College Football Top 25 Rankings 2011: Would Losing Jim Tressel Hurt Ohio State?
College football season is a long way away, but there is still a lot going on in its world. Most notably, there is controversy surrounding the storied Ohio State Buckeyes program. Towards the end of last season, it was uncovered that key players, including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, received improper benefits and that head coach Jim Tressel was aware of it.
As a result, Pryor and his involved teammates were suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season, as was Tressel. Naturally, rumors swirled about his job security, but Ohio State President Gordon Gee has long insisted that Tressel will not be let go.
Yet, let's consider this for a second. Suppose Tressel was fired, could the Buckeyes win without him? They have a deep team, but combine the suspension of their best player with the loss of a top coach and playing in the tough Big 10 Conference, and there are suddenly doubts.
That being said, it's time for a Top 25 preview of 2011, based on the possibility of Tressel leaving Columbus!
No. 25: Texas Christian University Horned Frogs
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For the past three seasons, Texas Christian has been a big fish in the small Mountain West Conference pond. During that stretch, the team has gone 36-3 overall, 23-1 in conference play. This excellent play can be attributed to the astounding play of quarterback Andy Dalton (pictured).
Yet, Dalton is graduating this spring and TCU will be without not only a good quarterback, but a leader. They were a Top Five team last year, but the loss of Dalton will be a devastating blow. Thus, the Buckeyes shouldn't have to worry about keeping up with them in the rankings even if Tressel is cut loose.
No. 24: Maryland Terrapins
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In Ralph Friedgen's 10-year tenure at Maryland, the Terps went 5-2 in bowl games. Yet, he was asked to resign following last season because despite being a good coach, his teams underachieved down the stretch and struggled to compete in a tough ACC Conference.
Enter new head coach Randy Edsall (pictured), who made the University of Connecticut's football program relevant again. If he could turn that team around, imagine what he could do at Maryland. It'll take time due to the talent-laden ACC, but Edsall should do a fine job with this team.
Yet, as I said before, the turnaround will not be immediate. Thus, even if Tressel was fired from Ohio State, Buckeyes fans wouldn't have to worry about the Terps snapping at their team's heels.
No. 23: Texas A&M Aggies
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Former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman took over the helm at Texas A&M in 2008 and compiled a 10-15 record (5-11 in conference) over his first two seasons. In 2010, however, the Aggies turned around and finished with a 9-4 record (6-2 conference) before losing to LSU in the Cotton Bowl.
With breakout quarterback Ryan Tannehill coming back next season, the Aggies are sure to repeat their success of last season, if not improve upon it. Sherman is a good coach and decent recruiter, so there is no reason to believe that they can compete in the Big 12.
Will the Aggies be a tough team in the Big 12 in 2011? Absolutely. Will they do well enough to put pressure on Ohio State? Probably not.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 22: Nevada Wolf Pack
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Much like TCU, Chris Ault (pictured) and his Nevada squad are big fish in the small pond that is the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). In three separate stints as Nevada's head coach, Ault has compiled a 219-97-1 record, going 122-47 in conference play. Thus, Nevada is cursed with what many small conference teams have: great against teams in their conference, but shaky against top contenders.
Yet, many forget that Nevada is the team that ruined Boise State's chance at an undefeated season in 2010, plus a chance for a national championship! Also, Ault's teams have become famous for come-from-behind victories and are a force to be reckoned with despite playing in the WAC.
However, Nevada is sure to regress just a little bit this season. Star quarterback Colin Kaepernick is graduating this year, and his size will be hard to replace. So, despite Ault being a great coach and good recruiter, Nevada just doesn't have what it takes to put pressure on a short-handed Ohio State.
Buckeyes fans need not be concerned.
No. 21: Georgia Bulldogs
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Ever since Matthew Stafford left for the NFL, the Georgia Bulldogs have been a rebuilding project. For the past two seasons, the team has gone 14-12 (7-9 in conference) without a top quarterback running the offense. Yet, for this season, head coach Mark Richt (pictured) has brought in a good young gunslinger in Christian LeMay.
If LeMay adjusts well to the college level, the Bulldogs will be SEC contenders once again. Yet, it is a stacked conference and it will take time for them to become BCS Title contenders again. They will improve in 2011, but not enough to compete with a Big 10 powerhouse like Ohio State.
