The Trojan horses: led by quarterback Matt Leinart, USC has the potential to gallop all the way to the national championship

Football Digest, Oct, 2004

NOW THAT WE KNOW THE BCS doesn't work any better than the other college football systems not involving a true playoff, maybe we should just project two teams at the top of the rankings. Or three. Or four. Until the sport's head honchos figure out that what just about everyone wants is a definitive championship game--and that television will pay many, many dollars for the rights to such a contest--there will be significant questions about the validity of any rifles.

Each of last year's co-champions, Southern California and Louisiana State, deserves strong consideration again this season. Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll thinks this team could be superior to last season's juggernaut. We believe him, particularly if star receiver Mike Williams is cleared by the NCAA to play after declaring for the NFL draft during the Maurice Clarett fiasco.

While the Bayou Tigers also should be formidable, they'll be tested more thoroughly in the tough SEC than will the Trojans in the Pac-10. Georgia, Florida, Auburn, and possibly even South Carolina are the main challengers.

The Big 12 should belong to Oklahoma, while Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa are the class of the Big 10. Watch for the Florida State-Miami rivalry in the ACC, and the Big East should go to West Virginia.

Here are our rankings of the top 25 teams for 2004:

1. Southern California

The offense will be powerful again, especially if Williams is catching passes from lefthander Malt Leinart, who has pinpoint accuracy. Speedster Reggie Bush will get the ball much of the time, and the other young receivers should shine. The Trojans have four strong contenders for All-America honors on offense, led by Leinart. The defense lost some talent, but Shaun Cody is the best defensive lineman in the conference, if not the country. Carroll is a defensive mastermind, and his staff recruits as well as anyone.

2. Oklahoma

The Sooners collapsed late in 2003. They looked like a lock to capture the national championship, but then they lost to Kansas State in the Big 12 title game and fell to LSU in the Sugar Bowl. However, don't be misled into thinking Oklahoma is on a downswing. The Sooners have something to prove in 2004, which should make them doubly dangerous. They have a returning Heisman Trophy winner (for whatever that's worth) in quarterback Jason White. When healthy, White makes plays, although he can be rattled. A defense that lost coordinator Mike Stoops and a handful of players to the pros still should be stingy.

3. Georgia

Two stars, quarterback David Greene and defensive end David Pollack, could make the difference for Georgia in the difficult SEC. Greene is polished and has a top receiver in Fred Gibson. In addition, he benefits from a backfield that features Kregg Lumpkin and Tony Milton. Pollack is an animal who will be turned loose by Mark Richt, one of the best coaches in the nation. A tough schedule and some questions on the offensive line could slow the Bulldogs, but not very much.

4. Louisiana State

The biggest victory for the Tigers after their Sugar Bowl win was keeping coach Nick Saban, who was pursued heavily by the Chicago Bears but stayed put after receiving a seven-year, $18.45 million deal. Saban will miss quarterback Matt Mauck and the other playmakers on offense who graduated. He also lost some key men from the defense, but watch for Melvin Oliver and Claude Wroten on the line. LSU's defense will be impenetrable by season's end.

5. Kansas State

The Wildcats finished the Big 12 season in style by stunning Oklahoma with a decisive rout in the conference title game. Then K-State gave Ohio State a tough game in the Fiesta Bowl. Although they might be inexperienced at quarterback, the Cats have one of the premier runners in the country in Darren Sproles. A 2,000-yard rushing season is not out of the question for Sproles, even with defenses keying on him. The question is, can Kansas State's defense do its share? Probably.

6. Texas

Yes, the Longhorns lost a ton of talent over the past two seasons. And yes, they have not achieved what they seemed capable of after Mack Brown outrecruited most of the country's other coaches. Still, this is a top-10 team, led by running back Cedric Benson, who has dropped his baseball career to concentrate on rushing his way into the NFL. Quarterback Vince Young also is a stud.

7. Miami

The Hurricanes are a machine. Regardless of how many stud players they lose to the NFL they just keep churning out more. In 2004, look for big-time plays from the defensive line and secondary, which is no surprise at Miami. Cornerback Antrel Rolle will anchor a speedy, ball-hawking backfield. Brock Berlin should be more comfortable running the offense, but he needs a healthy Frank Gore in the backfield.

8. Florida State

So much will depend on the match-up with conference newcomer and archival Miami. A victory in that game on October 11 could catapult the Seminoles to dominance in the strengthened ACC. If Chris Nix has grown up, the passing game will be good, but this team's offense will be carried by tailback Lorenzo Booker. On defense, FSU once more has terrific linebackers, led by AJ. Nicholson and Ernie Sims.