Newsday top 25
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck passes during NCAA college football practice in Stanford, Calif. (Aug. 8, 2011) Credit: AP
Newsday's Top 25
1. STANFORD
CONFERENCE Pac 12 LAST YEAR 12-1
OUTLOOK Cardinal QB Andrew Luck would have been the No. 1 NFL draft pick over BCS champ Cam Newton of Auburn but wants a degree and title. The Cardinal has new starting receivers and the offensive line is green in spots, but LB Shayne Skov leads a defense that ranked 10th in the nation last season (17.4 points per game in the high-scoring Pac-12). New coach David Shaw thinks run first with TB Stepfan Taylor, LT Jonathan Martin and RG David DeCastro. They set the stage for Luck, who completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 3,338 yards, 32 TDs and a 170.2 rating last season. The Cardinal should be 7-0 going into its Oct. 29 game at USC. Stanford gets Oregon at home two weeks later, finishes at home against Notre Dame, then would get the South division winner, likely Utah or Arizona State, in the Pac-12 title game at home. If the Cardinal still is unbeaten, it will be hard to deny Luck his shot at a storybook ending.
2. OKLAHOMA
CONFERENCE Big 12 LAST YEAR 12-2
OUTLOOK Sooners have lost three BCS title games since winning in 2000, but have weapons to win it all with QB Landry Jones and WR Ryan Broyles.
3. BOISE STATE
CONFERENCE Mountain West LAST YEAR 12-1
OUTLOOK Mountain West move pits Boise State against TCU, San Diego State and Air Force after opener at SEC Georgia. QB Kellen Moore will set an NCAA win record.
4. LSU
CONFERENCE SEC LAST YEAR 11-2
OUTLOOK The QB situation is unsettled to begin the season. Starter Jordan Jefferson was indefinitely suspended Friday, senior Jarrett Lee moved to No. 1 and transfer Zach Mettenberger to No. 2 on the depth chart. The Tigers have athletes to beat Alabama's defense in the SEC.
5. ALABAMA
CONFERENCE SEC LAST YEAR 10-3
OUTLOOK Coach Nick Saban called for renewed commitment after blowing a 24-0 lead to 2010 BCS champ Auburn, but two-headed QB situation is a worry.
6. OREGON
CONFERENCE Pac 12 LAST YEAR 12-1
OUTLOOK Ducks quacked in BCS loss to Auburn, but RB LaMichael James and QB Darron Thomas return. Hung 50-plus on Stanford, USC and Washington last season.
7. FLORIDA STATE
CONFERENCE ACC LAST YEAR 10-4
OUTLOOK New starting QB E.J. Manuel excelled as a backup. The defense is solid with pass-rushing DE Brandon Jenkins. Will face Virginia Tech for ACC title.
8. WISCONSIN
CONFERENCE Big Ten LAST YEAR 11-2
OUTLOOK Addition of N.C. State transfer QB Russell Wilson to returning RBs James White and Montee Ball means the Badgers will keep running up the score.
9. TEXAS A&M
CONFERENCE Big 12 LAST YEAR 9-4
OUTLOOK Coach Mike Sherman's midseason switch to QB Ryan Tannehill plus RB Cyrus Gray's output made the Aggies into a power with 18 returning starters.
10. VIRGINIA TECH
CONFERENCE ACC LAST YEAR 11-3
OUTLOOK The Hokies stumbled vs. Boise State and James Madison last year but a soft schedule and RB David Wilson might keep them unbeaten until the ACC title game.
11. OKLAHOMA STATE
CONFERENCE Big 12 LAST YEAR 11-2
OUTLOOK The best dark horse for a BCS title run with Mike Gundy's pass combo of Brandon Weeden to Justin Blackmon. The Aggies get Oklahoma at home Dec. 3.
12. TCU
CONFERENCE Mountain West LAST YEAR 13-0
OUTLOOK Tough to replace quarterback Andy Dalton, but Gary Patterson's defense is among the nation's best. Recruiting well in advance of the 2012 move to the Big East.
13. NEBRASKA
CONFERENCE Big Ten LAST YEAR 10-4
OUTLOOK Bo Pelini's Huskers take a defense stacked with DT Jared Crick, LB Lavonte David and CB Alfonzo Dennard to the Big Ten. Trying a no-huddle offense.
14. WEST VIRGINIA
CONFERENCE Big East LAST YEAR 9-4
OUTLOOK The Mountaineers are the class of the weak Big East with QB Geno Smith. Offensive guru Dana Holgorsen arrives from Oklahoma State as head coach.
15. SOUTH CAROLINA
CONFERENCE SEC LAST YEAR 9-5
OUTLOOK Coach Steve Spurrier reinstated QB Stephen Garcia after a team-rules suspension, and Garcia will be complemented by RB Marcus Lattimore and WR Alshon Jeffery.
16. OHIO STATE
CONFERENCE Big Ten LAST YEAR 12-1
OUTLOOK Jim Tressel resigned as head coach and QB Terrelle Pryor will serve his five-game suspension in the NFL. Can new coach Luke Fickell handle the transition?
CONFERENCE SEC LAST YEAR 9-4
OUTLOOK Coming off a 9-4 season and 52-14 Gator Bowl pounding of Michigan, coach Dan Mullen signed an extension to build an SEC threat.
18. ARKANSAS
CONFERENCE SEC LAST YEAR 10-3
OUTLOOK The Razorbacks lost QB Ryan Mallett, but coach Bobby Petrino will groom QB Tyler Wilson to go with SEC rushing leader Knile Davis.
19. GEORGIA
CONFERENCE SEC LAST YEAR 6-7
OUTLOOK Saturday's opener vs. Boise St. in Atlanta is a key test for sophomore QB Aaron Murray and freshman RB Isaiah Crowell. The schedule avoids Alabama and LSU.
20. NOTRE DAME
INDEPENDENT LAST YEAR 8-5
OUTLOOK Coach Brian Kelly's rocky rookie year ended with four wins over bowl teams. QB Dayne Crist is back from injury; WR Michael Floyd from a DUI.
21. UTAH
CONFERENCE Pac 12 LAST YEAR 10-3
OUTLOOK The Utes debut as favorites in the Pac-12 South over title-ineligible USC. Ex-USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow is working with QB Jordan Wynn.
22. MICHIGAN STATE
CONFERENCE Big Ten LAST YEAR 11-2
OUTLOOK The Spartans won't match last year's 8-0 start vs. the likes of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Nebraska, but QB Kirk Cousins is a proven threat.
23. SAN DIEGO STATE
CONFERENCE Mountain West LAST YEAR 9-4
OUTLOOK In 2010, the Aztecs lost four to ranked teams by 14 total points. QB Ryan Lindley and RB Ronnie Hillman combined for 5,362 yards and 45 TDs.
CONFERENCE ACC LAST YEAR 9-4
OUTLOOK Coach Tom O'Brien released 3,000-yard passer Russell Wilson in favor of Mike Glennon, who benefits from a gentle early schedule.
25. CENTRAL FLORIDA
CONFERENCE Conference USA LAST YEAR 11-3
OUTLOOK Coach George O'Leary's Conference USA champions were 11-3 and beat the SEC's Georgia in the Liberty Bowl. Poised to jump to a better conference. Big East?