No. 20: University of Miami Hurricanes
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Ever since Larry Coker was fired in 2006, Miami has underachieved. Randy Shannon took over for Coker, and put up a 28-22 record (16-16 in conference) in four seasons before being fired. He was replaced with Al Golden (pictured), and this hiring is why the school known as "The U" will make its climb through the rankings in the very near future.
Before taking his talents to Coral Gables, Golden was the head coach at Temple. In five seasons, he posted an unimpressive 27-34 record. Still, don't be fooled. He's right for Miami.
Golden is an old-school no-nonsense coach. People seem to forget that for the past two years, his Temple squad posted a 17-8 record (12-4 in conference). With time, the Hurricanes will be the team to beat once again in the ACC.
They won't put much pressure on Ohio State next season, but could pose a threat in the long term if Tressel does indeed leave.
No. 19: Virginia Tech Hokies
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In 2011, Virginia Tech will be rebuilding. Two cornerstones of the offense, quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running back Ryan Williams, are leaving the team for the NFL and will be hard to replace. Yet, they should be fine as head coach Frank Beamer (pictured) is a great recruiter.
Beamer has been with the Hokies for over 20 years and if the university didn't have total confidence that he could keep the team as contenders in the ACC, he would have been let go long ago. The team went undefeated in conference play in 2010 and while it might regress a little bit in 2011, will still be a force in the ACC.
That being said, if the Hokies are running on all cylinders, a few bad losses by Ohio State could put them in the Top 10.
No. 18: Penn State Nittany Lions
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In 2011, Penn State legend Joe Paterno will once again be patrolling the sidelines at age 84. Out of all the teams in the Big 10, this could be the one that poses an initial problem to Ohio State.
Paterno's squad only went 7-6 in 2010, but the Nittany Lions easily show the most heart out of any Big 10 team, game after game. In some cases, they even surprise you. Honestly, did anyone think they would win the Big 10 Conference Title in 2008? I sure didn't!
Penn State might not have a lot of talent on paper, but their ability to surprise everyone could prove detrimental to Ohio State not just next season, but in the long run. Especially if Jim Tressel is relieved of his duties!
No. 17: Michigan Wolverines
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Before accepting the head coaching job at Michigan this winter, Brady Hoke was running the show at San Diego State for two seasons. In 2009, the Aztecs only went 4-8. Yet, in Hoke's second season with the team, the team went 9-4. That's quite a turnaround!
Being the son of a huge Ohio State fan, I can safely say that this is one team that no matter how much Ohio State may struggle in 2011, the Buckeyes will not want to lose. Hoke has a great program to work with and if he recruits well, the Wolverines will be prominent once again.
If that indeed happens, Buckeyes fans had better hope that Jim Tressel keeps his job.
No. 16: Missouri Tigers
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Since taking over Mizzou in 2001, Gary Pinkel (pictured) has accumulated a fairly average record of 77-49 (42-38 in conference). Yet, he has won three conference division titles in the past four seasons as the Tigers slowly become relevant again.
However, with quarterback Blaine Gabbert on his way out, the Tigers are sure to be in rebuilding mode in 2011. They play in a tough Big 12 Conference that is controlled by the two superpowers known as Texas and Oklahoma so even if they do have a good recruiting class, it will be tough for them to compete.
Still, Missouri is up on this list for one reason. In the event that the Buckeyes crash and burn in the first few games of 2011, the Tigers could easily leap frog them in the rankings. If Tressel is fired, the rankings race is Pinkel's to lose.
No. 15: Texas Longhorns
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WIth the loss of quarterback Colt McCoy to the NFL, 2010 was of course a rebuilding year for Texas. Sophomore Garrett Gilbert struggled without a top running back to help him shoulder the load, and as a result the Longhorns only went 5-7 (2-6 in conference).
This season, however, head coach Mack Brown (pictured) signed running back Malcolm Brown to work the backfield. He was the No. 2 running back in the nation, so he could make immediate impact.
Texas should be a top team in the Big 12 this year and if Ohio State struggles, could easily contend for a national title. If the Buckeyes go into a tailspin, look for Texas's future success to hamper the chances of another title coming to Columbus.
No. 14: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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In his first year at Notre Dame, Brian Kelly made the Irish relevant again and made the Charlie Weis experiment a thing of the past. He posted an 8-5 record and the team handily defeated Miami in the Sun Bowl, 33-17.
