College Football: Ranking the Top 10 'Jekyll and Hyde' Teams of 2010
What a wild 2010 this year has been so far for college football.
Halfway through the season we have seen the preseason No. 1 and 2 teams go down in consecutive weeks. We have had thrilling finishes, numerous upsets and narrow escapes to go along with them.
But we've also seen some teams that have looked like championship contenders one week and championship busts the next. Some teams just have a bad week and it's a one time hiccup. But for others, every week you never know what you are going to get.
Here are the top 10 "Jekyll and Hyde" Teams of 2010...
10. USC
1 of 10
It has been rough time for the Trojans at USC over the past several months. After a decade of stability, they now face a future of uncertainty.
Coming into 2010, not many people knew how first-year coach Lane Kiffin and USC would fare during the season after being hit with numerous sanctions and penalties. Despite winning their first four games, experts were wary of how the Trojans had played in some games, especially against Virginia and Minnesota.
Fears were realized as they dropped two heartbreaking games in a row to Washington and No. 12 Stanford on last-second field goals. They recovered this week in a blowout 48-14 win over California.
With a bye week before they host No. 2 Oregon at the Coliseum on Oct. 30, will USC be able to prepare for the Ducks? Despite the sanctions, they have plenty of talent to compete. They also have road games vs. No. 18 Arizona and Oregon State. USC has the ability to play spoiler, but which team will show up?
9. NC State
2 of 10
The Wolfpack were a surprise team after the first four weeks of the season. Led by quarterback Russell Wilson, NC State jumped out to a 4-0 start which included wins over reigning Big East champion Cincinnati and ACC champion Georgia Tech. They would be rewarded with a Top 25 ranking for the first time in years.
NC State was starting to become a sleeper pick to win the ACC and go to the Orange Bowl. Unfortunately, the Wolfpack fell to a desperate Virginia Tech team at home 41-30 but were able to shake it off the next week with a strong win vs. Boston College.
This past Saturday, they traveled to East Carolina and allowed the Pirates to jump to a 21-0 lead. Despite a second quarter rally, the Wolfpack would fall in overtime to the Conference USA squad. If NC State wants to make a run at the ACC, they'll have to beat No. 17 Florida State in Raleigh and play more like the 4-0 team they once were.
8. Oregon State
3 of 10
The Oregon State Beavers have played a tumultuous schedule in the first half of this season. They have played away against No. 5 TCU, No. 3 Boise State and No. 9 Arizona. While they were impressive in their two losses against the top five teams and their win over Arizona, the Beavers have played down to their other opponents.
They won only by a touchdown against a weaker opponent in Louisville and held on by a field goal against conference rival Arizona State. It finally caught up to them Saturday against Washington as they fell in double overtime as a game-winning two-point conversion just came up short.
Regardless, the Beavers are still a dark horse contender in the Pac-10 with Stanford and Oregon still on the schedule. Oregon State should be leery of lesser opponents like UCLA and California still left on the slate due to their tendency of playing down to opponents. They'll need to play like they did against TCU and Arizona if they want any chance at the conference.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Virginia Tech
4 of 10
Talk about a tale of two teams. After watching Boise State rally against them with a late fourth quarter drive in the season opener, Virginia Tech then promptly lost in Blacksburg to FCS opponent James Madison.
Since those two crushing defeats, the Hokies have been one of the hottest teams in college football. They have won five straight, including a comeback win over then No. 23 NC State. Tyrod Taylor has been lights out and the Hokies are slowly winning back the respect of pundits after their horrific loss earlier in the season.
The schedule lines up nicely for Virginia Tech, with only two challenging games left against division rivals Georgia Tech and No. 25 Miami, FL. VT has the talent to win the ACC but has to continue to play smart football and not let their past horrors affect them down the road.
6. Oklahoma
5 of 10
There might be some surprise that the No. 1 team in the BCS is on this list. But if one takes a closer look at their record game by game, there should be much shock.
Despite wins over several ranked or once ranked teams, four of their six wins have been by eight points or less. They struggled at home in wins over non-AQ schools Utah State and Air Force. Oklahoma was also pushed to the limit against Cincinnati, who for the most part is having a down season.
But they did play some of their best football of the year against No. 17 Florida State, 47-17 in a dominating performance and a 28-20 win in Dallas over a down but not out Texas team. Oklahoma should get a real test this week against No. 11 Missouri on the road.
The Sooners will have to perform much better than their close wins over Utah State and Air Force and more like their showcase win to date over the Seminoles.
5. Georgia
6 of 10
Georgia looked dead in the water a few weeks ago. The Bulldogs stumbled out to a 1-4 start, thanks in part to a tough road schedule and the loss of star receiver AJ Green to suspension for an NCAA violation.
