College Football 2011: Clemson and the Biggest Surprises This Season

One of the best things about sports and why they are so great are the Cinderella stories each season.

College football is no exception and rightfully so, because the underdog pulling off win after win makes the season so much more exciting than it normally would be.

So with that in mind, here are three teams that are 2011's biggest surprises thus far.

Clemson Tigers

Obviously with their name in the title you were expecting them, but before the season began no one was expecting the Clemson Tigers.

Except maybe the Clemson Tigers.

They're now 5-0 and were ranked No. 13 and No. 15 in the AP and coaches' poll respectively heading into the game versus Virginia Tech.

The Hokies were the Tigers' latest ranked victim, but this time around Clemson put on a full show as they won 23-3.

In their other wins, the defense failed to be as effective as QB Tajh Boyd and the offense, but Week 5 just put Clemson in the Top 10.

Even if you're not a Clemson fan, you have to appreciate their resilience if you love watching college football. 

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Now although the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets' wins aren't impressive as that of the Clemson Tigers, they are help proving that the ACC is a much better conference than previously anticipated.

The Yellow Jackets, much like Clemson, began to the 2011 season unranked but now are 5-0 and 2-0 in the ACC.

Heading into this week Georgia Tech was ranked No. 21 in both the AP and coaches' polls, but now could possibly make the jump to the Top 15 with eight teams ranked in front of them losing this week.

Regardless, the Yellow Jackets are going to move up and when they play host to their ACC replica Clemson in late October, both schools could very well be 8-0 overall and we as fans get to see the potential ACC title game before it actually commences in December.

Clemson is the main story right now as they are ranked higher, but the Yellow Jackets are far behind their ACC brethren.

Illinois Fighting Illini

It's no secret that head coach Ron Zook's Illinois Fighting Illini have fed off a weak schedule.

Yes they're 5-0, but all the wins came against Arkansas State, South Dakota, Arizona State (best win by far), Western Michigan, and Northwestern.

And the schedule doesn't get much more difficult as the Illini play Indiana, Ohio State, Purdue, and Penn State for their next four games.

The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions will be formidable as Ohio State will have their suspended players back, and Penn State is always tough in Happy Valley.

That being said, you can't really take anything away from Illinois until they actually lose, that is, if they lose.

5-0 is 5-0 and they have all the potential in the world to be 9-0 before they play Michigan and Wisconsin in consecutive weeks.

Make no mistake about it, Illinois is better than advertised, but it'll be interesting to see if they can keep it rolling through Big Ten play.

Bleacher Report is your home for college football  for the 2011 season. From scores, news, analysis, live blogs and updates on your favorite teams and the big national games every week, keep it on Bleacher Report for the very latest in college football news.

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