College Football 2011: The Biggest Challenge Facing Every Top 25 Program
The 2011 college football season is still quite a ways away, but now that the last of the elite recruits have signed, we can take a more in-depth look at next season.
When last year's final Top 25 polls were released, many teams had their fair share of questions heading into the offseason. Players leaving through graduation or the draft, coaches heading to different schools and a slew of talented athletes incoming left teams from the top of the rankings to the bottom of the boards with challenges to face and address.
We're breaking down the biggest challenges that each of the top 25 teams from last season will face heading into the 2011 season. Several of these schools probably won't spend most (or any) of next season in the top 25, but since they're the last set of definitive rankings available, we'll use the AP's Top 25.
Let's get rolling, shall we?
25. North Carolina State: Finding Offensive Balance
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The Wolfpack had one of the most explosive offenses in football last season, averaging an impressive 31.8 points per game.
However, much of that offense was built around quarterback Russell Wilson, who accounted for 37 of the team's touchdowns last year.
While Wilson is coming back to school next year, the Wolfpack could use a bit of balance offensively to keep teams from keying on their dynamic quarterback. If that means giving more carries to sophomore running back Mustafa Greene, then so be it, but N.C State needs to balance out if they want to stick in the AP Top 25.
24. Tulsa: Defense
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We've been here before with the Golden Hurricane. They have a stellar season, only to slip back into mediocrity and obscurity the next year.
Tulsa went 10-3 last year, largely on the basis of an offense that scored 41.4 points per game. With most of their key pieces returning, the offense should be as good as ever.
But they needed every one of those points, because they allowed more than 30 points per game last year.
If the Golden Hurricane want to stick in the Top 25, that has to improve. If it doesn't, it'll be another one-hit wonder season in Tulsa.
23. Maryland: Coaching Change
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The Terps went 9-4 last year under ACC Coach of the Year Ralph Friedgen, but that didn't stop the school from firing the 10-year vet and bringing in UConn head coach Randy Edsall to run the show instead.
Edsall takes over a team with plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. But it just didn't get over the hump under Friedgen.
Edsall's style is very different than that of his predecessor, and if the Terps are going to live up to their potential, they're going to need to click with their new coach's philosophy sooner rather than later.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
22. South Carolina: Living Up to Expectations
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The Gamecocks are in a rare position in the SEC East: favorites. With much of this year's conference runner-up squad returning and a strong recruiting class, spearheaded by top-ranked recruit and sack master Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina is seen as one of the teams favored to punch a ticket to Atlanta.
In the past, the Gamecocks folded under the weight of expectations, like following up a big win against Alabama with a letdown against Kentucky, and never lived up to the hype.
That has to change next year, as South Carolina finally has all the pieces in place to make a real run at the SEC crown.
21. Central Florida: Throwing the Football
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The Golden Knights of Central Florida are slowly building quite a nice program in Conference USA. They went 7-1 in the conference and 11-3 overall, largely built around a strong rushing attack and a defense that allowed just 17.1 points per game.
But if UCF wants to continue to stick in the Top 25, they have to throw the football better. They ranked 87th in passing yards per game, and freshman quarterback Jeffrey Godfrey threw just 13 touchdown passes compared to eight picks.
Godfrey has to improve this season if the Knights want to continue to grow as a program.
20. Nebraska: The Big Ten Move
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The Cornhuskers were a colossal disappointment in 2010, getting off to a stellar start before losing three of their last four en route to a 10-4 season.
They've got serious questions about their offensive consistency to answer, but the biggest challenge facing them has got to be the move to the Big Ten.
Suddenly, after facing the same teams for over a decade and many of those teams for over a generation, the Huskers get an entirely new set of powerhouse teams to battle. They're now the newcomer in the conference and are going to have to prove themselves worthy of the hype.
Can they do it? Sure. Will they do it? Who knows?
