2011 College Football Predictions: Where Will Stanford Rank with Luck Returning?
2011 college football predictions are here, and we're taking a look at the Top 25 for next season.
I know the national championship has just come and gone, but it's never too early to look ahead, and these are our early projections based on what we know now. The NFL draft may still shake these things up, so keep that in mind.
If you have any thoughts or comments, make sure to leave them below. Who do you think is the team to beat next year?
No. 1: Oklahoma
1 of 25
The Sooners had a strong finish to their season with a dominating win over Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl not too long ago.
Oklahoma is bringing back a lot of major pieces but will need to replace DeMarco Murray in the backfield, and that's the big question mark heading into the season next year. However, the Sooners are loaded and should be the favorites.
Let's see what Bob Stoops can do with this group.
No. 2: Oregon
2 of 25
The Ducks came awful close to a national championship this Monday, but Oregon has a great chance to get back next year.
Sure, Oregon is losing some big pieces on both sides of the ball, but with the Ducks bringing back LaMichael James and Darron Thomas, along with Chip Kelly's system, Oregon will have plenty of firepower and be a force next year.
Look for the Ducks to keep lighting up the scoreboard next season.
No. 3: LSU
3 of 25
Don't look now, but here come Les Miles and the LSU Tigers.
You can see why he didn't want to go to Michigan with what he has sitting back at LSU. Sure, he's losing Patrick Peterson and some others, but he still has Jordan Jefferson and a ton of playmakers that could have breakout seasons.
I think the Tigers will be a force in the SEC next year if Miles can get out of their way.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 4: Stanford
4 of 25
Sure, Jim Harbaugh is gone, but Andrew Luck is still there.
With Luck under center and a pretty solid roster and great recruiting class, the Cardinal are going to be a force to be reckoned with, and Stanford is going to give Oregon a great run for its money in the Pac-12. It should be a battle.
It will really depend on who replaces Harbaugh as head coach.
No. 5: Alabama
5 of 25
Alabama is a team that has a lot of question marks around it heading into the season.
The Crimson Tide will be losing a lot of veteran leadership on both sides of the ball, but Alabama will be bringing Trent Richardson back and will have developed some young players on defense after last year, when they had to get some serious playing time.
This could be a really good year or a bit of a down year for Alabama.
No. 6: Texas A&M
6 of 25
Texas A&M had a very good year, and things could get better in 2011.
The Aggies return a lot of players from last year's team, especially on defense, even with Von Miller's departure to the NFL. Texas A&M has a very good shot to contend in the Big 12 and make a run deep into the season.
Hopefully the Aggies are ready for the big stage and the pressure.
No. 7: Oklahoma State
7 of 25
Sure, there are some losses for Oklahoma State, but it's also about what the Cowboys are holding on to that puts them at No. 7 on this list.
Brandon Weeden will be back, and Justin Blackmon still hasn't made up his mind on the NFL and might be back next year. It will be interesting to see who Oklahoma State brings in to be its offensive coordinator; that might make all of the difference.
The Cowboys could be a dangerous team in the Big 12.
No. 8: Wisconsin
8 of 25
The Badgers had a great season this year and made it to the Rose Bowl, where they lost to TCU, but Wisconsin will try to reload and come back next season.
Sure, there won't be John Clay in the backfield, but the Badgers are loaded at running back, and Wisconsin will impose its will on opposing defenses like it did all of last season. There are holes at quarterback and defensive end, but I think the Badgers can mold players into those roles quickly.
I think Jon Budmayr will be a nice surprise for Wisconsin under center.
No. 9: Michigan State
9 of 25
It was a great season for Michigan State, only it ended in embarrassment.
The Spartans have a lot of players coming back from last year's team, and if Michigan State can get used to being at the top of the polls, maybe it can shake the stigma that Sparty's football program has had in recent years.
It'd be nice to see Michigan State really break through as a program.
No. 10: Boise State
10 of 25
While Boise State is losing some of Kellen Moore's weapons, the quarterback will return for his senior season and be a dangerous force yet again.
The Broncos fell just short again this year with a loss to Nevada keeping Boise State out of the BCS. I don't think a national championship is in the cards this year, but the Broncos will make a strong push for an at-large bid.
Look for Moore to light it up again this year.
No. 11: TCU
11 of 25
The Horned Frogs had a magical run this year as they went undefeated and upset Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
Andy Dalton will be gone, so the dynamic will change a bit for TCU. I think the Horned Frogs will start out as more of a running team and then ease into the style that we're used to. It should be another fun ride for the Horned Frogs.
They'll give Boise State a run for its money in terms of an at-large bid.
No. 12: Florida State
12 of 25
It's been a while since Florida State was a legit contender, but this might be the year.
Jimbo Fisher has the Seminoles primed for a run this year, even with the loss of Christian Ponder at quarterback. I'm a big fan of E.J. Manuel and think he's going to play really well under center for Florida State this year.
