College Football 2011: 10 BCS Teams with Legitimate Shots of Running the Table

The 2011 college football season may seem light years away but at least we know there is going to be one (NFL buuuurn).

It's hard to figure out the top teams for a season that is still seven months away, but this season is a bit different. There are a select few teams that look like they are going to be head and shoulders above the competition due to superior recruiting classes and the "luck" of having players stay in school.

Obviously we won't have 10 teams that run the table, but let's look at 10 teams that have the potential to have a perfect 2010.

But remember this...Auburn was ranked 21st in the nation going into the 2010 season.

10. Florida St.

Doug Benc/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 01: Quarterback E.J. Manuel #3 of the Florida State Seminoles scrambles against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl on January 1, 2010 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.

The ACC's lone representative is here somewhat by default.

Virginia Tech have owned the conference for years but Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Williams and Darren Evans are all on their way to the NFL. The Hokie offense needs to be completely rebuilt and their reign atop the ACC is going to come to an end.

FSU brings in the top recruiting class in the nation to a team that won the Chick-fil-A bowl in 2010. Losing QB Christian Ponder hurts, but E.J. Manuel has experience under center and the Seminoles shouldn't miss a beat.

If they can somehow find a way to beat the mighty Sooners of Oklahoma early on, the rest of the schedule paves the way for a perfect season.

9. TCU

Eric Draper/Getty Images

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - NOVEMBER 27: Back-up quarterback Casey Pachall #4 of the TCU Horned Frogs passes against the University of New Mexico Lobos on November 27, 2010 at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. TCU won 66-17. (Photo by Eric Draper/Getty

Coming off a banner 2010, the Horned Frogs have a great shot of having an even better 2011.

Sure, losing senior QB Andy Dalton hurts, but this team is still loaded. Casey Pachall will be the offensive leader while Tanner Brock will pace the defense.

The trio of running backs they have will really wear teams out and their schedule is softer than a water bed.

Baylor, Air Force, Portland St, SMU, and ULM are all on the slate. Don't forget they still play in Conference USA for one more season.

More than anything else, the Horned Frogs cupcake schedule could allow them to run the slate.

8. South Carolina

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

ATLANTA - DECEMBER 4: Running back Marcus Lattimore #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs with the ball during the 2010 SEC Championship against the Auburn Tigers at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty I

Winning the SEC East was a monumental achievement in 2010 and you can expect more of the same in 2011.

QB Stephen Garcia is back and will be one of the premier QBs in the nation going into the season. He will have two of the most dangerous weapons in the country in RB Marcus Lattimore and WR Alshon Jeffery.

So at the very least, the Gamecocks have some of the top offensive weapons at their respective positions in the entire country.

It's not going to be easy to run through the gauntlet that is the SEC, but they are going to have a decent shot at it.

7. Ohio St.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 16: Zach Boren #44 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is tackled by Blake Sorensen #9 and Culmer St. Jean #15 of the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin defeated Ohio State 31-18. (P

Can they survive the five game suspension of the "Tattoo Five?"

That's by far the major issue in Columbus entering the 2011 season. They are going to be favored to win the Big 10 title once again and are only losing a few seniors.

The dangerous games in the first five include at Miami and home against Michigan St. If they Buckeyes can weather the storm and stay undefeated in time for the "Tattoo Five" to return, OSU will have a outstanding chance of perfection.

That's a big if though...

6. Boise St

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22: Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos warms up before playing against the Utah Utes in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State Won 26-3. (Photo by Et

Same 'ole same 'ole for Boise St.

Once again the Broncos are going to be knocking on the door of a perfect season. It's deja vu when Boise St. plays the Georgia Bulldogs on opening night...once again they will be playing their toughest opponent first.

If Boise can get by the Bulldogs, they will be expected to run the table yet again. Kellen Moore has a great shot at a Heisman trophy after finishing third in the voting in 2010.

The question is: Will a field goal kicker deny them once again?

5. Stanford

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Quarterback Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates a play against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (Photo by S

When you have the No. 1 player in the country, you are going to have a great shot at a perfect season.

Andrew Luck stunned the nation when he turned down a guaranteed chance to be the first pick in the draft. He has all the tools to be a legit NFL QB right now; imagine what Luck is going to do with another year of college ball.

Luck is going to put up video game like numbers on opponents in 2011.

Can new coach David Shaw keep this program on the path Jim Harbaugh created?

That's the big question.

4. Alabama

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Trent Richardson #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Nick Fairly #90 of the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

'Bama may have lost a bevy of future NFL players in Mark Ingram, Greg McElroy, Marcell Dareus, and Julio Jones.

But Nick Saban always reloads. Check out some of these freshman stepping foot on campus next season:

DE Jeoffrey Pagan, WR Bradley Sylve, DE Xzavier Dickson, WR Marvin Shinn and LB Trey DePriest are all studs at their respective positions and they have the ability to compete for starting spots right away.

Another reason to be very fired up for the Crimson Tide in 2011: Trent Richardson.

3. LSU

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Head coach Les Miles of the Louisiana State University Tigers talks wthi his team during a timeout against the Texas A&M Aggies during the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on January 7, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by

The Tigers have been an under-performing squad since the national title season in 2007 but things will be different in 2011.

Big things are expected from QB Jordan Jefferson and head coach Les Miles. Almost everyone is returning (minus Patrick Peterson) to a team that went 11-2 a season ago.

While the Tigers have to travel to Alabama and play Oregon on a neutral field, they get Florida, Auburn and Arkansas at home.

The schedule is rugged, but this is a team that can handle it and prove to the country that they are far and away the best team in the nation.

2. Oregon

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks runs down field against the Auburn Tigers during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jonathan

The 2010 runner-ups are looking extremely dangerous in 2011.

The Ducks will return not only Heisman finalist tailback LaMichael James, but stud QB Darron Thomas and super speedy punt returner Cliff Harris.

The offense will once again compete for the very best in the nation and the defense will be about as tough as last year.

Will that be enough?

The schedule features two teams on this list and winning those will put the Ducks in a excellent position. If they can beat LSU on a neutral field, and if they can beat conference rival Standford towards the end of the season, the Ducks will be your unblemished champions.

An undefeated season is almost expected at this point from Chip Kelly and his team.

1. Oklahoma

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Gett

The 2011 Sooners are loaded and the rest of the nation better watch out.

Junior QB Landry Jones and senior WR Ryan Broyles are both preseason Heisman candidates and surefire future NFL players.

Broyles had a ridiculous 131 catches in 2010 with 14 touchdowns. As a sophomore, Jones threw for 4,718 yards and 38 TDs, good enough for a 146.31 rating.

The defense will be led by LB Travis Lewis and CB Jamell Fleming.

The two toughest games on the slate are a trip to Tallahassee to square off against the Seminoles of Florida St. and the Red River Rivalry in Dallas against the Texas Longhorns.

Head coach Bob Stoops has been here before and is no stranger to outrageous preseason hype. The Big 12 is not quite in the same class as the SEC and Pac 10, so the amount of tough games is not as consistent as the top schools in the aforementioned conferences.

All things considered, this is the team that has the best chance to run the table in 2011.