ZN's CFB Top 25 :: Week 1 2009

Open the book on 2009. I have to admit that I generally don't enjoy seasons like this. It will be pretty much Florida plus everyone else. Even if the Gators lose a game, Florida will be still guaranteed a BCS Championship Game berth if there are no undefeated teams or only one loss teams remaining.

But, what a challenge this will be for the 119 other FBS teams in 2009, knocking the kings from their hill. Who will it be? USC? Oklahoma? Texas? A Cinderella team? This could turn out to be either the most boring season in a long time, or the most exciting. We'll just have to see.

Top 25 below the fold.

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

1. Florida (-), [0-0, DNP]
2. Texas (-), [0-0, DNP]
3. Oklahoma (-), [0-0, DNP]
4. Southern Cal (-), [0-0, DNP]
5. Penn State (-), [0-0, DNP]
6. Alabama (-), [0-0, DNP]
7. Ohio State (-), [0-0, DNP]
8. California (-), [0-0, DNP]
9. Georgia Tech (-), [0-0, DNP]
10. Notre Dame (-), [0-0, DNP]
11. Mississippi (-), [0-0, DNP]
12. Virginia Tech (-), [0-0, DNP]
13. Brigham Young U. (-), [0-0, DNP]
14. Boise State (-), [0-0, DNP]
15. Georgia (-), [0-0, DNP]
16. Oklahoma State (-), [0-0, DNP]
17. Texas Christian (-), [0-0, DNP]
18. Rutgers (-), [0-0, DNP]
19. Illinois (-), [0-0, DNP]
20. Pittsburgh (-), [0-0, DNP]
21. Louisiana State (-), [0-0, DNP]
22. Nebraska (-), [0-0, DNP]
23. Miami(FL) (-), [0-0, DNP]
24. Iowa (-), [0-0, DNP]
25. UCLA (-), [0-0, DNP]

Dropped Out:
N/A

On the Cusp:
Clemson (-), [0-0, DNP]
North Carolina (-), [0-0, DNP]
Michigan State (-), [0-0, DNP]
South Florida (-), [0-0, DNP]
Southern Miss (-), [0-0, DNP]

Notes:
Florida is the unquestioned No. 1 going into this season, no matter what anyone else says. However, after the Gators it's a real toss up, as Texas and Oklahoma will come down to the Red River Shootout, USC has to be the favorite again in the Pac-10, and Penn State has the schedule to run the table. California could finish 11-1 with a loss to USC, but is strong enough to take down the Trojans. I also really like Georgia Tech this season, as the Yellow Jackets return 18 starters from their 9-4 '08 season in which they scored 45 on Georgia. My original pick this offseason to win the ACC was Virginia Tech, but the loss of RB Evans will hurt enough. Most Notre Dame critics will say this is another year the Irish are overrated, but with an easy schedule and 15 returning starters, they could win 11 games.