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With the start of the college football season now 100 days away, preseason projections are coming into sharper focus as various web sites and publications ramp up their 2013 previews.
Whether online or in print, BYU has yet to appear in anyone's Top 25, but in a pair of recently-released preseason annuals (Athlon and Lindy's), the Cougars are featured in the "next 25."
BYU's 2013 schedule is being framed as the program's toughest-ever, and the predictions back up the assessment, with three of four of BYU ranked in the Top 25s, and five opponents ranked ahead of the Cougars to start the season.
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Taking a look through the two newsstand publications already on the shelves, here's what is written about BYU and its opponents in 2013:
ATHLON SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Preseason Ranking: 43rd
All-Americans: LB Kyle Van Noy (1st Team)
Unit Rankings: Linebackers, 9th
Opponent Rankings: Notre Dame 8th, Boise State 11th, Texas 18th, Wisconsin 19th, Georgia Tech 34th, Utah 58th, Utah State 60th, Virginia 62nd, Nevada 76th, Houston 92nd, Middle Tennessee 98th
Opponent All-Americans: Notre Dame DLs Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix III (1st Team); Notre Dame OL Zack Martin (3rd Team); Wisconsin LB Chris Borland (3rd Team); Texas CB Quandre Diggs (3rd Team)
Opponent Unit Rankings: Texas (RBs, 3rd); Wisconsin (RBs, 6th); Notre Dame (DLs, 2nd; LBs, 6th; DBs, 10th)
BYU, in a few words: "Matching last season's 8-5 record will be a challenge in 2013, even if (Robert) Anae's fast-tempo offense is more productive."
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LINDY'S SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Preseason Ranking: 39th
All-Americans: Kyle Van Noy (1st Team)
Player Rankings: Kyle Van Noy, No. 2 OLB; Cody Hoffman, No. 7 WR
2014 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Kyle Van Noy, 28th; Cody Hoffman, 34th
Fantasy Football Rankings: Cody Hoffman, No. 13 WR; Kaneakua Friel, No. 16 TE; Jamaal Williams, No. 21 RB; BYU, No. 17 Defense
Opponent Rankings: Notre Dame 14th, Boise State 17th, Texas 18th, Wisconsin 26th, Georgia Tech 34th, Utah State 45th, Houston 60th, Utah 69th, Nevada 75th, Virginia 79th, Middle Tennessee 90th
Opponent All-Americans: Notre Dame DLs Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix III (1st Team); Wisconsin TE Jacob Pedersen (2nd Team); Notre Dame OL Zack Martin (2nd Team); Texas DL Jackson Jeffcoat (2nd Team); Houston P Richie Leone (2nd Team)
Opponent Unit Rankings: Texas (No. 10 Backfield, No. 7 Secondary); Notre Dame (No. 1 DLs, No. 7 LBs, No. 9 Secondary)
Opponent Player Rankings: David Ash, Texas, No. 18 QB; Chuckie Keeton, USU, No. 19 QB; Cody Fajardo, Nevada, No. 24 QB; Jonathan Gray, Texas, No. 19 RB; Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin, No. 20 RB; Charles Sims, Houston, No. 21 RB; Mike Davis, Texas, No 12 WR; Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin, No. 15 WR; Jacob Pedersen, Wisconsin, No. 2 TE; Zack Martin, Notre Dame, No. 4 OT; Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame, No. 2 DE; Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas, No. 3 DE; Demarcus Lawrence, Boise State, No, 11 DE; Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech, No. 13 DE; Louis Nix III, Notre Dame, No. 2 DT; Beau Allen, Wisconsin, No. 8 DT; Chris Borland, Wisconsin, No. 4 ILB; Prince Shembo, Notre Dame, No. 5 OLB; Richie Leone, Houston, No. 2 P
BYU, in a few words: "Reaching the eight-win plateau this season could be a difficult challenge--particularly while breaking in a new offense, new offensive coaching staff and a quarterback with just two career starts."
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Former BYU and current Kansas QB Jake Heaps is listed by Lindy's as one of ten (non-injury) "Comeback Players," while Athlon ranks Heaps as one of 29 "Top Transfers" in a list that also includes running back Josh Quezada, who left BYU for Fresno State.
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