College Football 2009 Early Top 25 

1. Florida -Tebow returning, along with RB's Rainey and Demps, TE Aaron Hernandez, and basically the entire D make Florida again the team to beat in '09. I hate these guys but they'll be stacked and have most of their key games at home. Key losses: WR-Harvin, WR-Murphy

2. Texas - Fresh off their thrilling Fiesta Bowl victory vs tOSU, Colt McCoy is back along with his go-to guy Shipley. A young secondary last year will all be back along with most of the O-Line. Key losses: Orakpo-DE Cosby-WR

3. USC - A mainstay in the top 10, USC and their D was great down the stretch earning a Rose Bowl title. All of their key RB's coming back along with upcoming star WR Damian Williams, already a star FS Taylor Mays. Only question is can Mitch Mustain come in and play well from the start. Key losses: QB-Sanchez, LB's-Maulauga, Cushing, Matthews

4. Oklahoma - Sam Bradford passed up on the NFL to stay another year in Norman and the Sooners should be happily rewarded with another BCS berth at the very least. They have a defense that's all coming back along with homerun threat RB DeMarco Murray. Only question mark is if a WR can emerge and take the place of graduated WR Jacquan Iglesias. Key losses: WR-Iglesias, the entire O-Line

5. LSU - Always fielding a great D, LSU will be helped out by Soph QB Jordan Jefferson this year. WR Brandon LaFell is back along with OT-Black and RB-Charles Scott. Florida visits Death Valley in what should be a classic. Key losses: DE-Jackson, WR-Byrd

6. Alabama - With Nick Saban at the helm, don't expect a dropoff from 'Bama. Starting a new QB with the graduation of John Parker Wilson (enter Jr McElroy or RS Fr Star Jackson), sansational WR Julio Jones is back, along with the monster NT Terrance Cody and bigtime young athletes all over the board on D. Key losses: Wilson-QB, Coffee-RB, A.Smith-LT, Caldwell-C

7. Ohio St. - The Buckeyes once again lost in a bigtime bowl game to a better opponent. Good news is future all-everything Pryor is back. WR Posey is a superstar in the making. Along with what maybe the best D-Line in college football and a Big 10 that really isn't on OSU's level yet, Ohio st is a darkhorse to sneak into that title game again. Key losses: Wells-RB, Robiskie-WR, Laurianitis-ILB, Jenkins-CB

8. Penn St. - The Buckeyes only competition in the Big 10, Penn st returns 10th year QB Daryll Clark along with RB Evan Royster and OLB Sean Lee. Perhaps their biggest strength will be playing a weaker schedule and hosting Ohio st in Happy Valley. Key losses: WR's Derrick Williams, Butler, Norwood, DE-Maybin, DE-Maurice Evans

9. Virginia Tech - The Hokies finally gave the ACC a BCS bowl victory for the first time in 8 years. They return Tyrod Taylor at QB, who should be in for a breakout season. They, like LSU, always have a stong D. They also return RB-Evans and TE-Greg Boone along with a strong veteran O-line. Key loss: CB-Harris

10. Oklahoma St. - They return everyone on O. WR-Dez Bryant is an instant star. Combine that with returnees QB-Zac Robinson and RB-Kendall Hunter and they could be the Texas Tech of last year.

11. Florida St - The 'Noles remain in tact. Bringing back most of their D and an O-line that was the youngest in country last year but was ultimately a strength is key. Also QB-Christian Ponder will continue to get better.

12. Oregon - Returns QB-Jeremiah Masoli and RB-Blount. That O of Chip Kelly's is always tough to stop. If their D can replace some key losses, they could challenge USC for tops in the Pac-10.

13. Ole Miss - QB Jevon Snead is back and poised for a big season along with do-it-all WR and RB McCluster. On D, LB Trahan is in for a big year.

14. BYU - This year's Utah in the Mountain West. They have everyone coming back on O and if they can learn to play a little D, will win the Mont West.

15. Kansas - The Fighting Mangino's are always a tough out. QB-Todd Ressing will have another big year along with WR-Briscoe. They have to replace all their starting LB's on D.

16. Georgia Tech - Year 2 of the Paul Johnson triple option and they have most starters back on O along with home run threat WR-Thomas.

17. Oregon St - QB-Moevao is back along with the Rodgers brothers. They'll continue their success from last year.

18. Georgia - A bit of a transition year for the Bulldogs. All their playmakers are gone. However, a good D and the fact that they pretty much recruit a top 10 every year will help.

19. Boston College - They return most of one of the nation's best Defenses from a year ago. RB-Haden is back along with the usual good BC O-Line.

20. Texas Tech - Another year, another Texas Tech offense that will rack up some points with new QB Tyler Potts and emerging star WR Edwin Britton.

21. Wake forest - QB Riley Skinner and RB Josh Adams are back. That has to count for something as Wake will have a solid year.

22. TCU - Most of that great TCU D returns along with QB Dalton. They'll make some noise.

23. West Virginia - Gone is WV hero Pat White. But with RB Noel Devin, experienced QB Jarrett Brown, and a stingy Mountaineers defense back, they've got to be the early favorites in the Big East.

24. Nebraska - Bo Pelini has to replace 2 WR's and a QB. But most of that D is back and as always, Pelini will have them winning games on defense.

25. Utah - My National champs last year, the Utes cupboard isn't bear by any means. They return a number of key players, especially on D.

Other notable teams: Iowa, North Carolina, South Florida, Arizona, South Carolina, Boise st