Coaches Poll Top 25: Is Each Team a BCS Championship Contender or Pretender?

By now you have figured out that the USA Today Coaches' Poll has been released.

So, now that we have a poll that counts toward BCS rankings to operate with, who is legit?

Is Stanford really good enough to win the  BCS Championship?

Is Boise State?

Remember, for a team to be a contender, they will most likely have to go undefeated, excepting the SEC of course.

This list breaks down which of the top 25 squads actually have a shot at contending for the BCS Championship.

Michigan fans, I hate to say it, but you don't even need to look...

25. Penn State Nittany Lions

With the announcement that Kevin Newsome is leaving the program, the Lions are suddenly very thin at QB.

As if the position wasn't unsettled enough.

Even more likely to ruin their chances, however, is where they entered the rankings.

At number 25, it will be very difficult for PSU to stay in the top 25, much less make the BCS Championship, with only one loss.

The Lions will have more than that by November...

Pretender

24. Texas Longhorns

The offensive line has yet to show they can block long enough for Garrett Gilbert to get a pass off, and Gilbert has yet to prove he can be a consistent quarterback at this level.

The 'Horns have their work cut out for them.

The secondary is going to be worse than last season, if that's possible.

They don't even belong in the top 25...

Pretender

23. Florida Gators

The Gators slip in somehow, proving miracles do happen.

There was nothing in spring practice to indicate that John Brantley or his offensive line have improved enough to be competitive within the conference.

Granted, it's a new system, and could take some time, but they don't have much.

The month of September should bring a perfect 4-0, with no real challenge outside of Tennessee.

Then it will get ugly.

LSU and Alabama get to take a shot at the Gators in consecutive weeks, and that won't be pretty.

Pretender

22. Georgia Bulldogs

Almost a third of the rankings are made up of teams from the SEC.

The Bulldogs check in at 22.

They won't be there long, however, as early season match-ups with Boise State and South Carolina will be split, at best.

While one loss will not totally eliminate any SEC team, the Dawgs are not going to navigate the rest of their SEC schedule undefeated.

Pretender

21. Missouri Tigers

The Tigers are going to be tough in 2011.

Just not tough enough, as the parity within the Big 12 will hold them back.

They must face the top-ranked Sooners and a tough Arizona State team(that should be ranked) early in the schedule, and they will have a tough time earning a split with those two.

The kicker is their opener against Miami(OH).

While predicting a loss is going out on a limb, if James Franklin struggles to take over at quarterback, it's not out of the realm of possibility.

After all, the Redhawks return 17 starters to a squad that finished 10-4 last season.

Pretender

20. Mississippi State Bulldogs

It's party time in Starkville...for now.

The Bulldogs have two explosive playmakers in Chris Relf and Vick Ballard, and a solid group of receivers.

In any other conference, they might have a shot.

Not in the SEC.

They face LSU in their third game of the season, and even if they escape that one, must still tangle with South Carolina, and late in the season, Alabama and Arkansas in consecutive weeks.

No way they make it out of that group above .500...

Pretender

19. Auburn Tigers

Is this someone's idea of a joke?

The Tigers return only six starters.

Six.

That's less than many basketball teams.

I don't care how talented they are, experience matters, especially when it comes to attrition on such a scale.

Early games against Mississippi State and Clemson will be a gauge to indicate if they make some noise, but it's more likely they fizzle out like a wet match...

Pretender

18. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Get over it.

The Irish are legit.

They have not had this much talent/depth in years.

They should be ranked higher.

However, given their recent history, and a less than easy schedule, they will lose at least once, more likely twice, effectively removing them from the race to the title game.

Inexperience may be a factor at certain positions, and road games could present a unique challenge.

While they are going to be very good, and worthy of some of the hype, they won't get to the NCG.

Pretender

17. Michigan State Spartans

Sparty got romped on last season by Alabama in their bowl game.

They also took a severe beating at the hands of an unranked Iowa squad.

