Teams just missing the cut

The rest of the teams in my top 25 should come as no surprise.  There may be a few change ups as far as where I have them ranked and where most other publications have them ranked, but its a similar top 14 left.  So I want to give props to the teams that just made the cut.  These wont be in any particular order or anything, and are just some teams off the top of my head that are "right there".

Oregon State:

I said this wasn't in any type of order, but they probably would be my 26.  Im surprised myself that I didn't include them in the Top 25.  They were one win away from the Rose Bowl last year.  Remember when they beat USC?  Remember when they kicked USC's ass?  Oregon State is the only team in the nation to have beaten USC twice since 2003.  If not for a Reggie Bush punt return for a touchdown in 2004, the number might have been 3 times.  This year they return RB Jacquizz Rodgers, QB Lyle Moevao, but only 3 starters on the defense.  It seems like every year you forget about Oregon State, or write them off (they started 0-2 last year), and then they finish strong and are a factor in November.  They have won 28 games the past 3 years.  Expect them to be a factor again this November.

Nebraska Cornhuskers:

Year one of the Bo Pellini era was a big success.  The Cornhuskers won 10 games, and were back in a January bowl.  Despite Pellini's defensive background, the Huskers won most of their games by having a dangerous offense.  Joe Ganz re-wrote the record books, but hes gone now.  The Huskers only return 4 starters on offense, most of them on the line.  RB Roy Helu Jr. is now a Junior, and expect him to be a the next good Huskers RB.  The defense must improve for the Huskers to win the BIg12 North.  The bright spot of the defense is DT Ndamukong Suh, who was unblockable in the Gator Bowl.  He is projected everywhere to be a first rounder, and many places have him in the top 10 of next years draft.  Under Pellini, the defense figures to improve.

Miami Hurricanes:

Miami's signature win came last year when they beat Va. Tech 16-14.  QB Jacory Harris didnt play full time, but when he did he showed signs of promise.  He is only a sophomore now.  They also return leading RB Graig Cooper, and leading WR Aldarius Johnson.  It is overall, a very young team.  The defense features only 3 seniors, and figures to start 5 sophomores.  The start of their schedule is absolutely brutal:  @ FSU, Ga Tech, @ Va. Tech, Oklahoma.  I dont know how theyre gonna do it, but if they can go 2-2, they will have a very successful season.  It sounds pessimistic, but more likely, they will be 0-4 to start.  I still think they can be one of the top 30 teams.  The tough schedule will only help this young team in the long run.  Next year they can be a favorite in the ACC.

Northwestern Wildcats:

I just cant say enough about Pat Fitzgerald.  In his first full year, he took the Wildcats to a 6-6 record, but no bowl berth.  Feeding off of that, the Wildcats jumped up last year and went 9-4, pushing heavily favored Mizzou to the limit in the Alamo Bowl.  It was no accident either.  They were successful by playing solid defense.  Eight starters return on the defense, which can be very, very good this year.  DE Corey Wootton will be a first round pick next year in the draft.

QB Mike Kafka will begin his first full year as QB, but he has some experience filling in for C.J. Bacher.  Kafka gives them another threat to run the ball.  Losing RB Tyrell Sutton, and WR Eric Peterman are the biggest blows to the team.  Even still, expect NW to win 8-9 games and return to a bowl game.

Cincinnati Bearcats:

My only Big East team on any sort of a radar here.  While I think that Rutgers may ultimately win the league, that is like throwing a dart at a dartboard evenly divided among the 7 teams in the Big East (there are 8 teams in the Big East, but Syracuse doesnt get invited to the dart board game).  Cinci is of course the defending champions, and they return seven starters to the offense.  The big combo that returns is QB Tony Pike and WR Mardy Gilyard.  Pike threw for 2407 yards, and 1200 of those were to Gilyard.  They also return two 600 yd+ rushers; Jacob Ramsey and John Goebel.  How could a team returning so much talent that won 11 games last year not be ranked you ask?  Well they won mostly with defense, and they return 1 starter.  They are a combined 21-6 the past two years, so maybe when its all said and done, the joke will be on me.  They play @ Rutgers the first week of the season, and go to Corvallis Week 3.  Both of those games will be very interesting.

Thats about it.  I just want to mention how much I dislike conference teams playing each other Week 1.  Its really dumb.  You shouldnt have to bury yourself early before you even know all of your personnel, what works, etc.  Ideally, you should want to play a Div-II school or someone shitty week 1, a good, non conference team week 2/3, and then 2 bad teams the other week of week 2/3 and week 4, and then start your conference.  I know the Big 10 plays their 4th non conf opponent in the middle of the season, like October, and that is okay I guess; (I know Illinois plays 2 non conf opponents after they play everyone in the BIg10, and I dont like that).  The fact that cinci plays Rutgers and FSU plays Miami the first week is dumb.  Games like Ok. State vs UGA and VT vs Bama are nice matchups for the first week for the fans, but these games would be better if they played just one or two weeks later.  For example, VT plays Marshall week 2, and Alabama plays Florida Intl Week 2.  Wouldnt it be better if VT played Bama week 2, and they played those opponents mentioned Week 1?  We kinda see this with OSU playing Navy Week 1, and USC playing San Jose St., and then the two teams hooking 9/12 in the Horseshoe:

Which means in just a little over 1,000 hours you will hear:

"YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE, at a sold out Horseshoe, where 100,000 thousand plus are here, to cheer on the Buckeyeeeeesssss, as they welcome the Trojans from Southern Callllllll.  Hello everyone, Im Brent Musburger"