College Football Predictions 2011: Ranking the Upcoming Season's Top 25 Teams
College football predictions 2011 are something that will be a huge topic of debate as we get closer and closer to next season.
We'll know for sure in the summer where these teams stand, but for now it's time to take an early look at what the national picture looks like.
We're breaking down the top 25 teams in the country and if you agree or disagree, be sure to leave it in the comments.
Who do you think the best team in the nation is?
No. 25: West Virginia
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This will be Bill Stewart's last year and it won't be a fun environment.
Dana Holgersen is the guy in waiting at West Virginia and will be the team's offensive coordinator. He'll work with Geno Smith and it will be interesting to see how this situation plays itself out for the Mountaineers.
You know the players want to send Stewart out on top.
No. 24: Arizona State
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Arizona State is back in the national spotlight this year.
A lot of people may not expect much from the Sun Devils, but there are plenty of great players out there that can surprise a lot of people who write them off because of recent history. Arizona State will have a lot of competition in conference play, but they may sneak up on some teams.
Be sure to keep an eye on the Sun Devils as the season progresses.
No. 23: Florida
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Things are changing in Florida and they should change for the better.
Will Muschamp is the head man for the Gators and he should bring new energy to the program after Urban Meyer left at the end of last season.
There is plenty of talent there and it's just a matter of putting it all together as the season comes along.
Muschamp and the Gators could surprise a lot of people this year.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 22: Missouri
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Blaine Gabbert won't be back, but the Missouri Tigers still have plenty of talent.
The quarterback position will be a question mark of course, but the Tigers have a chance to make a splash in the Big 12.
Missouri has a lot of starters returning from last year's team and that experience will be vital to next year's success.
However, losing Gabbert will be a big blow to the Tigers.
No. 21: Texas
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Last year was not a season that many were used to seeing from Texas.
The Longhorns struggled mightily last year after making it to the national championship game the season before. Mack Brown lost Will Muschamp to Florida and he has the talent to rebound, it's just a matter of getting a consistent performance each week.
If he can, the Longhorns will be a handful.
No. 20: Georgia
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Mark Richt did a good job of getting people to forget he was on the hot seat last year.
Georgia had one of the best recruiting classes in the country and with the talent that's already there, the Bulldogs have a chance to be one of the better teams in the SEC.
They won't compete with teams like LSU, but there's no reason Georgia can't get to a really good bowl game.
Richt may need to, otherwise patience may run out in Georgia.
No. 19: TCU
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TCU has been a BCS buster for years and we'll see if the Horned Frogs can get back to the top of the rankings.
Andy Dalton is gone and TCU will try and reload after getting to the Rose Bowl and upsetting Wisconsin.
The Horned Frogs had a good recruiting class come in and TCU always seems to keep itself relevant in the national picture.
The momentum from a huge win could help the Horned Frogs start the year off on the right note.
No. 18: Mississippi State
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If you're looking for a possible sleeper in the SEC, look no further than Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs finished strong to end the season and then beat Michigan into the dirt to finish things. Mississippi State has a lot of talent on its roster and has certainly been battle-tested in conference play. If the Bulldogs can build off of this past season, they will be dangerous.
Dan Mullen has done a great job since coming there from Florida.
No. 17: Notre Dame
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Notre Dame has recently had a lot of hype but nothing to show for it.
This could be the year all of that changes under Brian Kelly. The Fighting Irish had a great finish to the season and are returning a lot of talented players and have a lot of depth behind them.
If Notre Dame can finally put it together, we're looking at a team destined for the BCS.
It feels weird saying it, but it's the truth.
No. 16: South Carolina
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Steve Spurrier has done a great job in South Carolina, even if there are no major championships to show for it.
It's not easy to win in the SEC, but Spurrier has the Gamecocks in a solid position heading into next season and will have Marcus Lattimore ready to go next year. Lattimore will be the star for the Gamecocks and should have South Carolina in every game.
The quarterback situation is still a question mark and if Stephen Garcia can step up, the Gamecocks could make the leap to the next level.
No. 15: Nebraska
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Nebraska is going to need Taylor Martinez to step up.
Martinez struggled down the stretch and so did the Cornhuskers. The young quarterback is still very raw, but he needs to start making strides if Nebraska wants to be a major force in the Big 12. That is the difference between a good season and a great season for the Cornhuskers.
Bo Pelini will coach this team up and that defense will keep Nebraska in every game this season.
No. 14: Arkansas
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Arkansas came up a hair short in the Sugar Bowl against Ohio State, but the Razorbacks will try and reload this year.
Ryan Mallett won't be back after heading to the NFL, but Bobby Petrino will try and keep his high-powered offense rolling and has done a great job of building Arkansas back up to a position of greatness since he got there.
It won't be easy to get through the SEC, but the Razorbacks have a chance to have a good season.
No. 13: Auburn
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Sure, Cam Newton and Nick Fairley are gone, but that doesn't mean Auburn will fade out of the national picture.
