2011 College Football Predictions: Power Ranking the 10 Most Exciting Teams
It's never too early to look to next season, right?
Sure, the last bits of BCS ink on the book of the 2010-2011 college football season is barely dry, but what's the harm?
A record number of early NFL Draft declarations are in, including Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, national signing day is just around the corner, followed by spring practice and then...
I know, not quite as exciting as the points and pageantry of the real thing.
For those who miss the weekly adrenaline rush provided by the on-field exploits of this previous season, and for those who are already circling dates on their calendar like crazy, here's a look at the 10 teams most likely to electrify stadium crowds and home viewers in the fall.
10. Maryland Terrapins
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You may be surprised to see Maryland on this list, but never fear, the Terrapins deserve mention.
Despite the unceremonious outshoving of long-time coach and alum Ralph "The Fridge" Friedgen from the football program, along with the early departures of Torrey Smith on offense and Kenny Tate on defense, the Terps should be among the ACC's most thrilling teams to watch from week to week.
On the field, Maryland will look to sophomore-to-be Danny O'Brien to improve upon his already-solid freshman season, in which he threw for 2,438 yards, 22 touchdowns and only eight picks while leading Maryland to a 9-4 finish. He'll be joined by an offensive line that loses only one player from last year's group and by Tony Logan, the Terps' electrifying return man who will give the offense a nice boost in field position.
The biggest change, however, will come in the coaching box, where new head coach Randy Edsall will be joined by Gary Crowton, a renowned offensive guru in the world of college football whose resume includes stints in the same position at Oregon and LSU as well as head coaching gigs at BYU and Louisiana Tech.
With that group together, the Terps should improve on their offensive stats from 2010 and become a much more exciting team, as the school's administration wants, in 2011.
9. Michigan Wolverines
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No Rich Rodriguez? No problem!
Assuming new coach Brady Hoke doesn't interfere too much with the offense, Michigan should be among the most electrifying offensive teams in college football in 2011.
For all the criticism that Rich Rod got, few acknowledged the fact that the Wolverines offense was among the most productive in the country in 2010, scoring the 25th most points and racking up the eighth most yardage of any team in the country.
With Denard Robinson and his 329 yards of total offense per game back in the fold, the scoreboard at the Big House will be hailing to the victors early and often in the fall.
8. Mississippi State Bulldogs
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Next up is the team that handled Michigan in the 2011 Gator Bowl and, in doing so, effectively ousted Rich Rod from his post–Mississippi State.
Head coach Dan Mullen pulled off the seemingly impossible task of returning Mississippi State football to respectability in only two years, and it would seem as though he and his staff are just getting started.
The Bulldogs look primed to take yet another step forward in 2011 after posting nine wins in 2010, thanks in large part to the return of hulking dual-threat quarterback Chris Relf and running back Vick Ballard.
And while it may prove tough for Mullen's team to leapfrog the likes of LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Arkansas in the SEC West, the offense will give the Bulldogs a shot to compete with anyone in college football's best conference next year.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Wisconsin Badgers
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Like so many of 2010's top teams, the Wisconsin Badgers will enter their spring and fall practices with plenty of gaping holes to fill.
Aside from the one left in their hearts by the Rose Bowl loss to TCU.
Bret Bielema can't exactly be happy having to replace the likes of Outland Trophy winner Gabe Carimi and All-American John Moffitt along the offensive line, not to mention quarterback Scott Tolzien and monster running back John Clay.
However, the Badgers' attack, which was the fifth-highest scoring of any in the nation, should still be extremely potent, with two 'backs capable of 1,000-yard seasons–Montee Ball and James White–still firmly in the mix, along with wide receiver Nick Toon on the edge.
As such, don't expect the fans at Camp Randall Stadium to relax too much once the new season rolls around.
6. South Carolina Gamecocks
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2011 may turn out to be the year that Steve Spurrier finally leads South Carolina to the top of the SEC.
The Gamecocks represented the East Division in the conference championship game, though the Ol' Ball Coach's crew was squashed by eventual-national champion Auburn.
With two of the nation's top returning skill players–running back Marcus Lattimore and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery–the "Cock N' Fire" offense should be off and running once the fall rolls around.
That is, if Spurrier can figure out who will be starting under center for the Gamecocks–Stephen Garcia or Connor Shaw.
5. Stanford Cardinal
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Unlike Spurrier at South Carolina, Stanford's David Shaw won't have to worry about any sort of quarterback battle heading into the 2011 season.
That's because Andrew Luck, the 2010 Heisman runner-up and America's Golden Boy, decided to pass on the NFL this year, despite being the prohibitive favorite to go first overall to the Carolina Panthers, so he could finish up his architecture degree.
And, for Cardinal fans, so he could keep the program from sinking back into anonymity after the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers.
Granted, football on The Farm may not be quite as pretty as it was in 2010, with three starting linemen, two-way star Owen Marecic, and go-to receiver Doug Baldwin all victims of that four-year bug known as "graduation".
However, as long as Luck and running back Stepfan Taylor are taking care of business in the backfield, Stanford should still be one of the most exciting teams to watch in college football.
4. Boise State Broncos
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For those of you expecting Boise State to finally hit a wall in 2011, I have four words of wisdom:
Don't hold your breath.
The Broncos look poised to put their stamp all over the watered-down Mountain West Conference.
Chris Petersen's club once again finished the season ranked in the top 10 in both major polls and should be in the running for another BCS bowl berth in 2012, thanks to the return of Heisman Trophy contender Kellen Moore and speedy running back Doug Martin.
With those two leading the way, look for the offense to continue to put plenty of points on the board, especially after piling up better than 45 points per game this past season.
3. Oklahoma Sooners
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Oklahoma may be everyone's pre-season favorite to win the 2012 BCS National Championship, but the Sooners will have plenty of competition for the title of "Most Exciting Team".
Bob Stoops and company will likely miss running back DeMarco Murray, who had another fantastic year in Norman in 2010.
That being said, the Sooners' offense should be booming in 2011, with 14 starters returning, including quarterback Landry Jones, four out of five starters along the offensive line and wide-out Ryan Broyles, the school's all-time leading receiver who passed on the 2011 NFL Draft.
Look for OU's passing game, led by Jones, a Heisman Trophy contender, to put plenty of points on the board in the fall.
2. Oklahoma State Cowboys
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Oklahoma need not look very far to find another team that could very well best it in terms of pure excitement.
Just north of Norman, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, are the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who were, by all accounts, a year ahead of schedule in their pursuit of the Big 12 title in 2010.
With quarterback Brandon Weeden and Biletnikoff winner Justin Blackmon returning to Mike Gundy's offense, which was the third-most productive in the nation last year, in terms of both total yards and points, the Pokes are poised to take another step forward in 2011.
1. Oregon Ducks
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It should come as no surprise that Oregon would be the nation's most exciting team, at least in terms of pre-season prognostications.
Yes, the Ducks are losing their two top receivers, Jeff Maehl and D.J. Davis, will have to replace most of their offense line.
And yes, Chip Kelly's team will be missing a host of stars from its defense.
However, when it comes to excitement, the Quack Attack will still boast three of the most electrifying players in the country–quarterback Darron Thomas, running back LaMichael James and cornerback/return man Cliff Harris.
Assuming Kelly's spread offense is anywhere near as effective in 2011 as it was in 2010, Oregon should have no problem giving fans in Eugene plenty to cheer about.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
