College football’s Top 25 teams for 2009

Miami — The 2008 season has been over for a few hours and there’s a new national champion. So what better time to think about what 2009 could bring?

Here is our (Ridiculously) Early Top 25 for 2009. Know that a lot of these rankings are going to change based on who turns pro and who decides to stay. But at least it will keep us occupied until spring practice.

1. Florida (13-1): If everybody comes back the Gators will return 19 of 22 starters from a team that played for the national championship. Of course, don’t expect wide receiver Percy Harvin or linebacker Brandon Spikes to hang around for their senior seasons. Expect quarterback Tim Tebow to come back and end his legendary career with a brilliant senior campaign.

2. Texas (12-1): QB Colt McCoy has said he will return for his senior season in order to pursue a national championship. McCoy gets a boost because one of his top receivers, Jordan Shipley (89 catches), has been given a sixth year of eligibility and will return. The secondary, which was the weak spot on defense, will grow up.

3. USC (12-1): The best defense in the nation, and the best Pete Carroll has had at USC, loses nine starters. But nobody reloads better than the Trojans. If QB Mark Sanchez returns for his senior season USC will have 10 starters back on offense. If Sanchez leaves, Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain will get his shot.

4. Alabama (12-2): There is some work to do because All-America Andre Smith and All-SEC Antoine Caldwell leave the offensive line. QB John Parker Wilson will be replaced by Greg McElroy or highly-touted recruit Star Jackson, who will give the Crimson Tide some athleticism at the position. The defense will be the backbone of the team, especially if NT Terrence Cody comes back.

5. Oklahoma (12-2): If Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, comes back the Sooners should battle Texas again for a spot in the BCS championship game. There are holes to fill on the offensive line and a receiver needs to step up. Nine starters return on defense.

6. LSU (8-5): The Tigers’ demolition of Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl puts their 2009 season in a different light. Rising sophomore Jordan Jefferson looks like LSU’s quarterback of the future but he will have a battle with incoming freshman Russell Shepard of Houston, who some say is the next Vince Young. The defense will be better because veteran DC John Chavis takes over.

7. Oklahoma State (9-4): No team in the country had a better trio of skill players than quarterback Zac Robinson, running back Kendall Hunter and wide receiver Dez Bryant. All three are back along with six other starters on the offense. If the Cowboys can get their defensive problems straightened out, they will challenge Texas and Oklahoma in the Big 12 South.

8. Virginia Tech (10-4): Frank Beamer won another ACC championship this season with one of his youngest teams ever. Now the Hokies are ready to be in the mix for the BCS championship. QB Tyrod Taylor grew up this season and will lead an offense that returns nine starters. The defense was very young but very good at the end of the season. The Hokies will miss CB Victor Harris.

9. Ohio State (10-3): Freshman QB Terrell Pryor learned on the job this season and that will pay dividends. But Pryor would really be helped if RB Beanie Wells sticks around for his senior season. The defense returns eight starters but has two big holes left by LB James Laurinaitis and CB Malcom Jenkins.

10. Pittsburgh (10-3): With running back LeSean McCoy and seven starters on defense coming back, the Panthers should be the best team in the Big East. The big question mark is at quarterback where 2008 starter Bill Stull returns but may lose his job in the spring. Pitt has to get better play at quarterback.

11. Iowa (9-4): Eight starters are back on offense and seven on defense from a team that finished very strong last season, winning six of its final seven.

12. Florida State (9-4): The Seminoles weren’t ready for prime time this season but next year will be good enough to win the ACC Atlantic. Nine starters return on offense including quarterback Christian Ponder, who gained a lot of experience. Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews has a rebuilding job on his hands, particularly in the secondary.

13. Georgia Tech (9-4): With the return of running back Jonathan Dwyer, the ACC Player of the Year, plus QB Josh Nesbitt, the Yellow Jackets will again challenge Virginia Tech and North Carolina for the Coastal Division championship. The question is whether Tech can replace the talent that will be gone on the defensive front.