While Kirk Cousins and Edwin Baker highlight a pretty hot offense, the losses of Greg Jones and Eric Gordon will be difficult to overcome.

Another ten+ win season is unlikely for MSU, especially when you consider their road slate: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Nebraska, Iowa and Northwestern will all be waiting to welcome Sparty with open arms...

They have one of the toughest road schedules in the country.

Pretender

16. Ohio State Buckeyes

Let's not kid ourselves.

The Buckeyes are going down.

Even if you could take away all the controversy swirling around Columbus, they still have issues.

New quarterback, seven starters gone on defense, new head coach.

They may upset one of the Big Ten front-runners, but they won't even win the conference, much less get to the national title game.

Pretender

15. TCU Horned Frogs

Gary Patterson has put together some very talented squads at TCU.

They went undefeated last season, and played in the Rose Bowl.

This season will not be more of the same.

Even if they manage to go undefeated, which they won't, they have to hope that there are not two undefeated BCS squads still hanging around at season's end.

Road trips to Baylor and Air Force should scare you if you are a TCU fan, especially as they don't give Casey Pachall or the guys on the offensive line much time to adjust.

Pretender

14. Arkansas Razorbacks

Trent Richardson did not lead the SEC in rushing last season.

Neither did Michael Dyer, Marcus Lattimore or Mark Ingram.

It was Knile Davis.

He's back for the '11 season, and has a punishing stable of backs accompanying him.

Tyler Wilson is an adept replacement for Ryan Mallett, and the defense is making strides.

The Hogs have to travel to Alabama and LSU, and a split in those two might be enough to get them to the SEC Championship game.

Contender

13. Virginia Tech Hokies

There is no more consistent coach in the game than Coach Beamer.

The man knows how to win.

The Hokies have an extremely manageable schedule, almost to the point of easy, and a showdown with Florida State in the ACC title game is a huge possibility.

The adjustment from Tyrod Taylor to Logan Thomas may be too much for them, however, and the ACC is as wide open a conference as there is.

Miami and North Carolina will present challenging match-ups for a first year starter at quarterback with their speedy defenses.

Pretender

12. South Carolina Gamecocks

If Steve Spurrier is ever going to take the SEC at South Carolina, it's this season.

The Gamecocls return all kinds of experience, and two of the most dangerous skill players in the conference in Alshon Jeffery and Marcus Lattimore.

That's all well-documented.

Where things get interesting is when you consider the defense.

While the secondary may be a little shaky, the defensive line is deep enough and talented enough to compensate.

Now, can Stephen Garcia stay on the team long enough to play this season?

Contender

11. Nebraska Cornhuskers

This has got to be one of the top pictures in college football history...

Anyway, the Huskers are in for a rough season in their new conference.

That defense gets more hype than it's worth, but when you look at the numbers, they should scare no Big Ten team worth it's salt.

The Huskers finished the 2010 season at 63rd in rushing defense.

Their pass defense was great, but that was in a conference that has more teams running the spread than not.

How will the Huskers fare against the pro-style attacks of teams like Wisconsin and Iowa?

While quarterback Taylor Martinez is going to be much improved, it will be difficult for the Huskers to navigate their way through a new conference undefeated.

Pretender

10. Wisconsin Badgers

The Badgers have two running backs who would be legitimate Heisman candidates if they weren't splitting carries in Montee Ball and James White.

They, along with new Badger Russell Wilson, will operate behind another monster offensive line.

Wilson has a dynamic senior receiver to throw to in Nick Toon.

This may be the best Wisconsin offense, ever.

And the defense is not too shabby, either.

Chris Borland and Mike Taylor anchor what will be a dynamic group of linebackers.

Although back-to-back games against Ohio State and Michigan State on the road are a little scary, this team is built to win.

Contender

9. Texas A&M Aggies

If you think that Oklahoma State is the second best team in the Big 12, think again.

