College Football 2011: 6 Teams Not to Trust Until October
"Summer has come and past
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends"
- "Wake Me Up When September Ends," Green Day
College football has no preseason, but most big-time schools treat their September schedules as a warmup for their conference challenges in October and November.
Most Top 25 schools have at least one directional program on their September calendar, but some teams are worse than others in loading up on cupcakes. While that helps pad their record early, it also means that the teams aren't really tested and it's hard to tell the contenders from the pretenders.
So, using ESPN.com's post-spring Top 25 by Mark Schlabach, here's a look at the worst September cupcake offenders so you can know not to trust their September starts.
No. 24: Florida
1 of 6
September Schedule: Florida Atlantic, UAB, Tennessee, at Kentucky
The Gators get two non-conference warmups in the Swamp, then host a Tennessee program struggling to get back on its feet and have their only road test at Kentucky.
New head Gator Will Muschamp will have his tests, but they won't come in September.
No. 23: Virginia Tech
2 of 6
September Schedule: Appalachian State, at East Carolina, Arkansas State, at Marshall
Yes, Frank Beemer's squad dropped a home game to an FCS school last year, but that was three days after a tough neutral-site game against Boise State.
There's no Boise State on this year's September slate for the Hokies, which should help them start strong.
No. 15: Ohio State
3 of 6
September Schedule: Akron, Toledo, at Miami (FL), Colorado
In fairness, Ohio State's schedule isn't terrible, with a trip to Miami and home-date with Colorado on the list.
But given the suspensions of the Buckeyes head coach, quarterback and four other players, the team we see in September will have little resemblance to the team that takes the field in October.
September will be something for the Buckeyes' B-Team to survive until the cavalry arrives.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 13: Nebraska
4 of 6
September Schedule: Chattanooga, Fresno State, Washington, at Wyoming
Nebraska's new-look offense gets three home games and a road trip to struggling Wyoming to start 2011.
While Washington did knocked off the struggling Cornhuskers in last year's Holiday Bowl, the Huskies' trip to Lincoln without Jake Locker looks a daunting prospect.
Nebraska's new Big Ten Conference mates did them no favors with a difficult conference schedule, but we will learn how good NU is in October, not September.
No. 12: Wisconsin
5 of 6
September Schedule: UNLV, Oregon State, Northern Illinois, South Dakota
The Badgers never leave the state of Wisconsin in September with four straight home games to start the season.
Oregon State is the biggest challenge of the four, but Wisconsin should still be strong favorites at Camp Randall.
No. 8: Stanford
6 of 6
September Schedule: SMU, at Duke, at Arizona
The Cardinal have an unusual September plan. They only have three games, and two of them are on the road.
However, the first two should be tuneups for Stanford.
The trip to Arizona is more challenging, but the Cardinal will still have lots to prove come October.
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.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
