College Pick 'em is a pick-the-winner game with a twist: Players must rank their picks in order of confidence. It's not as easy as it looks, so I'll weigh in every Thursday to help you make those tough decisions. Log in to the College Pick 'em page on Mondays for the upcoming week's matchups and previews.
We'll kick off the 2009 season with a quick glance at the top 25 teams …
1. Florida: The defending national champs return seven offensive starters and the entire defensive two-deep. Another national title, the program's first undefeated season and a second Heisman Trophy would solidify Tim Tebow as the greatest college football player of all time.
2. Texas: The Longhorns have won at least nine games in each of Mack Brown's 11 years as head coach. Heisman runner-up Colt McCoy headlines a group of 16 returning starters from last year's 12-1 squad.
3. Oklahoma: Oklahoma scored more than 700 points in the 2008 regular season, but managed only 14 against Florida in the title game. The Sooners are serious about getting another shot: Four first-team all-conference players passed on probable first-round NFL draft status to return for their senior seasons.
4. Virginia Tech: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor developed rapidly late last season and is poised for a huge senior year. This will be the Hokies' best offense since career passing leader Bryan Randall graduated in 2004. Coordinator Bud Foster returns seven starters and will field another top defense.
5. USC: It's definitely a reloading year, but the Trojans always have premium coaching and talent. The nation's best offensive line will drive the train, while a new signal-caller and revamped defense gain experience.
6. Alabama: Back-to-back top recruiting classes under Nick Saban have the Crimson Tide positioned to wrest control of the SEC West from LSU and challenge Florida as the league's No. 1 power. Seven of the top eight tacklers return to a unit that ranked third in total defense last season.
7. Ohio State: Beanie Wells and James Laurinaitis are gone, but this is Terrelle Pryor's team now, and the sophomore sensation has enough talent around him to lead the Buckeyes to a sixth Big Ten title in nine years under Jim Tressel.
8. LSU: Last season was a rebuilding year for the Tigers, but the 2009 squad returns its top four tacklers and close to 90 percent of its yardage output. Long-time Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis takes over a loaded group, and there are plenty of game-breakers on offense.
9. Georgia Tech : The defensive line loses three NFL draft picks, but the back seven is one of the best in the nation. Ten starters, including ACC Offensive Player of the Year Jonathan Dwyer, return to an offense that will really take off in the second year of Paul Johnson's option scheme.
10. Mississippi: Expectations are higher than they've been in Oxford since Eli Manning quarterbacked the Rebels. Ole Miss destroyed their final four opponents in 2008, including LSU and Texas Tech, and hasn't lost since October at Alabama. The SEC's weakest schedule portends continued success for Ole Miss and Heisman hopeful quarterback Jevan Snead.
11. Georgia: Knowshon Moreno and Matthew Stafford will be impossible to replace, but this year's edition still features plenty of NFL-worthy talent. Coordinator Willie Martinez's defense is loaded, and the offensive line is one of the nation's best. The Bulldogs could notch a seventh 10-win season in eight years, despite a difficult schedule.
12. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys averaged more than 40 points per game last season, and this year most of the key offensive personnel return. Quarterback Zac Robinson was a 3,000-yard passer and dangerous runner last year, while running back Kendall Hunter and wideout Dez Bryant were first-team All-Americans. The Pokes will win 10 games for the first time since Barry Sanders' final season in 1988.
13. Penn State: Only nine starters return from last year's Big Ten champions, but the Lions do welcome back the backfield tandem of quarterback Daryll Clark and running back Evan Royster, plus one of the nation's top linebacking corps. A soft schedule will have Penn State in contention for a third BCS bowl in five years.
14. Notre Dame: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen will operate behind an experienced offensive line and throw to one of the nation's best receiving corps. Expect the Notre Dame offense to resemble the Brady Quinn-led units of Charlie Weis' first two seasons. Decorated former Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta joined the staff last year, but this season he will be allowed more control over a unit that has plenty of talent but must find a pass rush.
15. California: Jeff Tedford needs to coax more production out of junior quarterback Kevin Riley, but with Heisman candidate Jahvid Best leading the offense and the nation's best secondary anchoring the defense, the Bears feel that 2009 might be their year. Catching USC at home -- and in a reloading year -- fuels justified optimism in Berkeley.
16. Arkansas: The Hogs will be back in the postseason in Bobby Petrino's second year. Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett takes over under center for the departed Dick brothers. The entire receiving corps returns, as does Michael Smith, the SEC's leading returning rusher in yards per game. The defense returns its top 10 tacklers. A brutal schedule might keep the Hogs from double-digit wins, but this is a top-20 team.
17. South Florida: The Bulls have spent a lot of time in the national rankings the past two years, but have done no better than fourth in the Big East standings since joining the league. Quarterback Matt Grothe is poised for a monster senior season, and 2007 All-American sackmaster George Selvie returns to anchor a tough defense.
18. Iowa: All-American running back Shonn Greene is gone, but the Hawkeyes are very strong in both trenches and finished 2008 with four straight victories, including an upset of then-unbeaten Penn State and a rout of South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.
19. Clemson: Running back C.J. Spiller will operate behind a veteran offensive line, and the defense returns eight starters from last year's Gator Bowl team.
20. Boise State: The Broncos are 80-11 in the past seven seasons. Running back Ian Johnson departs, but Kellen Moore is back under center for what should be a fine sophomore season. Oregon and Tulsa are the toughest non-conference tests.
21. North Carolina: Butch Davis has had the Tar Heels near the top of the ACC recruiting rankings since he arrived, and the team is poised to take a step forward in his third year. Outstanding quarterback T.J. Yates and nine defensive starters return from last year's eight-win team.
22. TCU: Like league rivals BYU and Utah, the Frogs were hit hard by graduation, returning only 10 starters. However, quarterback Andy Dalton, NCAA sack leader Jerry Hughes and a pair of senior all-conference cornerbacks are a great nucleus that gives TCU an edge in the tough Mountain West.
23. Kansas: The Jayhawks' offensive line and linebacking corps were both wiped out by graduation, but triggerman Todd Reesing works with the best set of backs and receivers in the Big 12 North. Mark Mangino's team will battle Nebraska and Colorado for the division crown.
24. BYU: The Cougars tallied perfect 8-0 Mountain West seasons in 2006 and 2007, but their bubble was burst in October in a 32-7 beatdown at TCU. Each of the school's past four senior quarterbacks have won conference titles, but this season triggerman Max Hall must overcome the loss of the NCAA's leading receiver, Austin Collie, as well as the bulk of the offensive line.
25. Rutgers: Good coaching and the weakest schedule of any BCS team give the Knights a good shot at the Big East title despite losing quarterback Mike Teel, the top two receivers and five defensive starters.
Will Harris is a college football analyst for ESPN.com.
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