Tony's Top 25 Wes' Top 25
1. LSU: Will have a vertical passing game with Zach Mettenberger. 1. Southern Cal- "The Boy Wonder gets his chance with the Trojans.  Barkley and Woods make it tough for everybody else.
2. USC: Matt Barkley comes back with Robert Woods (111 catches). 2. LSU- The Tigers were really good on defense for 13 games this year, and now has a solid QB in Mettenberger to pull the trigger.
3. Alabama: They lose some very good pieces on defense but they now have a QB in McCarron...open with Michigan on Sept. 1. 3. Oklahoma- The return of Landry Jones gives the Sooners a leg up on what might be the toughest conference in the country next fall.
4. Arkansas: Knile Davis comes back at RB...they are going to have some JUCO pieces on defense. 4. Alabama – It’s going to be interesting to see how much confidence A.J. McCarron built off his performance in the BCS title game. Oh yeah, they’ll be good on “D”…again.
5. Oklahoma: Landry Jones comes back...defense will be better under Mike Stoops...this team will be hungry again. 5. Arkansas – One year soon, Petrino is going to break through the wall of Bama & LSU in the SEC West. With Tyler Wilson and Knile Davis, that could be now.
6. Oregon: DeAnthony Thomas gives them super star running back...USC and Oregon meet Nov. 3; QB Darron Thomas gone. 6. Oregon – The loss of James & Thomas on offense will be interesting, but the system works for Kelly’s Ducks.
7. Michigan State: My favorite to win the Big Ten because Urban Meyer can’t..they lose Kirk Cousins but very athletic defense returns. 7. Georgia – The Bulldogs bring back solid players at every position and have the benefit of not seeing any SEC West power until Atlanta.
8. South Carolina: If Marcus Lattimore comes back full strength…and I’m told he will, Spurrier will again have the formula to win…defense must continue to play well with new DC. 8. Michigan – Dennard Robinson coming back is one thing, but the vibes of the Sugar Bowl could help lay the ground work for this fall.
9. TCU: They were 11-2 in a transition year and now they are ready to make noise in the Big 12. 9. South Carolina – With Lattimore and Shaw on offense, and Clowney spearheading the defense, its possible they might be better than a year ago.
10. Georgia: Nation’s No. 5 defense remains intact….easiest schedule again….Aaron Murray…they will sign two of the best high school running backs in the country…I could have Georgia too low…. 10. West Virginia – How much momentum can you build after putting 70 points on the board in the Orange Bowl? We are getting ready to find out.
11. Michigan: Denard Robinson comes back. Eight starters from defense. 11. Clemson – How much can you learn from giving up 70 points in the Orange Bowl? We are getting ready to find out.
12. Clemson: Sammy Watkins, Tajh Boyd, Andre Ellington…total of seven offensive starters. 12. TCU – New league, new rivals, same deal. Frogs can play defense, Patterson will have an impact in new conference.
13. Wisconsin: Russell Wilson is gone but RB Montee Ball (39 TD rushing last season) is back. 13. Florida State – The Seminoles need to find the swagger they had early last year. Some of these recruiting classes need to start producing.
14. West Virginia: Second year under Dana Holgorsen; Gino Smith back. 14. Ohio State – At some point next fall, you’ll know that Urban Meyer is the coach of the Buckeyes. When that happens will determine the success of their season.
15. Florida State: We overrated them last year because the offensive line had issues. Defense will be good again. 15. Virginia Tech – The Hokies should be better on defense, but the key will be the play of Logan Thomas. All of their big division games are at home.
16. Kansas State: QB Collin Klein is back and that spells trouble. Don’t underestimate Bill Snyder and the Wildcats. 16. Utah – While all the attention will be on USC, the Utes might be a dark horse in the Pac-12 with key players back on both sides.
17. Ohio State: Braxton Miller and Urban Meyer will be a good combination. 17. Kansas State – The Wildcats were a nice story last fall. Can they keep pace with the rest of the Big 12 this fall. Snyder has had the magic touch since coming back.
18. Oklahoma State: Cowboys will certainly miss Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden. Offense will rely on RB Joseph Randle. 18. Oklahoma State – The Cowboys lose Weeden and Blackmon, but have Randle back to run it. Their defense was solid last fall. Gundy is a solid coach too.
19. Auburn: This much we know. The defense will be better. What we don’t know is how the offense will fare with the departure of RB Michael Dyer and OC Gus Malzahn. 19. Wisconsin – Despite the loss of Wilson and their OC, the Badgers will still be a tough out in the Big 10. Montee Ball is a legit Heisman contender again.
20. Nebraska:  17 starters return but Huskers have to be better on defense to challenge in the Big Ten. 20. Notre Dame – It’s probably time for Brian Kelly’s team to play like they want to go to the BCS again. Defensively they should be solid.
21. Virginia Tech: Hokies lose David Wilson but when has Virginia Tech been without a running back? Most of the defense returns. 21. Texas – There will be more pressure on the ‘Horns than at any other point in Mack Brown’s tenure in Austin. With TCU in the league, Texas can’t give any ground.
22. Texas: The defense will continue to get better but the Longhorns have to find a quarterback. 22. Baylor – How much did one player mean to a program? We are really getting ready to find out with the Bears.
23. Stanford: The Cardinal will miss Andrew Luck but most of a really good defense comes back. 23. Florida – The Gators were hit with injuries last year…at least that’s what we want to think. Now with Brent Peas as the OC, it could pretty interesting in Gainesville.
24. Georgia Tech: This team is going to surprise some people with all of the starters back on the offensive line. The defense will be better. 24. Boise State – You thought I had forgotten the Broncos. New QB, might not mean much, because the guy on the sideline stayed the same.
25. Notre Dame: Should be great on defense...just landed a very good QB prospect in Gunner Kiel. 25. Auburn – Not sure how some of this is going to play out, but with Van Gorder calling the defense it could be the return to the top for the Tigers.