The Sporting News [recently released its Top 100][1] teams in college football for the upcoming 2010 season.
Here’s where each Big 12 team was positioned:
7. Nebraska
9. Texas
10. Oklahoma
30. Texas A&M
31. Kansas
33. Missouri
36. Texas Tech
60. Baylor
64. Oklahoma State
74. Colorado
82. Iowa State
85. Kansas State
A few thoughts on some of the rankings:
• I know I’m not the only one perplexed by KU’s ranking of 31st. I just don’t see it. If Kansas finishes 31st in the country, Turner Gill will be up for Big 12 coach of the year.
http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/blogs/entry_img/2010/May/28/ku_fbc_spring_game_17.jpg
Nick Krug: Journal-World Photos: Turner Gill speaks to the Jayhawks after the Spring Game on April 24 at Memorial Stadium.
The reason? New coach(es), new quarterback, new system. Maybe that’s what TSN likes about KU, though. The new culture. Maybe the thought is Gill, a coach whom players seem to love playing for, will be such a welcome change from Mark Mangino that it will show up in the standings and take KU to a respectable bowl game.
Fortunately for the Jayhawks, they avoid Texas and Oklahoma this year. [The schedule][2], particularly the Big 12 portion, is considerably more favorable than last year.
That said, 31st in the country is a bit out there. Kansas shouldn’t be ranked ahead of Missouri, which returns quarterback Blaine Gabbert, tailback Derrick Washington and defensive end Aldon Smith, a future NFL first-day draft pick. And how can there be a gap of 54 spots between Kansas and Kansas State? Ron Prince isn’t coaching the Wildcats any more.
Gill was the right hire at Kansas. I just think it will take a year or two until KU consistently shows up in the top 35.
• It’s interesting that Nebraska is the highest-ranked Big 12 team at No. 7.
I’m not sure if this means the Huskers are TSN’s favorite to win the conference. Explanations for the top 100 are still being written.
Nebraska is clearly the North favorite in 2010. But the Huskers shouldn’t be picked to win the Big 12; not when the last six years of Big 12 champions look like this: Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma.
What do you guys think of the rankings?
**Also on the rankings front, it was recently leaked that Phil Steele**, the most accurate of the preseason predictor magazines, [ranked Oklahoma No. 1][3] in the country for next season.
Wow. Very bold.
The Sooners have to get past a difficult non-conference slate (home to Florida State, Air Force; at Cincinnati), then immediately face Texas (in Dallas) in their first Big 12 game of the season.
OU does return the one of the strongest quarterback/running back/wide receiver combos in the conference in Landry Jones, DeMarco Murray and Ryan Broyles.
The defense will be strong with defensive end Jeremy Beal (11 sacks) and linebacker Travis Lewis (109 tackles) leading the way.
http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/blogs/entry_img/2010/May/28/ku_fbc_ou_nk28.jpg
Travis Lewis (28) celebrates a play against Kansas in Lawrence from last season.
But can Oklahoma so quickly make up for the losses of quarterback Sam Bradford (No. 1 overall in NFL Draft), defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (No. 3 overall) and offensive tackle Trent Williams (No. 4 overall)?
Seems a little high to rank the Sooners. But that’s the great thing about May, June, July and August. No one’s wrong yet.
That should be all for now, friends. As always, discuss.
[1]: http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2010-05-26/college-football-on-clock-sns-preseason-top-100
[2]: http://www2.kusports.com/schedules/football/2010/kansas/
[3]: http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/12843/whats-up-with-ou-at-no-1
