Sentinel Writer ranks USF # 11

[Jim Johnson]

Of course, this is in a story from the Honolulu Advertiser, but look at the author...

Rankings the 120 DI-A football teams . . .

[glow=yellow,2,300]By Tim Stephens

The Orlando Sentinel[/glow]

Tim Stephens ranks all Division I-A teams. . .

1. Oklahoma: Bob Stoops and the Sooners get BCS monkey off backs.

2. USC: Trojans won't stumble on a Pac-10 bottom-feeder this year.

3. Georgia: Bulldogs might have best talent but won't escape SEC unscathed.

4. Ohio State: Loss at USC keeps OSU out of 3rd consecutive title game.

5. Clemson: Best ACC team since FSU's last national title in 1999.

6. Florida: Tebow needs Percy Harvin to stay healthy and a RB to emerge.

7. LSU: Defending champs could've used Ryan Perrilloux's talent at QB.

8. Missouri: Best Mizzou team ever? Too bad it's in Oklahoma's shadow.

9. Auburn: Tigers will open the offense with new coordinator.

10. Penn State: This should send Joe Paterno out with some dignity.

11. South Florida: Bullieve it: Bulls grow up to crash the BCS.

12. Texas: Mack Brown adds another 10-win season to his resume.

13. West Virginia: Pat White and Co. keep Mountaineers among the elite.

14. Virginia Tech: Hokies have holes, but their ACC division is weak.

15. Arizona State: Dennis Erickson has made a big impact in Tempe.

16. California: Jeff Tedford's team bounces back from disappointing 2007.

17. BYU: Tough nonconference games will keep Cougars out of BCS.

18. South Carolina: Steve Spurrier enjoys his best season with Gamecocks.

19. Texas Tech: Mike Leach will be in line for a big pay raise somewhere.

20. Iowa: After players' offseason troubles, Kirk Ferentz needs a big year.

21. Alabama: Nick Saban and the Tide are a year away from greatness.

22. Pittsburgh: From the hot seat to nine wins for Dave Wannstedt?

23. Utah: Utes could be unbeaten when they face BYU in finale.

24. Nebraska: Children of the Corn love them some Bo Pelini.

25. Florida State: Seminoles get their toughest foes in Tallahassee.

26. Michigan: Rich Rodriguez's spread could revolutionize Big Ten.

27. Notre Dame: Irish come back strong after losing record in 2007.

28. Kansas: KU has tougher schedule than it did in 2007 Orange Bowl season.

29. Oregon: If the Ducks get good QB play, they could be much higher.

30. Wisconsin: Tough games on the road will knock Badgers down a notch.

31. Fresno State: Bulldogs face tough slate out of league but will rule WAC.

32. Miami: 'Canes are close to returning to glory but are No. 4 in Florida for now.

33. Boise State: Broncos have new turf in their stadium, but it's still blue.

34. North Carolina: Lighter schedule, more experience key breakthough.

35. Tennessee: Anything less than nine wins, and Phil Fulmer hears the howls.

36. Illinois: Ron Zook makes it back-to-back bowl seasons with Illini.

37. Michigan State: Mark Dantonio guide Spartans to another bowl game.

38. Texas A&M: Backfield should ease transition to Mike Sherman's offense.

39. Louisville: Cardinals have too much talent to slide back to mediocrity.

40. UCLA: Rick Neuheisel needs few recruiting classes to climb in Pac-10.

41. Rutgers: Greg Schiano will have Knights in bowl for fourth straight year.

42. New Mexico: If Lobos survive first 3 games, they'll challenge in MWC.

43. Oregon State: Beavers are fundamentally sound and underappreciated.

44. Ole Miss: Houston Nutt and stud RB Enrique Davis make immediate impact.

45. TCU: Horned Frogs haven't exactly ruled Mountain West like they planned.

46. Oklahoma State: Bad defense keeps Cowboys near .500.

47. Tulsa: It's Tulsa time again in C-USA but knock off the BCS talk.

48. Maryland: Terps try West Coast offense in bid to break from mediocrity.

49. Colorado: Tough schedule may mute Buffaloes' improvements.

50. Bowling Green: With 19 starters back, Falcons are team to beat in MAC.

51. Wake Forest: Jim Grobe seems to get maximum out of his team yearly.

52. East Carolina: Harsh nonconference schedule tempers Pirate expectations.

53. N.C. State: Tom O'Brien will win with Wolfpack like he did at BC.

54. Arkansas: Bobby Petrino needs time to recruit to his system.

55. Hawai'i: No June Jones, no Colt Brennan, no BCS but still a solid season.

56. Cincinnati: Losing Ben Mauk at QB brings Bearcats back to earth.

57. Kansas State: Ron Prince's JUCO recruiting won't pay off until next year.

58. Purdue: Can Boilermakers send Joe Tiller out with a bowl game?

59. Connecticut: Huskies lived charmed life in 2007 but won't surprise this time.

60. Mississippi State: Sly Croom has Bulldogs barking in tough conference.

61. Boston College: Minus Matt Ryan, Eagles face worst season in a decade.

62. Northwestern: Catch break not playing Penn State or Wisconsin.

63. Georgia Tech: Paul Johnson's option attack needs time to take hold.

64. UCF: Knights have too many questions in backfield for C-USA repeat.

65. Kentucky: Losing their top two QBs means rebuilding year for Wildcats.

66. Central Michigan: 3rd straight MAC title is possible.

67. Vanderbilt: Commodores have been so close, yet so far, for many years.

68. Stanford: Playing 7 road games will wear out solid Cardinal defense.

69. Florida Atlantic: Howard Schnellenberger has done amazing building job.

