College Football 2011: One Game on Each Top 25 Schedule That Can Ruin Perfection

In each college football season, there's always that goal of perfection.

And, although that is a very realistic goal for most teams, by season's end it doesn't always pan out.

Why?

Because there's always that one hiccup game that catches teams off guard.

It could be the one "trap game" that lurks off the radar until kickoff, or a hyped-up game with national title implications where the Vegas favorite chokes under pressure.

Either way, it's inevitable to avoid the one game that could ruin the chance at perfection (unless it's the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers). You can count on at least one team to make things interesting.

So to begin, here's a preseason top 25 and who may ruin their chances of going undefeated. 

25. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Who: Georgia Bulldogs

When: Oct. 1, 2011

Where: Sanford Stadium; Athens, Ga.

The fact that Mississippi State plays in the SEC definitely diminishes their chances at going unbeaten.

Since Auburn loses a lot, and they get LSU at home, Mississippi State could realistically be 4-0 going into Athens.

However, that's where it comes to an end.

24. West Virginia Mountaineers

Who: LSU Tigers

When: Sept. 24, 2011

Where: Mountaineer Field; Morgantown, W. Va.

Last season LSU beat West Virginia in Baton Rouge, so 2011 should be no different in Morgantown.

The Tigers have a better recruiting class and a lot more talent coming back; not to mention, their conferences significantly differ in strength of schedule.

23. Virginia Tech Hokies

Who: North Carolina Tar Heels

When: Nov. 17, 2011

Where: Lane Stadium; Blacksburg, Va.

The Hokies have a very favorable schedule in 2011 and should contend for another ACC Championship.

That said, the North Carolina Tar Heels have been gradually improving their program.

Although the game is at home, don't be surprised if UNC pulls off the upset.

22. Georgia Bulldogs

Who: Boise State Broncos

When: Sept. 3, 2011

Where: Georgia Dome; Atlanta

2011 has increased expectations for Georgia, but the Week 1 matchup against non-AQ national title hopeful Boise State will be rough.

Georgia will be going in as the underdog, but regardless of how this one turns out, 2011 will surely be an improvement from 2010.

21. Florida Gators

Who: Alabama Crimson Tide

When: Oct. 1, 2011

Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; Gainesville, Fla.

Surprise, surprise—the Crimson Tide act as the Gators' current Achilles heel.

A lot is expected from Alabama in 2011, and with a new head coach (Will Muschamp) in Florida, this one could get ugly.

20. UCF Knights

Who: SMU Mustangs

When: Oct. 15, 2011

Where: Gerald J. Ford Stadium; Dallas

Last season the Knights beat the Mustangs 17-7 for the Conference USA title.

Well, SMU is back on the rise and gets UCF in their backyard this season.

Make no mistake about it, UCF is on the upswing as well, but facing a fellow conference title contender on the road will show us who they really are.

19. Auburn Tigers

Who: South Carolina Gamecocks

When: Oct. 1, 2011

Where: Williams-Brice Stadium; Columbia, S.C.

Auburn lost more than anyone to the NFL Draft/graduation, while South Carolina returns a great deal of talent.

What saves the Tigers is the experience of those still intact, but the Gamecocks will be eager to avenge two losses from 2010.

18. Ohio State Buckeyes

Who: Michigan State Spartans

When: Oct. 1, 2011

Where: Ohio Stadium; Columbus, Ohio

Even though the Buckeyes lost a lot due to the NCAA violations, they still have a decent squad, and Luke Fickell has a lot of potential.

That said, Michigan State is anxiously awaiting for 2011 to kickoff because they have a chance to repeat as Big Ten champs.

17. Michigan State Spartans

Who: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

When: Sept. 17, 2011

Where: Notre Dame Stadium; South Bend, Ind.

If you're a fan of college football, then watching the Notre Dame-Michigan State rivalry each year should be on your watch list.

Since 2000, nine of their games have been decided by a TD or less, and 2010 was no exception.

Down by three (31-28) in OT, Sparty lined up on fourth down for a game-tying field goal.

They faked it and threw a TD pass to win 34-31.

You can't get more of an exciting ending.

16. Missouri Tigers

Who: Oklahoma Sooners 

When: Sept. 24, 2011

Where: Memorial Stadium; Norman, Okla.

To open up conference play in the new Big 12, Missouri gets to travel to Oklahoma.

For all Tigers fans who had high hopes for 2011, well, the momentum rests with this game.

A win would mean a vehement increase in confidence, while a loss would diminish the shot at a conference title.

15. Texas A&M Aggies

Who: Oklahoma Sooners

When: Nov. 5, 2011

Where: Memorial Stadium; Norman, Okla.

Much like the previously-mentioned Missouri Tigers, Texas A&M's big game comes on the road at Norman as well.

Now, they do get Oklahoma State early, but it's at home, and whoever wins that one will mean a surreal level of intensity heading into Oklahoma.

14. Arkansas Razorbacks

Who: Alabama Crimson Tide

When: Sept. 24, 2011

Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium; Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Prior to making the trip to Tuscaloosa, Arkansas gets three cake-walk games.

Regardless of who you are—and how good you are—they (Missouri St., New Mexico, Troy) will not buff out the rough spots before the Crimson Tide.

Add in the fact of who the Razorbacks have lost in comparison,—as well as recruiting—and Alabama should literally "Roll Tide" in this one.

13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Who: Michigan Wolverines

When: Sept. 10, 2011

Where: Michigan Stadium; Ann Arbor, Mich.

