ZN's CFB Top 25 2009 :: Waaayyy too early

ZN's 2009 Penn State Football Preview - Top 25

Here's the next entry in what's usually the longest part of any football season, the "off"-season. But we all know it's not really "off" because there's just too much stuff going on. You don't get this kind of year-round activity in the pros, especially since their rosters aren't finalized until practically mid-season.

Preseason top 25's are really just a way to incite a riot start a conversation during the down months. Players will get hurt during spring practice, hot teams will cool down, and about a million other things could happen that change the top 25. So here's what we're looking at, right now:

Open the book on 2009...

Rank. Team (LW), [Record, LW Result].

1. Florida (1), [13-1, Won vs Oklahoma 24-14]
2. Oklahoma (4), [12-2, Lost vs Florida 24-14]
3. Texas (5), [12-1, Won vs Ohio State 24-21]
4. Alabama (8), [12-2, Lost vs Utah 31-17]
5. Oregon (10), [10-3, Won vs Oklahoma St 42-31]
6. Virginia Tech (14), [10-4, Won vs Cincinnati 20-7]
7. Penn State (6), [11-2, Lost vs USC 38-24]
8. USC (3), [12-1, Won vs Penn State 38-24]
9. Oklahoma State (24), [9-4, Lost vs Oregon 42-31]
10. Georgia Tech (23), [9-4, Lost vs LSU 38-3]
11. LSU (NR), [8-5, Won vs Georgia Tech 38-3]
12. Ohio State (7), [10-3, Lost vs Texas 24-21]
13. Mississippi (16), [9-4, Won vs Texas Tech 47-34]
14. BYU (21), [10-3, Lost vs Arizona 31-21]
15. Nebraska (NR), [9-4, Won vs Clemson 26-21]
16. Georgia (12), [10-3, Won vs Michigan St 24-12]
17. West Virginia (25), [9-4, Won vs North Carolina 31-30]
18. California (NR), [9-4, Won vs Miami 24-17]
19. Utah (2), [13-0, Won vs Alabama 31-17]
20. Oregon State (19), [9-4, Won vs Pitt 3-0]
21. Florida State (NR), [9-4, Won vs Wisconsin 42-13]
22. Boise State (11), [12-1, Lost vs TCU 17-16]
23. North Carolina (NR), [8-5, Lost vs WVU 31-30]
24. Iowa (13), [9-4, Won vs South Carolina 31-10]
25. Texas Tech (17), [11-2, Lost vs Ole Miss 47-34]

Dropped Out:
Texas Christian (9), [11-2, Won vs Boise State 17-16]
Missouri (15), [10-3, Won vs Northwestern 30-23]
Cincinnati (18), [11-3, Lost vs Virginia Tech 20-7]
Michigan State (20), [9-4, Lost vs Georgia 24-12]
Northwestern (22), [9-4, Lost vs Missouri 30-23OT]

On the Cusp:
Texas Christian (9), [11-2, Won vs Boise State 17-16]
Missouri (15), [10-3, Won vs Northwestern 30-23]
Cincinnati (18), [11-3, Lost vs Virginia Tech 20-7]
Michigan State (20), [9-4, Lost vs Georgia 24-12]
Pittsburgh (NR), [9-4, Lost vs Oregon St 3-0]
South Florida (NR), [8-5, Won vs Memphis 41-14]
Miami, FL (NR), [7-6, Lost vs California 24-17]

Notes:
1. This felt more like the "Top 4 & the other 21." Outside of the top four teams, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Alabama, I don't feel very confident in most of my top 10 teams.
2. Penn State looks like the best team in the BigTen right now... looks like it.
3. I'm not entirely comfortable picking Oregon and Virginia Tech so high, but they do have plenty returning. But there aren't many other options for those slots.
4. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see big years from Nebraska and Ole Miss, as they both have solid seasons to build off going into this season.
5. The that 10 really suck. No, really, they do. None of them impress me going into the off season, and I could probably list about 10 more teams on the "on the cusp" list. Teams that could make waves that didn't make the list: Illinois, Maryland, Rutgers, North Carolina State, Minnesota.