It's never too early for a Top 25 for the 2009 season. Six month before the new season kicks off, let's see where teams rank after the signing period is over.
| 1. | Florida Gators | Key players returning : Tim Tebow (QB), Brandon Spikes (LB), Ahmad Black (S) Key players lost : Percy Harvin (WR), Louis Murphy (WR), Phil Trautwein (OT) Freshman impact : Andre Debose (WR), Xavier Nixon (OT) |
| 2. | USC Trojans | Key players returning : Taylor Mays (S), Damian Williams (WR), CJ Gable (RB) Key players lost : Rey Maualuga (LB), Brian Cushing (LB), Mark Sanchez (QB) Freshman impact : Matt Barkley (QB), Devon Kennard (DE) |
| 3. | Texas Longhorns | Key players returning : Colt McCoy (QB), Jordan Shipley (WR), Sergio Kindle (LB) Key players lost : Brian Orakpo (DE), Quan Crosby (WR), Ryan Palmer (CB) Freshman impact : Alex Okafor (DE), Greg Timmons (WR) |
| 4. | Oklahoma Sooners | Key players returning : Sam Bradford (QB), Jermaine Gresham (TE), Gerald McCoy (DT) Key players lost : Jauquin Iglesias (WR), Phil Loadhold (OT), Duke Robinson (OG) Freshman impact : Gabe Lynn (CB), Ronnell Lewis (LB) |
| 5. | Alabama Crimson Tide | Key players returning : Terrence Cody (DT), Mark Ingram (RB), Javier Arenas (CB) Key players lost : Andre Smith (OT), Glen Coffee (RB), John Parker Wilson (QB) Freshman impact : Trent Richardson (RB), Nico Johnson (LB) |
| 6. | Oregon Ducks | Key players returning : Jeremiah Masoli (QB), LeGarrette Blount (RB), Jairus Byrd (CB) Key players lost : Max Unger (OT), Patrick Chung (S), Jaison Williams (WR) Freshman impact : Cliff Harris (CB), Boseko Lokombo (LB) |
| 7. | Ole Miss Rebels | Key players returning : Javon Snead (QB), Greg Hardy (DE), Kendrick Lewis (S) Key players lost : Michael Oher (OT), Peria Jerry (DT), Ashley Palmer (LB) Freshman impact : Pat Patterson (WR), Bobby Massie (OT) |
| 8. | Virginia Tech Hokies | Key players returning : Tyrod Taylor (QB), Darren Evans (RB), Jason Worilds (DE) Key players lost : Macho Harris (CB), Purnell Sturdivan (LB), Sean Glennon (QB) Freshman impact : Logan Thomas (TE), D.J. Coles (WR) |
| 9. | Oklahoma States Cowboys | Key players returning : Zac Robinson (QB), Andre Sexton (LB), Dez Bryant (WR) Key players lost : Brandon Pettigrew (TE), Jacob Lacey (CB), Ricky Price (S) Freshman impact : Daytawion Lowe (S), Anthony Morgan (OG) |
| 10. | Georgia Bulldogs | Key players returning : Geno Atkins (DT), Rennie Curren (LB), Reshad Jones (S) Key players lost : Matthew Stafford (QB), Knowshown Moreno (RB), Mohamed Massaquoi (WR) Freshman impact : Marlon Brown (WR), Aaron Murray (QB) |
| 11. | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | Key players returning : Josh Nesbitt (QB), Jonathan Dwyer (RB), Morgan Burnett (S) Key players lost : Michael Johnson (DE), Darryl Richards (DT), Andrew Gardner (OT) Freshman impact : Roderick Sweeting (CB), J.C. Lanier (DT) |
| 12. | LSU Tigers | Key players returning : Charles Scott (RB), Brandon LaFell (WR), Ciron Black (OT) Key players lost : Tyson Jackson (DE), Ricky Jean-François (DT), Darry Beckwith (LB) Freshman impact : Rueben Randle (WR), Russell Shepard (QB) |
| 13. | Ohio State Buckeyes | Key players returning : Terrelle Pryor (QB), Lawrence Wilson (DE), Kurt Coleman (S) Key players lost : Beanie Wells (RB), James Laurinaitis (LB), Malcolm Jenkins (CB) Freshman impact : Dorian Bell (LB), Melvin Fellows (DE) |
| 14. | Oregon State Beavers | Key players returning : Jacquizz Rodgers (RB), James Rodgers (WR), Stephen Paea (DT) Key players lost : Shane Morales (WR), Victor Butler (DE), Slade Norris (DE) Freshman impact : Michael Philipp (OG), Reggie Dunn (WR) |
| 15. | Boise State XXX | Key players returning : Kellen Moore (QB), Ryan Winterswyk (DE), Kyle Wilson (CB) Key players lost : Ian Johnson (RB), Jeremy Childs (WR), Ellis Powers (S) Freshman impact : John Michael Davis (WLB), Joe Southwick (QB) |
