Who's No. 1?

That's a no-brainer. Alabama is No. 1 with their returning class and as defending champs.

UCLA, Baby!

TCU finished 12-1 last year. The Frogs played a respectable schedule, ranked 26th based purely on opponents’ aggregate winning percentage. They’ve developed a reputation on defense, and their total yards allowed was tops in the nation. More surprisingly, their offense was ranked seventh in total yards gained. The Frogs ended up fifth in yards rushing and eighth in passing efficiency. Against the run, they were third, and their pass efficiency defense was fourth. TCU were fifth in scoring offense and sixth in scoring defense. Over the past five years, TCU have the sixth best winning percentage in the country. Gary Patterson, who’s been the HC there through nine seasons, should have been on Mike Garrett’s short list. I believe he has nine starters on offense and seven starters on defense returning this year. TCU’s toughest game will be at Utah toward the end of the year. They get Oregon State in the opener just outside of Dallas. If not TCU, I’d say Florida, which unlike ‘Bama, return plenty of starters on BOTH sides of the ball. I’d rank Oregon in the top 10, and Oregon State would be the only other Pac-10 team I’d have in the top 25.

Someone from the SEC will beat THE Ohio State's brains out in the Title Game......and then afterwards everyone will be saying undefeated Boise State would have been a better matchup.........Some Old Same Old with the BCS.

Alabama

The NCAA

I wouldn't be surprised if Boise St is 1 or 2.

wolfie's down on USC and possibly might have some kind of silly over-correction journalistic objective bias against USC. USC is my pre-season #1 if I were in the AP. Alabama lost their defense and mcelroy is overrated. boise is weak. oklahoma we can beat. we beat ohio state last year on the road with a frosh QB. florida...frosh qb. go trojans!!!

Hi NJ Trojan,

You have got to be kidding to rank Oregon in the top ten and USC not even in the top 25. USC probably has the best offensive players in the country as a team. The defense has a questionable secondary, however, Shareece Wright should be a top draft pick and there is no clear weaknesses in the secondary. We have Chris and Devon at linebacker. This unit should be above average to understate the obvious. Our defensive line should be one of the top in the country. I really don't see how we could not be a top ten team, let alone a top 25 team. Also, Oregon without their top QB is questionable.

i'll give you a hint about my #1 if i was an ap voter....their nickname is the trojans.

p.s. why was oregon mentioned? was wolfie taking about the ap vote for cheerleading squads?

@Sy: No, I'm not kidding, dude. I'd wait to see how SC do in their 1st 3 non-conf games before I'd rank 'em in the top 25, but they're right on the bubble. Barkley has to step up. I think he will, but he he has to prove it. I think RoJo will return to his SO form, but all of the other receivers have to prove themselves. And the OL must stay healthy. On D, Orgeron has to show us that the same guys who played against OR & SU last year won't ever let THAT happen again, & the LBs need to step up their game too and stay healthy. Finally, the new guys in the DB look promising, but they have to prove themselves.

Notre Dame should be #1.

Notre Dame is #1... they lead the country in authority figures raping children. Silly little Irishman.

sureshot, can you please provide links to your asinine statement of Notre Dame students/faculty doing such things? Are you sure you're not referring to players in your program doing such? I do remember incidents in which 5 or 6 USC players were arrested for rape, I don't remember the names, but maybe someone else does.

Hi NDLarry,

You're a funny guy! You must be watching stand-up while flying around on your private jet...

Hi NJ Trojan,

Every team must prove itself, even Alabama who almost lost to Tennessee late in the season. As for Oregon, we attempted the wrong defensive strategy. Ohio State did it right by planting a guy on Masoli. We let him do his thing for over 350 yards. Monte will not make the same mistake and Oregon lost him anyways.

As for our receivers we have never had a better crop in SC history! Remember Matt was the first true freshman ever to start for SC. His stats were not that bad. He had a respectable 131 QB rating with an admirable 60% completion rate. For his first year he is on track to being a great QB. Remember Matt Leinart won the Heisman with a rating of 156 and a 65% completion rate and he did not have Bates calling the plays for him!!!

