By Kevin Heitz

It would be nice to go out on a limb when predicting the best team in college football. It would be cool to see a team like West Virginia claim the national title.

But there's this certain school out west led by a guy so crazy he prefers the fun of the college game over coaching millionaires in the NFL. And there is only one way this season will end -- Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans raising the national championship trophy on Jan. 9 in New Orleans.

Steve Slaton, WVU  (Bill Amatucci Sr.)

Sure, there will be the usual great storylines on the college gridiron.

Arkansas' Darren McFadden, Michigan's Mike Hart and West Virginia's Steve Slaton will lead the "year of the running back." Hawaii's Colt Brennan will continue to be the best quarterback nobody sees. Virginia Tech will play tremendous defense and help heal a strong nationwide family of Hokies. The defending champion Gators will struggle through the SEC and lose three games. And even your grandma will know who Colt McCoy is come December.

But in the end, it will still come down to Southern Cal.

The Trojans are hands-down the best team in the nation -- and have been for years. Carroll is a recruiting god. The blue-chips just keep rolling in. This year, USC entered fall practice with 10 running backs, all of whom would start on any other Division I team (sophomore Emmanuel Moody decided to transfer last week, so Carroll has to figure out how to survive with just nine backs).

John David Booty, USC  (Courtesy of USC Athletics)

John David Booty is ready for the NFL now, and looks to bring the fourth Heisman Trophy this decade back to Southern California. While there is no go-to receiver heading into the season, any college football fan can tell you that by the end of the year, Booty will be connecting with a household-name player. And, oh yeah, their defense, led by linebacker Keith Rivers, isn't bad either.

So what's a college football fan to do? If USC is guaranteed to win, why watch? You know the answer -- because it’s the greatest way to spend a Saturday.

While preseason polls mean very little (see Boise State last year at this time), here's a quick look at The Associated Press Top 25.

AP Preseason Top 25 

1. Southern Cal  
The Trojans have lost four games in the last four years, and the recruits keep getting better each year … for Pete's sake.

2. LSU
The Tigers will tear up the SEC on their way to an undefeated season and win the who-gets-to-lose-to-USC sweepstakes. 

3. West Virginia
Who needs defense when you have Pat White's arm and Slaton's legs in the backfield? Not coach Rich Rodriguez, thank you very much.

4. Texas
Different year, same burnt orange. There's Texas, then there's the rest of the Big 12.

5. Michigan
In what could be Lloyd Carr's last season, the Wolverines will go undefeated but the lack of a Big Ten title game will get them shut out of the national championship game.

6. Florida
It's Tim Tebow time in Gainesville. Unfortunately the SEC schedule is brutal for the defending champs, and the defense will be sporting nine new starters.

7. Wisconsin
The Badgers won 12 games last season and still couldn't crack the Top 5. This year, they'll rack up nine wins before losing the final three games. 

8. Oklahoma
The team that fell for Boise State's Fiesta Bowl trickery hopes to snap its two-game losing streak to Texas and reclaim the Big 12.

9. Virginia Tech
A tough schedule doesn't scare the nation's best defense, but an inconsistent offense makes Hokies fans nervous. 

10. Louisville
Senior signal-caller Brian Brohm will need a golden arm if the Cardinals want to repeat as the Big East champions.

11. Ohio St.
It will be a quick fall from the national title game to middle of the pack in the Big 10.

12. California
Jeff Tedford has the Golden Bears going bowling every year. Can they finally visit a BCS bowl?

13. Georgia
With the toughest schedule in the SEC, the Bulldogs can't roll over against Kentucky and Vanderbilt again this year. 

14. UCLA
The Bruins return 20 starters, and they all still have a bad taste in their mouth after losing to Florida State in the Emerald Bowl.

15. Tennessee
Games at California and at Florida in the first three weeks? Sorry Phillip Fulmer, your seat is about to get hotter.

16. Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights aren't going anywhere. Get used to it.

17. Penn St.
Big Ten title talk has returned to Happy Valley, and Joe Pa is only 80.   

18. Auburn
With games at Florida, LSU and Georgia, 10 wins will be out of reach for the Tigers.

19. Florida St.
Hard to believe the Seminoles have lost 22 games in the last five seasons. Now they face the ACC's toughest schedule.

20. Nebraska
Huskers fans are hoping Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Keller can bring the Big Red back to prominence.

21. Arkansas
Darren McFadden is the best running back in the country. His team, however, is just average.

22. TCU
Winning the Mountain West isn't enough for the Horned Frogs; they want a date to the BCS.

23. Hawaii
Brennan will be amazing, but if the Warriors want to be the next Boise State, they have to beat Boise State.

24. Boise St.
The Fiesta Bowl was no fluke, but that doesn't make the blue field right.

25. Texas A&M
The Aggies are tired of playing third fiddle in Texas.

Issue 2.34: August 23, 2007