| 16. | Florida State Seminoles | Key players returning : Jermaine Thomas (RB), Rodney Hudson (OG), Dekoda Watson (LB) Key players lost : Everette Brown (DE), Myron Rolle (S), Derek Nicholson (LB) Freshman impact : Jacobbi McDaniel (DT), C.J. Mizell (LB) |
| 17. | TCU Horned Frogs | Key players returning : Jerry Hughes (DE), Andy Dalton (QB), Joseph Turner (RB) Key players lost : Stephen Hodge (LB), Jason Philips (LB), Blake Schlueter (C) Freshman impact : Malcolm Williams (S), Tanner Brock (LB) |
| 18. | Utah Utes | Key players returning : Matt Asiata (RB), Koa Misi (DE), Stevenson Sylvester (LB) Key players lost : Brian Johnson (QB), Paul Kruger (DE), Sean Smith (CB) Freshman impact : James Aiono (DE), Latu Heimuli (DT) |
| 19. | North Carolina Tar Heels | Key players returning : T.J Yates (QB), Quan Sturdivant (LB), Kendric Burney (CB) Key players lost : Hakeem Nicks (WR), Mark Paschal (LB), Brandon Tate (WR) Freshman impact : Donte Moss (DE), Justin Dixon (LB) |
| 20. | Kansas Jayhawks | Key players returning : Todd Reesing (QB), Darrell Stuckey (S), Dezmon Briscoe (WR) Key players lost : James Holt (LB), Adrian Mayes (OG), Dexton Fields (WR) Freshman impact : Prinz Kande (CB), Kevin Young (DE) |
| 21. | Iowa Hawkeyes | Key players returning : Ricky Stanzi (QB), Pat Angerer (LB), Amari Spievey (CB) Key players lost : Shonn Greene (RB), Seth Olsen (OG), Matt Kroul (DT) Freshman impact : Brandon Wegher (RB), Keenan Davis (WR) |
| 22. | California Bears | Key players returning : Jahvid Best (RB), Kevin Riley (QB), Syd'Quan Thompson (CB) Key players lost : Alex Mack (C), Zack Follett (LB), Nate Longshore (QB) Freshman impact : Mark Brazinski (C), Steve Williams (CB) |
| 23. | BYU Cougars | Key players returning : Max Hall (QB), Harvey Unga (RB), McKay Jacobson (WR) Key players lost : Austin Collie (WR), Rey Feinga (OG), Dallas Reynolds (OL) Freshman impact : Kyle Van Noy (LB), Craig Bills (S) |
| 24. | Texas Tech | Key players returning : Colby Whitlock (DT), Detron Lewis (WR), Jamar Wall (CB) Key players lost : Michael Crabtree (WR), Graham Harrell (QB), Louis Vasquez (OG) Freshman impact : Brandon Mahoney (WR), Jacob Karam (QB) |
| 25. | Pittsburgh Panthers | Key players returning : Aaron Berry (CB), Greg Williams (LB), Greg Romeus (DE) Key players lost : LeSean McCoy (RB), Scott McKillop (LB), Eric Thatcher (S) Freshman impact : Brock DeCicco (TE), Dan Mason (LB) |
ON THE BRINK
| Penn State | Key players returning : Daryll Clark (QB), Evan Royster (RB), Jared Odrick (DT) Key players lost : Aaron Maybin (DE), Derrick Williams (WR), A.Q. Shipley (C) Freshman impact : Eric Shrive (OT), Justin Brown (WR) |
| Stanford | Key players returning : Tavita Pritchard (QB), Sean Wiser (S), Chike Amajoyi (LB) Key players lost : Wopamo Osaisai (CB), Anthony Kimble (RB), Alex Fletcher (C) Freshman impact : Shayne Skov (LB), Josh Nunes (QB) |
| Boston College Eagles | Key players returning : Montel Harris (RB), Mark Herzlich (LB), Mike McLaughlin (LB) Key players lost : B.J. Raji (DT), Ron Brace (DT), Brian Toal (LB) Freshman impact : Dillon Quinn (DT), Jim Noel (S) |
| Miami Hurricanes | Key players returning : Allen Bailey (LB), Marcus Robinson (DE), Travis Benjamin (WR) Key players lost : Bruce Johnson (CB), Reggie Youngblood (OT), Eric Moncur (DE) Freshman impact : Bryce Brown (RB), Brandon McGee (CB) |
| Michigan State | Key players returning : Greg Jones (LB), Trevor Anderson (DE), Mark Dell (WR) Key players lost : Javon Ringer (RB), Brian Hoyer (QB), Otis Wiley (S) Freshman impact : Edwin Baker (RB), Chris Norman (LB) |
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Key players returning : Jimmy Clausen (QB), Michael Floyd (WR), Golden Tate (WR) Key players lost : Pat Kuntz (DT), Maurice Crum Jr (LB), David Bruton (S) Freshman impact : Manti Te'o (LB), Chris Watt (OG) |
| Clemson | Key players returning : C.J. Spiller (RB), Jacoby Ford (WR), Kavell Conner (LB) Key players lost : Cullen Harper (QB), James Davis (RB), Michael Hamlin (S) Freshman impact : Tajh Boyd (QB), Malliciah Goodman (DE) |