Kelly is an offensive guru and should improve the team even further in 2011. Even though Notre Dame is independent of conference play, this could pose a big problem to Ohio State. The two don't play each other, but a successful run by the Irish combined with Ohio State suffering from the suspensions of Pryor and Tressel could spell doom for the Buckeyes.
If the Ohio State controversy becomes long term instead of just this season, the program is in trouble as long as Notre Dame keeps improving under Kelly.
No. 13: Oklahoma Sooners
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Bob Stoops (pictured) has been the head coach of Oklahoma since 1999. In his tenure, he has posted an astounding 129-31 record, plus a National Championship in 2000. He is a great recruiter and fine coach, but 2011 will be different.
Oklahoma is losing its best offensive player in running back DeMarco Murray, and that will leave a big hole on offense for the Sooners. They also play in the Big 12 with Texas, who is sure to improve in 2011. Yet, Oklahoma could jump up in the rankings if Ohio State plays badly.
Buckeyes fans had better hope that Ohio State can play well without Pryor and Tressel, for Oklahoma will be nipping at the team's heels in the rankings race if they underachieve.
No. 12: South Carolina Gamecocks
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I'm going to say this now. Steve Spurrier is one of the best coaches in college football history. He has an overall record of 186-73-1 and won a national championship with Florida in 1996.
Yet, since taking over at South Carolina in 2005, Spurrier has only posted a 44-33 record in a very tough SEC. However, the Gamecocks showed signs of life in 2010 as the team went 9-5 and won its division. They also cracked the Top 25 for the first time since Spurrier took over.
This year, South Carolina will improve again after landing the top recruit in the country, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. With him anchoring the front line and a new confidence instilled in South Carolina, they could be top contenders in the SEC and rise high in the rankings.
If this does indeed happen and Ohio State is left struggling after the first five games, it's going to be a long season in Columbus.
No. 11: Oklahoma State Cowboys
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For years, Oklahoma State's teams have been called the Cowboys. Now that the tough-as-nails Mike Gundy has been running the football team since 2005, it might be time to call the pesky and pugnacious team the Bulldogs.
Gundy has posted a 47-29 record during his tenure and the Cowboys broke out last year, going 11-2 and winning their division in the Big 12. The reason for such success is that no matter what the odds, Mike Gundy's players go out and make games hard for any opponent. If this attitude carries over into 2011, just one or two bad losses by Ohio State could mean finishing behind Oklahoma State in the rankings. If Tressel departs, it could become a regular occurrence.
No. 10: Ohio State Buckeyes
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We now come to the team at focus here, the Ohio State Buckeyes. As was mentioned before, star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, four teammates and head coach Jim Tressel will miss the first five games of the season due to suspension. Due to this, the Buckeyes must win at least three of these five games to still be considered serious contenders.
Five games may sound like a lot, but Tressel is a great recruiter and thus the roster is deep enough that even the backup players can be top contributors. Long story short, this is still THE Ohio State University we're talking about. As long as the team doesn't crash and burn during those five games and thus lose all of its fight, it should be fine.
Now, it's time to dive into the teams that Ohio State MUST keep up with during the regular season in order to contend.
No. 9: Florida Gators
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Needless to say, Will Muschamp has some big shoes to fill in Gainesville. Fans got used to winning with Urban Meyer running the show and Tim Tebow taking the snaps at quarterback, but both are gone now and last year was a rebuilding year that ended with an 8-5 record.
Still Muschamp has some good tools to work with, including incoming quarterback Jeff Driskel. If this young man ends up starting and puts up great numbers along with the players on defense, Florida just might make its way back to the BCS National Championship Game quicker than others thought.
If this does indeed happen, Ohio State must view each game as a must-win with or without Tressel.
No. 8: Florida State Seminoles
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2010 was a big year for Florida State and its fans. It was the first time since 1976 that Bobby Bowden was not the head coach. Rather, Jimbo Fisher (pictured) was in charge.
After an underachieving 7-6 record in 2009, the Seminoles went 10-4 under Fisher. They finished first in the ACC Atlantic Division and won the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against South Carolina. They also had a great recruiting season, with so many talented players coming in for the 2011 season.
