Here it is, one of the most unofficial preseason college football polls you will ever see.

RANK	TEAM	2009 RECORD	2009 RANK
1	Alabama	14-0	1
2	Ohio State	11-2	5
3	Oklahoma	8-5	NR
4	Florida	13-1	3
5	Texas	13-1	3
6	Virginia Tech	10-3	2
7	Wisconsin	10-3	10
8	Boise State	14-0	4
9	TCU	12-1	6
10	Oregon	10-3	11
11	Miami	9-4	19
12	Georgia	8-5	NR
13	North Carolina	8-5	NR
14	Florida State	7-6	NR
15	Iowa	11-2	7
16	USC	9-4	22
17	Arkansas	8-5	NR
18	Nebraska	10-4	14
19	Auburn	8-5	NR
20	Penn State	11-2	9
21	Pittsburgh	10-3	15
22	LSU	9-4	17
23	Texas A&M	6-7	NR
24	Michigan State	6-7	NR
25	Boston College	8-5	NR

Prolouge: As usual, this poll is based on how good I believe the teams to be at this moment, not where they will finish.  Just like every year, I will strive to maintain this philosophy for the entire season.  I will struggle against the perceived transitive properties of college football.  I will trust my subjective ability to evaluate teams that are rounding into shape while others are demonstrating a pronounced ability to come unglued.  It is not entirely unusual for there to be teams with two losses that look much better than a handful of undefeateds.

As the faithful reader(s) know, I rank the teams based on how good I believe them to be at this moment, not at the end of last season, and not how I think they will finish.  Schedules are not taken into consideration but the natural off-season development is relied upon.  For me, the test is whether I believe a team would defeat the team immediately ahead of them on a neutral field this weekend.

Also, and this sounds obvious, someone has to be ranked in each spot. There are no ties.  Even though I have team X four spots ahead of team Y, the spread may be very narrow in my mind.  I know there are vagaries that make it difficult to determine who is truly better than whom, but remember these rankings are subjective.

Finally, the rankings are always subject to change. Teams may jump five or ten spots in one week, or may drop even when they win. Likewise, teams may rise when they lose. I take injuries and suspensions into consideration, so a team may win its game and lose its best player (see Oregon 2007) and drop in my poll.  This poll will not reward teams simply for winning.  Again, these rankings are subjective.

Sexy Outs: There are a lot of sexy squads out there that garner trendy votes.   South Carolina, Arizona, Notre Dame and Washington immediately jump to mind.  Reasons exist to hit the ‘buy’ button for those teams but honestly, the smart money has been on ’sell’ for a long time.  I understand that 5-10 of the teams I have placed in my lineup will promptly plummet out within a matter of weeks.

My history major brain is telling me that no Civil War battle ever took place in Oregon.  But, if this were 140 years ago we might be getting pretty close.  Oregon and Oregon State are currently locked in their annual Civil War.  I can’t imagine what those who are devout American-ites would be saying about the rivalry if it was as huge as, say…The Game.  But, I digress.  Oregon hasn’t been to the Rose Bowl since 1995 and Oregon State hasn’t been there since 1964.  No matter who wins, our Buckeyes will be facing two teams who love to run the football and take it up and down the field.  Unfortunately for them, the Pac-10 has this nasty habit of not playing defense very well (part of the reason why USC has dominated the past decade).  Who would you rather see in Pasadena on January 1?  I was rooting for Arizona, but since that’s out of the question, I’ll go with Oregon State for a number of reasons.

Your’s truly just jumped in Mirror Lake for the first time in his life.  It was actually pretty warm.  The last two years it was snowing.  There was a newspaper photographer taking pictures there, so look for me in tomorrow’s Dispatch.  It may or may not happen.  In either case, LET’S BEAT MICHIGAN. (regardless of what terrelle pryor is doing after the last victory.)

