College Football Top 25 Rankings: 10 Questions Surrounding the Preseason Top 25
There is sometimes a misconception that teams ranked in the preseason top 25 do not have any questions to be addressed or chinks in their armor.
This simply is not true. Each team in the top 25 has some specific area of concern that could hinder their success. The area may be masked by the talents of the team’s top playmakers, but believe me, it is there.
In this piece, I will discuss the top 10 glaring questions that need to be addressed by teams in the top 25. These questions can range from the off-the-field decision-making of a quarterback to the brutal toughness of a squad’s schedule.
Without further ado, here are 10 questions that are facing some of the top teams heading into the 2011 college football season.
Will Stephen Garcia Be the Quarterback That South Carolina Needs?
1 of 10
Stephen Garcia has excellent arm strength, ideal size for the position at 6'2", 227 lbs. and good athleticism. Despite all of that, Garcia’s South Carolina career has been marred by a string of suspensions and off-the-field incidents.
Garcia has had multiple run-ins with the law during his time in Columbia and was recently re-instated from his latest suspension.
South Carolina has some of the top talent in the SEC on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball with players such as running back Marcus Lattimore, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
The Gamecocks need to get solid play at quarterback if they hope to live up to their lofty expectations though. Yes, Garcia’s 14 interceptions last season were high, but he still gives South Carolina the best chance to win football games.
The senior quarterback’s tenure with the Gamecocks has been a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows. His attitude and performance throughout the next six months will go a long way in determining the fate of South Carolina’s 2011 campaign.
Is Malcolm Brown Being Overhyped?
2 of 10
I watched Malcolm Brown rip off an unbelievable touchdown run for Steele High School during a nationally televised contest on ESPN, and I never forgot the prospect’s name. The run was a SportsCenter top 10 play, and it convinced me that the potential for college football stardom resided in Brown.
I have expressed my belief on numerous occasions that Brown will get an ample amount of carries and will make an impact with Texas as a freshman next season. These are lofty goals for a true freshman, and I have questioned whether I am putting too much stock in a prospect who has yet to play a down of college football.
My predictions for Malcolm Brown are tame though in comparison to some of the pledges of future greatness that are being uttered about the five-star running back. Recently, college football writer Phil Steele selected Malcolm as a first team selection on his all Big 12 team for next season.
There is a lot to like about Texas next season besides the true freshman running back. Malcolm Brown has all the makings of an elite talent, but it seems as though the hype machine has gone into overdrive.
Will Jordan Jefferson’s Role as Starting Quarterback Remain Secure?
3 of 10
Jordan Jefferson was given a vote of confidence by head coach Les Miles that he is the team's starting quarterback as of right now.
With that being said, one has to wonder if we have heard the last from former Georgia quarterback and junior college transfer Zach Mettenberger.
Jefferson came under fire last season after he threw for only 1,411 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Jordan has great size at 6'5" and has the athleticism to make plays with his feet, but he did not give the Tigers excellent production under center last season as evidenced by his meager statistics.
Zach Mettenberger, meanwhile, was competing for the starting quarterback job at Georgia as a red-shirt freshman, but head coach Mark Richt kicked Mettenberger off the team for violating team rules. Mettenberger went on to enroll at Butler Community College where he put up strong numbers. Zach competed for the starting quarterback job at LSU during the spring.
Jordan Jefferson will likely lead the Tigers offense during the team’s season opener versus Oregon, but it is unclear whether he will finish as the starter.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Will Ohio State Rally Around Interim Head Coach Luke Fickell?
4 of 10
There are a number of questions surrounding the Ohio State program right now.
Head Coach Jim Tressel has resigned, NCAA sanctions appear to be imminent and the suspensions of quarterback Terrelle Pryor and his teammates who were involved in the tattoo incident are on the horizon.
The atmosphere on the Ohio State campus was recently described as being somber and funeral-like.
Can Ohio State interim head coach Luke Fickell rally this group of Buckeye football players and have them hungry for the Sept. 3 opener versus Akron? We already know that the future looks grim for Ohio State’s football program, but can the Buckeyes make something out of this upcoming 2011 campaign?
There is little to no optimism surrounding this team, and these players face more distractions than this writer can count. A considerable amount of talent still resides in that Ohio State locker room. It will be interesting to see if Luke Fickell can inspire confidence and make the best out of a bad situation.
Will New Changes Affect Stanford Quarterback Andrew Luck?
5 of 10
Andrew Luck is the most talented player in college football. Luck also would have been the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL draft, had he not decided to return to school.
With all that being said, Luck will face considerable obstacles next season as he attempts to keep Stanford at the top of the Pac-12 conference.
Doug Baldwin and Ryan Whalen have both departed. Baldwin and Whalen were Andrew’s top two receiving targets last season. Wide receiver Chris Owusu has missed time during the spring due to injury.