70. Western Michigan: Broncos have experience and offensive firepower.

71. Southern Miss: Jeff Bower, who led USM to 10 bowls in 11 years., is gone.

72. Washington: If Huskies don't go bowling, they may go coach-hunting.

73. Arizona: Mike Stoops era likely ends unless Wildcats make bowl game.

74. Navy: Will losing Paul Johnson to Georgia Tech end bowl streak at 5?

75. Air Force: Falcons have lots of holes and only 3 starters back on offense.

76. Houston: Cougars haven't had 3 straight winning seasons since 1988-90.

77. Miami (Ohio): With improved offense, they will contend in MAC.

78. Nevada: Wolf Pack should reach 4th straight bowl if defense develops.

79. Troy: Big-time talent on defensive line will mask offensive inconsistency.

80. Temple: Owls and a bowl in the same sentence? Eh, could be.

81. Wyoming: Cowboys must cut down turnovers and improve QB play.

82. San Diego State: Soft September schedule should create opportunities.

83. Memphis: Tigers gunning for their fifth bowl appearance in 6 seasons.

84. Marshall: Herd should be a serious C-USA contender a year from now.

85. SMU: Just wait till Texas recruits get a load of June Jones' wonderful toys.

86. Northern Illinois: Lots of motivated veterans back from ' 07 underachievers.

87. Washington State: Lack of depth and playmakers a bad combo in Pac-10.

88. Toledo: Sieve-like defense (39.2 ppg) puts pressure on Rocket offense.

89. Iowa State: Gene Chizik's squad still is lacking for Big 12-quality depth.

90. UTEP: Is Mike Price on the hot seat if UTEP has a 3rd straight losing season?

91. Duke: David Cutcliffe will make an impact on Devils immediately.

92. Virginia: Close games won't go rebuilding Cavaliers' way this season.

93. Minnesota: Tim Brewster enters Year 2 with 3 recruits left from first class.

94. Indiana: After reaching bowl last year, Hoosiers are starting over.

95. Louisiana-Lafayette: Ragin' Cajuns can run the football but can't stop run.

96. Baylor: Art Briles is the latest coach to try his luck at this graveyard.

97. UAB: Blazers will be one of country's most-improved teams—in 2009.

98. Buffalo: Bulls surprised in MAC last year but face tougher schedule.

99. New Mexico State: Pressure on Hal Mumme to produce a winning record.

100. Ball State: Cardinals have offensive skill and manageable schedule.

101. Syracuse: Has any recent program fallen farther than the Orange?

102. Army: Cadets take another step forward with modest improvement.

103. Louisiana Tech: Shaky defense plus erratic QB play doesn't bode well.

104. Kent State: Flashes have high expectations, but aren't used to them.

105. Rice: Owls have some offensive playmakers but not much else.

106. Louisiana-Monroe: Can Warhawks build on their upset of Alabama in '07?

107. San Jose State: Going in wrong direction after reaching bowl in '06.

108. Tulane: Green Wave take step backward but Bob Toledo will get there.

109. Akron: Zips have enough QB and defensive issues for two bad teams.

110. UNLV: Brutal schedule in first month sets tone for dismal year.

111. Colorado State: Steve Fairchild needs to rebuild after Sonny Lubick.

112. Western Kentucky: (ASTERISK)Tough schedule in final transition from I-AA.

113. Middle Tennessee State: Healthier Raiders could contend in Sun Belt.

114. Ohio: Bobcats don't have enough playmakers to avoid MAC cellar.

115. Arkansas State: Team now known as Red Wolves has holes on defense.

116. North Texas: '07 Mean Green were 119th in scoring defense (45.1 ppg).

117. Eastern Michigan: 8 starters back from defense that allowed 31.2 ppg.

118. Florida International: At least 23-game losing streak is over.

119. Utah State: Aggies host Idaho on Sept. 20 in the "Battle for the Bottom."

120. Idaho: Vandals enter season on a 10-game losing streak.

Link...

[Matt]

one of my best friends lives in orlando and he is a nole.  but he knows that USF is out to wreck it this year.

first USF game he came to was last year on my birthday for the WVU game.  he already called and asked me for Kansas tickets.

but he has a lot of friends who are UCF fans and he flat out told me...."those guys are crazy, its like Varsity playing the JV team" 

[icemanswps]

notice UCF missing

[___ Eats It]

UCiF is at 64

[Guest BasketBull.]

Is that the fool who rode the bull in the Athletics Department in that one pic?

[kdawgy_orlando]

No that is another guy.  David Whitley was the bull rider.  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/columnists/orl-whitley,0,3144875.columnist

Tim Stephens brought us this fine write-up -

USF's Jim Leavitt orders his non-conference schedule from the Krispy Kreme drive-thru

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college/2008/07/jim-leavitt-ord.html

[Matt]

UCiF is at 64

how fitting....

you think a guy from their town would atleast put them at 65 unless he wanted it to burn a little bit

[Sunil]

Is that the fool who rode the bull in the Athletics Department in that one pic?

I believe the fool you're speaking of is David Whitley.

[TheBullies]

Is 64 the score prediction for this match-up?

[icemanswps]

UCiF is at 64

Sorry lost power during the post due to storm. I meant to say notice no UCF in top 50.