This is getting up late as usual. If I did not have to work for a living so I can eat, heat, and drive (to that job of all places) blogging would be a lot easier. Alas, I can assure you I wrote the game vignettes in chronological order.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1

Colorado v. West Virginia
7:30pm, ESPN
Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer, Erin Andrews

Is there any team that needs a win more than Colorado? Getting that much needed win will not be easy at West Virginia as a 16-point underdog. This is a slightly disappointing penultimate weekend tilt. The worst of the season, probably. VT/ECU on 11/5 is bad, too. Anyway, Noel Devine is a top 15 running back but he seems to have lost the shine he had when he showed up as the Deion Sanders project. Against the Colorado rush defense, he should leap back into some CFB fans consciousness.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2

Pittsburgh v. Louisville
8:00PM, ESPN2
Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore

Has any team risen and fallen faster than Lousiville? From 2000-2006, the Cardinals went 70-20 and was a top 10 program in terms of winning percentage. Likewise, has a rising star gone black hole as suddenly as Steve Kragthorpe? Of course, he was only 29-22 while coaching Tulsa and won only a single Conference USA title so maybe he should have been a lessor target. Alas, fans everyone have it in for him. Louisville has not defeated a D-I team yet this season and it is doubtful they will get it on Friday.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

Can anyone tell me why College Gameday is in Boston this weekend for the Florida State v. Boston College game? Sure, Boston is a top-5 city but BC recently gained approximately half a field in one game and FSU had a total meltdown last week. Thankfully, there is a reason and very good one too boot.

ESPN’s College GameDay has been all over the country since they took their show on the road, literally, in 1993. Until this coming weekend, though, the show had only been in Boston once, parachuting into Chestnut Hill in 2005 for Boston College’s first ACC game.

The reasoning for going to a matchup of two unranked teams in a town where college football may be the fourth or fifth passion? Well, at least on its surface, it likely has something to do with the story of Mark Herzlich, the BC linebacker who was 2008’s ACC Defensive Player of the Year and diagnosed with cancer in March.

However, at the risk of sounding crass: Does this really require moving the entire production to Boston? ESPN’s offices, it is impossible to forget, are in Bristol, Connecticut, and their crews are more than capable of driving to Chestnut Hill or Pennsylvania, where Herzlich may be with his family, and putting together a moving piece with or without GameDay in town.

Nuf said.

Michigan v. Michigan State
12:00pm, BTN
Wayne Larrivee, Chris Martin, Charissa Thompson

I am actually excited about this game. Why, you ask. Because it is the only reasonable game starting at noon and I do not have the fortunate task of attending a home Ohio State game. Moreover, the Buckeyes kick off at night so I get to watch a full two games before I have to devote all of my energy to pounding the Hoosiers in submission. What better to start with than a semi-major rivalry game where at least one team cheats every time?

Wisconsin v. Minnesota
12:00pm, ESPN
Dave Pasch, Bob Griese, Chris Spielman

These teams are 2-0 in the Big Ten and 7-1 overall. So, why don’t I respect either one? Each team had to go to overtime to defeat an overmatched opponent, and each team won their conference opener in a relatively high-scoring, defense-omitting game. I promise that I will take the winner of this game seriously … until they get revert back to their same ol’ selves.

Let’s talk about coverage maps. While they are not really important for the afternoon slot, they become very important later on, kinda. I never really articulated this before, but I want every Ohio State game to start at noon. That way I can watch the marquee SEC matchup or the big B12 battle at 3:30pm. This weekend, the Buckeyes get slotted in the weirdo 7:00pm zone. That is pizza pick up time most weekends.

(4)Louisiana State v. (18)Georgia
3:30pm, CBS
Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson, Tracy Wolfson

This will be an entertaining game (read: main game). No questions asked. They may be 3-1 but they have played the most compelling schedule to date. Even their loss to Oklahoma State was fun. When you combine that with LSU’s lack of assertive play you get a classic SEC battle in the teens.

