50 College Football Players, Teams, Coaches and Tailgates to See in 2012

For better or worse, these are the 50 players, teams, coaches and tailgates you have to see in the 2012 football season.

There are several ways to make this list. A player can make it because he is due for a breakout or is returning from an injury. A coach can make it for being at a new school or for being on a hot seat.

A team can make it for being a dark horse or for being the favorite. These are just a few examples of what you will experience on this list. (Tailgates can make it for one reason only...for being an awesome atmosphere for a pregame).

All in all, you get 50 players and events you need to see in 2012.

Enjoy!

50. Terry Bowden

Terry Bowden was 46-12-1 in his first five seasons at Auburn (1993-1997). Still, he was criticized for off-the-field issues. Recruiting and probation put on the program. As a result, he resigned six games into the 1998 season.

And he never coached a game in the FBS again.

He will take over the job at Akron with him will be longtime family friend, Chuck Amato, as defensive coordinator.

This makes him the only Bowden to be currently employed. I don't think anyone would have taken this bet in 1998.

49. Kansas

Kansas will have a different look next season that is worth seeing.

First, Charlie Weis takes over at head coach. Weis has only been head coach once before, but he led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to two BCS games in his five-year tenure.

He'll also bring with him former Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist and former BYU quarterback Jake Heaps. Crist does not have to sit out a year since he has graduated from ND, but Heaps will have to sit out one season. Heaps figures to take over in 2013.

This sets up a dilemma for other players. Most notably, quarterback Brock Berglund, who was promised a chance to play by former coach Turner Gill.

It seemed as if Berglund would never play. He appealed for permission to speak to other schools and was mysteriously denied. After voicing his frustration, he was kicked off the team.

An ugly start to the Weis era in Lawrence.

Kansas never had a five-star recruit come to the program before. Now, in one day, they have two on the team, neither of which originally committed to the program.

48. Manti Te'o

Despite being upset by his coach's words, Manti Te'o decided to forgive Brian Kelly and return to Notre Dame for his senior year.

Te'o is a special player and is capable of becoming the nation's best linebacker next year. He will need to be a leader on defense if Notre Dame is to reach the lofty expectations that are usually ascribed to them.

47. Le'Veon Bell

Le'Veon Bell finished with 948 yards and 13 touchdowns on only 182 carries this season.

Bell took over the full time job halfway through the season and will have increased numbers over a full slate. And I'm talking a full slate.

MSU loses Kirk Cousins and their top four receivers. Therefore, to say that MSU will rely on their running game (and defense) early in the season would be an understatement.

It will be interesting to see how defenses key in on Bell and how he produces as a result.

46. Keenan Allen

Keenan Allen is one of the best kept secrets in all of college football, and I'm not sure why. All he did last year as a sophomore was catch 98 passes for 1,343 yards.

Fellow wide receiver Marvin Jones will be gone next year. This could mean that Allen will receive more attention. It could also mean that with one less shark in the water, his production goes up.

Either way, Allen is a major talent and should be viewed as such.

45. Dorial Green-Beckham

Dorial Green-Beckham is a senior in high school and still undeclared, but his measurements afford him the honor of making this list.

Green-Beckham is 6'6", 220 pounds and runs a 4.43 40. Those are Calvin Johnson-type numbers as an 18-year-old.

Of all positions, receivers are most capable of making the biggest impact early in their careers. I expect this to be the case with Green-Beckham, and for him to be one of the best freshman in the nation next season.

44. Texas A&M

I don't expect Texas A&M to have their best season in 2012, but they should be interesting to watch. Why? Because they will be the definition of change this year.

They are getting a new quarterback, a new running back, new receivers, a new coach and...a new conference!

Hopefully, the people of Aggieland aren't averse to change because their whole program has just been turned upside down. We'll see how it turns out.

43. Missouri

Like Texas A&M, Missouri will be joining the SEC. Unlike Texas A&M, the Tigers have a legitimate chance to win their division.

Calm down, SEC purists. This isn't to say that Mizzou is as historically good as Georgia or South Carolina or that they're going to take over the entire southern United States. It is just to say that next year they'll be a very good team.

