5 Teams That Can Dethrone the SEC Next Season

We all know LSU and Alabama were as dominant as any team in the country this past season, but whom can we label as the next heavy favorites to knock off the SEC next season?

There's nothing more entertaining or exciting then to attempt to predict the distant future, so here are five heavyweight favorites that may end the long six-year draught for non-SEC football programs.

USC Trojans

Expected Starters Returning: 15

Give me Matt Barkley and this offense against even the 2012 LSU Tigers defense, because there is nobody that can shut down Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. Curtis McNeal is a budding star in the backfield.

What about the defense, you ask? Nick Perry declared early, but hard-hitting safety T.J. McDonald returns, along with star linebackers Dion Bailey and Hayes Pullard.

The schedule is beyond perfect as they should be double-digit favorites in nearly every single game outside of possibly facing the Oregon Ducks twice.

Barkley’s decision to return for his senior season really put the Trojans back on the map, and it is because of the talent on defense that has everybody excited in LA.

Guys like Bailey and McDonald make you think this USC defense can come close to the Pete Carroll era, which would result in some big things in the near future.

Barkley said it best, though: "The 2012 team has some serious unfinished business to attend to."

Florida State Seminoles

Expected Starters Returning: 18 (19 if Andrew Datko gets medical redshirt)

The Seminoles were ranked fifth in late August when the preseason polls were released, but they were extremely young. That did not stop the hype machine, but they clearly threw all of their eggs into one basket against Oklahoma.

College GameDay showed up, and the 'Noles had the Sooners right where they wanted them until Kenny Shaw and E.J. Manuel’s worlds were rocked.

Things quickly fell apart after they lost to Clemson and Wake Forest in tough, heartbreaking games. The key was not the defense, it was clearly Manuel, the offensive line and running game.

If Devonte Freeman can it get going early on in the season (Andrew Datko may get a medical redshirt), this offense could rank among the top in scoring offenses in the nation.

The schedule is set up favorably, as FSU's three toughest games will likely be home games against both Orange Bowl participants, along with a road trip to Blacksburg against the Hokies. (West Virginia may back out game versus FSU.)

Throw in the ACC Championship Game (assuming they can knock off Clemson), and perhaps a BCS National Championship appearance could be on the line if they can go unbeaten.

Oregon Ducks

Expected Starters Returning: 12 

If the Ducks can win the Rose Bowl over Wisconsin they would have a decent chance of becoming the No. 2 team in the country behind likely LSU.

Darron Thomas felt disrespected by not being mentioned in the Pac-12 player of the year talks, so I would bank on him having an All-American season with a few possible future Heisman invitees.

De'Anthony Thomas and Kenjon Barner could even improve production next season with another year under their belts, alongside Darron Thomas.

Also, don’t forget that the Ducks' disrespected defense that nobody trusts was first in the country with 43 regular-season sacks this past season.

They will only be that much better next season, and the conference should be a whole lot less top heavy with Andrew Luck gone. However, USC could knock off the Ducks in their own conference. 

Note: Thomas for LaMichael James isn't huge loss, so make it 13 starters.

Oklahoma Sooners

Expected Starters Returning: 13

This squad would of tumbled a bit if Landry Jones entered the NFL draft, but he is back and ready do some work in his senior season.

Landry Jones and Oklahoma struggled miserably this past season down the stretch, but the return of Jones will likely mean that the Sooners will become a likely top five preseason pick.

Kenny Stills, Trey Franks and Jaz Reynolds could make up the most talented receiving corps in the country, and with Jones returning they may be unstoppable once again.

The defense will be losing Frank Alexander, Travis Lewis and Ronnell Lewis, but Brent Venables and Bob Stoops have a knack for getting freshmen to play at a high level right out the gates.

As far as the schedule is concerned, only Texas (likely top 20) and Notre Dame (top 25) look like they have what it takes to even give the Sooners a serious challenge (barring they stub their toe again like they did against Texas Tech).

Michigan Wolverines

Expected Starters Returning: 15

If the Wolverines were able to knock off the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide at Dallas Cowboys Stadium (Sept. 1, 2012), they would immediately sneak up into the top five.

The Wolverines of course may need a win over Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State on top of an undefeated season to even appear in the BCS National Championship, year one in the Brady Hoke era proved anything can happen. Plus, they should be ranked in the preseason top 10 next August.

Denard Robinson should be sensational in his senior season, and the emergence of Fitzgerald Toussaint has helped lead this offense to new heights.

Roy Roundtree, Jeremy Gallon and Darryl Stonum will be an exceptional receiving corps and the defense will only get better, even after the loss of Mike Martin.

The schedule is extremely favorable outside of an early season tilt with Alabama and road trips to Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State.

If Michigan could win three of those four (very possible), it realistically could be a Big Ten Championship victory away from playing in the BCS National Championship Game.