Top Challengers for the Nat'l. Title

[cygnus34]

Pete Fiutak

FOX SPORTS

1. Other than USC and Texas, who are the top challengers for the national title?

Texas and USC will likely be 1-2 going into the season. Texas has everything in place except quarterback, while USC appears to have reloaded on offense and improved on defense with the addition of Nick Holt as defensive coordinator. Getting to the national championship game requires a good team, a favorable schedule, and a whole bunch of luck. If it's not Texas and/or USC in Phoenix, one or two of these ten teams will likely be there.

11. California

Team: One of the 15 most talented in America with a fearsome offense that'll be among the nation's best.

Schedule: A win at Tennessee in the opener would put the Bears in the hunt, but a road trip on November 18th to USC could end title hopes. Otherwise, it's not bad with almost all the tough games at home outside of Tennessee and USC.

10. LSU

Team: It could be argued that there's not a more talented team in America.

Schedule: Nope. As good as LSU might be, it's not going unbeaten with road trips to Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and Arkansas.

9. Florida

Team: If Leak fits the offense, and vice versa, the Gators should far and away be the best team in the East. It's SEC title game or bust.

Schedule: Along with home games against Alabama, LSU and South Carolina, there are road dates at Tennessee and Florida State, along with the neutral site game against Georgia, that'll be too tough for an unbeaten season.

8. Florida State

Team: Probably the best in the ACC. The offense will be better, but the defense will need time to jell. It won't get it because ...

Schedule: ... the opener is at Miami. If the 'Noles beat the 'Canes, 12-0 is very possible with the remaining road games at NC State, Duke and Maryland. The only home dates to worry about are against Clemson, Boston College and Virginia before the showdown with Florida.

7. Miami (FL)

Team: Solid, but not the killer of past years. Will the offense find any consistency? Can the defense be better? It's still a great team, but it has to always play up to its talent level.

Schedule: ... Very, very nice considering the home slate. The toughest games are in the Orange Bowl against Florida State, and Virginia Tech, but a road trip to Louisville is dangerous.

6. Auburn

Team: Very, very good. Probably a top five team in the preseason rankings as long as the defense plays like a killer in off-season practices.

Schedule: It's not a walk in the park, but the nasty games are at home. The road games are at Mississippi State, South Carolina and Ole Miss before ending at Alabama. Washington State, LSU, Arkansas, Florida and Georgia travel to Jordan-Hare.

5. Oklahoma

Team: Very good. The Sooners will likely be underrated to start the season before taking up permanent residence in the top ten and maybe higher.

Schedule: No offense to Texas Tech and Texas A&M, but it's a two-game season. If OU wins at Oregon and beats Texas, its national title fate should be in its own hands.

4. Ohio State

Team: Top five, likely number three to start the year. The defense will turn out to be fine, while Troy Smith and the offense will be amazing.

Schedule: September 9th at Texas. A win in Austin would do for Ohio State with the Texas win in Columbus did for the Longhorns last year. The remaining road games are at Iowa, Michigan State, Illinois and Northwestern. That's not bad.

3. Notre Dame

Team: The defense won't be appreciably better than last year, but the offense will be lights out with Brady Quinn, Darius Walker and Jeff Samardzija returning.

Schedule: 11-0 before the trip to USC? The schedule looks harder than it actually might be with Penn State, Michigan, Purdue and UCLA coming to South Bend. A national title caliber team has to beat Georgia Tech, Michigan State and Navy on the road. Of course, things could all blow up on November 25th in L.A.

2. West Virginia

Team: Top 20, but not much higher. However, Pat White and Steve Slaton are superior talents, and the offensive line will be great.

Schedule: Maryland will be tough, at Pitt will be a bear trap and at Mississippi State might be sneaky-tough, but it all comes down to the Louisville game. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, it's played at ...

1. Louisville

Team: One of the nation's most explosive offenses, but the defense might be suspect.

Schedule: A home win over Miami would give the Cardinals the win needed to be discussed in the national title hunt, and a win at Kansas State the week after would really get the ball rolling. It all comes down to the home showdown with West Virginia.