AP Poll College Football 2011: Who Got the Short End in the Top 25?

When the AP poll dropped today, the scrutiny began. Who should have been in the Top 25 that wasn’t? Which teams are ranked too high or too low? It will be an ongoing conversation that will help ease the pain of the next two weeks of continued preseason.

Looking at the new top 25 list, there are eight teams that really stick out that got burned in the first AP release. The majority are found in the poll while others are not. Diving in, let’s take a look at who isn’t present and should be and which teams need to be rearranged.

TCU Horned Frogs

TCU is coming off a magical season that saw the Horned Frogs finish number two in the country. TCU is no stranger to success as they have won consistently in the past but making it that far up the national poll was a large feat for the undefeated non-qualifier.

TCU will be an automatic qualifier come January of 2012, but this season, they will battle from the Mountain West Conference.

Despite finishing the season with a huge BCS win, the Horned Frogs come into the 2011 season ranked number 14. The Horned Frogs return 10 starters from last season and lose some key components but deserve more love than 14. The Frogs are likely to finish the season in the top 10 again.

Auburn Tigers

Auburn is the defending national champion and finds itself in the number 23 slot of the AP poll. The coaches poll had the Tigers enter the season at 19 which was the lowest any school has been ranked following a title run.

The AP had to make their mark. Auburn loses a ton of experience and leadership from its 2010 squad but will still have a wealth of talent to pull from. Naming a starting quarterback this week helps the leadership argument.

The biggest eye sore for the Tigers this season is the schedule. It will be daunting but finishing with eight or nine wins will put the Tigers well above the top 20.

BYU Cougars

BYU returns 17 starters from the 2010 season. The Cougars finished 7-6 and with a bowl win but look to increase their win total this season.

The Cougars are not a part of the initial AP rankings but did earn an honorable mention slot. They start this season with some tough games against Ole Miss and Texas and also are set to face TCU in the middle of the season but the Cougars return a ton of experience which should translate to wins.

If they can win at Ole Miss and upset Texas, they will surely be a Week 3 top 25 member getting ready to host Utah.

NC State Wolfpack

The Wolfpack lost their starting quarterback when Russell Wilson decided to transfer for his final season after much covered drama. The good news for the Wolfpack is they still can start 7-0.

With only three road games to start the season, NC State could set up well heading into the October 29 game against Florida State.

The Wolfpack returns 15 starters from last season as well and are looking to be a competitive squad in the ACC this season.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State returns 15 starters this season and a wealth of play makers. They managed to not find their way into the top 25, however.

Penn State hosts number two Alabama the second week of the season but despite that has a pretty light schedule until October 8 when they host Iowa. Penn State could very well win four of their first five, moving them into the top 25 before the showdown with the Hawkeyes.

State being overlooked is a bit surprising but they have the chance to prove their worth early.

Stanford Cardinal

Oregon found their way to number three in the first AP poll that was released. Stanford just missed the top five and rides in at number seven, but you have to wonder where the distance comes between these two conference rivals.

The Cardinal return arguably the best quarterback in college football in Andrew Luck and have some returning skill players but do have some losses across the offensive line. Despite the losses on the line, they do return 11 starters and play host to Oregon this season.

The Pac-12 is likely to be battled between Oregon and Stanford, but I take Stanford in 2011. 

Florida Gators

Florida had a huge fall from grace a season ago. It was an absolute disaster watching John Brantley attempt to navigate the offense that was clearly not built for his skill set.

Enter Coach Will Muschamp and a pro-style offense with Charlie Weis and the hopes for the Gators rise. Florida will have a strong defense but the offense has a lot to prove before I will slate them as top 25 worthy.

Florida plays in the most difficult conference in the land yet still managed to land at number 22, one spot above defending champion Auburn. Florida is the biggest surprise of the poll in my opinion.

Texas Longhorns

Texas returns 14 starters this season. They return almost the entire offense. It is a big drop from number one and a national title game in 2010 to not being ranked the following season. Texas may have self-destructed last season, but don’t expect a repeat.

It is very rare form to see Texas only in the honorable mention column of the preseason ranking but they should explode early and claw their way back in. They host BYU early, but shouldn’t be challenged heavily again until October 8 against Oklahoma.