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Draft Insiders' Frank Coyle Blog begins with the Top 25 College teams for the 2010 season. Frank Coyle will write a regular Blog beginning with the college and NFL season through the NFL Draft 2011.
This season Draft Insiders predicts Ohio St. will win the national title, not a popular choice by every major media outlet or publication. Nevertheless, I feel Ohio St. can get to the title game behind a top performance by talented junior QB Terrelle Pryor who is also be the leading Heisman Trophy candidate this fall. Pryor is our choice to win the Heisman Trophy with a strong 2010 performance
Alabama has been picked by virtually every other College poll off an undefeated 2009 season. They certainly have the talent to repeat and make a run at the national title again, though the tough SEC may be their stumbling block this fall. They have gone through the SEC undefeated the past two season and that is unlikely to three peat.
Notre Dame is not on Draft Insiders Top 25 rankings. The Irish begin the Brian Kelly era that should produce fine clubs in time, but probably not initially in South Bend. He begins with a new starting QB and a new 3-4 defense after several seasons struggling on that side of the ball.
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Draft Insiders - Top 25 Teams
Ranking / Team / Last Seasons’ Record
1. Ohio St (11-2) – The Buckeyes and Terrelle Pryor are poised for a Heisman Trophy and national title run with the ability to win both this fall.
2. Alabama (14-0) – The Crimson Tide comes off their first national title since ’92 and have the talent to compete for the BCS and SEC titles again. They have swept the SEC the past two seasons.
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3. Texas Christian (12-1) – The Horned Frogs have the talent to compete for the national title with many key performers back from a 12-1 club. They are one of the nation’s elite programs this season.
4. Florida (13-1) - The Gators begin the post Tim Tebow era with a fine squad that will challenge for the SEC title and national title behind a savvy HC Urban Meyer.
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5. Iowa (11-2) – The Hawkeyes are a blue collar and well coached team that knows how to win close games. They have key leaders at important positions that give them an advantage in critical games.
6. Oklahoma (9-4) – Sooners are capable of sneaking up on teams this season and rank as the best club in the Big 12 here.
7. Boise St (14-0) - The Broncos are a gritty group who finished a perfect 2009 season and look to run the table again. They will need to win in big late season matchups to warrant national title consideration.
8. Nebraska (10-4) – Huskers return 17 starters after a tough Big 12 title loss vs Texas and solid win vs Arizona in Holiday Bowl. They are the strong favorite to win the Big 12 North division.
9. LSU (9-4) – Tigers have a deep and talented club but are not getting a lot of consideration off a subpar ’09 performance. They must get better play from QB Jordan Jefferson to warrant this top ten rankings.
10. Texas (13-1) – Longhorns are preparing for life without Colt McCoy. They usually reload the cannon but will face strong competition this fall from Oklahoma and A&M in the Big 12 South division.
11. Wisconsin (10-3) - Badgers are always a sound club and will push Ohio St for the Big Ten title.
12. Miami (9-4) - The Canes hope to return to former glory with huge early matchups with Ohio St. among others. The early contests will determine if they are a top ten club or an 8 win team.
13. Virginia Tech (10-3) – Va Tech has another strong club that will press for the ACC Coastal crown. They face a tough opener vs Boise St. that could dictate their overall direction this season.
14. Pittsburgh (10-3) - The Panthers are the class of the Big East and could threaten the top ten with early wins over Utah and Miami.
15. North Carolina (8-5) - The Tar Heels have one of the most talented clubs in the nation, but have yet to put it all together in critical big games.
16. Auburn (8-5) - The Tigers are the most underrated club in the nation and an early win over Clemson could have them undefeated into late season.
17. Georgia Tech (11-3) – The ACC champs are loaded again. How high they go in the polls will be decided on their ACC road games at NC, Clemson and Virginia Tech.
18. Oregon (10-3) - The Ducks must overcome loss of QB Jeremiah Masoli, but they have a talented club that will challenge for the Pac 19 title.
19. Arkansas (8-5) - The Hogs will light it up behind gifted passer Ryan Mallett, but the defense will determine if they can produce a 10 win season.
20. Penn St (11-2) – Nittany Lions retool their roster at several critical positions and face major challenges at both Alabama and Iowa in the early season with a first year starting QB.
21. USC (9-4) – Trojans begin the post Pete Carroll era behind developing QB Matt Barkley who flashed big time talent at times as a true freshman last season. .
22. Houston (10-4) – The Cougars return virtually their entire offense and QB Case Keenum should produce huge numbers and points in the defensively soft CUSA.