They have quarterback James Franklin back, who quietly threw for 2,872 yards and rushed for another 981. The team was red-hot down the stretch, winning five of their last six (lone loss by three to Baylor).

Mizzou will know pretty early how their prospects look in 2012. They host Georgia the second week of the season, and then travel to South Carolina two weeks later.

Either way, it'll be interesting to see how the Tigers compete with their new brethren.

42. Gus Malzahn

Gus Malzahn surprised many when he announced he would be headed to Jonesboro to take over the Red Wolves of Arkansas State. The man responsible for the Wildcat at Arkansas and Cam Newton figured to be a shoe-in for a position at a more prominent program.

But, he's there. I, for one, am happy, as the Red Wolves have a chance to be special next year. They were 10-3 this season, losing only to Illinois, Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois.

They will return quarterback Ryan Aplin and most of the receivers. Malzahn is a lifelong offensive guru, so it will be interesting to see if he can transform ASU into the next powerhouse non-automatic qualifying program.

41. Rex Burkhead

Rex Burkhead is a hard-nosed runner and should be a household name. He rushed for 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

Burkhead epitomizes old-school, option football. It's refreshing to see. The only thing that would be better is if he got even more carries.

40. Sonny Dykes

This may seem like an odd choice for this list, but Sonny Dykes is on his way to becoming a big-time coach and a household name.

Louisiana Tech won the WAC this past season and finished 8-5. They lost to Southern Miss by two, Houston by one, Mississippi State in overtime and TCU by seven.

Next year, they'll be even better and will be playing in a depleted WAC. 10 wins is a serious possibility for the Bulldogs and Dykes' high-powered offense could be the object of desire for many big-time programs.

39. Ray Graham

Ray Graham was the leading rusher in the nation at the time of his injury, which cost him the rest of the season.

Graham is capable of catching the ball out of the backfield as well and is a quick and shifty, yet strong runner.

He put together a nice list of accolades despite playing behind a porous Pitt line. With an improved line and a rejuvenated knee, Graham should be able to wow us again in 2012.

38. Sept. 1 Tailgate in Arlington

Two historical powers will square off on the first night of the season at Jerry's World.

In one corner, you'll have the defending champions in Alabama. In the other corner, you'll have defending Sugar Bowl champion Michigan looking to take the next step.

Great city, great stadium, great atmosphere and two historic programs. What more could you want?

Tickets cheaper than $400 a piece would be nice.

37. Derek Carr

Fresno State figures to be on national television at least once next season, so you might as well check out David Carr's younger brother, Derek, while they're on.

Carr quietly threw for 3,544 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first season as a starter. That is significantly better than David's first full season.

Fresno enters this season returning nearly all of their receivers and their top running backs, so the offense could be prolific under first-year coach Tim DeRuyter.

36. David Amerson

David Amerson broke the ACC single-season record for interceptions with 13. That's an interception a game!

The career record is held by Illinois' Al Brosky with 29 (from the early 1950s). Amerson has a long way to go, but has two years of eligibility left. Eight each season will tie him with Brosky.

35. Jadeveon Clowney

Jadeveon Clowney was the No. 1 recruit by both Rivals and ESPN in 2011. He didn't fail to disappoint as he recorded eight sacks and 12 tackles for a loss.

Those are big numbers for a freshman. He will only continue to get better. He could easily develop into the premiere pass rusher this season. He'll still only be a sophomore.

34. Texas

Texas is always a popular team, but they have fallen on hard times the past couple of years, compiling just a 13-12 record over that time span.

They seemed as if they were ready to turn the corner this past season, but widespread injuries derailed their hopes for something big.

It will be interesting to see what Texas does with all the talent they have accumulated in the past couple of seasons. According to Phil Steele, the Longhorns will have 17 starters back from a team that looked solid at times this year.

If Texas is just mediocre again this year, then we could see the end of Mack Brown in Austin.

33. James Franklin

It only took one season for James Franklin to become my favorite coach in all of sports. If you haven't seen this clip yet, enjoy it now and you'll see why he's my favorite.

Vanderbilt finished 6-7 this season, but had close losses to Georgia, Florida and Arkansas. They have plenty of skill coming back on both sides of the ball, so 2012 should be interesting.

