College Football 2011: 20 Schedules That Aren't as Hard as They Look
What's in a name?
Like Juliet's proverbial rose, there are many prominent programs across the country that forever retain their aura regardless of their on-field quality.
For a sport so rooted and celebratory of its rich tradition, this does have benefits.
After all, regardless if they happen to be any good, a game against Notre Dame is something special for a team, because they are the Notre Dame of college football lore.
While this certainly helps sell tickets, boost television ratings and comfort the alumni base, it can't offset the simple truth that when the whistle blows and the standings are calculated, it's winning and winning alone that matter.
Obviously, no team can stay on top forever. At any given time due to the cyclical nature of the sport, many major programs are in various states of rebuilding to regain their former glory.
Here are 20 teams whose schedules will benefit from this effect on their opponents, as the 12 names on their schedules have much greater clout on paper than on grass.
Michigan State Spartans
1 of 20
The Big Names
September 17th at Notre Dame
October 1st at Ohio State
October 15th vs. Michigan
October 29th at Nebraska
November 12th at Iowa
What's the one thing four of the above things all have in common? They take place away from Spartan Stadium.
This could have been a serious impediment to the Spartans getting to double-digit wins once again...if the opponents on those days were anything like they have been in recent years.
The first big game is against Notre Dame, a team that is continuing to build their way back into the conversation as an elite program. The Spartans then catch a major break by getting Ohio State in the final game of the "Tat-5" suspensions.
Where it gets interesting is when they moved into Legends division play against traditional powers Michigan, Nebraska and Iowa. All programs are plagued by uncertainty.
Michigan will be under first-year head coach Brady Hoke, who will try to rebuild one of the nation's worst defenses.
Nebraska figures to be the toughest test of the three, but have questions one both sides of the ball. On offense, they lose top their top rusher and receiver and are dealing with the aftermath of Taylor Martinez' late-season meltdown, which may magnify the key losses on their defense.
Two weeks later, they battle a Hawkeye team that will be featuring a new quarterback after longtime starter Ricky Stanzi graduated.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2 of 20
The Big Names
September 10th at Michigan
September 24th at Pittsburgh
October 22nd vs. USC
November 26th at Stanford
Year Two of the Brian Kelly Era in South Bend is coming complete with the typical high hopes for the Irish. With a healthy Dayne Crist, the Irish look to build upon their eight-win 2010. They should receive some help with their schedule.
It begins in earnest with their annual showdown against Michigan. While the Irish are still getting Denard Robinson's cleat marks off their backs from last September, the Wolverines are still rebuilding an atrocious defense that ranked 108th in the nation in points allowed.
Rebuilding that unit will be the primary challenge for Michigan's first-year head coach Brady Hoke.
Two weeks later, the Irish face Pitt, who will be replacing their two top playmakers in running back Dion Lewis and wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin.
The traditional clash with USC will certainly not have the same luster as it has in recent years, with both programs in rebuilding states. The sanctions against the Trojans have made their marks, and outside of quarterback Matt Barkley, there are few answers in southern California.
The season wraps up against Stanford and all-world quarterback Andrew Luck. This should provide the Irish with their toughest test of their annual slate of big-name opponents, but figures to be much closer than the 23-point defeat suffered by the Irish last season.
Arizona State Sun Devils
3 of 20
The Big Names
September 9th vs. Missouri
September 17th at Illinois
September 24th vs. USC
October 15th at Oregon
With the move to the new Pac-12 divisional format, the Sun Devils find themselves with USC, UCLA, Colorado, Utah and Arizona in the South division, resulting in a conference schedule that omits certain North division opponents each year.
The non-conference schedule has two prominent names in Missouri and Illinois. However, each of those programs is replacing their best player (for Missouri, quarterback and 10th overall NFL Draft selection Blaine Gabbert, and the Illini must replace Mikel Leshoure's 1,697 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns).
They then get a rebuilding USC team at home, who they came within a blocked extra point of beating last season. Although they finished 8-5, the Trojans currently consist of Matt Barkley and numerous question marks.
The last big-name game on their schedule is North division opponent Oregon in Eugene, which is a rare game that will be exactly as tough as it looks.
In fact, the Devils most important game figures to be their Oct. 8 clash against a non-traditional power and conference newcomer Utah, who are making their way over from the Mountain West. The winner of that game should find themselves in the driver's seat of the South division.
