College Football Predictions: Which 10 Ranked Teams Will Have the Farthest Fall?
Losing players is something college programs prepare for every year, but it's never easy to bounce back from the loss of a key playmaker.
Which teams are headed for a setback in 2011? Can new players step it up and save their teams from disaster?
For this article I'll be looking at those teams that finished in the Top 25 at the end of the 2010 season. Here are 10 of those teams headed for a downfall, some more than others.
10. Stanford Cardinal
1 of 10
Stanford is going to be a good team in 2011 because Andrew Luck will still be its quarterback. However, the departure of Jim Harbaugh could really hurt them. Yes, Luck is going to have another Heisman-like year, but the Cardinal won't be the same without their head coach.
Former offensive coordinator David Shaw takes over as head coach and has to hope his defense can improve. That's not going to be easy because Shaw has to replace seven starters. He also has to replace three starting offensive linemen.
The Cardinal could see a bit of a drop-off in 2011 if they can't make any stops or run the ball effectively. Luck may be great, but he can't do it all.
9. Wisconsin Badgers
2 of 10
The Badgers lose quarterback Scott Tolzien, running back John Clay, top offensive lineman and 2010 Outland Trophy winner Gabe Carimi and their best defensive end J.J. Watt. Wisconsin is going to struggle in the early going to replace these stars.
They'll need someone to step up at QB and make the crucial 3rd-and-long conversions. It's no secret the Badgers are going to run the ball a lot with James White and Montee Ball in the backfield wreaking havoc and chewing up the game clock. But when teams slow those two down, it's up to the QB to make some plays.
It could take a while before the new QB settles in, meaning the Badgers could have it rough for quite some time this season.
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers
3 of 10
In 2011 the Cornhuskers may find out that the Big Ten is harder than they expected. Their schedule is much more difficult this season than in 2010. Can they survive the losses of leading rusher Roy Helu Jr. and top defender Prince Amukamara?
Nebraska lost three of its last four games in 2010, which included the shocking loss to Washington in the Holiday Bowl. Bo Pelini must prevent quarterback Taylor Martinez from having a sophomore slump. Martinez struggled late in the season, and the Cornhuskers hope it doesn't carry over to 2011.
The passing game will have to improve this season. Nebraska can't rely on the run as much, as the Big Ten will be ready for it. The Cornhuskers could struggle a bit in their first season in the Big Ten.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Boise State Broncos
4 of 10
The Broncos typically only have one tough opponent all year. That changes this season with the move to the Mountain West Conference.
Their season opener against Georgia will decide if the Broncos will remain in the national title hunt for the entire season. Boise State also has a make or break game with new conference foe TCU.
If the Broncos lose either one of these games, then all hope is gone.
Boise State must replace key defensive players, as well as their two top wideouts in Titus Young and Austin Pettis. Quarterback Kellen Moore and running back Doug Martin return to give the offense some strength, but if no receiver steps up, it could be a rough year for the Broncos.
We will learn a lot about this team once again in Week 1.
6. Arkansas Razorbacks
5 of 10
Replacing an elite quarterback is never easy. The Razorbacks have faith that Tyler Wilson can step in and not miss a beat taking over for Ryan Mallett. Wilson got some great in-game experience in 2010, but was it enough to help him in the tough SEC West?
Arkansas returns several key players, including its top three wideouts, as well as leading rusher Knile Davis. They also return eight starters on a defense that is expected to improve. The biggest question is whether or not Wilson can handle the life of an SEC quarterback.
It won't be easy for him, as he travels to Alabama and LSU, which many believe will be losses for the Razorbacks. Wilson also has to guide the Razorbacks into Arlington, Texas when Arkansas takes on Texas A&M in Cowboys Stadium.
5. Missouri Tigers
6 of 10
The Tigers bring back 10 starters on offense, but the one player not returning happens to play the most important position on the field. Blaine Gabbert is headed to the NFL, and the Tigers must move on. His replacement will be either James Franklin, Tyler Gabbert (Blaine's younger brother) or Ashton Glasser.
Missouri will definitely lose a step in 2011 because the leader of the team is gone. A quarterback race over the summer will hurt the team's chemistry, and one has to wonder how much the team will be behind the new guy.
The Tigers bring back seven starters on defense but lose defensive end Aldon Smith, as well as their two best corners in Carl Gettis and Kevin Rutland. Those three were a huge reason the Tigers had such great success on defense. It's going to be very hard for the Tigers to bounce back from their losses.
4. Nevada Wolf Pack
7 of 10
The Wolf Pack had a tremendous 2010 season. They ruined Boise State's national title hopes and went on to win the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against Boston College. They were one win away from a perfect season.
However, 2011 is going to be very different for the Wolf Pack. Not only do they lose their quarterback Colin Kaepernick, they're also losing their leading rusher, Vai Taua. The two guys who produced the most for this team are gone, and Nevada is going to have a rough time replacing them.
This team is headed for a downfall if new players don't step up.
3. TCU Horned Frogs
8 of 10
The Horned Frogs capped off a great 2010 season with a win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. So many people doubted this team, and they proved every single one of them wrong.
The Horned Frogs once again find themselves in a spot where nobody believe in them. The only thing is that in 2011 TCU will have a much more difficult time proving their doubters wrong.
Gary Patterson must replace quarterback Andy Dalton as well as top receivers Jeremy Kerley and Jimmy Young. Their defense will still be great, as they play in the lowly Mountain West Conference. The offense is the biggest question heading into the summer. Can they still produce and win with inexperienced guys?
Luckily for Patterson, he has three strong running backs in Ed Wesley, Matthew Tucker and Waymon James. Unfortunately for Patterson, though, he now has to face Boise State in the regular season. The Broncos will be looking to knock off the Horned Frogs and claim the MWC title.
2. Virginia Tech Hokies
9 of 10
The days are numbered for Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech. His job is in question almost every year, but the guy somehow finds a way to do just enough to save his job.
Beamer will have a very tough task in 2011 and may not be able to do enough to save his job. He has to replace his quarterback Tyrod Taylor, as well as his top two running backs in Ryan Williams and Darren Evans. Those three were arguably his best players from the 2010 season. Without them the Hokies will suffer a great deal in 2011.
Yes, the ACC isn't a tough conference, and the Hokies are fortunate enough not to have to face Florida State in 2011. However, Beamer may not have the players to step up and replace the guys who produced the most for the Hokies, which could spell disaster for he and Virginia Tech.
1. Auburn Tigers
10 of 10
In 2011 we'll find out exactly what kind of coach Gene Chizik is. Can he still keep the Tigers relevant after the loss of star players Cam Newton and Nick Fairley?
When you finish No. 1 and lose some of your best players, you are certainly headed for a downfall.
Auburn still has faith it can hang in the SEC West relying heavily on the running back duo of Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb. However, those two will have new guys blocking for them because the Tigers lose four starting offensive linemen.
Was it Chizik or Newton that got this team to the title game in 2010? I think we all know the answer to that question, and in 2011 we'll learn how well Chizik handles adversity. The defense must improve from last year because the Tigers will no longer be able to score at will.
Who will play quarterback for this team? He has some pretty big shoes to fill, and he could crumble under the pressure. Thus the Tigers will drop from the rankings when they lose big games. We'll figure out a lot about this team in Week 2 when it squares off against Mississippi State.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
