10 College Football Teams with the Most to Lose This Offseason

In light of possible season-ending injury, spring and fall practice have the potential to put a real damper on a season.

Just ask Arkansas.

Star running back Knile Davis went down in fall practice last season, after leading the SEC in rushing in 2010.

The Hogs had a solid season, but there is no doubt that the presence of Davis would have given them a boost, especially against the stout defense of LSU and Alabama.

The teams on this list are all very good, or have the potential to be, but one injury in practice could ruin the season.

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Brian Kelly's seat is going to begin to get very warm if the Irish do not have a great season in the very near future.

The team's prospects in 2012 are questionable, especially when the ineffectiveness of the offense is considered.

That said, the one redeeming quality that will keep the Irish in most of their games is the defense.

If that defense loses a key player such as Manti Te'o to injury, 2012 will be a worse season for the Irish than 2011, and we will see Kelly's angry side much more often than last season.

9. Washington Huskies

Keith Price is legit.

As quarterback for Washington, he does not have some of the pieces around him that other high-profile quarterbacks might, but this kid can flat play.

If you have not seen him in action, try to catch him next season.

Anyway, the Huskies are maybe a five-win team without Price.

With him, they have the potential to pick up nine or 10.

8. Michigan Wolverines

Don't look now, but Brady Hoke has got Michigan headed back for the top of the Big Ten.

An improved defense and explosive (at times) offense led to a BCS berth in 2011, and 2012 looks to be just as good, if not better.

While some would argue that the loss of Denard Robinson might be good for the Wolverines, I would have to call them on that.

Denard has the ability that few players have to absolutely dominate a game from the quarterback position.

Play breaks down?

He is dangerous.

In the passing game?

He could be dangerous (see 2011 against Notre Dame, second half).

The loss of the elusive Mr. Robinson would be an absolutely devastating blow to the Rose Bowl hopes of the Wolverines.

7. West Virginia Mountaineers

When last we saw the Mountaineers, they were lighting up Clemson to the tune of a 37-point beating.

In a new conference, with much of their offensive talent returning, the Dana Holgorsen-led 'Eers will be a threat to beat everyone they face by sheer force of offensive prowess alone.

However, quarterback Geno Smith cannot go down or out for any reason.

Smith is going to be in the running for Heisman consideration if the Mountaineers have a semi-successful season, as it will be his second year in Holgorsen's quarterback-friendly system.

Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey might be the oil that fuels WVU's offensive fire, but Smith is the match that lights it all up to begin with.

6. Missouri Tigers

Are you sick of quarterbacks yet?

James Franklin is another guy who might be indispensable.

Going into the SEC, the key to finding success for Missouri is going to be offensive efficiency.

Defenses are tough in the conference, but if they can score some points without too many turnovers, these guys can hang with anyone.

That's where Franklin comes in.

His ability to read defenses, make quick decisions, and be a threat to either pass or scramble make him key to Gary Pinkel's team in 2012.

Without him, that offense would sputter.

5. TCU Horned Frogs

News broke last month that there were some "drug problems" on TCU's campus, which stretched even into the realm of the gridiron.

For a team entering the "big leagues" as a member of a BCS conference, this was not good news.

For this team to be successful, they need quarterback Casey Pachall to step up in a big way yet again, and the defense must continue to play at an elite level.

Not that there is any fear of Gary Patterson's squad not playing defense, but the loss of Pachall or a key piece of the defensive unit would kill the Frogs' chances at any sort of success in the rough and tumble 2012 Big 12 landscape.

4. Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas suffered a difficult blow heading into last season when 2010's SEC leading rusher, Knile Davis, went out for the season.

Davis is back, quarterback Tyler Wilson is improving at an exponential rate, and the Hogs get to host both LSU and Alabama in 2012.

While that paints a picture of roses and chocolate, all it takes is a season-ending injury to Wilson, or a recurrence with Davis, for this team to sink down the SEC standings.

Maybe they should practice without contact.

3. Wisconsin Badgers

The Badgers' offense in 2011 was predicated on the play of quarterback Russell Wilson.

And play he did, leading the Badgers to a second straight Rose Bowl berth and a Big Ten title.

Wilson is gone, but backfield mate Montee Ball has Heisman ambitions in 2012.

Since the Badgers are going to run the ball, and basically challenge people to stop them, it would be catastrophic for Ball to get hurt or suspended.

James White, the Badgers' second-string running back, was nowhere near as effective in his second year with the program as he was in 2010, and it's doubtful whether he would be ready to shoulder the load in 2012.

2. Oklahoma Sooners

Bob Stoops got a gift when quarterback Landry Jones made the decision to return to Oklahoma for his final season.

In spite of a sometimes frustrating penchant to make mistakes in road games, Jones is the key to all of the Sooners' potential 2012 success.

Along with an absolutely elite group of receivers, Jones will be a part of one of the most dangerous offensive juggernauts in the country.

An injury to Jones would severely hamper the offense.

1. USC Trojans

There are not many guys more key to the success of their squad than Matt Barkley will be for USC in 2012.

As long as he stays on the field.

Barkley has Heisman potential, as he is arguably the best quarterback in the country.

The Trojans have talent, especially at wide receiver, but if Barkley were to be out for some reason, Lane Kiffin's squad would struggle.