Cincinnati Bearcats: Five Reasons They Could Be National Champs in 2011

After falling just one second short of playing for the National Championship last season, the Cincinnati Bearcats return in 2010 with only one thing on their mind: The BCS National Championship game. 

Despite the departures to Mardy Gilyard and Tony Pike to the NFL and head coach Brian Kelly skipping town to join the Fighting Irish in South Bend, the Cincinnati Bearcats have the potential to run the table once again. 

Last season, Cincinnati began the season even lower than they are this year and still managed to finish the regular season third in the country. 

This season will be different because Cincinnati has a marquee game against Oklahoma that can help propel them even further up the rankings. They did not have that luxury last season. 

Whether it will happen or not remains to be seen, but here are five reasons why the Cincinnati Bearcats could be playing in Glendale, Arizona on January 10, 2011 for all the marbles. 

5. Best Wide Receivers in the Country

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CINCINNATI - OCTOBER 24: Armon Binns #80 of the Cincinnati Bearcats catches a touchdown pass during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Nippert Stadium on October 24, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Imag

Despite the departure of senior Mardy Gilyard, the Cincinnati Bearcats still boast the nation's best receiving corps. 

Senior Armon Binns is the leader of the group. He tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions last season and is the favorite target of quarterback Zach Collaros.

USC transfer Vidal Hazelton was once one of the most sought-after players in the country and he is a big play threat who will prove he is one of the best in the nation at his position.

Junior D.J. Woods is the possession receiver every team must have and he will certainly lead the team in receptions.

Senior tight end Ben Guidugli was a preseason 2nd team All-American by the Sporting News and helps round out a very talented group. 

4. Zach Collaros

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CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback Zach Collaros #12 of the the Cincinnati Bearcats looks to pass in the fourth quarter of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Nippert Stadium on November 13, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bearcats won th

Collaros filled in admirably last season for the injured Tony Pike and brings a more all around game to the offense, something that Butch Jones will use to his advantage.

With the ability to use not only his arm but his feet, Collaros is a Heisman sleeper. He will put up some gaudy numbers without question.

With Collaros, the Bearcats offense can do so many things and beat you in so many different ways. He is one of the best all around quarterbacks in the country and he will prove that this season.  

The junior from Steubenville, Ohio has never been beaten as a starting quarterback and that may not change in 2010. Look for Collaros to have the best season for a quarterback in the history of Bearcat football and lead this team straight to the National Championship. 

3. Improved Running Game

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 05: Isaiah Pead #23 of the Cincinnati Bearcats scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers on December 5, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty I

Under former head coach Brian Kelly, the Cincinnati Bearcats hardly ever ran the football. That could be part of the reason why tailback Isaiah Pead rushed for nearly seven yards per carry in 2009. 

With that being said, Pead is certain to see more carries in 2010 and he will be the featured man in the running game. 

Pead is as quick and talented as anybody. He broke every one of Archie Griffin's high school records at Eastmoor Academy in Columbus. 

In a conference with great running backs, Pead will prove he is just as talented as anybody in 2010 when head coach Butch Jones will allow him more carries than he has ever had. 

Sophomore Darrin Williams who showed glimpses as a freshman will spell Pead when necessary and this little man can also take it to the house in the blink of an eye. 

2. Favorable Schedule

To get to the National Championship, it is not only necessary to go undefeated, you also must beat a few good teams along the way. 

The toughest two teams on Cincinnati's schedule are Oklahoma and Pittsburgh and the Bearcats have the advantage of playing them both at home.

Oklahoma comes to town on September 25 for a game at Paul Brown Stadium and the Bearcats get the Panthers the final game of the season, December 4 at Nippert Stadium. 

Road games at West Virginia and Connecticut will be tough, not like going to Pittsburgh or Oklahoma. 

With some challenging non-conference games including Fresno St. and NC State, Cincinnati has some big name teams on their schedule and if they can get by Oklahoma on September 25, watch out. 

1. Butch Jones

New head coach Butch Jones has made a name for himself following in Brian Kelly's footsteps. 

He took the job at Central Michigan when Kelly left and now he has taken over for Kelly in Cincinnati. While they are similar in many ways, their approach is completely different. 

Jones is much more personable and easy to talk to for the players. He is always available and the man is as intense as anybody. 

Nobody in college football cares more about his team and his players than Jones.

There will be no drop-off with the loss of Kelly like many people want to suggest. There may even be an improvement and a more balanced approach to the game.

After 2010, fans will realize how great of a coach Butch Jones can be and they may even be asking, "Who was Brian Kelly?"