Do they finish out close games and finish in the top half of the SEC or do they regress and finish with a record more typical of Vanderbilt? With Franklin in charge, my guess is the former.

32. Collin Klein

He may not be as flashy or sexy as Denard Robinson, but guess what...he's better.

Collin Klein finished with just 35 yards rushing fewer than Robinson this season. That said, he tallied 11 more rushing touchdowns for 27 total, completed a higher percentage of his passes and turned the ball over nine fewer times (Robinson had about 200 yards more passing and seven more passing touchdowns).

This isn't to rip on Denard Robinson. He's a tremendous athlete.

This is to illustrate the talent that is Collin Klein. Everyone is enamored with Robinson, but there is another dual-threat quarterback out there that is as productive as the man from Ann Arbor. Klein is much less known of an entity, but he really shouldn't be.

31. Michigan

Optimists will say that Michigan won 11 games and won the Sugar Bowl this past season.

Pessimists will say that they only beat two ranked teams, shouldn't have been in the BCS and gained 184 yards in their Sugar Bowl win.

Both would be right.

Now it's up to Michigan to silence the pessimists and vindicate the optimists with a strong 2012. They will have Denard Robinson, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Jake Ryan and Jordan Kovacs back, but will play a tougher schedule. They play Alabama in the opening game, and then have to travel to Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State.

30. Marcus Lattimore

It is my belief that Marcus Lattimore is still the best running back in the nation. If he returns to full health, then he can provide a massive impact for the Gamecocks and perhaps put them over the top in the SEC.

That is a big "if" and is something worth watching in 2012. Tune in to see if he's healthy, and if he is, keep watching for the big plays he's sure to contribute.

29. Arkansas

If not now...when?

I've been told time and time again (mostly by my loyal fans here on B/R) that Arkansas ready to strike. That's great. I see the reasons for optimism, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Tyler Wilson is back and entering his senior year. The same for Dennis Johnson, Cobi Hamilton and Alonzo Highsmith. They also expect Knile Davis to be back and fully healthy.

The Hogs had a prime opportunity to win the title two years ago, but settled for a berth in the Sugar Bowl. They are only 1-5 against LSU and Alabama in the past three years, but, like in 2010, they will face both at home this year.

They'll have plenty of senior leadership and get the two toughest obstacles at home.

Like I said. If not now, when?

28. Nov. 24 Tailgate in Columbus

This may be the most significant Ohio State-Michigan game since 2006.

I know...they're all significant. That is what makes the rivalry the best in the nation. But Ohio State was down this past season and Michigan was down the three years prior to that. Therefore, the rivalry wasn't as great as it has been in the past.

That should change this season as Urban Meyer takes over at Ohio State and both teams are primed for a big year. Ohio State can't play in the Big Ten title game, but may be in a position to spoil it for Michigan.

You'll want to be at the Horseshoe in late November this season (which is a couple of days after Thanksgiving this year...the holiday falling on its earliest possible date, the 22nd). You won't be alone, as 100,000-plus figure to cram in.

27. Sept. 1 Tailgate in Atlanta

Whether it's the kickoff classic, the SEC title game or the Chick-fil-A Bowl, the Georgia Dome consistently provides one of the most electric atmospheres in college football. I don't expect it to be any different on the first night of the season when Auburn and Clemson square off.

Clemson is coming off of an ACC title and Auburn fared well for themselves for a rebuilding year. These two teams with loyal fan bases should pack the dome and make it a truly memorable experience.

I suppose you have to pick between Arlington or Atlanta on the first.

26. Brian Kelly

I don't know how much time Brian Kelly has left at Notre Dame. I'm a major proponent of giving coaches time to succeed at a school, and I believe Kelly should be given time to turn the program around.

That said, I have no control over Kelly's fate and we've seen in the past that the Irish are not the most tolerant of mediocrity.

In addition to a disappointing season in 2010, Kelly put his foot in his mouth when he offended the players who were already with the program when he arrived.

Not smart.

Those who follow Kelly realize this is nothing new. While at Cincinnati, he publicly criticized his kicker immediately following a missed kick.