19. Texas A&M: Living Up to the Hype
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The Aggies ended 2010-11 on a serious tear, winning their last six regular season games before dropping their bowl.
The offense clicked behind quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who returns under center next season. Also returning are running back Cyrus Gray, wideout Jeff Fuller and most of a defense that ranked in the top 40 in points allowed.
In other words, with most of their starting lineup returning, there are going to be some hefty expectations in College Station.
And given the Aggies penchant for underachieving in years when expectations are raised, it's safe to say that meeting those expectations is going to be the biggest challenge Mike Sherman's squad will face.
18. Missouri: Replacing Blaine Gabbert
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Next season should be an excellent one in Columbia. Without Nebraska standing in their way, they should be favorites to win the Big 12 North, and with 10 starters coming back on offense and seven returning on defense, the Tigers should be able to build on their success of 2010.
There's just one problem: the one player leaving on offense is quarterback Blaine Gabbert. The star passer was crucial to Mizzou's attack
17. Florida State Seminoles: Continue the Rebuilding
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The Seminoles couldn't quite get over the hump in 2010-11, struggling against elite competition for much of the season. But they enter next year laden with even more promise than they had in this one.
With quarterback E.J. Manuel, running back Chris Thompson and a good chunk of last year's defense returning, the Seminoles figured to improve regardless of their recruiting class, based on increased experience alone.
But with the nation's best class of incoming freshmen, Florida State figures to be on the fast track to recapturing the glory of the 1990s and early 2000s.
Now all they have to do is live up to their considerable potential. Can they do it? Or will it be another false start?
16. Virginia Tech: Find Some Offense
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The Hokies offense brought quite a bit of pop to the table in 2010, ranking 21st in points per game. The only problem? Most of those points and most of the yardage racked up by Virginia Tech came from quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who is graduating this May. Also leaving are running backs Darren Evans and Ryan Williams, both of whom jumped for the NFL Draft.
So who's going to put up the yards and points? Will converted tight end Logan Thomas be able to lead this offense? And will kick returner David Wilson be able to handle the workload of a go-to back?
Odds are good the Hokies will be just fine; after all, Frank Beamer is a pro at rebuilding jobs. But until we see the new blood on the field, it's hard to say for sure.
15. Mississippi State: Keep It Going
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The Bulldogs shocked the world when they went 9-4 in 2009, including a bowl game waxing of Michigan. But the fact is, these perennial SEC also-rans need another strong season before we're willing to see them as anything other than one-hit wonders.
The offense should improve next year behind quarterback Chris Relf and running back Vick Ballard, but they are losing their top offensive and defensive linemen.
Next year will be crucial to this team under head coach Dan Mullens. If we're going to buy Mississippi State as legit contenders in the SEC, they have to do it again next season and win more than eight games in the regular season.
14. Michigan State: Win on the Road
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Last year was a historic one for the Michigan State Spartans, which used a balanced offense and a solid defense to roll to an 11-2 record, one of the best in the history of the program.
But anyone who saw Sparty play outside of the state of Michigan came away wondering whether this was the same team that trounced Michigan in the Big House and knocked off Wisconsin. They dodged a bullet against Northwestern, looked shaky against Penn State in Happy Valley and got run out of the stadium by both Alabama and Iowa in games outside of their home state.
With most of the core returning, including quarterback Kirk Cousins and running backs Edwin Baker and Le'Veon Bell, Sparty has to learn to win on the road if they hope to hold this spot.
13. Oklahoma State: Fix the Defense
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The flashy Cowboys of Oklahoma State exploded onto the national scene in 2010-11, finishing the year with a sterling 11-2 record thanks to an offense that ranked among the most potent in the nation.
While the offense should still be as dangerous as ever, thanks to the return of quarterback Branden Weeden and wideout Justin Blackmon, the defense is a serious area of concern.
Oklahoma State ranked 61st in points allowed last season, and that unit is losing six starters, meaning they could get even worse next year.
