College Football 2011: Who Will Be the Best Team in Every State in 2011

With the calender now reading August, fans of college football are starting to get excited about the upcoming 2011 season.

Along with campus life, pageantry, bands and student sections, one thing that separates college football from professional sports are the in-state rivalries that ooze with passion.

While some teams are able to settle their differences during the season, others continually look to outdo their in-state rival and make people understand that they own that state.

Whether it be FBS teams, FCS or other divisions of college football, here is a look at which teams will end up being the best program during the 2011 season in their own states.

Alabama: Alabama Crimson Tide

The main competition Alabama has in their own state is rival Auburn.

This year, Auburn is without Cam Newton, and Alabama is returning a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. At the end of the day, Alabama will be the best team in the state during 2011.

Alaska: Hockey, Eh?

Unfortunately for the good people up north, college football is not something they are able to go and watch.

While there are some high school programs that have produced solid talent, the fact is that a college team would have a hard time surviving considering teams would not want to make the flight up to see them.

Arizona: Arizona State Sun Devils

Inside the state of Arizona, the Wildcats and Sun Devils are the top two teams. Entering 2011, Arizona has the better defense of the two teams and is not that far behind on the offensive side of the ball.

Last year, the Sun Devils were able to earn a road victory against the Wildcats and should be able to win yet again in 2010.

Arkansas: Arkansas Razorbacks

Winner by default? Yes and no. The competition to be the best team in the state of Arkansas is not that tough, but the Razorbacks are coming off a 10-3 season and have plenty of talent to have a great 2011 season.

The only question the Razorbacks will have to answer this season is if Tyler Wilson can effectively replace Ryan Mallett.

California: Stanford Caridnal

California does not have a shortage of good teams. When looking at the programs on the West Coast you have USC, UCLA, Cal and Fresno State. Lastly, California is the home to Stanford, the best program entering the 2011 season.

Behind Andrew Luck at quarterback, Stanford feels they are ready for a run at the conference title and the National Championship.

Colorado: Air Force

Air Force held the state's best record last year and is back to do it again in 2011. Despite being in the same state with programs like Colorado and Colorado State, the Falcons have continued to remain competitive, going 9-4 in 2010.

With coach Troy Calhoun running the program, Air Force is in good hands.

Connecticut: Connecticut Huskies

Despite the loss of Randy Edsall, the Connecticut Huskies are still the best team in the state.

Last year, the Huskies surprised people to go 8-5 and win the Big East. This year, the program lost some key starters on offense, but returns all but one starter on the defensive side of the ball.

Delaware: Delaware Blue Hens

Outside the state of Delaware, you have to give credit to the Blue Hens for being the best team in the state. By many, the Blue Hens are viewed as a top-five team heading into the season and could challenge for the FCS championship.

Florida: Florida State

The title of best team in the state of Florida quickly became a two-man race between Florida and Florida State.

Coming into 2011, Florida State is a preseason top-five team, and looks to have all the weapons and depth to make a national title run.

The Florida Gators still have some kinks to work out, and will be working under a new head coach and new offensive coordinator in 2011.

Georgia: Georgia Bulldogs

Despite their disappointing season in 2010, the Georgia Bulldogs are still king inside of the state and have the brightest outlook for 2011.

The season will get started in a hurry as the Bulldogs take on Boise State and South Carolina. If they get off to a rough start, coach Mark Richt's job could be in serious jeopardy.

Hawaii: Hawaii Warriors

Despite being the only school on the island, Hawaii still puts together a pretty consistent program. Last year, the Warriors went 10-4 and were co-champs of the WAC.

In 2011, the team returns quarterback Bryant Moniz, who hopes to lead them to a second straight conference title.

Idaho: Boise State

Not much question or debate about who is the best team in the state of Idaho. Boise State has run the state for a while now not by default, but rather by talent and on-the-field performance.

For the past few years, Boise State has continually been in the national title discussion and would be the best team in most states.

