25. Ole Miss
Ole Miss headlined their off-season with one of the best recruiting classes in the school's history. Head coach Hugh Freeze has proven he can recruit, now it is time to show his coaching abilities. The Rebel's have one of the toughest schedules in the SEC with 4 of their first 5 games being away. Ole Miss returns a strong offense in QB Bo Wallace and running back Jeff Scott. Defensively, Ole Miss has experienced playmakers, but high caliber offenses in the SEC will cause trouble. Freeze and his Rebels will struggle early, but finish strong. A home game matchup against LSU on October 12th will be an interesting one to watch out for.
24. Miami
Miami has been in and out of headlines with scandals that have occurred within the football program. Head coach Al Golden is trying to look past the scandal and get the Hurricanes back to the glory days. Miami returns almost every starter on offense from last season including the offensive line. on the defensive side of the ball, Miami returns six starters from one of the worst defenses in the country last year. Miami has a relatively easy schedule with the toughest away game being at Florida State. There is also a possible upset game at Duke on November 16th. Al Golden and the Hurricanes have a chance to make a run at the ACC Championship this year. If Miami fails to perform, Al Golden could be looking for a new job in his near future.
23. Notre Dame
Although Lou Holtz would strongly disagree, Notre Dame is looking at a possible avalanche size downfall from last season. Notre Dame will bring back most of their defense with the exception of All-American linebacker Manti Teo. Although his presence (and his girlfriend's presence) were not felt at the national championship game, having 107 tackles in a season is still very impressive. The defense and Brian Kelly will save the Irish from having a less than mediocre season. The offense, thanks to the loss of Everett Golson, may just finish as one of the worst offenses in the nation. Notre Dame will find room to have some big wins, but may also match those big wins with disappointing losses.
22. Oregon State
Just two years ago, Mike Riley and the Oregon State Beavers had a 3-9 season. One year later, they started on a 6-0 run that ended with a 9-4 season. Three of those losses were by 4 points or less. Mike Riley has a veteran offense with the only question being who will get the call at quarterback. Both candidates, Cody Vaz and Sean Mannion, have experience. On the defensive side of the ball, Oregon State will have to replace their interior linemen. They return a strong group of linebackers and a great secondary. The Beavers should start out hot like they did last season and a few interesting games may occur. One might be able to argue that Mike Riley could slip into the Pac-12 Championship game. Beating Oregon is unlikely, but the Ducks better keep a lookout on their in state rival.
21. TCU
TCU is a team to watch out for this season. Gary Patterson is not only known for his great coaching abilities, but also for putting together top notch defenses. TCU has 9 returning starters on defense which is great news for any program. Quarterback Casey Pachall also makes a return to the offense after leaving last year 4 games into the season. The Horned Frogs super tough schedule is to blame for being ranked at 21. Teams like LSU, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State should be on the lookout for TCU.
20. UCLA
Jim Mora proved he could coach by winning the South title in the Pac-12 his very first year there. Quarterback Brett Hundley has proven his leadership and capability despite only being a sophomore. Inexperienced receivers and a new running back will take the biggest toll on this team. The defense also has to replace 7 starters which is no easy task. UCLA has tough away games at Stanford, Oregon, and Nebraska. Be on the lookout for possible upsets in a couple of those games. The Bruins are also a favorite to win the South title for the second straight year.
19. Michigan State
Michigan State is very consistent on having good teams every year. This year the Spartan's return a strong defense despite only having 6 returning starters. The loss of running back Le'Veon Bell hurts the offense more than anything. A weak offense and unanswered questions at the starting quarterback position will take a toll on the team this season. The defense will have to carry the team on its' back as the Spartans face a weak Big Ten schedule that does not even include Ohio State. Michigan State is looking at a possible 5-0 start, but a few upsets will occur late in the schedule and balance their regular season record out.
18. Nebraska
Nebraska is also another team that fans should lookout for this season. Quarterback Taylor Martinez has proven himself as not only a runner, but also a matured passer. Nebraska returns a stout group of wide receivers which only makes it easier for Martinez. The Husker's defense is the one and only question mark because of only three returning starters. Head coach Bo Pelini is a defensive mastermind although he has not exactly shown it in the last few years. If Pelini can find playmakers for his defense, then Nebraska will try to make a run at the Big Ten title. A tough conference game at Michigan will be the deciding factor for the Legends division. Also, look at Taylor Martinez to be a dark horse candidate for the Heisman.
