Ranking College Football's Worst Off-Field Incidents of 2011

On the eve of the LSU-Alabama game, we're all ready for what makes college football so much fun.

But 2011 has also had its share of off-field headlines that have a knack of taking the shine off the game.

Sometimes it just involves the NCAA, while other times it involves the legal system.

Here's a look at the top five off-field incidents of 2011.

5. Ohio State Scandal

The Ohio State memorabilia/tattoo scandal is sort of old news, but every time OSU fans see Luke Fickell as head coach instead of Jim Tressel, they are reminded of how disruptive it all was.

The Buckeyes have had an up-and-down season, and their star quarterback is in the NFL because of it.

The initial NCAA findings weren't as bad as they could have been, but Ohio State should find out soon what the punishment is going to be for Tressel's actions, as well as those of the select players.

4. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina

Stephen Garcia's on-field performance wasn't very good in 2011.

But Garcia entered the 2011 season on a very short leash, and he couldn't stay out of trouble.

Steve Spurrier had suspended Garcia numerous times, and following a positive drug test for marijuana, the quarterback was gone for good.

3. Willie Lyles and the Oregon Ducks

Yahoo! Sports is having a productive season when it comes to investigative journalism.

This time it involved breaking the story that Oregon had paid Willie Lyles, a scouting service owner, $25,000 for high school player profiles.

Unfortunately, the profiles were a year old.

Lyles was linked to super prospect Lache Seastrunk, who eventually signed with Oregon. Seastrunk has since left the program.

2. Conference Realignment

For about two years now, conference realignment has been a never-ending news cycle.

It was a nuisance last year, but when it started to dominate the headlines during the season...well, that's when it crossed the line.

It will be nice when all of this is finally finished, or at least when the bloodletting of the Big East is finally complete.

1. Nevin Shapiro and the Miami Hurricanes

When Yahoo! Sports broke the news that Miami Hurricanes booster Nevin Shapiro claimed to have spent $2 million from 2002-10 on questionable activities involving the program, it rattled the college football world.

It was also tough on first-year coach Al Golden, who probably wasn't well informed on the severity of the allegations before he took the job.

Miami officials have agreed to restructure Golden's deal as a sign of good faith.

Shapiro is serving 20 years in prison for orchestrating a $930 million Ponzi scheme.

Since Miami has some prior run-ins with the NCAA, the punishment could be harsh.