Top 5 National contenders

[Bud Lee]

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1315002.html

Texas shocks me at number 5 but I can see the others.

[fpsduck]

The Texas Kool-Aid is delicious, if I do say so myself.

While Florida State has all of the talent in the world, I'm not convinced that their coach is worth his salary...I think they will be good, but Top 5 is a bit generous.

[RanDux]

Surprised tOSU wasn't in there.

[303DucksFan]

Surprised tOSU wasn't in there.

You and me both.

[Bud Lee]

I think this ranking is not a “top 5” ranking like the AP poll but is actually a “who has the best shot at winning it all” thing. Maybe I’m arguing semantics here but I never took a preseason pool as a they are going to win it all type of thing.

[karlhungis]

I think this ranking is not a “top 5” ranking like the AP poll but is actually a “who has the best shot at winning it all” thing. Maybe I’m arguing semantics here but I never took a preseason pool as a they are going to win it all type of thing.

So how did Ohio State and Louisville not make the list?

[Bud Lee]

I think this ranking is not a “top 5” ranking like the AP poll but is actually a “who has the best shot at winning it all” thing. Maybe I’m arguing semantics here but I never took a preseason pool as a they are going to win it all type of thing.

So how did Ohio State and Louisville not make the list?

Well, before I made that statement I should of read this...

There's one very important distinction in the CFN preseason rankings: these are based on how good the teams are going into the season and NOT how they're going to finish. Some teams have easier schedules than others, some get tougher road games and some will need a little bit of time to jell, meaning they might be better than their final record indicates. Going into the year, these are how good the teams appear to be from No. 1 through 125.

Well they are on the list just not in the top 5. They have Ohio state at 11 , which in my opinion is about were they should be

11. Ohio State
Relative Strengths: Quarterback, Running Back
Relative Concerns: Offensive Line, Linebacker

Offense: It seems crazy that the Ohio State offense was 107th in the nation two years ago. More effective than dangerous, even after leading the Big Ten in scoring offense, the Buckeye attack should be far more explosive with so much firepower returning led by Heisman-favorite quarterback Braxton Miller. The backfield has a deep stable of running backs that should do even more behind a veteran line with four starters returning, with the goal being to take some of the rushing workload away from Miller to keep him fresh. The experience receiving corps has pop and explosion with Corey Brown and Devin Smith forming a potentially deadly tandem. But it all comes down to Miller, and offensive coordinator Tom Herman knows how to get big things out of a mobile quarterback.

Defense: The defense will be more than fine. Inconsistent last year, it has to undergo a major overhaul losing six starters in the front seven, but Ohio State being Ohio State has more than enough top talents waiting in the wings. However, the real stars are in the recruiting class with linebacker Mike Mitchell, end Joey Bosa and safety Vonn Bell among the best in the nation in their respective positions. Ryan Shazier is a special linebacker who’ll earn all-star honors, and the safety combination of C.J. Barnett and Christian Bryant will be fine helping out top corner Bradley Roby, but the line has to perform with the spotlight on and Curtis Grant has to finally pay off at middle linebacker.

They have Louisville at 26.

26. Louisville
Relative Strengths: Quarterback, Receiver
Relative Concerns: Offensive Line, Defensive Line

Offense: As long as Teddy Bridgewater is healthy and calling out signals, Louisville’s offense will be in very capable hands. The junior is one of the nation’s premier quarterbacks, a steady-handed winner who has yet to even approach his full potential. Helping him get there in 2013 will be a deep and athletic collection of receivers that goes three-deep with weapons. Not only do three of last year’s top four pass-catchers return, led by playmaker extraordinaire DeVante Parker, but Tennessee transfer Matt Milton, Florida transfers Gerald Christian and Robert Clark and five-star recruit James Quick are competing for reps as well. Always aiming for balance, the staff hopes to have leading rusher Senorise Perry back from an ACL injury in time for the opener. No matter when he returns, bruising 226-pound Dominique Brown is going to be a key part of the rotation. And the Aug. 2 addition of former Auburn star Michael Dyer could turn this once sore spot into a potential strength. The weakest link of the attack will again be the O-line. The unit isn’t bad, but it isn’t special either, and will play this year with a new center and left tackle.

Defense: Louisville should have been better on defense in 2012. And head coach Charlie Strong and defensive coordinator Vance Bedford know it. The Cards weren’t horrible, but they did drop from 17th nationally in scoring D to 36th a year ago. Plus, there were a few too many breakdowns, such as in the 45-26 loss to Syracuse. Little what this group did last year was satisfactory to a taskmaster, such as Strong, from finishing last in Big East sacks to picking off only 11 balls. The encouraging news is that just about everyone is back, and they’re all eager to write a new chapter in 2013. The Cardinals will be led by a veteran D-line, LB Preston Brown and the dynamite safety tandem of Calvin Pryor and Hakeem Smith. After playing it a little safe a year ago, Bedford might want to take a few more chances with his linebackers and his safeties. The program has enough athletes, and has recruited well enough to be a risk-taker from time to time.

[TheOSU]

The defense has to get A LOT better for tOSU to have a shot to win it all.

It was pretty bad last year.

[Boom]

By their own criteria.. I don't see how they could rank a team without a proven QB as the 2nd best team.

And their had to be some serious homerism to pick Texas at #5

[AutzenMember]

Also, how can you say that a team's primary concern is QB and WR and have them at #2 (Florida State)? Makes no sense...

[Bud Lee]

Also, how can you say that a team's primary concern is QB and WR and have them at #2 (Florida State)? Makes no sense...

Because you don't need a great QB to win, if your defense is good enough and you can run the ball you can make a run. Like LSU for example

[Boom]

Also, how can you say that a team's primary concern is QB and WR and have them at #2 (Florida State)? Makes no sense...

Because you don't need a great QB to win, if your defense is good enough and you can run the ball you can make a run. Like LSU for example

Pretty big difference between starting a Senior with game experience and starting a redshirt freshmen.

[AutzenMember]

Also, how can you say that a team's primary concern is QB and WR and have them at #2 (Florida State)? Makes no sense...

Because you don't need a great QB to win, if your defense is good enough and you can run the ball you can make a run. Like LSU for example

He's not predicting them to just win, he's predicting they are the #2 team in the country to threaten the NC. I have no doubts he will be a great QB and the team will succeed, I was merely pointing out the author's inability to listen to his own critique. To me, all credibility was lost on this point.

EDIT: To be clear, counselor, I was taking issue with the author, not with Florida State.

[way2krdn8d]

If you read what they write about Oregon... 'Concerns: DLine, LBs' -- um, what??? Our DLine is one of the top in the Country.