re: First Preseason Top 25 (8 SEC teams ranked)

quote:

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USF - Toss Up
Michigan - Toss Up
Michigan State - Loss
Pittsburgh - Toss Up
Purdue - W
Air Force - Toss Up
USC - L
Navy - Toss Up
Wake Forest - L
Maryland - Toss Up
Boston College - Toss Up
Stanford - L

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ND has 19/24 starters (including special teams) returning. Last year was Brian Kelly's first year, and they went a solid 8-5 with a 4-game winning streak to close (emphasizes improvement made), even with injuries to the starting QB, RB, TE, WR, and NT. BK's first season is the same decent season that coaches such as Tressel, Carrol, Stoops, Meyer, and Saban had in their first years, and in the second, all made significant improvements.

You have ND losing to 3-9 Wake Forest, USC (when the Irish beat them on the road last year, and are playing them at home this year after a bye), Boston College (ND beat them by 18 on the road last year and play them home this year), and MSU (could definitely be a loss, but they needed a fake FG to beat ND at home at night last year, ND plays them home this year). I agree Stanford's a loss, but that's the only definite/likely one I see.