On top of this, Kelly has been criticized for his outbursts on the sidelines and foul language. All coaches have outbursts, all use fowl language. On one hand, I want to say that people like the sausage but don't like seeing it get made. On the other hand, most other coaches are able to keep their outbursts in house.

Last but not, least is the death of Declan Sullivan, a student-employee at Notre Dame who died while video taping practices during a windstorm. I'm not saying in any way that Kelly is responsible for the death, but it did happen under his watch.

Not to make light of the incident, but if/when the people in control want to throw Kelly out, it would be just another reason to do so.

25. Oct. 27 Tailgate in Jacksonville

Don't be fooled be the moniker "Florida vs. Georgia Classic." This will always be known as "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party."

Played at a neutral site in Jacksonville, thousands of Georgia and Florida fans flock to see their teams take on their biggest rival.

Beautiful day in Jacksonville to see some SEC football at the biggest party in the world? I'm in.

24. Florida State

The general consensus was that FSU had a disappointing 2011. While that may be true, they fought through injuries and lost three ACC games by a combined 11 points. Therefore, it wasn't as if they were the worst team.

This may be an optimistic spin, but I feel that they will be a top-10 team next year. Those who proclaimed the Seminoles to be back this past season were probably one year too early.

Next year, they'll have E.J. Manuel, Devonta Freeman, all of their receivers, Brandon Jenkins, Bjoern Werner and Telvin Smith back. If they can get a consistent running game going, then they can be very good.

23. Bill Snyder

I can't imagine a more underappreciated man in the nation other than Bill Snyder.

Snyder took over Kansas State in 1989. Before he arrived they were 299-510 in 93 years and suffered through a 27-game losing streak.

Snyder had them competing for a national championship in 1998 and won the Big 12 in 2003. He retired, and the Wildcats subsequently fell back to mediocrity.

Now he's back. In just his third season, the Cats surprised many and earned a berth in the Cotton Bowl (many argued they should have made the BCS).

Next season, they'll have Collin Klein, John Hubert, Chris Harper and Arthur Brown back. There's no reason to think that under Snyder's tutelage that the Wildcats won't be strong again.

22. Jarvis Jones

Jarvis Jones burst onto the scene to finish second in the nation in sacks as a sophomore. With Whitney Mercilus declaring for the NFL, Jones is the most feared sack man in the nation.

Much is being made of how defensive coordinator Todd Grantham's unit improved over the course of the season. They should be stout again with several returnees, but Jones is ready to take over. You have to see him play.

21. Mike Leach

Mike Leach is back in college football and has landed at a great school. The Pac-12 can be even more interesting and high powered with Leach in Pullman.

There's a good chance that they can be a dangerous team right away. Washington State averaged 29.8 points per game this season and held the lead in the fourth quarter in each of their first five games (winning only three).

They'll have Jeff Tuel and Connor Halliday to choose from at quarterback and a young group of receivers, led by Marquess Wilson, to put points up on the board. Don't be surprised if the team clicks right away.

20. Penn State

With all that has gone on at Penn State in the past three months, one of the biggest stories in 2012 will be how the Nittany Lions perform.

It will be the first time in 45 years in which Joe Paterno is not coaching the team (if you forget about the final month of this past season).

My guess is that it won't have that large of an effect in the short-term and that the press will blow every practice, game, play, week and decision out of proportion. There's a long way to go in fixing Penn State, and it isn't going to be solved in one game, win or lose.

They should be improved on offense with Silas Redd back and perhaps more clarity at the quarterback position. They will miss Devon Still, Nathan Stupar and Drew Astorino on defense, though.

19. Oklahoma

Oklahoma will be a very intriguing team entering 2012. On one hand, they will lose talent in Ryan Broyles, Frank Alexander and Travis Lewis. On the other hand, they will return Landry Jones and are still the most talented team in the Big 12.

Oklahoma could not adjust and overcome all of the injuries they suffered this past season. Most notably, the offense struggled mightily when Ryan Broyles was lost for the season.

Much is being made of Jones' return, but he finished with one touchdown and six interceptions in the final four games of the year. Clearly that is unacceptable and has to be fixed by next year.

Oklahoma will be worth watching to just to see if any of the receivers are ready to take over the leadership role Broyles offered and to see if they are truly national contenders.

