1. FLORIDA STATE
Opener: vs. Oklahoma State, Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
Teddy Greenstein’s take: Don’t be crabby, America: Jameis Winston & Co. have a terrific shot to repeat — as long as the QB opts to pay for his groceries.
2. ALABAMA
Opener: vs. West Virginia, Saturday in Atlanta.
Nick Saban to media: Keep asking about QB battle between Blake Sims and Florida State transfer Jacob Coker, and I might withhold scrimmage stats. Seriously.
3. OREGON
Opener: vs. South Dakota, Saturday.
Props go to quarterback Marcus Mariota, who passed on NFL riches in favor of wearing bizarre color schemes in Eugene.
4. OKLAHOMA
Opener: vs. Louisiana Tech, Saturday.
First Bob Stoops beat Nick Saban in the Sugar Bowl. Then he belittled Saban’s comment about it being a “consolation game.” Keep ’em coming, Bob.
5. OHIO STATE
Opener: vs. Navy, Saturday in Baltimore.
More Top Picks Best Travel Mobility Scooters For Airports
As pointed out in a Sports Illustrated piece, Ohio State players supply urine samples each day to get their hydration levels checked. O … K.
6. AUBURN
Opener: vs. Arkansas, Saturday.
For the first time in nine seasons of college coaching, Gus Malzahn and his beautiful mind have a returning starter at QB. Expect Nick Marshall to make a Heisman run.
7. UCLA
Opener: at Virginia, Saturday.
Go ahead, try to find a flaw in Brett Hundley’s game after he completed 67.2 percent of his passes in 2013. Oh, wait: The NFL scouts will do just that.
8. MICHIGAN STATE
Opener: vs. Jacksonville State, Friday.
With Ohio State’s Braxton Miller out of the picture, the Spartans might have lost the perennial chip on their shoulder. They will be the hunted.
9. SOUTH CAROLINA
Opener: vs. No. 21 Texas A&M, Thursday.
When ESPN asked the coaches of the power 65 teams to describe their teams in one word, the Ol’ Ball Coach chose “decent.” So at least his players are clothed.
10. BAYLOR
Opener: vs. SMU, Aug. 31.
Bryce Petty will throw for approximately 1 million yards this season. But with only three starting defenders returning, Baylor is looking up at Big 12 foe Oklahoma.
11. STANFORD
Opener: vs. UC Davis, Saturday.
In that ESPN survey, David Shaw described his team as “underappreciated.” If I didn’t know better, I would describe the coach as “whiny.”
12. GEORGIA
Opener: vs. No. 16 Clemson, Saturday.
The Dawgs were dogs on defense last year, giving up 375.5 yards per game. So coach Mark Richt pried coordinator Jeremy Pruitt away from Florida State.
13. LSU
Opener: vs. No. 14 Wisconsin, Saturday in Houston.
The Tigers plan to play two quarterbacks in the opener against Wisconsin. Apparently the “if you have two, you have none” axiom does not apply to Les Miles.
14. WISCONSIN
Opener: vs. No. 13 LSU, Saturday in Houston.
Coach Gary Andersen is rolling the dice by selecting the athletic Tanner McEvoy at quarterback. At the FBS level, he’s more experienced at wide receiver and safety.
15. USC
Opener: vs. Fresno State, Saturday.
New coach Steve Sarkisian is no Lane Kiffin (yeah!), but he also might not have the appeal of Ed Orgeron, who rescued the Trojans last season.
16. CLEMSON
Opener: at No. 12 Georgia, Saturday.
Tajh Boyd … gone. Sammy Watkins … gone. Still around is coach Dabo Swinney, who in January signed a new eight-year deal.
17. NOTRE DAME
Opener: vs. Rice, Saturday.
Quarterback Everett Golson said he learned from his academic dishonesty, saying he had to “self-evaluate myself.” Wise move. Wise move.
18. MISSISSIPPI
More Top Picks Best Electric Shaved Ice Makers
Opener: vs. Boise State, Thursday in Atlanta.
Who’s afraid of those big, bad Broncos from Boise State? Not Ole Miss, which will battle the Smurfs on Thursday on a green field at the Georgia Dome.
19. ARIZONA STATE
Opener: vs. Weber State, Thursday.
Not that the Sun Devils ever try to win with defense, but this season will be particularly challenging: They lost nine starters, including stud tackle Will Sutton.
20. KANSAS STATE
Opener: vs. Stephen F. Austin, Saturday.
Coach Bill Snyder says universities have “sold out — we’re all about dollars and cents.” C’mon, don’t forget about fleeting glory.
21. TEXAS A&M
Opener: at No. 9 South Carolina, Thursday.
Johnny Manziel’s successor is sophomore Kenny Hill, who ran for two more touchdowns than he threw as a high school senior in Texas. Kenny Football?
22. NEBRASKA
Opener: vs. Florida Atlantic, Saturday.
Receiver Kenny Bell is listed at 6-foot-1. The amazing afro he showed off at Big Ten media days wants a second opinion.
23. NORTH CAROLINA
Opener: vs. Liberty, Saturday.
You know things have gotten weird when the Tar Heels and Dukies play a football game that merits attention outside Tobacco Road.
24. MISSOURI
Opener: vs. South Dakota State, Saturday.
The most famous player from the 2013 roster — Michael Sam — is in the NFL, but QB Maty Mauk returns. Other than his poorly spelled name, there’s a lot to like.
25. WASHINGTON
Opener: at Hawaii, Saturday.
The Huskies hired Chris Petersen away from Boise State and pumped $280 million into Husky Stadium. U-Dub is rolling.