AP Poll College Football 2011: Why These 7 Teams Should Be Higher

The honorable mention list of the AP poll seems to have become a who’s who of former powers. Some surprises that have come with not only unranked teams but also teams appear disrespected by their low expectations.

When traditional powers like Penn State and Texas don’t make the top 25 cut, you know that college football is a changing landscape. But should teams like the Longhorns and Nittany Lions be in the poll? Should a team that finished undefeated and with a BCS bowl fall from the top five to barely the top 15? I don’t think so.

Looking at the latest release of the top 25 by the AP, here are seven teams that should have seen their stock list higher and will watch it rise as the season begins to roll.

Stanford Cardinal – 7th

Stanford comes into the 2011 season with high expectations. Last season they got extremely close to the success that every team hopes for but fell short against Oregon. Returning big playmakers on offense and defense there will be questions but not enough no to expect success.

The Cardinal face Arizona on the road the third week of the season but are not likely to be challenged again until they travel to USC to end October and then host Oregon two weeks later.

Hosting Oregon is a big draw for the Cardinal and with only a few questions on the defensive and offensive lines, this may be the year of the Cardinal in the PAC 12.

TCU Horned Frogs – 14th

The Horned Frogs enter the 2011 season as the number 14 team in the country. This is the same team that knocked off perennial power Wisconsin last season in the Rose Bowl. Granted the Horned Frogs lose leadership at quarterback but return five of their starters from a very potent defense.

The Horned Frogs do enter the season with a lack of experience but have a great shot to start the season 7-0. Starting the season at Baylor and at Air Force won’t be easy but the next big challenge doesn’t appear to come until the last weekend in October at home against BYU.

TCU will field another championship defense this season but the biggest challenge will be traveling to Boise State on November 12^th. If the Horned Frogs progress as expected they will undoubtedly finish with double-digit wins and a top 10 final ranking.

Arkansas Razorbacks – 15th

Arkansas may be the sleeper in the SEC West this season. In a division that has five of its six members ranked in the preseason, it is obvious to see that it will be a tough road this season for any team in the SEC West.

Arkansas returns 13 starters this season and despite losing Knile Davis to injury should still have a formidable rushing attack. Tyler Wilson may not be a starter, but he proved his worth a season ago by blasting Auburn at home.

The Razorback defense returns a ton of talent and experience. The Razorbacks hit the schedule hard in the last week of September as they travel to Alabama and then Dallas to face Texas A&M. how the Razorbacks finish that two week stretch will likely determine their season.

Michigan State Spartans – 17th

The Spartans surprised the nation last year winning game after game and finishing with a 11-2 record. The Spartans return 13 starters from that same team this season and are looking to be a factor in the Big 10 again this season.

The Spartans return Kirk Cousins at quarterback and starting running back Edwin Baker. They also return a very formidable defense, especially on the defensive line.

State’s big games are mainly at home this season, however, they do travel to Notre Dame, Ohio State and Nebraska. How they handle those three road games should determine their national worth this season. My opinion is they win two of the three and are a nine to 10 win team this season. 

Auburn Tigers – 23rd

The Auburn Tigers enter the season as the number 23 team in the country according to the AP. That is a large fall from grace and it continues the trend that has followed the Tigers this offseason. The consensus is that the Tigers will be lucky to be a .500 squad.

Auburn does lose a ton of starting experience but the Tigers return a host of playmakers and talent this season. Auburn opens the season against Utah State but they have little time to ease into the schedule as Mississippi State comes to town and the Tigers then travel to Clemson.

If Auburn can earn wins against State and Clemson to start the season, it is very likely to see Auburn traveling to South Carolina to start October as an undefeated team. Auburn has a tough schedule through October but has a fair chance and earning a well-placed bowl bid and higher ranking by season's end.

Penn State Nittany Lions - UNR

Penn State has fallen from grace lately with some shaky success in the past decade. Last season, they finished with a moderate 7-6 record and look to increase the win column this year.

The Lions play host to Alabama the second game of the season but have a moderately easy road until they host Iowa in October.

With the expansion of the Big 10 it will be difficult to predict the outcome but there is no doubt that the Nittany Lions will be a formidable squad returning 15 starters from a year ago.

Texas Longhorns - UNR

Texas will play a rugged schedule once the heart of the season begins but the Longhorns should be able to get their feet under them early in 2011. The Longhorns return 14 starters from last season and the hope will be that Garrett Gilbert will hit his stride in his third season.

The Longhorns had a huge fall after appearing in the national title game in 2009 but the backwards slide is likely over. Texas brings a lot of senior leadership on defense this season and returns playmakers on offense.

The Longhorns will likely find their way back into the top 25 pretty quickly once the season starts.