2010 College Football Preseason Top 25

18 of my picks for 2009 ended up ranked in the final AP Top 25 and six of my top 10 for 2009 finished among the AP's final top 10. I missed the boat on Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, while Oklahoma's and USC's mediocre seasons surprised most everybody.

As I said in previous rankings, I base my predictions on where I think teams will end up at year's end, not where I think they should start out. For that reason, I received early criticism for ranking Florida #4 last year while most other pundits had the Gators at preseason #1.

I'm not going to say I told you so -- okay, I just did.

This year Alabama will likely top most people's preseason lists. As I said last year in ranking Florida #4 -- it's extremely hard to repeat as back-to-back champions in college football.

Do I think the 2010 Crimson Tide have that rare moxie to do what so few teams before it have done?

Read on to find out.

25. Florida State Seminoles

The coaching legend is gone and a new era begins in Tallahassee.

I'm betting Jimbo Fisher and a breath of fresh air are just what the Seminoles need to get going again. Scheduling has done FSU no favors with nonconference games against BYU and Oklahoma as well as the annual instate tangle with Florida. But, with a little consistency, the Seminoles are capable of looking like their old selves in a hurry.

Just ask BYU and West Virginia.

2009 record: 7-6

Predicted 2010 record: 9-4

24. Arkansas Razorbacks

17 starting Razorbacks return to a team that I think was a little better than their 8-5 record of 2009 showed. Petrino has brought a formidable passing attack to Fayetteville. I like the Ryan Mallet-led offense to keep up with just about everybody on the Arkansas schedule.

I'm just not sure about the defense. Inspired efforts against, Florida and LSU aside, this defense showed it was capable of getting scorched through the air. Improvement of that aspect could get the Razorbacks over the hump against one or two "big boys" this year and put them in the hunt for the SEC West title. The offense will certainly be ready to do its part.

2009 record: 8-5

Predicted 2010 record 9-4

23. West Virginia Mountaineers

The Mountaineers have lacked a certain oomph since the departure of Rich Rodriguez. Still, considering what has gone on at Michigan in the last two years, Bill Stewart's results in Morgantown certainly could be much worse.

Still, back-to-back 9-4 seasons aren't exactly lighting the Mountaineer faithful on fire. Only about half the starters return from a West Virginia squad that ended the year with a 3-3 slide, including relinquishing over 400 yards and 33 points to a still slumping Florida State in the Gator Bowl.

With another tough SEC opponent (LSU) scheduled for September, I see an eerily similar season to the last two on the horizon for West Virginia.

2009 record: 9-4

Predicted 2010 record: 9-4

22. Missouri Tigers

Five losses (including one to Navy in the Texas Bowl) now constitutes a disappointing season in Columbia. But Mizzou did belt its way to eight wins under first-year starting quarterback, Blaine Gabbert. I expect a noticeable upswing for the team as Gabbert makes himself a little more comfortable in his junior year.

I don't think the Tigers will get by a dominant-looking Nebraska in Lincoln, but a fairly meek nonconference schedule and the rest of the Big 12 North should produce plenty of wins. And with 17 returning starters, Missouri will be a much more seasoned football team than they were in 2009.

2009 record 8-5

Predicted 2010 record 10-3

21. Oregon State Beavers

Big questions at quarterback loom as the Beavers try to replace Ryan Canfield in a year in which the PAC-10 is sure to scramble to take advantage of the 800-pound Southern California gorilla's downtime.

Jacquizz Rodgers, along with his brother James, are more than capable of shouldering the offensive load while a new quarterback finds a rhythm. But with a trip to the blue turf of Boise State to add to an always tough conference schedule, the Beavers are going to take a lot of dings in 2010.

Nevertheless, Oregon State is talented enough to finish the season among the ranked.

2009 record: 8-5

Predicted 2010 record: 9-4

20. Pittsburgh Panthers

In 2009, Pittsburgh , at 10-3, put together its best football season since 1981. With a respectable 9-4 outing in 2008, it's almost as if we've gone back to the days of Marino and Dorsett.

Almost.

