Listed below are The Sports Muffin's 2008 Top 25 College Football Teams. This list was compiled using our guest editor Ben Koo's brilliance.
1. Ohio State-
Return 18 starters including a handful of first round draft picks
2. Georgia
Potent offense with Moreno and Stafford coupled with solid defense
3. Florida
The defense is iffy but what teams can realistically outscore an offense with Tebow and Harvin?
4. Missouri
The Big 12 is stacked in 2008, but the Tigers offensive excellence combined with 9 starters returning on the defense, makes them the team to beat.
5. USC
The offense will be better than anticipated, however the defense is going to have to step quickly with Ohio State coming to town in week 3.
6. Oklahoma
The Sooners may field the best offense in the Stoops era, but the defense will have to replace a lot of departing talent
7. West Virginia
The defense is going to give up a lot of points but with all five starters returning on the line Pat White and company maybe able to outscore any team in the nation.
8. Clemson
Handicapping the ACC is quite the challenge. Clemson is one of the best team's in the county discounting their overhauled offensive line.
9. Wisconsin
The Badgers are going to win often and ugly in 2008 and may contend with the Buckeyes should Allan Evridge develop into a formidable quarterback.
10. Kansas
Experts are overlooking the Jayhawks as if 2007 was a fluke. It wasn't and 2008 won't be either.
11. Tennessee
Question marks at quarterback and the defensive front seven, but this year maybe the year Fulmer makes another run at a BSC bowl with a lots of talent returning on offense.
12. Arizona State
The Sun Devils were Jekyll and Hyde in 2007 but look to be the second best team in the Pac 10 with talent and experience at the skills position on offense.
13. BYU
The best non BCS team hails from Utah. I give the nod to BYU over Utah which returns more firepower on offense than their in state rivals.
14. Texas
Texas was a top ten team until Jamaal Charles decided to bolt for the NFL. The Longhorns have the talent to content for the Big 12 South, but will have their hands full with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech.
15. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders have flirted with being an upper tier Big 12 team, but may have the talent in place to actually make a run at a Big 12 Championship game. Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree might shatter the record books in 08, but the Red Raiders will still need to play some defense to compete with Oklahoma and Texas.
16. LSU
The national champs lose a lot of talent to the NFL and have a glaring question mark at the quarterback position. Regardless they will be competitive and could earn their way back into the SEC Championship game.
17. Penn State
Joe Pa's last harrah? QB play is the one huge question mark with some pretty impressive talent on both sides of the ball.
18. Auburn
Solid QB will put the Tigers in the top 10 but I am not sold on Tony Franklin or Kody Burns just yet.
19. Virginia Tech
The defending conference champs got worked in the Orange Bowl and now have to deal with replacing a hoard of NFL departures. I expect them to take a step back this year, but you would imagine Frank Beamer will have his team in contention to repeat.
20. Illinois
Its hard to handicap Illinois this year with many glaring experience gaps in the starting lineup. Lehman and Mendenhall will be sorely missed but another year of Juice Williams improvement may keep the Illini in contention for the Big Ten.
21. Alabama
One of the most inconsistent teams in 2007, Bama looks to rally around John Parker Wilson and a stellar offensive line in hopes of competing with the upper eshelon of the SEC.
22. Oregon
The Ducks will take a big step back this year with Dixon and Stewart gone to the NFL. However Mike Belotti maybe the most underrated coach in the country and has some premier talent at receiver, defensive line, and offensive line to rebuild with.
23. USF
The defense lost a lot of talent, but Matt Grothe leads what will be one of the best offense's in the conference and maybe the country.
24. Wake Forrest
Some questions marks on both lines, but the Demon Deacons may have the best combination of experience, talent, and coaching in the ACC.
25. Oklahoma State-
The Cowboys may have the talent to beef with the Big 12's elite in 2008. The defensive front seven is the only thing holding back the Cowboys from a top 15 ranking in my eyes.
1. Ohio State-
Return 18 starters including a handful of first round draft picks
2. Georgia
Potent offense with Moreno and Stafford coupled with solid defense
3. Florida
The defense is iffy but what teams can realistically outscore an offense with Tebow and Harvin?
4. Missouri
The Big 12 is stacked in 2008, but the Tigers offensive excellence combined with 9 starters returning on the defense, makes them the team to beat.
5. USC
The offense will be better than anticipated, however the defense is going to have to step quickly with Ohio State coming to town in week 3.
6. Oklahoma
The Sooners may field the best offense in the Stoops era, but the defense will have to replace a lot of departing talent
7. West Virginia
The defense is going to give up a lot of points but with all five starters returning on the line Pat White and company maybe able to outscore any team in the nation.
8. Clemson
Handicapping the ACC is quite the challenge. Clemson is one of the best team's in the county discounting their overhauled offensive line.
9. Wisconsin
The Badgers are going to win often and ugly in 2008 and may contend with the Buckeyes should Allan Evridge develop into a formidable quarterback.
10. Kansas
Experts are overlooking the Jayhawks as if 2007 was a fluke. It wasn't and 2008 won't be either.
11. Tennessee
Question marks at quarterback and the defensive front seven, but this year maybe the year Fulmer makes another run at a BSC bowl with a lots of talent returning on offense.
12. Arizona State
The Sun Devils were Jekyll and Hyde in 2007 but look to be the second best team in the Pac 10 with talent and experience at the skills position on offense.
13. BYU
The best non BCS team hails from Utah. I give the nod to BYU over Utah which returns more firepower on offense than their in state rivals.
14. Texas
Texas was a top ten team until Jamaal Charles decided to bolt for the NFL. The Longhorns have the talent to content for the Big 12 South, but will have their hands full with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech.
15. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders have flirted with being an upper tier Big 12 team, but may have the talent in place to actually make a run at a Big 12 Championship game. Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree might shatter the record books in 08, but the Red Raiders will still need to play some defense to compete with Oklahoma and Texas.
16. LSU
The national champs lose a lot of talent to the NFL and have a glaring question mark at the quarterback position. Regardless they will be competitive and could earn their way back into the SEC Championship game.
17. Penn State
Joe Pa's last harrah? QB play is the one huge question mark with some pretty impressive talent on both sides of the ball.
18. Auburn
Solid QB will put the Tigers in the top 10 but I am not sold on Tony Franklin or Kody Burns just yet.
19. Virginia Tech
The defending conference champs got worked in the Orange Bowl and now have to deal with replacing a hoard of NFL departures. I expect them to take a step back this year, but you would imagine Frank Beamer will have his team in contention to repeat.
20. Illinois
Its hard to handicap Illinois this year with many glaring experience gaps in the starting lineup. Lehman and Mendenhall will be sorely missed but another year of Juice Williams improvement may keep the Illini in contention for the Big Ten.
21. Alabama
One of the most inconsistent teams in 2007, Bama looks to rally around John Parker Wilson and a stellar offensive line in hopes of competing with the upper eshelon of the SEC.
22. Oregon
The Ducks will take a big step back this year with Dixon and Stewart gone to the NFL. However Mike Belotti maybe the most underrated coach in the country and has some premier talent at receiver, defensive line, and offensive line to rebuild with.
23. USF
The defense lost a lot of talent, but Matt Grothe leads what will be one of the best offense's in the conference and maybe the country.
24. Wake Forrest
Some questions marks on both lines, but the Demon Deacons may have the best combination of experience, talent, and coaching in the ACC.
25. Oklahoma State-
The Cowboys may have the talent to beef with the Big 12's elite in 2008. The defensive front seven is the only thing holding back the Cowboys from a top 15 ranking in my eyes.
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