With Kellen Moore back for his senior season, the Broncos will have no trouble having the best year out of the programs in Idaho.

Illinois: Northwestern Wildcats

While the Fighting Illini provide some competition for title of best team in Illinois, Northwestern will have the better 2011 season.

With the return of Dan Persa and all but six starters from 2010, the Wildcats should be able to improve on last year's 7-6 record.

Indiana: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

While Indiana is not stocked full of great teams, Notre Dame is heading into its second year under Brian Kelly and have high expectations for the 2011 season.

Coming into 2011, Brian Kelly has some solid talent and depth that could get the Irish back into the BCS bowl game picture.

Iowa: Iowa Hawkeyes

The end to last year's regular season was a disaster for Iowa. With a 7-2 record, the Hawkeyes dropped their last three games to end the regular season 7-5.

Despite that ending to their season, Iowa is still the dominant program in the state, and its only real competition is with Iowa State, a team they defeated 35-7 in 2010.

These two teams will battle it out again in 2011 during the second week of the season.

Kansas: Kansas State Wildcats

Right now things are not going so well for Turner Gill and the Kansas program, which has left the door wide open for Kansas State to be the best team in the state during the 2011 season.

Last year, the Wildcats went 7-6, but they have some talented defensive players returning and some playmakers on offense back for 2011.

Kentucky: Kentucky Wildcats

While the battles between Kentucky and Louisville on the court are great, picking between the two football programs is not.

While Louisville may earn one more victory than Kentucky in 2011, the Wildcats play in a superior conference, and coming into the season, they have greater talent and depth.

Louisiana: LSU

Little doubt about who the state of Louisiana will belong to in 2011. With their eyes on a run at the National Championship, LSU enters the season as a preseason top-five team.

The Tigers are loaded on both offense and defense, and their only limitation for the 2011 season will be quarterback Jordan Jefferson. If Jefferson is up to the task, LSU will find themselves heading to the BCS national title game.

Maine: Maine Black Bears

While certainly not a powerhouse in the FCS division, the Maine Black Bears are the cream of the crop in the state.

Last year, the Black Bears struggled in the CAA, and are hoping they can get their record and penalty issues turned around in 2011.

On a side note, the Black Bears have the strangest uniform colors based on their nickname. You would not expect to see navy and sky blue on a team called the Black Bears.

Maryland: Navy Midshipmen

Ken Niumatalolo has turned the Navy Midshipmen into a consistent program that is getting better every year. In the state of Maryland, the Midshipmen have earned the top spot and will have a better 2011 than anyone else.

Despite the loss of Ricky Dobbs, Niumatalolo will still have this team performing well and pushing to exceed last year's 9-4 record.

Massachusetts: Boston College Eagles

The best team out of the state of Massachusetts is the Boston College Eagles. Boston College had an average year in 2010, going 7-6, but hope to play a bigger part in the ACC conference title race.

Michigan: Michigan State

Since the arrivals of Mark Dantonio and Rich Rodriguez, there has been a shift of the powers in Michigan. The Spartans have won the past three games between the two teams and have one of their deepest teams yet.

Last year, the Spartans were co-champions of the Big Ten, and have their eyes set on the conference's first championship game and a fourth straight victory over Michigan.

Minnesota: Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Minnesota is a state that is rich with talented teams that are not in the FBS division. With the Golden Gophers struggling in the Big Ten, the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs can stand proud as the best team in Minnesota entering 2011.

Last year, the Bulldogs won the Division II National Championship and return a lot of their top talent for 2011.

Mississippi: Mississippi State Bulldogs

The state of Mississippi comes down to two teams. Both Ole Miss and Mississippi State play in the SEC, but Mississippi State is clearly the class of the state.

With head coach Dan Mullen running the program, he has promised to never lose to in-state rival Ole Miss and is helping turn the Bulldogs into a SEC contender.