If the Cowboys want to keep this hot streak going, the defense is going to have to rise to the occasion.
12. Arkansas: Beat the Elite
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Arkansas was seen as a BCS-bowl contender throughout the 2010-11 season, and made it into the Sugar Bowl, where they fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Yet, for many Razorback fans, it was a disappointing season. Why? They couldn't get the job done against the SEC's best teams.
They collapsed in epic fashion against Alabama, giving up 17 unanswered points as they fell 24-20. Then they hung tough with top-ranked Auburn just a few weeks later, only to give up 28 unanswered points in the fourth quarter en route to a 65-43 shellacking.
This year, the Hogs lose quarterback Ryan Mallett, but backup Tyler Wilson could be another NFL-caliber talent. Add to that one of the nation's best wideout corps, a dynamic running back in Knile Davis and a much improved defense that returns eight people, and you've got the makings of a serious contender.
But to get there, Arkansas has to take down LSU, Alabama and Auburn next season, as they're the front-runners in the SEC West.
11. Nevada: Replacing Colin Kaepernick
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For three seasons, the Nevada Wolfpack have been defined by their star quarterback, dual-threat Colin Kaepernick.
He was the heart and soul of their offense, capable of slicing and dicing an opposing defense with his legs or picking it apart with his arm.
But now, Nevada is without their superstar and will have to find someone, anyone, to replace him if they hope to stick in the Top 25.
If that weren't enough, star running back Vai Taua is on his way out the door as well.
In order to stay as a top team in the WAC, the Wolfpack need to find new offensive weapons and do it in a hurry.
10. Alabama Crimson Tide: Get Back to the Top
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The Crimson Tide regressed ever so slightly in 2010-11 after winning it all the year before, but with plenty of talent on the field and a slew of new recruits to integrate, Alabama is looking like a serious contender.
So what's the challenge? Putting it all together. After all, the Tide lose their most talented running back, most talented wide receiver and starting quarterback before next season. While the talent is there to replace them, they have to integrate it all and hope it jells before the season gets underway.
If it does, Tuscaloosa could be celebrating yet another crystal football. If it doesn't, they'll be darned good, but everyone will wonder what might have been.
9. Boise State: Moving to the Mountain West
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Boise State was a shanked field goal away from posting another undefeated season and contending for a BCS title bid, but the Broncos are going to be around for a while.
The losses of top wideouts Austin Pettis and Titus Young hurts, but the Smurf Turfers have enough returning, including quarterback Kellen Moore and running back Doug Martin, that they shouldn't miss them too much.
What could prove challenging for Boise State is the move to the tougher Mountain West Conference. After all, they now face fellow BCS outsider TCU next season, as well as tough outs like Air Force and San Diego State.
If Boise weathers the move, look for them to contend for the BCS title. If they don't, it'll be another backwater bowl for the Broncos.
8. LSU: Finding Offense
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The Tigers were one of the best teams in college football last season, thanks in large part to a defense that ranked 11th in the country. They're returning eight starters on defense and 10 on offense, and figure to be one of the nation's top teams next season.
There's just one problem: the offense. Les Miles' boys struggled and sputtered fairly regularly, and the passing game was downright incapable of moving the ball.
It might be Jordan Jefferson, the truly talented but wildly underachieving incumbent, or JUCO transfer Zach Mettenberger, but if LSU wants to stay a top team next year, someone has to be able to throw the football.
7. Wisconsin: Rebuilding the Offensive Line
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The Badgers wowed us with their grinding, unstoppable consistency for most of the 2010-11 season, with their overwhelming run game and a solid passing attack.
But much of their success was due to the offensive line, and it's going to be a full-on rebuild come next season.
Gone is left tackle Gabe Carimi. Gone is left guard John Moffitt. Gone is center Bill Nagy.
The Badgers churn out hulking lineman like a factory, but until we see the new guys in action, this is going to be their biggest roadblock to 2011 success.
