College Football
m e ’ k n Ra
We enlisted a panel of experts to rank anything and everything of interest to college football fans heading into the season. Here’s what they came up with for Hooters Magazine’s College Football Rank’em 2009! Compiled by Fletcher Proctor, Stephen Black, Rajesh Gupta and Derek Wiley
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Top five Heisman candidates Tim Tebow, QB, Florida – With two national titles and a Heisman already on his resume, he looks to add one more of each in his senior season. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Sooner signal-caller brought home the award last season and passed on being the No. 1 pick to return for his junior year. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas (pictured) – The eyes (and title hopes) of Texas are upon him; if he can improve on last season’s gaudy numbers, he may take the trophy this year. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech – Dwyer rushed for nearly 1,400 yards and 12 scores last season and seems tailor-made for Paul Johnson’s offense. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State – Wide receivers are usually behind the 8-ball for this award, but Bryant’s potential is off the charts.
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Florida at LSU – QB Tim Tebow and the
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USC at Oregon – The Trojans have taken
5
Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (in Atlanta) – This
the Buckeyes will be looking for revenge after the Trojans beat down the Buckeyes in the LA Coliseum last September. defending national champion Gators’ biggest challenge of 2009 comes in midOctober when they head to Death Valley.
the Pac-10 crown seven years in a row, but a talented Oregon team finally has a shot to de-throne the Trojans.
matchup of potential top-five teams on opening weekend should get your blood flowing.
Top five
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Oklahoma – Many thought Sam Bradford
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Florida – LB Brandon Spikes, CB Joe
3
USC – S Taylor Mays and WR Damien
4
Texas – NFL teams love big linebackers
5
Alabama – NT Terrence Cody is a fan
might enter the draft this year and give Matt Stafford a run for his money at the No. 1 pick. Haden, and DE Carlos Dunlap are just a few of the Gators who expect to hear their names called on the first day of the draft.
Williams are playmakers, and Kris Dowd and Charles Brown might be just the ticket for teams looking to bolster their offensive lines.
who can rush the passer, and Sergio Kindle fits the bill perfectly. Earl Thomas will be one of the premier defensive backs. favorite in Tuscaloosa and there’s no doubt many NFL teams will be keeping an eye on his progress throughout the year.
nfl-talented teams
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USC at Ohio State – Terrelle Pryor and
Heisman hopeful QB Colt McCoy leads the Longhorns against 2008 Heisman winner QB Sam Bradford and Oklahoma.
2009
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Texas vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas) –
football games of
Top five college
Top five out-of-conference games
Games appearing in Top Five Biggest Games list were not considered
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USC at Ohio St – These two perennial BCS bowl
participants will square off early in the season in what may be a national title elimination game.
Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas – Mallett
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Oregon at Boise St. – Five years ago it would
have been laughable to include this game on such a list. Now, it features two of college football’s most dynamic offensive attacks.
threw for seven TDs and 892 yards in limited action at Michigan in 2007 and should thrive under Bobby Petrino.
3
Alabama vs. Virginia Tech – For the second
Jarred Fayson, WR, Illinois – Juice
4
Nebraska at Virginia Tech – Bo Pelini
5
Georgia at Georgia Tech – More
year in a row, the Tide will start their season at the Georgia Dome to face a top-notch ACC program. has the Cornhuskers back feeling good again while this year’s Hokies will be a bear to face in Blacksburg.
from the SEC. The conference is king more seasons than not, and this is one of those seasons.
Top five programs
Big 12 – Last season the Big 12 might have had an argument for top conference, but with Texas Tech and Missouri down, they’ll settle for second now.
Pac 10 – Despite the big question at quarterback,
to climb up the list as Georgia Tech and North Carolina continue to improve.
Big Ten – The conference is 0-6 in BCS bowl
games the past three seasons and Michigan will still be down after a 3-9 record last season.
Mountain West – Utah defeated Alabama in the
Sugar Bowl last year to finish the season undefeated. The MWC also includes TCU (11-2) and BYU (10-3).
Big East – The Big East will be down when its top two programs, West Virginia and Louisville, are down. This is a league with some good but not great teams.