17. Texas
Mack Brown has finally found a solid quarterback in David Ash. Texas has the tools to do some real damage this year. Texas returns a very solid 10 starters on offense and 8 on defense. Texas running the spread offense may bite them in the backside this year. You can have any player you want on an offense but switching playbooks is always difficult. If you do not believe it, ask Gene Chizik about his decision to switch Auburn from the spread to the pro style offense. The Longhorns will start hot and cool down by seasons end. I predict a victory over Oklahoma in Dallas on October 12th, but the final four game stretch may end with 2 losses. Mack Brown is bringing the Longhorns back. Do not be surprised if you see Texas in a BCS bowl this year.
16. Baylor
Baylor emerged as a high caliber team due in part to RG3. Now it is time for Baylor to prove that they are capable of big things without RG3. Baylor will make a strong run at the Big 12 title, but Oklahoma State will kill the dream. Baylor is capable of pulling the upset, but inexperienced quarterback Bryce Petty has to prove he can hold his own. Running back Lache Seastrunk will help lead this offense. Seastrunk is also a possible candidate for the Heisman if he can prove himself worthy. The Bear's defense will not be the best in the country as usual, but returning 8 starters is never anything to complain about. Art Briles is also an underrated coach and do not be surprised to see big name teams pursuing him in the future. At the end of the season, Baylor will finish with good regular season record and a few upsets to brag about.
15. Michigan
Head coach Brady Hoke will once again have a Michigan team that will be more reliant on their offense than a team should be. Hoke is a great coach that can pull out needed victories but one must always remember that defense wins championship. Michigan is only returning three starters on defense and that may give Brady Hoke a few headaches. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has the defense heading in the right direction, he just needs a little more time to rebuild. Michigan will have a strong regular season record with the possibility of a few slip ups including a trap game at Penn State on October 12th. Michigan has the best chance of any team in the Legends division to be in the Big Ten Championship. That also means that there is a chance that Michigan will meet their rival, Ohio State, in the championship game. If this happens, the same team will not win both times. So who will win when it matters most?
14. Oklahoma
It is a new year and Bob Stoops is looking for results. Stoops wants a crystal ball more than any other coach in the country. Does he have the players that will punch his ticket to Pasadena? Returning 8 starters on offense including the bulk of the offensive line will always help, but losing one of the all-time great passers in Landry Jones will hurt the Sooners. New starting quarterback Blake "Belldozer" Bell has proven he can run, but has not yet shown his throwing abilities. Oklahoma relied on the pass game behind Landry Jones a lot last year. Oklahoma only returns 3 starters from an already rough defense. Oklahoma will struggle, but will battle for the Big 12. Bob Stoops is hungry for victories and that alone will help the Sooners succeed. The race for the Big 12 is tight this year, and only the best will survive. Oklahoma will lose a few key games that will hurt their chances, but will recover with a possible upset over Oklahoma State on December 7th if the offense stays healthy.
13. South Carolina
Jadaveon Clowney is arguably the best defensive end college football has seen in a long time. South Carolina is expected to make a strong run for the SEC Championship and possibly the national championship. There is not a single person that doubts the skills of Steve Spurrier, but the hype around Jadaveon Clowney has caused South Carolina to be a little overrated. The Gamecocks have two good quarterbacks in Connor Shaw and Dylan Thomspon. Inexperience at wide receiver will cause the Gamecocks to rely on the running game. The running backs Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds have talent but need to show it early in order for the rushing attack to be successful. The defense has Clowney and returns a few starting players in the secondary, but an inexperienced group of linebackers may cause problems. Does South Carolina have enough talent to make it to the SEC Championship? Absolutely. Unfortunately it seems the Ole Ball Coach is running out of gas and South Carolina will struggle in their games against Florida and Georgia. Clowney is the best defensive candidate for the Heisman. It will be interesting to see the amount of leadership he will have to show on the defensive side of the ball.
12. Florida
The Florida Gators are slowly but surely starting to go back to their dominant status. Offensive coordinator Brent Pease will have the Florida offense getting better every year behind quarterback Jeff Driskel. Driskel is not Tim Tebow, but will hold his own at quarterback. A tough schedule that includes visits to Miami, LSU, Missouri, and South Carolina will cause a little bit of trouble for the Gators. The offense has not yet found the rushing attack they need to be successful in the pro-style offense. The defense on the other hand may be the one of the best in the SEC by season's end. Head coach Will Muschamp has this team heading in the right direction. Florida is going to make a strong push for an SEC championship appearance, but will come up a little short in favor of Georgia. Anything can happen in the SEC and Florida is a team that may go further than experts believe.
11. Florida State
Florida State has shown a lot of improvement with Jimbo Fisher as head coach. Fisher is trying his best to make Florida Sate and SEC caliber type team. The offense will surprise everyone and thrive under redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston has a great arm and can run the ball as well. The Seminoles have a solid rushing attack led by running backs Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr. Florida State also returns a veteran offensive line to help protect Winston. Florida State only returns 4 starters from last year's great defense. The defense will also be led by new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. If Pruitt can produce a solid defense, the Seminoles will find themselves battling Clemson for a spot in the ACC championship.
10. Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State will have one of the top offenses in the country this year. The offense has 7 returning starters, and the youngest projected starter this year will be sophomore left tackle Devin Davis. Projected quarterback Clint Chelf should put up big numbers this year. The Cowboys return 7 starters from last year's not so great defense. Head Coach Mike Gundy promoted linebackers coach Glenn Spencer to defensive coordinator this year looking for better results. The defense returns a solid secondary and group of linebackers and should be much improved from last season. Oklahoma State toughest away game will be at Texas on November 16th. Oklahoma State is the favorite to win the Big 12, but may have trouble finishing the season with the last three games being against Texas, Baylor, and Oklahoma. The Cowboys will win at least two of those three games and could be looking at a BCS bowl appearance.
9. LSU
LSU has established themselves as a successful team year end and year out. The Tigers begin their tough 2013 schedule on August 31st against a tough TCU. Les Miles and his Tigers are trying to bounce back from last year’s loss to Clemson in the Chik-fil-A Bowl. Miles will continue to put his trust in quarterback Zach Mettenberger who had his best game in a loss against Alabama. Although LSU returns Mettenberger and group of talented running backs, it will be interesting to see how the offense will perform under new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. On the defensive side of the ball, LSU only returns 3 starters. Although this defense will arguably be one of the weakest in recent history, Les Miles and his staff bring in great recruiting classes every year. The Tiger's tough schedule includes road games at Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Alabama. Playing in the SEC is one of the hardest things to do so you can easily say every SEC team has a "tough schedule" due to the high level of competition. LSU will battle for the SEC West title. An upset over Texas A&M on November 23rd is possible but LSU needs to watch out for Ole Miss on October 19th.
8. Louisville
Louisville showed just how good they were capable of playing in last year’s upset victory of Florida in the Sugar Bowl. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is a dark horse candidate for the Heisman trophy. Louisville returns 15 starters from last year’s team. Charlie Strong is a fantastic, underrated head coach. The Cardinals also play a much easier schedule because they are in the American Athletic Conference (formerly known as the Big East). Louisville has the mechanics to run the table and go undefeated and slip in the national championship. Unfortunately, Louisville tends to have trouble with their pretty simple schedule. Last year they beat Florida International, Southern Miss, and Rutgers by a total of 14 points. That is not saying that those teams were not talented, but Louisville had the team and capability to destroy those teams. Last year’s two losses came from Syracuse and Connecticut which also does not look good. Despite all this, the Cardinals still have a lot of potential. Head coach Charlie Strong said it best when he was quoted saying, “If we stay humble and stay hungry, then there's no telling what this team can do."
7. Clemson
Clemson will start their 2013 season coming off an electric upset victory of LSU in the Chik-fil-A Bowl. They will be moving on to another difficult SEC opponent when they play Georgia on August 31st. Quarterback Tajh Boyd has the mechanics to be a Heisman frontrunner. He will look for help in his offensive line that has 4 returning starters. Boyd's number one go to receiver will be Sammy Watkins. Second year defensive coordinator Brent Venables has turned the defense around, but will have his work cut out for him in an inexperienced secondary. Fortunately, he will be returning an experienced defensive line. Clemson is the outright favorite to win the ACC with their biggest challenge being Florida State. Dabo Swinney has proven himself as a head coach and has high expectations for this team. An opening victory over Georgia would be a very good start.
6. Georgia
Georgia ended the 2012 season with an impressive victory. Unfortunately, Mark Richt and the rest of his team probably still had the devastating loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship in their heads. Not only does Georgia have to open up with Clemson and South Carolina, they also have to replace a lot of leaders on defense. The defense returns 3 starters from last year's team. Replacing players like Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree is no easy task, but Georgia's defense has been through worse. Georgia is going to have one of the best offenses not only in the SEC but also in the country. Aaron Murray is an early Heisman candidate and tends to prove it with a veteran offensive line and solid group of receivers. Georgia will also have a solid rushing attack led by Todd Gurley. Georgia has the best chance of winning the SEC East, but playing in the SEC is no easy task. The Bulldog's first two games will show just how hungry they are to get back in Atlanta. On a side note, look for Vanderbilt to give Georgia trouble on October 19th. That game will be a lot closer than fans think.
