2008 College Football Pre-Season Rankings

Let me just get this out here now. These rankings are based on how good the teams are going into the season and not how they're going to finish. These rankings also differ from what the AP released, as well. Oh, and by the end of this, if your team isn't ranked as high as you want, reply and I will tell you why and how I put them there. Here are teams, 25-20. Enjoy.

25. Michigan
The new look Wolverines have many questions on the offensive side of the ball with just three returning starters from 2007. With the implementation of the spread offense, it may be nice that Rodriguez can choose players that fit his style without the weight of keeping high-profile stars happy. The decision of Ryan Mallett to transfer schools, may be a blessing in disguise for Rodriguez's regime. Freshman Steven Threet, a transfer from Georgia Tech, has experience in the spread offense and is the favorite to run the offense. Sophomore Nick Sheridan and freshman Justin Feagan bring up the depth chart.

On defense, the defensive line could possibly grow into one of the best in the country. The defense has eight returning starters including six seniors. Much pressure is on the defense to hold the team together and keep them in games. The defensive line returns all four starters and should be one of the better units in the Big Ten. Seniors Terrance Taylor and Will Johnson will start at the tackles. Taylor is a monster in the middle of the line who can stuff the run and keep blockers off the linebackers. The Wolverines will get nice pressure from the defensive ends. Senior Tim Jamison finished 2007 with 5.5 sacks, and junior Brandon Graham led the team with 8.5 sacks last season. The secondary will again be solid with Morgan Trent and Donovan Warren manning the corners

24. Virginia Tech

The best news for Tech is on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterbacks Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor split some time last season and may do so again this year. Glennon has the better arm, but Taylor can create magic with his feet. Between the two of them, they are a pretty solid, all-around quarterback. The line returns four starters and that will keep the offense rolling. Tackle Ed Wang, center Ryan Shuman and guards Nick Marshman and Sergio Render were not the most dominating group in the conference last year, but the year of experience should help. And there is plenty of talent available to take the other starting tackle job, most notably heralded redshirt freshman Blake DeChristopher.

Running back Branden Ore is gone and that means a freshman will likely take over the job. Darren Evans and Josh Oglesby are the likely candidates, but true freshman Ryan Williams will compete for carries if the two redshirt freshmen should stumble.
Virginia Tech prides themselves on good defense. And their ongoing success this season will depend on the defense replacing a ton of talent. On the line, they lost Barry Booker, Chris Ellis ,and Carlton Powell. The linebackers lost Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall and the secondary will have to do without Brandon Flowers and D.J. Parker. Even with a system that continually builds great defenses, that is a ton of talented players to replace.

23. South Florida
The Bulls look to prove that last year's rise to the number 2 spot in the rankings was not a fluke. With 16 returning starters, the Bulls should expect bigger and better things than last year's 9-4 season. Quarterback Matt Grothe returns and looks stronger than ever. He has slimmed down and seemed poised to have a big year based on spring ball. Grothe will get help on the ground from RB Mike Ford, who broke out with 645 yards and 12 touchdowns. The passing game features a talented receiving corps that includes Carlton Mitchell, Jessie Hester, and Taurus Johnson, who each caught four touchdown passes. Grothe, however, needs to help himself by improving his reads and cutting back on a high interception total.

The Bulls' defense is led by consensus All-American defensive end George Selvie. Coming off his killer 14.5-sack, 31.5-tackles for loss season, Selvie will be hard-pressed to repeat those numbers. But, end Jarriett Buie should benefit from opposing offensive linemen paying Selvie extra attention. Senior linebacker Tyrone McKenzie also is a key component on defense. However, the Bulls have three huge holes in replacing cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams and linebacker Ben Moffitt.

22. BYU
After two straight 10-2 seasons and two consecutive Mountain West titles, BYU is looking for even better things this time around. With a dynamic offense returning and enough weapons on defense to work with, Coach Bronco Mendenhall and company are one of the few non-BCS teams who are thinking about a BCS Bowl. They seem to have everything going in their favor leading up to the season.

Max Hall had a good debut season as the starting quarterback for the Cougars, throwing for 3,848 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. If he follows the jump most quarterbacks make going into their second year running the show, the BYU offense will be very hard to stop. Running back Harvey Unga rushed for 1,227 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman. Look for the Cougars to get him the ball early and often.

If this team has any question mark, it's the defense. Only three starters return for a team that ranked 10th in the nation in total defense and ninth in points allowed.

21. Pitt
The Dave Wannstedt program has gone on for three years and Pittsburgh has not reached a bowl game. That little streak will not be extended to four years. In fact, with a majority of the teams in the Big East doing a little scrambling, the Panthers could seriously be looking at a BCS Bowl.

The Panthers begin and end with LeSean McCoy. Just a sophomore, McCoy drew comparisons to the legendary Tony Dorsett last year when he rushed for 1,378 yards and a school-record 14 touchdowns. Bill Stull won the quarterback job in the spring and Wannstedt looks for him to pick up where he left off when he was injured and missed the 2007 season. If he can, it will solve a lot of problems. The defense is experienced and deep, led by middle linebacker Scott McKillop, whose 151 tackles led the nation last year. Pitt's total defense might not rank fifth in the nation again this year, but they will not fall much further than that. The question for this team is how big of a stride can the offense make? With McCoy and Stephens-Howling in the backfield, it should give the quarterbacks every possible opportunity to shine. If the passing game does come around, look for Pitt to make a run towards the Big East title.

20. California
If anything, Cal is a bit of a forgotten team in the college football world because of its shocking second-half fade last season. The Bears, however, might deserve a closer look for 2008.

Cal's problems can be traced to their shaky quarterback play. The quarterback play should be improved this year, through the competition between Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley. RB Jahvid Best, receivers Michael Calvin, Nyan Boateng, and Jeremy Ross, along with TE Cameron Morrah, are the standout skill position players looking to have a breakout year.

The defense was decent last year, but returning a majority of their players should shift the focus to them. The Golden Bears have spent some practice time in a 3-4 look and will likely at least use it at some point this season. With linebackers Worrell Williams, Zack Follett and Anthony Felder returning, it makes sense to focus on the linebackers and try and fit in one more starter.

The defensive line did not do a noteworthy job last year in pushing the tempo, but another year under their belt should improve their production. The secondary has the most holes to fill with the departure of safety Thomas DeCoud and corner Brandon Hampton.