Missouri: Missouri Tigers

Despite the loss of Blaine Gabbert, Missouri still has a great amount of talent returning for the 2011 season that will keep them on top of the state.

Both the offense and defense look solid for the Tigers, and if not for the strength of their conference and their schedule, Missouri could repeat their 10-win season from last year.

Montana: Montana Grizzlies

The Montana Grizzlies are kind of their own state and are looking to rebound in 2011 after missing the playoffs for the first time since 1992.

Inside the FCS, they will have a lot of competition and will face an early season test against Eastern Washington.

Nebraksa: Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Cornhuskers have and always will own the state of Nebraska. They are the premier program in the state and are the center of attention in the sports world.

Last year, Nebraska went 10-4 and start a new chapter in the program's history as they enter the Big Ten this season.

Nevada: Nevada Wolf Pack

When putting Nevada and UNLV up against each other, UNLV does not present much of a challenge. Nevada is the best team in the state, and behind 26-year head coach Chris Ault, they will remain that way for years to come.

Despite the loss of Colin Kaepernick, Ault will still be able to move this program forward and keep them competitive in the WAC.

New Hampshire: New Hampshire Wildcats

Another team represented by the FCS is New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Wildcats are a top-10 team inside of the FCS and have made the playoffs seven straight years.

The team has a solid defense, and they will be led by linebacker Matt Evans in 2011.

New Jersey: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Another school that benefits from playing in a state devoid of talent is Rutgers. Outside the state of New Jersey, Rutgers is the best, but for Scarlet Knight fans, it seems like forever since they have been competitive.

After a 4-8 year in 2010, Rutgers returns a lot of starters and has the schedule to get back into a bowl game.

New Mexico: New Mexico State

Let's be honest, when faced with the choice between New Mexico and New Mexico State for the best team inside of the state, nobody wins.

But if you have to pick one, then New Mexico State is your team.

Last year, the Aggies defeated New Mexico head-to-head, and the teams will go up against each other again at the start of October.

New York: Syracuse Orange

Syracuse jumped up out of nowhere last year and turned in an impressive 8-5 season that included a bowl victory over Kansas State.

While the Orange have not had a lot of success as of late, the future looks bright for Syracuse, and their biggest in-state competition is Buffalo.

North Carolina: North Carolina Tar Heels

North Carolina is fortunate that N.C. State is going through some pains of their own right now, or they would not be sitting at the top spot in the state.

With the recent firing of Butch Davis, the program is now going through some uncertainty and will be looking for a lot of answers during the 2011 season.

North Dakota: North Dakota State Bison

Last year, North Dakota was represented well by the North Dakota State Bison. The Bison advanced into the quarterfinals, but did end up losing in overtime to the eventual FCS champions, Eastern Washington.

This year, the Bison will be back and have a key game in late October against Northern Iowa.

Ohio: Ohio State

Despite the off-the-field issues, Ohio State has not lost its stranglehold on the state of Ohio. In 2011, the program will have a new head coach, will still be waiting to hear the NCAA's ruling on violations and will be breaking in a new quarterback.

Regardless of what happens this year, Ohio State is such a well-known brand and is revered in the state of Ohio.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma Sooners

When you are the preseason No.1 team in the nation, it would be hard to not be the best team in your own state. While the Sooners do have to compete with Oklahoma State, they have the offense and defense to get the job done again in 2011.

Oregon: Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks have quickly passed up their in-state rival Oregon State to secure their spot as the best team in the state.

Not only has Oregon won three straight against the Beavers, but they are going off a 12-1 season that had them fall only three points short of winning the national title.

Pennsylvania: Penn State Nittany Lions

In the battle for Pennsylvania, Penn State and Pitt go head-to-head for that title. While this is a tight race to call, Penn State does have the better talent and will put together a better 2011 season.

With Joe Paterno returning for year No. 46, the Nittany Lions are still home to one of the best home-field advantages and are going to try to make a run at a Big Ten title.

