College Football Predictions 2011: Which Teams Will Make a Top 25 Appearance?
Are you seething that all the "way-too-early" college football Top 25 rankings don't include your team? But eight of your defensive starters are coming back! And your coach reeled in a top-25 recruiting class!
Well, don't sweat it. Preseason Top 25 rankings are hardly ever right. The rankings fluctuate from week to week as overrated teams fall out and surprise teams move in.
Here is the college football super-ridiculously-there-is-no-way-to-have-a-decent-idea-at-this-point Top 25 and 10 teams that will break into the Top 25 sometime during the season.
Rankings: 1-8
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1. Oklahoma Sooners: Landry Jones, Ryan Broyles lead an explosive offense
2. Alabama Crimson Tide: Incredibly talented team looking for a quarterback
3. Oregon Ducks: Darron Thomas, LaMichael James have Ducks quacking again
4. LSU Tigers: Defense will be great. Can Jordan Jefferson be as well?
5. Ohio State Buckeyes: Suspensions will be tricky
6. Florida State Seminoles: High expectations for team that lost its quarterback
7. Stanford Cardinal: Andrew Luck is back, Jim Harbaugh is gone
8. Boise State Broncos: Kellen Moore will have Broncos back in BCS hunt
Rankings: 9-16
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9. Oklahoma State Cowboys: Justin Blackmon's return a huge boost
10. TCU Horned Frogs: TCU is in the rankings for the foreseeable future
11. Texas A&M Aggies: Can Mike Sherman, Ryan Tannehill handle pressure?
12. Arkansas Razorbacks: Tyler Wilson impressed in relief against Auburn
13. Wisconsin Badgers: Stout defense plus strong running game
14. Michigan State: Key players back on offense
15. South Carolina: Even before Jadeveon Clowney joined, defense was great
16. Georgia Bulldogs: Aaron Murray ready to become elite quarterback
Rankings: 17-25
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17. Florida Gators: Loaded roster plus new energy have Gators back
18. Auburn Tigers: Cam Newton wasn't Gene Chizik's only big recruit
19. Missouri Tigers: Can James Franklin transition into starting quarterback?
20. Virginia Tech Hokies: Bruce Taylor, Jayron Hosley to lead tough defense
21. Nebraska Cornhuskers: Improved Taylor Martinez could vault Huskers in rankings
22. West Virginia Mountaineers: Bruce Irvin to lead defense, Dana Holgorsen implements offense
23. Mississippi State Bulldogs: Defense gets a lot back, Chris Relf returns as quarterback
24. Notre Dame: Dayne Crist or Tommy Rees?
25. Arizona State: 20 starters return on defense. Stay could be short-lived
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
On the Cusp: Maryland Terrapins
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Maryland has quarterback Danny O'Brien and leading rusher Davin Meggett back. It might take a few weeks and a couple of ACC wins, but the Terrapins should break into the Top 25 and compete for a conference crown.
The program has new direction for the first time since the 2000 season with Ralph Friedgen being let go/resigning and Randy Edsall taking over. Edsall took on one of the toughest jobs in America at Connecticut and successfully transitioned it to Division I.
On the Cusp: Houston Cougars
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Case Keenum was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. That means that Houston's offense will be flying as high as it was when the Cougars were flirting with BCS aspirations in 2009.
Kelvin Sumlin is putting together an impressive run as head coach. Get past UCLA in Week 1 and it's a pretty open road for Houston. If they beat who they're supposed to, the Cougars could be undefeated late into the season.
On the Cusp: Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes
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If nothing else, fired coach Randy Shannon stockpiled the talent at Miami. Al Golden is taking on anything but empty cupboards.
Allen Bailey and Brandon Harris left early for the NFL Draft. But there is plenty of athleticism still on the defense.
Jacory Harris has to play better in 2011 if Miami is going stay competitive. The Hurricanes will squeak into the rankings at some point.
On the Cusp: Michigan Wolverines
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Much like Notre Dame, Michigan benefits from its tradition. Win a couple games over directional MAC schools and people start claiming that the Wolverines are back.
However, they may stick it out in the rankings for a while in 2011. Denard Robinson is one of the most exciting players in college football and he'll be ready to prove his doubters wrong.
Brady Hoke takes over as coach, bringing a new culture to the program.
On the Cusp: Utah Utes
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Utah has built a consistent program with need-based recruiting that gets players based on what coaches see in them rather than hype. It's led to plenty of unsung recruits-turned-stars.
Jordan Wynn is one of those. He was shaky down the stretch at quarterback in 2010 but should be ready to go in 2011. Or so Utes fans hope.
If Utah gets off to a hot start with wins at USC and at BYU, there will be no way to keep Utah out of the rankings.
On the Cusp: Baylor Bears
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Robert Griffin III and Baylor have a tough slate of games. They host TCU, Oklahoma and Texas and visit Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.
While that provides plenty of opportunities for Baylor to stumble, it also gives plenty of opportunities for big wins. String a few wins together with one of those in the middle and the Bears will break into the rankings.
Here's hoping Griffin can stay healthy and the Bears complete their rise to competitor in the Big 12.
On the Cusp: Penn State Nittany Lions
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Robert Bolden has some figuring out to do at quarterback. But Penn State will turn out a traditionally strong defense and give him some time to get his head wrapped around the position.
A visit from Alabama on Sept. 9 won't help. But that match-up is followed by seven very winnable games in a row for Penn State. Any one-loss team that rattles off seven wins in a row is likely to get into the Top 15.
On the Cusp: Central Florida Knights
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Central Florida has high expectations for 2011. The biggest potential pitfalls on the schedule include a home date with Boston College and visits to BYU, Florida International and Southern Miss.
With Jeffrey Godfrey running the offense again in his sophomore season and Ronnie Weaver returning after leading the team in rushing, the offense is set.
Two of the Knights top three tacklers from 2010, Kemal Ishmael and Josh Linam, return for a defense that was eighth in the country in scoring defense.
On the Cusp: Texas Longhorns
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Longhorn fans are hoping that quarterback Garrett Gilbert makes grand strides in between the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
Texas has new coordinators on offense and defense thanks to previous defensive coordinator Will Muschamp's defection to be head coach at Florida and Mack Brown letting longtime offensive coordinator Greg Davis go.
The talent is there and Texas should be ranked in time to play Oklahoma Oct. 8.
On the Cusp: Arizona Wildcats
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Arizona gets a gauntlet to start the season. After running roughshod over Northern Arizona, the Wildcats visit Oklahoma State, host Stanford and Oregon, and then visit USC and Oregon State.
If Arizona can make it through that stretch of its schedule at 3-3 or better, it will be well on its way to a ranking. By the end of the season, the Wildcats should be vying for a Pac 12 championship.
Junior quarterback Nick Foles should have the offense clicking from the start.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
