Well it didn't take long but ESPN has released it's 2010 early rankings. Here they are and you can read #'s 11-25 here. At the end is a video of Kirk Herbstreit's Top 5.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide will suffer some heavy personnel losses on defense, including mammoth nose tackle Terrence Cody, cornerback Javier Arenas and possibly junior linebacker Rolando McClain. But nearly all of Alabama's firepower is coming back on offense, including Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and receiver Julio Jones. The schedule gets a little more difficult, with home games against Penn State on Sept. 11 and Florida on Oct. 2. With the way coach Nick Saban has recruited the past few years, though, the Crimson Tide should be in position to win their second consecutive BCS national championship.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes might finally earn some respect nationally after beating Oregon 26-17 in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi. Terrelle Pryor finally looked like the quarterback everyone thought he would be, and coach Jim Tressel might finally be ready to open his playbook in 2010, Pryor's third season. Only two starters are leaving on offense: tight end Jake Ballard and left tackle Jim Cordle. Five starters, including end Thaddeus Gibson and safeties Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman, are leaving the defense. But it would have been worse if end Cameron Heyward and cornerback Chimdi Chekwa hadn't returned for their senior seasons. The Buckeyes play Miami at home on Sept. 11, but play road games at Wisconsin and Iowa.
3. Boise State Broncos
Voters won't have a reason to keep the Broncos out of the Citi BCS National Championship Game in 2010. Boise State finished its second unbeaten season and won its second BCS bowl game in four years by beating TCU 17-10 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Broncos will bring back 21 of 22 starters on offense and defense, losing only star cornerback Kyle Wilson. Quarterback Kellen Moore will be a Heisman Trophy candidate. Boise State will have two chances to prove its mettle to voters: at home against Oregon State on Sept. 25 and against Virginia Tech at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Oct. 2.
4. Oregon Ducks
Chip Kelly's first season as Oregon's head coach had to be considered a success, even after the Ducks lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl to finish 10-3. All but three starters are expected back in 2010, including quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and tailback LaMichael James. Tight end Ed Dickson is the only offensive starter leaving, and defensive end Will Tukuafu and tackle Blake Ferras will have to be replaced on defense. Oregon's nonconference schedule isn't too grueling, with home games against New Mexico and FCS opponent Portland State sandwiched around a road game at Tennessee. But Oregon will have to play Pac-10 road games at USC, California and rival Oregon State.
5. Texas Longhorns
After losing to Alabama in the Citi BCS National Championship Game, the Longhorns will undergo a renovation of sorts in 2010. But few programs are as equipped as Texas to reload from year to year. Replacing quarterback Colt McCoy will be Texas' primary concern. Freshman Garrett Gilbert assumed control of the Longhorns' offense much earlier than expected after McCoy was forced to the sideline with an injury Thursday. He'll be the favorite to start at quarterback. Receiver Jordan Shipley and three starters on the offensive line also will have to be replaced. Three starters are leaving on defense, including end Sergio Kindle and tackle Lamarr Houston. All-American safety Earl Thomas also could turn pro. The Longhorns play three of their four nonconference games at home, including a Sept. 25 contest against UCLA, and play Big 12 rivals Oklahoma State and Texas A&M in Austin.
6. Virginia Tech Hokies
The Hokies are hoping their 37-14 rout of Tennessee in the Chick-fil-A Bowl is a springboard to bigger things in 2010. With quarterback Tyrod Taylor and one of the country's best stables of running backs coming back, there's plenty of reason for optimism. Tailback Ryan Williams was one of the country's best freshmen in 2009, and sophomore Darren Evans should be back from torn knee ligaments that caused him to miss all of the 2009 season. Taylor needs to continue to develop as a passer, but his receiving corps will be more experienced. Replacing guard Sergio Render and tackle Ed Wang are priorities on offense. The Hokies will lose seven starters on defense, including linebacker Cody Grimm, safeties Kam Chancellor and Dorian Porch, and end Jason Worilds, who declared for the NFL draft. The nonconference schedule is challenging, with home games against Central Michigan and East Carolina, along with the Oct. 2 contest against Boise State at FedEx Field.
7. TCU Horned Frogs
TCU's loss to Boise State prevented it from finishing undefeated, but the Horned Frogs should be in position to make a run at another BCS bowl game in 2010. The Horned Frogs lose only two starters on offense: left tackle Marshall Newhouse and tailback Joseph Turner. Seven starters are coming back on defense, but defensive end Jerry Hughes, linebacker Daryl Washington, and cornerbacks Nick Sanders and Rafael Priest are big losses. TCU is expected to open its season at Dallas Cowboys Stadium against Oregon State on Sept. 4. The Horned Frogs also have a home game against Baylor and a road game at SMU in their nonconference schedule.
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers
After the Cornhuskers blasted Arizona 33-0 in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, coach Bo Pelini announced, "Nebraska's back and we're here to stay." Pelini might be right. The Black Shirt defense is definitely back, but Nebraska's offense will have to get better if it's going to contend for a Big 12 championship in 2010. All-American defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will be sorely missed, along with four other starters on defense. Center Jacob Hickman is the only offensive starter leaving. The Cornhuskers play nonconference games against Western Kentucky, Idaho and FCS foe South Dakota State at home and play Washington on the road. They play Big 12 games at Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, but play Texas, Missouri and Kansas in Lincoln, Neb.
9. Iowa Hawkeyes
It would have been interesting to see how Iowa would have finished if quarterback Ricky Stanzi hadn't sprained his ankle in a 17-10 loss to Northwestern on Nov. 7. The Hawkeyes were undefeated before Stanzi was hurt, and they were really good when he returned in a 24-14 win over Georgia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl. Iowa will have back six starters on offense, but the line must be rebuilt with center Rafael Eubanks, right guard Dace Richardson, left tackle Bryan Bulaga and right tackle Kyle Calloway leaving. Nine starters should return to a very stingy defense. The Hawkeyes' nonconference schedule isn't overly challenging besides a Sept. 18 road game at Arizona, and they play Big Ten heavyweights Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State at home.
10. Wisconsin Badgers
After a couple of so-so seasons, Bret Bielema has Wisconsin back on track. The Badgers beat Miami 20-14 in the Champs Sports Bowl to finish 10-3. With tailback John Clay coming back, and quarterback Scott Tolzien making big strides at season's end, the Badgers should be very good on offense in 2010. Tight end Garrett Graham is the only offensive starter leaving. Three starters will have to be replaced on the defensive line, along with linebacker Jaevery McFadden and safety Chris Maragos. The Badgers' non conference schedule isn't especially challenging, with a road game at UNLV and home contests against San Jose State, Arizona State and FCS foe Austin Peay. Wisconsin will play Big Ten road games at Michigan State, Iowa and Michigan, but it plays Ohio State at home.
Herbie's Top 5
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