College Football Rankings 2011: Where Would Miami Be Ranked Without Suspensions?

“What if” is a thought-provoking, yet meaningless question to ask in life as well as in sports.  Still, one has to wonder how high the Miami Hurricanes would be in the rankings if a chunk of their football players never received a suspension.  After watching their beatdown of the Ohio State Buckeyes despite still being without key starters, top 15 would be a possibility going into Week 3.

Miami’s No. 1 recruiting class is in their fourth year with the program.  Out of southern Florida, the 'Canes are always one of the fastest teams in the nation.  They still have the potential to do some damage this season, but minus the Sharpio-scandal, expectations would’ve been through the roof.

This is a team that lost to Maryland by just one touchdown despite not having Jacory Harris, Sean Spence, Ray-Ray Armstrong, Marcus Forston, Travis Benjamin, Oliver Vernon, Adewale Ojomo and Dyron Dye.  That is a ton of talent as guys like Armstrong, Forston and Spence are notable NFL prospects.

One score: it’s hard to imagine that group of players not being the difference against the Terrapins.  And if they did play and pull out the win, taking care of business against Ohio State, with Kansas State and Bethune-Cookman in the near future, Miami would be undefeated going into a potentially classic battle with their bitter rival Virginia Tech.  After losing to Maryland though, upsetting VT is a must if the Hurricanes want to play in any major bowl game this season.

Miami is still without Armstrong, Vernon and Dye.  Armstrong and Dye will return to the 'Canes lineup against the Hokies to begin ACC play, but unfortunately for the 'Canes, Vernon won’t be allowed to play until they face off against Georgia Tech on October 22nd.

After destroying the No. 17 ranked Buckeyes 24-6, the 2011 season is far from lost, but 'Canes fans are forced to painfully wonder what could’ve been had their team not been in the spotlight of the latest NCAA scandal.

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow  him on Twitter.