The USC Trojans are annually one of college football's powerhouses, and this year is no exception as the Trojans picked up 62 of 65 votes to top the preseason ranking. But things will not be easy for the Trojans, at least on the national level.
USC has every chance of making the national championship game as coach Pete Carroll continues to trot out a lineup any coach would envy. John David Booty returns to live up to the long line of Trojan quarterback greats of recent years, but more importantly USC brings back ten starters on defense. The losses of receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith will hurt, but the defense is solid enough to keep teams under wraps until the offense sorts itself out.
The LSU Tigers are next in the rankings, and they also welcome back a strong defense to campus. The Tigers bring back eight starters on defense, including all three at the all-important linebacker position. This takes on extra significance in the smashmouth SEC, not to mention the Tigers are trying to replace quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who went first overall in the NFL draft.
The West Virginia Mountaineers come in third in the preseason rankings, and they will again ride the talents of Pat White, Steve Slaton and the nation's best rushing attack to a bowl game. The Mountaineers were possibly the biggest surprise of last season, but they will not have that luxury this season as teams are well aware of the threat these two possess. Slaton may even line up at receiver this season to get the football in the talented junior's hands as much as possible.
The Texas Longhorns are fourth in the rankings on the strength of the development of quarterback Colt McCoy, who was stellar in his freshman year. McCoy was stepping into the huge shoes left by Vince Young, and now it is solely his team. McCoy is growing into a leader and just so happens to have a rifle of an arm.
Michigan Wolverines is one spot head of defending champion Florida Gators to make the top five, and the Wolverines are happy to see quarterback Chad Henne and Mike Hart return for the senior seasons. They will try to lead the Wolverines to the Big Ten title and gain revenge on their bitter rivals from Ohio State (who come in 11th in the rankings), but with only four returning starters on defense, Henne and Hart will have their hands full.
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