College Football Top 25 Rankings: Does Michigan Return To Relevance This Year?
As we look at the preseason top 25, we ask ourselves whether this is the year that Michigan will reclaim their elite Big Ten and dare I say even national status.
The Wolverines return almost all of their starters led by quarterback Denard Robinson, and debate has ensued far and wide as to whether Michigan is a top 25 team.
I will let you know whether Michigan is a top 25 caliber club, and I will also give you a full rundown of next year's preseason top 25.
Spring football is upon us and that means prognosticating from "know it all" sports commentators such as myself. So without further ado here is the preseason top 25 for 2011; sit back and enjoy.
25. West Virginia
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West Virginia sneaks in as the lone representative from the Big East conference.
The Mountaineers will be led on offense by upstart quarterback Geno Smith who played well in his first campaign under center last season. Geno will have the advantage of once again playing alongside wide receivers Tavon Austin, J.D. Woods and Stedman Bailey. The big question for West Virginia is who will replace the production of Noel Devine at running back? Whoever steps into the Mountaineer backfield will have the advantage of playing behind an experienced offensive line that returns four starters from last season.
The losses on defense will be much greater, and defensive tackle Scooter Berry and safety Robert Sands will be missed in particular. Cornerback Keith Tandy is an all Big East talent and will be the leader of the Mountaineer defense in 2011.
Bill Stewart will be coaching in his final year, and former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgerson is already patrolling the sidelines as the coach in waiting for the Mountaineers. Frankly, West Virginia does not appear to be a BCS bowl caliber team, but all that matters is whether West Virginia is sitting on top of the Big East standings at the end of the season.
24. Texas
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To say that Texas had a “down” season last year would be a gross understatement. Longhorn fans are ready to put 2010 in their rearview mirror and get back to their winning ways in 2011.
Quarterback Garrett Gilbert returns after throwing 17 interceptions as a sophomore. Gilbert will have the benefit of getting all of his core wide receivers back in Malcolm Williams, Marquise Goodwin and Mike Davis. Five-star running back Malcolm Brown could see time immediately at running back for a Texas team that is desperately looking for a homerun threat in the backfield.
Texas will have an imposing front seven on defense that will feature many of the same faces from last season. One new face to watch will be sophomore defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat. Jeffcoat was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school and will likely take on a starting role in 2011.
Texas is not on par with Big 12 rivals Oklahoma and Texas A&M. With that being said, the Longhorns should be much improved from last season and land in a fairly prestigious game once bowl season comes around.
23. Virginia Tech
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Virginia Tech will have a different look to them in 2011 compared to the Orange Bowl team we saw take the field against Stanford.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is gone, as is the combination of Ryan Williams and Darren Evans at running back for the Hokies. The departures of these three players will mean that new personnel will have to step up.
Quarterback Logan Thomas will be the new man under center, and he will have the benefit of throwing to veteran wide receivers in Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale. Thomas also should be able to stay fairly upright playing behind an offensive line that returns four starters.
Eight starters return on defense for Virginia Tech, and defensive coordinator Bud Foster should keep the Hokie defense operating at a high level. Cornerback Jayron Hosley and linebacker Bruce Taylor are all conference talents for Virginia Tech on the defensive side of the ball.
The defense should be solid, but who steps into replace Taylor at quarterback and Williams/Evans at running backs? The degree to which the Hokies are able to put points on the board on offense will be something to watch next season.
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22. Michigan
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There is reason to be skeptical of Michigan’s top 25 ranking, but new Head Coach Brady Hoke is walking into an ideal situation in Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines return almost everyone from an offense that scored 32.8 points per game last season. Not only is quarterback Denard Robinson back, but so is his entire wide receiving core as well as four starters on the offensive line.
As we know though, offense is never Michigan’s problem rather it is the defense that slows the Wolverines down.
The Wolverines will be experienced in the secondary, but those are the same players from last year that had “trouble” defending deep routes at times last season. The best aspect of the defense could be the front seven where All Big 10 defensive tackle Mike Martin returns, along with good looking young prospects such as linebacker Eric Gordon and defensive end Jibreel Black.
Michigan will have the advantage of hosting Notre Dame, Ohio State and Nebraska so the schedule sets up pretty nicely for the Wolverines.
As I said earlier, this team’s success or lack thereof will come down to the play of the defense. Michigan gets the nod right now because of their explosive offense and young prospects on defense, but the Wolverines will ultimately have to prove their mettle on the field.
