CLICK ABOVE FOR 11 THROUGH 20

NCAA Football Power Rankings, Pt. III Rank LW School 21 -- TCU Horned Frogs (11-1) Key returnees: QB Jeff Ballard, RB Robert Merrill, RB Aaron Brown, DE Chase Ortiz Spring star: DT Lorenzo Jones. A heralded signee in 2005, the sophomore will likely play a big role this fall. Lowdown: The Frogs return one of the nation's deepest backfields with Merrill, Brown and Lonta Hobbs, but their success will depend on how well four new O-line starters develop. A new playmaker needs to step in for the departed Cory Rodgers. Ortiz and DE Tommy Blake anchor a strong front seven. 22 -- Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1) Key returnees: RB Kenneth Darby, WR D.J. Hall, T Kyle Tatum, LB Juwan Simpson Spring star: QB John Parker Wilson. Brodie Croyle's successor made big plays, but also big mistakes throughout spring. Lowdown: It's a year of transition for the Tide, which must replace nearly every key cog (LBs DeMeco Ryans and Fredie Roach, S Roman Harper, et al.) from last year's dominant defense. Four returning starters from the O-line, which allowed 37 sacks in 2005, have shown improvement. 23 -- Arizona St. Sun Devils (7-5) Key returnees: QBs Sam Keller and Rudy Carpenter, WR Terry Richardson, TE Zach Miller Spring star: LB Mike Nixon. The 22-year-old walk-on and former Triple-A catcher has made a push for major playing time. Lowdown: There's little question the offense will be explosive regardless of which QB starts. As for ASU's oft-maligned defense, transfers Michael Marquardt (BYU) and Loren Howard (Northwestern) figure to beef up the line, while speedy WR Rudy Burgess is also playing cornerback. 24 -- Virginia Tech Hokies (11-2) Key returnees: DE Chris Ellis, LB Vince Hall, LB Xavier Adibi, K Brandon Pace Spring star: CB Victor Harris. After spending part of spring at tailback, the athletic sophomore leapt to first-string corner. Lowdown: The Hokies should field one of the nation's stingiest defenses yet again. The offense, however, is in a state of flux, with sophomore Sean Glennon claiming a tenuous hold on the QB job, while graduation (Mike Imoh, Cedric Humes) and injuries (Branden Ore) have depleted the backfield. 25 -- Utah Utes (7-5) Key returnees: QB Brett Ratliff, WR Brian Hernandez, CB Eric Weddle, S Casey Evans Spring star: RB Daryl Poston. The oft-injured USC transfer has finally ascended to No. 1 tailback. Lowdown: The Utes' offense took off at the end of last season after Ratliff took over for the injured Brian Johnson. He'll have the benefit of a deep receiving corps and veteran O-line. Eight starters return from an already solid defense, though DT Steve Fifita and LB Spencer Toone are big losses.

On the cusp: Fresno State, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Boise State, Boston College