6. Oklahoma: Get Over the Hump
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Oklahoma enters the offseason as one of the early favorites to play for the crystal football next season, and with good reason. Coach Bob Stoops is returning 29 players who started a game for the Sooners in 2010-11, including quarterback Landry Jones, wideout Ryan Broyles and linebacker Travis Lewis all coming back.
Talent-wise, there aren't many holes to fill, but the Sooners still have a big roadblock to get over. Given their talent level heading into this season, the biggest thing Oklahoma has to worry about is the pressure.
Sooners' faithful will be expecting a return trip to the BCS title tilt this season, and anything less will make the season a disappointment.
If Stoops' team can shoulder the expectations of a ravenous fan base, things should turn out pretty well for them.
5. Ohio State: Survive the First Five Games
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Heading into the Sugar Bowl, many saw Ohio State as a lock to head to the national championship game in 2011-12 with all of the talent they had returning.
But then disaster struck. Five players, including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, top running back Dan Herron, second wideout DeVier Posey and All-Big Ten lineman Mike Adams must sit out the first five games after selling memorabilia.
Four of those five games should be walkovers, as the Buckeyes have a trio of softer clashes on the schedule. But those remaining games are at Miami (Florida) and at home against Michigan State.
If they come out 5-0, they should stay favorites to win the national title. If they're anything worse than that, it's going to be quite the uphill battle for the Bucks moving forward.
4. Stanford Cardinal: Replacing Jim Harbaugh
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In three seasons at Stanford, Jim Harbaugh turned the Cardinal into national contenders, raising their prestige to a level not seen since John Elway walked the campus.
But then, after last year's breakthrough campaign, Harbaugh bolted to the NFL, leaving the school to figure out how to maintain the same level of competitiveness without their leader.
The Cardinal still have future first-overall pick Andrew Luck, and the system should be more or less the same with offensive coordinator David Shaw running the show.
But can Stanford match the success they had with Harbaugh now that he's gone? That answer will define the Cardinal's season going forward.
3. Oregon Ducks: Keeping the Offensive Line Intact
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The 2010 campaign was a historically good for the Oregon Ducks. A 12-0 regular season record, a berth in the BCS title game and a near miss on the school's first national title sounds like a good year to me.
Next year the Ducks return quarterback Darron Thomas and running back LaMichael James, so you know the offense shouldn't lose much.
The problem is that the Ducks are replacing three offensive linemen this season, and unless the replacements can provide the same level of protection to both Thomas and James, the Ducks could see their wings clipped in 2011.
2. TCU: Find the Offense Again
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TCU had a stellar run in 2010-11, capped off by a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin that hand the program a perfect 13-0 record.
While the Horned Frogs' defense should be as good as ever, the offense could undergo some big changes with the loss of quarterback Andy Dalton and wideouts Jimmy Young and Jeremy Kerley.
If they can find someone to replicate Dalton's production under center (Casey Pachall is a likely candidate), things shouldn't slow down in the Horned Frogs' final season in the Mountain West Conference.
Even if they don't they should be fine, thanks to running back Ed Wesley, but their national title hopes could definitely go up in smoke.
1. Auburn: Replace Cam Newton
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What do you do when you lose your legend? Who comes in the season after your leader, your best player, the driving force behind all you did the previous year, leaves?
For the Auburn Tigers, they're experiencing that after megastar quarterback Cam Newton declared for the NFL Draft. Newton was the heart and soul of the Tigers, carrying them almost single-handedly to the BCS title in 2010-11.
With his superb talent gone, what do the Tigers do? They'll rely on Barrett Trotter and incoming freshman Kiehl Frazier to pick up the slack, as well as running back Michael Dyer.
Can they contend without a Newton at the helm? Sure. This is a talented team that is capable of hanging with anyone. But it'll be tough to hoist another crystal football unless they find someone new to shoulder the load.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