As for our running backs, I do not see Alabama or any other team having a better group than SC. This offense is as good as it gets and Lane is as good as it gets as a play caller. This year should be FUN!!!

Boise State

@Sy: As always, I enjoy the exchange. I totally agree that AL have a lot to prove. They won a few really close games last year--a few of which they ought to lose this year with 9, count 'em, 9 new starters, on D. Of course, they're as talented as anyone, so they might just reload, but I want to see 'em win a few first. I think you're right about Monte vs. OR. We'll find out on 10/30. If SC is undefeated after that game, forget about the top 25, they'll deserve a spot in the top five. As far as SC's crop of receivers, well, like Kiffin said, there's RoJo and everybody else. I do think Butler & Flournoy will break out, but we haven't actually seen it yet. I agree that Barkley will improve, but again, let's compare his stats after MN to last year's stats. I agree that AB & Co. are a very solid group of TBs & Kiffin does call a good game--better than Sark or Bates.

Alabama since they were #1 last time anyone played. Anyhow, the whole process is meaningless until about the 5th week.

Pac 10 season will have one of those years when any team could be champ. Having said that, i feel more confident taking the field vs. Oregon.

No way SC loses to Hawaii, Virginia or the Gophers. Ditto with Wash. ST. Wash here so I say we easily start 5-0. After that the wheels could fall off if we suffer a tough loss and/or we have some key injuries (O-LIne, LB etc.)

I'm very high on this group of receivers. I know many are young, but I think the three (Ambles, Woods, and Prater) will go down as the best class of WRs we've ever had.

I'm really looking for Woods to do well this year. He's my breakout star. I'm calling it now. I also think Baxter will be a star. Not sure if he'll get enough touches with Bradford being the beast I expect him to be. And if Tyler stays healthy - he's REALLY good too.

All in all, with the upgrade at coaches in every spot (except head coach - I still think Pete Carroll was the best overall head coach in the business) I think many of the positions will play better than a year ago. And I don't think Coach O will let the team backslide. Even if they lose a couple of games during the season, I can't foresee him allowing them to lose their fire.

Fight On!

Hi NJ Trojan & sureshot,

NJ Trojan, I respect all of your points. I feel as sureshot that this is the best group of receivers that we have every attained in SC's history. In a year of truly marquee receivers we got the top three. All three appear to be NFL bound. I cannot say I know much about Ambles, but Prater is a beast and Woods simply mystifies as does Baxter who will be catching out of the backfield no doubt more than a few times. As for the seasoned guys, RoJo if he stays healthy will be a 1st round draft choice coming up. Devon has huge potential and should have a decent year. Butler will be a question mark, but if he cannot get it together there are the freshmen that will step in and perform - namely Prater who is ready to go.

Matt has always been a very special QB in so many ways and was no surprise to be SC's first true freshman starter. If he had average receivers he would have a good year. With this crop I think he will be a Heisman candidate before the year is over even though he is only a true sophomore. To top it off he is a great leader and the most liked guy on the team. It is hard to beat all of those assets.

I also agree with sureshot regarding all of our assistant coaches. Only Norton and McNair were truly elite (everyone ware special, though and wonderful human beings!). Monte and Ed and everyone else more than make up for them. We have no coaching weaknesses. Also, Carroll was a GREAT coach and a legend, but I think in time Lane will prove to be able to carve out his own legacy and if he does stay for a very long time, is young enough to set all of the coaching records. I see great times ahead!

Lastly, the running backs are fantastic! Bradford reminds me of White and Dillon of Reggie (playing only thank God!). I can see them lighting up the scoreboard. I also feel that Tyler is fantastic and have confidence he will be a big factor over the next two seasons. Everyone else is good, but not great at this point.

Our O-line is also fantastic, but not deep. SH would have been a welcome addition, but wow did he come with baggage. I am relieved he is gone. I say that because more important than talent is having the team united. We lost that and now we have it back strangely due to the sanctions.

@Sy: My grandmother, who is also an alum, always used to tell me when I waxed poetic before the season, "Hope springs eternal." My granfather, another alum, always bought into it! I hope you're right dude. Fight on.