College Football: The 7 Teams with the Most Talent to Replace in the 2012 Season

2011 marked the end to some of the greatest college football careers we have ever seen. Some great players got to walk away champions, and some great players just got to walk away.

As spring football approaches, many of these great players' legacies are revisited and shared. But soon programs around the country will get back into the daily grind of seven-on-sevens, early-morning workouts and team meetings.

As teams set foot back on the field, many are doing so with different looks than their 2011 units, because many of the squads that were so successful last year will have to replace personnel from last year's teams.

So, without further ado, we have the seven programs who must replace the most from their 2011 teams.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Tide lose 13 contributors from its BCS National Championship team, including Trent Richardson, Dre Kirkpatrick, Courtney Upshaw, Mark Barron and Dont'a Hightower—all of whom will probably get selected within the first two rounds of next month's NFL draft.

Fortunately for Alabama fans, the Tide has had a top five recruiting class each of the past four years. So, 2012 will probably be a season of reloading—not rebuilding    

6. Houston Cougars

The Cougars have to replace departed senior quarterback Case Keenum, who left school as the NCAA career record-holder for total passing yards, touchdowns and completions. The Cougs' head coach, Kevin Sumlin, also left the program to take his talents to College Station.  

Hopefully expectations aren't quite as high in 2012.

5. Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans finished last season on a very high note with the first bowl victory in the Dantonio era.  

Now, reality has set in.  

Mr. Hail Mary (Kirk Cousins) is gone, as are Jerel Worthy, Trenton Robinson, Brian Lithicum, Edwin Baker and B.J. Cunningham. It could be a very long season in East Lansing. 

4. Stanford Cardinal

The Cardinal knew this day would come. Not only do the Cardinal have to say goodbye to Andrew Luck, one of the greatest players to ever put on the red and white, but they must also say goodbye to David DeCastro, Jonathan Martin and Coby Fleener.  

Is there life after Luck? We'll find out in about six short months. 

3. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Oklahoma State must replace its starting QB, Brandon Weeden, who leaves school as the record-holder for completions, yardage and touchdowns.  

The Cowboys must also replace two-time Biletnikoff award-winning receiver Justin Blackmon.

Neither of those are envious tasks. 

2. Boise State Broncos

What does Boise State have to replace?  

Just the all-time winningest quarterback in NCAA history, a 1,000-yard rusher and five starters on defense. 

Not exactly the way you want to start off life in the Big East.

1. Baylor Bears

Not enough can be said to express what Robert Griffin III has meant to the Baylor Bears' program. Baylor was a program in complete ruins during the late 1990s and early 2000s, and in 2011, it finished the season with a Top 20 ranking and a Heisman Trophy winner.

Griffin's legacy should turn Baylor from perennial doormat to occasional contender, but his 2011 campaign marked one of the greatest individual seasons in college football history. Unless Art Briles has another Olympic qualifier on his squad, Baylor's 2012 season will only have flashes of its season in 2011.