Rhode Island: Rhode Island Rams

In the smallest state in the country, the Rhode Island Rams are the pride of the state. Playing in the CAA, Rhode Island had some impressive victories in 2010, including wins over Villanova and UNH, and hope to capitalize on that momentum in 2011.

South Carolina: South Carolina Gamecocks

While playing in one of the toughest conferences in the nation, South Carolina is undoubtedly the best team in their state.

Coming into the 2011 season, the Gamecocks have one of the most electric triple threats on offense and are hoping their defense can take a step up from 2010.

South Dakota: South Dakota State Jackrabbits

South Dakota State is not quite as dominant as North Dakota State, but still the best in the state.

The Jackrabbits got off to a slow start last year going 0-4, but took off at the end with a 5-2 stretch. If they can improve in conference, they could make some noise this year.

Tennessee: Tennessee Volunteers

Thanks to a four-game winning streak to end the season and a state that has no other major programs besides Vanderbilt, Tennessee remains the best team in the state.

Derek Dooley will now be entering his second year as head coach of the Vols, and is hoping that the youth he had in 2010 will turn into solid depth and production in 2011.

Texas: Texas A&M

The battle for best team in the state of Texas for 2011 was deep with talent. The state is home to Texas, Texas Tech, TCU and Texas A&M. With the loss of Andy Dalton for TCU and Texas looking to rebound after a forgettable 2010, Texas A&M has taken advantage of this opportunity.

The Aggies went 9-4 last year, and they have the talent to compete with both Oklahoma State and Oklahoma for the Big 12 title.

Utah: Utah Utes

This will not make BYU fans happy, but going into the 2011 season, the Utah Utes are home to the best team in the state.

Utah defeated BYU last year, and the two teams will meet up again in the third week of the season.

This will also be Utah's first season in the Pac-12. It will be a great opportunity to legitimize their recent success and cement their spot at the top of the state.

Vermont: Norwich Cadets

The options in Vermont are not as bad as Alaska, but not by much. Out of Vermont, the Norwich Cadets may be prepared for the best year in 2011.

Last year, the Cadets had little trouble putting points up on the board. Entering this season, they hope to be able to win some of the close games that got them last year.

Virginia: Virginia Tech

Beamer Ball is alive and well in Virginia and keeps the Hokies on top inside the state. Last year, Virginia Tech went 11-3 and if not for overlooking James Madison, could have been 12-2.

In 2011, the Hokies will not have competition inside of the state, but will have to fight off Florida State, Clemson and Miami to try and repeat as ACC champions.

Washington: Washington Huskies

Another team that does not have a lot of in-state competition is the Washington Huskies. Washington State is still doing their best to rebuild and get back to .500 while Steve Sarkisian appears to have the Huskies on the right track.

Last year Washington got back into a bowl game and defeated Nebraska. This win has helped give them momentum throughout the offseason heading into 2011.

West Virginia: West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia is at the top spot inside of the state and needs to have a solid 2011 to help bring back respectability to the Big East.

In 2010, they shared the Big East title with Connecticut, but due to their head-to-head loss, they did not earn the BCS bid.

With new coach Dana Holgorsen running the show now, expectations will remain high for the 2011 season.

Wisconsin: Wisconsin Badgers

The 2010 season came to an abrupt end as the Wisconsin Badgers lost in the Rose Bowl to TCU. Despite the loss, the Badgers still reign supreme inside of the state, and expectations are even higher for 2011.

With the addition of Russell Wilson at quarterback, fans are not only thinking about winning the first Big Ten Championship game, but they are also now setting their sights on a berth in the National Championship.

Wyoming: Wyoming Cowboys

Out in Wyoming, the competition is not that deep. With that being said, the Wyoming Cowboys represent the state as their best team.

Playing in the Mountain West Conference, the Cowboys went 3-9 last year, but hope to make a move toward playing .500 football in 2011.