It is never too early for a pre-season Top 25.

Miami remains the Number 1 team until beaten, but I believe this team will fall this year, with games against both Florida State and Florida. It could come down to the Red River Shootout (Oct 12) winner holding the punch card to the title game.

Questions abound in the Big Ten; last year was a disappointment for the conference especially with Michigan and conference champ Illinois getting outclassed in their respective bowl games.

The SEC is going to be competitive again even with Spurrier out of Florida. Tennessee remains the team to beat, but look out for LSU and never underestimate Lou Holtz’s team.

The PAC-10 should have another strong year with Oregon, Washington, and don’t count out the Dennis Erickson led Oregon State Beavers all competing for the top spot.

The ACC is starting to become not just a "basketball" conference. The revival of Maryland under Ralph Friedgen and John Bunting at North Carolina are making life a little more difficult for Bobby Bowden and FSU.

The Big East is still Miami’s to lose though even with Vick II running around at Virginia Tech.

Big 12 football is alive and well in the south, Oklahoma, Texas, and don’t count out an experienced Texas A&M team.

Of course keep in mind that this list will probably change before the start of the season.

Here is the list.

#1 Miami: How can you not choose Miami as numero uno? They still have a load of talent coming back from Ken Dorsey at QB, Andre Johnson at receiver and Jonathan Vilma at defensive tackle. Besides in my book you retain top dog status until defeated on the field. Now how long they stay #1 is in entirely different question. Games at Florida and Tennessee, along with homes games versus Virginia Tech and archrival Florida State could be a tough task. Should they come unscathed though this, Miami will unequivocally be playing for, and keeping for that matter, all the marbles.

#2 Oklahoma: A new offensive coordinator (Chuck Long) comes to Norman. Long has already set the ‘o’line to a tighter spacing, in hopes of reviving the running game. This should allow the Sooner attack in airing it out even more. On defense…well the defense will still be staunch as ever, even with the departure of all-everything Roy Williams and Rocky Calmus as Bob Stoops has landed two top JUCO linebackers.

#3 Texas: I have my doubts about putting Texas this high, but all that talent I just can’t ignore. If Mack Brown and golden boy Chris Simms can get by Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout this team should cruise into the Fiesta bowl. If not, it would come as no surprise to most people why the ‘horns couldn’t get to Tempe, AZ.

#4 Tennessee: The lose of two scholarships won’t hurt the Volunteers this year especially with the return of Michael Munoz on the line. The steady play of Casey Clausen at QB is a huge plus, along with nine cozy home games, but beware of Gators and a Hurricane in those home games.

#5 Florida State: Last season was an aberration and Papa Bowden is looking to overcome Joe Pa’s record as the coach with the most. Chris Rix made great strides by season end and the defense should be down right scary. Playing at Miami though has to be making Bowden mumbling "wide right" in his sleep and an Irish team that should not be overlooked.

#6 Washington: Ben Mahdavi is an absolute force at the inside linebacker spot. While Cody Pickett has shown he can get it done in the PAC-10 even wit a separated shoulder. Patrick Reddick WR was granted a 6^{th year of eligibility so that will help give another out for the lose of TE Jeremy Stevens.}

#7 LSU: Matt Mauck came in the SEC championship game for Rohen Davey and showed tremendous poise. Lou Saban has increased the talent base at LSU the past few years and this year the SEC will see it first hand. Along with a good showing at this past years’ Nokia Sugar Bowl, the tigers will be prowling in the shadows

#8 Colorado: Running backs Marcus Houston and Chris Brown along with QB Craig Ochs at full strength makes opposing teams scream "STAMPEDE!" The defense needs to get better, particularly the secondary. Texas and Oregon torched this unit on a regular basis late last season. The only question for the Buffs’ is can they have a consistent defense throughout the season? If answered, Colorado will be giving Nebraska a very difficult shot at unseating them from the North Division’s top spot.

#9 Michigan: The defense for Michigan looks to be very, very good. And it better be with the personnel loses on the offense. John Navarre played well and poor last season; he needs better consistency if Michigan wants a shot for the title. The schedule is filled with its usual potholes; Washington and Penn State visit and travels include Notre Dame and Ohio State.

#10 Nebraska: The Cornhuskers seem to be at a crossroads in their illustrious tradition. Back to back loses at Colorado and at the Rose Bowl to Miami leave many fans wondering whether the option is what’s best for this team. The famed Blackshirt defense shares a fair brunt of the late season collapse as well. Considering all things though, it is hard to go against tradition and thus the high ranking.

