ACC
- Champion - Florida State (11-2) over Virginia Tech (10-3)
- Sleeper - North Carolina
- Offensive Player of the Year - Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech
- Defensive Player of the Year - Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State
Big East
- Champion - South Florida (9-3)
- Sleeper - Pittsburgh
- Offensive Player of the Year - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
- Defensive Player of the Year - DeDe Lattimore, LB, South Florida
Big 10
- Champion - Wisconsin (11-2) over Michigan (11-2)
- Sleeper - Nebraska
- Offensive Player of the Year - Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
- Defensive Player of the Year - Jonathan Brown, LB, Illinois
Big 12
- Champion - Oklahoma (11-1)
- Sleeper - Texas
- Offensive Player of the Year - Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State
- Defensive Player of the Year - Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas
Pac 12
- Champion - USC (12-1) over Oregon (11-2)
- Sleeper - Cal
- Offensive Player of the Year - Matt Barkley, QB, USC
- Defensive Player of the Year - John Boyett, S, Oregon
SEC
- Champion - Alabama (12-1) over Florida (10-3)
- Sleeper - Arkansas (not really a sleeper, but I tried)
- Offensive Player of the Year - Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas
- Defensive Player of the Year - Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia
Preseason Top 10
- Alabama - Nick Saban, everybody! As much as this pains me because they open up with Michigan in Dallas on Saturday, I trust Bama the most. Their defense will be top-flight yet again, they have the best O-line in the country, and a nice set of returning skill guys on offense. The defense won't be as dominant as last year in the early going, but by the time they hit the SEC, they'll be ready.
- USC- Matt Barkley, Robert Woods, and Silas Redd form the the best skill position trio in the country... and that doesn't even take into account their elite production at #2 receiver and the stable of backs. The only question with USC is their depth because of scholarship limitations, and that's why they land here, but I love them.
- Oregon - So much speed. Deanthony Thomas may be the most electric player in America, and they have Kenjon Barner as their workhorse. The QB spot isn't as "set" as in previous years, but reports have even more speed there than usual. The defense will be what carries Oregon this year and with guys like Kiko Alonso anchoring their speedy, swarming unit, they'll be scary.
- LSU - Gone are Mo Claiborne, Tyrann Mathieu, Michael Brockers, and the QB combo of Lee and Jefferson. That said, LSU could be better this year. Their offense will take a step forward with a more skilled guy in Mettenberger, and the defense is still loaded even with the panic surrounding the Honey Badger.
- Oklahoma - Easily the class of the depleted Big 12. Landry Jones returns for his 12th year as a letterman (lol) and will likely throw for 4000 yards. The defense should have enough talent to justify this lofty ranking, and the defensive backfield is a strength even in the pass-happy Big 12.
- Wisconsin - Grind it out. Montee Ball leads another potent ground game, and new transfer QB Danny O'Brien should step it a la Russell Wilson and be effective right away. He's probably not the same player that Wilson was, but with talent everywhere and their massive O-line, he won't need to be.
- Arkansas - Tyler Wilson and Knile Davis is enough for me. And on the even brighter side? Bobby Petrino is gone!
- Florida State - Easily the most loaded team in the ACC. EJ Manuel has been elite at times at FSU and has the experience to put it all together here. The defense could be the best in the nation, and is super deep. Could this be the year that FSU puts it all back together?
- Michigan - I could write 5,000 words here (as you know). Denard Robinson is the most electrifying player in the country, Fitz Toussaint returns as a 1,000-yard rusher, and the O-line is virtually in tact featuring All-American LT Taylor Lewan. The defense took a million steps forward in 2011 and they should build on that success with a ton of returning talent in the back seven. The one issue is on the D-line as they replace Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen, but with Denard's uptick in efficiency and another year in the offensive system, it won't matter.
- Michigan State - Best defense in the Big 10 led by Will Gholston, and a big-time running game featuring Le'Veon Bell. They have to replace Kirk Cousins and that's no small task, but Andrew Maxwell looks like he could be up to the challenge.
The Elite (by Position)
- QB - 1) Matt Barkley (USC), 2) Denard Robinson (Michigan), 3) Tyler Wilson (Arkansas)
- RB - 1) Montee Ball (Wisconsin), 2) Marcus Lattimore (South Carolina), 3) Le'veon Bell (Mich St.)
- WR - 1) Robert Woods (USC), 2) Marquess Wilson (Washington St.), 3) Sammy Watkins (Clemson)
- TE - 1) Tyler Eifert (Notre Dame), 2) Philip Lutzenkirchen (Auburn), 3) Jacob Pedersen (Wisconsin)
- OL - 1) Barrett Jones (C, Alabama), 2) Taylor Lewan (OT, Michigan), 3) Ricky Wagner (OT, Wisconsin)
- DE - 1) Brandon Jenkins (Florida St.), 2) Jackson Jeffcoat (Texas), 3) Will Gholston (Mich St.)
- DT - 1) Star Lotulelei (Utah), 2) Jesse Williams (Alabama), 3) John Jenkins (Georgia)
- LB - 1) Manti Te'o (Notre Dame), 2) Jarvis Jones (Georgia), 3) Nico Johnson (Alabama)
- CB - 1) Nigel Malone (Kansas State), 2) Johnny Adams (Michigan State), 3) Nickell Robey (USC)
- S - 1) Eric Reid (LSU), 2) John Boyett (Oregon), 3) Tony Jefferson (Oklahoma)
The Champs
- USC over Oklahoma
- Alabama over Oregon
- Alabama over USC
Enjoy the pageantry, everyone!
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