College Sports Feed’s Preseason Top 25 continues this week, and as the numbers get lower, the competition gets fiercer and the teams have greater chances of playoff contention. Here to kick off Week 2 is:

20. Stanford

“While the departure of #1 overall NFL draft pick Andrew Luck will definitely hurt Stanford this fall, head coach David Shaw picked up right where Jim Harbaugh left off, not only with the team’s performance, but also in recruiting. Despite Stanford’s elite academic standards, they fielded a top 5 recruiting class last year, and they will give Pac 12 foes fits again in 2012. With a ton of weapons gone at Oregon, look for the Cardinal to make a serious run at the Pac 12 North Title.”

Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor

“Stanford has proved in the last couple of seasons that they aren’t simply a school known for their academics. They have shown that they can play football as well. I don’t think that they will do anything extremely amazing during this season like make it into the top 10, but I do expect them to do well in the rest of the polls. I think that in the next few years they have the potential to really be good but they are still working on it this season.”

Allie Balog, CSF Associate Editor

19. Texas

“After underachieving since their National Championship appearance in the 2009 season, the Longhorns look to return to form in 2012. Sophomore QB David Ash will enter the season as the starter after showing promise during his first year in Austin. He will have help in the backfield with the RB duo of Malcolm Brown, a former 5-star recruit, and Jonathan Gray, the top ranked freshman RB in the country.”

Anthony Manzella, CSF Writer/Contributor

“After a rough 5-7 season in 2011, Texas is looking to rebound and be a much stronger force in 2012. David Ash will be the day 1 quarterback with Case McCoy right behind him. They have the number 1 ranked freshman running back in Jonathan Gray, according to the ESPN 150.”

Garrett Mayers, CSF Writer/Contributor

18. Clemson

“Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins put up a ton of offense last season. The only problem was that their defense was gashed against any decent offense they faced, ranking 81^st in points allowed in 2011. Unless the defense improves dramatically, look for the Tigers to finish behind Florida State in the Atlantic Division in 2012.”

Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor

“Their toughest matchup may be against South Carolina, but with Brent Venables joining the coaching staff, they have just as much competition as Oklahoma did when they had him. They may not immediately be looked at as a BCS Championship contender, but they can definitely make a run and will hopefully finish with a higher winning record.”

Elizabeth Garabedian, CSF Writer/Contributor

17. Ohio State

“The Buckeyes enter this season after a very disappointing 6-7 season in 2011. Urban Meyer presents a breath of fresh air and a new look on offense that Buckeye fans have never seen with past coaches. Meyer already has taken recruiting by storm. Although they have to replace a few leaders, Braxton Miller showed some great flashes last season of what he could do in the spread offense. The bowl ban will sting this season, but they will definitely be playing with a purpose and have a very bright future under Urban Meyer.”

Garrett Mayers, CSF Writer/Contributor

“Good ol’ Ohio State. It’s plain and simple with them. They are out to prove that they are better than they were last season and that regardless of the NCAA restrictions that have been placed on them that they can be great. They have a new coach and a crop of new players. It’s time for this team to show what they are really made of and that they aren’t a team that is willing to be stomped on.”

Allie Balog, CSF Associate Editor

16. Nebraska

“Although Taylor Martinez had only 57.4 percent of his passes completed, with enough practice, he can easily build that up in the off-season. And with receivers looking deeper into more dynamic plays and covering more ground, Bo Pelini and the Cornhuskers may be on their way to a Big Ten title game.”

Elizabeth Garabedian, CSF Writer/Contributor

“Bo Pelini may be feeling pressure in Lincoln, but the Cornhuskers will remain competitive for the fourth time in his four years as head coach. QB Taylor Martinez should continue to play better and 1,300-yard rusher Rex Burkhead will provide a sensational option in the backfield. The defense will be solid once again, and will face competition early and often within their conference schedule. Look for Nebraska to contend for a championship in the tough Big 10.”

Anthony Manzella, CSF Writer/Contributor

The votes have been tallied throughout collegesportsfeed.com, and now it’s time to present our combined Preseason Top 25. For the next five weeks, we have five sections of our top 25 teams, starting from the end. These statistics were compiled using incoming players, remaining talent, old and new coaches, and a few previous games from last season. This week we present:

25. Florida

“Even though they didn’t have an amazing season last year and Ohio State has their former coach, Florida is going to surprise people this year. They have always had the passion for the game, and this year they are really going to show it. They beat Ohio State in the Gator Bowl this past season, and now that Ohio State has their coach, it’s more of a fight for them to prove they are good and that they could beat Ohio State and their former coach again if the opportunity presented itself.”

