2011 College Football Rankings: Predicting the First Loss for the Top 25
Each team in the top 25, as predicted by Mark Schlabach of ESPN, will face challenges in the 2011 season. Players are leaving for the draft or graduating. New recruits will be thrown into the mix and expected to step up and fill some rather large cleats. Coaches are resigning and changing teams.
The usual mix-up before beginning yet another football season. Some teams will become stronger, better; while others will suffer and have to rebuild. One of the most difficult downfalls for every team to handle is it's first loss.
25. West Virginia Mountaineers
1 of 25
The Mountaineers are losing eight starting players from the 2010 season. Six of those eight are defensive players. West Virginia is going to need to fill the defensive gap.
It is going to be tough for quarterback Geno Smith to carry the offense against the number four ranked LSU Tigers on September 24, 2011. LSU is a consistent team that is bringing back a large number of starters. Even with a home field advantage, it is unlikely that the Mountaineers are going to be able to defeat the Tigers.
West Virginia's defense is going to need to be ready to hold their own if they hope to keep or improve their ranking over the course of the 2011 season.
24. Mississippi State Bulldogs
2 of 25
The Bulldogs are losing many key players this coming season. The teams best offensive lineman, best defensive lineman, their center, kicker, punter, and three starting linebackers will not be returning in 2011. Hopefully, coach Dan Mullen can use the 14 returning starters to rebuild his team.
Mississippi State's first two games are on the road. On September 10, 2011, they come up against the Auburn Tigers. While the Tigers are losing two very crucial players to the NFL draft, I do believe that they will still be able to hold their own against Mississippi State, and become the Bulldog's first loss of the season.
The Bulldogs are a solid team, but right after an on the road game against Auburn they face LSU at home. Two very difficult back-to-back games.
23. Florida Gators
3 of 25
Florida not only lost ten starting players this season, but head coach Urban Meyer resigned as well. Coach Will Muschamp will be taking over the Gators in 2011.
The Gators have a lot of talent, especially in Janoris Jenkins, but will that be enough against Alabama? The quarterback position for the Gators in 2011 isn't set in stone yet and the offense will be taking a new approach with Charlie Weis.
The Gators have a lot of changes to deal with before facing the Crimson Tide in October, but it doesn't look as thought they'll be able to match up.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
22. Texas Longhorns
4 of 25
Coming off a 5-7 season in 2010, the Longhorns have revamped their coaching staff. Along with a new coaching staff, only 14 starters are expected to return. The changes that the Longhorns are undergoing will be challenging, especially when up against the number one ranked Oklahoma Sooners.
In the Longhorn vs. Sooners match up, the Longhorns just don't have the experience that they used to on the field. The Sooners are returning a plethora of important players to both sides of the ball. They are going to be hard to beat and I don't see the Longhorns being the ones to defeat them.
Texas will have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps if they hope to be as good as they were in the 2009 season.
21. Arizona State Sun Devils
5 of 25
While the Sun Devils may be favored in the Pac-12 South, playing their second game against the Missouri Tigers will be challenging. The Sun Devils quarterback Brock Osweiler is becoming more consistent, but going up against the higher ranked Tigers (even without a definitive quarterback set for the 2011 season) may be more than the Sun Devils can handle.
Coach Dennis Erickson has 19 starters coming back to play for him in 2011, but the season is still going to be challenging.
20. Virginia Tech Hokies
6 of 25
Tyrod Taylor, Darren Evans, and Ryan Williams have all left the Virginia Tech Hokies for the NFL draft. The team has returning seniors and a possible replacement for Taylor as quarterback.
Without a set schedule for 2011 it is hard to predict the first loss by the Hokies. Virginia Tech left the 2010 season 11-3 and no conference losses and ending the season in the Discover Orange Bowl with a loss against Stanford.
Set to play Appalachian State, East Carolina, Arkansas State, and Marshall there is no clear opponent that I would predict to beat the Hokies, yet.
