College Football Rankings: Top 25 Rankings, Which Team Heads into 2011 No. 1?
The 2010 college football season was extremely exciting as it was highlighted by the remarkable run of the Auburn Tigers and Heisman trophy winner Cam Newton. Newton, defensive tackle Nick Fairley and the Tigers came out of nowhere to go undefeated and win the BCS National Championship over the Oregon Ducks.
Now with their two superstars in the NFL, only the delusional ones think the Tigers will be back in the Championship game.
There are a handful of teams who all make great claims to the No. 1 ranking as Auburn falls rapidly down the rankings.
Oregon is still loaded with talent on offense with Darron Thomas and LaMichael James, but Oklahoma is sneaking up led by QB Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles. Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide has the best defense in the country and as I always say—defense wins Championships.
As we take a look at team situations and star players more than 25 teams deserve to make the cut but just 25 can be listed—and only one can emerge as No. 1 in these preseason college football rankings.
25. Michigan Wolverines
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Two men will lead the Wolverines back to prominence inside the top-25—Head coach Brady Hoke and quarterback Denard Robinson.
Hoke has done a fantastic job turning around programs in recent years and will utilize Robinson to the max.
Denard was an early Heisman favorite last year and should be in the mix once again, especially if he stays healthy. Expect him to be among league leaders in rushing yards and touchdowns with his ability to shred defenses on the ground with his speed.
He has a solid arm and will get the job done through the air, making him one of the most dangerous weapons in the entire nation.
The time for Michigan has finally arrived.
24. Auburn Tigers
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I do not have much faith in the Auburn Tigers this season. I’ve said it all offseason—they will not make it back to the BCS National Championship and will not go undefeated again.
The loss of QB Cam Newton and DT Nick Fairley, who both went inside the top 15 in the NFL draft as two of the premier prospects, are simply too great to overcome. Newton was a dream come true and put together one of the most remarkable seasons I’ve ever witnessed. He was the complete package and an absolute freak of a collegiate player.
Unless the Tigers can land former NC State QB Russell Wilson to fill the void, the Tigers could very well fall out of the top-25 completely.
They will need to lean on Michael Dyer throughout the season, and it will be interesting to see if he has the durability to match his great talent.
23. Florida Gators
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Will Muschamp will make sure the Gators do not fall completely out of the top 25 in the post-Urban Meyer era.
The offense will lean heavily on speedster Jeff Demps, who no man wants to see in the open field. John Brantley had a much rougher season that I anticipated last year in replace of superstar Tim Tebow. I fully expect him to enjoy a breakout season now that he has a full season under his belt.
It is going to be extremely difficult to replace elite cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who was dismissed from the team for off-field issues. He has the talent to be a top-10 selection in the NFL draft and will be deeply missed.
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22. Missouri Tigers
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Missouri usually does a solid job replacing talent, but freak pass-rusher Aldon Smith and intelligent and talented quarterback Blaine Gabbert will be a bit tougher to replace off the bat.
I also thought this team was a bit overrated last season, which is why they are ranked this low.
James Franklin is expected to take over for Gabbert and should do a fine job in this offensive scheme that usually produces success.
The highlight of this team is on the defensive line, which is led by defensive ends Jacquies Smith and Brad Madison, in addition to defensive tackles Terrell Resonno and Dominique Hamilton.
21. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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As much as I enjoyed seeing Notre Dame struggling, this program is certainly on the rise with Brian Kelly as head coach.
The Fighting Irish, though, will have a difficult time replacing tight end Kyle Rudolph, who was the best tight-end prospect in this year’s NFL draft class.
The biggest hit this offseason was Michael Floyd’s drunken driving arrest. We don’t know exactly how many games he will miss, if any, as he was suspended indefinitely.
Cierre Wood is the man to look out for in this offense, as he has a nice burst, great vision and quick feet.
On defense, the star is linebacker Manti Te’o, who is expected to be drafted inside the top 25 in next year’s NFL draft. He is a monster in the middle and an absolute tackling machine. He is nearly impossible to block and will blow up game plans.
20. West Virginia Mountaineers
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Defensive end Bruce Irvin is one of the most underrated defenders in the nation. Expect him to fight all year to become the top sack-artist in the nation. Cornerback Keith Tandy is solid, and this entire secondary is definitely aided by the pressure Irvin puts on the quarterback.
