College Football 2011: Surprise Contenders in All 6 BCS Conferences
There are several teams in each BCS Conference (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Pac-12 and SEC) that will be able to contend for a conference championship in the 2011 season.
The days of 2008 Florida or 2004 USC are gone (and in USC's case literally gone thanks to the NCAA) and with parity increasing in college football, top ranked teams are given a tougher road to win their conference.
This kind of parity not only offers smaller programs a chance at success, but also gives big-time programs that are coming off underachieving years a chance to get back in the winner's circle (i.e. Florida and Texas).
This isn't a list of favorites to win each conference, but rather a list of teams that no one is really giving a shot.
In light of that, here are my dark horses for every BCS Conference.
ACC: Virginia Tech Hokies
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Although Florida State seems to be the consensus favorite in the ACC, defending champion Virginia Tech may end up winning it again.
With non-conference games against Appalachian State, East Carolina, Arkansas State and Marshall, the Hokies certainly won't be challenged heading into ACC play.
The lack of competition in the first four weeks of the season will allow new quarterback Logan Thomas to gather his stride and create some sort of offensive rhythm before the competition ramps up in Week 5.
The Coastal Division doesn't look to be that strong as we approach the 2011 season. In fact, the entire ACC looks to be on a down year.
If Virginia Tech wins the Coastal Division, which they should, they will likely face Florida State in the ACC Championship game. The Hokies will need to play their best game against the Seminoles, but the beauty of a conference championship game is that it only takes one good game to win the conference.
Big Ten: Ohio State Buckeyes
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Despite the whirlwind of controversy that has surrounded Ohio State in the recent weeks, the Buckeyes are still equipped with some of the nation's best talent and are contenders every year for a Big Ten Championship.
The route, however, is more difficult for the Buckeyes than in past years.
They will have to replace their star quarterback, Terelle Pryor, who left the school last week, as well as adjust to a new head coach. The Buckeyes will need to focus on football despite all the negative media attention surrounding the school and, if that weren't enough, they will be without four of their best players for the first five games of the 2011 season.
Ohio State is one of the only teams in the country, though, who can overcome all of this and remain competitive. Not to mention, there are factors working in the Buckeye's favor as well.
They will avoid competing against Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska in their division (although they will have to play these teams), making Wisconsin the only other legitimate threat that has a chance to make it to the Big Ten Championship Game, and they will play them at home.
Big 12: Texas Longhorns
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The Texas Longhorns have something to prove this season, which is something they haven't had for a long time.
After going 5-7 in 2010, Mack Brown basically cleared house, hiring six new assistant coaches in the offseason. The new additions to the coaching staff, specifically of new strength and conditioning coach, Bennie Wylie, will bring back a lost culture of toughness back to Texas.
Of all the teams on this list, Texas probably has the toughest road to contend for a conference championship. However, like Ohio State, Texas possesses some of the best talent in all of College Football, which makes them a threat year in and year out, and a team fully capable of completing a run like the one required in 2011.
The game to circle on your calendar is the October 8th meeting against Oklahoma, who may start the season as the No. 1 team in the nation. Not a great chance for Texas in this game, but as we've seen in rivalry games over the years, anything can happen.
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Big East: Pittsburgh Panthers
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Being in a conference without a championship game doesn't help the Pittsburgh Panthers, but winning the weak Big East is certainly doable.
The Panthers are coming off an 8-5 season in which they underperformed after being ranked in the top 25 early in the season. The team lost their star player and starting running back, Dion Lewis, along with some key offensive weapons, but they are reloading.
Ray Graham will replace Lewis as Pittsburgh's starting running back. Graham, who saw significant playing time in 2010, averaged more than 6.2 yards per carry last season (more than Lewis) and will only get better.
Pittsburgh will need to beat West Virginia on November 25th on the road in order to have a shot at the Big East Championship, but that may be the only tough conference game on their schedule.
With home games against Syracuse, Cincinnati and Connecticut, the Panthers will likely be with only one or maybe two conference losses heading into the game against WVU, which is usually enough to win the Big East.
Pac-12: Arizona State Sun Devils
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The Pac-12's division splits benefit the Arizona State Sun Devil's chances at winning a conference championship.
Arizona State essentially has two opportunities to go to the Pac-12 Championship Game: If they win the Southern Division or if USC wins the Southern Division and they come in second.
Because of USC's continued sanctions, which restrict them from competing in postseason play, the Sun Devils could still play for a conference championship despite not winning their own division.
Arizona State plays tough road games against division foes Utah and UCLA, but gets tougher opponents USC and Arizona at home where the Sun Devils play pretty well.
Returning 10 offensive players and nine players on defense, the Sun Devils will be close to the same team they were last year when they lost four games by a combined nine points.
If the Sun Devils can find a way to beat USC, win their close games and get lucky against Oregon or Stanford in the PAC-12 Championship Game, we could see Arizona State in the Rose Bowl.
SEC: Florida Gators
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Another team coming off a disappointing season, the Florida Gators are refocused and a possible contender for the SEC Championship.
In Urban Meyer's final season as Florida head coach, the Florida Gators finished an underwhelming 8-5 overall and 4-4 in SEC play. Yet through all of that, the Gators still nearly went to the SEC Championship Game finishing one game behind South Carolina in the Eastern Division.
The Western Division in the SEC is stacked with Auburn, LSU and Alabama all returning top 25 caliber teams. However, the East is very winnable for Florida.
A late-season road game against South Carolina is the only thing that stands in the way of the Gators SEC Championship Game hopes. Similar to Arizona State, all it would take would be an "off day" from LSU, Auburn or Alabama for the Gators to win the SEC.
With Will Muschamp at the helm and Charlie Weis orchestrating the offense, quarterback John Brantley and company will have a good chance at winning the SEC in 2011.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