Andrew Luck will also have to adjust to David Shaw taking over as head coach as opposed to former head man Jim Harbaugh. This transition should be pretty smooth due to the fact that Shaw served as Stanford’s offensive coordinator last season, but there is always a transition that needs to be made in situations like this.
Finally, Andrew Luck will have to deal with being the focal point of every defense’s scouting report. Luck will have a much bigger bullseye on his back in comparison to last season.
Andrew Luck still has a ridiculous amount of talent and moxie, but he will face new challenges and adjustments this fall.
Will Dana Holgorsen’s Departure Have an Immediate Impact on Oklahoma State?
6 of 10
During his time as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, Dana Holgorsen served as the maestro of one of the country’s most potent offensive attacks.
Holgorsen’s spread passing attack has consistently lit up the scoreboard in Stillwater. Yes, the coach has had some elite talent running the offense such as wide receivers Dez Bryant and Justin Blackmon. Nevertheless, opposing defenses have been unable to consistently slow down the Cowboys’ spread offense.
Oklahoma State has top-tier talent returning on offense next season in the form of Blackmon, quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Josh Cooper. One has to wonder if Holgorsen’s departure will adversely affect the offense next season though?
Todd Monken will serve as Oklahoma State’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Monken was most recently the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers coach. He will most likely run a similar version of Holgorsen’s offense next year with the returning talent he is in place. It is uncertain though if he will add any adjustments or wrinkles to the scheme.
It remains to be seen if Monken’s presence adds to or works against the Cowboys in 2011.
Can Oregon Compensate for Their Shattered Front Seven?
7 of 10
Oregon enters the upcoming 2011 campaign as one of the favorites to win the national title.
The Ducks offense is comparable to a fully-loaded Ferrari. Quarterback Darron Thomas returns, as do running backs LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner. As if that were not enough, the Ducks will also welcome highly touted athlete De’Anthony Thomas into the fold next fall.
The offense is definitely of a championship caliber. Unfortunately, there are questions that need to be answered on the defensive side of the football.
Oregon only returns two starters in their front seven. Linebackers Spencer Paysinger and Casey Matthews were the leaders of the defense last year, and both players will need to be replaced heading into next season. Oregon recruits at an extremely high level, but that departed experience cannot be replicated so easily.
Everyone is excited about the Ducks’ offense next season. However, if this team does slip up, it will not be because of a lack of talented skill players. It will be a result of defensive struggles.
Can TCU Prove That It Is a Program That Reloads?
8 of 10
TCU has gone to back-to-back BCS games and earned a hard-fought Rose Bowl victory against Wisconsin to cap off the 2010 campaign. The program has risen to great heights under head coach Gary Patterson, but next season will be a stern test for the Horn Frogs.
TCU only returns 10 starters next season and will field one of the least experienced teams in all of the FBS. Some of the departed players include quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver Jeremy Kerley. TCU will benefit from the return of running back Ed Wesley and linebackers Tank Carder and Tanner Brock.
The Horned Frogs will be lacking the experience that has aided them so greatly throughout the past two seasons. In addition, Boise State makes their debut appearance in the Mountain West during TCU’s final season in the conference.
History has shown that TCU rarely falls off in terms of victories, but next season will test the program as they prepare to enter the Big East in 2012.
Can E.J. Manuel Pick Up Where He Left Off?
9 of 10
Quarterback Christian Ponder has moved on and will be spending his time in snowy Minneapolis next season rather than sunny Tallahassee. The departure of Ponder may have caused some fans to fret, but these apprehensions had to be calmed after E.J. Manuel’s performance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl last season.
Manuel helped lead Florida State to a 26-17 victory over South Carolina in the bowl game. Manuel had 130 total yards and a touchdown in the contest.
E.J. Manuel definitely has the athleticism and ability to achieve more success next fall. Manuel will have a talented group of skilled players surrounding him, which should aid him that much more. The former 5-star recruit can make plays with both his arm as well as his legs.
Florida State will have a solid team either way, but Manuel could be the player who takes the Seminoles to another level.
Can Nebraska Navigate Their Brutal Big Ten Schedule?
10 of 10
The Big Ten schedule makers did not do any favors to newcomer Nebraska. In fact, the Cornhuskers' conference slate seems somewhat unfair.
Nebraska hosts Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa. The Cornhuskers will go on the road to face Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State. Conference lightweights Purdue and Indiana serve as the two exempt games.
A pair of home games versus Washington and Fresno State does not equate to the easiest non-conference schedule either.
Head Coach Bo Pelini’s Cornhuskers will be a top 25-caliber squad next season, but they will not be able to catch their breath with this daunting schedule. Hopefully, the team enjoys the home opener against FCS Chattanooga, which might just be the only “gimme” game on Nebraska’s schedule.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
