AP preseason Top 25 at a glance

No. 1 Miami

2001 (12-0)

Larry Coker (12-0, 1 year)

Returning Starters: Offense 4, Defense 6.

Players to Watch: QB Ken Dorsey; K Todd Sievers; WR Andre Johnson; DT William Joseph; DE Jerome McDougle; LB D.J. Williams; C Brett Romberg; TE Kellen Winslow Jr.; DT Vince Wilfork; OT Vernon Carey.

Strengths: Defensive line; linebacker; quarterback.

Question Marks: Secondary; offensive line.

Key Games: Sept. 7 at Florida; Oct. 12 Florida State; Nov. 9 at Tennessee; Nov. 30 at Syracuse; Dec. 7 Virginia Tech.

No. 2 Oklahoma

2001 (11-2)

Bob Stoops (31-7, 3 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 7.

Players to Watch: TE Trent Smith; LB Ted Lehman; DT Tommie Harris; RB Quentin Griffin; DE Jimmy Wilkerson; G Mike Skinner; CB Derrick Strait; WR Antwone Savage; CB Andre Woolfolk.

Strengths: Quarterback; defensive line; special teams.

Question Marks: Wide receiver; secondary.

Key Games: Sept. 7 Alabama; Oct. 12 Texas; Nov. 2 Colorado; Nov. 9 at Texas A&M.

No. 3 Florida State

2001 (8-4)

Bobby Bowden (250-59-4, 26 years; 323-91-4, 36 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 8.

Players to Watch: RB Greg Jones; WR Craphonso Thorpe; DT Darnell Dockett; DL Travis Johnson; LB Kendyll Pope; WR Talman Gardner; PK Xavier Beitia; OT Brett Williams; G Montrae Holland.

Strengths: Quarterback; offensive line; defensive line; linebacker; wide receiver.

Question Marks: Secondary.

Key Games: Sept. 14 at Maryland; Sept. 26 at Louisville; Oct. 3 Clemson; Oct. 12 at Miami; Oct. 26 Notre Dame; Nov. 23 at N.C. State; Nov. 30 Florida.

No. 4 Texas

2001 (11-2)

Mack Brown (38-13, 4 years; 124-87-1, 18 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 5.

Players to Watch: QB Chris Simms; RB Cedric Benson; WR Roy Williams; DL Marcus Tubbs; DE Cory Redding; LB Derrick Johnson; PR-CB Nathan Vasher; WR B.J. Johnson; TE Bo Scaife.

Strengths: Quarterback; running back; defensive line, wide receiver; secondary; special teams.

Question Marks: Offensive line; linebacker.

Key Games: Sept. 14 at North Carolina; Oct. 12 Oklahoma; Oct. 19 at Kansas State; Nov. 2 at Nebraska; Nov. 29 Texas A&M.

No. 5 Tennessee

2001 (11-2)

Phillip Fulmer (95-20, 10 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 5.

Players to Watch: QB Casey Clausen; WR Kelley Washington; TE Jason Witten; S Julian Battle; CB Jabari Greer; PK Alex Walls; CB Willie Miles; RB Cedric Houston.

Strengths: Quarterback; wide receiver; secondary.

Question Marks: Running back; defensive line.

Key Games: Sept. 21 Florida; Oct. 5 Arkansas; Oct. 12 at Georgia; Oct. 26 Alabama; Nov. 2 at South Carolina; Nov. 9 Miami.

No. 6 Florida

2001 (10-2)

Ron Zook (first year)

Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 5.

Players to Watch: QB Rex Grossman; RB Earnest Graham; WR Taylor Jacobs; DT Ian Scott; OT Max Starks; G Shannon Snell; S Todd Johnson; DE Darnell Lee Jr.; LB Mike Nattiel.

Strengths: Quarterback; linebacker; running back.

Question Marks: Wide receiver; Zook replacing Spurrier.

Key Games: Sept. 7 Miami; Sept. 21 at Tennessee; Oct. 12 LSU; Oct. 19 Auburn; Nov. 2 Georgia; Nov. 16 South Carolina; Nov. 30 at Florida State.

No. 7 Colorado

2001 (10-3)

Gary Barnett (20-16, 3 years; 64-71-2 12 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 8.

Players to Watch: TE Quinn Sypniewski; LB Sean Tufts; RB Chris Brown; QB Craig Ochs; RB Marcus Houston; OT Justin Bates; C Wayne Lucier; P Mark Mariscal.

Strengths: Quarterback; running back; offensive line.

Question Marks: Secondary; placekicker.

Key Games: Aug. 31 Colorado State; Sept. 14 Southern Cal; Sept. 21 at UCLA; Oct. 5 Kansas State; Nov. 2 at Oklahoma; Nov. 29 at Nebraska.

No. 8 Georgia

2001 (8-4)

Mark Richt (8-4, 1 year)

Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 5.

Players to Watch: DL Johnathan Sullivan; WR Fred Gibson; LB Boss Bailey; TE Benjamin Watson; S Sean Jones; KR Fred Gibson; PR Damien Gary; PK Bill Bennett; G Kevin Breedlove; P Jonathan Kilgo.

