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<sniff> Can you smell it? The glory? The heartbreak? The living and dying of every play of every game?

No folks, it's not offshore yacht racing. It's college football. And it's almost upon us.

With today's release of the preseason top 25 poll, I thought it was time to start up our annual college football thread for all us non-UCF'ers. While I get as riled up by a Knightro dance number as anyone, there are 119 other teams out there. A look at the top five:

1.) Alabama Crimson Tide

The Tide return a stacked offense in Heisman RB Mark Ingram, QB Greg McElroy and WR Julio Jones. They'll miss the mamma jamma Terrance Cody taking up space on the D-line, but Coach Saban has every reason to believe his team can deliver a third straight undefeated regular season and second straight national championship.

2.) Ohio State Buckeyes

Everyone is finally ready to see what Terrell Pryor can do. The expectations this young man has faced during his first two years were enough to make anyone buckle, and Coach Tressell is ready to let him loose.

3.) Florida Gators

Reloading after losing "The Messiah" will be no easy feat, but few remember that new QB John Brantley broke every state passing record that Tebow set in high school. With speed at the RB position in Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps and Emmanuel Moody though, don't look for the Gators to revert to the fun n' gun Spurrier offenses of the 90's. The defense will have to answer a lot of questions after losing Brandon Spikes and Carlos Dunlap.

4.) Texas Longhorns

New QB Garrett Gilbert got a taste of the limelight during last year's BCS title game and now takes over for Colt McCoy. Jordan Shipley's absence gives him one less weapon, but with other big-name offensive departures in the Big 12, Texas is in better shape than many would have thought.

5.) Boise State Broncos

With the highest preseason ranking in the program's history, Boise State looks to prove to the rest of the country that they can compete for the national title. QB Kellen Moore will likely be in the Heisman conversation after leading his Broncos to a 14-0 season last year, capped off with a Fiesta Bowl victory.

Gonna be another tough year for Notre Dame

Roll Tide Roll!!

Hopefully we can go back to back!

Can we change the title of the thread to "relevant college football?"

JK UCF .

Hurts to say this, but I think my Gators are ranked too high in this first poll. As many starters as this team lost, I have a hard time believing Florida is a top-3 team. Having said that, though, I do expect a third straight Bama-UF SEC title game...but with similar results as last year.

Gators are rated too high .....they'll be good...and likely top ten .....but not top 5.

My top 25 from the blog...

1. Alabama
2. Boise State
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
5. Texas
6. Iowa
7. Florida
8. USC
9. TCU
10. Nebraska
11. Virginia Tech
12. Oregon
13. Miami
14. Pittsburgh
15. North Carolina
16. Georgia
17. Wisconsin
18. Arkansas
19. Florida State
20. UConn
21. LSU
22. Georgia Tech
23. Missouri
24. Penn State
25. West Virginia

Badgers are going to kick some ass this year. I just wish they'd go back to what they're good at, six yards a carry, with fourty carries a game, behind an offensive line that looks like it belongs in the NFL. All this passing crap is for sissies.

Bucksfans1and2 wrote:Badgers are going to kick some ass this year. I just wish they'd go back to what they're good at, six yards a carry, with fourty carries a game, behind an offensive line that looks like it belongs in the NFL. All this passing crap is for sissies.

I actually think that of all the top 25 teams, Wisconsin is the most likely to implode and struggle to make a bowl game. Not saying they will be bad, just that I think they are overrated and have a tough schedule. Clay goes down, they are toast.

The 3 yards and a cloud of dust offense that Wisconsin still clings to is as dead as the Wishbone. You will never compete for titles running that dinosaur offense.

hey tjm384-

you a ND fan? or just bashing on us (haha)? i just graduated from there this past may- hoping to see if i can make it back for a home game this fall, but i don't think my work schedule will allow that - i work half the saturdays in a given month....

Big Bama fan here, but i dont think we deserve to be #1. We return exactly 2 starters i believe from last years defense. That is way too many new people in a complicated Saban defense, to be #1.

Cammo101 wrote:

Bucksfans1and2 wrote:Badgers are going to kick some ass this year. I just wish they'd go back to what they're good at, six yards a carry, with fourty carries a game, behind an offensive line that looks like it belongs in the NFL. All this passing crap is for sissies.

I actually think that of all the top 25 teams, Wisconsin is the most likely to implode and struggle to make a bowl game. Not saying they will be bad, just that I think they are overrated and have a tough schedule. Clay goes down, they are toast.

The 3 yards and a cloud of dust offense that Wisconsin still clings to is as dead as the Wishbone. You will never compete for titles running that dinosaur offense.

Really? The guy on ESPN just said we were the dark horse to win it all. Said if we beat OSU at Camp Randall and then pull out a win at Iowa we should go undefeated. We also have Ball at tailback who isn't going to be as good as Clay but was still pretty impressive last year.

I kind of disagree with you on the style of play. In the big ten there might be snow on the ground in October and will definately be in November so having a good running game is critical. Three yards a carry isn't going to cut it but six yards is.

I'm going to sound like a homer here, but I think the BAdgers are the best they've been since the Rose Bowl in 99. Now that we've gotten rid of PJ Hill

tiderulz wrote:Big Bama fan here, but i dont think we deserve to be #1. We return exactly 2 starters i believe from last years defense. That is way too many new people in a complicated Saban defense, to be #1.

Big Bama fan here too! Although we only return 2 starters on D, we have a GREAT core of young guys. Marcel Dareus wasn't "technically" a starter last yr & he was MVP of the nat'l title game. Don't forget we have Donta Hightower coming back from injury. He's going to be filling in for McClain. I think we'll be fine defensively....best believe Saban will have our gus ready.

No hate intended, but am I the only one that thinks FLA is ranked ridiculously too high?

AgEnT50 wrote:

tiderulz wrote:Big Bama fan here, but i dont think we deserve to be #1. We return exactly 2 starters i believe from last years defense. That is way too many new people in a complicated Saban defense, to be #1.

Big Bama fan here too! Although we only return 2 starters on D, we have a GREAT core of young guys. Marcel Dareus wasn't "technically" a starter last yr & he was MVP of the nat'l title game. Don't forget we have Donta Hightower coming back from injury. He's going to be filling in for McClain. I think we'll be fine defensively....best believe Saban will have our gus ready.

No hate intended, but am I the only one that thinks FLA is ranked ridiculously too high?

Dareus still suspended and we dont know when or if he will play. The secondary is talented, but zero experience outside of Barron. The LB core is talented, but green in spots. The DL is slightly less talented than last year imo.

AgEnT50 wrote:No hate intended, but am I the only one that thinks FLA is ranked ridiculously too high?

Too high? Probably.

Ridiculously? Nah, they still should be a top 10 team.

craig01 wrote:

AgEnT50 wrote:No hate intended, but am I the only one that thinks FLA is ranked ridiculously too high?

Too high? Probably.

Ridiculously? Nah, they still should be a top 10 team.

I'd be pretty surprised if they finish the year in the top 10. The have a ton of new faces on both sides of the ball, including at QB.

I don't see the gators probably losing more than 2-3 games...SEC east is really weak....UT is bad, UGA will be better than last year, but still aren't really good, and USC is probably being overrated some.

Two losses likely, maybe 3 at most.