With Cincinnati sure to take a slide with the departure of Brian Kelly, I like Dave Wannstedts boys (even with few returning starters) to win the Big East. The only problem is, the Panthers have a brutal nonconference row to hoe. A trip to Utah and hosting Miami will probably turn out a pair of early losses. Going to South Bend to face Notre Dame might be a little sketchy, too, but the coaching shake-up for the Irish should give the Panthers the advantage. And Kelly can't bring his Bearcats with him.

Beyond those, Pittsburgh might just win them all. But it's doubtful. Conference games are almost always good for a surprise somewhere. Look for Pitt to win the Big East, but they won't be an unblemished champion.

2009 record:10-3

Predicted 2010 record: 9-4

19. Brigham Young Cougars

BYU is 43-9 over the last four seasons, marking the Cougars as a bona fide Mountain West juggernaut. A 44-20 spanking of Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl gives them plenty of momentum going into 2010.

The only problem is Brigham Young loses a lot of key starters from last year's 11-2 team. The graduation of three-year starting quarterback Max Hall leaves perhaps the biggest question. His likely replacement, junior Riley Nelson has produced just 99 yards passing (on seven completions) and 1 touchdown in his college career so far.

Still, the Cougar schedule provides little to be nervous about. A revenge match is in store against Florida State in Tallahassee. Utah and TCU ought to provide the only remaining challenges. I see another 10-win season ahead for BYU.

2009 record: 11-2

Predicted 2010 record: 10-3

18. North Carolina Tarheels

They have a high-profile coach. They have incredibly fertile recruiting grounds. They play in a conference whose national powers have been mostly dormant for the better part of a decade.

But Tarheel land is still all about the hardwood.

It doesn't have to be. Other schools have shown top-tier prowess in both football and basketball. Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Ohio State. Even Kansas and UCLA end up landing a gridiron team in the Top 10 every so often.

To be fair, North Carolina isn't that far behind the Jayhawks and Bruins in football. But Chapel Hill seems to have all the ingredients to take a seat at the Gators, Sooners and Longhorns' table. And they very well might, but I don't see 2010 being that sort of break out year.

North Carolina plays in the ACC's toughest division where I predict they'll finish 4th behind Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Miami. Just like last year.

If North Carolina were in the Atlantic Division, I'd favor them to win it. The funny thing is, Butch Davis seems to get his team up for the big games as UNC beat both the Hurricanes and Hokies last year, yet stumbled against two less-than-mediocre schools (Virginia and NC State) and a painfully inconsistent Florida State.

The Tarheels potentially have one of the nation's best defenses ahead for 2010. I like that side of the ball to carry the team to a possible ten win year. The only problem is they have LSU for a tough nonconference season opener. I think they'll fall just short of ten victories, but the Tarheels have the grit to beat anybody on their slate.

2009 record: 8-5

Predicted 2010 record: 9-4

17. LSU Tigers

Have you noticed the different trajectories Louisiana State and Nebraska have taken in the two years since defensive coordinator Bo Pelini left for the land of Osborne?

I have.

Nebraska went from having one of the worst defenses in the country in 2007 to finishing #1 in scoring defense in 2009. Meanwhile, since winning its second BCS title of the decade in 2007, LSU has amassed nine losses and has handed the alpha status in the SEC West over to Alabama.

While defense was clearly a problem for LSU in the immediate aftermath of Pelini's departure, to be fair, John Chavis (who took over the spot in 2009) produced the strong suit of LSU's team last season, allowing no more than 30 points and holding Alabama to just 24 and Florida to 13.

Still, I think Les Miles has reached a state of flux in Baton Rouge that won't see the Tigers return to their 2003-2007 level for some time -- a remarkable five-year run that produced 56 wins and two National Titles.

What's worse is that LSU loses many of its starters from an already subpar team. The defense should remain stout, but questions on offense linger. Will a new running back crew spark the kind of success on the ground that LSU so sorely lacked in 2009? Or will there be rookie mistakes added to the woes?

Hard to say, but LSU's schedule is littered with tough defenses. In addition to the brutal SEC slate, the Tigers also get a salty North Carolina defense out to prove its mettle in the season opener. I see LSU going sideways in 2010.