19. Nebraska Cornhuskers
7 of 25
With a loss to Washington 19-7 in the Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl Game, switching from the Big 12 to the Big Ten, and losing players like Prince Amukarama and Eric Hagg Nebraska has a daunting schedule ahead of them.
While Nebraska did beat Washington 56-21 earlier in the 2010 season, the loss to them in their bowl game evens the score. Nebraska faces Washington in the second game of their season without some of the Cornhuskers key players and possibly facing their first loss of the 2011 season.
18. TCU Horned Frogs
8 of 25
Coming off a Rose Bowl Game win the Horned Frogs are losing valued players. With Andy Dalton gone there will be a competition for quarterback in the coming season. It is also TCU's last season in the MWC. Next year they will be a part of the Big East.
With all of these changes, TCU will have to prove that they are a strong program, not just a great team. With only two games scheduled after so far for the 2011 season against Baylor and SMU, it is hard to say who the first loss would be to.
Coming out of their last season undefeated puts a lot of pressure on the 2011 Horned Frogs.
17. Auburn Tigers
9 of 25
After winning a BCS National Championship, Auburn has dropped through the ranking to 17th. Losing key players like Cam Newton and Nick Fairley to the NFL draft, the team has a lot of talent to make up for in the 2011 season.
Coming up against Mississippi State in the second game of the season should be good game with the way Mississippi State is looking for 2011, but Auburn should still win. Playing against the higher ranked Arkansas Razorback's, however, will most likely result in a loss.
The Razorback's have a lot of returning veterans that appear to be shaping up a good team for 2011.
16. Missouri Tigers
10 of 25
The Missouri Tigers will be losing Blaine Gabbert to the NFL draft, and the Tigers are without a definitive replacement. The Tigers are going to need to buck up for the 2011 schedule ahead.
Oklahoma State is going to be a rough game that the Tigers most likely won't be able to handle. The Cowboys have important players returning to their program this season that make them tougher than the Tigers. Having big players return to the program that can make plays may be more important that having more starters return.
15. Michigan State Spartans
11 of 25
The Spartans are entering the 2011 season after a rough loss to Alabama in the Capital One Bowl. Not only that, but the offense and defense will both need to be rebuilt.
The Notre Dame game on September 17, 2011, will be a game to watch considering the Fighting Irish are only ranked one ahead of the Spartans in the preseason rankings. If the Spartans come out of that game with win, then the Ohio State Buckeye's will be their first loss of the 2011 season.
14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
12 of 25
With a quarterback battle coming in the spring, an improved defense during the 2010 season, and Michael Floyd returning Notre Dame should be a good team in 2011.
Playing their third game against the Michigan State Spartans could potentially result in their first loss though. The Fighting Irish and the Spartans are closely ranked. The Spartans, however, are returning with a Big Ten championship under their belts that could provide momentum for a win over the Fighting Irish.
13. Texas A&M Aggies
13 of 25
Coming out of a 9-4 season in 2010 with wins against Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas, the Aggies are poised to start the 2011 football season. After starting some young linemen last season, the offensive line should be better this year.
When the Aggies come up against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, it may not be a game they can come out on top of. Oklahoma State is ranked sixth for good reasons and would be favored to win against Texas Tech based on the preseason rankings.
12. Wisconsin Badgers
14 of 25
The Wisconsin Badgers play many of the preseason top 25 ranked teams in 2011. The Badgers are losing multiple important athletes from the 2010 season though.
If they manage to win against Nebraska, as they did in their bowl game, then I don't see the Badgers having problems until the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes' will have their five suspended players by eligible again by this point and that may be the push they need to come out on top.
11. South Carolina Gamecocks
15 of 25
Facing Auburn, even without Newton and Fairley, may be challenging for South Carolina. The Gamecocks have many players entering the NFL draft and are rebounding into the 2011 season with two difficult losses on their shoulders.
The Gamecocks face Auburn on October 1, 2011. Even though Auburn is lower in the ranks, the teams are going to be changing and I see Auburn coming out ahead of South Carolina.