2011 has the potential to be the best season for Notre Dame since 1993 when they finished ranked No. 2.

However, the Michigan Wolverines also are a program that's back on the rise.

That said, having the Irish in Ann Arbor could just be the confidence booster they need.

12. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Who: Wisconsin Badgers

When: Oct. 1, 2011

Where: Camp Randall Stadium; Madison, Wisc.

This should come as no shock since despite not having sick recruiting classes each year, Wisconsin still remains an elite program.

Additionally, they get to welcome Nebraska to the newly-aligned Big Ten.

Here, we will see what the Cornhuskers are really made of.

11. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Who: Oklahoma Sooners

When: Dec. 3, 2011

Where: Boone Pickens Stadium; Stillwater, Okla.

Previously mentioned on the Texas A&M slide was the Aggies-Cowboys' matchup.

Well, for really anyone in the Big 12, Oklahoma has been the bully.

Therefore, if Oklahoma State pulls through their first 11 games, the final game against Oklahoma will be epic.

If it comes down to this in the Big 12, it could be one for the ages.

10. Wisconsin Badgers

Who: Michigan State Spartans

When: Oct. 22, 2011

Where: Spartan Stadium; East Lansing, Mich.

If it weren't for an unexpected rise from Sparty in 2010, Wisky would have won sole possession of the Big Ten title.

But, since that didn't happen, it had to be shared thrice as many ways (MSU, OSU, Wisky).

And, Sparty has more coming back in 2011, so if Wisky wants to take back the bragging rights, they will have to earn it.

9. LSU Tigers

Who: Oregon Ducks

When: Sept. 3, 2011

Where: Cowboys Stadium; Arlington, Texas

When the college football season commences, the Oregon-LSU game will arguably be the most hyped season-opener in a great while.

That said, LSU does have the potential to run the table in the SEC, but Oregon still has the bad taste in their mouth from losing the National Championship (to an SEC team, no less).

This game could make or break the Tigers' season, especially when we all know exactly how tough their conference is.

8. TCU Horned Frogs

Who: Boise State Broncos

When: Nov. 12, 2011

Where: Bronco Stadium; Boise

TCU has become the Wisconsin Badgers of the non-BCS schools (until 2012 that is), since they are solid every year despite a low-ranked recruiting class.

Come time for mid-November though, their farewell from the Mountain West Conference won't be appropriate without a visit to Boise.

7. Florida State Seminoles

Who: Oklahoma Sooners

When: Sept. 17, 2011

Where: Doak Campbell Stadium; Tallahassee

Last season, the Oklahoma Sooners totally dominated Florida State throughout.

This season, the Seminoles have a lot coming back (as does Oklahoma).

And, even though the game is at home, it could have a season-long effect on how FSU performs.

6. South Carolina Gamecocks

Who: Mississippi State Bulldogs

When: Oct. 15, 2011

Where: Davis Wade Stadium; Starkville, Miss.

This season, South Carolina has a window of opportunity to win the SEC.

At Georgia in Week 2 will be tough, but those Bulldogs will be coming off a game against the Boise State Broncos.

These Bulldogs from Mississippi State will be looking to upset a cross-conference title contender.

In addition, Miss. St. is coming off a great 9-4 campaign in 2010.

5. Stanford Cardinal

Who: Oregon Ducks

When: Nov. 12, 2011

Where: Stanford Stadium; Stanford, Calif.

Although the Stanford Cardinal finished 12-1 in 2010 and saw Andrew Luck have a sensational season, the Oregon Ducks ruined everything with a 52-31 spanking.

The Cardinal will be looking to get revenge in 2011 at home, but don't get your hopes up, because the Ducks have something to prove of their own.

4. Boise State Broncos

Who: Georgia Bulldogs

When: Sept. 3, 2011

Where: Georgia Dome; Atlanta

Much like 2010 when they opened up against Virginia Tech, Boise State takes on the SEC this year in Week 1 against the Georgia Bulldogs.

Boise State is becoming a consistent national title buster, while Georgia is back on the rise from the days of Herschel Walker.

It is arguably as big a game as Oregon-LSU.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide

Who: Florida Gators

When: Oct. 1, 2011

Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; Gainesville, Fla.

Yes, this game was also Florida's game listed on this slideshow.

It is one of the recently better rivalries in the SEC, especially after these two faced off in two consecutive conference title games.

But, with this one in Gainesville, you know The Swamp will be shaking in early October.

2. Oklahoma Sooners

Who: Florida State Seminoles

When: Sept. 17, 2011

Where: Doak Campbell Stadium; Tallahassee

Move back five slides, and you will see this was Florida State's as well.

Here's why they're on Oklahoma's:

For one it's in Tallahassee, and after last season's beatdown, the Seminoles are aching to play again.

Secondly, the Big 12 is weak, and FSU is an early-season game that arguably has national title implications.

It will be a much closer game than 2010, count on it. 

1. Oregon Ducks

Who: LSU Tigers

When: Sept. 3, 2011

Where: Cowboys Stadium; Arlington, Texas

And yes, we saw Oregon listed on LSU's slide.

Thing is, other than Stanford, no one should challenge the Ducks in the Pac-12.

In addition, it's still a much bigger game than Stanford because it's an SEC school in Week 1.

LSU is always in national title discussion, and who knows how long the window will be open in Eugene, Ore.

If there is one game you watch in 2011, this has to be it.