With just a few games left in the 2011-12 bowl season, we thought now would be the perfect time to release our WAY too early 2012 college football pre-season rankings. Our prediction, as it stands now, it that the SEC will again win the National Championship next season, with LSU possibly repeating if they can take down conference foe Alabama in this years game. We are predicting LSU is potentially one of the best teams in the past 15 season in 2012.
We also go ahead and predict the records of the top ten teams for next season, bowl game included.
After much debate and banter in the office, below is the full list of the Top 25 College Football Teams of 2012. The road to the 2013 BCS Championship in Miami.
1. LSU
Could it be anyone else? The 2012 LSU Tigers will begin the season with 2005 USC-like hype. Some analysts will go overboard and call them the 'best team ever' in the pre-season. The defense should be one of the most experienced and talented to ever lace them up on a college football field. Fear The Hat. Predicted record: 14-0 National Champions, SEC Champs
2. Oregon
What is not to like about Oregon? 3 straight BCS games has gotten this team and staff accustomed to playing on the big stage. If everything falls in place, the Pac 12 championship game could be a winner to BCS Title Game with USC. Predicted record: 12-2 Loss vs. LSU in BCS Championship, Pac 12 Champs
3. USC
When Matt Barkley announced he was returning to USC for his senior season, it officially stamped USC as being BACK to relevance in the college football landscape. Their 2 year bow ban is over, and USC is stacked on offense. Look for Barkley to be the 2012 Heisman favorite as well. Predicted record: 12-2 Beat Michigan in Rose Bowl
4. Alabama
Exit Trent Richardson, enter Dee Hart at RB and the Crimson Tide has its next star for the next 3-4 seasons. Hart, who red-shirted this season with an ACL injury, is set to explode into the 'Bama starting lineup in 2012. QB AJ McCarron returns to lead a veteran 'Bama squad. In addition to the daunting SEC schedule, the Tide open the season against #5 Michigan. Predicted record: 11-2 Beat Nebraska in Sugar Bowl
5. Michigan
QB Denard Robinson returns at QB for a resurgent Michigan program that should be hitting on all cylinders in 2012. Michigan loses DT Mike Martin and C David Molk, but return almost every key player. An opening game win against #4 Alabama could propel Michigan to an undefeated season and Denard Robinson to a Heisman. Predicted record: 12-2. Rose Bowl loss to USC, Big Ten Champs
Vote now: Who should be #1 in college football in 2012?
6. Oklahoma
With QB Landry Jones likely returning to Norman, the Sooners should once again be loaded and favored to win the Big 12. The Sooners have an interesting mid-season matchup with Notre Dame coming to Norman that could prove tricky. With Baylor and Oklahoma State losing many key pieces, Oklahoma could make a run through the Big 12 undefeated. Predicted record: 11-2 Beat Clemson in Fiesta Bowl, Big 12 Champs
7. Virginia Tech
An early season trip to Pitt is tricky, but the Hokies should run through Pitt on way to an ACC Championship in 2012. If the Hokies can get the Clemson monkey off its back, they will have a shot to represent the ACC in the BCS Championship Game next season. QB Logan Thomas should explode onto the national radar next season. Predicted record: 13-1 Beat WVU in Orange Bowl, ACC Champs
8. Arkansas
Bobby Petrino has taken Arkansas to new heights in his short time with the Razorbacks. After a BCS appearance last season, the Razorbacks flirted with a BCS game again this season, giving LSU all they could handle for 1/2 a game with a shot at the BCS on the line. Arkansas will host LSU and Alabama next season, which will give them a chance to break through and win the SEC West . . . the toughest division in all of sports. Predicted record: 10-3 Beat Michigan State in Capital One Bowl
9. Clemson
The Clemson offense, with QB Tajh Boyd and this seasons super-frosh, WR Sammy Watkins returning, is good enough to beat any team it faces. If not for some major losses on defense, the Tigers would be ranked in the top 5. Clemson's biggest hurdle should be a trip to face Florida State. Win that, and sky is the limit. Predicted record: 11-3 Lose to Oklahoma in Fiesta Bowl
10. Georgia
QB Aaron Murray had a very strong season as a RS sophomore, throwing for 35 TD and 14 INT. The Dawgs will have to reload on the offensive line, and the secondary is a tad suspect. This team found a winning formula after a couple early season setbacks and will be a force to be reckoned with in 2012. We expect them to win the SEC East again and face LSU in a rematch of 2011 SEC Championship game. 11-3 Beat Wisconsin in Outback Bowl
11. South Carolina
With the return of RB superstar Marcus Lattimore, the Cocks will be an outstanding squad in 2012. The 2011 team was the best team in school history according to many people and 2012 should be even better. The team awaits the NFL decisions of some key underclassmen, including cornerback Stephon Gilmore, that could affect this ranking.
12. Nebraska
T-Magic, aka Taylor Martinez leads Nebraska into 2012 coming off a very strong performance in 2011. Martinez has Nebraska on the cusp of a BCS at-large bid in their first season in the Big Ten. A blowout loss to Michigan halted Nebraska's BCS dreams, which led to a 30-13 loss to South Carolina in the Capital One Bowl. Nebraska will not make Big Ten title game, but will secure a BCS bid similar to Michigan this season.
