College Football Top 25: 9 Teams That Could Lose Their First Conference Game

Every one of these teams begins their 2011 season with some major expectations.

While some are legitimate BCS title contenders, others not so much, though they are all currently enjoying the added publicity and hype that goes with lofty pre-season expectations.

So which ones have the potential to crash early in conference play?

Non-conference games often feature difficult opponents or ridiculous cupcakes, but conference play is where real contenders for the BCS are exposed.

This list runs down the candidates from the top 25 that have serious potential to lose their first conference battle.

9. Florida State Seminoles

Coaches' Poll: 5

AP Poll: 6

ACC Opener: September 24 at Clemson

It's a long shot, but possible.

The 'Noles are traveling to Clemson to face the Tigers one week after their big showdown with top-ranked Oklahoma.

The Tigers have some definite holes, especially on defense, but whether the Seminoles win or lose against OU this game has huge potential to be a let-down game for FSU.

All eyes are focused on the home battle with the Sooners, and if Jimbo Fisher's squad does not stay focused, they are going to get ambushed by a very talented Clemson offense.

Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd is a freak athlete, and has plenty of weapons surrounding him to pull off the surprising upset, especially at home.

While it would be the biggest surprise of any game on this list, don't rule it out...

8. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Coaches' Poll: 8

AP Poll: 9

Big 12 Opener: September 24 at Texas A&M

The Big 12 may be the most intriguing conference race in the country.

Oklahoma seems to be the favorite, but Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Missouri are not far behind.

All this parity makes for a crazy conference race, beginning from week one of conference play.

While the Aggies and Cowboys have similarly explosive offenses, A&M's defense is a cut above the 'Pokes'.

Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon will do their thing, but without Kendall Hunter and Dana Holgorsen, this team seems to be a tad overrated.

7. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Coaches' Poll: 20

AP Poll: 20

SEC Opener: September 10 at Auburn

Auburn is absolutely depleted of experience.

They return six starters, total.

While Dan Mullen has the Bulldogs headed in the right direction, Auburn seems to be their nemesis.

Mississippi State has beaten Auburn only one time since 2001.

This version of the Bulldog's offense may be very explosive, but early in the season in a hostile environment, this will be a tough one for MSU.

While it may not be a beatdown along the lines of 49-14, I'll take the Tigers by three or less.

 Hopefully we don't have a repeat of that infamous 3-2 final score...

6. Missouri Tigers

Coaches' Poll: 21

AP Poll: 21

Big 12 Opener: September 24 at Oklahoma

This Tigers team is deep, experienced and talented, and has the potential to make some noise in the Big 12.

Their early season schedule is pretty brutal, however.

Miami(OH) is no pushover, and a trip to Arizona State will be a great gauge of the Tigers' ceiling.

While Gary Pinkel can throw a wealth of talent onto the field, their first conference game could be very ugly.

The Tigers must travel to Norman to face the top-ranked Sooners in a revenge match.

OU was knocked off their number one perch by the Tigers last season, and will be ready for this one.

Guys like T.J. Moe and Michael Egnew will provide plenty of challenges for the Sooners' defense, but it's unlikely the Tigers can hang with Oklahoma's explosive offense, especially on the road.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

Coaches Poll: 16

AP Poll: 18

Big Ten Opener: October 1 vs Michigan State

The trials and tribulations of the OSU football program have been well-documented.

Let's talk about their chances on the field.

They don't lose often at home, but in the final game they will play without the guys who earned suspensions. Can they hold off a motivated MSU team?

The Spartans boast, arguably, the best quarterback in the conference, as well as a tremendous running game.

The defense of the Spartans has some major holes, but enough talent may be hanging around to give the incomplete Buckeye offense some fits.

Should the Spartans find a way to generate some sort of consistent pass rush against OSU, the Buckeyes will go down.

4. Georgia Bulldogs

Coaches' Poll: 22

AP Poll: 19

SEC Opener: September 10 vs South Carolina

Sure, Aaron Murray was a stud in his freshman season.

But how will he fare in 2011 without receivers Kris Durham and A.J. Green?

The 'Dawgs host SC in their conference opener, and there is definitely some cause for concern.

The Gamecocks have a stellar defensive line, and will cause Georgia's less than great offensive line all kinds of trouble.

Murray may spend more time on his back than upright.

Even with the game between the hedges, Mark Richt's squad is going to have a tall order slowing down the explosive offense featuring Alshon Jeffery and Marcus Lattimore.

3. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Coaches' Poll: 11

AP Poll: 10

Big Ten Opener: October 1 at Wisconsin

The Huskers may well have the best defense in the country, and Taylor Martinez could finish the season as a Heisman candidate.

However, the season is littered with some brutal tests in their new conference, and it starts early.

If any offense in the country can challenge the Huskers' defense, it will be the balanced attack of the Wisconsin Badgers.

This game will be the highlight of the Big Ten season, as both teams should be undefeated and in the top ten of all the polls.

Should the Badgers' bruising rushing game find some momentum, Nebraska will get an awful introduction to their new conference.

2. Arkansas Razorbacks

Coaches' Poll: 14

AP Poll: 15

SEC Opener: September 24 at Alabama

There is no doubting that the Razorbacks have some incredible potential on both sides of the ball.

Tyler Wilson will pick up right where Ryan Mallett left off, leading a high scoring offense.

The defense, which made huge strides last season, is expected to improve even further this season.

And even with the loss of running back Knile Davis to injury, the Hogs have a pretty solid running game.

But that tangle in Tuscaloosa is going to be brutal.

Without the injury to Davis, and with some sort of decent non-conference test, they might have kept it pretty close.

However, Troy, Missouri State and New Mexico in Fayatteville are whole different ball-games than taking the show on the road to Alabama, and this team will not be ready.

1. TCU Horned Frogs

Coaches' Poll: 15

AP Poll: 14

MWC Opener: September 10 at Air Force

To be quite frank, the Horned Frogs have dominated the MWC, and the rest of the world(except Boise State) in recent seasons.

This season, while they are still a talented unit, we may not see the same old Frogs to which we have grown accustomed.

Andy Dalton is gone, along with two All-American offensive lineman and much of their production in the receiving game.

The defense will be fine (it seems as if Gary patterson's squads always are); however, the rest of the conference is catching up.

The Frogs' trip to face Air Force is going to be interesting.

The Falcons have played the Frogs extremely tough two of the last three seasons, TCU winning in 2010 38-7.

The two contests before that were decided by three points apiece, one in overtime...

But this season, the Falcons have a quarterback in Tim Jefferson who is nearly as dangerous in the passing game as he is in the rushing attack, an abnormality in an AF quarterback.

TCU will be very fortunate if they split their first two games of the season.