CFN 2009
Pre-Preseason Rankings
No. 11 to 25
- 2009
No. 11 to 25 |
No. 26 to 50 |
No. 51 to 75
- No. 76 to 100 |
No. 101 to 120
- 2007 CFN Pre-Preseason Rankings
- 2008 CFN Pre-Preseason Rankings
These are the teams
that'll be deep in the heart of the BCS race, but should be flawed just
enough to be outside of the national title hunt.
The ranking is based on how good the team should be in 2009, while the
Final CFN Season Ranking is based on how good a season the team had in
2008.
Teams that should be better than last year,
teams that should be worse,
team that should be about the same.
11. Georgia Tech
2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 22
Paul Johnson’s first year might have ended in a disaster with the Peach
Bowl blowout against LSU, but it’s easy to forget just how many square
pegs had to fit into round holes to make the offense work. The defensive
line will be the early concern losing top NFL prospects Michael Johnson
and Vance Walker, but the back seven returns intact. Of course, it’s all
about the offense, and QB Josh Nesbitt and RB Jonathan Dwyer are a year
more experienced after playing so well late. All 11 starters return to
an offense that should be even more dynamic.
12. Penn State 2008 Record:
11-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 10
While this won’t be the tight Rose Bowl team of last year that was an
Iowa field goal away from playing for the national title, it’ll still be
the class of a mediocre Big Ten. QB Daryll Clark is back for his sixth
year, but the biggest boost is the return of LB Sean Lee to the defense
after suffering a preseason knee injury in 2008. The receiving corps has
to start from scratch, but the running game should be nasty even with
just two linemen returning to pave the way. Lee and Navorro Bowman
should be the nation’s best linebacking tandem, but the defense has to
replace the entire starting secondary. PK Kevin Kelly was a weapon
who’ll be missed.
13. Ohio State 2008 Record: 10-3 2008 Final CFN
Season Rank: 12
It’s the Terrelle Pryor show now. Ohio State is a factory that reloads,
but even a program as big as this suffers some down time once in a
while. There won’t be that much of a slip on defense with seven starters
returning, even if there aren’t many major James Laurinaitis-like stars.
Pryor will be the leader of an offense that loses RB Beanie Wells and WR
Brian Hartline to the NFL early, but three starters return on the line
and there are just enough decent offensive prospects to hope for more
scoring consistency.
14. California 2008 Record:
9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 27
Where have you heard this before? Cal is loaded, USC has to rebuild a
bit, blah, blah, blah. The Bears have the team able to win the Pac 10,
led by Heisman candidate RB Jahvid Best, who’ll get to run behind a good
line with three returning starters. QB Kevin Riley will be the man now
that Nate Longshore gone, and he gets his top receivers back. The
defense loses star LB Zack Follett and running mate Worrell Williams,
but the secondary returns intact. Bryan Anger will be among the nation’s
best punters before his career is over.
15. Clemson 2008 Record:
7-6 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 45
The team showed tremendous heart to finish up well after all the
turmoil. Head coach Dabo Swinney should have a piece of cake to deal
with after having to turn things around in a hurry to earn the full-time
gig. Getting RB C.J. Spiller back, when he should be in the NFL, is a
major win, but all eyes will be on one-time super-recruit Willy Korn to
see if he can be the quarterback Tiger fans were hoping for a few years
ago. The O line that struggled so much at times last year will at least
be more experienced with four starters returning, while nine starters
are back from a defense that was loaded up by a few good recruiting
classes.
16. Georgia 2008 Record: 10-3 2008 Final CFN Season
Rank: 14
Georgia has the brand and reputation worthy of being considered for the
preseason top ten every year on name alone, but there’s work to be done
here. You don’t get better by losing QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon
Moreno, but WR A.J. Green is special and RBs Caleb King and Richard
Samuel are fantastic. The key is the line with all five starters
returning, and that doesn’t include superstar OT Trinton Sturdivant,
who’s trying to work his way back from a devastating knee injury. The
defense has work to do on the line, and loses CB Asher Allen to the NFL
a year early, but Georgia always reloads. The linebacking corps will be
among the best in the SEC.
17. Nebraska 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season
Rank: 35
After a nice turnaround in Bo Pelini’s first season, the Huskers will be
hoping to take a big step forward as one of the favorites to win the
North. The defensive back seven should be better, but the big key was
the return of DT Ndamukong Suh, who should probably be off to the NFL
instead of dominating the Big 12. The offensive line will be fine and
Roy Helu is a good back, but the passing game will be a concern early on
with Patrick Witt and Zac Lee battling to replace QB Joe Ganz, while
receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson have to be replaced.