5. Texas A&M
Johnny Manziel ended his freshman season with a dominant victory over Oklahoma. Head coach Kevin Sumlin showed what the Aggies were capable of. Now the question is, can they do it all over again? A&M lost key offensive lineman in this year’s NFL Draft. Manziel probably thinks he does not need any offensive lineman to put up big numbers, but he at least needs decent ones. The offense will still thrive behind Manziel's capability and Sumlin's coaching ability. Defensively, the Aggies will be weaker than last year’s team. A&M only returns 4 starters on defense. The offense will have to lead the way for this year’s team. Manziel will be a contender for the Heisman, but more than likely will not repeat. Texas A&M would be ranked higher if not for playing in the SEC and giving opponents a year to prepare for Mr. Johnny Football. The Aggies will finish with a 10 win season and begin giving Manziel a sales pitch on why he should not leave for the NFL. A&M has a good chance of playing in a BCS bowl with an at-large bid. On another side note, Texas A&M needs to be careful going into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to play Ole Miss on October 12th.
4. Oregon
Oregon's biggest loss of the offseason was head coach Chip Kelly. Oregon was smart to promote offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich. Helfrich already knows the system and understands that the offense has to lead this team every year. Oregon returns a great bulk of their offense from last season including superstar quarterback Marcus Mariota. Mariota may establish himself as a Heisman candidate early. Speed kills and Oregon plans to kill every opponent with their team's speed. The Ducks are not only set on offense, but also on defense. Oregon returns their entire secondary along with a strong defensive line. The biggest issue with Oregon (not counting their off the field problems) will be the coaching ability of Mark Helfrich. Although Helfrich is an experienced coordinator, he is still a first year head coach in a conference full of talented teams. Oregon will begin their season in dominant fashion, but will be on their toes starting on October 12th when they take a trip to Washington. Oregon has a great chance to make it the Pac-12 Championship, but will most likely be playing in a BCS bowl with an at-large bid.
3. Ohio State
Ohio State finished the 2012 season undefeated, but had nothing to show for it thanks to NCAA sanctions. The Buckeyes are ready to do more damage behind second year head coach Urban Meyer. Ohio State will be led by quarterback Braxton Miller who is a contender for this years Heisman. The offense is solid, returning 9 starters from last year's team. Braxton Miller will not only be an effective runner but also a much improved passer this season. The defense only returns 4 starters and defensive coordinator Luke Fickell has a bit of reconstruction to do on the defensive line. Ohio State should easily win the Leaders division and play in the Big 10 championship game. A trip to Pasadena on the other hand is not guaranteed. Six of Ohio State's twelve victories were decided by 7 points or less. Ohio State will lose as many as two games in the regular season, but may end up in a BCS bowl game with a Big Ten Championship victory. A third loss is possible. Ohio State needs to watch out for Penn State on October 26th and arch rival Michigan on November 30th. Playing at California on September 14th should also be a tricky game. Can the Buckeyes go undefeated again? Absolutely. Will they go undefeated again? Not likely. The leadership and coaching skills of head coach Urban Meyer will definitely need to be on display this season.
2. Stanford
Nick Saban has been called by many the best coach in college football. Will there ever be a coach that can be as successful as Nick Saban? The answer is yes. The coach that can do this is Stanford head coach David Shaw. Stanford is hungry for a national championship appearance and they are ready to prove themselves as a dominant football program. The Cardinals will not disappoint. Stanford returns a very good defense that may be one of the best in the country by season’s end. Quarterback Kevin Hogan has proven he can be a leader. He will need to show his leadership skills due to lack of experience at the receiver and tight end position. David Shaw is an elite coach and he is ready to take his team to the top. The Cardinals have their hearts set on Pasadena and that is not out of the question. If Stanford can handle tough games against UCLA, Oregon, and USC, the sky will be the limit for this team. Do not be surprised if David Shaw gets a lot of big offers after season’s end. When Shaw was asked about the upcoming 2013 season he said, "The biggest question I had for the guys is, 'Are they collectively hungry?' The older guys have answered...There is no Rose Bowl hangover."
1. Alabama
Nick Saban has created a dynasty at Alabama. A coach who came to the university living in the shadow of the great Bear Bryant has now created his own legacy and his own shadow. The Crimson Tide has all the mechanics to win their fourth national title in five years. Now executing will be the most important part. Alabama returns two possible Heisman candidates in AJ McCarron and T.J. Yeldon. The defense is stacked with big time players thanks in part to the great depth Alabama has. The biggest question mark for the Crimson Tide is filling in the holes on the offensive line. While Alabama returns two great linemen in Cyrus Kouandijo and Anthony Steen, Alabama still faces a little bit of concern as they try to rebuild the offensive line. New offensive line coach Mario Cristoball seems to have what he needs on a team that has plenty of depth. Winning a national championship is difficult. Alabama accomplished it. Winning back to back national championships is even more difficult. Alabama also accomplished that feat. Can Alabama continue their dynasty with their third straight national championship? Anything can happen in the SEC, but Alabama and Nick Saban always seem to be a step ahead of everybody else.
Honorable Mentions
USC
Auburn
Vanderbilt
Washington
Georgia Tech
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