There is no doubt that Florida State will improve this coming season. They might not make a huge play for Ohio State's spot in the rankings, but will do well enough to be ranked higher if the Buckeyes do indeed crash and burn without Tressel.
No. 7: Stanford Cardinal
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Last year, Stanford went 12-1 in Jim Harbaugh's final year at the helm. Fans voiced concern when Harbaugh left to become head coach of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, but they should not be concerned. David Shaw, Harbaugh's offensive coordinator at Stanford, is now in charge and quarterback Andrew Luck (pictured) is returning.
The facts are simple. Stanford knows how to score points and can blow opponents out of the water. That all being said, they are a huge threat to Ohio State if the Buckeyes underachieve and ultimately lose Tressel. In order to keep up with the high-flying Cardinal, Ohio State MUST perform well during the first five games of the season.
No. 6: Auburn Tigers
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2010 was a dream season for Auburn Tigers fans. Gene Chizik (pictured), with the help of quarterback Cam Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley, led the team to an undefeated season and a national championship. Yet, Newton and Fairley are departing for the NFL and lots of question marks are present.
Still, I anticipate Auburn to be a top competitor in the SEC in 2011. Chizik has brought in some good recruits, including offensive tackle Christian Westerman (lured away from a verbal commitment to Texas!!) and quarterback Kiehl Frazier. If a Tressel-less Ohio State squad cannot keep up with Auburn or the rest of the teams in the SEC, they are surely done for.
No. 5: Michigan State Spartans
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Forget the rivalry with Michigan or any other team in the Big 10. This is the rival that Ohio State must worry about the most. Michigan State had a breakout year under Mark Dantonio (pictured) last year, going 11-2 (7-1 conference).
The Spartans and Buckeyes face off against each other on October 1. That's the last game of Pryor and Tressel's suspensions. If the team can win this game and have some big momentum going into their quarterback and coach's first game back, it could spell a good run to end the season.
This game is going to be hard enough to win without Tressel on the sidelines. If Ohio State has to go into this with the knowledge that Tressel is never coming back, it could result in a loss that breaks them.
No. 4: Boise State Broncos
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Since taking over Boise State in 2006, Chris Petersen (pictured) has built one heck of a program. In his first head-coaching gig, he has compiled an astounding 61-5 record and produced some Boise State teams that fans and experts constantly say should have a shot at a national championship. The Broncos probably could have gotten that shot last year, were it not for their lone loss to Nevada.
In 2011, they will move from the WAC to the Mountain West Conference (MWC), a slightly more competitive arena. With Kellen Moore returning and the offense expected to remain high octane, it is essential that the Buckeyes keep pace with them with or without Jim Tressel.
Ohio State can score points just as well as Boise State, if not better. If the loss of Pryor and Tressel means the offense suffers badly, they are in trouble.
No. 3: Oregon Ducks
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Last year, Chip Kelly and the Ducks came so close to upsetting Auburn in the BCS National Championship Game. No doubt that with so many returning starters, the team will make another run at a title.
Needless to say, Ohio State must do just as well as Oregon in 2011, if not better. That means preparing for the possibility that Tressel may be gone.
No. 2: LSU Tigers
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After two years of recovering from the loss of seniors following 2007's championship season, LSU had another good season in 2010. The Tigers went 11-2 and won the Cotton Bowl. At season's end, head coach Les Miles (pictured at left) spurred an offer from Michigan and signed a seven-year extension with LSU.
On top of that, he has a great recruiting class coming in. In the always-tough SEC, the Tigers could prove to be hard for Ohio State to keep up with. To keep up with them in the short and long term, Tressel MUST stay with the team.
No. 1: Alabama Crimson Tide
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There really isn't any other way to say this. Nick Saban is the best recruiter in all of college football. After posting a 7-6 record at Alabama his first year, he went 12-2 the next year and 14-0 the year after that, winning a national championship in the process.
In just four short years, Saban turned a program that was basically a joke into a prominent contender again. This year isn't going to be any different as a top recruiting class will surely have the Tide back in the BCS National Championship Game.
Honestly, it would be great if the Buckeyes could overcome the odds and have a great season to finish 1-2 with Alabama. That would be a great matchup of both talent and coaching.
In order for this to happen, however, Ohio State must prove that it can win without Jim Tressel running the show, even in the short term. Without him, the team can forget about this matchup and start worrying about long term success.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
