BYB Top 25 Countdown - #3 Ohio State Buckeyes

OSU QB Braxton Miller

Urban Meyer may be under fire for giving players second chances (and third and fourth chances) but no one is questioning his ability to get the best out of the behaviorally challenged gang he puts on the field.

Before Meyer got to Columbus the Buckeyes were the subject of an NCAA investigation that resulted in Jim Tressel’s firing and a one year bowl ban, and had just suffered through a 6-7 season under overmatched interim coach Luke Fickell. A year later Ohio State is coming off a 12-0 season and returns 15 starters, including one of the best quarterbacks in college football in Braxton Miller.

Miller will be the focal point for an offense that also showcases two potential All-Conference performers at wideout with Corey Brown and Devin Smith and a talented stable of backs.

Running back Carlos Hyde will miss the first three games of the season after an offseason allegation of abuse against a female club patron gained national attention at the same time Meyer was being publicly tongue lashed about recruiting and enabling troublemakers, including alleged murderer Aaron Hernandez. In his stead Miller can hand off to speedster senior Jordan Hall who will run behind a line that returns four players who started every game in 2012.

The defense came together well by the end of last season, due partially to familiarity with its coordinator, Fickell, who moved to DC from interim head coach after being retained by Meyer. While the Buckeyes were good against the run last season and efficient in the red zone the unit will need to improve against the pass, finishing 76th nationally in pass defense in 2012.

Defensive ends Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington will be relied on to create more sacks and push opposing passers to throw more errant balls where an experienced defensive back corps that includes All-American candidate Bradley Roby.

Linebacker Ryan Shazier, an All-Big Ten selection in 2012 and the second leading tackler in the conference will be the leader of the defensive unit.

Ohio State’s schedule shakes out nicely for a run to the Big Ten Championship Game and possibly the BCS national Championship finale. There are no definite losses on the slate and there are 10 easily winnable games, with close contests looming at Northwestern and at Michigan. I have the Buckeyes at 10-0-2.

BYB Top 25 Countdown - #7 Louisville Cardinals

Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater

The hype associated with Louisville going into the 2013 season centers entirely around quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who has been ceded the preseason title of best available quarterback in the next NFL Draft.

As Geno Smith, Matt Barkley and Brady Quinn can attest, the title is fleeting. Bridgewater appears to be a talented prospect with 3,178 yards/27 TDs/8 INTs in 2012 but the junior passer need only be a babysitter in 2013 to lead Louisville to what could easily be an undefeated season.

Gone from the Cardinals’ schedule are Syracuse and UCONN, not the most imposing of opponents, but the only two to best the Cards last season.

Offensively, Bridgewater will have familiar targets to throw to the teams top three receivers from 2012 and add talented transfer from Florida, Robert Clark. The running back position has been by committee at Louisville as the Cards have been besieged by injury in the last two seasons. Dominique Brown and Senorise Perry return after both missed time last season with knee injuries.

Louisville returns eight starters on defense, including experienced safeties Hakeem Smith and Calvin Pryor and cornerback Terell Floyd. Linebacker Preston Brown will be entrusted to quarterback the defense from the middle linebacker spot after moving over from the outside in 2012.

The Cardinals play one of the softer schedules in college football. There are no definite losses on their schedule but road games at Kentucky and Cincinnati in the season finale look like push games and the game against Rutgers Oct. 10 in Louisville could decide the American Athletic Conference champion. I have Louisville at 10-0-2.