(Tim Mickiewicz photo)
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Yes, we’re taking a page out of the books of USA Today and ESPN, but we don’t think they’ll mind.
Right off the bat we don’t think BYU will repeat as national champions.
Granted their run to the title last season was nothing short of spectacular, it’s just that we reckon much like in college football nowadays, it’s darn near impossible for most teams to repeat as champions.
Sure, Cal has done it on a regular basis during the last couple of decades but they are the exception rather than the rule.
In football parlance, BYU is probably akin to USC in that the Trojans won a national championship a few years ago and while they’re always in the mix they haven’t been able to get back to the promised land since.
Cal is kind of like Florida, or perhaps it should be the other way around. The Golden Bears and Gators have been the most consistent in their respective sports in recent years, although Florida of course has been by no means as dominant as UC Berkeley.
So yep, you guessed it, we’re putting our money on California right now to get ‘er done come next May. Yes, they’ve graduated a few seniors, and who hasn’t, but their returning crop of players will bring a ton of big game experience.
There must be a question mark over San Diego State going as deep this time, especially as their head guy Dan Payne has moved on to greener pastures. Indeed, they may be under the gun in the Southern California Conference with an improved Arizona and perennial bridesmaids Cal Poly nipping at their heels.
Army will be good again this season; the issue is whether they can get to the championship game. We think probably not because there will be some good teams standing in their way – namely Arkansas State, St Mary’s, Penn State and BYU.
The Red Wolves have kept their ’09 team virtually intact and have the talent, depth and coaching to go deep into the playoffs. In fact, we like ASU to go all the way to the big game in May.
The Nittany Lions are always competitive and should be in the mix again in 2010. That said, we think Kutztown can upset the apple cart in the Mid-Atlantic and earn the conference’s top seed.
From a marketing perspective, wouldn’t it be wonderful to see Ohio State step it up in the Midwest because having that well known brand in the national postseason would be a great selling tool. Remember the College Rugby Bowl Series we proposed earlier this year?
St Mary’s will more than likely be good again, the main knock on them is their lack of depth which always seems to bite them in the money rounds. LSU is another team to watch. The Tigers are very talented and very hungry and now know what it takes to go deeper into the playoffs.
Dartmouth is odds on to finish atop the new Ivy League Conference, although whether that will be enough to prepare the Big Green for a run at a national title is questionable.
And if you’re looking for an overall dark horse, we think your best bet is Florida. We’re picking UF to get the South’s second seed ahead of the likes of Tennessee or anyone from the new Carolinas league.
As usual, we expect these rankings to cause some consternation, but then you wouldn’t have it any other way would you.
ARN preseason Top 25:
1 California
2 Arkansas State
3 BYU
4 Kutztown
5 St Mary’s
6 Army
7 LSU
8 San Diego State
9 Penn State
10 Arizona
11 Dartmouth
12 Cal Poly
13 Central Washington
14 Utah
15 Texas A&M
16 Florida
17 Navy
18 UC Davis
19 Virginia Tech
20 Colorado State
21 Rutgers
22 Sacramento State
23 Bowling Green
24 Washington State
25 Oklahoma