2009 record: 9-4

Predicted 2010 record: 9-4

16. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Paul Johnson's triple option offense seems to be the magic elixir to get through a usually sticky ACC slate. And with so many starters returning to the defending conference champion team, the Yellow Jackets should be a shoe-in to win the ACC again this year. Right?

I just can't shake the image of how stifling the Iowa Hawkeyes were against Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Josh Nesbitt looked like a caged tiger most of the night. A lot of movement from sideline to sideline, but nowhere much to go.

I think the ACC is going to produce some incredibly tough defenses this year. North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Miami will all have the guns and (thanks to Iowa) the know-how to keep the option contained. For the most part.

Georgia Tech will have another great year and I don't see them taking a step back skill-wise. I just think several of their conference opponents will be stepping up.

2009 record: 11-3

Predicted 2010 record: 10-3

15. USC Trojans

Lane Kiffin will apparently inherit a big NCAA investigative migraine in the wake of Pete Carroll's departure from Southern California. But with Kiffin having assisted there during the time in question, one wonders if there's less to all the supposed infractions than the media and opposing fans seem to be salivating for.

Who knows. Lane Kiffin would probably be equally excited to take the USC job either way.

What we do know is that Carroll left a mighty program with some leaks in the hull. Big leaks, too. Like a 20-47 loss to Oregon and 21-55 loss to Stanford. We haven't seen the Trojans beaten that way since the 1990s, my friends.

As a true freshman starting much of the season for USC, Matt Barkley, showed both brilliance (such as the final drive to beat Ohio State in the Horseshoe) and youth (he threw nearly as many interceptions -- 14 -- as touchdowns -- 15) in 2009. Expect a little more brilliance than youth for 2010 as the sophomore finishes acclimating to the college game.

USC should have no problem with any of its nonconference slate (getting Hawaii, Virginia, Minnesota and Notre Dame), but Kiffin's Men of Troy find themselves in the unfamiliar spot of battling for second fiddle in the Pac-10.

2009 record: 9-4

Predicted 2010 record: 10-3

14. Penn State Nittany Lions

One more coaching legend has bowed out after 2009. So with nobody left in the Joe Paterno college football coaching fraternity, will 2010 be the Penn State stalwart's swan song? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain, no tenure has been quite as long and illustrious in Division I college football as Paterno's time in Happy Valley.

His string of success should continue in 2010, but some big challenges lie ahead. First, Daryll Clark is gone which means the Nittany Lions have to rely on a sophomore quarterback to guide the offense against a slate that just might contain three opponents residing in the nation's Top 5.

Fortunately for Penn State, a very tough-looking Wisconsin is missing from the conference slate. But not so fortunate, the Lions replace the Badgers with perhaps the toughest of draws going into 2010 -- a trip to Tuscaloosa to face the defending National Champs.

If that weren't bad enough, Penn State also travels to Iowa City and Columbus this year.

Penn State will have yet another high-caliber, well-disciplined, Paterno-influenced team. Even so, I see three (nearly) sure losses keeping them out of the Top 10.

2009 record: 11-2

Predicted 2010 record: 10-3

13. Miami Hurricanes

Two steps forward. One step back.

Just when Randy Shannon's job of rebuilding (and cleaning up) the Miami Hurricane football program seems all but complete, the Hurricanes get knocked back to Earth. It happened several times in 2009. With reasonable expectations for Miami to start the year with four straight losses, Shannon's team blew up its first two opponents (Florida State and Georgia Tech) before getting beat down again by Virginia Tech. But a win the following week over Oklahoma had Miami vaulting its way into the Top 10 with an impressive 3-1 start against the nation's toughest opening month.

Behind Jacory Harris' 3,000 plus passing yards, Miami pounded its way to 9-3 regular season mark before getting upended pretty convincingly by Wisconsin in the Citrus Bowl.

I like Miami to take another two steps forward in 2010 as Harris and crew gain more experience. But another step back will come in the way of losing the ACC Coastal Division to Virginia Tech. Overall, though, Miami seems to be setting the stage for a return to the upper echelon.

