College Football 2011 Predictions: 10 Preseason Top 25 Teams That Won't Last

History proves that preseason rankings are flawed.

There was that year in the 1990s when Arizona was everyone’s preseason No. 1 and the Wildcats didn’t even finish in the Top 25.

Last year Texas, which finished 5-7, was ranked as high as fourth.

The eventual champion Auburn started the season at No. 22.

Is your favorite team a preseason Top 25 program?

Who cares? It means nothing. Here’s a look at 10 teams that could drop out of the Top 25 during the season.

10. Boise State

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LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 06: Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos prepares to pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies at FedExField on September 6, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

Boise State has built up enough respect that the Broncos could slip up a few times and still be ranked.

But if Boise loses to Georgia and TCU, no one should rank them.

Lose your only two legitimate games and you can’t be a Top 25 team.

There aren’t too many other non-BCS teams that could lose two (or even three) games and remain ranked.

9. South Carolina

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Stephen Garcia #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks against the Florida State Seminoles during the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl at Georgia Dome on December 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Gamecocks are receiving some sweet preseason love.

Steve Spurrier’s squad may live up to the hype, but raise your hand if you believe (only those of you who live outside of Columbia, SC).

Whether Stephen Garcia starts at quarterback or not, South Carolina has had issues since Spurrier arrived and that’s not about to change.

South Carolina’s schedule definitely helps its cause, but the Gamecocks could easily lose five of their last six games.

8. Nebraska

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Taylor Martinez #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers fumbles the ball under pressure from defensive back Demontre Hurst #19 of the Oklahoma Sooners at Cowboys Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Sooners

The Cornhuskers looked like one of the special teams last year until they lost to Texas.

Then there was all of the Taylor Martinez drama and the surprising loss to Washington in the bowl game.

Now you have to wonder if Bo Pelini’s squad can handle the transition to the Big Ten.

7. West Virginia

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LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 20: Ryan Clarke #32 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs with the ball during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo

West Virginia is just another Big East team that won’t get a long leash from voters.

A quick look at the schedule and WVU should be favored in every game but one—a Sept. 24 game with LSU in Morgantown.

However, the Mountaineers can’t overlook that Sept. 17 game at Maryland or games at Syracuse (Oct. 21), Cincinnati (Nov. 12) or South Florida (Dec. 1). If the Mountaineers lose two of these games they’ll be out of the rankings.

6. Florida

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GAINESVILLE, FL - APRIL 9: Coach Will Muschamp of the Florida Gators takes the field before the Orange and Blue spring football game April 9, 2010 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The transition from Urban Meyer to Will Muschamp is just a little too much in the first year.

Florida will win more than it loses, but the Gators may only be 7-5.

There are still a great number of players with high levels of ability at UF, but the Gators won’t enjoy real success until Muschamp’s second season.

5. Michigan State

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 27: Wide receiver B.J. Cunningham #3 celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on November 27, 2010 at Beaver Stadium in State C

The Spartans were last season’s surprise 11-1 team that shared the Big Ten championship and shot up the Top 25 polls.

Then we saw the real Michigan State in the bowl game with Alabama.

Mark Dantonio’s team could easily lose five games next year and be a Top 25 afterthought.

4. Missouri

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KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Gary Pinkel of the Missouri Tigers looks on from the sideliens during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on November 27, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Missouri always seems to be a little better when you don’t expect too much.

The Tigers are considered a preseason Top 25 program, but a 2-2 start with losses to Arizona State and Oklahoma should push them out of the rankings.

While Missouri might sneak back in for a week or two later in the season, it won’t last past the Texas Tech game on Nov. 19.

3. Texas

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AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: University of Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert #8 rushes during the first half against Texas A&M at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

If you believe last year was just an anomaly then the Longhorns will revert to form and be a 10-win team in 2011.

If you think Texas was overrated last year and it is back in the preseason rankings on reputation, you are part of the group that thinks Mack Brown’s team won’t be in the rankings at the end of the season.

Then there are those who think both sides are a little right.

Texas just may slip in and out of the rankings all season.

2. Auburn

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Michael Dyer #5 of the Auburn Tigers runs the ball for a 37-yards late in the fourth quarter during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo

Gene Chizik’s Tigers aren’t expected to be as good as last year’s BCS championship team; however the fans on the Plains wouldn’t be too pleased with dropping out of the Top 25.

However, a lot of talent has left for the NFL, including first-round players Cam Newton and Nick Fairley, so Auburn is not going to be as good.

The Tigers could slip out of the rankings as early as Week 3, but it’s more likely to happen after the LSU game on Oct. 22.

1. Virginia Tech

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 31: Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Frank Beamer watches warmups on the field before the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against the Tennessee Volunteers at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. Virginia Tech beat Tennessee 37-1

The Hokies have become the most consistent ACC team in the past decade, but Virginia Tech will slip this year.

The talent has improved in the league and the Hokies are sort of rebuilding this year.

Bud Foster’s defense should be good, but not good enough to keep Virginia Tech from slipping to 8-4.

A bowl victory could be enough to get Frank Beamer’s team back in the rankings at the end of the year, though.