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Miami Hurricanes
4 of 20
The Big Names
September 17th vs. Ohio State
September 24th vs. Kansas State
October 8th at Virginia Tech
November 12th at Florida State
At the outset of 2010, there was much talk of the Hurricanes being back to their dominant ways. A 7-6 record later, that talk is long gone, as is former head coach Randy Shannon.
New coach Al Golden will be helped to a degree with the schedule, with the key non-conference games both at home.
Their major early-season test against Ohio State got considerably less difficult in the wake of the suspensions to five key players, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
Adding to their non-conference ease is a rebuilding Kansas State team that hopes former top recruit Bryce Brown can help a squad that is replacing their quarterback and take pressure off a defense that gave up a staggering 231 rushing yards a game in 2010.
As for their ACC slate, both Virginia Tech and Florida State will be with new quarterbacks after longtime starters Tyrod Taylor and Christian Ponder, respectively, moved on.
While some Miami fans wish the same could be said for returning starter Jacory Harris, this does give the Hurricanes a leg up.
UCLA Bruins
5 of 20
The Big Names
September 17th vs. Texas
October 1st at Stanford
October 29th vs. Cal
November 26th at USC
One of the most shocking upsets of 2010 came came on Sept. 25 when UCLA went into Austin and routed then-No. 7 Texas 34-12. That loss sent the Longhorns into a downward spiral they never recovered from.
The rematch comes Sept. 17 in Pasadena. The Longhorns are still wondering if Garrett Gilbert is the answer at quarterback, and more importantly, if the 5-7 record was a fluke or the beginning of the end.
The Bruins will face a stern test on Oct. 1 when they take on Stanford on the road, but their other big name games are manageable.
They host a wounded Cal team that is coming of the first bowl-less season in the Jeff Tedford era and a squad that is looking to replace quarterback Kevin Riley.
A month later they take on their crosstown rival USC. As mentioned previously, these aren't Pete Carroll's Trojans anymore.
Oklahoma Sooners
6 of 20
The Big Names
September 17th at Florida State
September 24th vs Missouri
October 8th at Texas
November 5th vs. Texas A&M
December 3rd at Oklahoma State
Each of the first two big names on the Sooners' 2011 schedule (Florida State and Missouri) will be replacing a recent top-12 NFL Draft pick at quarterback. Such losses are never easy for a program to overcome, especially when facing the mighty Sooners offense.
Their next big test comes against Texas, still stinging after their disastrous 5-7 season. Many questions still linger about the Longhorns in the wake of their atrocious 2010 season.
The Sooners' toughest game of the season should be Texas A&M and the 19 returning starters from a 9-4 team. Thankfully for Bob Stoops' boys, the game is in Norman.
They finish the regular season against the Cowboys of Oklahoma State in a game that figures to be a "first one to 70 points" type matchup. However, OSU is replacing six defensive starters, so the early edge goes to Oklahoma.
Utah Utes
7 of 20
The Big Names
September 10th at USC
September 17th at BYU
October 15th at Pittsburgh
November 12th vs. UCLA
After years of posting 10-win seasons in the Mountain West Conference, the Utes finally get to get a crack at the big boys as they move to the newly rechristened Pac-12.
After a tune-up against Montana State, they dive right in to face new conference and division rival USC, who is struggling to find success under Lane Kiffin. A win in that game would go a long way to legitimize the Utes as a BCS school.
A week later they travel to Provo to take on BYU, who stumbled to a 7-6 finish. Although they return 16 starters, the newly independent Cougars are now firmly the state's bridesmaid.
The Utes then have a mid-season non-conference game when they travel cross-country to take on a Pittsburgh team that figures to struggle mightily on offense without Jonathan Baldwin and Dion Lewis.
A battle with the UCLA Bruins completes their "name" schedule before finishing with contests against the probable North and South division doormats in Washington State and Colorado.
Baylor Bears
8 of 20
The Big Names
September 2nd vs. TCU
October 15th at Texas A&M
November 19th vs. Oklahoma
December 3rd vs. Texas
The Bears have resided at the brink of relevance for years now, and while they continue to churn out first-round NFL picks, they have yet to have that breakthrough campaign.
This could be the year. The schedule is favorable for this 7-6 team, with both the beginning and end consisting of three home games.
The first challenge for star quarterback Robert Griffin III is TCU. While the Horned Frogs will again be monstrous on defense, the Bears will get them at home and in the first game, replacing Andy Dalton at quarterback as well as ten other starters.
A few weeks of easy games are broken up by two road games against Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. The Aggies look to be tough on both sides, but will be replacing both quarterback Jerrod Johnson and linebacker Von Miller, the second overall pick in this past draft.
