Matt McGuire's 2008 College Football Rankings

Updated Aug. 28

The greatest sport in the world, college football, is right on our door step and I can't control myself. I just had to update my Top 15 Power Rankings especially with the most meaningful injury happening last week to a team in my top five. Who was it? Find out.

1. Ohio State
   Ohio State's second string could destroy Youngstown, or shall I say "Creampuff" State. Chris Wells should only be used for 8-10 carries to keep him fresh for the Sept. 13 matchup against the Men of Troy.
   
   *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. Youngstown State on Big Ten Network.
   
   *W2W4: Everyone is hyping Terrelle Pryor, but watch out for freshman WR DeVier Posey. Ohio State needs a deep threat on offense, and Posey needs to step up early and get some experience if he is going to have any production against USC.
   
   
2. USC
   Pete Carroll is talking about Mark Sanchez's dislocated knee cap like a minor thigh bruise. Granted, I'm not an M.D., but this is a serious injury and I don't see Sanchez coming back at 100 percent. Even if he does, he was an average playmaker last season.
   
   This injury that keeps Sanchez on the sidelines does disrupt the chemistry of the passing game, which is vital in beating a team like Ohio State, since they have no proven running game and have to replace nearly their entire offensive line.
   
   *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 @ Virginia on ABC
   
   *W2W4: RDE Everson Griffen vs. LT Eugene Monroe. Two potentially top 10 draft picks when they declare, this is a huge, must-see matchup. Can Monroe handle Griffen's speed off the edge? Who will win the battle in the running game? I'm psyched and will be watching Monroe for four quarters.
   
   
3. Oklahoma
   Boomer Sooners move up one spot in my power rankings due to a HUGE injury in Athens (more on that later). Expect Sam Bradford to be the great decision-maker he is, and be a smart, accurate quarterback. You rarely see this out of young quarterbacks, but Bradford is light years ahead of most seniors, which is really saying something.
   
   *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. Chattanooga
   
   *W2W4: DT DeMarcus Granger ended the season on a sour note after getting arrested for shoplifting and suspended for the Fiesta Bowl. Winning cures all, and he needs to emerge as a leader on this defensive line early and often.
   
   
   
   
4. Georgia
   A mammoth injury for a team that really can’t afford many setbacks, sophomore left tackle Trinton Sturdivant is out for the season with a knee injury. You will see a significant dropoff in play for whomever replaces Sturdivant. It could cost Georgia a game or two next season.
   
   *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. Georgia Southern
   
   *W2W4: How productive will RB Caleb King be this year for the Dawgs? He needs to step it up to be a nice option beside Heisman contender Knowshon Moreno.
   
   
5. Clemson
   The talent is there for Clemson to win the ACC, but are we going to rename Clemson "Choke U?" Nearly every year, Tommy Bowden has underachieved, but there can be no excuses this year. It's now or never.
   
   Last year, unheralded quarterback Matt Ryan led Boston College to as high as No. 2 in the country, and yet everyone is sleeping on Cullen Harper. I don't get it. He represents my All-Underrated team at quarterback... just like Ryan did in 2007.
   
   *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. No. 24 Alabama on ABC
   
   *W2W4: Ummm... the biggest game of the weekend. If Clemson wants to go to the BCS Championship, this is a must-win game, which solidifies my belief that the regular season in college football to an extent is a playoff.
   
   
6. Missouri
   Everyone is boasting about QB Chase Daniel and WR Jeremy Maclin, but why isn't the defense getting any love? Well, maybe because they gave up 435 total yards to Illinois last year. This unit must step up if Missouri is going to be in the national title hunt.
   
   *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. No. 20 Illinois on ESPN
   
   *W2W4: OLB Sean Witherspoon vs. QB Juice Williams. Witherspoon needs to contain the spread offense, and this must happen if you are going to beat Illinois. He has the speed to be a factor in this game and really contain Juice in the pocket.
   
   
7. Florida
   You know about Tim Tebow. You know about Percy Harvin. Blah, blah, blah. Well, they had those players last year and lost four regular season games, as I predicted. This team needs a defense and running game that will step up.
   
   The schedule gets easier as Arkansas replaces Auburn on the SEC schedule, but Miami takes the spot of Troy. Florida slept on Ole Miss last year and narrowly escaped, so they shouldn't take "The U" lightly.
   
   *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. Hawaii
   
   *W2W4: Tim Tebow circumcised kids in the Phlippines, and he will circumcise the pathetic Hawaii defense. Anyway, Gator nation is very high on sophomore DE Carlos Dunlap. He's a 6-6, 290-pound monster that must wreak havoc in the SEC this year to help out the Florida defense that gave up 26 points per game in 2007.
   