Allie Balog, CSF Associate Editor

“After a 7-6 season, which included a rough 3-5 SEC record last season, Will Muschamp will be coaching for his job in 2012. Expect that sense of urgency, along with another down year in the SEC East to get the Gators back in the Top 25.”

Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor

24. Notre Dame

“Notre Dame only lost 5 games last season, the last game they lost being a bowl game. Granted most of the teams they beat weren’t ranked teams, they still managed to beat a few ranked ones. Their record from last year shows that they can do well this year and most likely will be determined to do so. They used to be one of the best teams in college football, and while they don’t have the players to make them great, they still have the potential to be great. It’s just time to sit back and watch the underdogs show their true colors.”

Allie Balog, CSF Associate Editor

“Recent quarterback controversy aside, Notre Dame has a chance to be very solid this year. With a strong backfield, led by 1,000-yard rusher Cierre Wood, and one of college football’s best returning TE’s in Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame should be competitive in every game of their tough 2012 schedule. Add this year’s impressive freshman class, and the Fighting Irish could make a run into a top bowl game.”

Anthony Manzella, CSF Writer/Contributor

23. Oklahoma State

“Losing both Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon will be a major blow to the high-powered Oklahoma State offense. However, Coach Gundy will have them revved up for this season despite the losses and compete for a Big 12 championship.”

Garrett Mayers, CSF Writer/Contributor

“Freshman Wes Lunt is the answer Cowboy fans are all looking for, thanks to Coach Gundy. Gundy has a history of training quarterbacks well, and there’s no doubt he can do the same this year. Plus Lunt is enormous and has a fiery arm. Look for OSU to have a great game against Texas.”

Elizabeth Garabedian, CSF Writer/Contributor

22. Boise State

“Even with the losses of QB Kellen Moore and RB Doug Martin to the NFL, head coach Chris Peterson will have the Broncos ready to compete. A solid recruiting class will help fill the losses on both sides of the ball, and the return of sixth-year RB D.J. Harper will give the Broncos a reliable option in the backfield. Look for the Broncos to remain in the top 25 during their last season before a move to the Big East.”

Anthony Manzella, CSF Writer/Contributor

“With 16 sophomore Broncos, it should be easy for the new freshman class to adjust to the routine they have already set. Dallas Burroughs is one of the fastest players on Boise State, and Matt Miller, although red-shirted last season, is back and ready for more action, filled with awards. If they keep up their luck and skill like last season, they may be nearly unstoppable.”

Elizabeth Garabedian, CSF Writer/Contributor

21. Virginia Tech

“Look for Virginia Tech to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Clemson in the ACC championship. Losing David Wilson to the NFL will be a major hole and a big replacement, but quarterback Logan Thomas seems ready to handle the major load and can carry this team to the top of the ACC again.”

Garrett Mayers, CSF Writer/Contributor

“The Hokies have been the only constant in the ACC, since joining the conference in 2004. Second year starting QB Logan Thomas will be more consistent in 2012, and you know that the defensive coordinator Bud Foster will have the VA Tech defense on point again this fall.”

Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor

Switching gears for a bit, it is time to take another look at college baseball. As the 2012 season rolls on, the top 25 stays relatively consistent, but teams shuffle around within each week.

Per usual, most of the teams we see in the top 25 are from the South or out west, where warmer weather makes it easier to practice. But I was excited to see Purdue ranked 15^th with a 31-6 record. They went 3-1 last weekend and were previously ranked 16^th.

In the past, Purdue baseball has not found much success. They have only won one Big Ten Championship and have only made it to the Big Ten Tournament once, so this year is already quite the accomplishment for the Boilermakers.

But what does it say about college baseball if a team like Purdue moves even further up in the top 25?

Sure, they may break the tradition of the classic southern/western team being reigning champions (and it may make a lot of their fans angry), but as I said before, who isn’t opposed to a little change in college sports?

The Big Ten is due for some encouragement anyway, so Purdue baseball could be the perfect way to bring them back into the chatter.

The last time a Big Ten team, or a team from anywhere above the Mason-Dixon line, for that matter, won the College World Series was in 1966, when the Ohio State Buckeyes took home the title. But ever since, it has just been the same story, such as when Southern Cal took five straight titles from 1970-1974 – exciting! (Not so much.)