13. Texas
The Longhorns had a very shaky 2011 season, but the one thing that will carry the team into 2012 team is a potentially dominant defense in 2012. QBs Case McCoy and David Ash will likely battle for the starting QB role, while RB tandem Joe Bergeron and Malcolm Brown will carry the load. The defense should be the best in the Big 12. The Longhorns will have revenge on their mind when they face Oklahoma, attempting to avenge a 55-17 blowout loss in 2011.
14. West Virginia
The Big East is trying its best to keep WVU in the conference for the 2012 season. If they stay in Big East, and are not granted the ability to move to Big 12 immediately, we predict this team to have a BCS year. This prediction will greatly change if they end up in the Big 12 next season. An early season trip to Florida State looks to be a loss, which will probably be the only loss this high-powered squad has in the regular season. The Big East is very weak next season and we expect WVU to roll through the conference undefeated. Big East Champs.
16. Michigan State
The Spartans lose Kirk Cousins, arguably the best QB in school history. Coach Mark Dantonio has taken MSU to success levels they have never been before, including 4 straight wins vs. Michigan. The Spartans, under Dantonio have been consistently tough minded running teams with great defenses. 2012 will be no different. Although we don't see them winning the conference, the Spartans will be a very tough game for every team they face.
17. Wisconsin
Although they lose QB Russell Wilson, and Montee Ball will likely go pro, Coach Bret Bielema has a knack for having his teams ready to play every game. Look for Wisconsin to again have a power running game, no matter if Ball returns or not. We see Wisconsin navigating through the incredibly weak Big Ten leaders division and facing Michigan in a return trip to the Big Ten Championship. The Badgers only losses next season will likely be against cross-division foes Michigan State and Nebraska.
18. Florida State
Many publicaions will give the Seminoles a huge bump in the 2012 pre-season ranking due to a win over a hapless Notre Dame team in the Champs Sports Bowl . We aren't one of them. The Seminoles were easily the most disappointing team in 2011, losing 4 games, including 3 in a row early in the season. We expect FSU to compete in 2012, but be a notch below ACC favorites Clemson and V. Tech.
19. Washington
Watch out for the Huskies in 2012. QB Keith Price was an underrated star in 2011, with over 3,000 yards passing and 33 TDs. He capped off a great season with a stellar 438 yards passing and 4 TDs in an epic 67-56 loss in the Alamo Bowl to Baylor. Coach Steve Sarkisian has the Huskies on the right track and should compete for a PAC 12 title in 2012. Their game against Oregon could derail the Ducks National Title aspirations. The road gets tough early with a trip to LSU in the second week.
20. Stanford
Even though QB Andrew Luck has gone on to the NFL, as #1 pick in the 2012 draft, the Cardinal still have a boatload of talent. Former coach Jim Harbaugh recruited at a very high level and that has continued under Coach David Shaw in the past year. The Cardinal welcome Brett Nottingham as the new starting QB. The RS sophomore has a NFL frame and has shown glimpses of greatness in practice. Expect Nottingham to be a known name next season.
21. Florida
While the Gators will not be favored by anyone to win the SEC, they will have a solid base to return respectability. After beating Ohio State in the Gator Bowl, Florida heads into the off-season beaming with confidence and ready to put 2011 behind them. This is a team that will lose 4-5 games, but will be in every game and give every team they face fits. Expect them Gators to return a very strong defense next season. Losing OC Charlie Weis to Kansas may be addition by subtraction.
22. Georgia Tech
Coach Paul Johnson has something brewing in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets are a fit for every team they play, administering a triple-option offense that most teams are not prepared to face. A stronger than expected defense returns most key players in 2012. The Jackets are a team to watch.
23. Boise State
With TCU exiting for the Big 12, Boise has a chance to go undefeated, again. The last two seasons have seen enormous expectations and a shot at the BCS Championship dashed by losses no one saw coming. TCU in 2011 and Nevada in 2010 have dashed Boise's chances of becoming the 'Butler' of the BCS. While the lose 4 year starter QB Kellen Moore, the Broncos reputation over the past decade lands them in the top 25 every year as far as we are concerned.
24. Ohio State
Sophomore QB Braxton Miller showed flashes of brilliance in 2011, especially against BCS teams Michigan and Wisconsin. Urban Meyer should use Miller's feet to exploit defenses in the Big Ten next season, OSU is trying to turn the tide and return to glory after a disastrous 2011 that saw coach Jim Tressel fired and the school lose 7 games for the first time in over 100 years.
25. Auburn
The Tigers took an expected step back in 2011 and played plenty of players that were not ready to compete for titles. The Tigers return 17 starters on O/D and should be a team to watch in the SEC West. A first week match up vs. Clemson will set the tone for the 2012 Tigers season.
Others to watch: Notre Dame, Baylor, Kansas St., Oklahoma State, Utah & Louisville
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