Power Rankings

Clarett-less Buckeyes still deserve to be No. 1

By Stewart Mandel, SI.com

Craig Krenzel was named one of OSU's captains on Friday. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Let's see if we have this straight.

The defending national champ, Ohio State, will be without its star running back for half of the season. The previous year's national champ, Miami, has more guys in the hospital than in uniform. And Oklahoma, national champ three years removed, is banking on a quarterback who's blown out both his knees.

Anyone doubt there will be new blood at the top of the polls this year?

Problem is trying to predict who that new blood will be. Especially when the aforementioned teams, even with their respective questions, still look better on paper than anyone else out there.

So don't read too much into the fact that these familiar faces begin the season at or near the top of SI.com's power rankings. As they well know, it's not where you start out but where you end up.

NCAA Football Power Rankings Rank LW   Team 1 - Ohio State Buckeyes (0-0) Let's face it, we've known for some time Maurice Clarett would be suspended. It never changed our opinion. We figure give OSU its due to start out and if it's not in the cards this year, Washington or N.C. State will let us know soon enough. First game: Saturday vs. Washington. 2 - Oklahoma Sooners (0-0) Jason White's health aside, the Sooners' offense should be fine. Kejaun Jones and Renaldo Works could approach Quentin Griffin's production. Still, OU's all-world defense can't afford collapses like it had against A&M and Oklahoma State last year. First game: Saturday vs. North Texas. 3 - Virginia Tech Hokies (0-0) A game-breaking tailback (Kevin Jones), an underrated quarterback (Bryan Randall), a potential two-way star at cornerback (DeAngelo Hall) and a defense loaded with experience. Hmmm ... is this 2003 Virginia Tech or 2002 Ohio State? First game: Sunday vs. Central Florida. 4 - Miami Hurricanes (0-0) Only at Miami would a quarterback with one career start (Brock Berlin), a running back who hasn't played in two years (Frank Gore) and a tight end (Kellen Winslow) be considered potential Heisman candidates -- and be completely justified. First game: Thursday vs. Louisiana Tech. 5 - Texas Longhorns (0-0) This is the fourth straight year Texas has begun the season as a top-five team. Will this also be the fourth straight year the Longhorns lose to Oklahoma and fall short of the Big 12 title? Probably ... but there sure is lot of talent there. First game: Sunday vs. New Mexico State. 6 - Kansas State Wildcats (1-0) OK, so the Ell Roberson/Darren Sproles show couldn't have gotten off to a better start. But was that really a Bill Snyder defense? Clearly, the Wildcats miss Terence Newman. Fortunately, that might not matter again until they meet up with Texas' Roy Williams on Oct. 4. Next game: Saturday vs. Troy State. 7 - Michigan Wolverines (0-0) John Navarre? Braylon Edwards? Marlin Jackson? No, the key to the Wolverines' Rose Bowl chances is tailback Chris Perry, who needs to start breaking more big plays if Michigan's offense is going to take it to the next level. First game: Saturday vs. Central Michigan. 8 - North Carolina State Wolfpack (0-0) We all know Philip Rivers, T.A. McLendon and Jerricho Cotchery. What launches the Wolfpack into the top 10 are blue-chip newcomers like receivers Tramain Hall and Richard Washington, tackle Derek Morris and defensive end Mario Williams. First game: Saturday vs. Western Carolina. 9 - Auburn Tigers (0-0) In his first four years, Tommy Tuberville has specialized in overachieving, winning the SEC West in 2000 with essentially a one-man offense and drilling Alabama last year with a third-string tailback. What will he do now that the cupboard is full? First game: Saturday vs. Southern Cal. 10 - Southern Cal Trojans (0-0) Remember a few weeks back when I said the Trojans were overrated? Changed my mind. All indications are Matt Leinart has a firm grasp of the offense, and it sounds like freshman running back Reggie Bush could be downright scary. First game: Saturday at Auburn. 11 - Pittsburgh Panthers (0-0) The fact that the Panthers are in or near virtually every preseason top 10 shows just how much respect they garnered from some of their late-season performances last year, particularly the Thursday night near-upset against Miami. First game: Sept. 6 vs. Kent State. 12 - Georgia Bulldogs (0-0) The day after last season ended, I considered Georgia a candidate for preseason No. 1. Then Musa Smith turned pro. Then came a summer of arrests and suspensions. Then a slew of injuries. Suddenly, things look a whole lot shakier. First game: Saturday at Clemson. 13 - Florida State Seminoles (0-0) Will any team in the country be more grateful to finally play a game? The Adrian McPherson and NCAA headlines have continued almost daily right through fall practices. When can we get back to business as usual? You know, bashing Chris Rix. First game: Saturday at North Carolina. 14 - Maryland Terrapins (0-0) The Terps have been hit hard by injuries this preseason. Bruce Perry, whose return after missing most of last season was a big reason for optimism, could now miss up to six weeks. It's up to Ralph Friedgen to keep thing together in the early going. First game: Saturday at Northern Illinois. 15 - Tennessee Volunteers (0-0) Underestimate the Vols at your own risk. Yeah, they're easy to forget after last year's 8-5 showing. But last we checked, this was still a program that competed regularly for the national title before that. They've still got some guys who can play. First game: Saturday vs. Fresno State. 16 - Virginia Cavaliers (0-0) Let the record show that this is the sixth member of next year's ACC to find a home in these rankings. Can you imagine, a team finishes in the top 20 and goes to the Humanitarian Bowl? Oh wait, that's what happens to Boise State every year. First game: Saturday vs. Duke.

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