If Purdue can pull through, it will certainly say a lot for them and even the teams up North yearning for just a shot at the playoffs and the College World Series. It will be a surprise for sure, but change is a good thing. Go Boilermakers!

It may only be April, and it is still just 2012, but talk is already buzzing surrounding the incoming freshmen class and their potential to transform college football in 2013. Yes, we are still waiting for both the good and bad 2012 will bring, but why not give it some hype before the season rolls around?

Whether or not these athletes can contribute to their first college football season will most likely depend on what happens in 2012 and who rounds up the top 25 and who takes home a national championship. But either way, any team can use someone with lots of speed, agility, common sense and expertise in the game.

Who couldn’t use someone like Ricky Seals-Jones out of Texas, a 215-pound wide receiver out of Texas, who is both threatening in his 6’2” frame and fast on the field? And what would any team not see in Eric Vanderdoes, a 6’4” 285-pound defensive end who can stop an attacking offense within seconds?

What most of these recruits possess is an extra dose of speed and a constant eye out for swift plays that will easily be shown daily on ESPN’s Top 10. Nowadays, college football is just a stop-start game; when will we get these unbelievable plays that keep cameras rolling and remain in our memories forever?

Linebacker Matt Thomas out of Florida is a pass-rushing machine, and then there’s Robert Nkemdiche, the number one prospect, who at 6’5” and 270 pounds is as fast as he is unstoppable. Can they give the fans what they want: shock, force, and less commercials?

Looks like 2013 is the year we get it all.

Every year, the SEC is the hot commodity of preseason college football talk. There is always something going on at Florida, an incredibly talented quarterback has been drafted to the NFL, and one of them just won the BCS championship game.

But this year’s talk has taken a new turn, and it is a bit unexpected.

The USC Trojans, accurately described as one of the “hidden gems” of the 2012 preseason, has been chosen as the top team by many an online sports site, and it could perhaps be because of Matt Barkley’s return, and Stanford and Oregon losing a lot of talent to the NFL.

And remember what I said the other day: a new season is a clean slate, and just because they lost to Stanford in triple-overtime on October 29 does not mean they will face the same embarrassment again in 2012.

If Su’A Cravens commits to USC on June 6, who knows what could happen? Cravens, a 6-1, 210-lb. safety, is rumored to be leaning toward the Trojans; going elsewhere would come as a surprise. But he could add some serious agility and knowledge to the game, the defense especially. The Barkley-Cravens duo could potentially be unstoppable.

Isn’t it just a little refreshing, though, that the spring chatter this year is leaning toward a non-SEC team? I would have to think everyone gets tired constantly hearing talk about Alabama and LSU, especially since they were both in the BCS championship game last season – oh what an exciting change of pace (obviously not – it’s like Kentucky winning the men’s basketball title this year.)

Still, I would have to think a lot of people would have high hopes for the Trojans, especially since they may possibly be a machine next year, and maybe they will finally get their shot against an SEC team in the BCS title game.

It is just time for something new.

It is never too early for college football. Well, it is usually never too early for college football.

Yes, the basketball tournament has ended and we are heading into spring yearning for some TLC from the MLB, but let’s be real here: we can’t get enough of football, and the leaves will be falling before we know it.

Based on the spring games this past weekend and those coming up, there could be many things to be excited about for the 2012 season. Michigan came up with an impressive offensive line, Boise State is fighting to become a top contender after losing Kellen Moore, and Clemson has the potential to play with a handful of freshmen.

But can the spring games give sufficient evidence that a specific team will be successful in the 2012 season?

Alabama finished off last spring undecided on their starting quarterback and wound up 12-1, while Ohio State was a spring offensive machine that ended 2011 without Jim Tressel, resulting in a lousy 6-7 record.

It does not make much sense that a game in the middle of April finalizes the fate of a football team for the upcoming fall, especially since strategies are fresh and coaching is often new and unexpected. Players have also left for the draft or given up football altogether, and freshmen are scrambling around the field, mainly absorbing the fact that they are finally living their dream.

There is no “it” factor that can come from the spring game, and many tend to say that a new season is like a clean slate. That being said, the slate should not restart until August, when playoff contention actually begins and everyone is under close watch of the NCAA.

But the spring games at least create speculation and curiosity about what will come of next fall, and they introduce us to new faces and undeniable college spirit. They stir online debates and inspire tailgates. If a game goes poorly, at least we have an entire summer to forget about it and have faith that the season will go well.

It’s unpredictable. It’s exciting. It’s cliche. Out with the old, in with the new. You win some, you lose some. Are you ready for some football? We are.