2010 College Football Top 10

I am glad that I waited to unveil my rankings because with Pete Carroll bolting to the NFL and Lane Kiffin taking over at USC there was a big shake up in the college football world. When looking to next season, there is a lot to consider. No team is perfect. Here is my look at the 2010 top 10:

1. Alabama - They almost everybody including the Heisman winner Mark Ingram, but certainly losing key defensive players will hurt them some. But Nick Saban is a great recruiter and I am sure he will find some athletes to replace the departing players. Bama has key games vs. Penn St and Florida early in the season so we should know how focused and ready they are to defend their title early.

2. Ohio St - Terrelle Pryor is the key to the season. The schedule sets up nice with Miami (Fl), Penn St, and Michigan at home and key road games @ Wisconsin and Iowa. If Pryror can be the caretaker he was down the stretch I like Ohio St's chances of running the table. If he has a slip up, I dont think the media will be forgiving with Ohio State.

3. USC - For a program that is under NCAA investigation, hiring Lane Kiffin was a bold move. They get rewarded for this bold move by a high ranking in this poll. Kiffin is inheriting a much better situation that the one he had at Tennessee. Even with the better competition in the PAC 10, Kiffin will be able to win from day 1. He is bringing a "dream team" of coaches so I trust the players will be ready to go(his father, Monte, will be defensive coordinator, Norm Chow as offensive coordinator, and recruiting genius Ed Orgeron).

4. Boise St. - Matt Tramba has them ranked @ #1! With 21 of 22 starters returning from an undefeated season, I understand why. Boise will get its chance to prove it belongs by playing Oregon St and traveling to Virginia Tech, teams that will be ranked in the top 25. But my problem with Boise is that they only have to win 2 games because the rest of there schedule is filled with essentially 1AA opponents.

5. Florida - Gator fans will miss Tim Tebow. But Florida is getting all the best players and Im sure Urban will have this team ready to eat nails when they rematch with Bama on October 2nd.

6. Nebraska - The Black Shirts are backs! Certainly losing King Kong from your defense will hurt, but they had a young offense and I trust Bo Pelini's ability to coach 'em up on the defensive side.

7. Pittsburgh - RB Dion Lewis is a stud. I expect the Panthers will be able to replace Bill Stull at QB because of Lewis and WR Jonathan Baldwin.

8. Wisconsin - RB John Clay goes into beast mode every game. QB Scott Tolzien was improving. This team really impressed me in there bowl game against Miami.

9. Texas - QB Garrett Gilbert got his baptism by fire in the National Championship game, but he got his feet under him in the second half. Texas has been able to recruit top players, so I think they will be able to surround Gilbert with enough players to compete in the Big 12.

10. Oregon - They have almost everybody coming back from a video game offense. But the defense will have to be improved in order for them to compete with USC and Oregon St for the PAC 10 title.