Mark Ingram and Alabama begin the 2010 campaign just where it ended last season, no. 1.
It is likely the most unimportant vote by college football pollsters each year.
USA Today revealed its preseason top 25 poll Friday, with defending national champion Alabama ranked no. 1 after receiving 55 first place votes.
Ohio State was the only other team to receive first place votes (4). After finishing strong to end the 2009 campaign, capping it with a Big Ten title and a 26-17 victory over Oregon at the Rose Bowl was enough for voters to tab the Buckeyes as no. 2.
The Jeff Brantley era begins with a no. 3 ranking for Florida, which though unproven is still a very talented squad. Rounding out the top 5 are last year's national runner-up Texas, and Boise State, which finished an undefeated 2009 campaign with a 17-10 win over TCU in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
As with any season, it begins with many questions. However, the 2010 college football season has a wealth of questions in need of answering, from top to bottom.
Each of the top 5 teams in the first USA Today poll has points of emphasis which will determine exactly how their seasons will go. Here are a few:
1. Alabama - After finishing undefeated and returning the storied program back to glory, the Crimson Tide should be as talented on the offensive side of the ball as any in the country this season, returning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, quarterback Greg McElroy and wide receiver Julio Jones.
Unlike last year, Alabama has an abundance of questions to answer on defense after graduation and the NFL draft took eight pieces of what was the nation's no. 2-ranked defense. For there to be glory in Tuscaloosa again in January, the defense will have to grow up -- fast.
2. Ohio State - The Buckeyes earned a measure of respect New Year's Day at the Rose Bowl in its disposal of Oregon, in the process proving the program could indeed reverse its current trend of finding ways to lose big games.
At the forefront of this about face was junior signal caller Terrelle Pryor, who showed toward the end of the season that he was evolving into the type quarterback which is able to be relied on in the clutch, which was not previously the case.
If Ohio State can weather an early tussle with Miami (Fla.) and road conference games at Wisconsin (Oct. 16) and Iowa (Nov. 20), watch out -- head coach Jim Tressel could again be leading his team to Arizona with a shot at the national title.
3. Florida - The biggest question about this bunch of Gators is not who is on the team, but what type of team will this be?
Obviously, the offense will be much different from the Tim Tebow-led squads of the past three seasons, taking on a more traditional approach under redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley. The biggest strength on this side of the ball may be its offensive line, returning center Mike Pouncey, right guard Carl Johnson and left tackle Marcus Gilbert, allowing the new signal caller to settle in among his many weapons led by speedy junior running back Jeff Demps.
Florida's defensive unit also must address an array of departures, only four starters returning from last year's campaign. The secondary will likely set the tone early on this side of the ball, with talented safety Ahmad Black and cornerback Janoris Jenkins doing their best to harass opposing receiving corps.
4. Texas - Similar to Florida, the Longhorns are breaking in a new starting quarterback in 2010, though each of us already know what true sophomore Garrett Gilbert is capable of.
With Texas trailing big in the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama, Gilbert replaced an injured Colt McCoy and nearly was able to pull off what would have been one of the most memorable comebacks in college football history. He is no longer as much a question mark on a team though talented on offense is rather inexperienced, particularly in the trenches.The offensive gameplan will also tend to be more balanced, quite different from what McCoy was able to offer during his time in Austin.
The Longhorns should remain one of the top defensive units in the country under the direction of coordinator Will Muschamp.
5. Boise State - If there was any better time for the Broncos to take the next step as an elite football program, 2010 would be it.
Already proving it belongs in the conversation as powerhouse despite not being a part of a BCS conference, Boise State with 17 starters returning from an undefeated team last season conceivably could make a run at the national title this year.
For the Broncos, a Labor Day matchup against Virginia Tech in Landover, Md., might as well be regarded as D-Day for the team, the Hokies likely their stiffest test of the campaign.
USA Today revealed its preseason top 25 poll Friday, with defending national champion Alabama ranked no. 1 after receiving 55 first place votes.
Ohio State was the only other team to receive first place votes (4). After finishing strong to end the 2009 campaign, capping it with a Big Ten title and a 26-17 victory over Oregon at the Rose Bowl was enough for voters to tab the Buckeyes as no. 2.
The Jeff Brantley era begins with a no. 3 ranking for Florida, which though unproven is still a very talented squad. Rounding out the top 5 are last year's national runner-up Texas, and Boise State, which finished an undefeated 2009 campaign with a 17-10 win over TCU in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
As with any season, it begins with many questions. However, the 2010 college football season has a wealth of questions in need of answering, from top to bottom.
Each of the top 5 teams in the first USA Today poll has points of emphasis which will determine exactly how their seasons will go. Here are a few:
1. Alabama - After finishing undefeated and returning the storied program back to glory, the Crimson Tide should be as talented on the offensive side of the ball as any in the country this season, returning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, quarterback Greg McElroy and wide receiver Julio Jones.
Unlike last year, Alabama has an abundance of questions to answer on defense after graduation and the NFL draft took eight pieces of what was the nation's no. 2-ranked defense. For there to be glory in Tuscaloosa again in January, the defense will have to grow up -- fast.
2. Ohio State - The Buckeyes earned a measure of respect New Year's Day at the Rose Bowl in its disposal of Oregon, in the process proving the program could indeed reverse its current trend of finding ways to lose big games.
At the forefront of this about face was junior signal caller Terrelle Pryor, who showed toward the end of the season that he was evolving into the type quarterback which is able to be relied on in the clutch, which was not previously the case.
If Ohio State can weather an early tussle with Miami (Fla.) and road conference games at Wisconsin (Oct. 16) and Iowa (Nov. 20), watch out -- head coach Jim Tressel could again be leading his team to Arizona with a shot at the national title.
3. Florida - The biggest question about this bunch of Gators is not who is on the team, but what type of team will this be?
Obviously, the offense will be much different from the Tim Tebow-led squads of the past three seasons, taking on a more traditional approach under redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley. The biggest strength on this side of the ball may be its offensive line, returning center Mike Pouncey, right guard Carl Johnson and left tackle Marcus Gilbert, allowing the new signal caller to settle in among his many weapons led by speedy junior running back Jeff Demps.
Florida's defensive unit also must address an array of departures, only four starters returning from last year's campaign. The secondary will likely set the tone early on this side of the ball, with talented safety Ahmad Black and cornerback Janoris Jenkins doing their best to harass opposing receiving corps.
4. Texas - Similar to Florida, the Longhorns are breaking in a new starting quarterback in 2010, though each of us already know what true sophomore Garrett Gilbert is capable of.
With Texas trailing big in the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama, Gilbert replaced an injured Colt McCoy and nearly was able to pull off what would have been one of the most memorable comebacks in college football history. He is no longer as much a question mark on a team though talented on offense is rather inexperienced, particularly in the trenches.The offensive gameplan will also tend to be more balanced, quite different from what McCoy was able to offer during his time in Austin.
The Longhorns should remain one of the top defensive units in the country under the direction of coordinator Will Muschamp.
5. Boise State - If there was any better time for the Broncos to take the next step as an elite football program, 2010 would be it.
Already proving it belongs in the conversation as powerhouse despite not being a part of a BCS conference, Boise State with 17 starters returning from an undefeated team last season conceivably could make a run at the national title this year.
For the Broncos, a Labor Day matchup against Virginia Tech in Landover, Md., might as well be regarded as D-Day for the team, the Hokies likely their stiffest test of the campaign.
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