University of Oregon and the 25 Most Overrated College Football Teams
As we're in the middle of spring practices and scrimmages, the fanbases of every program are getting a good look at the talent that will be on the field this coming fall. Prior to September, fans are always dreaming of hoisting trophies from rivalry games, conference title games or the BCS National Championship game.
With this time of year, sports news outleta across the Internet will proclaim a program as "the team to beat" or "loaded for a big season." But as hype builds throughout the spring and summer, a lot of the teams that look good on paper will be in store for a rough fall.
In any sport, the sting of being called overrated can infuriate a team's roster and dishearten the fans of a team, and these 25 teams will more than likely suffer this fate this college football season.
Alabama
1 of 25
Of the 25 teams listed in this article, the Crimson Tide may not make the most sense. However, Alabama is trying to break in a new quarterback after Greg McElroy, so that leaves some doubt about the offense's effectiveness for a potential national championship run.
Auburn
2 of 25
Now the million dollar question for the upcoming 2011 season: How will Gene Chizik and Auburn replace the offensive force that was Cam Newton at quarterback, in addition to the numerous holes that are left with only five starters returning from 2010 for the Tigers?
Arizona
3 of 25
With one of the best offenses in the Pac-12, Nick Folk and the Wildcats' receiving corps will be the most explosive unit in the entire conference. However, there are glaring weaknesses on the offensive line, as every starter that made Arizona a force in 2010 has moved on, leaving the team with a entirely new group to protect the Arizona backfield.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Arizona State
4 of 25
Just like the Sun Devils' in-state rival, Arizona State will have to deal with keeping the offensive line strong to protect quarterback Brock Osweiler if it wants to meet lofty expectations of being a favorite of some to win the new Pac-12 South division.
Florida
5 of 25
While Florida yearly enjoys a great deal of talent in Gainesville, the program is in rebuilding mode as it welcomes in new coaches Will Muschamp from Texas and Charlie Weis from the Kansas City Chiefs. They will try to get the program back on track after a disappointing season and bring back the winning ways to the Gators.
Miami (FL)
6 of 25
Just like many of the other high-profile Florida programs, the Hurricanes will have the talent on the team as always as new coach Al Golden takes over the rebuilding project started by Randy Shannon. Golden will likely need a year to build a team of his own and blend the chemistry of the players to make the U a dominant force again in college football.
Mississippi State
7 of 25
After a surprisingly successful season for the Bulldogs, Mississippi State will need to sure up the defensive side of the ball. In particular, the entire starting linebacking corps from 2010 is gone, and that could spell trouble as many SEC teams will try to exploit that weakness at every chance this season.
Missouri
8 of 25
As Blaine Gabbert heads to the NFL, Missouri will likely look to depend on little brother Tyler Gabbert to run and gel the offense that returns nine starters. The Tigers will look to repeat the success from last season in the revamped Big 12 conference, as Nebraska and Colorado make their ways to the greener pastures of the Big Ten and Pac-12, respectively.
Michigan
9 of 25
Even with the Wolverines moving to get Brady Hoke from San Diego State to replace Rich Rodriguez, Michigan will still need to figure out a way to utilize the talent that was left by Rodriguez after last season, when the defense was mauled by the opposition. The defense is still the team's Achilles' heel as the program looks to start fresh with Hoke this season.
Michigan State
10 of 25
As Sparty returns 12 players from an 11-2 season a year ago, Michigan State's biggest problem is that numerous key offensive linemen will not return, which could spell trouble for the talent that resides in the MSU backfield.
Nebraska
11 of 25
As the Cornhuskers move from being a big fish in a little pond in the Big 12 to a big fish in a big pond, Nebraska will face a more challenging conference in the Big Ten, where teams might have an edge on physical play. The loss of Roy Helu Jr. and the ineffectiveness of Taylor Martinez at times may hinder this team.
