BCS Rankings: Penn State and Two Other Programs That'll Fall off the Map in 2012

With the BCS National Championship out of the way and every bowl game’s outcome squared away, the BCS issued their final rankings for the 2011 season.

I know most people think this is where I will launch into a rant about how big of a joke the BCS is, but I will not.

Instead I want to talk about the huge programs that missed the cut on the final standings and will falter again next season.

With so much riding on each college football game and season, another losing season could be devastating for following universities.

Penn State

The Penn State Nittany Lions faced the toughest season in school history this year, but not on the field. On the field the team was solid.

Off the field, it was anarchy.

With no end to the turmoil in sight, Penn State will have to face recruiting hardships and possible NCAA sanctions, as well as the humiliation that comes every time the name Jerry Sandusky is mentioned.

While the culture of Penn State amongst the community is too strong to let it die, there will be a period of time starting now where the Nittany Lions won’t be good.

I’d give it at least five seasons before new coach Bill O'Brien makes PSU a top 10 team again.

Auburn

There was no more overrated team in all of college football than the Auburn Tigers.

They rode the wave from last year’s BCS National Title right into 2011 and the voters bought it hook, line and sinker.

Despite a win against a nothing Virginia Cavaliers team, the Tigers fans will clamor that their team will be back next season. They won’t.

In a SEC Conference that is always getting better, Auburn is standing still. If the fans have Auburn football weren’t happy about 8-5 this season, they will be destroyed when they only win six games this year.

Texas

There is no more prestigious a team on this list than the Texas Longhorns, but until they get a quarterback that knows how to play the position, they will fail.

With another stellar class of young talent coming in this season, there will be plenty of opportunity for the kids trying to make a name for themselves to pass the overrated older guys.

For Mack Brown and the Longhorns, the problem is their loyalty to their seniors. Many times, it has appeared that Brown has played the senior over the better player.

If that continues, Texas has no shot at relevance to the BCS standings.

Check back for more on the NCAA Football as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s College Football Page to get your fill of College Football.

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