2009 record: 9-4

Predicted 2010 record: 10-3

12. Wisconsin Badgers

The Badgers racked up 430 yards and nearly doubled the time of possession in its Citrus Bowl win over Miami -- a game that was really only kept close thanks to three Wisconsin turnovers.

With John Clay returning for his junior year, the Badgers' string of jaw-dropping running backs continues. He should have no trouble tearing up a fairly lackluster nonconference schedule before taking on what will probably amount to a two game season (against Iowa and Ohio State).

Penn State is auspiciously missing from the schedule this year. While that will surely leave Wisconsin plenty relaxed through the regular season, the possible lack of a single marquis win could leave the Badgers knocked down a peg in bowl considerations.

For what it's worth, though, Wisconsin should see its highest finish since 2006.

2009 record: 10-3

Predicted 2010 record: 11-2

11. Virginia Tech Hokies

Take away the season-opener loss against Alabama in 2009 and Virginia Tech was thisclose to running the table, falling to ACC-champion Georgia Tech and spoiler North Carolina only in the waning minutes of those games.

The Hokies take a hit in returning defensive and special teams starters. But those units have long been the juice that has propelled Frank Beamer's teams to the top of college football and will undoubtedly reload. It's the offense that most often lets the team down. But this year, a slew of Hokie offensive players return, including four-year starter, Tyrod Taylor, and a full arsenal of talented receivers.

Like last year, Virginia Tech draws a top-notch nonconference opponent when Boise State comes to Landover, Maryland in what will be a defacto home game for the Hokies. I give Virginia Tech an even shot at taking the Broncos down. Boise State returns a bevy of talent from their 14-0 team of last year. But don't look for Virginia Tech to be intimidated.

In ACC play, I like Virginia Tech to win the Coastal Division and the ACC championship. But it won't come without a blemish somewhere along the way.

2009 record: 10-3

Predicted 2010 record: 11-3

10. Florida Gators

The Tebow era has officially come to end. But, more surprisingly, so has the Urban Meyer era!

Or has it?

Whatever happens with coach Meyers' health in 2010, and even with the loss of (arguably) college football's top quarterback of the decade, the Florida Gators are still loaded with awesome talent. They may even be a Top 5 caliber team as they were in 2009. But, with Florida's tough conference slate and the leadership of a new starting quarterback for the first time in three seasons (outside this season's Tebow injury), there are bound to be some bumps.

Biggest among those is a trip to Tuscaloosa.

I hate to write off a game before a season has even started, but with Alabama picking up right where it left off in 2009 and getting the Gators at home early in the season, I just think there are too many factors for Florida to overcome. All other games should see Florida favored, but I'm expecting another unforeseen tumble along the way. Maybe even in its last game of the season when they head to Tallahassee.

But Florida should wrap up the SEC East fairly easily. The only downside being the real possibility of facing Alabama twice.

2009 record: 13-1

Predicted 2010 record: 11-3

9. Texas Longhorns

It's somewhat of a rebuilding year for Texas in 2010. Which, in Austin, means only about ten other teams will be better than the Longhorns. If that.

After a shaky start in the BCS Championship (replacing an injured Colt McCoy), freshman Garrett Gilbert showed the Texas faithful they have plenty to be excited about over the next three years. Texas returns nine defensive starters on a unit that was among the nation's best in 2009. They will need to carry the team for much of the season as Gilbert loses the services of Jordan Shipley and three offensive linemen who were so instrumental in the near comeback against Alabama.

The nonconference slate should be four relatively easy wins for Texas, but they won't do much to prepare the young offense for the fearsome one-two punch of Oklahoma and Nebraska the following two weeks. I'm predicting the first back-to-back losses for the Longhorns since 2007.

But Texas will be tough to beat as the rest of the Big 12 has a lot of question marks going into the new season. Though it may be a down year, Texas fans won't be terribly disappointed with the outcome.

2009 record: 13-1

Predicted 2010 record: 11-2

8. Iowa Hawkeyes

It wasn't exactly a sign of great things to come the first game of the 2009 season in Iowa City. A pesky instate Division II school, down 16-17 with a few seconds remaining on the clock gets not one, but two chances to knock off one of the top teams in the Big 10 with field goal tries.

