Rest of college football still chasing Saban

Several dozen volunteers, all good people, met at The Ranch on Saturday morning to get a briefing on how the transportation will work this week for the Western Amateur golf tournament at The Alotian Club.

This week will be consumed by one of the most prestigious amateur golf tournaments in the world, and then attention will turn to football.

Here is an early look at one person’s guess at how the Top 25 will look after the season.

1. ALABAMA Simply the best college football program in America. It seems like Nick Saban returns about 60 starters every year.
2. OHIO STATE A great schedule for a team that went undefeated last season.
3. NOTRE DAME Another great season unless it has to play the Crimson Tide, who exposed the Fighting Irish in the BCS Championship Game.
4. TEXAS A&M The Aggies have a favorable schedule and a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback returning. If the Aggies upset Alabama, they will win final the BCS championship, provided Johnny Manziel stays healthy.
5. OREGON The Ducks might have challenged the Crimson Tide, but Mark Helfrich has never been a headcoach. He’s a great offensive coordinator, but he’s stepping into some big shoes.
6. GEORGIA Mark Richt wins 12 games and remains on the hot seat.
7. FLORIDA STATE The Seminoles should be 5-0 before a big test at Clemson on Oct. 19.
8. TEXAS Mack Brown has 19 starters back and a favorable schedule and should go undefeated, but Texas will probably lose to Oklahoma and maybe Baylor.
9. LSU The Mad Hatter’s offense has to be improved, right? Three losses last season were by a total of 19 points.
10. STANFORD Th e Cardinal could challenge the Ducks for the Pac-12 title with 14 starters back but must find some receivers.
11. SOUTHERN CALLane Kiffin has no excuses with 15 starters back.
12. SOUTH CAROLINA Steve Spurrier gets his wish: Ole Miss is on the schedule.
13. MISSISSIPPI Even with 19 starters back, expect to see some true freshmen contributing. The Rebels must survive September, when they are at Vanderbilt, Texas and Alabama.
14. TCU Gary Patterson, who will not be the next coach at Arkansas, has 16 starters back and quarterback Casey Pachall could be the second-best player at his position in the state of Texas.
15. FLORIDA Will Muschamp has mostly his players now, with better attitudes in the locker room and at practice.
16. OKLAHOMA STATE The Cowboys are poised towin the Big 12 with 15 starters back, but the league still trails other power conferences.
17. LOUISVILLE Charlie Strong has the Cardinals rolling and could improve with 16 starters returning.
18. OKLAHOMA Beating Texas will be the highlight of a 9-3 regular season for the Sooners, who lost seven defensive starters.
19. MICHIGAN Chuck “Pigskin Preacher” Monan is hoping for better and may get it. The key game may be Notre Dame in the second week of the season.
20. CLEMSON Dabo Swinney is making a name for himself, but the Tigers will have to find a way to bounce back after an opening-season loss to Georgia.
21. OREGON STATE The Beavers will be a factor in thePac-12 with eight offensive starters back, including its top two running backs and quarterbacks.
22. NEBRASKA Bo Pelini lost most of his defensive starters but has eight back on offense and a good schedule.
23. MIAMI Experience and depth give the Hurricanes a shot at third in the ACC.
24. VIRGINIA TECH The Hokies lose their opener to Alabama before getting Carolina directional schools, which starts a downhill run.
25. MICHIGAN STATE The Spartans have the experience to win on the road, and they’ll need all of it.