#11 Florida: On paper this team could be penciled in for the Fiesta Bowl, but that is with Steve Spurrier calling the shots. Ron Zooks is now the leader and only time will tell if he is indeed The Man. An ugly lose vs. Miami and the season could quickly spiral out of hand. Withstand the force of the Hurricanes or even beat them and the Gators could be in the Valley of the Sun.

#12 Oregon: Where does Oregon go Post-Harrington? Jason Fife by all accounts should be the real deal at quarterback. Many say he has a better arm than Harrington, but does he have that knack for simply willing the team to a win like Harrington. Defensively there is concern were corner Rashad Bauman’s spot has been vacated, but the front seven will be formidable. If Fife can produce the Ducks should contend even in the crazy Pac-10.

#13 Virginia Tech: Coach Beamer is known for his teams defense and special teams and has had a pretty good offense too. Lee Suggs is back after last season’s injury and Kevin Jones is a game breaker. Alas though the Hokies have lost QB returnee Grant Noel during spring training. So can Marcus Vick, Michael’s little bro, come in and light up. Time will only tell.

#14 Ohio State: The Buckeyes landed a great recruiting class, but it will be a few years before we see that class, right know the buckeyes have to worry about replacing running back Jonathan Wells and finding a QB. True Freshman Justin Zwick might be thrust into the starting spot early on.

#15 South Carolina: The lovable Lou Holtz just seems to keep enough talent around to make it to a New Years bowl game and for Gamecock fans that’s enough, but the New Years bash may come to an end this season. The schedule is tough and they are replacing a lot of players, but I am never one to bet against Lou and his "this team isn’t very good" motto.

#16 Georgia: The bulldogs had a good season under first year coach Mark Richt, winning at Knoxville for the first time in over a decade, but while the offense returns a good staple of talent the defense is in rebuilding mode. Add to that a date with Holtz and the Gamecocks early on in the season and the defense could be heading for the doghouse.

#17 Maryland: Ralph Friedgen led the Terrapins to an unthinkable record last season. The Fridge needs restocked is the ongoing theme early this season And it doesn’t get much easier starting right out the gate with a tussle in the Meadowlands vs. an Irish team that nobody has any inkling what they are going to resemble and a play date with FSU two weeks later.

#18 Auburn: Consistent QB play is needed for the Tigers of Auburn to crest the hump. With 8 starters returning on defense that should help until the offense gets clicking, but that defense will be tested right out of the gate by traveling to L.A. and facing the Trojans of USC.

#19 Marshall: Byron Leftwich is being touted as the #1 QB to be taken in next spring’s draft. Playing in a Mid-major conference doesn’t help their title aspirations. The lose of a few scholarships won’t hurt them this year, but the defense needs to be better after yielding 61 points to ECU in last years’ bowl game.

#20 Oregon State: Fresh off a drubbing of Notre Dame at the 2001Fiesta Bowl the Beavers immediately fall apart last season right off the bat to a David Carr led Fresno State team. The curse of the SI cover strikes again. Dennis Erickson has to be stewing; he is simply to competive to let it happen twice in a row.

#21 Penn State: Joe Pa started 0-4 before finally tying the record. The lions look ready to roar again after two lackluster season’s. Zak Mills is a playmaker at the QB spot and the defense returns scores of talent. It also helps that they don’t play Miami this year right out of the gate. While the play in the Big Ten is down it is still no Saturday stroll through the park.

#22 Notre Dame: New head coach, new staff, and new offensive philosophy should prompt the Irish back into the spotlight. While most of the offense returns, the Irish lose the heart and soul of the defense with Anthony Weaver and Rocky Boiman graduating. Add a five game start that reads; Maryland, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State and Stanford and the Willingham era could start off ugly.

#23 USC: Keys concerns are along the offensive and defensive lines. They lack depth and an injury here could bring down the house. Carson Palmer is back at the quarterback spot for what seems like forever. The Trojans simply look to be better than the other L.A. school. Especially with Bob Toledo’s late season falls…

#24 Texas A&M: Another year, another 8-4 season for R.C. Slocum and the Aggies. Can R.C. bring it together and finally get a great season. The offense is losing only one player from last year’s squad. Mark Farris returns at the QB spot and looks to have a good target in Jamaar Taylor at the wide out spot. The defense is what has become tradition at A&M with Slocum at the helm, tight as ever.

#25 Louisville: Dave Ragone is already being hyped for the 2002 Heisman. Athletic, big, strong arm, he has all the tools to succeed. The cardinals will only go as far as their defense will carry them though.