| CNNSI.com's Preseason Top 25 |
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College Sports Producer Stewart Mandel offers his rankings, including predicted 2001 record and losses:
|
| No. |
Team |
Rec. |
Losses |
| 1. |
Florida |
12-0 |
-- |
| Loaded at every position; need to sort out QB early |
| 2. |
Texas |
12-0 |
-- |
| Talent is undeniable; will pressure be too much? |
| 3. |
Oklahoma |
11-1 |
Texas |
| Still loaded, but it's darn tough to repeat |
| 4. |
Miami |
10-1 |
Florida St. |
| Bound to stumble somewhere in brutal slate |
| 5. |
Oregon |
10-1 |
UCLA |
| QB Harrington nearly lives up to Big Apple hype |
| 6. |
Virginia Tech |
10-1 |
Miami |
| QB only question for stacked Hokies |
| 7. |
Florida St. |
9-2 |
Clemson, Florida |
| A "rebuilding" year in Tallahassee |
| 8. |
Tennessee |
9-2 |
Florida, Notre Dame |
| QB Clausen should emerge as star |
| 9. |
Nebraska |
10-3 |
Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas (Big 12) |
| QB Crouch can't do it all himself |
| 10. |
Georgia Tech |
10-2 |
Florida State, N.C. State |
| Jackets come up just short at FSU |
| 11. |
UCLA |
9-2 |
Washington, Oregon St. |
| Bruins experienced, need to stay healthy |
| 12. |
Washington |
9-2 |
Miami, Oregon St. |
| Young Huskies gain momentum for '02 |
| 13. |
LSU |
9-3 |
Tennessee, Florida (twice) |
| Saban wins West in 2nd year |
| 14. |
Clemson |
8-3 |
Georgia Tech, Maryland, South Carolina |
| QB Dantzler to make serious Heisman bid |
| 15. |
Oregon St. |
8-3 |
Fresno St., USC, Oregon |
| Beavers must reload on defense |
| 16. |
South Carolina |
8-3 |
Miss. St., Tennessee, Florida |
| Gamecocks prove no fluke |
| 17. |
Northwestern |
8-3 |
UNLV, Ohio St., Purdue |
| Can take advantage of "down" Big Ten |
| 18. |
Kansas State |
8-3 |
USC, Oklahoma, Nebraska |
| Trojans provide rare early test for KSU |
| 19. |
Notre Dame |
8-3 |
Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Stanford |
| Will QB LoVecchio last entire season? |
| 20. |
Michigan |
8-3 |
Washington, Michigan St., Wisconsin |
| Complete reloading on offense |
| 21. |
Mississippi St. |
8-3 |
Florida, LSU, Alabama |
| As QB Madkin goes, do goes MSU |
| 22. |
Louisville |
9-2 |
Illinois, East Carolina |
| QB Ragone to gain all sorts of national attention |
| 23. |
UNLV |
9-2 |
Arkansas, Colorado St. |
| Must survive brutal early schedule |
| 24. |
Alabama |
7-4 |
UCLA, South Carolina, Tennessee, LSU |
| Franchione earns $$$ in tough debut season |
| 25. |
Pittsburgh |
8-3 |
Miami, Virginia Tech, W. Virginia |
| Superstar WR Bryant must keep head in game |
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