And both kicks were blocked.

This says everything about the gritty fashion in which the Hawkeyes climbed their way to an 11-2 record in 2009, punctuated by a domination of ACC champion, Georgia Tech, in the Orange Bowl.

Win sloppy. Win with defense. But just win.

With 16 returning starters (9 of which are on defense) Iowa looks to be a freight train heading into 2010. That's not to say this year's schedule is going to be a piece of cake for Kirk Ferentz' team. They travel to Tucson to face Pac-10 title contender, Arizona. A revenge-minded Penn State shows up in Iowa City soon after, followed by a sure-to-be tough Wisconsin.

But, all in all, don't be surprised if Iowa is 10-0 with visions of a BCS Championship berth dancing in their heads when Ohio State arrives for a possible late-season showdown of undefeated teams.

One half of the BCS Championship equation might very well be settled in Iowa City. That should bring out more media vans than a caucus year.

Getting its toughest opponents (Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State) at home bodes very well for Iowa. But with Ricky Stanzi's penchant for ill-timed interceptions, I'm just not ready to pull the trigger on Iowa just yet. Iowa versus Ohio State will be a fantastic game, much like the overtime thriller in Columbus in 2009. But the Hawkeyes will once again fall to the Bucks.

2009 record: 11-2

Predicted 2010 record: 11-2

7. Oklahoma Sooners

After starting 2009 in most preseason Top 5s with 2008 Heisman winner Sam Bradford returning at the QB slot, Oklahoma's 8-win season can only be described as hugely disappointing.

The good news in Norman is that the talent pool remains stocked and 2009's "collapse" was the result of a chain of unfortunate events that won't likely be repeated -- the worst of which was losing Sam Bradford to injury in the first game of the season. Landry Jones had a solid, if not spectacular debut season. He should fit in more comfortably as a sophomore.

Oklahoma also gets a scheduling break as it tries to return to the elite. Nonconference opponents Florida State and Cincinnati could have produced disastrous results for the Sooners at certain points during 2009, but I think the Seminoles and Bearcats (both of whom come to Norman with new coaches) ought to be manageable enough for Oklahoma to win.

That would set Oklahoma up at 4-0 for its showdown with Texas. With Colt McCoy gone, I like the Sooners to win this year's Red River Rivalry. Once past Texas, the Sooners should be favored in the remainder of their games. And they won't have to face Nebraska until the Big 12 Championship.

An early NFL departure for defensive star, Gerald McCoy, stings a little, but the Sooner defense ought to be punishing once again. OU's defense will carry the team just enough to let the offense get on track.

Oklahoma is my pick to rep the South in the Big 12 Championship.

2009 record: 8-5

Predicted 2010 record: 12-2

6. Oregon Ducks

USC's seven-year reign of holy-damn-terror over the Pac-10 is finally over. Sure the Trojans did occasionally share the conference crown with a few schools during the last decade. But 2009 marked the first season since 2001 that USC was not atop the conference.

Which team was the king of the Pac-10 in both of the bookend years? The Oregon Ducks.

That's not to say that the success of Oregon in 2009 and 2001 is owed to USC being off its game. But it would appear that some kind of barrier has finally been breached. And Oregon has consistently been the team in best position to take advantage of a Trojan slump.

The Ducks have a stunning return rate of 2009 starters. Nearly everyone on both offense and defense comes back. This team will have the talent and experience to storm through the Pac-10 (with or without USC in top form) to grab a second consecutive conference title. The Duck offense should be one of the best in the country, but it's defense could use some work as they had a lot of trouble stopping Ohio State in the Rose Bowl as well as Stanford and Arizona earlier in the season.

A nonconference trip to Knoxville to face Tennessee should be made easier by the Vols' coaching switch and Oregon ought to be favored over its entire slate. But I'm betting the Ducks will hit a snag somewhere along the way to finish the regular season with one loss on their way to the Rose Bowl.

2009 record: 10-3

Predicted 2010 record: 11-2

5. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Bo Pelini says that Nebraska will have a better defense in 2010 than it did in 2009 when it finished the year #1 in points allowed and #7 in total defense. That's a pretty hefty claim for a team that loses one of the greatest defensive tackles of all time -- Ndamukong Suh -- as well as four other key starters.

