The Morning Rush Top 25-number 1-5

Here is the final installment of the top 25.  These five truly are interchangeable and the key to the season will be whose quarterback performs the best under pressure and who can get the most pressure on the quarterback.

5.  Oklahoma Sooners-  This team was built for this year with all of their returning stars.  A year ago we were worried about Sam Bradford being a first year starter, well a year later he led the nation in passing efficiency and set a freshman record with 36 touchdown passes.  Add DeMarco Murray and the nations best offensive line with Jon Cooper, Duke Robinson, and Phil Loadholt and you have a dynamic offense.  They need to retool the secondary, but with Auston English returning the pass rush will be formidable.  They will contend for the Big 12 title, but must shed the stigma of pass big bowl game busts.

4.  Georgia Bulldogs- This is everyone's fashionable number 1 pick, but they have to prove it to me.  The NFL loves Matt Stafford, but he didn't put up huge numbers last year, and I am taking a wait and see approach with him.  This team has not played well as a favorite and the schedule is absolutely brutal with LSU, Auburn, South Carolina, and Arizona State on the road.  Florida will be gunning for them after the excessive celebration penalty from last years Cocktail Party.  Knowshown Moreno returns at running back, but lost his stud left tackle Trinton Sturdivant to an ACL in preseason camp.  With 17 starters returning, this will be an interesting year in the SEC.

3.  Ohio State Buckeyes- They return 19 starters and this is the team Jim Tressel has been waiting for.  All of his big time juniors came back for their senior seasons including Alex Boone, James Laurinaitis, and Malcolm Jenkins.  The success or failure of this team rests on Todd Boeckman's shoulders.  Will he continue to have big game meltdowns or will he be a calming  influence who rides Heisman Trophy candidate Beanie Wells and a great receiving corp to the national title game.  Terrelle Pryor that nation's top recruit comes to Columbus and will provide a change up to the classic Ohio State system.  Lawrence Wilson will replace Vernon Gholston on defense and he was a starter last year before he was injured in the opener.  This team will be able to stop anyone, but can Todd Boeckman limit the mistakes in the big games.  September 13 against USC should be the game of the year in college football.

2.  Florida Gators- Tim Tebow the reigning Heisman Trophy winner returns and he is the best player in college football after becoming the first player in NCAA history to throw for 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns in a year.  Percy Harvin returns at wideout, but is an outstanding rusher as well in Urban Meyer's spread offense.  The defense took their lumps last year, but they are a year older and more experienced and should thrive this year.  They will have to navigate the SEC which is tricky but they have plenty of talent to win the national title this year.

1. USC Trojans- I just love everything about this program, from the recruiting, the pro-style offense, and the intimidating defense.  They play old-school football where they are going to run the ball, play action pass and play tough physical defense.  Pete Carroll is the best recruiter and coach in college football.  They have been hit by the injury bug early in camp as Mark Sanchez dislocated a knee cap, but he appears on pace to start the opener.  At running back they have 5 Parade All-Americans who will for a running back by committee. Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson, and CJ Gable are all special players.  They must retool the OL  but they have plenty of talent to do that and all these young guys have been playing against an NFL defense every day on the scout team.  Defensively they have the best linebacking corp and secondary in the nation.  They are big, fast, intimidating and the linebackers never come of the field.  Rey Maualuga plays in nickel and base, and Brian Cushing is the same way.  The secondary returns all four starters and the safeties Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays have the speed and size to match up with the spread.

All in all, this is a great year to be a college football fan.  There are probably 10 different teams that could win the national title and I just hope that the SEC, Big 12, USC and Ohio State don't knock each other out of the title game.  This could be a year where the best team doesn't make it to the national title game because there are strong teams from lesser conferences who could go undefeated and ruin the season.  We need a plus one so a one loss SEC or Big 12 team or USC vs Ohio State doesn't miss out on a chance to play for the title.  Stay tuned this year to all of the great shows on 1530 as we will cover the Longhorns, College and NFL Football better than anyone. 

Comments

Who knew that 4 out of 5 of

Who knew that 4 out of 5 of these teams weren't contenders after the 6th game of the season. I love college football... GO TEXAS!! OU SUCKS

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