   
8. West Virginia
   Expectations are always high in Morgantown. Can new head coach Bill Stewart deliver? He was hired after a big win against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, and I'm not a fan of a knee-jerk decision like that. It doesn't get easy as they visit Colorado for a big inter-conference matchup.
   
   *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. Villanova
   
   *W2W4: One of the most exciting players in the country, Noel Divine, replaces third-round draft pick Steve Slaton. Can the 170-pound tailback carry the load?
   
   
   
   
9. Virginia Tech
   A starter hasn't been named yet at quarterback in Blacksburg, and you'd think the decision would have been made by now. We've all seen this before: the pro-style quarterback with the arm versus the weak-armed, dual-threat quarterback who can run. This time it's Sean Glennon versus Tyrod Taylor.
   
   Either way, this defense should be very strong, and the schedule is very weak. The Hokies could only have a one-loss season on the table if they get past Georgia Tech and Nebraska early in the season.
   
   *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 at East Carolina on ESPN
   
   *W2W4: Who is going to replace leading tacklers Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall? Orion Martin had 6.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in 2007, but must turn it up a notch or two in 2008.
   
   
10. LSU
    Despite losing elite talent Glenn Dorsey, the defense is locked, loaded, and still an elite unit. No questions, here, but as usual the only thing that matters to the football media is who is under center. If both Andrew Hatch and Jarrett Lee fail early, they could go to true freshman Jordan Jefferson.
    
    *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. Appalachain State on ESPN
    
    *W2W4: Michigan Meltdown Part II isn't going to happen. Why? Speed, speed, speed. LSU has plenty of it on defense and the best defensive line in the country. They will contain Armanti Edwards.
    
    
11. Texas
    Previously excluding from my initial power rankings, I chose to put Hook 'Em at No. 11. I have a ton of questions regarding this team. Who is going to step up in place of Jamaal Charles? Will Colt McCoy ever live up to the hype? When you add one of the best defensive coaches in the country - college or pro - to the mix, you will definiately improve. That's what I'm expecting out of ex-Auburn Tiger Wes Muschamp. Look out for Brian Orakpo to have a huge season.
    
    *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. Florida Atlantic
    
    *W2W4: Can sophomore RB Vondrell McGee handle the load? I want to see a big game out of him.
    
    
12. BYU
    If the Stormin' Mormons are going to go undefeated this year, they have to overcome their non-conference schedule early on. They travel to Washington in Week 2, then they host UCLA. If they make it out the gate 3-0, their next competition isn't until they play TCU on Oct. 16.
    
    Verdict? I think they will go undefeated, but TCU will prove to be the toughest challenge of the season. Even if BYU gets it done, I don't think they will, or deserve to be in the BCS. Still, because they go undefeated they are going to be ranked higher than they deserve, like Hawaii.
    
    *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. Northern Iowa
    
    *W2W4: Try not to get too excited for this matchup. Just sit back, relax and watch the GameCast.
    
    
    
    
13. Tennessee
    Jonathan Crompton takes over for Erik Ainge under center and he's protected by perhaps the best offensive line in the college ranks. Led by Anthony Parker, Ramon Foster, and Josh McNeil, this unit is big, strong, smart and savvy. They are going to win a lot of games blocking for one of the best running backs you might not have heard of in Arian Foster. Foster is very powerful, yet he has a lot of speed to hurt you. Keep an eye on him this season.
    
    *Upcoming game: Sept. 1 at UCLA
    
    *W2W4: 200 yards rushing against the Bruins? It's very possible. I think this is going to be a blowout if Crompton can get in a rhythm early.
    
    
14. Texas Tech
    Harrell to Crabtree. Harrell to Crabtree. Harrell to Crabtree.
    
    That's pretty much the extent to this offense goes, but hey, if you can't stop it, don't mess with it. This is the deadliest passing combination in the country. It will be fun to watch, but how many games will Tech's defense cost them?
    
    If Tech ever wants to step up, this has to be the year. It's now or never.
    
    *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. Eastern Washington
    
    *W2W4: Will Graham Harrell's arm fall off after throwing 96 passes in this game? Stay tuned.
    
    
15. Arizona State
    Arizona State is pretty much here by default due to a weak schedule, like BYU. I expect a 9-win season, but make no mistake about it, this offense has talent. Don't nap on QB Rudy Carpenter, and WRs Chris McGaha and Michael Jones. This team has talent, but enough to knock off high powered Georgia on Sept. 20?
    
    *Upcoming game: Aug. 30 vs. Northern Arizona
    
    *W2W4: Don't sleep on this matchup. Northern Arizona's two-headed monster Alex Henderson and Lionel Scott combined for 1,646 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Arizona State has their hands full, but should pull it out in the second half.
    
    

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