But when you have a coach who takes the 110th ranked defense in 2007 and transforms them into the top scoring defense in the country just two years later, you have to figure the man knows what he's talking about.

I would really like to put Nebraska in at #2. I have a hunch that we'll see another big-time, old-school match up this year in the BCS Title Game whether it's the Cornhuskers or the Buckeyes or the Crimson Tide squaring off.

I just can't shake the image of all those offensive problems the Huskers faced with Zac Lee at the helm. That's why I'm sliding them in at #5 instead.

But there are hopeful signs for the Big Red on offense. Their 33-0 smashing of Arizona in the Holiday Bowl is one. And the revelation that Zac Lee played the season injured is another. Should he be healthy in 2010 -- along with Rex Burkhead and Roy Helu, who also went through much of the season banged up -- the offensive line is looking strong enough to help make the Huskers an offense threat again.

And if Pelini is right about the defense -- look out. The Big 12 (and the nation for that matter) should be on red alert.

2009 record: 10-4

Predicted 2010 record: 12-2

4. Texas Christian Horned Frogs

TCU, along with Boise State, once again crashed the BCS cocktail party by refusing to get beat all season --even with having added trips to play automatic-qualifying teams like Virginia and Clemson in their home stadiums.

With a less formidable slate than it played last year lined up for 2010 and with virtually the entire team returning with a year's more experience, there's no reason to assume the Horned Frogs won't be BCS busters again this time around.

BYU and Utah will once again be no slouches, but the Frogs had little trouble with either team last year. Expect TCU to rifle through another undefeated regular season. But, with Boise State likely doing the same as well, let's hope the BCS has the sense this year to pair the Frogs and Broncos against some "big 6" conference champions this time.

Sad to say, but 2009's Fiesta Bowl felt a little bit like TCU and Boise State had been seated at the "kid's table." Look for 2010 to be another statement year.

2009 record: 12-1

Predicted 2010 record: 12-1

3. Boise State Broncos

Boise State loses one starter from a 2009 team that went 14-0 and finished the season third in the polls.

One starter.

In other words, the 2010 Broncos are pretty much the exact same team that mowed its way through 2009. Only more seasoned.

Yikes. Look out WAC opponents. You're in for what Eastern Europe got to know in the 1940s as "the blitzkrieg".

Unless Boise State shoots its own foot or is riddled with injuries or the blue-turfed earth opens one practice session and swallows half the team, there is no conference opponent that should come close to knocking off the Broncos this year. That leaves a pair of marauders -- one from the ACC and one from the Pac-10 -- as the only real threats to upend a second consecutive perfect season in Boise.

Oregon State and Virginia Tech get the Broncos in back-to-back weeks. The Hokies have the best shot of taking Coach Petersen's team to the mat as the game is set for Landover, Maryland after Oregon State likely softens the Broncos up a little.

I think BSU will drop one, but not both of these nonconference games. That might cost them another BCS bowl appearance, but a 13-1 record with a likely high-profile bowl win, should land the Broncos once again near the top of the polls.

2009 record: 14-0

Predicted 2010 record: 13-1

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

How difficult is it to repeat as back-to-back National Champions in college football? Well, USC did it in 2003 and 2004, but they weren't consensus national titles as LSU claimed part of the 2003 crown. Nebraska went back-to-back (with consensus) in 1994 and 1995. Alabama won nonconsensus titles in 1978 and 1979 (sharing the 1978 crown with USC). Several more nonconsensus back-to-back titles were pulled off in the 1970s and 1960s -- an era in which determining college football's national champ was even more convoluted than it is now.

But a survey of the last six decades of college football shows that back-to-back consensus National Titles have only happened twice in a three-generation span -- Nebraska in the mid 1990s (as already mentioned) and Oklahoma in 1955 and 1956.

My question regarding Alabama is not whether they are the best team heading into 2010. In fact, I think they most likely are. The real question is -- does 2010 Alabama have that rare quality that allows them to repeat? To slog through another successful undefeated run now that the stakes are higher and the guns blasting at them are filled with a little heavier lead.