18. West Virginia

West Virginia is a team to watch for a couple of reasons.

For one, we don't even know what conference they will play in next season. Right now, they're a member of the Big East that has planned to move to the Big 12. Whether this occurs prior to next year is still up in the air.

Secondly, we all saw them put up 70 on Clemson in the Orange Bowl, right? With Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedmon Bailey all back and gaining more experience in Dana Holgorsen's offense, expect huge numbers again from the Mountaineers in 2012.

17. Sammy Watkins

Sammy Watkins was explosive as a freshman in 2011. He was capable of taking over games and finished the season with 1,225 yards, 12 touchdowns, 231 rush yards and 826 kick return yards. He's the football equivalent of a five-tool player (I suppose he's a three-tool player in this realm).

Watkins will return along with his provider, quarterback Tajh Boyd. Watkins was one of the most exciting players to watch in 2011, and he should live up to that label again in 2012.

16. Oregon

Oregon is always an interesting team to watch due their ultra high-tempo of play. Next year, we'll have the added bonus of seeing how much staying power this team has.

LaMichael James declared for the NFL and not many people batted an eye. James totaled 3,500 yards and 39 touchdowns in two seasons, but with Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas, it somehow seems possible that the Ducks could easily replace him.

Then, Darron Thomas surprised many with his declaration for the NFL draft. Now, the Ducks will count on Bryan Bennett to run the offense. From everything I've seen of Bennett, he seems more than capable of replacing Thomas.

Is it possible that the Ducks could lose their running back and quarterback and actually improve on offense? Stay tuned.

15. Urban Meyer

It's not often that a two-time champion gets hired at a top-10 program, but that's what happened with Urban Meyer and Ohio State.

Many are asking if he can turn the program around. My answer: what is there to turn around?

The Buckeyes had one bad year, and it was because they were dealing with suspensions, off-the-field issues, inexperience and an interim coach (not that Fickell didn't do a good job).

Ohio State cannot go to a bowl game this season, but they'll be very good under Meyer in two to three years.

14. Braxton Miller

Along those same lines, it will be very interesting to see the maturation of Braxton Miller.

Miller looked great at times this season and average at other times. He rushed for 715 yards and seven touchdowns in limited play, but also completed less than 50 percent of his passes against Indiana, Purdue and Penn State.

It looked like the training wheels were on him at times this year. They won't be next year. He could become one of the nation's best under Urban Meyer.

13. Sept. 15 Tailgate in Oxford

Oxford, Miss., is the mecca of tailgating. The Grove, as it is known, is universally thought of to be the best tailgating experience in America as tailgates sometimes stretch from Friday to Sunday.

So, it is decided that you have to go to one this season. But which one?

Ole Miss visits Alabama and LSU, but will play host to non-conference foe Texas. The Longhorns are sure to bring plenty of fans from Austin for the rare matchup between the two. This should make for an even more electric atmosphere in Oxford.

12. Montee Ball

Montee Ball led the nation in rushing yards and scoring last season, rushing for 1,923 yards and 33 touchdowns.

A change of offensive coordinator shouldn't affect Ball too much. He should be capable of putting up monster number again.

Just imagine, 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns is a great season for anyone, but would be a regression for Ball!

11. The Honey Badger

Just in case you missed the entire 2011 season.

10. Oct. 6 Tailgate in Dallas

It doesn't matter how good the teams are (although they should both be pretty good this season), the annual Red River Rivalry delivers the utmost in pageantry and excitement.

Played in a neutral house of the Cotton Bowl, the game is surrounded by the Texas State Fair. Deep fried Twinkies, corn dogs and BBQ are just some of the staples of the preamble to the game.

I love this attached video. I came for the Texas-Oklahoma highlights and stayed for the song from Rocky IV.

9. Robert Woods

Robert Woods is one of the smoother players in the nation. He caught 111 passes for 1,292 yards and 15 touchdowns this past season despite being hurt in the last few games. His motions are so effortless.

Woods also averaged 23 yards per kick return and nine yards per punt return. He was named a first-team AP All-American as a sophomore and should be primed for another big year in 2012.