Strengths: Wide receiver, offensive line; special teams.

Question Marks: Quarterback; secondary.

Key Games: Aug. 31 Clemson; Sept. 14 at South Carolina; Oct. 5 at Alabama; Oct. 12 Tennessee; Nov. 2 Florida; Nov. 30 Georgia Tech.

No. 9 Washington

2001 (8-4)

Rick Neuheisel (26-10, 3 years; 59-24, 7 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 5.

Players to Watch: WR Reggie Williams; PK John Anderson; WR Paul Arnold; DL Kai Ellis; LB Ben Mahdavi; CB-KR Roc Alexander; S Greg Carothers; QB Cody Pickett.

Strengths: Wide receiver; offensive line; special teams.

Question Marks: Linebacker.

Key Games: Aug. 31 at Michigan; Oct. 19 at Southern Cal; Nov. 2 UCLA; Nov. 16 at Oregon; Nov. 23 at Washington State.

No. 10 Nebraska

2001 (11-2)

Frank Solich (42-9, 4 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 6.

Players to Watch: RB Dahrran Diedrick; DL Chris Kelsay; PR-CB DeJuan Groce; C John Garrison; OT Dan Vili Waldrop; DL Demoine Adams; LB Barrett Rudd; K Josh Brown; LB Demorrio Williams; KR Josh Davis.

Strengths: Running back; offensive line; defensive line; special teams.

Question Marks: Quarterback; wide receiver.

Key Games: Aug. 24 Arizona State; Sept. 14 at Penn State; Oct. 26 at Texas A&M; Nov. 2 Texas; Nov. 16 at Kansas State; Nov. 29 Colorado.

No. 11 Wash. State

2001 (10-2)

Mike Price (73-75, 13 years; 119-119, 21 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 6.

Players to Watch: WR Mike Bush; RB Jermaine Green; CB Marcus Trufant; QB Jason Gesser; DL DD Acholonu; DL Faafetai Tupai; PK Drew Dunning; G Derrick Roche.

Strengths: Quarterback; defensive line; wide receiver.

Question Marks: Offensive line; linebacker; secondary.

Key Games: Sept. 14 at Ohio State; Oct. 5 Southern Cal; Nov. 9 Oregon; Nov. 23 Washington; Dec. 7 at UCLA.

No. 12 Michigan

2001 (8-4)

Lloyd Carr (66-20, 7 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 7, Defense 8.

Players to Watch: QB John Navarre; RB Chris Perry; WR-KR Ronald Bellamy; LB Victor Hobson; S Cato June; CB Marlin Jackson; TE Bennie Joppru; DL Shantee Orr; DL Norman Heuer; S Charles Drake; WR Tyrece Butler; LB Carl Diggs.

Strengths: Quarterback; wide receiver; offensive line; defensive line.

Question Marks: Special teams; linebacker.

Key Games: Aug. 31 Washington; Sept. 14 at Notre Dame; Oct. 12 Penn State; Nov. 2 Michigan State; Nov. 16 Wisconsin; Nov. 23 at Ohio State.

No. 13 Ohio State

2001 (7-5)

Jim Tressel (7-5 1 year; 142-62-2, 16 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 7.

Players to Watch: RB Lydell Ross; G Adrien Clarke; DL Will Smith; DL Tim Anderson; LB Matt Wilhelm; S Mike Doss; LB Cie Grant; KR Maurice Hall; WR Michael Jenkins.

Strengths: Linebacker; defensive line.

Question Marks: Quarterback; running back; offensive line.

Key Games: Sept. 14 Washington State; Oct. 19 at Wisconsin; Oct. 26 Penn State; Nov. 23 Michigan.

No. 14 LSU

2001 (10-3)

Nick Saban (18-7, 2 years; 61-33-1, 8 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 7.

Players to Watch: WR Michael Clayton; LB Bradie James; PR Domanick Davis; RB LaBrandon Toefield; S Damien James; DL Kendrick Allen; S Norman LeJeune; PK John Corbello.

Strengths: Running back; offensive line.

Question Marks: Quarterback; linebacker; secondary.

Key Games: Sept. 1 at Virginia Tech; Oct. 12 at Florida; Oct. 19 South Carolina; Oct. 26 at Auburn; Nov. 16 Alabama; Nov. 29 at Arkansas.

No. 15 Oregon

2001 (11-1)

Mike Belotti (60-23, 7 years; 83-48-2 13 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 6.

Players to Watch: RB-KR Onterrio Smith; LB Kevin Mitchell; OT Corey Chambers; WR-PR Keenan Howry; LB David Moretti; WR Samie Parker; S Rasuli Webster; S Keith Lewis.

Strengths: Wide receiver; offensive line; linebacker.

Question Marks: Quarterback; secondary.

Key Games: Oct. 12 at UCLA; Oct. 26 Southern Cal; Nov. 9 at Washington State; Nov. 16 Washington; Nov. 23 at Oregon State.

Washington; Nov. 23 at Oregon State.

