2006 NCAA Football Preview

The Top 25

The upcoming NCAA football season should be interesting, with the end of the Bush and Leinart dynasty at USC, increasingly competitive mid-major football conferences, and a top-to-bottom improvement in the major conferences like the SEC and the Big Ten. The following list is how one writer sees the Top 25 shaking out at the end of the 2006 NCAA football season and it should be noted that such projections are difficult given the occasional upsets that take place any given Saturday. However, this Top 25 should be consistent with the best talent pools in the entire nation.

1. Ohio State- The combination of quarterback Troy Smith and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. Could be lethal in 2006, if both can stay healthy. Jim Tressel has to adjust to the loss of a great group of players to the NFL but has a great, talented group that will be able to pull out close games. As well, the Buckeyes benefit from a stronger conference than USC which will help out their BCS numbers.

2. USC- While great college players like Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, among others, have left for the pro game, Coach Pete Caroll still has a full cupboard of talent and great confidence in his coaching ability. Wide receiver Vidal Hazelton is a great pro prospect as an incoming freshman and quarterback John David Booty has had two years behind Leinart to learn how to be a winning quarterback. There is the possibility of multiple undefeated teams and USC will be among that group, considering the relative weakness of the Pac-10.

3. Notre Dame- Charlie Weis gets future NFLer Brady Quinn back for another season at quarterback and the Irish are looking to build on a great first season under Weis. Notre Dame needs to capitalize on the presence of Quinn in the offensive backfield in 2006, because there will be a fall off from Quinn to whomever takes over in 2007.