Their most difficult game of the season will be on Nov. 19 when they take on the likely pre-season No. 1, Oklahoma. While a challenge, they get the game at home, the first of three straight in Waco to close out the season.
The regular season ends on Dec. 3 with a game against in-state rival Texas, still reeling from their 5-7 season.
Alabama Crimson Tide
9 of 20
The Big Names
September 10th at Penn State
September 24th vs Arkansas
October 1st at Florida
November 5th vs LSU
November 26th at Auburn
What?!
An SEC team having an "easier than it appears" schedule?
Yes, unlikely, yet true in 2011.
The key non-conference game will be the rematch of last season's battle with Penn State. The Nittany Lions are again mired in mediocrity after a 7-6 end to their season and have major question marks on offense.
Two weeks later they host an Arkansas team that will be replacing Ryan Mallett before heading to The Swamp to battle a Florida Gator team that unraveled (by Florida standards) in 2010, going 8-5 and seeing head coach Urban Meyer retire.
The marquee game on their schedule comes Nov. 5 when LSU comes to Tuscaloosa.
The 2011 Iron Bowl sees the Crimson Tide travel to Auburn to face a Tiger team that is missing numerous key pieces from their title team.
Michigan Wolverines
10 of 20
The Big Names
September 10th vs. Notre Dame
November 5th at Iowa
November 19th vs. Nebraska
November 26th vs Ohio State
A continuing theme in this list is home-field advantage. For some schools, playing at home has a negligible impact, but when you play in "The Big House," you find out that 109,000 fans can make an impact.
So will it be for the Wolverines in 2011. They play eight of their 12 games at home, including their first five, which may help first year coach Brady Hoke rebuild the devastation left by the Rich Rodriguez regime.
The marquee game in that opening five game homestand will be Sept. 10 against Notre Dame. If Michigan's 108th-ranked scoring defense makes some needed improvement, they can defeat the Irish for a third straight season without needing 502 yards of offense from Robinson. It also will mark the first night game in Michigan Stadium's 84-year history.
A tough test on the road at Michigan State will be followed two weeks later with a trip to Kinnick Stadium to take on a Hawkeye team that is replacing 11 total starters.
If the improving Wolverines can capitalize on this winnable game, they will set themselves up nicely for the stretch run.
That run consists of a season-ending two-game homestand against Nebraska and Ohio State. Nebraska will be having to fill numerous holes on both offense and defense, making this game closer than most would have thought a year ago.
Ohio State's season could become a triumph over self-inflicted adversity or a complete disaster. The result of the sport's greatest rivalry, in Ann Arbor, could go a long way in deciding that.
Clemson Tigers
11 of 20
The Big Names
September 17 vs. Auburn
September 24th vs. Florida State
October 1st at Virginia Tech
November 26th at South Carolina
For the perpetually disappointing Tigers, this may yet be another year of middling successes and unmet expectations. If so, it won't be due to their favorable schedule.
The meat of their campaign comes in late September.
On the 17th, they host the defending national champion Auburn Tigers, who will be replacing several players, notably Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton.
A week later, they host ACC rival Florida State, who not only are replacing three-year starting quarterback Christian Ponder, but will also be coming off a devastatingly tough game the week prior against Oklahoma.
The trio of games ends with yet another team guided by a first-year starting quarterback when the Tigers head to Blacksburg to tangle with Virginia Tech and an offense missing Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Williams.
They end the year with their annual Battle of the Palmetto State against South Carolina. The Gamecocks are a highly combustible bunch, personified by embattled and currently suspended quarterback Stephen Garcia.
They stand an equal chance of facing the Tigers as either a Top 10 team or unranked by this stage.
Fresno State Bulldogs
12 of 20
The Big Names
September 3rd at Cal
September 10th at Nebraska
October 7th vs. Boise State
October 22th at Nevada
Give Fresno State for scheduling traditional powers as part of their non-conference slate. The Bulldogs are a very solid program and not the kind of low FBS/FCS school such BCS schools often schedule. As such, their games against Cal and Nebraska carry some extra clout.
Cal is looking to rebound from their first bowl-less season under Jeff Tedford and will be replacing 10 key starters, including Shane Vereen and his 16 touchdowns.
Nebraska is in better shape than Cal, but is dealing with key losses on both sides of the ball. Perhaps most critical is the uncertainty at quarterback, where one-time Heisman hopeful Taylor Martinez imploded down the stretch.