21. Auburn
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The National Champs fall to number 21 on this list because of the heavy losses that were suffered after the confetti fell in Arizona.
Auburn only returns eight starters from last season’s National Championship team. Players such as Cam Newton, Nick Fairley, Darvin Adams, Lee Ziemba and Mike Blanc are all gone.
Now that I have told you who all is gone, let’s talk about who is returning.
Auburn will rely on the one-two punch of Michael Dyer and Ontario McCalebb at running back, while new quarterback Barrett Trotter gets settled in. The Tigers also lose four starters from last season’s offensive line, but do get some relief in the arrival of highly touted recruits Christian Westerman and Greg Robinson.
The defense was also hit hard by departures. Auburn will count on younger talents to fill the holes. Cornerback Neiko Thorpe does return and Head Coach Gene Chizik will likely build the defensive unit around him next season.
Auburn will be bowling next season, but Tiger fans will have to settle for a much less prestigious bowl than the BCS National Championship contest they presided over last year.
20. Missouri
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Despite the fact that quarterback Blaine Gabbert is getting ready for his big NFL payday, Missouri will once again be competitive in the big 12 next season.
Gabbert is gone, but the rest of the offense remains intact for the Tigers. Wide receiver T.J. Moe and tight end Michael Egnew are big time talents and should make life easier on new quarterback James Franklin.
Defensively, Missouri will rely on the strength of their defensive line to make up for their inexperienced secondary. A strong secondary is a top priority because of the number of prolific quarterbacks that the Big 12 features, and it will be crucial that Missouri’s unit gels quickly.
Head Coach Gary Pinkel will once again look to throw the football in a spread system. It will be crucial that James Franklin gets his butterflies behind him early and plays at a high level for the Tigers under center. The play of Franklin along with the play of the secondary will go a long way in determining how far the Tigers can go in 2011.
19. Arizona State
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Arizona State finished the 2010 season by notching back to back victories over UCLA and rival Arizona. Look for Head Coach Dennis Erickson’s Sun Devils to carry that momentum over into the 2011 season.
Quarterback Brock Osweiler played exceptionally well at the end of last season, and despite the return of Steven Threet, I look for Osweiler to start at quarterback. All of the other 10 starters from last season are back from an offense that averaged 32.3 points per game last season.
The defense will be experienced as well, and should complement the offense nicely next season. Besides a few changes on the interior of the line, the whole unit is back from last season. Arizona State was far from a defensive juggernaut last season, but look for the Sun Devils defense to be stingier as a whole in 2011.
Dennis Erickson’s Sun Devils were fighters last season, but now it is time to see if they can take the next step and be players in the PAC 10 race. With success comes hype and expectations. It will be interesting to see how Arizona State handles both next season.
18. TCU
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TCU achieved greatness last season with their Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin, but an encore performance will be difficult for the Horn Frogs to achieve in 2011.
Only five starters apiece return on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Impact players such as quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver Jeremy Kerley will be missed dearly on offense.
Look for Head Coach Gary Patterson to rely heavily on running back Ed Wesley while sophomore quarterback Casey Pachell gets broken in under center. The fact that three starting offensive linemen need to be replaced is also a cause for concern in Fort Worth.
Tank Carder and Tanner Brock are both all conference linebackers and will lead the Horn Frogs defense next season. Carder and Brock’s presence at linebacker will bolster the front seven and should make this the strong point of the defense. TCU’s secondary is lacking in experience.
It is questionable how far the Horn Frogs will drop, but I still expect them to be the class of the Mountain West Conference. A BCS bowl seems highly unlikely as TCU finishes their final season before getting automatic qualifying status via their move to the Big East.
17. Nebraska
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Nebraska goes into their debut Big 10 campaign with high expectations under Head Coach Bo Pelini.
The Cornhuskers ended last season on a sour note losing to Washington in the Holiday bowl, but the return of dual threat quarterback Taylor Martinez and defensive tackle Jared Crick is reason to be optimistic about 2011.
Expect Nebraska to once again focus on the rushing attack next season offensively. Martinez is obviously a capable rusher, as is the bruising Rex Burkhead. Nebraska ranked 113th in division-one football last season in passing and the loss of wide receiver Niles Paul will do nothing to inflate those passing numbers.
