Preseason Poll: The top 100

Tim Stephens of the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel ranks the top 100 teams in the nation:

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 third 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 non-conference 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 breakthrough.

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 guides 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 three 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 non-conference 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. Hawaii: 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 ttime.

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: Catches 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: Third straight MAC title is possible.

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

68. Stanford: Playing seven 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 five?

75. Air Force: Falcons have lots of holes and only three 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 six 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 third 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 three 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.