By TIM SULLIVAN

It’s late April, and while many football fans are focused solely on the NFL Draft and which college players are leaving for greener pastures, let’s not forget spring football practice is winding down on campuses around the nation, and there are quite a few good players sticking around to play on Saturdays this fall instead of Sundays.

So, let’s break them down.

In the first of a series, we’ll take a look at the upcoming college football season. The coaches, the schedules, the recruits, the conferences, we’ll get to them all in time.

Let’s start at the top.

Here’s our pre, preseason Top 25:

1. Southern Cal: It’s been two whole seasons since Pete Carroll — the nation’s top recruiter (not that his surroundings don’t help a bit) — lifted that elusive crystal football. That’s going to change in 10 months. While they’re at it, quarterback John David Booty might end the Trojans’ Heisman Trophy losing streak … at one. 2. Florida: The national champions — even without quarterback Chris Leak — have to occupy this slot out of respect. Oh, and they’re really good, too. It’s Tim Tebow’s show now, and he’s more than capable. Plus, the traditional, “potential” roadblocks on the schedule — Florida State and Tennessee — are in The Swamp this season, although Georgia might give them quite a run in Jacksonville. More on the Bulldogs later.

3. Michigan: Everyone that counts on offense is back. If the defense can figure out just what happened in the complete collapses that were the final two games of the season last year (vs. Ohio State and USC), the Wolverines may win a national title. One thing’s for sure: They cannot wait to get shorthanded Ohio State in the Big House. Payback time.

4. West Virginia: Enter the Big East. Pound for pound talentwise, we like Louisville better, but the Mountaineers’ offense is too good not too crack the Top 5. And what seals the deal for us, is that the quasi-Big East title game — West Virginia vs. Louisville — is in Morgantown this season. So, you have to lean toward the ‘Eers, at least now. Yes, we just wrote a Big East synopsis without the word “Rutgers” being mentioned. But we’ll get to them in a bit.

5. LSU: We’re not huge fans of Les Miles, who can get outcoached by the worst of them, but his recruiting has been good, and he’s really not allowed the Tigers — or their fans — to long for the days of Nick Saban. Plus, the SEC is too good not to have two teams in the Top 5. The Bayou Bengals have a tough date early on against Virginia Tech, but clearly have enough talent to win the SEC West after a one-year hiatus.

6. Wisconsin: Move over Ohio State. Michigan is now the cream of the Big Ten crop, and the bruising Badgers are a close second. Bret Bielema went 12-1 in his first season as coach, won a New Year’s Day bowl game, and has running back P.J. Hill back for at least one more year. The Rose Bowl is a distinct possibility.

7. Louisville: Bobby Petrino or no Bobby Petrino, Louisville is now a football factory. The Cardinals won the Orange Bowl last season, and quarterback Brian Brohm is back for more. That aforementioned date in Morgantown might be too tough for them, but you can bet this team can’t wait to see Rutgers in Papa John’s Stadium to close the season. Another one-loss season may be in store. And then, it’ll be Matt Simms’ time at The ‘Ville.

8. California: Readers of my weekly football forecast column — “On Campus” — may remember my loyalty to these Golden Bears last season. I leaned, probably too heavily, on Cal last season — and those of you who disagreed, emailed me plenty … thanks for that. But, seriously, the offense is just too good to pass up here, and the Bears get USC at home this season. If they have a chance at all against the Trojans, it’s in Berkeley.

9. Georgia: We love the groove that coach Mark Richt is in. The Bulldogs were one of the nation’s hottest teams to end the year last season, beating Auburn, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech to close out. Like we mentioned, Florida in Jacksonville — of course — will make or break their season. But the talent and coaching in Athens right now is clearly prepared for the task at hand.

10. Texas: Lose to Texas A&M at home, get blasted by Ohio State in front of the nation, and barely win the Alamo Bowl against mediocre Iowa a year after winning the national title. Try overcoming that. Colt McCoy, this is your life. But, based on skill and reputation, we’ll put the skinny quarterback and his Longhorns in the Top 10 … in the spring.

11. Rutgers: A little high for the Knights, perhaps, but the schedule is far too soft to prevent a tremendous start to the season. Late home dates against West Virginia and South Florida will eventually define the season, and Louisville — like we mentioned — wants some revenge. But in the early going, we’ll lean on running back Ray Rice and quarterback Mike Teel as they try to build on their bowl-winning season.

12. Virginia Tech: It took 12 teams to get an ACC representative, which doesn’t say much for that league. Keep in mind, Wake Forest won the conference last season. But the Hokies are clearly the best of the bunch this season, running back Branden Ore is a beast, they play the fiercest defense, and quite frankly — without mixing real life with football too, too much here — they have plenty to play for this season.

