Here at Crimson and Cream Machine, we have a little saying, "It is never too soon to talk Sooner Football." Sticking to that, Athlon Sports has been releasing their team by team pre-season Top 25 since May 1, with the Number 1 team coinciding with the release of their Pre-Season magazine June 4th.

Today was number 3 and that is where our Sooners check in. Athlon had this to say about the Sooners:

Oklahoma reloads with elite talent once again behind sophomores Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray. Add in one of the nation's best offensive lines that returns intact and an always stout defense, and the Sooners should be playing in the New Year once again.

The rest of the Top 25 after the "jump"

1. Ohio St. Buckeyes or Florida Gators
   
2. Ohio St. Buckeyes or Florida Gators
   
3. Oklahoma Sooners
4. USC Trojans
5. Georgia Bulldogs
6. Missouri Tigers
7. West Virginia Mountaineers
8. Auburn Tigers
9. LSU Tigers
10. Clemson Tigers
11. Texas Longhorns
12. Wisconsin Badgers
13. Kansas Jayhawks
14. BYU Cougars
15. Arizona St. Sun Devils
16. Illinois Fighting Illini
17. Tennessee Volunteers
18. Texas Tech Red Raiders
19. Oregon Ducks
20. South Florida Bulls
21. Virginia Tech Hokies
22. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
23. Penn St. Nittany Lions
24. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
25. Fresno St. Bulldogs

Some things that really jump out to me about the Top 25 by Athlon:

• The Big 12 and SEC are very well represented, with 5 teams from each conference.
• No Miami, Florida St., Notre Dame, or Alabama in the Top 25. It is almost a sure bet that at least one of them would be ranked in the Pre-Season at least.
• While the top 2 spots have yet to be announced, it is very safe to assume Florida & Ohio St. will fill those spots.
• BYU looks like they will be this years Boise St. being ranked 14 in the Pre-Season.

So there you guys have it, the Sooners are yet again a Top 5 team and the Big 12 is just as loaded as the SEC. Who do you think will be number 1, Ohio St. or Florida? What are your way too early National Championship Game prediction?

Athlon Sports Pre-Season Top 25  [AthlonSports.com]