Their big game against Boise State will be very difficult, but at least they get the game at home.
On Oct. 22, they travel to Nevada, who will be replacing not only record-setting quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but running back Vai Taua, who ended his Wolfpack career with three straight 1,300-yard seasons.
South Carolina Gamecocks
13 of 20
The Big Names
September 10th at Georgia
October 1st vs. Auburn
October 29th at Tennessee
November 12th vs. Florida
It wouldn’t be an offseason in Columbia with both lofty expectations and a suspension of quarterback Stephen Garcia. The talented but troubled player was suspended indefinitely in April, his fifth since arriving on campus in 2007.
After a strong 2010, South Carolina is being touted as a strong BCS contender and will need Garcia to navigate the always-treacherous SEC waters. That being said, they do get some relief in their schedule.
They jump right into division play on Sept. 10 when they face Georgia. The Bulldogs look to be strong but lost their best player on each side of the ball (wide receiver A.J. Green and linebacker Justin Houston to the draft).
The Gamecocks tangle with defending national champion Auburn on Oct. 1. In addition to the game being at home, Auburn figures to only return eight total starters.
Another big game looms on Oct. 29 against Tennessee. The Vols stumbled to a 6-7 mark in 2010 and the optimism in Knoxville has yet to turn into tangible results.
The biggest hurdle in deciding whether South Carolina can repeat as division champions will be their Nov. 12 game against Florida. The Gators stumbled to a five-loss season that resulted in the resignation of head coach Urban Meyer.
Whether UF can rebound with their immense talent base is among the top questions in the SEC.
South Florida Bulls
14 of 20
The Big Names
September 3rd at Notre Dame
September 29th at Pittsburgh
November 19th vs. Miami
December 1st vs. West Virginia
An argument can be made that any team in the Big East has a schedule that isn’t nearly as tough as it looks, and well…it may be correct.
The “Big Least” is definitely the weak link in the BCS conference chain, but that doesn’t entirely undermine the quality that the group contains.
The South Florida Bulls continue to legitimize their program’s meteoric rise by remaining a consistent bowl team. Their 2011 campaign starts off on the road against fellow eight-win team Notre Dame.
While the Irish fancy themselves as a team on the brink of a return to elite status, concerns about quarterback and their secondary leave them a question mark here in the spring.
The Bulls jump into conference play on Sept. 29 when they head to Heinz Field to take on the Panthers. Pittsburgh will be strong on defense but could be punchless on offense without Dion Lewis and Jonathan Baldwin.
An inter-state showdown with the Miami Hurricanes highlights their November schedule. The Hurricanes are under a first-year head coach in Al Golden and with the radically inconsistent Jacory Harris at quarterback, this is a very winnable game for USF.
They close out their schedule when they host West Virginia on Dec. 1, who remain solid but have yet to return to the quality of the Rich Rodriguez regime (yes Michigan fans, he was once a good coach).
Mississippi Rebels
15 of 20
The Big Names
September 3rd vs. BYU
October 15th vs. Alabama
October 22nd vs. Arkansas
October 29th at Auburn
November 19th vs. LSU
The Rebels reside in arguably the most competitive division in the most competitive conference in the nations, the SEC West.
They open the season by hosting BYU. The Cougars' streak of 10-win seasons ended in 2010 when they stumbled to a 7-6 mark.
The Rebels season will be defined during a three-week stretch from October 15-29 as they face division foes Alabama, Arkansas and Auburn.
All three, especially Alabama and Auburn, have great talent but were hit hard by graduations and the NFL Draft, and the Rebels play host to the Crimson Tide and the Razorbacks.
Ole Miss' toughest test will come Nov. 19 against likely pre-season top five LSU. The game will be at home, where in their last meeting in 2009, the Rebels knocked off the then-No. 8 Tigers 25-23.
Hawaii Warriors
16 of 20
The Big Names
September 10th at Washington
November 12th at Nevada
November 20th vs. Fresno State
December 4th vs. BYU
Among the more bankable propositions in college football are: the SEC will be the strongest conference, Notre Dame still thinks they are elite and the Hawaii quarterback will throw for 5,000 yards.
This was true again in 2010, as Bryant Moniz led the Warriors to another 10-win season and the table is set for them to once again hit that mark, despite huge losses on offense.
They begin 2011 with a pair of Pac-12 games, highlighted by the Sept. 10 trip to Washington, who begins the uncertain life in the post-Jake Locker era.