Conference USA – East Carolina began last season with wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia, but finished 9-5. Once prominent Marshall finished 4-8.
WAC – Boise State has won a combined 55
games the past five seasons. But there is a reason for that; the rest of the WAC is terrible.
Mid-American – Ball State finished 12-2 last season to keep its conference from finishing last on this list, although the Cardinals didn’t win the league.
Sun Belt – Western Kentucky and North Texas would be on a short list of the worst FBS teams this season. They both play in the Sun Belt.
former Louisville RB will spell Jonathan Dwyer in Georgia Tech’s option attack.
Josh Jarboe, WR, Troy – The sleek wideout never got to impress at Oklahoma, but Jarboe will tear up the Sun Belt.
SEC – The last three national champions have come
ACC – Led by Virginia Tech, the ACC will continue
Anthony Allen, RB, Georgia Tech (pictured) – The
Ganaway is familiar with Art Briles’s system and will be a force in the backfield with QB Robert Griffin.
than the Governor’s Cup may be at stake when these two old rivals meet at the end of the season in Atlanta.
USC appears to be immune to a rebuilding year. Oregon, Oregon State and California are all solid.
Williams will love throwing to the former Florida Gator.
Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor –
Conference rankings
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T op five transfers becoming eligible
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on the rise
Illinois – Many thought Illinois would break out last
year, but it looks like the Illini might be on track for a big season.
UCLA – Bruins fans have to be tired of watching crosstown rival USC soak up all the national attention. Rick Neuheisel should have this team back in the mix soon.
Stanford – Jim Harbaugh has only taken the Cardinal
to a 9-15 record, but this team has a chance to raise its profile in the Pac-10.
Marshall – Marshall was finally taken off probation
last year, and coach Mark Snyder is keen on making the Thundering Herd a feared program once again.
Baylor Bears – The Bears haven’t had a winning season since 1995, but Art Briles helped the team post a 4-8 record last year with a lot of close losses.
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difference makers
RB Bryce Brown, Tennessee – The Wichita, Kan.
product ran for 6,809 yards in his high school career. Lane Kiffin will make sure his prized recruit gets enough carries in ’09.
DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri – The 6-
foot-4, 292-pound lineman is also a tremendous athlete, playing some wide receiver and returning kicks in high school.
RB Christine Michael, Texas A&M – Michael has a rare combination of speed and power and will contribute immediately on an Aggies team that needs offensive help.
LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State – Burfict
is one of the fastest linebackers in the nation and should see plenty of playing time for the Sun Devils in ’09.
WR Rueben Randle, LSU – With lightning speed and great moves, the 6-3 Randle could make a similar impact as freshmen A.J. Green (UGA) and Julio Jones (Alabama) did last year.
Top five breakthrough players
Top five freshman
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State – This little-known Cowpoke could become the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991 if he makes a name for himself in big games this year.
Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State (pictured
left) – The super sophomore from Jeannette, PA, will be a darkhorse for the Heisman Trophy if he can lead the Buckeyes to another Big Ten title.
Aaron Corp, USC – Coach Pete Carroll will depend on Corp to become the latest in a long line of great Trojan signal-callers.
Joe Cox, Georgia – The fifth-year
senior will finally get his chance to start a full season for perennialpower Georgia.
Daryll Clark, Penn State – The
Youngstown, Ohio native will look to build on a solid, yet unspectacular 2008 season in which he led the Nittany Lions to the Rose Bowl.
Top five coaches with something to prove Charlie Weis, Notre Dame – The Golden
Dome was looking for much more than the Hawaii Bowl when the school signed Weis to a 10-year deal in 2005.
Steve Spurrier, South Carolina (pictured left) – The hard-luck Gamecocks simply cannot seem to challenge in the SEC, no matter what legendary head coach they Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville – The Cardinals are 11-13 since Bobby Petrino left after the 2006 season. Al Groh, Virginia – The Cavaliers have resembled more of a roller coaster ride than a consistent football program under Groh.
Lane Kiffin, Tennessee (pictured right) – Although he was hired just a few months ago, Kiffin’s outlandish comments and minor NCAA violations are starting to wear thin in Knoxville.
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