The Seminoles are starting to put a really good team in place that will have a lot of momentum behind it after this season.
No. 13: Nebraska
13 of 25
Roy Helu is gone from Nebraska, and now it's Taylor Martinez's show.
However, I don't have a lot of faith in Martinez after the way he finished last season. Hopefully for Nebraska's sake, he can get it together during spring and summer practices and become a better quarterback because he did not look good down the stretch.
The Cornhuskers have a lot of questions facing them as they enter the Big Ten.
No. 14: Ohio State
14 of 25
The Buckeyes are usually among the favorites to win the Big Ten, but with five players suspended to start the season, this hurts their ranking.
I think Ohio State can weather the storm in those first five weeks, and if they do, the Buckeyes are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten yet again. Terrelle Pryor will be back for his senior year and will be hard to stop.
It's just a matter of those first five weeks without him.
No. 15: South Carolina
15 of 25
For me, the biggest question mark for South Carolina is Stephen Garcia.
If he can improve—something that's a big if—the Gamecocks certainly have the weapons to be a dangerous team in the SEC. However, I think Garcia is going to be up and down, as he seemingly has his entire tenure at South Carolina, and that will hurt the Gamecocks.
That's the biggest thing to watch next year with South Carolina.
No. 16: Notre Dame
16 of 25
I know we seemingly say this every year, but this might be the year Notre Dame gets to double-digit wins.
The Fighting Irish have been down in recent years, but at the end of this year, Notre Dame really came on strong. They are returning a large group of this year's team, and with a softer schedule, the Fighting Irish can really make a push.
If Notre Dame falters, though, it will be an embarrassment.
No. 17: Georgia
17 of 25
Mark Richt had an up and down year at Georgia, but things might be better next year.
The Bulldogs had some growing pains last year, but Aaron Murray will be back, though they will miss A.J. Green as he goes to the NFL. Georgia will have to find a way to somehow replace him in the passing game to give Murray someone to throw to.
Hopefully Richt can get it together, or else he might be on the way out.
No. 18: Arkansas
18 of 25
It's going to be interesting to see how Arkansas moves on from Ryan Mallett.
The quarterback is heading to the NFL, and now with holes on the offensive line and at quarterback, the Razorbacks are going to need to figure some way to utilize their skill position players. If they can, Arkansas will compete again.
If not, well, it may be a long year.
No. 19: Mississippi State
19 of 25
Mississippi State ended its season on a high note, pounding Michigan into the ground and sending Rich Rodriguez out of Ann Arbor.
Now the Bulldogs come back next year returning some major pieces to the puzzle at quarterback and running back. The duo of Chris Relf and Vic Ballard should be a duo that gives teams in the SEC a lot of trouble.
Don't sleep on the Bulldogs.
No. 20: West Virginia
20 of 25
This was a tough pick, but I'll explain myself.
The Mountaineers still had a shot to win the Big East this year with a team that underachieved by my estimation. This is Bill Stewart's last year; he's a players' coach, and those guys want to send him out on a good note.
I think West Virginia may surprise a lot of people next year and play really well.
No. 21: Penn State
21 of 25
The Nittany Lions gave Florida everything it had in the Outback Bowl, but it was to no avail.
However, things are looking up for Penn State, as Robert Bolden has decided not to transfer, which is a major win for Joe Paterno. With Silas Redd emerging as the running back of the future, it could mean bigger things in Happy Valley.
Throw in an improving defense and you have a recipe for success.
No. 22: Auburn
22 of 25
Auburn has reached the mountaintop of college football, but it could be a quick fall down from that perch.
Cam Newton may leave the Tigers, and Nick Fairley surely will, costing the Tigers two of their major playmakers from this past year. Michael Dyer will be back, and he's proven to be a young stud of a running back in that offense.
There are a lot of holes to fill, but Auburn has kids in the waiting who will have to mature on the fly.
No. 23: Missouri
23 of 25
Blaine Gabbert declaring for the draft really hurts the Tigers for next year.
With Gabbert, Missouri would be a legit contender in the Big 12, but without him, there's a big question mark under center. That's something the Tigers will have to address rather quickly to get ready for next season.
It won't be easy, but there is still a lot of talent there to work with.
No. 24: UCF
24 of 25
Who saw Central Florida coming on strong this past season? Anyone?
Okay, I didn't think so. UCF had a great season and finished up with a bowl win and an appearance in the polls. That's impressive enough, but when you realize that Central Florida has young talent on that team that is still maturing, you take them more seriously.
I think the Knights could cause a bit of a stir next year.
No. 25: Michigan
25 of 25
Now I did this with extreme hesitation because I don't know how things are going to play out in Ann Arbor.
It remains to be seen if Denard Robinson fits into Brady Hoke's plans in Michigan and what's going to happen there, but if he stays with the Wolverines, Michigan can still be competitive. It's not like the team was full of scrubs—they just need the right coach.
They may not fit his system, but I think Hoke can do a good job in Ann Arbor.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
