College Football Predictions: 10 Marquee Programs Destined To Fail in 2011
Disappointment is a guaranteed part of college football. Only one team can win most conferences and only one team can win a national championship.
This leaves dozens more with title aspirations on the outside looking in. Some programs not only miss out on their goals, but slide way out of contention and leave fanbases calling for coaches' heads.
There are some programs for which we can already see the signs of failure. Some teams have lost significant pieces from their roster, others have a tough schedule ahead and still others have a combination of those and other factors.
Here are 10 marquee programs for which fanbases should temper their expectations.
10. Navy: Tougher Schedule Brings Midshipmen Back to Earth
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There are two ways that Coach Ken Niumatalolo can make sure his team doesn't totally disappoint. The first is to retain his job so that announcers have to continue trying to pronounce his last name. It's always entertaining.
The other way is to have a coronary in a ref's face again, like he did at halftime of the team's game against Maryland last year.
When Navy wins eight games for seven straight seasons, it's a premier program. But the schedule next season has some land mines, such as away games with Notre Dame, South Carolina and Rutgers. Also, quarterback Ricky Dobbs has graduated.
9. Mississippi State: Worst SEC Scheduling Draw Imaginable
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Mississippi State had a phenomenal season by program standards in 2010, going 9-4 with a throttling win over Michigan in the Gator Bowl. That success has led to great expectations for the Bulldogs in 2011 and a likely preseason ranking.
However, check out that gauntlet of a schedule MSU has the pleasure of undertaking next season. They visit Auburn and host LSU before September is even over. Then they visit Georgia and host South Carolina in October.
November brings a trip to Arkansas, a home game against Alabama and the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss.
Is it that hard to see the Bulldogs losing all of those games?
8. Utah: Transition To Pac-10 Will Be Rough
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Outsiders looking in on Utah last season may have been impressed with their 10-3 finish, but much of the success was obtained on tenuous ground. The Utes had to mount a big comeback to beat San Diego State and overcome producing relatively no offense to beat BYU.
Quarterback Jordan Wynn looked superhuman some games and super pee wee others. And that was in the Mountain West Conference.
Now Utah moves to the Pac-10. The Utes got a pretty favorable draw for its first Pac-12 schedule, avoiding Oregon and Stanford. But it still should be a rocky ride.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Missouri: Question at Quarterback for First Time in a Long Time
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For the first time in nine years, the Missouri Tigers won't have Brad Smith, Chase Daniel or Blaine Gabbert at quarterback. James Franklin looks like the next guy in line.
Can he step up and keep the Tigers rolling? They've been on quite the run over the past several years and will need great quarterback play to keep it going.
Gabbert is the only offensive starter Missouri won't have back and the defense returns plenty as well. But the Big 12 isn't getting any easier.
6. Iowa: Dealing with Off-Field Distractions
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What exactly is happening in Iowa City, Iowa?
From an overblown drug scandal that aided in the release of star running back Adam Robinson to a strenuous workout putting players in the hospital to future star running back Brandon Wegher transferring, the program is in some level of disarray.
It's setting up for a must-win season for coach Kirk Ferentz if he wants to keep his job much longer. When expectations are low, Ferentz usually turns out his best seasons.
But for a team that is expected to compete for the Big Ten championship year in and year out, it's setting up to be another disappointing year.
5. Auburn: Losing Too Much Star Power to Stay Near Top
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Despite losing their best offensive and defensive players, quarterback Cam Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley, the defending national champion Auburn Tigers have high expectations.
The expectations are too high. Auburn was such a better team at the end of the season in 2010 than they were at the beginning of the season thanks to building momentum and confidence with sketchy wins. That was thanks to Newton's heroics.
The talent pool is deep at Auburn, but expectations of a repeat of 2010 or anything close is inadvisable.
4. Wisconsin: Badgers Losing Key Experience and Production
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Running back John Clay is gone, but that doesn't have Badger fans worried, since James White and Montee Ball will both be back. However, losing the whole left side of the offensive line with the graduation of tackle Gabe Carimi and guard John Moffitt hurts.
Quarterback Scott Tolzien, tight end Lance Kendricks and stud defensive end J.J. Watt are all gone as well.
There a lot of holes for the Badgers to fill and high expectations to live up to. The Big Ten will be deep in 2011.
3. Virginia Tech: Tyrod Taylor Gone, ACC Rising
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The Tyrod Taylor era is officially over at Virginia Tech after seemingly a decade. Seriously, doesn't it feel like Taylor had seven years of eligibility?
Running back Ryan Williams is gone as well, although his impact was limited due to injuries.
The expectations remain high for a team that has won three of the last four ACC championships. But the ACC has some rising teams with Florida State and maybe Clemson making some noise. North Carolina and Georgia Tech should both bounce back.
It's going to be a tougher road than the Hokies have seen in recent years.
2. TCU: Only 5 Starters Returning
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Eight starters are gone from TCU's offense, including quarterback Andy Dalton, four offensive linemen and do-all wide receiver/kick returner Jeremy Kerley. Nine starters are gone on defense.
The good news for the Horned Frogs is that also gone are Utah and BYU from the schedule, thanks to conference realignment. But Nevada, Fresno State and Boise State are now on it. Games at Baylor and against Southern Methodist are both challenging as well.
Failure for TCU is relative considering their recent successes. But 2011 won't be a BCS busting season and fans should be happy with 10 wins.
1. Ohio State: Suspensions to Key Players Will Take Their Toll
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Four offensive starters and an expected defensive starter have been suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season. Those include quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron and wide receiver DeVier Posey.
The Buckeyes could roll through their first five games without those five with a home game against Michigan State as the toughest test and a trip to Miami (Fl.) as the only road game.
But the missed game time in the usual tune-up games against familiar Mid-American Conference opponents will leave those key players to return to a bonfire of opponents. They'll visit Nebraska and Illinois right away and then host Wisconsin after a bye week.
It's going to be tough for the Buckeyes to keep their six year streak of earning at least part of the Big Ten championship going.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