23. West Virginia (9-4) - WV returns 18 starters but their fortunes may depend on first year starting QB Geno Smith.
24. Florida State (7-6) - The Seminoles will find out what life is without Bobby Bowden is after the legendary HC retired after an amazing 34-year coaching career.
25. Georgia (8-5) - The Bulldogs return most of their offense this fall, but only improvement from their battered defense will move them higher in the rankings.
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Frank Coyle is a longtime Member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for weekly Team and Player Awards.
Bama Wins National Title
Tide Rolls to Championship
Team of the Week - Alabama
Player of the Week – Mark Ingram - Alabama
Photo – Mark Ingram - Alabama
Running back Mark Ingram of Alabama completed his outstanding sophomore season with a strong performance in the national championship game that helped the Tide win their first title since '92. Ingram completed the rare feat of winning both the national title and the Heisman Trophy in the same season. Southern Cal's QB Matt Leinart was the last player to accomplish both of those feats.
Ingram produced another strong performance in the title game that included 22 carries for 116 yards and 2 TDs that were instrumental in their 37-21 victory over Texas in the BCS national championship game. Ingram is only a sophomore and will be a part of the young core Alabama club that will be favored to repeat for both the SEC and natioanl honors entering the 2010 college football season.
Team / Ranking / Record
1. Alabama (14-0) – Tide wins their first national title since ’92 and have the leadership and talent level to compete for prominence annually.
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2. Texas (13-1) – Longhorns prepping for title clash with Alabama after completing perfect ’09 season.
3. Boise St (14-0) - Broncos are a gritty group who finished a perfect season and have every right to demand a playoff for the #1 position.
4. Florida (13-1)– Gators rebounded from their tough SEC title loss with another huge performance by Tim Tebow in his college finale.
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5. Cincinnati (12-1) - Bearcats’ perfect season went up in smoke when they were blitzed by the Gators after they lost HC Brian Kelly.
6. Texas Christian (12-1) – Horned Frogs perfect season ended with a tough loss to Boise St. They are still one of the great programs in the nation.
7. Ohio St (11-2) – Buckeyes won both the Big Ten and Rose Bowl after earlier key losses.
8. Iowa (11-2) – The Hawkeyes are a well coached and tough team that knows how to win close games.
9. Penn St (11-2) – Nittany Lions beat a talented and tough LSU club in New Years Day that earned them a top ten finish.
10. Georgia Tech (11-3) – The ACC champs were not able to get past a tough Iowa club in an old fashioned Orange bowl clash.
11. Virginia Tech (10-3) – Va Tech completed another fine season with a strong performance vs Tennessee on New Year’s eve.
12. Oregon (10-3) – The Ducks came up short vs a talented Ohio St in Rose Bowl classic.
13. BYU (11-2) – Cougars won their bowl game vs Oregon St and climbed up the charts over second half of the season.
14. Pittsburgh (10-3)- Panthers redeemed themselves in bowl game vs North Carolina after a few key late season losses.
15. Nebraska (10-4) – Huskers rebounded from a tough Big 12 title loss vs Texas and won handedly vs Arizona in Holiday Bowl.
16. LSU (9-4) – Tigers have a deep and talented club but must get better play from the QB position to get back into the top ten rankings.
17. USC (9-4) – Trojans went to a minor bowl and beat an average Boston College club in Emerald Bowl.
18. Wisconsin (10-3) - Badgers beat a young Miami club in Champs bowl matchup that earned them another 10 win season.
19. Utah (10-3) - Utes hammered an overrated Cal club to move into the top 20 rankings.
20. Mississippi (9-4) - Ole Miss won their bowl matchup vs Oklahoma St to complete their roller coaster season.
21. Miami (9-4) - The young Canes made too many mistakes vs a sound Wisconsin club to win their bowl matchup.
22. West Virginia (9-4) - WV lost their bowl matchup vs Florida St. in Bobby Bowden’s finale. It was a one of the poor performances of the postseason.
23. Oklahoma St (9-4) – Cowboys went to the Cotton Bowl and left their offense back in Stillwater in their loss to Ole Miss.
24. Houston (10-4) - Cougars were bombed by a tough Air Force (8-5) team in Armed Forces Bowl contest.
25. Central Michigan (12-2) CM’s overtime bowl win over Troy gives the MAC much needed respectability after their recent poor postseason record.
Frank Coyle is a longtime Member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for weekly Team and Player Awards.