Early Top 10 for 2012 NCAA Football Season
1. LSU Tigers
The Tigers are absolutely loaded, and you aren’t going to hear about a ton of players from this roster that are leaving for the NFL. Not only that, but they could be starting a true freshman at quarterback next year who is regarded as the best pro-style quarterback in the country in Gunner Kiel. This team has three first rounders on the defensive line, the Honey Badger, and a ton of top ranked recruits coming up through the ranks. These guys are going to be very, very good.
2. USC Trojans
I flirted with putting SC in the top spot here, but I thought LSU’s defense was just too talented. SC returns Matt Barkley at quarterback, Robert Woods and Marquise Hill at wide receiver, and a whole lot of young players defensively. These guys are–from top to bottom–probably the most stacked team in the Pac-12 and I thought they were one of the teams that could make noise in some kind of playoff system if there was one at the end of the year. Explosive offense, improving defense. These guys could be special.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
If A.J. McCarron continues to improve as a passer, there is a chance the Tide could repeat next year. They have so many weapons on both offense and defense that I think they could be under easy consideration as the top team in the country heading into next year as well. They could be losing 14 starters in total, which is a significant impact, but Nick Saban is arguably the best coach in college football right now, and they have four and five star prospects up the wazoo.
4. Oklahoma Sooners
Landry Jones is returning to school next year, and I think he’s going to have a fantastic senior season and help Oklahoma win a Big 12 title. He has great targets in the passing game, a heck of an offensive line, and Dominique Whaley is coming back off of a season ending ankle injury. Losing Ryan Broyles has and will hurt, but they have the talent to be able to compensate.
5. Oregon Ducks
Darron Thomas is coming back along with DeAnthony Thomas and Kenjon Barner, and those guys should be able to form another dominant offensive attack next year. The Ducks have one of the best home field advantages in college football, but the real test will be when they head to USC in early November.
6. Florida State Seminoles
Okay, really, this will be Florida State’s year. These guys are absolutely getting some of the biggest hauls in recruiting the last few years, and with E.J. Manuel coming back, I think they are poised to make a run at an ACC title and possibly be up there with some of the best teams in all of college football.
7. Georgia Bulldogs
Aaron Murray, Malcolm Mitchell, and Isaiah Crowell were three young playmakers for a Bulldogs team that played pretty good football in 2011, and expectations are going to be really high for those guys to be even better in 2012. They might not be as talented from top to bottom as Alabama or LSU, but you might be surprised at just how good this team can me. Jarvis Jones coming back on the other side is a huge deal for the Bulldogs as well.
8. West Virginia Mountaineers
Geno Smith is one of my favorite quarterbacks in college football, and you saw a glimpse of what this offense is capable of in their bowl game. I think the Mountaineers could be one of the highest scoring teams in college ball next year (bold, right?) and I think they will win the Big East with relative ease.
9. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Head coach Brady Hoke brought this team to a BCS bowl in his first season as head coach. They have a really good recruiting class coming in, and bring back Denard Robinson, one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.
10. South Carolina Gamecocks
Marcus Lattimore. Any questions? In all seriousness, this team has to replace quite a few starters but they are already a year ahead at quarterback, and the defense is bringing back Jadaveon Clowney, one of the most exciting young players in all of college football. The Ol’ Ball Coach should be able to get this team into SEC title contention.