The offense relies heavily on Geno Smith, who enjoyed a solid season last year. Expect him to breakout this year now that he has more experience under his belt. Tavon Austin is the wide receiver to look out for as his main target on the field.
19. Georgia Bulldogs
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Although elite wide receiver A.J. Green is now a Cincinnati Bengal as the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL draft, the Bulldogs are still in good hands.
Those hands are of their superstar quarterback, sophomore Aaron Murray who absolutely lit up the SEC as a freshman last year. With his unlimited potential, the Bulldogs are going to be quickly moving up the rankings over the next couple of seasons. He has incredible talent and threw for 3,049 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2010.
It’s almost tough to fathom what this kid is capable of with more experience.
18. Mississippi State Bulldogs
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The Bulldogs return a strong defense, led by a talented secondary. Corey Broomfield is the cornerback to watch, but make no mistake, Jonathan Banks, Charles Mitchell and Nickoe Whitley are a talented bunch as well.
They have a solid defensive tackle duo of Josh Boyd and Fletcher Cox, who will help put the pressure on the opposing quarterback.
Mississippi State’s success relies mostly on the arm and instincts of Chris Relf. It is his on-field abilities that have the Bulldogs ranked this high. With a handful of weapons, expect to hear his name often as a highlight in the box scores.
17. Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Nebraska moves to the Big 10, where I believe they can find immediate success.
Although Roy Helu is in Washington with the Redskins, running back Rex Burkhead is a beast of a runner. He can demolish just about any defender in the nation and can even catch out of the backfield for Taylor Martinez.
Martinez has a great deal of talent and serves as a dual threat. With Helu in the NFL, they will need his talents on the field to exploit defenses.
The Cornhuskers are anchored on defense by two studs who will surely go in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.
Jared Crick is one of the best defensive tackles in the nation and Alfonzo Dennard might make some people forget about Prince Amukamara. These are two fantastic cornerstones to a solid defensive unit.
16. Wisconsin Badgers
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Wisconsin lost a few studs to the NFL in OT Gabe Carimi, OG John Moffitt and C Bill Nagy. It is going to be extremely difficult to replace those three as they formed arguably the best run-blocking offensive line in the nation last year.
The Badgers will also be without QB Scott Tolzien and TE Lance Kendricks.
They are hoping to bring in former NC State QB Russell Wilson, but it remains to be seen what the outcome of that situation will be. The team will rely on arguably the top running back tandem in the country in James White and Montee Ball, who both dominated the ground last season.
A handful of defensive starters return, including cornerback Antonio Fenelus, but Wisconsin’s success lies solely on the legs of White and Ball.
15. Arkansas Razorbacks
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Arkansas lost Ryan Mallet to the NFL, but I think his loss is overblown with Tyler Wilson taking over. He has the ability to succeed immediately, especially with two senior wide receivers Jarius Wright and Greg Childs holding down the outside.
The Razorbacks will lean heavily on running back Knile Davis, who has the talent to open the field for Wilson and the aerial attack.
Linebacker Jerry Franklin is the anchor for this solid overall defense. Expect him to be looked at early and often to set the pace for the entire team.
14. Virginia Tech Hokies
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The Hokies return one of the strongest defenses in the nation, but lost QB Tyrod Taylor and RB Ryan Williams to the NFL.
Still, this is a team dedicated to its defensive unit and will have the Hokies competing for another ACC crown.
Bruce Taylor is a fantastic linebacker, but I’m looking at the secondary to steal the show in 2011. Jayron Hosely is one of the top cornerbacks in the nation and will be a sure-fire first-round pick if he leaves school next year. Look for it to be Virginia Tech and Florida State battling it out for the top spot in the ACC all season.
13. Michigan State Spartans
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Mark Dantonio has done a fantastic job with the Spartans, and I expect his success to continue as Michigan State makes a run at the Big 10 crown.
The loss of Greg Jones, one of the best linebackers in the country the past few seasons, hurts, but the defense still has DT Jerel Worthy to clog up the middle. With Worthy anchoring the front seven, the Spartans will have an extremely stout defense to rely on. They have a talented secondary with safety Trenton Robinson and cornerback Johnny Adams, so look for this unit to give the Big 10 fits.