No doubt Alabama put together an awesome season in 2009. 14 wins. Smashing victories over the second and third best teams in the country. A Heisman-winning sophomore running back to boot.

But the Crimson Tide, despite the breadth of those wins over Florida and Texas, didn't exactly look invincible the whole season. Tennessee and Auburn were no juggernauts in 2009 and yet both the Vols and Tigers had the eventual BCS champions on the ropes for nearly the entirety of their games.

Even in the BCS Championship game, a freshman back-up quarterback guided Texas to within three points of Bama with only two minutes left in the game before the Tide defense forced a pair of turnovers that turned a tight contest into a closing-minute rout.

Yes, Alabama was the best team of 2009. And many of the offensive stars that got them to Pasadena -- Greg McElroy, Mark Ingram and Julio Jones -- are coming back for more. The defense, on the other hand, loses a lot including two of the nation's best defenders in 2009, Terrence Cody and Rolando McClain.

Alabama, in the Nick Saban era, reloads. No question about that. The Crimson Tide might very well have the most talented team of 2010. I won't argue against it. But only truly special football teams win back-to-back National Titles. The 2005 USC Trojans with two Heisman winners in the backfield couldn't do it. The 2002 Miami Hurricanes with many of the same players from the 2001 team (widely regarded as the greatest college football team of all time) couldn't do it either.

And, for that reason, I don't see a repeat championship in the cards for 2010 Alabama, either.

2009 record: 14-0

Predicted 2010 record: 13-1

And speaking of the 2002 Hurricanes.. What team snatched a back-to-back title from their clutches?

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

Jim Tressel and the Ohio State Buckeyes have turned into what some consider a BCS bowl joke over the last half decade. While getting clobbered in back-to-back BCS Title games lends some credence to this sentiment, consider that in the last 8 seasons, no team has been to more BCS bowl games than Ohio State. USC ties the Buckeyes at seven. But the other BCS regulars of the decade -- Oklahoma (6), Texas (4), Florida (3) and LSU (3) -- all fall well short.

Counter to Ohio State's unworthy reputation, the Buckeyes have won four of those seven BCS bowl games. While fans of the SEC might take glee in the end of the 2006 and 2007 seasons, no team in that conference comes close to matching the Buckeyes for upper echelon consistency.

And now, with the arrival of Terrelle Pryor in 2008, the images of all that title-game futility are fast fading. In his two seasons in Columbus, the six-foot-six dual-threat phenom has already amassed well over 3,000 yards through the air and another 1,000 on the ground with 43 touchdowns.

In Ohio State's last two BCS games, the freshman backup nearly led the Buckeyes to an upset of one-loss Texas as Pryor filled-in for a struggling Todd Boeckman. And against Pac-10 champion, Oregon, in the 2010 Rose Bowl, Pryor piled up over 300 all-purpose yards in a game the Bucks dominated more than the 9-point margin would indicate. I think this year Terrelle will have the kind of skill and maturity to add to his already formidable talent to produce one of those seasons that finds an underclassmen bolting early for the NFL.

The SEC seems to have a death grip on the top spot in college football having three different teams land the last four National Titles. In recent years it looked as though it would be up to USC or one of the Big 12's "big two" to knock the southern conference off its mantle. But the Big 10 showed some remarkable dominance this past bowl season winning all four bowl games of truly national significance in beating 4 teams that would finish in the BCS' Top 18, including the PAC-10 and ACC champions.

While Alabama returns arguably the most talented team in 2010, the Buckeyes are not far behind. The Tide will enter the season #1 assigning them a most difficult task of staying there. I think Bama is good enough to stay on top throughout the regular season but, like another great defending champion in 2002, they'll have to get through the Buckeyes to do it.

I like Ohio State's odds.

The Buckeyes have a daunting task late in the season, hosting Penn State at the Horseshoe followed by a trip to Iowa City to face what might prove to be the nation's toughest defense for 2010. But it should end up as mere seasoning for the main event the following January.

2009 record: 11-2

Predicted 2010 record: 13-0