The About.com Preseason Top 25

No, I’m not drinking the Ole Miss kool-aid. At least not yet. While an awful lot of so-called experts seem to be in awe of coach Houston Nutt, who led his Rebels to a completely unexpected run to the Cotton Bowl last season, I remain somewhat skeptical. I mean, let’s all take a deep breath and realize this is Ole Miss. No matter how good a coach Nutt is, he can’t make up for the fact that Ole Miss has never really recruited at the same level as its SEC competition. It’s as simple as this: ‘Bama and LSU have more talent than the Rebels. That being said, quarterback Jevan Snead is legit, and Ole Miss won’t be an easy out for anyone so long as Nutt is there.

Missouri figures to take a step back now that Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin are gone, and though Kansas boasts some offensive firepower, the Cornhuskers would seem to have a chance to make a run at the weak Big 12 North. Gone are quarterback Joe Ganz and tailback Marlon Lucky, so the offense may face a bit of a learning curve. But it’s the defense that really needs to step up in Lincoln. That unit was less-than-spectacular again in 2008. It feels like ages since we’ve seen the real “Blackshirts.”

Slowly but surely Butch Davis is building a legitimate ACC power in Chapel Hill. Having already built a strong base with such players as quarterback T.J. Yates and wideout Greg Little, Davis also hit the recruiting trail and brought in another superb crop of talent. The Tar Heels return 15 starters and, with a bit more confidence, could finally fulfill their potential in the ACC.

Coach Mark Dantonio loses tailback Javon Ringer and quarterback Brian Hoyer, but the program Dantonio has built is more than capable of absorbing those losses. The fiery Dantonio has stepped up Sparty's recruiting efforts, and the work should pay off over the next couple years, as Michigan State becomes a much more consistent, dangerous program. Look for sophomore Kirk Cousins to take over at quarterback, and don’t be surprised if incoming freshmen tailbacks Larry Caper and Edwin Baker get serious playing time, too.

This is a big season for Ron Zook. One year after taking his team all the way to the Rose Bowl, Zook saw the Illini fall to the middle of the Big Ten pack—and miss out on a bowl trip in 2008. It was an especially worrying fall for Illinois fans, given all the talent on that roster. Quarterback Juice Williams is an elite talent. So, too, is wideout Arrelious Benn, who appears at times to be uncoverable. The persistent gaps on defense and special teams will probably prevent Illinois from challenging for the Big Ten title, but Williams and Benn will put up enough points to land their team in a decent bowl game. Think Alamo, Illinois fans.