The Top 25

Staff writer Chris Dufresne selects his preseason Top 25’:

1: Florida State: North Carolina? Was I nuts last year or what?

2: Arizona State: Just looking to irritate UCLA fans with this one.

3: Ohio State: It might be Goodbye Columbus if Cooper doesn’t beat Michigan this year.

4: Michigan: Who replaces Griese at QB? It’s a story, of a man named (Tom) Brady.

5: Nebraska: A notch below Michigan, coaches, just the way it should have ended last year.

6: Florida: All that in-state talent and Spurrier starts a QB from Canada?

7: UCLA: Trivia geek stat: McNown is first UCLA left-handed QB since Ernie Case in ’45.

8: North Carolina: Rank-man’s boundless enthusiasm for this bunch left when coach Mack Brown did.

9: Kansas State: Proposed 1999 nonconference schedule: Prairie View, Rutgers, Temple.

10: LSU: Kevin Faulk’s return sure made booting Cecil Collins off the team a lot easier.

11: West Virginia: Mountaineers’ best squad since Major Harris and 1988?

12: Tennessee: Now that stiff Peyton Manning is gone, maybe Vols can beat Florida.

13: Colorado State: In terms of talent, the Rams seceded from the WAC years ago.

14: Texas A&M;: Will the real Branndon Stewart please report to the huddle?

15: Virginia: Fans can only pray Florida State will join the new WAC.

16: Syracuse: OK, you know the drill: Go winless in September and then rally like you-know-what.

17: Washington: QB Brock Huard came back; we’re still not sure why.

18: Wisconsin: Temporary blackout hits Madison when 370-pound tackle Aaron Gibson walks past sun.

19: Penn State: Burning question: Is Joe Pa too old for a team that’s too young?

20: Southern Mississippi: “Good luck on your national title drive,” love Brett from Green Bay.

21: Georgia: Just keep beating Florida and things will be peachy.

22: Arizona: Yes, Tempe, we play football over here in Tucson too.

23: Notre Dame: School proposes pep rally to defray off-season legal bills.

24: Texas: Longhorns (66-3) only vaguely (66-3) remember last year’s (66-3) score (66-3) against UCLA.

25: Auburn: One more arrest and Tigers can cast Longest Yard II.