(15)Penn State v. Illinois
3:30pm, ABC/ESPN2
Mike Patrick, Craig James, Heather Cox

It is difficult to make an argument for watching this game and I actually picked Illinois and Penn State to finish second and third, respectively in the Big Ten. Why I ever bet on Ronnie is beyond me. Illinois is 0-1 in the league but there are virtually no signs of life as the Illini appear in capable of getting the ball to Benn. They say he is a 1st round pick but you would never know it.

Washington v. Notre Dame
3:30pm, NBC
Tom Hammond, Pat Haden, Alex Flanagan

I simply cannot recommend this as the #1 flip game because I hate ND and I need to see them lose. They have won two straight games because Big Ten teams (and coaches) have totally blown it. I don’t want to talk about it. Just know that the Huskies will win.

(9)Ohio State v. Indiana
7:00pm, BTN
Craig Coshun, Glen Mason, Rebecca Haarlow

Ohio State football is a blessing at any time of day but I would prefer this game be the nooner. There are three good games on opposite this one but you will not see a down of them if you are like me. You will watch every brutal head shot delivered by the Ohio State defense and curse Bollman’s name every time the Buckeyes go 3-and-out. Indiana put up a fight last weekend but for all of their improvements, Michigan’s defense is still sorry.

Auburn v. Tennessee
7:45pm, ESPN
Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Erin Andrews

This is a worthy flip game and not just for the 15 minutes before the nightcaps start Auburn did something incredibly novel, they hired an offensive coordinator in an effort to gain more yards and score more points. How has that worked out for them? They are averaging 525 yards/game and 45 points/game. During a commercial after Thoma has punted one out of the stadium, flip over and watch what a little coaching can do.

(7)USC v. (24)California
8:00pm, ABC
Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham

Boy, the shine really came off this one. This was a Top 10 matchup until California was pantsed by Oregon. So, in true Pac 10 fashion the Bears will win and totally muddy the waters. Is that good for Ohio State? Is it wrong that I want to play USC in the Rose Bowl this season?

(8)Oklahoma v. (17)Miami
8:00pm, ABC
Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit, Lisa Salters

Another mega matchup botched by a rising team who potentially looked ahead. Still, I am almost 100-percent certain Miami is going to win. Not because they are better, not because they are at home, and not because Bradford is out. Just because.

The opening paragraph of the “Comment” in the most recent New Yorker struck me as strangely apropos for the Buckeyes impending contest with Texas.

Every parent knows the moment when a small child hits his forehead on a doorknob, or bumps her chin on the coffee table, and then the long seconds of red-faced anticipation, breath drawn, while everyone waits for the explosion of tears. The moment lasts maybe ten seconds but feels like years, and though the inevitable explosion is, mostly, inevitable, a small part of the parent’s heart hopes that this time the child will somehow compose herself, see that her injury isn’t life-threatening, take a breath, find distraction in a bright, shiny object, and laugh.

For Ohio State fans, the metaphorical doorknob, or coffee table, has manifested itself in three distinctly different, yet equally painful forms over the past three seasons just when they seemed to be playing for everything. Looking back at those “accidents,” it is possible to pinpoint a – if not “the” – moment when the buckeyes forehead made contact.

Against Florida, the edge of the coffee table was Derrick Harvey’s two first quarter interceptions. After that, the Buckeyes promptly received a penalty and threw an interception that allowed the Gators to go up 21-7. Ohio State seemed to view that deficit as season-threatening. With no bright, shiny object in sight, bawling ensued.

Similar moments are easily found in the stigma-inducing games against LSU (Robiskie’s drop followed by the blocked FG) and USC (another missed FG). For fans everywhere, especially OSU fans, the drives following these moments feel like an eternity as everyone wants for the Buckeyes implosion by ineptitude.

As the Buckeyes prepare to face Texas, a team with a Top 10 offense and terrific return teams, I am positive that they will once again hit their head. And much like the parent, a part of my heart – albeit more than a small part – will hope that the Buckeyes find the bright, shiny object - a trophy, perhaps – to maintain their focus.