10. Ohio State Buckeyes
16 of 25
Ohio State should be able to make it through the first five games of the season without the five suspended players. Multiple offensive players are expected back, but the defense will have to be built back up.
If Ohio State survives the game against Michigan State, without the five players, then it should be in good shape for Wisconsin. Wisconsin will be the third game that the suspended players will be eligible to play and the Buckeyes should be able to come out victorious.
Depending on how the Buckeyes are looking going into the season, I could see Ohio State losing one of their first five games.
9. Stanford Cardinal
17 of 25
Stanford had a lot of success in 2010, but can that success be continued in 2011? A new head coach and multiple offensive and defensive players will need to be replaced, but the Cardinal football team should remain strong.
The Oregon Ducks would be the team most likely to give Stanford their first loss of the season. The Ducks (preseason ranked at number 2) have just come off a close loss to Auburn in the National Championship, but will still be coming back ready to play in 2011.
8. Arkansas Razorbacks
18 of 25
Arkansas has a lot of returning talent in 2011. They are shaping up to be a strong team. The Razorbacks have to start the season better than they finished the last, with a loss in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Playing Alabama at the Crimson Tide's home field is going to prove troublesome for Arkansas. Alabama is favored to win, but it will be a difficult game. Arkansas offense is expected to recover, with many returning players, and the defense isn't foreseen to suffer too much; only losing 3 starters.
7. Florida State Seminoles
19 of 25
Unfortunately for the Seminoles, they are playing Oklahoma for the third game of their 2011 season. Oklahoma is coming back as a very strong team. With the Sooners being ranked ahead of the Seminoles, they are favored to win, but it should be a close game.
The Seminoles were a young team in 2010 and have a lot of returning players. Hopefully, they can build on those veterans.
6. Oklahoma State Cowboys
20 of 25
Oklahoma State is expected to come back stronger than their 2010 season. With difficult conference games such as Texas Tech, Missouri and Oklahoma, it is a toss up as to who will give Oklahoma State their first loss.
If anyone could do it, it would be Oklahoma. They are coming back as a power house of talent, hence why they were given the preseason ranking of number 1.
OSU has some tough games ahead, but should manage winning most of them.
5. Boise State Broncos
21 of 25
Boise State is expected to come back and be as consistent as they have for the past three years. With an unset conference schedule, predicting a Broncos loss isn't likely.
I see the Broncos winning their games against Georgia, Toledo, Tulsa, Nevada, and Fresno and with no other teams scheduled, it's difficult to make a prediction. As of their current schedule, I don't see them losing.
4. LSU Tigers
22 of 25
LSU's first loss is most likely going to be their season opener against Oregon. The Ducks are going to be coming back from a BCS Championship loss hungry for a chance at redemption.
LSU is first on the list. The game could be an upset, but Oregon is favored to win.
The Tigers also have other difficult conference games lined up in their season, such as Mississippi State and Alabama.
3. Oregon Ducks
23 of 25
Oregon's season opener is going to be a difficult game, but with preseason ranking placing the Ducks ahead of the Tigers, they are favored to win.
With the Ducks undefeated until the championship game last season, their first loss is toss up, if it happens at all. Oregon will come up against some highly regarded teams throughout their schedule; Stanford and Washington State being two of them.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
24 of 25
The Crimson Tide has some tough games ahead in 2011 against many of the preseason ranked top 25. Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn are all slated to compete against Alabama.
The 2010 team was considered young, but they still played like one of the best. Any of the top 25 contenders could potentially be a first loss for Alabama. However, if they stay motivated, I don't see it happening.
1. Oklahoma Sooners
25 of 25
The Sooners have received the number one slot in the preseason rankings. With a massive amount of players returning and a Tostitos Fiesta Bowl win, Oklahoma is expected to dominate in 2011.
Oklahoma will face difficult Big 12 games against Missouri, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State. With the ranking of number one, Oklahoma is favored to win. However, these Big 12 teams are going to put up a fight to beat the Sooners.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