18. Virginia Tech 2008 Record: 10-4 2008 Final CFN
Season Rank: 11
If the Hokies could win the ACC title and get over the BCS game hump
with the 2008 team, they have a chance to be truly special this year.
Tyrod Taylor will be the unquestioned starting quarterback, while Darren
Evans will be one of the nation’s top backs. The offense that was so
awful at times throughout last year gets eight starters back, while the
defense should be fantastic despite the loss of CB Macho Harris and
inside linebackers Purnell Sturdivant and Brett Warren.
19. Miami
2008 Record: 7-6 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 53
Is Miami ready to be this year’s Alabama? The star recruiting classes
should be ready to mature and be special, but the season will ride on
the skinny frame of QB Jacory Harris now that Robert Marve has
transferred. Seven starters return to an ultra-athletic defense that
should be among the best in the ACC, while the offense gets nine
starters back and should have a stronger passing game led by Aldarius
Johnson and Sam Shields. Matt Bosher returns to handle most of the
kicking duties.
20. Utah 2008 Record: 13-0
2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 4
The Utes won’t be anywhere near the powerhouse that was in the national
title discussion at the end of last year, but they’ll still be really,
really good. The loss of DE Paul Kruger early to the NFL is painful, but
the big hole to fill is at quarterback where steady star Brian Johnson
is gone; Corbin Louks will get the first look. The three starting
receivers and RB Darrell Mack are gone, but there are good players
waiting to step up. Nine starters return on defense, led by Sylvester
Stevenson and a strong linebacking corps. Louie Sakoda was an all-timer
of a kicker who won’t be easily replaced.
21. Tennessee 2008 Record:
5-7 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 66
Vol fans won’t have Phil Fulmer to kick around anymore. Lane Kiffin has
to prove he can actually coach, at least be a head coach, with his first
job to spark the offense that was so woeful under offensive coordinator
Dave Clawson, who left to take over the Bowling Green head coaching job.
Eight offensive starters return with the biggest question at
quarterback. Will it be Jonathan Crompton or B.J. Coleman or Nick
Stephens? The defense was great last year, but the performance was lost
on the college football world because of the offense. If Eric Berry
isn’t the best safety in America, and maybe the best defensive player,
if it’s not USC’s Taylor Mays, and five other strong starters return.
The big issue could be on the defensive line with DE Robert Ayers and DT
Demonte Bolden gone.
22. Pitt 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season
Rank: 13
Another year, another season when Pitt is supposed to be really, really
good. The team was actually strong last year, even with the weird 3-0
Sun Bowl loss to Oregon State, and now it loses its best player on
offense (RB LeSean McCoy) and defense (LB Scott McKillop). However, QB
Bill Stull should be decent and he has a strong receiving corps to throw
to. Three starters return to the offensive line, while seven starters
are back on what should be one of the Big East’s best defenses.
Replacing PK Conor Lee and P Dave Brytus won’t be easy.
23. West Virginia 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN
Season Rank: 29
Last season really wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t a BCS year, but it
was still a decent campaign under Bill Stewart. Now the big question
will be whether or not Jarrett Brown is really ready for the full-time
job now that Pat White is gone. The offensive line is the other issue
with four starters gone including LB Greg Isdaner, who took off a year
early. Fortunately, the defense that was so good throughout last season
should pick up the slack for any problems on offense. LB Mortty Ivy is
gone, but eight starters return. The Mountaineers were second in the
nation in net punting, but Pat McAfee is gone.
24. Boise State 2008 Record: 12-1 2008 Final CFN
Season Rank: 6
The Broncos will end up ranked much higher than this based on record,
but talent-wise, they’re just on the edge of the to 25 … that’s not a
rip. This is a team worthy of playing with the big boys on a regular
basis with QB Kellen Moore and RB Jeremy Avery returning to the
backfield, working behind three starters on the line. The receiving
corps needs work, but should be fine. The defense that never gets enough
credit has to replace linebackers Kyle Gingg and Tim Brady, but gets
almost everyone else back including all-stars DE Ryan Winterswyk and CB
Kyle Wilson.
25. TCU 2008 Record: 11-2
2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 8
All-America DE Jerry Hughes is back, but most of the stars on the
tremendous defense of last year are gone. Just four starters return on
defense, but there were some decent backups ready to step in and the
secondary should be among the best in the Mountain West. The offense
might not be a steamroller, but QB Andy Dalton leads a good group with a
solid backfield and Jimmy Young back as the best receiver.