14. North Carolina (8-5): The Tar Heels will be underrated in the preseason because of the way they finished. But with nine starters returning on a defense that intercepted 19 passes, North Carolina will compete in the ACC Coastal. Losing junior WR Hakeem Nicks to the NFL is huge.

15. Georgia (10-3): Georgia has talented running backs waiting like Caleb King and Richard Samuel. Joe Cox and freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger will compete at QB. The defense will be better. It has to be.

16. Ole Miss (9-4): The Rebels were the most improved team in the SEC in their first year under coach Houston Nutt. With 17 starters returning, including QB Jevan Snead and all-purpose RB Dexter McCluster, Ole Miss will challenge Alabama and LSU in the SEC West.

17. TCU (11-2): The Horned Frogs lose seven starters on the nation’s No. 2 defense but All-America end Jerry Hughes (14 sacks) returns.

18. Oregon (10-3): We’ll know soon if Mike Bellotti is going to step down as head coach and turn it over to offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Either way the Ducks have a lot on build on, especially with the offense.

19. Utah (13-0): The Utes will be rebuilding the offense after the loss of QB Brian Johnson and three great wide receivers. Utah will lean on a defense that returns nine starters.

20. Texas Tech (11-2): The Red Raiders lose record-setting quarterback Graham Harrell, but Mike Leach always has another great quarterback waiting. If All-World WR Michael Crabtree returns, Texas Tech will be ranked higher come the spring. Expect Crabtree to go to the NFL.

21. Penn State (11-2): QB Darryl Clark and RB Evan Royster are back, but there are a lot of holes for Joe Pa to fill.

22. California (9-4): Embattled QB Nate Longshore is gone but that may be addition by subtraction. Cal will rely on one of the strongest running games in the country led by Jahvid Best.

23. Minnesota (7-6): The Gophers return 10 starters on offense but coordinator Mike Dunbar resigned on Tuesday. The defense returns nine starters.

24. Boise State (12-1): The Broncos have some rebuilding to do because all-conference RB Ian Johnson leaves, but QB Kellen Moore and six other starters on offense return.

25. Vanderbilt (7-6): The Commodores may have found their QB of the future in Larry Smith. They lose All-SEC cornerback D.J. Moore, who is turning pro early, but 18 starters return from the team that beat Boston College in the Music City Bowl.

TEN OTHERS TO WATCH

(In alphabetical order)

Boston College (9-5): The Eagles have won two consecutive ACC Atlantic titles and have found their quarterback in Dominique Davis.

BYU (10-3): Max Hall returns as quarterback as do eight starters on defense.

East Carolina (9-5): The Pirates have to replace QB Patrick Pinkney but 18 of 22 starters return.

Kansas (8-5): Quarterback Todd Reesing returns for his senior season along with a big-time receiver in Dezmon Briscoe.

Miami (7-6): The Hurricanes will have a new offensive coordinator and Jacory Harris will take over as the starting QB.

Michigan State (9-4): The Spartans lose RB Javon Ringer and QB Brian Hoyer but coach Mark Dantonio has this program headed in the right direction.

Nebraska (9-4): The Cornhuskers went from 5-7 to 9-4 in Bo Pelini’s first season. To make progress in 2009, Nebraska has to find a quarterback to replace Joe Ganz, the MVP of the Gator Bowl.

N.C. State (7-6): The Wolfpack will be the surprise team in the ACC Atlantic after a strong finish. Russell Wilson was the All-ACC quarterback but may have to fight for his job against Mike Glennon, a highly-recruited freshman who redshirted last season.

Rutgers (8-5): The Scarlet Knights finished strong and return 10 starters on offense. The one starter missing, however, is quarterback Mike Teel.

Wake Forest (8-5): The Deacons have to rebuild on defense but they have won 28 games over the past three seasons.