A month later they take on the depleted Pistol offense of Nevada and Fresno State in a pair of key conference games (and of teams that are leaving the WAC for the Mountain West in 2012).
All three teams enter 2011 with question marks, so the true challenger to Boise State should emerge from this stretch.
They finish with a home date against a BYU team that fell off from its 11-win 2009 season to a tick above .500 last season.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
17 of 20
The Big Names
October 8th vs. Ohio State
October 29th vs. Michigan State
November 19th at Michigan
November 25th vs. Iowa
Nebraska's rookie season in the Big Ten will be challenging based on the traditional strength of the conference, but their schedule plays to their favor.
Their first marquee game of the season, with apologies to Wisconsin, comes on Oct. 8 when they host Ohio State.
This will be the first game for the Buckeyes after the return of the their five suspended players and head coach Jim Tressel. No amount of practice can fully replicate game speed, so this will be a matchup rusty Buckeyes and a 'Husker team in midseason form.
Nebraska gets the first major test from their new "Legends" division rivals when the host Michigan State three weeks later. This continues the trend of Nebraska's most difficult games in 2011 coming at home in Memorial Stadium, as does the Nov. 25 matchup against a rebuilding Iowa team.
The one key division game that takes place on the road (sorry, Minnesota) takes the 'Huskers to Ann Arbor to battle Heisman hopeful Denard Robinson. Nebraska will be facing a defense that returns eight starters...and ranked 108th in points allowed last season.
Texas Longhorns
18 of 20
The Big Names
September 10th vs. BYU
October 8th vs. Oklahoma
October 15th vs. Oklahoma State
November 5th vs. Texas Tech
November 24th at Texas A&M
What goes up must come down, says science. Sure enough, after nine 10-win seasons, the Longhorns plummeted to the Big-12 basement with a 5-7 record, lowlighted by horrific losses to UCLA and Iowa State.
Texas get their chance to prove it was all a fluke in 2011, with a schedule that sees most of their big games at home, beginning Sept. 10 against a middling BYU team.
After a road trip to avenge their two worst 2010 losses, the Longhorns face a crucial pair of games in back-to-back weeks against the Oklahoma schools. Thankfully for Texas faithful, both games are at home.
Another home game against a Texas Tech team that will be replacing many key offensive components, including quarterback Taylor Potts comes on Nov. 5.
The major road test for the Longhorns comes in their penultimate game, Nov. 24 against Texas A&M.
Thankfully, Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert won't have to worry about getting terrorized by Aggie linebacker Von Miller, who was the second overall pick in last month's NFL Draft.
Florida Gators
19 of 20
The Big Names
September 17th vs. Tennessee
October 1st vs. Alabama
October 8th at LSU
October 15th at Auburn
November 26th vs. Florida State
An 8-5 season is typically not a cause for panic, but the Gators are not your typical program. They are one of the true elite programs in the nation, and a five-loss season is unacceptable.
To make matters more difficult, two-time national championship winning coach Urban Meyer stepped down and was replaced by Will Muschamp.
However, the Gators have one thing in their favor:their schedule. In the brutal SEC, every advantage counts and Florida faces their big-name opponents either in a rebuilding state, at The Swamp or both.
Their major hurdle will be the Oct. 8 road game against LSU, but a reprieve of sorts comes the following week at Auburn. The defending champs are replacing many key losses, none greater than Cam Newton.
They close out the season against Florida State at home, hoping to defeat the Seminoles for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
Stanford Cardinal
20 of 20
The Big Names
October 29th at USC
November 12th vs. Oregon
November 19th vs. Cal
November 26th vs. Notre Dame
No program received better offseason news than the Cardinal did when quarterback Andrew Luck returned for his senior season.
The Cardinal’s quest to take home the inaugural Pac-12 championship is primarily backloaded. Their early season games are weak, with only their road trip to Arizona providing a challenge before late October.
Then, it gets interesting.
They travel to face USC in an inter-divisional game on Oct. 29. The Trojans are a major question mark, with the load falling on Matt Barkley to make up for several departures.
The real season consists of a three-week home stand to end the season, starting Nov. 12 against top conference contender Oregon. A week later, they get another North division opponent in Cal, who is struggling after missing a bowl game for the first time under Jeff Tedford.
The trio of home dates concludes on the 26th against Notre Dame. While returning 19 starters, the Irish have yet to prove they have returned to elite status. A lot will be riding on the health and play of Dayne Crist in the second year of Brian Kelly’s system.
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