Even though Green was lost for four games, Georgia was in many of those games but just could not execute to get the win. They lost in a grinder game at South Carolina, fell in the final minutes to Arkansas and were outclassed on the road by a hungry Colorado team. Many Bulldogs fans were calling for Richt's head after the 1-4 start.
But with AJ Green's return, so came a different Georgia team. In the last two weeks, they have dominated Tennessee and Vanderbilt with a great showing from the offense and defense. With struggles of Florida recently, Georgia can get themselves back in SEC East race with wins against Kentucky and the Gators in upcoming weeks.
This team needs to continue to build up on recent performances. AJ Green is a major part of the offense, but he doesn't play defense. The Bulldog defense will be the key to the team's future success in 2010, but doesn't need the team that gave up 29 points to Colorado.
4. Nebraska
7 of 10
Nebraska was expected to be a National Championship contender. The Cornhuskers avoided Oklahoma on the regular season schedule and after the first five weeks of the season, people in Lincoln began to talk about an undefeated season and trip to Glendale.
Those talks have quickly been silenced.
Nebraska fell in what was supposed to be its revenge game against Texas, who had dropped two straight and looked vulnerable for the first time in a long time. Freshman Taylor Martinez, who was a popular Heisman candidate due to his running prowess, was benched in the second half due to ineffectiveness against the Longhorn defense.
People seemed to overlook a sloppy 17-3 win over South Dakota State by way of blowout wins against Washington and Kansas State. Instead, Nebraska finds themselves trying to regroup as they have to still contend with Missouri for the Big 12 North crown.
Will Taylor Martinez regain his likeness to Tommy Frazier as he was against the Huskies and Wildcats, or will teams use the Texas tape as a guide to shutting down the Nebraska attack?
3. Texas
8 of 10
Could not think of a more appropriate team to follow Nebraska then the team that took them down: Texas.
The Longhorns were a preseason top five team and were looking for another Big 12 title and possible return to the BCS Championship behind quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who nearly led Texas past Alabama when Colt McCoy went down with injury.
Based on last year's near heroics, the offseason buzz was high on Texas. Pundits dismissed a mediocre effort in a win over Rice and credited the defense in slowing down Texas Tech in Lubbock. But eyes were opened in week four when UCLA came into Austin and ran all over the Longhorns.
The flaws were finally exposed as the offense was made inept by the Bruins and the defense could not bail them out this time. It would go down as the biggest home loss in Mack Brown's tenure and a poor way to go into their Red River Shootout against Oklahoma, where they also fell 28-20. Texas found themselves unranked for the first time since 1998.
The Longhorns used their bye week well as they came out strong against a heavily favored Nebraska team. The burnt orange completely shut down Taylor Martinez and had him on the sidelines by the third quarter. Texas held on for the 20-13 win and has a relatively easy schedule down the road.
The question is will the team that shut down Nebraska show up or will the Texas team that let the Bruins run all over Austin make another appearance?
2. Miami, FL
9 of 10
Talk about a team that is personified by their quarterback. The Miami Hurricanes seem to live and die by the arm of Jacory Harris. In their two losses, Harris has thrown for just one touchdown to go along with five interceptions.
The Hurricanes have a ton of talent but at times just seem lost. One week they dominate a chic Big East pick in Pittsburgh at Heinz Field and then lost in lights after Florida State came into Miami and tossed them aside with ease. They went on the road and won at Clemson, where going into Death Valley is not an easy task.
The Jekyll-Hyde mantra of Miami seems to be prominent when the Hurricanes are featured in big games. Like Florida State, the Canes' were outclassed by then No. 2 Ohio State despite a close 12-point loss. The Buckeyes shut down the Hurricane offense for the most part and Miami's special teams were the only thing that kept it from being a blowout.
Miami still has two tough conference games against defending champion Georgia Tech and rejuvenated Virginia Tech. They'll need to translate some off their big performances in actual big games if they want to make a run at the ACC still.
1. LSU
10 of 10
Who else but the No. 6 LSU Tigers would best fit the Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde comparison? Les Miles' team has looked like a SEC and BCS contender on some drives and a bottom half MAC school on others.
An inefficient offense led by a strong defense has been the calling card for the most part of the season. They have rotated quarterbacks Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee back and forth all season and yet to find consistency with the ball. Special teams star Patrick Patterson has been the lone bright spot and has made plays to generate scoring for LSU.
Les Miles is also part of this genetic makeup of this team. He has looked brilliant and gutsy at times but dazed and confused at others. This man nearly cost his team against a depleted North Carolina squad and somehow confused Tennessee with his substitutions and panic to pull off a win.
Say what you want about this LSU team, but they are one of the most exciting teams in college football to watch. They went into Florida and scored 33 points on a vaunted defense yet gave up 29 points to a nearly identically inept offense. At the end of the day, the Tigers are undefeated but cannot expect to survive an entire season with their wild play.
We'll find out this Saturday which LSU personality shows up in a top-10 showdown against No. 4 Auburn.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