Nebraska’s defensive strength will be their line which will feature the aforementioned Jared Crick and all Big 12 defensive end Cameron Meredith. Expect the Cornhuskers to have a solid defense all the way around, although cornerback Prince Amukamara’s presence will be missed.
Nebraska is definitely read to compete in the Big 10 next season. The Cornhuskers will have to navigate road trips to Michigan and Wisconsin along with a home visit from Ohio State next fall.
16. Arkansas
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Life begins without quarterback Ryan Mallett in Fayetteville for Arkansas.
Tyler Wilson takes over for Mallett at quarterback, and Wilson will have the good fortune of throwing to a talented trio of wide outs in Jarius Wright, Greg Childs and Cobi Hamilton.
The only question will be whether Wilson will have time to throw to those veteran receivers. Arkansas loses three starters from last season’s offensive line, and there is a definite concern regarding the new line’s ability to keep Tyler upright.
Arkansas returns the majority of their talent in the front seven on defense. This will bode in Arkansas’s favor, considering that running backs Trent Richardson, Michael Dyer and Vick Ballard all reside in the brutal SEC West. Senior safety Tramain Thomas will be a leader in the secondary for the Razorbacks.
The extent to which Arkansas has success next season will depend on how well Tyler Wilson can make the transition to Head Coach Bobby Petrino’s pass happy offense. Good blocking would be a good start for Tyler, and Razorback fans are hoping that the line can gel quickly.
15. Notre Dame
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Is this the year that Notre Dame finally lives up to their annual preseason hype?
Time will ultimately answer that question, but I can say that the pieces are “in place” for the Irish to have a big year.
Head Coach Brian Kelly returns 19 starters from last season’s Sun Bowl champion team. The offense in particular looks to be particularly potent with the return of quarterback Dayne Crist, wide receivers Michael Floyd and Theo Riddick. Armando Allen needs to be replaced at running back, and sophomore Cierre Wood should inherit the majority of the rushing duties. Notre Dame must also continue to get good play from tight end Tyler Eifert. Eifert played well at the end of the season, but must continue to produce in place of the departed Kyle Rudolph.
While Notre Dame’s offense is getting plenty of publicity, the defense is not too shabby either. Linebackers Darius Flemming and Manti Te’o are poised to have big seasons at linebacker in defensive coordinator Bob Diaco’s 3-4 defense. Notre Dame has plenty of returning talent on defense, but will be tested by the likes of Michigan State, Stanford and Southern California.
All the pieces are in place on paper for Notre Dame to have a great season next fall, but words mean nothing. The Irish will have to prove themselves on the field. The fact that Notre Dame plays Michigan State and Southern California in South Bend is advantageous for the Irish though.
14. Mississippi State
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Mississippi State is far from the flashiest team on this list, but the Bulldogs should definitely not be underestimated.
Mississippi State went 9-4 last season under Head Coach Dan Mullen capping off the year with a victory over Michigan in the Gator Bowl. Fans in Starkville are expecting more from their Bulldogs in 2011.
Senior quarterback Chris Relf returns to lead the offense. Relf will be accompanied by running back Vick Ballard and wide receiver Chad Bumphis. Ballard was especially impressive last season rushing for 968 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior.
The Bulldogs defensive strength will be a secondary that returns all four starters. Conversely, Mississippi State loses all three of their starting linebackers, and Dan Mullen will count on new talents to fill the void.
There is no question that Mississippi State is on the rise under Dan Mullen, but how far can the Bulldogs climb in the brutal SEC West. Yes, Mississippi State has the look of a top 25 team, but we will have to see how that ranking holds up when division rivals such as Alabama, LSU and Auburn come calling.
13. Wisconsin
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Wisconsin broke through with a Rose Bowl appearance last season. Another trip to Pasadena might be wishful thinking, but there is definitely enough talent back for the Badgers to once again be a force in the Big Ten.
The rushing combination of James White and Montee Ball rushed for over 2,000 yards last season, and you can expect the duo to once again put up big numbers in 2011. The departures of quarterback Scott Tolzien, wide receiver David Gilreath and tight end Lance Kendricks will sting. Expect Head Coach Brett Bielma to ease new quarterback John Budmayr into the offense by once again having a run oriented attack that will highlight the talents of Ball and White.
The majority of talent returns on the defensive line and in the secondary. Cornerback Antonio Fenelus in particular will be a big time talent for the Badgers. The main area of concern on the defensive side of the ball is at linebacker. Wisconsin loses a pair of departed senior starters in Blake Sorenson and Culmer St.John.