13. Auburn: The talent is still there, but the favorable schedule isn’t. The Tigers have to travel to LSU this season, which may — and probably will — keep them from winning the SEC West. But they’ll still win double digits and head to a big bowl. The bigger question, though, remains the Iron Bowl. Coach Tommy Tuberville has won five straight against Alabama. Can he do it again, this time against Saban?

14. Texas A&M: The Aggies were dismantled by Cal — sorry, did we mention Cal again? — in the Holiday Bowl, but the season was hardly lost. Coach Dennis Franchione calmed the masses down in College Station with a good year, and now, he welcomes back quarterback Stephen McGee and Mack-Truck running back Jorvorskie Lane to an offense that could be the Big 12’s best. Texas, remember, will seek revenge, but the Aggies have the 12th Man on their side this season in the state’s biggest battle.

15. Oklahoma: A run on Big 12 teams, perhaps. Coach Bob Stoops — last seen absolutely stunned on the sidelines after being outcoached and outtricked by Boise State’s Chris Petersen in the Fiesta Bowl — will pick up his visor and bounce back. Let’s not forget the run the Sooners had en route to the conference title last season. Ditch the Cinderella upset just for a second here. Oklahoma is still very, very good. And they can win the league again.

16. TCU: The Horned Frogs could be this year’s Boise State, in terms of making the BCS, ruining people’s bowl pools and scaring the life out of one of the big boys. But die-hard college fans know how tremendous a program this school has already become. They’re coming off another bowl-winning season and will be back for more in September.

17. Tennessee: We loved the renaissance season that opened with such authority last season in Knoxville, as offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe returned. But we didn’t like the way it ended, as Tennessee was handled by Penn State on New Year’s Day. Quarterback Erik Ainge, under Cutcliffe’s direction, is ready to break out, but we just don’t see the Vols having anything for Florida down in the Swamp. A good season is in store, not a great one.

18. Ohio State: The sweater vest has fallen. Jim Tressel will get the Buckeyes back in position for a national title soon, but it won’t be this year. The Wolverines — in addition to a few others — are going to get ‘em good this season. But, out of respect and pure accomplishment, we’ll throw them in the Top 20.

19. UCLA: We love the Pac-10’s power this season, and the Bruins certainly fit the bill. There’s a quarterback situation to deal with — Patrick Cowan or Ben Olson? — but, either way, UCLA is a Top 20 team. Two Bruins games to look forward to this season, should be Cal — there we go again — and USC.

20. Boston College: A little high perhaps, but what the heck … we’ll blame it on the East Coast bias. We’re still trying to figure out why Tom O’Brien left this program, but Jeff Jagodzinski has a true gem in quarterback Matt Ryan and the Eagles may win their first ACC title if they can upset the Hokies in Blacksburg, and beat Florida State in Chestnut Hill. Even if they don’t win those two tilts, they could still take the league crown. Remember, this is the ACC here.

21. South Carolina: The growing process continues under Steve Spurrier. Two seasons so far, two bowl games, one bowl win. They get Florida at home this season and Gator Nation surely remembers the last time they went up to Columbia. Win that game, and a New Year’s Day bowl will await the ol’ ball coach and his Gamecocks.

22. Notre Dame: Did LSU just score again on this team? All we can remember about the Irish last season was that last game against the Tigers in the Sugar Bowl, when LSU’s JaMarcus Russell made himself millions in extra signing-bonus money at the Notre Dame defense’s expense. But Notre Dame is still Notre Dame, and Charlie Weis had a great recruiting class. Respect goes a long way here, probably too long.

23. Kentucky: Just how good is the SEC East? Every team not named Vanderbilt made this list. Remember the name, Andre Woodson. In a league loaded with top-tier quarterbacks, he might be the most entertaining. The Wildcats won a bowl game last year, and should do the same this year.

24. Nebraska: Coach Bill Callahan will unveil Sam Keller, a steal transfer from Arizona State, who will quickly make Husker Nation forget about quarterback Zac Taylor. Keller is a college kid in an NFL body and he will, very much, mix in with Callahan’s West-Coast offense. The turnaround process continues in Lincoln.

25. Penn State: Anthony Morelli had a baptism by fire last season, with so many tough tilts on the road. Still, he persevered, and ended his year by upsetting Tennessee in the Outback Bowl. This season, the second-year starting quarterback gets to play Ohio State and Notre Dame at home. The good times are back in Happy Valley.

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Boise State, South Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, BYU, Hawaii, San Jose State, Central Michigan, Wake Forest, Miami, Oregon State, Arizona State.

NEXT WEEK: Five on the rise.