Top 25 College Football Teams

1. USCLosing Mike Williams is big, but hearing before spring practice will help sophomore wideouts Steve Smith and Whitney Lewis adjust. The Trojans also signed one of the best recruiting classes in years. Given Pete Carroll's philosophy about playing freshmen, they should help bolster what is already a very talented team.2. LSUMatt Mauck's departure will affect the offense, but the Tigers won with defense. The defense still looks powerful.3. GeorgiaThe Bulldogs lost safety Sean Jones to the NFL draft, but the decision by defensive end and spiritual leader David Pollack to return for his senior season means a great deal to what is still a young team.4. OklahomaThe Sooners remain loaded on defense, and once more have issues with their running game. That has been their m.o. during the Stoops era, so expect the same level of success.5. MiamiHuge losses on defense, with the early NFL departures of safety Sean Taylor and tackle Vince Wilfork, but the 'Canes depth should make the difference.6. TexasYes, the Longhorns woo all of us every spring, then disappear at crucial moments in the fall. But Mack Brown gets four stars for hiring veteran defensive minds Greg Robinson and Dick Tomey to overhaul the defense. They will make a difference.7. Florida StateThe Seminoles are younger on defense than I first realized, but man, what an offense.8. MichiganWolverine fans celebrated when none of the celebrated juniors left early, but the decisions by wideout Braylon Edwards, defensive back Marlin Jackson and offensive lineman David Baas came as no surprise. They will form the backbone of another formidable Michigan team.9. MarylandIn Ralph We Trust.10. UtahA lot of readers disagreed with my decision to rank the Utes 14th in my January poll. I think they missed an important component of polling. The champions of the Mountain West and Mid-American Conferences, if they are one-loss teams, will rise this high in the polls. Utah is good enough to be 10-1 this year.11. California12. West Virginia13. Ohio State14. Tennessee15. Iowa16. Auburn17. Missouri18. Clemson19. Florida20. Virginia21. Purdue22. Kansas State23. Minnesota24. Oregon State25. Toledo

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