The offense is led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, who I believe is an underrated signal-caller and leader on the field. Look for him to have a successful season, especially with tailback Edwin Baker running the way he does. Baker is a handful out of the backfield and should enjoy another stellar season.
12. Texas A&M Aggies
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It would be difficult for any team to replace a superstar talent like linebacker Von Miller, who went No. 2 overall to the Denver Broncos in the NFL draft.
Still, these Aggies return most of their starters and will continue their resurgence with linebackers Damonte Moore, Jonathan Stewart, Garrick Williams and Sean Porter. Coryell Judie is the expected ball hawk of the secondary and will make quarterbacks wish they didn’t throw his way.
Running back Cyrus Gray is my man to watch on this offense. He is a powerful running back with fine speed and great vision. He has the ability to run through just about anybody on the field on his way to the end zone. His talents will open the rest of the field and allow wide receiver Jeff Fuller to see continued success.
11. South Carolina Gamecocks
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I have South Carolina ranked much higher than most, but I think this team is set to explode.
Stephen Garcia has been rather disappointing as a starting quarterback for the Gamecocks, but with an elite runner in Marcus Lattimore and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, it is going to be difficult for him to disappoint again, as long as he is on the field.
Lattimore and Jeffery are the two reasons I have the Gamecocks this high. They are two of the premier players in all of college and will both be among the league leaders at their respective positions. They are two of the most indefensible players in the nation and will bring South Carolina towards the top.
10. Ohio State Buckeyes
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Wow. Where do we even begin with this tumultuous program?
Head coach Jim Tressel is facing possible termination but will be suspended for the first five games, at least.
Superstar quarterback Terrelle Pryor, RB Daniel Herron, WR Devier Posey, OT Mike Adams and DE Solomon Thomas are all suspended for the first five games too.
Do I believe the Buckeyes can weather the storm? Yes, I do. But it remains to be seen exactly what will happen with this team and how these kids will handle this upcoming circus.
They should be higher, and we’ll see how strong their psyche truly is.
The one man I’m looking at to hold down the fort while his teammates are suspended? LB Andrew Sweat, who should emerge as the definitive team leader on and off the field.
9. Oklahoma State Cowboys
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When you think Oklahoma State, all you need to do is think about the incredible connection between quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon. These two can take down any defense in the country, and I believe both could be drafted in the first round next year.
These two lit up the collegiate scene last year as Blackmon dominated every cornerback. Weeden is an intelligent signal-caller with great arm strength and accuracy—entering his final year, he will be virtually impossible to defend.
The team returns a handful of starters who should all be improved with the extra season under their belts and increased chemistry.
Although running back Kendall Hunter is part of the 49ers now, this passing attack will open the field for any runner.
8. TCU Horned Frogs
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TCU never gets any love—since they play in the Mountain West Conference. Still, this is a team that rarely loses and returns a fantastic defense to the field.
Although Andy Dalton is in Cincinnati with the Bengals and wide receiver Jeremy Kerley is in New York with the Jets, these Horned Frogs have enough leap to make another undefeated run.
Running back Ed Wesley will be the star of the offense and is already one of the more underrated runners in the nation.
This team will be guided by its remarkable defense, which is highlighted by quite possibly the best linebacker tandem in the country in Tanner Brock and Tank Carder. Simply put, nobody wants to be hit by either of these two supreme powerhouses.
7. Stanford Cardinal
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We finally get to the team with the perceived No. 1 overall selection in the 2012 NFL draft.
Andrew Luck is the top prospect in the country and will finally make his run at the Heisman trophy. Stanford lost coach Jim Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers, but David Shaw is a suitable replacement.
Luck is still accompanied by Stepfan Taylor in the backfieldone of the most underrated backs in college.
The defense has two solid linebackers in Chase Thomas and Shayne Skov, but the main player on the watch list is defensive back Delano Howell. Howell is one of the top safeties in the country and should crack the first round of the 2012 NFL draft after zero safeties were selected in the first round this year.
6. LSU Tigers
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LSU could be as high as No. 4 on my poll; it would hinder mostly on Michael Ford, who has the talent to breakout this year. Their top wide out should be Rueben Randle, another player expected to enjoy a breakout season for this offense.
The defense lost great players in DT Drake Nevis and LB Kelvin Sheppard but also an elite superstar cornerback in Patrick Peterson.
Fortunately for Tigers fans, LSU consistently churns out great talent.
