USC and 3 College Football Programs with Real Chance at Undefeated Season

Going undefeated throughout the season is becoming an increasingly difficult thing to do for all college football programs. One-loss seasons aren't as unheard of as many teams have a slip-up along the way. However, in 2012, there are a number of teams that have open doors for potentially superb seasons.

In 2011, we witnessed the first national championship game that saw two teams, LSU and Alabama, from the same conference that had faced each other in the regular season battle for the crystal ball.

Except, nobody would have been able to look into a different crystal ball and see Alabama dominate LSU as much as it did in the title game—especially considering how closely contested their regular season game was.

Now, in 2012, we have a number of conferences that will look drastically different to go along with the realignment that is seeing all of the bigger conferences gain even more power teams.

The SEC is gaining Missouri and Texas A&M, while the Big 12 is adding West Virginia and TCU, some of the most highly respected football programs in the country. Also, this is just the beginning of the realignment process as a number of other schools will be changing conferences within the next year or two as well.

Even though those major conferences are changing, that does not take away the fact that these big schools know how to win and hope to win every single game in their 2012 schedule.

Here are the teams that have a logical chance at obtaining the undefeated season.

West Virginia

2011 Finish: 10-3 Overall; 5-2 Conference (Big East); vs. Top 25: 2-1

Conference Change: Big East to Big 12

Orange Bowl Champions: def Clemson 70-33

We all remember the amazing offensive display that the West Virginia Mountaineers put on against Clemson in the Orange Bowl back in January. It was a record-breaking performance and will go down in history as one of the most dazzling team performances in bowl game history.

Except, knowing the offensive talent West Virginia has on the offensive side of the ball, the outcome of the game really shouldn't have surprised anybody.

Geno Smith is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in all of college football. Smith passed for more than 4,500 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2011 while having some of the speediest receivers in the country in Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey.

Austin caught more than 100 balls for 1,186 yards and eight touchdowns, while Baily went for 1,279 yards with 12 touchdowns on 72 catches. Having those sorts of weapons, along with the lethal arm of Smith, the Mountaineers have one of the most feared offenses in the Big 12, even in all of college football.

One of the most vital games for the Mountaineers to maintain an undefeated season occurs Nov. 17 at home against Oklahoma, another team that could be battling for an undefeated season come that time. It is West Virginia's biggest game of the year, and if the Mountaineers can win that contest, they should be in great position for a potential berth in the national championship game with an unblemished record.

South Carolina

2011 Finish: 11-2 Overall; 6-2 Conference; vs. Top 25: 2-1

Capital One Bowl Champions: def. Nebraska 30-13

South Carolina was on the verge of having an incredible season when, on Oct. 15, perennial Heisman Trophy candidate Marcus Lattimore tore a ligament in his knee and was lost for the rest of the season. However, the Gamecocks managed to pull the rest of their team together and lose only one more game the rest of the season, even with the absence of Lattimore.

One great highlight for South Carolina is Lattimore's production in his shortened season. Marcus ran for more than 800 yards and 10 touchdowns in only seven games played. With numbers like that in a shortened year, the sky is the limit for Lattimore and his potential production in 2012.

Connor Shaw and Stephen Garcia split time in 2011 under center, but now that the often troubled Garcia is gone, Shaw will presumably be the unquestioned quarterback.

Unfortunately for Shaw, he will be without his big target at receiver as Alshon Jeffery is now in the NFL, meaning Ace Sanders and Nick Jones will be called upon to produce catches when South Carolina decides to throw the ball, something it didn't do much of last season.

Oct. 13 is the key game for South Carolina as it takes on BCS runner-up LSU on the road. Given the talent that was lost for the Tigers on defense, Lattimore could have a big day on the ground. LSU also has one of the best recruiting classes in the country, as usual, so its talent level will still be one of the tops in the country.

If South Carolina can get past the Tigers, the rest of its schedule favors a potential undefeated season.

USC

2011 Finish: 10-2 Overall; 7-2 Conference; vs. Top 25: 1-1

Bowl Eligible in 2012-13 after Two-Year Ban due to Reggie Bush Scandal

One team that has more motivation and more to prove than the rest of the country is the USC Trojans, who are coming off of a two-year bowl game ban in light of the Reggie Bush  scandal that sent the school as a whole in a downward spiral.

Luckily for Lane Kiffin, his Trojans never missed a step when it came to their play on the field, even though they knew it couldn't lead them anywhere except gaining self-respect.

USC finished last season ranked sixth in the AP poll, giving the Trojans some knowledge that even though they have been left out of the postseason, people have not forgotten to pay attention.

Matt Barkley is the early season favorite to take home this year's Heisman Trophy, and with good reason. Barkley showed great growth in 2011 as he helped lead his team to a 10-2 record while passing for more than 3,500 yards, 39 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Barkley also regains his entire receiving corps that helped him gain those stats, which should help elevate the offense to new heights.

Once again, USC has one of the top recruiting classes, so the holes it lost on the offensive line and on defense will be reloaded with what appears to be a constant parade of extremely talented athletes.

The Trojans' biggest test in the season will be against Oregon, which will have a new look to its offense without LaMichael James, on Nov. 4.

For the Trojans, that may be the biggest challenge as their schedule is rather weak this season. If the Ducks don't have what they've had the last few years, the Trojans could have a cake walk to the national championship game.

Who Else Has the Potential?

These are the three teams that have the most potential to go undefeated this season.

Of course, you have an opinion on the topic as well, so now the question is: Who do you feel has the great potential for going undefeated and possibly wining the national championship in January?

Do you agree with these three? Would you take off any of these? Who would you add to the list?

Let me know how you feel.