College Football 2011: The 11 Most Likely Teams To Become Powerhouses
pow·er·house
a person, group, team, or the like, having great energy, strength, or potential for success. - courtesy of Dictionary.com
These teams are all on the brink of something great.
They have the players, recruiting chops and/or potential to be regulars in the BCS over the next decade.
As Florida, Ohio State and USC seem to be "fading into Bolivia" it's time for a changing of the guard in college football.
These teams are your most likely options to take over and make some noise on a national level.
11. TCU Horned Frogs
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Yeah, yeah, TCU is not exactly flying under the radar here.
However, they are about to make a move that will be huge for their continuing success in the sport.
The Frogs have a solid team once again, but a BCS berth is unlikely this season.
When they move to the Big East, they will become part of a BCS conference.
With that new oomph on their resume, the Frogs should enjoy immense success in a weak conference and be able to continue that success in their bowl conquests.
The key to their success has been their stingy defenses, and as long as Gary Patterson continues to follow that blue print, TCU will continue to be a major player on the national stage...
10. Houston Cougars
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Houston might very well be the next team to be called a "BCS" buster.
Case Keenum should be back at the helm of a potent offense, and the Cougars defense will be less leaky, thanks to a couple of JUCO transfers at corner and more experience along the defensive line and linbackers.
Should Kevin Sumlin continue to coach at Houston, the Cougars will continue to enjoy success, and may very well end up in a similar place to Boise State before the end of the next decade...
9. Florida State Seminoles
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Okay, so this is not really a surprise because these things are somewhat cyclical, but the Seminoles are on the brink of getting back their powerhouse status.
Nigel Bradham leads an explosive defense, that is growing by leaps and bounds, while head coach Jimbo Fisher has enjoyed immense successes on the recruiting trail.
While the ACC has been notably weak over the last few seasons, it won't be long before the Seminoles are back atop the national heap.
They may never match their dominance of the 1990s, but a 10-win season and back-to-back top five recruiting classes have Seminole fans thinking it's possible...
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
8. Texas A&M Aggies
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The main reason for the resurgence of the Aggies program in 2010 was the work of head coach Mike Sherman.
Sherman has done a fantastic job of improving the recruiting at A&M and did a great job of handling his personnel last season.
With continued success in the next few seasons, it would be hard not to imagine A&M at or near the top of the Big 12 heap soon.
7. Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Bo Pelini might have the scariest facial expressions of anyone not named Jim Carrey, but the man can coach.
Pelini has led the Huskers to 29 wins in his first three seasons with the program and is looking for more after their move to the Big Ten.
That move might be the catalyst that propels the Huskers back to national prominence, as the Big Ten is currently in a state of disarray with the trouble at Ohio State, and Michigan's inability to win games.
The Huskers' defense is going to be very stingy over the next few years, and if Pelini can get some consistent play out of the quarterback position, we could see the start of a string of BCS appearances as early as the 2012 Rose Bowl.
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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Every year pundits predict a Notre Dame return to prominence.
And every season, they flop miserably.
This season, it's no different; the media is drooling over the Irish and people everywhere are predicting a return to the BCS.
But it's for real.
The defense is going to be scary good, and next year will be even better.
Cierre Wood is a dynamic running back, and both of the primary options at quarterback are capable of leading this team.
Brian Kelly definitely has the Irish heading in the right direction
5. Missouri Tigers
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Missouri has played second fiddle to Nebraska for years in the Big 12 North.
Now, the Huskers have departed and the road to Big 12 dominance gets a little more difficult, but the Tigers are headed in the right direction.
Mizzou has been on a steady climb over the past decade, culminating in the last four years when the Tigers have won at least 10 games in three of those seasons.
Now that Blaine Gabbert is gone, it will be interesting to see if the Tigers can maintain the same level of success in the realigned Big 12.
With head coach Gary Pinkel at the helm, it's very likely...
4. South Carolina Gamecocks
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Steve Spurrier appears to have the recruiting bus rolling in Columbia, and the Gamecocks are headed for several seasons atop the SEC East.
With explosive players such as Marcus Lattimore, Alshon Jeffery and Jadeveon Clowney coming to SC on a regular basis, it won't be long before the Gamecocks are a regular attender at the BCS.
They have a great coach, and with the talent rolling in, they should start winning those games against top-flight SEC competition.
Not bad for a team that was 0-11 in 1999...
3. Wisconsin Badgers
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Wisconsin has come a long way in the last 20 years.
After finishing 1-10 in 1988 and 1990, and 2-9 in 1989, the Badgers have been on a steady climb to the top of the football heap.
The Badgers made a trip to the Rose Bowl in 2010, and even though they lost, it was a step in the right direction.
Head coach Bret Bielema has improved recruiting, and the Badgers are going into 2011 looking to take the next step toward being one of college football's elite teams.
2. West Virginia Mountaineers
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Dana Holgorsen is in town.
And he could find himself as the head coach earlier than planned...
Even with the allegations he has had to face already this spring, Holgorsen is the key to WVU's success over the next several years.
He transformed the Oklahoma State offense into a juggernaut, and with a team that actually plays defense, it's scary what one of his squads might accomplish.
1. Arkansas Razorbacks
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Arkansas is loaded.
Even without Ryan Mallett, the Hogs are going to be serious contenders in the SEC again this season.
Even if you hate Bobby Petrino (Atlanta Falcons fans), you have to admit he is doing a great job in Fayetteville.
Tyler Wilson is more than capable of leading this team back to the BCS, and Petrino will keep the Hogs in contention for years to come.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
