Last season we ranked the top 30 players in the Pac-10 -- preseason and postseason.

This time, the list will be just 25, per orders from the home office in Bristol, Conn.

This is not a list of the Pac-10's top-25 NFL prospects. It's based on what players have accomplished as well as a projection of what they will do this season.

A number of name players didn't make the list, including a few who are almost certain to make a postseason ranking. (For example, USC cornerback Shareece Wright, academically ineligible in 2009, may be the conference's best cover corner.)

But enough chit chat. Let's get started.

No. 25: Senior Kai Forbath, K, UCLA

2009 numbers: Forbath made 28 of 31 field goals in 2009 with a long of 53 yards. He led the nation with 2.15 field goals per game. A three-year starter, he's connected on 72 of 83 field goals and 75 of 77 PATs. He's 9 of 12 from 50-plus yards. His 2009 field goal percentage of .903 set a new UCLA record and was the second-highest nationally among players with 23 or more attempts. He enters his senior year with 72 field goals, which ranks second on UCLA's career list, and his career percentage of .867 is highest in school history among players with at least 20 career field goals.

Most recent ranking: Forbath wasn't ranked on the Pac-10 top-30 last year.

Making the case for Forbath: It's not easy to make the Pac-10 top 25 as a specialist, but Forbath is the nation's best kicker -- by far. He won the Lou Groza Award in 2009 -- nation's best kicker -- while earning consensus All-America honors. Obviously, he will be a consensus preseason All-American heading into 2010. He won third-team All-America honors in 2008 and was second-team All-Pac-10. In 2007, he earned Freshman All-America honors. UCLA has struggled on offense the past few seasons. What Forbath means to the Bruins is this: A trip inside an opponent's 40-yard line almost guarantees at least three points. That is a valuable asset to have.