A&M will give anyone in the country a run for their money.

The problem with their title chances lies with the fact that they must face Arkansas early in the season, and have a road trip to Norman in November.

That game against Mizzou could be a trap game.

Anyway, while Cyrus Gray, Ryan Tannenhill and Christine Michael are undoubtedly a very talented trio, they face a difficult uphill climb to the top of the BCS.

Contender

8. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Yes, the Cowboys know how to entertain.

They will put up points in a hurry behind the arm of Brandon Weeden and sure hands of Justin Blackmon.

But the impact of Dana Holgorsen's departure will be felt.

And he won't be the only one missed, Kendall Hunter won't be there to rip off huge gains out of the backfield.

And let's not start on the defense, as if they actually played that side of the ball...

Pretender

7. Boise State

Ok, so we all agree that the 2010 edition of the Broncos was better than 2011, right?

And they lost their two star receivers, along with three guys in the secondary that each started for at least three years.

So what makes us think they will do as well this season in a slightly more difficult conference?

Air Force and San Diego State will both be tough outs, and TCU is no pushover.

Even if the Broncos survive an early season clash with Georgia, they have a tougher road ahead of them than that to which they are accustomed.

Pretender

6. Stanford Cardinal

Andrew Luck is the best quarterback in the country, hands down.

He gets explosive receiver Chris Owusu back from injury, and will be able to utilize Owusu's speed to stretch the field.

Shayne Skov is a force at linebacker, and David Shaw has to be happy with the team he inherited.

The Cardinal get their toughest competition, Oregon and Notre Dame, at home, and with another solid offensive line, should be in the thick of things come November.

Contender

5. Florida State Seminoles

There are few teams returning the level of production on offense that the Seminloles are...except at quarterback.

They return four starters on the line, their top five wide receivers and top running backs.

E.J. Manuel will have no trouble leading this experienced offense, but the brightest stars on the team shine in the secondary.

Greg Reid and Xavier Rhodes are the best cornerback tandem in the country, and they will have a chance to prove it against Oklahoma early in the season.

Contender

4. LSU Tigers

Spencer Ware.

That's all you have to say.

The Tiger's running back is poised for a breakout season, and if he is even close to successful, he will take pressure off of Jordan Jefferson.

Jefferson has shown flashes of brilliance, but is yet to show the ability to remain consistent for more than one game.

The defense is loaded, and they get to host Alabama in what should be a pivotal conference showdown.

While the schedule is brutal, this team has the talent and experience to navigate it successfully.

Contender

3. Oregon Ducks

The Ducks lost five guys from the offensive line rotation in the off-season.

They will be without their top two receivers from last season, and defensive standout Casey Matthews.

They must travel to Stanford, and face a stout LSU team in week one.

Fortunately for them, they have two legitimate Heisman contenders in the backfield in Darron Thomas and LaMichael James.

Even with a loss to LSU, the Ducks might be able to maneuver their way back to the BCS Championship.

Contender

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Yes, the Tide are going to have a ton of talent, particularly on defense.

But you don't just lose a Heisman winning running back, a quarterback that led your team to a title and an uber-talented wide receiver and rise immediately to the top of the college football universe.

It's tough to buy the Tide as title contender when they have to face LSU, then get back up for a road trip to Mississippi State the next week.

Even with all the aforementioned players still around, the best they were able to pull out was a three loss season.

They won't be better this year.

Pretender

1. Oklahoma Sooners

Bob Stoops and the Sooners are very, very scary.

Ryan Broyles and Kenny Stills are the most explosive wide receiver duo in the country, and they have an excellent quarterback in Landry Jones to deliver the ball.

The Sooners are poised for greatness, or so it seems.

If they can navigate through the turbulent waters of a road trip to Tallahassee, they have a shot at an undefeated season.

Although, given their penchant for losing big games, they are just as likely to fold under pressure.

But, at least for now, we are going to buy the hype...

Contender