high-powered passing attack will miss quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon.
21. Kansas State Wildcats: Quarterback Collin Klein is a human bulldozer and one of the best leaders in the country. The Wildcats will be a tough out in every game.
22. Utah Utes: The Utes had the top-scoring defense in the Pac-12 last year, and quarterback Jordan Wynn returns from injury to help workhorse running back John White.
23. Stanford Cardinal: Stanford’s defense and power running game are still top notch, but the Cardinal are about to find out just how valuable Andrew Luck really was.
24. Florida Gators: Will Muschamp is bringing in plenty of talent, but the SEC is not the place to play without a reliable starting quarterback.
25. N.C. State Wolfpack: Cornerback David Amerson is the star of a playmaking secondary, and Mike Glennon has developed into a solid quarterback. Look for the Wolfpack to make some noise in the ACC this year.
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