Top 25 Ballot Breakdown: Beat The Champ & Big East Absence
By Kyle Kensing
13. Clemson
Dabo Swinney reached the pinnacle of the ACC a year ahead of schedule. The 2012 Tigers are more experienced, and on offense feature tremendous talent between Sammy Watkins, Andre Elling and Tajh Boyd. However, defensive question marks will linger until new coordinator Brent Venables shows that he’s instilled a new confidence.
14. Michigan State
Sparty was slotted at No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches poll, which raised some eyebrows. However, Mark Dantonio’s no nonsense approach has made MSU a forerunner in the Big Ten. This could be the year the defensively stout, old school offensively Spartans finally return to the Rose Bowl.
15. Texas
A combined record of 13-12 over the last two seasons is a departure from the vast success Texas fans enjoyed under Mack Brown. This season could mark a return to glory, with UT returning an experienced defense headed by one of the best coordinators in football, Manny Diaz. Quarterback play will mean the difference in contention for the conference title, and another solid but below Longhorn standards campaign.
16. Michigan
Last season’s Sugar Bowl champion has a lot to love. The defense turned a 180 in switching from Greg Robinson to Greg Mattison. However, the square peg-round hole dynamic of Denard Robinson running Al Borges’ offense was notable in the Wolverines’ two losses to Iowa and Michigan State. Even in victories over Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, Robinson struggled. Michigan must show consistency to be considered a legitimate BCS threat.
17. Utah
A team flying well below the radar, UU is worth recognizing now. The Utes have a 1500-yard rusher in John White and one of the best defenses in the country. This old school combination is in stark contrast to the rest of the high flying Pac-12, but that deviation will give the Utes an advantage.
18. Virginia Tech
Quarterback Logan Thomas is drawing comparisons to 2010 Heisman winner Cam Newton. Thomas may need to be comparably super with the Hokies initiating new starters. Still, Frank Beamer’s teams have a penchant for overachieving. The Hokies could certainly factor into the conference title hunt…as usual.
19. Oklahoma State
There is a lot of turnover from last season’s borderline BCS championship team, but don’t expect too sharp a decline from the Cowboys. Mike Gundy has turned this into a perennial contender. The defense is underrated, and running back Joseph Randle is arguably the Big 12’s best.
20. Stanford
The departure of Andrew Luck obviously reduces the Cardinal’s public profile, though running Stepfan Taylor is capable of extending Stanford’s Heisman finalist streak to four years. He’ll be the cornerstone of a new look offense, but Stanford’s strength is on defense. Linebacker Chase Thomas called the Cardinal front seven the nation’s best.
21. Ohio State
Urban Meyer steps into a favorable situation, bowl ban notwithstanding. Quarterback Braxton Miller is tailored well to Meyer’s offensive approach, and retaining last year’s interim head coach Luke Fickell to lead the defense was a savvy move.
22. Nebraska
Rex Burkhead is capable of putting up Heisman-worthy numbers in the Cornhuskers’ rush-heavy offense. An immediate comparison to Burkhead is former Stanford back Toby Gerhart. If Taylor Martinez can rebound from a year-and-a-half of struggles, the Huskers could contend for the Big Ten title.
23. Florida
UF came strong out of the gate last year, but a revolving door at quarterback and Charlie Weis’ schemes were easily exposed. Brent Pease headed some of the nation’s most prolific offenses the last few seasons, and instilling some of that same success is key if the Gators are going to contend for the division. The defense is experienced and talented enough to make such a push.
24. TCU
Gary Patterson leads TCU into the Big 12 with a stud quarterback, Casey Pachall. He leads an explosive TCU offense into a conference known for putting points on the board. How the typically stout Frog defense acclimates to facing 40 PPG scorers on a weekly basis will determine TCU’s transition.
25. Louisiana Tech
The pass-catch pairing of Colby Cameron and Quinton Patton is among the most prolific anywhere, thriving in Sonny Dykes’ air raid offense. The Bulldogs were among the hottest teams by season’s end last year, and took TCU to the brink in the Poinsettia Bowl. La. Tech is a team on my radar as a potential BCS buster.