Over the next 30 “business days”, I will be counting down my top 30 for the 2009 College Football season. After hours of studying game film, breaking it down matchup by matchup, and predicting upsets, I’ve come up with the teams I believe will be the 30 best in the country by season’s end. Will your team be included? (Hint: If you prefer Tennessee, No.) Wakin’ the Echos today!

30. Iowa Hawkeyes
29. Oregon State Beavers
28. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
27. Nebraska Cornhuskers
26. Kansas Jayhawks
25. North Carolina Tarheels
24. USF Bulls
23. Michigan State Spartans
22. UCLA Bruins
21. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
20. FSU Seminoles
19. TCU Horned Frogs
18. Illinois Fightin’ Illini
17. BYU Cougars
16. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
15. Oklahoma State Cowboys
14. Georgia Bulldogs
13. LSU Tigers

The Story: After two BCS trips in his first two seasons Charlie Weis had certainly looked like he had pushed Notre Dame back to the top, where their fans expect them to be. However, a very sub-par 2007 turned heads as Notre Dame slid to their worst record in decades. While a 7-6 season wasn’t a thrilling answer to ‘07 on paper, three of the Irish losses were only by a score, and they did win their first bowl game in 15 years. No question, this is a make or break year for Weis, if he can get to a BCS bowl his job is likely safe, anything less than that, and he could be sweating it out. That being said…with an easy slate on table the Golden Domers could easily be BCS bowling again.

The Glaring Stat: 17. Interceptions thrown by Jimmy Clausen.

The Outlook: The lack of a running game really plagued the Irish last season. Finishing 100th in the nation, there is no doubt in my mind it contributed to the turnover troubles of Jimmy Clausen. Returning is Armando Allen Jr., the likely starter, but bulky Robert Hughes will get some looks from the Irish staff this fall and could see significant carries again. Although there are no real new faces, these young guys were only freshman thrown to the fire. With a platoon in the backfield I don’t expect all world stats, but there is only one way to go at this point…up.

The receiving arsenal for the Irish is probably the best they’ve had in years, which should make Clausen’s job much easier. Golden Tate is the leader of the corps, the smaller, athletic receiver seems to have a body that would make Plastic Man  jealous. To the other side of him, Michel Floyd is the bigger receiver that Weis has seemed to prefer during his tenure, in the mold of a Maurice Stovall and Jeff Samardzija. Notre Dame will have no shortage of production from these guys…again, it’s on the running game.

I don’t understand why so many are down on the Irish O-Line. While they weren’t the greatest run blockers last season, they are a solid group that returns four starters and gets Paul Duncan back, who sat out most the ‘08 season with an injury. I really like 6′8″ 330 pound right tackle Sam Young who won’t be a high draft pick, but will likely be playing on Sundays next fall. A unit that really struggled two years ago, could shape up to be a strong point in ‘09.

Jimmy Clausen was a little erratic at times in 2008, but it’s easier to remember games like the Boston College than it is Hawai’i. I doubt doubt this guys talent for a single minute, if he can straighten out mentally the sky is the limit. I really think this is a year he comes out and lives up to his potential, and begins a Heisman run in 2010.

Defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta is reverting to the 4-3, giving him a little more rotation in the linebacking unit…meaning fresher legs for the countless number of blitzes he likes to send at opposing offenses. The biggest name in all those? A freshman, Manti Te’o, a guy many believed to be the best high schooler in the country last year. Te’o will likely be an opening day starter and could be one of those freshmen that makes serious noise nationally.

The secondary is a fast group of guys that can hold their own when playing together. Kyle McCarty led the team in tackles last season with 110, good for a school record. Another name to watch is Harrison Smith, a converted linebacker who sits at 6′2″ and 212. A natural hitter, playing free safety in the Tenuta system will make him dangerous.

The Irish defensive front needs to get more pressure on the quarterback, with only 18 sacks in the regular season they stepped up in the bowl game sacking Hawai’i’s quarterbacks eight times. With four on the line now, Notre Dame should be a little more stout and effective there.

The Schedule:
9-5-09 NEVADA
9-12-09 at Michigan
9-19-09 MICHIGAN STATE
9-26-09 at Purdue
10-3-09 WASHINGTON
10-17-09 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
10-24-09 BOSTON COLLEGE
10-31-09 vs. Washington State @ San Antonio
11-7-09 NAVY
11-14-09 at Pittsburgh
11-21-09 CONNECTICUT
11-28-09 at Stanford

One word can describe the Irish’s schedule. Light. Of the twelve teams on the schedule, only seven played in bowl games last year. Take into account that Boston College and UConn will likely be staking a big step back too.

Nevada and Colin Kaepernick will be a lot tougher than people think, especially considering the struggles the Irish had against conference mate San Diego State in the opener last year. Going to Michigan, no matter how down they are will certainly be a tough road test. Finally, Michigan State and USC will likely be the only two ranked teams and thus spotlight games that will really give America a good idea of how good the Irish are. 

GatorTrey is a contributor to SpartyandFriends.com. He can be reached at GatorTrey (at) spartyandfriends.com as well as on twitter @jflynn05.

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