Watch the highlights and you'll understand where I'm coming from with the "smooth" label. I really can't describe it any other way.

8. TCU

TCU will be a very interesting team to follow this season as they enter the Big 12. It will be one season of a sample size, but we'll be closer to answering the question of whether or not the non-AQ can handle a BCS conference schedule (ironically, we'll answer the question after it doesn't matter anymore).

I feel as if TCU is more than capable of winning the Big 12, but this proclamation has led to the ire of many, specifically on this very website.

All that tells me is that they will be a contender going forward and are worth keeping an eye on.

7. LSU

LSU will be the No. 1 team in the nation entering next year and for good reason. They were the most dominant team throughout this season and return most of their starters.

They'll be fun to watch for a variety of reasons. For one, they'll have the best defensive line in the nation with Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery back.

Second, they'll have a legitimate four-headed monster in the backfield with Michael Ford, Spencer Ware, Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard. Any of those four can start on a majority of national teams.

Finally, LSU will be breaking in a new quarterback. It figures to be Zach Mettenberger at this point, but it is anyone's guess.

I expect LSU to be the best team next season and as entertaining to watch as they were in 2011.

6. Nov. 3 Tailgate in Los Angeles

The perception of the USC fan seems to be a beach blond surfer who is more preoccupied with their screenplay and Mercedez than they are with the football team. Whether this is true and whether those are legitimate concerns of the student body, I can say firsthand that the tailgates at USC are raucous and electric.

On Saturdays, the entire campus is flooded with fans donning cardinal colors. Despite walking amongst the 100-year-old-plus buildings, you're more than welcome to indulge in a beverage or eight.

That's right. On Friday the steps leading up to Doheney Library (pictured) are sacred. On Saturday, you can plop down on them and enjoy yourself. On those steps, you'll see a plaque to commemorate a speech given by JFK, (and President Obama has recently spoken on the same steps). It's always cool to say you enjoyed a hot dog and beer in the same spot those presidents spoke.

Some buildings close their doors due to the activities outside. Therefore, you won't be able to see Frank Sinatra's 48 gold and platinum records or edit your films in the Avid lab at USC's world famous film school, but you will be able to check out the McDonald's Swim Center, home to the 1984 Olympics, and the six Heisman trophies housed in Heritage Hall.

The Oregon game in particular figures to be a matchup of two top-10 teams. There is a good chance that the two will meet again the in Pac 12 title, so the November game could go a long way in determining home field advantage.

Oh, and did I mention that it will most likely be 70 degrees and sunny in early November?

5. Alabama

As the defending champions, Alabama will be under the microscope for every decision, move, game, etc.

That said, I find them interesting because we'll have a chance to see if Alabama really does re-load. They had one of the best defenses of all time this past season, but will be losing Courtney Upshaw, Dont'a Hightower, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, DeQuan Menzie and Nick Gentry.

Does Alabama take a step back like they did in 2010? Or do they reload and compete for a title again?

4. Matt Barkley

Matt Barkley is the Heisman favorite in 2012. He surprised some with his decision to forego the NFL draft and return for what he called "unfinished business."

Barkley has all of his weapons returning on offense and could be primed for a big year. USC will be ranked in the top three in the preseason, Barkley will be the Heisman favorite, and he is also the favorite for the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.

What more could you want?

3. Sept. 1 Tailgate in Dublin

The once in a lifetime experience comes the first week of the season. Navy will face Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland.

Ticket packages are being sold to the elite classes of America, but if you can afford it, it could be the tailgate of the century.

2. Nov. 3 Tailgate in Baton Rouge

Tailgates in Baton Rouge are usually pretty special regardless of the foe, but Alabama will be rolling in on the first Saturday of November.

Do you think there may be some bad blood between the visitors and the home team in this one?

1. Jan. 7 Tailgate in Miami

Okay, it may seem like a cop out, but where else could you possibly want to be other than beautiful South Beach during a frigid-everywhere-else winter to pregame for the national championship?

It doesn't matter which teams are playing in the game because we know the loyal fanbases will flock to Miami for the beautiful weather and the game.

Hopefully, your team is there, but if not, a trip to Miami early in 2013 doesn't sound too bad.