ESPN's Mark Schlabach just released his latest college football top-25 installment. These rankings are really all for fun for off season talk, but what is odd is how teams can make a huge fall without suffering an injury to a major player or a reason a team would jump high due to their spring practice.
TCU drops from ninth to 22nd on information we already new, such as losing quarterback Andy Dalton to the NFL draft in addition to 26 seniors. Also, how does West Virginia move into the poll at 14 after not being ranked last time around.
I left in the TCU and Boise State -- seventh by the way -- blurb from Schlabach, so for his take on the other team head over to the complete list at ESPN.
I still find it hard to believe that LSU can be fifth and they do not even know who their starting quarterback will be and I feel that Ohio State should not be ranked at all.
1. Oklahoma Sooners (Previous ranking: 1)
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (Previous ranking: 2)
3. Florida State Seminoles (Previous ranking: 3)
4. Oregon Ducks (Previous ranking: 5)
5. LSU Tigers (Previous ranking: 4)
6. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Previous ranking: 10)
7. Boise State Broncos (Previous ranking: 8)
The Broncos bring back quarterback Kellen Moore, a Heisman Trophy candidate, and underrated tailback Doug Martin. But the Broncos must replace record-setting receivers Austin Pettis and Titus Young, and they'll be without former offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, who left for Texas. Receivers Geraldo Hiwat, a 6-foot-4 native of Amsterdam, and Kirby Moore, the quarterback's brother, emerged as potential playmakers during the spring. Tackle Charles Leno and guard Jake Broyles solidified the right side of the offensive line. Finding replacements for safety Jeron Johnson and end Ryan Winterswyk remains a concern heading into preseason camp. The Broncos open the season against Georgia in the Sept. 3 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Atlanta's Georgia Dome, which will be another chance for them to prove they're a national contender.
8. Stanford Cardinal (Previous ranking: 7)
9. Texas A&M Aggies (Previous ranking: 12)
10. Michigan State Spartans (Previous ranking: 16)
11. Arkansas Razorbacks (Previous ranking: 11)
12. Wisconsin Badgers (Previous ranking: 13)
13. Nebraska Cornhuskers (Previous ranking: 24)
14. West Virginia Mountaineers (Previous ranking: NR)
15. Ohio State Buckeyes (Previous ranking: 6)
16. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Previous ranking: 14)
17. Georgia Bulldogs (Previous ranking: 18)
18. Missouri Tigers (Previous ranking: 21)
19. South Carolina Gamecocks (Previous ranking: 15)
20. Texas Longhorns (Previous ranking: 19)
21. Arizona State Sun Devils (Previous ranking: 23)
22. TCU Horned Frogs (Previous ranking: 9)
The Horned Frogs will have a difficult time duplicating last season's success, after they finished 13-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country to end the 2010 season. TCU lost 26 seniors, including quarterback Andy Dalton and center Jake Kirkpatrick, one of four departing starters from the offensive line. Sophomore Casey Pachall is ahead of redshirt freshman Matt Brown in the race to replace Dalton. Tailback Ed Wesley is back after running for 1,078 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2010. All-America linebacker Tank Carder, the Rose Bowl defensive MVP, leads a rebuilt defense. The Horned Frogs open their final season in the Mountain West Conference (they're moving to the Big East in 2012) with consecutive road games at Baylor and Air Force and play at MWC newcomer Boise State on Nov. 12.
23. Virginia Tech Hokies (Previous ranking: 22)
24. Florida Gators (Previous ranking: 20)
25. Mississippi State Bulldogs (Previous ranking: 25)