An early crack at an '09 top 25 (cont.)

11. LSU (8-5)

The Buckeyes are Terrelle Pryor's team now, but the dynamic quarterback's surrounded by a young supporting casts. AP Stewart Mandel's Mailbag Submit a question or an opinion to Stewart. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Stewart Mandel on Twitter

Who's back: QB Jordan Jefferson, RB Charles Scott, WR Brandon LaFell, T Ciron Black, DE Rahim Alem.

Who's not: WRs Demetrius Byrd, G Herman Johnson, DE Tyson Jackson, DT Ricky Jean-Francois*, LB Darry Beckwith.

Skinny: After enduring QB woes all season, LSU saw Jefferson emerge as the answer in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. New D-coordinator John Chavis will have an impact.

12. Georgia Tech (9-4)

Who's back: QB Josh Nesbitt, RBs Jonathan Dwyer, Lucas Cox and Roddy Jones, S Morgan Burnett.

Who's not: T Andrew Gardner, DE Michael Johnson, DTs Vance Walker and Darryl Richard.

Skinny: Nearly every key player returns from an offense that posted 400-plus rushing yards against Miami and Georgia. The D-line suffered heavy blows.

13. Georgia (10-3)

Who's back: WR A.J. Green, DT Geno Atkins, LB Rennie Curran, S Reshad Jones, CB Prince Miller.

Who's not: QB Matthew Stafford*, RB Knowshon Moreno*, WR Mohamed Massaquoi, CB Asher Allen*.

Skinny: Mark Richt has some serious rebuilding to do on offense, but with a healthy, veteran front four, the Dawgs should go back to fielding a dominant defense.

14. Utah (13-0)

Who's back: RB Matt Asiata, T Zane Beadles, DE Koa Misi, LB Stevenson Sylvester.

Who's not: QB Brian Johnson, WR Freddie Brown, DE Paul Kruger*, CB Sean Smith*, K/P Louie Sakoda.

Skinny: After losing Johnson and nearly all his receivers, the Utes will have to rely on defense and a running game. Kruger's and Smith's defections hurt.

15. Penn State (11-2)

Who's back: QB Daryll Clark, RB Evan Royster, DT Jared Odrick, LB Navorro Bowman.

Who's not: WRs Derrick Williams and Deon Butler, C A.Q. Shipley, DE Aaron Maybin*, S Anthony Scirrotto.

Skinny: Clark and Royster are back, but JoePa loses all his key receivers, three solid O-linemen and a star defensive end. Injured LB Sean Lee should return.

16. Ohio State (10-3)

Who's back: QB Terrelle Pryor, DE Lawrence Wilson, DT Cameron Heyward, S Kurt Coleman.

Who's not: RB Beanie Wells*, WR Brian Robiskie, LBs James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, CB Malcolm Jenkins.

Skinny: It's officially Pryor's team now, but he'll be surrounded by a fairly young supporting cast, especially at receiver. The defense loses several big names.

17. TCU (11-2)

Who's back: QB Andy Dalton, RB Joseph Turner, WR Jimmy Young, DE Jerry Hughes.

Who's not: RB Aaron Brown, LBs Jason Phillips, Stephen Hodge and Robert Henson.

Skinny: The Frogs lose seven starters from the nation's No. 1 defense but All-America Hughes is returning. Dalton and Young are a dangerous passing duo.

18. Florida State (9-4)

Who's back: QB Christian Ponder, RB Jermaine Thomas, G Rodney Hudson, LB Dekoda Watson.

Who's not: RB Antone Smith, DE Everette Brown*, LB Derek Nicholson, S Myron Rolle, K/P Graham Gano.

Skinny: For the first time in years, FSU's offense could be its strength, thanks to a vastly improved line. Mickey Andrews' defense has holes to fill in the secondary.

19. Oregon State (9-4)

Who's back: RB Jacquizz Rodgers, WR James Rodgers, DT Stephen Paea, LB Keaton Kristick.

Who's not: WRs Sammie Stroughter and Shane Morales, DEs Victor Butler and Slade Norris.

Skinny: The Rodgers brothers are back, which should make for another exciting offense, but the defense that shut out Pitt in the Sun Bowl loses eight starters.

20. Cal (9-4)

Who's back: QB Kevin Riley, RB Jahvid Best, DE Cameron Jordan, CB Syd'Quan Thompson.

Who's not: C Alex Mack, LBs Anthony Felder, Zack Follett and Worrell Williams.

Skinny: Cal finished the season strong. Riley should thrive, and Best is a Heisman candidate. The defense must replace three stalwart linebackers.

21. Iowa (9-4)

Who's back: QB Ricky Stanzi, T Bryan Bulaga, LB Pat Angerer, CB Amari Spievey.

Who's not: RB Shonn Greene*, G Seth Olsen, DTs Mitch King and Matt Kroul.

Skinny: The upstart Hawkeyes are fairly set in most areas, but rising sophomore RB Jewel Hampton must fill 1,850-yard rusher Greene's shoes.

22. Kansas (8-5)

Who's back: QB Todd Reesing, RB Jake Sharp, WRs Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier.

Who's not: WR Dexton Fields, G Adrian Mayes, LBs James Holt and Joe Mortensen.

Skinny: The Jayhawks could field one of the most potent passing attacks in the country. S Darrell Stuckey is one of the few standouts on a suspect defense.

23. North Carolina (8-5)

Who's back: QB T.J. Yates, LBs Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant, CB Kendric Burney.

Who's not: WRs Brandon Tate and Hakeem Nicks*, LB Mark Paschal, S Trimane Goddard.

Skinny: A veteran defense three years in the making should be the key for Butch Davis' team, which loses its all-everything playmaker, Hicks, on offense.

24. Texas Tech (11-2)

Who's back: WRs Lyle Leong and Detron Lewis, DT Colby Whitlock, CB Jamar Wall.

Who's not: QB Graham Harrell, WR Michael Crabtree*, T Rylan Reed, G Louis Vasquez, S Darcel McBath.

Skinny: It's back to the drawing board for Mike Leach, who loses the nation's most prolific passing tandem. The good news is the defense has eight starters returning.

25. Pittsburgh (9-4)

Who's back: TE Nate Byham, DE Greg Romeus, LB Greg Williams, CB Aaron Berry.

Who's not: RB LeSean McCoy*, WR Derek Kinder, LB Scott McKillop, S Eric Thatcher.

Skinny: The mostly veteran Panthers should field another top-notch defense, even without star McKillop, but will be relying on a newcomer to replace McCoy.

On the cusp: Nebraska, BYU, Michigan State, Boston College, East Carolina.

REACT: What do you think?