College Football Rankings: The 15 Most Over-Hyped Offenses Heading into 2011
If there's one thing college football thrives on, it's hype.
It begins during National Signing Day, when you see all the highlight videos and are told which high school kids can be instant contributors. Then it continues in preseason and on into the year. One other area fans can see this: over-hyped offenses.
There will be some this fall that have plenty of horses and will hum, like Oregon, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Barring some catastrophe, Texas A&M should join that group, too.
What about the rest? I've got a few ideas. Here are 15 offenses that I'd tap the brakes on when it comes to hype.
15. SMU
1 of 15
June Jones' Run-n-Shoot is fun to watch and it will put up some crazy numbers, but those numbers are pretty hollow if you're allowing over 25 points per game.
That's what happened last season, and now SMU will open the season at Kyle Field against Texas A&M's duo of Ryan Tannehill and Cyrus Gray.
I'll call my shot now: SMU will finish with over 300 total yards, but lose by two touchdowns or more.
14. Texas Tech
2 of 15
Tommy Tuberville's spread offense averaged 319 yards passing last year, but the Red Raiders also ran for just over 141 a game.
They may throw it up and down the field again, but Tuberville knows that until he gets some horses at running back like he had at Auburn, those numbers don't mean much.
Maybe the Red Raiders will get back on track this year, but I know that offense won't ever be the same without Mike Leach on the sidelines. The man is an offensive genius and always gave them a chance against the Big 12's big boys.
13. LSU
3 of 15
Yup, I can see it now: fans of my alma mater will get caught up in Juco quarterback Zach Mettenberger and will demand he take over the starting job from Jordan Jefferson (pictured) after the first spring scrimmage.
They are quick to anoint and quicker to crucify.
I think there's plenty of reason for optimism, especially now that Gary Crowton is no longer offensive coordinator. LSU has never had a problem running the ball and the stable is full, but whoever wins the quarterback job needs to be put in a situation where their skills are utilized.
What made Jefferson successful in the Cotton Bowl was that he was allowed to run more with the ball, then stretch the field and hit receivers on great play action passes.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
12. Baylor
4 of 15
Quarterback Robert Griffin is definitely a gifted player. He finished last year with 3,501 yards passing and 22 touchdowns last year.
My question: is he a big game player?
I'm beginning to wonder. Here's a look at five games last year, with opponent, result, passing numbers and rushing:
TCU (L, 45-10): 164 (1 TD), 0 INTS, 21 (0 TDs)
Oklahoma State (L, 55-28): 267 (0 TDs), 1 INT, 15 (0 TDs)
Texas A&M (L, 42-30): 212 (0 TDs), 0 INTs, 92 (1 TD)
Oklahoma (L, 53-24): 124 (1 TD), 2 INTs, 83 (0 TDs)
Illinois (L, 38-14): 306 (1 TD), 0 INTs, 44 (0 TDs)
11. Tulsa
5 of 15
G.J. Kinne and the Golden Hurricane averaged nearly 506 total yards last year.
I wish them the best when they play at Oklahoma on Sept. 3.
10. San Diego State
6 of 15
I'm a big fan of junior quarterback Ryan Lindley, and I was pretty impressed with how Ronnie Hillman did against Navy in their 35-14 victory over Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl.
The Aztecs were a nice surprise last year and finished 9-4, but I just think teams will come at them a little differently this fall. They won't be under the radar and won't be able to sneak up on anyone.
9. Kansas State
7 of 15
With Daniel Thomas gone at running back, Bryce Brown will get a chance to win the starter's job.
The nation's former No. 1 recruit transferred to Kansas State after one year at Tennessee. He really didn't show anything in Rocky Top, but you can bet that the hype machine will kick into overdrive this summer and early fall.
Not buying it. I want him to show me before I'm impressed. There was only one newcomer who I knew would dazzle when he arrived at his school. Adrian Peterson definitely lived up to the hype, too.
8. South Carolina
8 of 15
I love the ol' Ball Coach, but he could have to work some magic in the preseason.
On paper, the Gamecocks' offense could be filthy good. Stephen Garcia returns at quarterback, Marcus Lattimore will be a Heisman candidate and Alshon Jeffery will be back at wide receiver.
After last year's SEC East title and 9-5 record, fans will be excited about improving on that and defending their title. Spurrier needs to make sure players don't get caught up in the hype and that they continue to keep working.
The hype is going to build, bet on that. It's fine to be confident, but if they don't back it up, the Gamecocks are setting themselves up for a massive letdown.
7. Notre Dame
9 of 15
If it follows suit like in Cincinnati, Brian Kelly's team should improve in his second year.
The Fightin' Irish averaged 26 points and 380 total yards last season and will return quarterback Tommy Rees, wide receiver Michael Floyd and tailback Cierre Wood.
The hype will build, but we'll see if they live up to it when they play at Michigan, then host Michigan State on Sept. 17.
6. Alabama
10 of 15
Before you Bama fans go crazy and start firing off your comments, let me say this: I don't doubt the talent for a second. I know it's insanely good and I think Trent Richardson's a stud. He's deserving of his hype.
I do want to see what this offense does without Julio Jones, and how A.J. McCarron does replacing Greg McElroy at quarterback.
I also know that Nick Saban will be squashing the hype every chance he gets. His attitude is just like mine: it really doesn't matter unless you produce.
5. Michigan State
11 of 15
For your sake, Spartan fans, I hope this team doesn't replicate what happened last year.
I didn't drink the Kool Aid and I kept tolerating all your talk. You all kept telling me the game with Alabama would be a good one, but I wasn't buying it. Of course, I was right: Alabama thrashed Michigan State 49-7 in the Capital One Bowl.
Now, Michigan State has Kirk Cousins (2,825 yards passing, 20 touchdowns) and Edwin Baker (1,201 yards rushing, 13 TDs) returning. The Spartans will be hyped as a Big Ten favorite likely, too.
Unless Cousins one-ups Andrew Luck and Baker has better numbers than Marcus Lattimore, I'm not buying into any of it.
4. Miami
12 of 15
Hey, I'm hoping Al Golden is the answer for the Hurricanes.
I know you Canes fans are hyped and that's good. I've said it before: you all are the Texas of the East Coast. You still can have your pick of top talent, just like the Longhorns, and I know you've got plenty of talent stockpiled on both sides.
Time to see some results.
3. Nebraska
13 of 15
The Cornhuskers will have a sweet combo back in quarterback Taylor Martinez and running back Rex Burkhead.
Until Martinez learns to make smarter decisions in big games, I'm not buying the hype.
2. Texas
14 of 15
OK, here's what the Tea Sips will say: hey, hey, we've finally got a great new offensive coordinator, and Malcolm Brown will be the answer at running back.
Yawn.
Mack Brown obtained Bryan Harsin, who was previously at Boise State, to be the Longhorns new co-offensive coordinator with Major Applewhite. The two of them will need to work plenty with Garrett Gilbert, who seemed to regress last season, finishing with 17 interceptions and 10 touchdown passes.
Malcolm Brown is one of the most heralded recruits in the past 10 years for Texas, but I'm not getting all excited.
Fans have said that about plenty of other UT recruits who did absolutely nothing. See: Chris Simms.
1. Boise State
15 of 15
I've got no problem with Boise State.
I know their offense is incredible and they've got one of the game's best quarterbacks in Kellen Moore.
I just know ESPN will over-hype them to a degree that you'd think the Broncos could destroy the Reggie Bush USC teams, the Nebraska teams in the late 90s and Spurrier's Fun-n-Gun teams at Florida.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