Michael Dyer proved he could be a difference-maker last year and the Tigers will look to him next year as Auburn tries to repeat as national champions.
The Tigers got a big time recruiting class this offseason and Gene Chizik will try and see what he can get out of some of them right away as he works them in with his veterans.
Chizik is a great coach and he'll have his boys ready to play, even if there will be some growing pains.
No. 12: Michigan State
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Michigan State had one of the best years in program history, but the Spartans saw their season end in embarrassment.
The Spartans were pummeled by Alabama at the end of the season and Michigan State always seemed to come up short in the biggest games of the year. Do you trust the Spartans to play their best football when it matters the most? I know I don't.
Maybe they'll prove us all wrong next year, but I doubt it.
No. 11: Wisconsin
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The Wisconsin Badgers were upset in the Rose Bowl, but that doesn't mean they won't be back next year.
Wisconsin is losing some of its players on the offensive line, but the Badgers always seem to reload on the line with some massive talents.
The Big Ten is up for grabs and Wisconsin will compete with Ohio State for the conference title.
It should be an interesting battle and don't be shocked to see Wisconsin back in the Rose Bowl.
No. 10: Boise State
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Boise State is losing some of the weapons they had last year, but Kellen Moore will keep his team competitive.
The Broncos will try and make another run at being a BCS buster and Moore will try to become a Heisman Trophy candidate for the second year in a row.
Losing guys like Titus Young will hurt, but Boise State has been able to reload in the past and we'll see if they can do it again this year.
It will be an interesting year for the Broncos.
No. 9: Florida State
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Florida State is a program that is set to return to the prominence it used to enjoy on the national landscape.
Jimbo Fisher has done a great job of taking over for Bobby Bowden and he has a lot of talent on his roster. E.J. Manuel will take over under center and the Seminoles have a lot of talent and a great recruiting class coming in that could help make plays this year.
The Seminoles are the team to watch for in the ACC.
No. 8: Texas A&M
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Texas A&M was one of the best teams down the stretch last year and the Aggies are poised to be contenders next season.
The Aggies have had a good offseason and have a lot of momentum heading into the upcoming season. They have the potential to be the best team in the Big 12 when it's all said and done. Texas A&M has good depth and a solid recruiting class coming in.
Things are certainly looking up for the Aggies.
No. 7: Oklahoma State
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Justin Blackmon and Justin Weeden are returning and that means Oklahoma State will be in great shape heading into this season.
Sure, Oklahoma State lost its offensive coordinator, Dana Holgorsen, to West Virginia, but the Cowboys have a ton of talent on the roster and played really well last season. With Blackmon back, the Cowboys have a playmaker and can compete with anyone.
The Cowboys should factor heavily in the Big 12 title hunt.
No. 6: Ohio State
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It won't be an easy start to the season, but Ohio State is still a major threat in the national picture.
The Buckeyes will be without Terrelle Pryor to start the season along with a couple other players. If Ohio State can get past the major tests in Miami and Michigan State in that span, then the Buckeyes will be in great shape down the stretch.
Jim Tressel will have to do a great coaching job, but he is more than capable of doing that.
No. 5: Stanford
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Andrew Luck is back at Stanford and the Cardinal will be contenders next year.
Jim Harbaugh won't be back as the head coach, but with Luck in the fold, Stanford will be one of the contenders for the national championship and will have a massive showdown with Oregon to determine who the top team is out west.
Hopefully Luck doesn't have the same luck that Jake Locker did.
No. 4: Oregon
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The Oregon Ducks came so close to a national championship and they will be back for more next year.
Oregon will have to get by LSU early in the season and a tough conference schedule, but the Ducks have Darron Thomas and LaMichael James coming back and Chip Kelly will have that offense running on all cylinders next year.
The Ducks are going to put up a ton of points next year.
No. 3: Alabama
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Nick Saban had to rebuild his defense last year and now the Crimson Tide have some questions to be answered. However, they still have a great squad.
Trent Richardson should be the focal point of Alabama's offense next year with Mark Ingram and Greg McElroy leaving school and the Crimson Tide will have a defense that got a lot of experience playing in the SEC and should be much better than last year's talented group.
Saban will have his guys ready to go from Week 1.
No. 2: Oklahoma
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The Oklahoma Sooners are going to be a handful next year.
While the Sooners are losing a couple of pieces from this year's team, they are bringing back Landry Jones and a whole bunch of others to make a run at a national championship. Oklahoma was the top-ranked team in the nation at one point and there's no reason why the Sooners can't get back to that point.
Oklahoma is the favorite to win the Big 12 as we enter the season.
No. 1: LSU
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Les Miles has a great group coming in this season and he's going to have a great chance to win another national championship.
LSU has to get through the always-tough SEC schedule and a matchup with Oregon early in the season. If the Tigers can do that, they will be battle-tested and ready to go in the national championship game. The Tigers have a ton of talent and will be dangerous all year long.
Miles will have plenty of weapons at his disposal for when he tries to run his trick plays. I can't wait to see what he cooks up.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