I think this Ohio State team is more resilient than a freshly dinged toddler, but if I see another missed field goal I cannot say I will be very hopeful.

Players to Watch

Beanie Wells
The junior is most likely playing in his last game as a Buckeye and will want to make a statement. Wells is not happy. He’s mad he hurt his foot this season and he’s mad that his line has caved faster than the levees in New Orleans. Beanie is at his best in big games and will be calling for the football. He was the best player on the field against LSU last year, but after carrying 39 times for 222 yards against Michigan, he only got 20 carries for 146 yards. Would it have been a different game if Ohio State got up 10-0 and rushed Beanie 45 times? We’ll never know. Tressel will want to open up the offense for the Fiesta Bowl, but never expect him to deviate far from Wells.

Terrelle Pryor
Pryor arrived on campus for fall practice and assumed the starting role the 4th game of the season. Not a whole lot of time dedicated to learning and development. The most improved player between the season and bowl should be Pryor, due to his high ceiling and relatively limited experience to date. He’s been improving his footwork and throwing technique. Texas gave up a 101 yards to Baylor’s Griffin on the ground, but limited him to a loss-causing 6/19 passing. If Pryor can get his reads and hit his targets, it should be a big number day. A backfield of Pryor and Wells easily gives Ohio State the most athletic QB and RB that Texas has faced all year.

Jim Tressel
Okay, I cheated. He’s not a player. But if Ohio State is going to have a good day, Tressel is going to have a good day. He’s already confirmed that Pryor and the senior [citizen] Todd Boeckman will be in the same backfield. “We might. In fact, we will. Let me go that far. We will.” Tressel said. Will we see any other trickery? You betcha. LSU and Florida games notwithstanding, he’s generally taken chances in the bowls. A fake field goal against Miami, Ted Ginn reverse against ND, etc. He really needs to show that he scouts his own team as well as his opponents and the players need to execute. The playbook better be wide open, because Texas scores points.

Cover Your Eyes

Marcus Freeman
Hampered by injuries the latter part of the season, Marcus Freeman has no doubt used the time off to get healthier. A healthy Marcus Freeman, at least against Youngstown State, looked fast and furious. Against USC, he suffered from poor tackling and a blown coverage on USC’s fullback Stanley Havili that lead to an easy score. A taped and battered Freeman was more of a liability than a force down the stretch, including the Penn State game, missing tackles and failing to make a game changing INT. When healthy, mentally and physically, Freeman can be a force and should finally be healthy and looking to make an impact. My guess is, we won’t see a lot of Ross Homan due to the wide open nature of Texas, so it’s on Freeman to be the every down linebacker opposite JL.

Anderson Russell
Probably one of the more athletically gifted players on the Buckeye Squad, Russell often struggles to make an impact on the game from his Free Safety position. He is good at the details and can provide good zone coverage, but he’s struggled with timing and recognition against more accurate passers. Nothing stands out more than USC’s TD pass to the TE when Russell neglected to acknowledge the possibility of a pass. Buckeyes still haven’t received the official notice from the NCAA that TE’s can, in fact, catch balls. Tackling, as with Freeman, can be a concern at times, especially in space.

Bryant Browing
If Ohio State learned anything against Florida and LSU, or even Purdue, it surely hasn’t been shown by Browning. Replacing Kirk Barton was a tremendous task, even Barton can’t find a spot in the NFL, and Browning looks capable against the power rush. Speed rush? Whole ‘nother story. In the Penn State game, PSU split its defensive ends wide and used their speed to get to Pryor and Wells. While the DE’s were smoking weed and starting brawls at the QB, Browning was still standing at the line, waiting for the next play. He may want to learn a quick first step by Monday or Tressel will need to place a TE and a FB behind him if he’s lined up against Orakpo.