Another Rose Bowl appearance is probably too much to ask with only 11 starters returning from last season’s team. With that being said, expect Wisconsin to once again be an upper echelon Big Ten team in 2011.
12. South Carolina
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Running back Marcus Lattimore and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery are two of the best skill players you will find in the SEC. Lattimore and Jeffery will lead a Gamecock offense into 2011 that scored 30.9 points per game last season.
Quarterback Stephen Garcia is back as a senior for South Carolina, but Head Coach Steve Spurrier has not ruled out the possibility of starting sophomore Connor Shaw under center. Whoever does start at quarterback for South Carolina will have the advantage of playing with some tremendous skill players.
Early in the offseason, South Carolina’s front seven was seen as a possible weakness for the Gamecocks, but that is less of a concern now. All SEC defensive end Devin Taylor will be joined by “all world” recruit Jadeveon Clowney at the other defensive end position. Together, Taylor and Clowney should be a tandem to be reckoned with on the defensive line. There is an ample amount of talent returning in the secondary, headlined by cornerback Stephen Gilmore.
Questions as to whether South Carolina will be able to handle their high preseason expectations and whether Garcia/Shaw can provide consistent quarterback play will need to be answered. On paper this team looks good, but South Carolina will ultimately have to perform well throughout THE COURSE OF THE ENTIRE SEASON.
11. Ohio State
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There is turmoil aplenty in Columbus right now, and Head Coach Jim Tressel is seriously feeling the heat of this ongoing tattoo scandal. With that being said, Ohio State will once again feature some of the top talent in the county next season, and it would be silly to dismiss this team completely.
If you have not heard, Head Coach Jim Tressel, quarterback Terrell Pryor, running back “Boom” Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey and offensive lineman Mike Adams are suspended for the first five games of the season. The Bucks will be able to handle Akron, Toledo and Colorado just fine, but it will be in games against Miami [Fl] and Michigan State that Ohio State will dearly miss the aforementioned personnel.
On defense, Ohio State only returns four starters and will rely on new faces to ensure that the quality of play does not dip to far. At nearly any other school the return of only four starters would raise serious question marks, but Ohio State gets the benefit of the doubt based on the fact that they recruit such high level talent year in and year out.
At full strength Ohio State will have a potent offense that will be able to score quickly. First, the Buckeyes must navigate through the first five games of the season though. It will also be interesting to see how this new look Buckeye defense performs on the field next fall.
10. Michigan State
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Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has done a fabulous job building the Spartans program. In fact, there is a growing optimism that this might be the year that Michigan State takes home a Big 10 championship.
On offense, it will all begin and end with the one-two rushing combination of Le’Veon Bell and Edwin Baker. The Spartans also return senior quarterback Kirk Cousins and the majority of last season’s wide receiving core. There are holes to be filled on the offensive line though for Michigan State.
Linebackers Greg Jones and Eric Gordon combined for 190 tackles last season and were the two leading tacklers on defense. Both Jones and Gordon are departed, and replacements will need to be found at linebacker. Michigan State’s secondary should be the strength of the defense. The unit is experienced and features a pair of talent players in cornerback Johnny Adams and free safety Trenton Robinson.
Michigan State’s ability to replace the production of Jones and Gordon on defense will be critical for the Spartans in 2011. The Spartans will also need to get good production from what will be a slightly renovated offensive line. If Michigan State can address these two issues, then the Spartans will definitely contend for the Big 10 crown in 2011.
9. Stanford
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In case you had not heard, quarterback Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford for his junior season.
Luck’s return in of itself is reason for Cardinal fans to get excited, but not everything is perfect in Palo Alto going into 2011.
Andrew will have to play behind an offensive line that only returns two starters from last season. In addition, impact players such as wide receivers Ryan Whalen and Doug Baldwin are gone from the passing game. The return of running back Stepfan Taylor and tight end Coby Fleener is encouraging.
Stanford returns an ample amount of talent from a defense that pitched three shutouts last season. However, the loss of linebacker/running back Owen Marecic will be felt on defense more than it will be on offense. The Cardinal will be led by senior strong safety Delano Howell.
Stanford will once again challenge Oregon for a PAC 10 championship. The team will thrive on the strength of Luck’s arm and the talent of the returning veterans. With that being said, there are too many holes that needed to be filled for Stanford to be considered a National Title contender.
8. Oklahoma State
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As usual the Cowboys offense will be as explosive as ever in 2011.
Quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon return to form what could be the top pitch and catch combination in all of college football. Do not worry about Weeden having time to throw the football either. The Cowboys return all five starters from last season’s offensive line, including left offensive tackle Levy Adock who was an all Big 12 performer last season.
The one hole that needs to be replaced is running back Kendall Hunter. Expect Head Coach Mike Gundy to rely on sophomore Joseph Randle, who had a very productive freshman campaign, as well as highly touted incoming recruit Herschel Simms.
We all know that Oklahoma State is going to score a lot of points next season, but will the defense be able to pull its weight?
Oklahoma State’s defense is a question mark to say the least going into the 2011 season. Only two starters return in the front seven from last year’s team. The Cowboys gave up 26.4 points per game last season on defense which was only good for 61st in the NCAA, and a lot of new personnel will have to be incorporated on defense next season.
The Cowboys will feature one of the top offenses in the country, and that only will take them to a middle tier bowl. The quality of Oklahoma State’s defense will determine just how prestigious a bowl the team will go to.
7. Florida State
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Yes, the Seminoles will be without the services of quarterback Christian Ponder in 2011, but do not let Ponder’s departure fool you into thinking that Florida State might take a step backward next season.
Former five-star recruit E.J. Manual replaces Ponder at quarterback, and he will be surrounded by elite playmakers on offense. Wide receivers Bert Reed and Taiwan Easterling are more than capable wide outs, and Florida State should get steady production in the backfield from the combination of senior Jermaine Thomas and incoming highly touted freshman James Wilder Jr. Two starters need to be replaced on an offensive line that will be blocking for the dual threat Manual at quarterback.
Florida State will have to replace a pair of starting linebackers in Mister Alexander and Kendall Smith on defense. Head Coach Jimbo Fisher got great news though, when he found out that Nigel Bradham would return to Tallahassee for his senior season. Bradham amassed 92 tackles and five sacks as a junior last season, and will be the leader of Florida State’s line-backing crew.
Non-conference games against Florida and Oklahoma are certainly difficult, but the ACC schedule sets up beautifully for the Seminoles. Florida State does not play Virginia Tech and will have the advantage of playing upper tier ACC schools North Carolina State, Miami [Fl] and Maryland at home.
6. Boise State
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Quarterback Kellen is back for his senior season, and he along with 13 other returning starters will try to rebound from their one year BCS hiatus.
Moore will be accompanied on offense by an experience offensive line and all WAC performer Doug Martin at running back. Unfortunately for Boise State, wide receivers Titus Young and Austin Pettis have moved on, and Moore will have to work in a new group of receivers.
Defense should not be a liability for the Broncos in 2011. The unit as a whole looks strong, especially a front seven that features three all conference talents.
An opening weekend matchup versus Georgia is daunting. In addition, a pair of home game against Tulsa and Air Force could prove to be a tricky. Besides that though, the schedule is once again very manageable. Boise will almost certainly need to run the table if they hope to return to a BCS bowl, and it will be interesting to see if they can run through their regular season schedule unblemished.
5. Texas A&M
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Texas A&M had a breakout season under Head Coach Mike Sherman in 2010. As rewarding as last season was for the fans, the Aggies are poised to take even bigger steps next season in 2011.
Texas A&M returns 10 starters on offense, including upstart quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the one-two rushing combination of Cyrus Grey and Christine Michael. The Aggies will also benefit from the return of four starters on the offensive line.
Linebacker Von Miller was the leader of last season’s Aggie defense and his playmaking ability will need to be replaced. It will be crucial that Texas A&M account for not only the loss of Miller, but also Michael Hodges at linebacker. Besides that though, the rest of the defense remains intact and Mike Sherman will have the benefit of having a defensive unit that is littered with upperclassmen.
The Aggies will have the benefit of hosting fellow Big 12 powers Texas and Oklahoma State in 2011. A November 5th visit to Norman for a matchup against Oklahoma will be a measuring stick game for this Texas A&M team.
There is no doubt that Texas A&M will be good in 2011, but whether they will be able to stack up with the aforementioned power players in the Big 12 remains to be seen. Everything looks good on paper for this team, but Texas A&M will have to rise to the occasion in their primetime games.
4. LSU
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The majority of the players that thumped Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl last season are returning for the Tigers in 2011.