No. 16 Virginia Tech

2001 (8-4)

Frank Beamer (107-65-2, 15 years; 149-88-4, 21 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 5.

Players to Watch: RB Lee Suggs; RB Kevin Jones; TE Keith Willis; CB-PR Ronyell Whitaker; PK Carter Warley; S Willie Pile.

Strengths: Running back; defensive line; secondary; special teams.

Question Marks: Quarterback; wide receiver; linebacker.

Key Games: Sept. 12 Marshall; Sept. 21 at Texas A&M; Nov. 9 at Syracuse; Nov. 30 Virginia; Dec. 7 at Miami.

No. 17 Louisville

2001 (11-2)

John L. Smith (34-15, 5 years; 103-54, 13 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 10.

Players to Watch: QB Dave Ragone; WR James Taylor.

Strengths: Quarterback; defensive line; secondary.

Question Marks: Wide receiver; offensive line.

Key Games: Sept. 14 at Colorado State; Sept. 26 Florida State; Nov. 14 at Southern Miss.

No. 18 Mich. State

2001 (7-5)

Bobby Williams (13-11, 2 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 7.

Players to Watch: QB Jeff Smoker; WR-PR Charles Rogers.

Strengths: Quarterback; offensive line.

Question Marks: Running back; defensive line.

Key Games: Sept. 21 Notre Dame; Oct. 26 Wisconsin; Nov. 2 at Michigan; Nov. 23 at Penn State.

No. 19 Marshall

2001 (11-2)

Bob Pruett (69-11, 7 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 9, Defense 6.

Players to Watch: QB Byron Leftwich; WR Darius Watts; WR Denero marriott; TE Jason Rader; DT Orlando Washington.

Strengths: Quarterback; wide receiver; offensive line.

Question Marks: Defensive line; linebacker.

Key Games: Sept. 12 at Virginia Tech; Sept. 20 UCF; Nov. 12 Miami (Ohio).

No. 20 USC

2001 (6-6)

Pete Carroll (6-6, 1 year)

Returning Starters: Offense 9, Defense 5.

Players to Watch: QB Carson Palmer; TE Alex Holmes.

Strengths: Quarterback; wide receiver; linebacker.

Question Marks: Secondary; defensive line.

Key Games: Sept. 14 at Colorado; Oct. 5 at Washington State; Oct. 19 Washington; Oct. 26 at Oregon; Nov. 23 at UCLA; Nov. 30 Notre Dame.

No. 21 Maryland

2001 (10-2)

Ralph Friedgen (10-2, 1 year)

Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 6.

Players to Watch: RB Bruce Perry; LB EJ Henderson; TE Jeff Dugan; LB Leon Joe.

Strengths: Offensive line; linebacker.

Question Marks: Quarterback; secondary.

Key Games: Aug. 31 Notre Dame; Sept. 14 Florida State; Nov. 2 at North Carolina; Nov. 16 at Clemson.

No. 22 S. Carolina

2001 (9-3)

Lou Holtz (17-18, 3 years; 233-113-7, 31 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 5, Defense 4.

Players to Watch: RB Andrew Pinnock, RB Ryan Brewer, G Cedric Williams.

Strengths: Offensive line; special teams; running back.

Question Marks: Quarterback; secondary; linebacker.

Key Games: Sept. 14 Georgia; Oct. 19 at LSU; Nov. 2 Tennessee; Nov. 16 Florida; Nov. 23 at Clemson.

No. 23 Texas A&M

2001 (10-2)

R.C. Slocum (117-41-2, 14 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 9, Defense 7.

Players to Watch: DE Ty Warren; LB Jarrod Penright; CB Sammy Davis; S Terrence Kiel.

Strengths: Running back; wide receiver; secondary.

Question Marks: Quarterback; defensive line.

Key Games: Sept. 21 Virginia Tech; Oct. 26 Nebraska; Nov. 9 Oklahoma; Nov. 29 at Texas.

No. 24 Penn State

2001 (5-6)

Joe Paterno (327-96-3, 36 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 7.

Players to Watch: QB Zack Mills; NT Jimmy Kennedy; DT Anthony Adams; CB Bryan Scott.

Strengths: Wide receiver; secondary; offensive line; defensive line.

Question Marks: Linebacker; running back.

Key Games: Sept. 14 Nebraska; Oct. 5 at Wisconsin; Oct. 12 at Michigan; Oct. 26 at Ohio State; Nov. 23 Michigan State.

No. 25 Wisconsin

2001 (5-7)

Barry Alvarez (84-55-4, 12 years)

Returning Starters: Offense 8, Defense 3.

Players to Watch: RB Anthony Davis; QB Brooks Bollinger; CB Mike Echols; WR Lee Evans; OT Ben Johnson; DT Anttaj Hawthorne; DE Darius Jones; C Al Johnson; PK Scott Campbell.

Strengths: Quarterbacks; running back; offensive line.

Question Marks: Defensive line; linebacker.

Key Games: Aug. 23 Fresno State; Oct. 5 Penn State; Oct. 19 Ohio State; Oct. 26 at Michigan State; Nov. 16 at Michigan.