Look for cornerback Morris Claiborne to step up into the spotlight left by Peterson and dominate as one of the best corners in the country. This is an experienced unit for the most part and will keep the Tigers in it each and every week.
5. Florida State Seminoles
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Florida State is an emerging powerhouse and has a potential stud at quarterback in E.J. Manuel to replace new Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder.
The Seminoles have an experienced offense to assist Manuel in his first season starting. Senior wide receivers Bert Reed and Taiwan Easterling will prove to be clutch receivers for this young but talented signal-caller.
The team is truly led by its defense, which will prove to be one of the best in the country.
Defensive end Brandon Jenkins has the talent, athleticism and intangibles to become a top-10 selection in next year’s draft. He is a force off the line of scrimmage and greatly improves the entire unit, which stars Xavier Rhodes in the secondary.
Look for Florida State to make a run at the ACC crown.
4. Boise State Broncos
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Boise State rarely loses and will once again make a run at an undefeated season, falling one game short last year.
Kellen Moore is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation as he is the most efficient and rarely ever makes a mistake. He has pinpoint accuracy and a great rushing attack with Doug Martin in the backfield. The offense lost wide receivers Titus Young and Austin Pettis, who both went in the second and third round in the NFL draft. Still, with Moore captaining the ship, this offense won’t miss a beat.
The Broncos’ defense never gets the credit it deserves due to their conference and offense, but they have a talented core with DT Billy Winn, DE Shea McClellin and LB Byron Hout. Look for this defense to be stout once again as they aim an undefeated season.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
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In Nick Saban I trust.
The 2010 Crimson Tide had a difficult time duplicating their 2009 BCS National Championship and now enter the 2011 season with three of their best offensive players in the NFL—QB Greg McElroy, RB Mark Ingram and WR Julio Jones.
Usually, this would be too difficult for a team to overcome, yet the Crimson Tide come in as my No. 3 team for one reason.
And who is that driving force?
RB Trent Richardson.
He is a monster of a running back with great speed, vision, agility and power. He will exploit defenses each week with his all-around skills and will certainly make a run at the Heisman.
The defense is what truly separates this team from the rest in the country as Alabama has my No. 1 ranked defense.
LB Nico Johnson, FS Robert Lester, SS Mark Barron, CB Dre Kirkpatrick and LB Dont’a Hightower are the premier players of the unit with Barron, Kirkpatrick and Hightower the highlights.
Hightower may very well be the best linebacker in the nation overall with his supreme instincts and athleticism.
Also watch out for Kirkpatrick, who could develop into the best cornerback in the nation and be the first corner selected in the 2012 NFL draft.
2. Oklahoma Sooners
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Nearly everyone’s No. 1 team, the Oklahoma is absolutely loaded with talent. The Sooners will miss running back DeMarco Murray, but Roy Finch is in line for a breakout season as he takes the backfield reins.
Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles might be the top quarterback-wide receiver tandem in the country and will bring defenses to their knees each and every week. Jones will be a top 10 pick in next year’s NFL draft and could very well be the second quarterback taken overall.
The team overall brings back nearly every single one of their starters and should not have trouble replacing safeties Quinton Carter and Jonathan Nelson. Linebackers Travis Lewis and Tom Wort that really bolster this strong unit as the team waits to see if they will have cornerback Jamell Fleming come game time.
Expect the Sooners to be among the statistical leaders in major team categories.
1. Oregon Ducks
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Until the Ducks lose a regular season game, which could very well be Week 1 against LSU, I’m still going with this explosive team.
They have to overcome losses on the offensive line and must find a replacement for linebacker Casey Matthews, but the Ducks’ high-octane offense should not miss a beat with Darron Thomas and LaMichael James. These are two of the premier athletes in the nation and should once again be among nation leaders in major passing and running statistics, respectively.
James was the Heisman runner up last year, and I expect him to once again make a run at the award. He has phenomenal speed, vision and agility, which will allow him to dominate once again and score at least 20 rushing touchdowns again.
Cornerback and return specialist Cliff Harris is one of the top cornerbacks in the country. He will be a sure-fire first-round selection in the 2012 NFL draft and might have a chance at sneaking into the top 10 if he can have a superb, breakout season.
The Ducks will have adversities to overcome, but their superstars and dominance last season keeps them No. 1 right now.
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