With that being said, cornerback Patrick Peterson, defensive tackle Drake Nevis and middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard have all departed. New leaders will have to be found on the defensive side of the ball if the Tigers hope to field a defense similar to the one they had in 2010 which only gave up 18.2 points per game.
LSU’s offense will feature an offensive line that returns four starters in addition to a veteran wide receiving core that will be headlined by a pair of playmaking juniors in Russell Shepherd and Rueben Randle. The only position that is questionable is quarterback, and a passing game that only ranked 107th in division-one college football last season. Incumbent starter Jordan Jefferson returns for his senior season, but he will have to battle Jarrett Lee and junior college transfer Zach Mettenberger in the spring for the quarterback job.
LSU appears to be the cream of the crop in the SEC along with Alabama, but it is uncertain as to whether the Tigers have the chops to play in nearby New Orleans for the National Championship. Ultimately, LSU’s ability to get solid quarterback play and fill their lingering holes on defense will determine just how good the Tigers will be next season.
3. Oregon
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Oregon’s offense averaged 47 points last season and was the number one scoring offense in the country last season. Do not count on Oregon to stop lighting up the scoreboard in 2011 either.
The Ducks “three headed monster” of running backs LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner return in the backfield along with quarterback Darron Thomas. James, Barner and Thomas combined for 32 rushing touchdowns last season and there is no reason to think that their production will drop off next fall. Also, look for incoming freshman D’Anthony Thomas to see some minutes in the backfield in 2011 for the Ducks.
Wide receivers D.J. Davis and Jeff Maehl need to be replaced, along with a pair of offensive linemen. Oregon has been recruiting at a high level for the past couple of years though, and I am guessing that the Ducks will be able to plug those holes.
As good as the offense looks for Oregon; the Ducks will have to reload on defense. Only five starters return on defense from last year’s team, and the front seven of the defense in particular is in need of an overhaul.
It appears blatantly obvious that Oregon will once again feature one of the highest powered offenses in the country. The question is whether Oregon’s defense can be good enough to take the Ducks back to the national title game for a second straight season.
2. Alabama
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Alabama recruits at a very high level, and no matter who the Crimson Tide lose they will always be in the National Championship hunt.
Crimson Tide fans should not concern themselves with the departures of quarterback Greg McElroy, wide receiver Julio Jones, running back Mark Ingram or defensive end Marcell Dareus.
No, Alabama will still be competing at a very high level in 2011, despite the departures of those aforementioned playmakers.
Head Coach Nick Saban’s Alabama team will be headlined by a defense that should be one of the country’s top units next season. The Tide return 10 starters on this side of the ball, including four All-SEC performers in cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, linebacker Don’t’a Hightower, free safety Mark Barron and strong safety Robert Lester. Needless to say, this is an impressive amount of returning talent for a defense that only surrendered 13.5 points per game last season.
Running back Trent Richardson will headline Alabama’s offensive attack early on as quarterback A.J. McCarron gets broken in as the team’s new signal caller. Stepping in at the quarterback position will be no easy feat for McCarron, but he will have the advantage of playing behind an experienced offensive line and veteran wide receivers.
Replacing Greg McElroy at quarterback will be the main issue that Alabama has to address. Also, the SEC schedule will once again be as daunting as ever. With that being said, Alabama definitely has the personnel to be playing in New Orleans for another National Championship next season.
1. Oklahoma
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Honestly, what is there not to like about Oklahoma in 2011?
The Sooners will have one of the most explosive offenses in the country next season, headlined by the pass catching combination of quarterback Landry Jones and wide receiver Ryan Broyles.
Defensively, Oklahoma returns eight starters and will be led by a pair of all conference seniors in cornerback Jamell Flemming and linebacker Travis Lewis.
The only visible hole that Oklahoma needs to fill is at running back where the talented DeMarco Murray must be replaced. Expect sophomore Roy Finch to get the first shot at replacing Murray. Finch rushed for 398 yards as a freshman and showed tremendous promise in his opening campaign with the Sooners.
In addition to addressing the running back situation, Head Coach Bob Stoops’s Sooners will have to navigate a treacherous schedule that is loaded with potential pitfalls. Oklahoma must make an early non conference visit to Tallahassee to play Florida State, and then gets the pleasure of facing Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State in Big 12 play.
Oklahoma has all the pieces in place to make a run at a national championship. Murray needs to be replaced and the schedule is difficult, but nevertheless Oklahoma is the early front runner to take home the crystal ball in 2011.
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