North Carolina
12 of 25
While the Tar Heels were blanketed with controversy by an NCAA investigation, North Carolina will have probably the best defensive line in the ACC, but the rest of the defense presents a problem for a run at the ACC Coastal division title in 2011.
Notre Dame
13 of 25
While the Fighting Irish have tried to fight off the overrated moniker for years, they will likely gain the tag again this season as the team does have a good bit of talent. But no clear choice at the quarterback position in South Bend might spell doom for the team.
Ohio State
14 of 25
With everyone not living under a rock knowing about the suspension of Jim Tressel and the five OSU players, defense will be the biggest key that might relegate the Buckeyes from returning to the BCS National Championship game ,as the unit will be in disarray. The defense returns only four starters in 2011, losing five All-Big Ten players from last season.
Oklahoma State
15 of 25
As the Cowboys are welcoming the sight of Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon returning to Stillwater, Oklahoma State might not put up the insane numbers of 2010 as its offensive coordinator, Dana Holgorsen, went to the wild and wonderful state of West Virginia to take over the offensive duties for the Mountaineers this season.
Oregon
16 of 25
While the Oregon offense will most likely light up the scoreboard again in 2011, the Ducks defense will be an obstacle in any attempt of recapturing the glory of their first undefeated season in 2010. The unit will need to be overhauled as the team loses several key players from their run to Glendale this past January.
Oregon State
17 of 25
As the Beavers have played the part of the giant killers in the past few years of the Pac-10, Oregon State might not have the firepower it once had in Corvallis, as only one half of the dangerous Rodgers brothers will be suiting up this fall. James Rodgers will likely be the centerpiece for the offense this season.
Penn State
18 of 25
After the disappointing 7-6 season last year, Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions will still have challenges to face, as the team must find someone to take the reins of the Penn State offense with Evan Royster exhausting his NCAA eligibility. The team has big question marks at both running back and quarterback next year.
South Carolina
19 of 25
After years of the Old Ball Coach dealing with quarterback Stephan Garcia, Steve Spurrier will likely give Connor Shaw the keys to the Gamecock offense. After the first SEC East title in the Spurrier era in Columbia, though, the choice of Shaw over Garcia might not lead to the same results as in 2010.
Stanford
20 of 25
With Jim Harbaugh moving on to the San Francisco 49ers this season, Andrew Luck and Stanford will have to contend in the Pac-12 without the coach that brought Stanford football back to prominence in just a matter of years, leading the Cardinal to taking a step back in the new-look conference in 2011.
Tennessee
21 of 25
With the Volunteers having a great deal of talent in the receiving corps coming into 2011, Derek Dooley and the Tennessee coaching staff will have to succeed behind the arm of quarterback Tyler Bray in order to bring the program stability since the Phillip Fulmer era in Knoxville.
Texas A&M
22 of 25
Unlike in recent years, the Aggies have one of the most talented teams in recent memory under Mike Sherman, but with the evenly talented teams in the Big 12 like Oklahoma and Texas, the pressure of expectations in College Station might weigh too heavy on the Texas A&M football team.
Utah
23 of 25
Welcome to the big dance, Utah. After season after season of being the BCS buster out of the Mountain West, the Utes have joined the new Pac-12 conference with Colorado this season, making the road to another 11-win season a rather difficult one. The program will face off with its new Pac-12 South division rivals in hope of making a splash just like in its previous conference.
West Virginia
24 of 25
Over the past decade, the Mountaineers have had more than enough talent to break through their glass ceiling in the Big East. West Virginia has seemed to always shoot themselves in the collective foot, and with new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen taking the reins of the offense, WVU will need all it can get to shake the last few disappointing seasons from its memory bank.
Wisconsin
25 of 25
As the Badgers played successful football over the last few years behind a pounding running game, Wisconsin will need to find bodies to replace the anchors of the offensive line in Bill Nagy, Gabe Carimi and John Moffit if it wants to return to the Rose Bowl.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
