By Steven Lassan (@AthlonSteven on Twitter)

It's never too early to start thinking about next season, and Athlon kicked off our lookahead to 2012 with a very, very early top 25. Of course, a lot is going to change between now and when our official preseason poll is released in May, but we are taking an early glimpse of how things could look.

by Patrick Snow (@AthlonSnowman on Twitter)

Cotton Bowl  
Kansas State vs. Arkansas
Date: Jan. 6, 8:00 PM ET 
Location: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas

By Steven Lassan (@AthlonSteven on Twitter)

It's never too early to start thinking about next season, and Athlon kicked off our lookahead to 2012 with a very, very early top 25. Of course, a lot is going to change between now and when our official preseason poll is released in May, but we are taking an early glimpse of how things could look.

by Nathan Rush

Gator Bowl
Ohio State (6–6) vs. Florida (6–6)
Date: Jan. 2, 2012 at 1 p.m. ET
Location: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.

Coined the “Urban Meyer Bowl” this year’s Gator Bowl pits the two-time BCS national title-winning coach’s former team, Florida, where he coached from 2005-10, against his new team, Ohio State, where he will coach beginning in 2012.

by Rob Doster

by Patrick Snow (@AthlonSnowman on Twitter)

Capital One Bowl 
Nebraska vs. South Carolina
Date: Jan. 2, 1:00 PM ET  
Location: Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando, Fla.

by Rob Doster

by Mitch Light (@AthlonMitch on Twitter)

2011 Liberty Bowl
Cincinnati (9–3) vs. Vanderbilt (6–6)
Date: Dec. 31 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tenn.

-by Braden Gall (follow at @BradenGall)

There is no doubt this is the Era of the Quarterback.

by Mitch Light (@AthlonMitch on Twitter)

Music City Bowl
Wake Forest (6–6) vs. Mississippi State (6–6)
Date: Dec. 30 at 6:40 p.m. ET
Location: LP Field, Nashville, Tenn.