College Football Preseason Rankings: Who Will Flip or Flop in 2011?

The only thing you can absolutely be sure of in college football is that the past year and the next year won't be the same.

With that in mind, let's look at the world of flip floppers who were one way one year and different the next.

Who can forget Texas, who last season wore the biggest flip flop by going from the BCS game one year to a losing season the next?

Yes, things change in a hurry, so let's take a look at the teams who will flip their bad fortunes of last year or flop from the top on a rush the wrong way.

Texas Will Be Flipping

Last year, Texas rated in 73rd in the CCR polls. This year, they may just squeak back into the top 25.

That's about a 50 place flip, and while it's still not what the Longhorns fans want, they'll take it.

After all, going from the BCS title game to 73rd the next season may be the biggest flop of all time.

Auburn, Here Comes the Flop

Auburn's time at the top was very short lived. They won the title just after the first of the year, and just a few months later, they weren't picked by anyone to even be in the top 20 in any of the preseason polls.

That's quite a flop.

This is going to be a hard pill for Auburn fans to swallow, who had hoped that this marked the beginning of a new age at Auburn.

Sadly, it could be, and the new age of mediocrity has returned all too quickly.

Don't Bet on Nevada This Year

Last season saw Nevada almost reach the the top 10 in the final poll after finishing eleventh with a great record of 13-1.

I hope you enjoyed your time at the top, because this year they'll flop to the bottom again.

They just aren't going to enjoy this season near as much, but the BCS will always be grateful to them for preventing a Boise State cry of foul for not getting into a BCS title game with a perfect record.

Florida, Isn't That the Home of Flipper?

Last season Florida did something they haven't done since the Steve Spurrier era—finish outside the top 25.

And just like the porpoise who was made famous in Florida, the Gators will become flippers, too. They should follow up last year's flop with a flip and could finish inside the top 20 by season's end.

Now while an 18th place finish still isn't what the Gator fans hope for, they'll take a flip over a flop any day.

And Speaking of Florida Flippers, Here Come the Noles

Like their lizard breath brethren, the Noles are likely to flip back into the top 10 once again.

After so many many consecutive top 5 finishes, a record likely not to be broken soon, it's hard to believe that the college football world is excited over the prospect of seeing them just make the top 20.

If they win that first big game against Oklahoma, they may find themselves back in the top five—and quickly. But even with a loss in that game, they'll flip back to the top 20.

North Carolina Tarheels May Get Tarred and Feathered

Despite the rampant suspensions that the NCAA hit the Tarheels with, they still posted a nine-win season and a top 25 finish in football.

Not bad for a basketball factory.

Now they've fired the coach that got them there, and the excitement over football has officially left the building. Bye bye Butch Davis, and goodbye to North Carolina having any football relevance.

Here comes the flop.

Nebraska Proves a Little Flip Beats No Flip at All

Last season Nebraska said goodbye to the Big 12 and hello to the Big Ten. It's going to be a good move at a good time.

Last season the Huskers finished the year barely staying inside the top 20 with a 20th place AP finish.

This season they should squarely be in the top 10 and could make some real noise if they get passed Wisconsin in the first Big Ten Title Game.

While this may not seem like much of a flip, to the Husker fans, it means a lot.

And That's It!

Larry Burton is a Syndicated Writer whose work appears on the Internet and in print. If you'd like to keep up with all his articles, follow him on Twitter and sign up as a fan on his Bio Page.

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