College Football Rankings 2011: Coaches' Poll Teams That Will Plummet Early

This is a list of teams currently ranked in the coaches' poll that will fall significantly or drop out completely by the end of the day October 1.

Early season upsets are not uncommon and produce some of the excitement that is college football.

However, these teams will take it to the next level, crashing to reality before the leaves have completely changed color.

Some have inflated expectations due to tradition and history, while others just suffered too much attrition.

Whatever the reason may be, their season are not going to get off to the type of start for which they are hoping...

8. Texas Longhorns

Key Matchups: September 10 vs BYU, September 17 at UCLA

Does anyone outside of the state of Texas really see the Longhorns making that much progress in '11?

Both lines still have huge questions, the secondary should be a cause for concern and there is less clarity at quarterback than can be found in most political speeches.

The talent is there, so that little spark of potential could be fanned into a solid season, but it's doubtful whether Texas gets that boost this year.

While Rice is almost assuredly a "w," BYU is no easy proposition, and a road trip to UCLA could bring back some bad memories for this squad.

As much as the Big 12 needs the Longhorns to step up and get back to their usual level of national prominence, a few miserable non-conference losses will seem like a repeat of last season's fiasco.

7. Missouri Tigers

Key match-ups: September 3 vs. Miami(OH), September 9 at Arizona State, September 24 at Oklahoma

Is it technically a plummet to fall from No. 21?

I don't know, but whether it is or not; the Tigers will be out of the coaches' poll before the World Series begins.

Arizona State should be ranked, and they aren't which leads one to believe they will be playing with something to prove when the Tigers go to visit.

In what should be a great game, it is not likely that Mizzou's offense will have much success against the speed of ASU's defense, especially with the shortened period of time between games.

Then, there is the little matter of a trip to Norman to pay a visit to the Sooners.

The Tigers knocked then No. 1 OU off last season and could take them out again in 2011, but it will be difficult on the road.

But the really intriguing early matchup is against Miami(OH).

The Redhawks return a boatload of starters from last season's 10-4 squad and have two tremendous quarterbacks who split time last season due to injury.

The Tigers should win that matchup, but if they are looking ahead to ASU, it will be a tighter game than expected.

6. Auburn Tigers

Key match-ups: September 10 vs Mississippi State, September 17 at Clemson, October 1 at South Carolina

The ridiculous amount of attrition the Tigers suffered is going to be devastating to any hopes of a second consecutive SEC Championship.

They return fewer starters than any team in the top 25 and play one of the more difficult schedules in the country.

The early season contest with Mississippi State will be too early in the season for the team to have found any sort of consistency, and the Bulldogs' dynamic offense will have a field day against the inexperienced squad the Tigers will throw on the field.

And if that game is ugly, the South Carolina game will be even uglier

The Gamecock's' skill players will wreak havoc on this defense.

Clemson will be out for revenge, and new quarterback Tajh Boyd has a laser for an arm, and the athletic ability to extend plays.

You better believe "Death Valley" will not be a hospitable environment for the Tigers of AU.

Revenge isn't fun, as the Tigers will figure out by the beginning of October.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Key matchups: September 8 vs. Arizona, September 17 at Tulsa, September 24 at Texas A&M

The word "plummet" might have been a little severe for the Cowboys but not too much.

This is one of the few teams on this list that will drop significantly with only one loss.

The 'Pokes have to watch out for Tulsa but should be able to handle them without too much difficulty.

A trip to Aggieland, however, is a different story.

The Aggies will be itching for this one and will need to "w" to establish themselves among the conference elite.

While both squads boast prolific offenses with the penchant for putting up tons of points, the advantage defensively goes to A&M.

Watch out for the Aggies' D-line, it's a severely underrated unit.

Should the 'Pokes struggle with Tulsa and lose to A&M, they will see their stock drop pretty rapidly.

4. TCU Horned Frogs

Key Matchups: September 2 at Baylor, September 10 at Air Force

After finishing undefeated with a Rose bowl victory in 2010, there is a very good chance the Frogs open 2011 0-2.

There are not many top 25 teams opening up with back-to-back road games, and TCU will be the perfect example of why this is not a good idea.

Baylor is really scary offensively, and Robert Griffin can make plays with his legs or his arm.

As for Air Force, it's time people realize this squad is going to be very good.

Tim Jefferson can throw the ball.

This is unusual, granted as Air Force quarterbacks are not usually known for being very proficient at passing, but Jefferson is quite capable, adds another dimension to an already solid offense.

All that being said, the biggest problem the Horned Frogs must deal with is their attrition on offense.

New quarterback Casey Pachall may be talented, but he is not Andy Dalton, and he will be operating behind an offensive line which lost not one, but two All-Americans.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

Key Matchups: September 17 at Miami, October 1 vs. Michigan State, October 8 at Nebraska

Expectations are high for the Buckeyes once again this season, but don't let that fool you.

This team's days as top dog in the conference are over.

That trip to Miami in the third week should scare the living daylights out of Luke Fickell, as Jacory Harris single-handedly gave the game away in Columbus last season with four interceptions.

It's not likely we see a repeat of that performance.

Throw in a contest against Michigan State with all of the suspensions still in effect, and the buckeyes will be lucky if they split those two games before heading to Lincoln to become Nebraska's first in-conference victory.

2. Georgia Bulldogs

Key Matchups: September 3 vs. Boise State, September 10 vs. South Carolina, October 1 vs. Mississippi State

It's likely the Bulldogs have a better record than last season, which will be good news to all you UGA fans out there.

However, they will not be that much better as a unit.

Their record will reflect the fact that they don't face Alabama, Arkansas or LSU in SEC play.

The early season schedule is not very conducive to success, as three out of their first five games are against some pretty tough competition.

All the pressure is on the Dawgs to take out Boise State, and while it's possible, it's time to face the fact that the Broncos can probably handle an isolated contest against a middle-tier SEC squad.

After the tussle with BSU, a split with Mississippi State and South Carolina is about the best that can be expected, with the more likely victory over MSU.

Georgia's less-than-stellar line may have some difficulty against Bosie's experienced defense, and South Carolina's explosive offense will have no trouble moving the ball on this defense.

1. Oklahoma Sooners

Key Matchups: September 3 vs. Tulsa, September 17 at Florida State, September 24 vs. Missouri

This one has a contingency.

The Sooners took a blow to the defense with the injury to Travis Lewis, and the first team they face has one of the most prolific offenses in the country.

Tulsa will lose in Norman, but a closer game than expected might bring back memories of an opening game loss to BYU in '09.

Either way, the trip to Tallahassee will not be fun.

The Seminoles will be out for revenge, and Landry Jones is not particularly effective on the road.

If the Sooners do fall to FSU (and it's likely they will) a let-down loss to Mizzou the next week is not entirely out of the question.

This team is not as good as advertised...