Phenom's Preseason Top 10

1. Alabama
Last year: #1 AP/Coaches
- Although the Tide loses many defensive starters, including #8 overall NFL Draft pick Rolando McClain, a middle linebacker, space-eating tackle Terrence Cody, and ball hawking cornerbacks Javier Arenas and Kareem Jackson, look for Nick Saban's recruting prowess to pay off with Bama reloading its defense for a potential repeat title run. Though it's defense has question marks, its offense does not; they return Heisman winner Mark Ingram at running back, along with his understudy Trent Richardson, who may be even more talented. Although they lose starting tight end Collin Peek from last year's team, the passing game should be more than able with returning starting quarterback Greg McIlroy and physical-freak receiver Julio Jones, who at 6-4, 211 could very well be a future NFL first round pick.


2. Boise State
Last year: #4 AP/Coaches
- Honestly, it's a complete fallacy that the Broncos are ranked #5 in this year's preseason Coaches' Poll. They won a BCS Bowl and return 21 of 22 starters, only losing NFL first round draft pick Kyle Wilson, the Broncos' top cornerback. Heisman candidate Kellen Moore, the team's sophomore starting quarterback will also be returning to the Smurf Turf, so this year's Broncos team could be special; even more special than Boise's Fiesta Bowl winners of '06 and '09.


3. Ohio State
Last year: #5 AP/Coaches
- The Buckeyes return starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who is coming off a dazzling MVP performance in the 2010 Rose Bowl. Pryor, who is considered by many to be the favorite to win the 76th Heisman Trophy, has never quite lived up to the hype that comes with being the #1 recruit according to Rivals.com, but he has shown flashes of brilliance and his 2010 season could be an accumulation of that. The Buckeyes don't lose much from last year's Big Ten championship team, and should be considered among the top contenders for the National Championship.

4. Florida
Last year: #3 AP/Coaches
- It's never easy to replace a legend, but that's what Gators quarterback John Brantley must do this fall. Brantley, a junior, will take over the reigns of the Florida offense from Heisman winner Tim Tebow, who led the Gators to the 2008 National Championship and played a reserve role for the 2006 National Championship Team. The Gators lose more than just Tebow, however; they also must find a way to replace WR Riley Cooper, ILB Brandon Spikes, and DE Carlos Dunlap, among others. Coach Urban Meyer must also prove to be fully committed to the team for it to be successful, which is far from a given after a tumultuous December that left Meyer hospitalized with esophageal spasms which resulted in an extended leave of absence during the offseason.


5. Texas
Last year: #2 AP/Coaches
- Speaking of replacing legends, the Longhorns have a legend of their own to replace. Colt McCoy, the NCAA's all time winningest quarterback and Maxwell Award winner exhausted his eligibility in 2009 and is now a member of the Cleveland Browns. Texas fans got a glimpse of what is to come during the 2010 BCS National Championship Game, in which McCoy was injured early on and then-Freshman Garrett Gilbert was called into replace him. After a rocky start, Gilbert managed to rally the Horns within three points of Alabama before Bama pulled away to win, 37-21. Gilbert will take over as signal caller for the Longhorns, and he bears high expectations as a highly ranked recruit. On the defensive side of the ball, the Longhorns should once again be strong under third year coordinator Will Muschamp, even though they lost safety Earl Thomas, defensive end Sergio Kindle, and defensive tackle Lamarr Houston, among others.

6. Nebraska
Last year: #14 AP/Coaches
- The Cornhuskers were one second away from beating Texas in the 2009 Big 12 Championship, and will use that as motivation going into the 2010 season. Although they lose all-everything defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, the #2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, the Huskers return most of a very stout defense. The offense, which was mediocre at best in 2009, must build off of a strong Holiday Bowl performance. The team will go as far as the offense will take it.

7. Oklahoma
Last year: NR AP/Coaches
- Sooner fans hope Landry Jones will continue to mature as a passer going into the 2010 season. Jones, who was thrust into the starting role after Heisman winner Sam Bradford injured his shoulder in the first game of the season vs. BYU, will have a better offensive line and better receivers to work with, so look for his numbers to improve. The defense faces major question marks at tackle after losing Gerald McCoy, but look for rising sophomore Jamarkus McFarland to take his place. After an injury riddled 2009 campaign, there is nowhere to go but up for the Sooners.

8. Miami (Fla.)
Last year: #19 AP/Coaches
- Although they were embarrassed and appeared undisciplined at times during their Champs Sports Bowl loss to Wisconsin, the Hurricanes are without a doubt a team on the rise. Led by Coach Randy Shannon, a Miami graduate who is in a do-or-die season, and quarterback Jacory Harris, a bona fide Heisman candidate, the Canes will face higher expectations than they have in a while, but look for them to meet them. Although not yet title contenders, the Hurricanes should win the ACC.

9. TCU
Last year: #6 AP/Coaches
- TCU returns most of last year's Fiesta Bowl team, including quarterback Andy Dalton, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2009. Minus end Jerry Hughes, the defense should once again be stout. The offense should be improved from last year as well with the continued maturation of Dalton. However, much skepticism remains about whether or not the Horned Frogs have what it takes to hang with the big boys, especially after their Fiesta Bowl loss to Boise State, who isn't even in a BCS conference. The Frogs will have a chance to make their case vs. Oregon State Sept. 4.

10. Virginia Tech
Last year: #10 AP/Coaches
- Every year it seems Virginia Tech is ranked in the preseason Top 10, and every year they seem to slide out of the national conversation by October, only to wind up ranked 8-12 come January. Does this team have what it takes to be different? With its always stout defense and sophomore sensation running back Ryan Matthews, Hokies fans hope so. Their first major test comes Sept. 6 vs. Boise State at FedEx Field.