College Football 2011: The Bottom 25 Heading into Week 14

College football is coming to a close for the 2011 season, at least as far as the regular season goes. For those who have had to pay close attention to some of the worst teams in the sport, this time of year comes as a bittersweet blessing.

We are entering the offseason for all of these programs, and everyone will hope to recruit as best they can and implement new offensive and defensive schemes and coaches with hopes to improve in 2012.

With one week remaining in the college football season, let's take one more look at the worst of the worst.

We'll try to make this as painless as possible. Consider that a promise.

Dishonorable Mentions

Before we get, started there are a few teams who just missed the cut but deserve to be chastised.

Boston College: The cries to fire Frank Spaziani grew louder as the season progressed, and for good reason.

Central Florida: The Knights certainly did not make a good case to be included in the Big East this season, winning five games.

Kansas: We beat up on Kansas enough throughout the season. After firing Turner Gill we decided to throw the Jayhawks a bone and keep them out of the official rankings, getting credit for attempting to make a good move.

Kentucky: They would have been in the bottom 25 if they had lost to Tennessee over the weekend, but a win to keep the Vols from going bowling is enough to stay out of the official ranking.

Navy: This will be the first time in a few years that Navy's season will officially end in the Army-Navy game. No bowl trip this season for the Midshipmen.

UAB: Consider this more of an omission than anything else. UAB absolutely deserves to be in the bottom 25, but once the list was compiled it was noticed that UAB was not in the rankings. At that point, how do you make an argument to take any team off this list?

25. Tennessee

Last Game: L @ Kentucky 10-7

The Vols won't be going bowling this season after playing a stinker in Lexington to finish the regular season. After a 3-1 start to the season, Tennessee lost all but two games the rest of the way, falling one win shy of bowl eligibility. But hey, at least they beat the [expletive deleted] out of Vanderbilt, right Derek Dooley?

What has happened to this program?

Next Game: Season complete

24. Duke

Last Game: L @ North Carolina 37-21

Duke at one point this season had a winning record in October, as unusual as that sounds. The season started with home losses to FCS Richmond and Stanford before the Dookies picked up some wins. The Blue Devils won three straight against Boston College, Tulane and Florida International but failed to record another win the rest of the way.

Cheer up Duke. It's basketball season. Isn't that what really matters in Durham anyway?

Next Game: Season complete

23. Maryland

Last Game: L @ N.C. State 56-41

Everything about Maryland's football season this year was a total mess. The uniforms were poorly received and mocked on a national basis. The defense allowed 34.3 points per game.

Other than a season-opening win against Miami, in which the dreadful "pride uniforms" were debuted, the Terps never recorded a win against another FBS program. Maryland lost four games by 20 points or more, and those came against Temple, Florida State, Notre Dame and Wake Forest.

To sum up the season, Maryland blew a monster of a lead on the road at N.C. State in the regular-season finale, and after just one season as head coach some are already calling for Randy Edsall's job.

This was a season to forget for many reasons, and Maryland needs to get back to basics—with one uniform. Hey, it's a start.

Next Game: Season complete

22. Rice

Last Game: L @ Southern Methodist 27-24

Rice was a middle-of-the-pack program in Conference USA and was not considered a contender in the conference anyway, so Rice fans looked forward more to their matchups with in-state programs such as Texas and Baylor.

Unfortunately, those did not go so well wither. Rice lost every game to an in-state opponent (Texas, Baylor, Houston, SMU) except for one, against UTEP.

Next Game: Season complete

21. Tulane

Last Game: L @ Hawaii 35-23

In all honesty Tulane should be much higher on this list, but we'll get it out of the way now. Tulane started the season 2-1 with wins against FCS Southeastern Louisiana and UAB, bookending a loss to Tulsa. Since then, Tulane lost every game on its schedule, ending the season with a 10-game losing streak.

Next Game: Season complete

20. Oregon State

Last Game: L @ Oregon 49-21

We all knew it would be a down year for Oregon State after losing some key players to the NFL, but did anyone expect the Beavers to win just three games?

The season opened with an overtime loss to FCS Sacramento State and continued with a blowout loss at Wisconsin.

Oregon State picked up a win against Arizona, which at the time was rather shocking, and both Washington schools in conference play, so it has at least some regional bragging rights to carry it until the 2012 kickoff.

Next Game: Season complete

19. Colorado

Last Game: W @ Utah 17-14

Colorado finished the season with two wins in its final three games, including a shocking win at Utah to prevent the Utes from playing in the first Pac-12 championship game.

Is this the start of a new rivalry in the Pac-12 between the conference's two newest members? Perhaps. But Colorado needs to improve drastically before it can think about playing for a conference title in this league.

Colorado ranked 110th in scoring defense and 109th in scoring offense. The Colorado running game has long since disappeared and ranked 107th in the nation this season.

Next Game: Season complete

18. Washington State

Last Game: L @ Washington 38-21

Paul Wulff finally lost his job after winning nine games in four seasons at Washington State. Four of those wins came this season. After getting off to a 3-1 start, the Cougars lost seven of their final eight games.

There is a need for change at Washington State, but a new coach is only the start. The school needs to make a commitment to funding a program that can compete in the Pac-12.

Next Game: Season complete

17. Minnesota

Last Game:  W Illinois 27-7

Minnesota is one of the two teams from the Big Ten not to be bowl eligible under a new head coach. But at least the Golden Gophers ended their season by handing Illinois their sixth straight loss of the season, which may have played a major role in the decision to fire Ron Zook by the Illinois athletics department.

Minnesota won two games in Big Ten play and one non-conference game, against Miami-Ohio. But looking back at the season as a whole, the 19-17 loss at USC doesn't look all that bad now knowing how good the Trojans turned out to be.

Next Game: Season complete

16. Miami (Ohio)

Last Game: L Ohio 21-14

Miami started its season on a low note, hit a high streak in the middle and failed to keep the momentum going at the end of the season. The RedHawks wrapped up their season with three straight losses to Temple, Western Michigan and Ohio.

Miami's passing offense averaged nearly 300 yards per game, but the running game ranked dead last in the nation with an average of just 3.8 yards per game. The defense was solid, allowing 22.9 points per game, but the offense could not score enough points, scoring an average of 21.3 points per game (104th in the nation).

Next Game: Season complete

15. Army

Last Game: L @ Temple 42-14 (November 19)

Army is pretty interesting on offense. The Black Knights rank dead last in passing offense with just 48 passing yards per game but lead the nation in rushing with 350.9 rushing yards per game. The scoring offense and defense is pretty even but slightly below average in each.

Next Game: Navy (Washington, D.C.), December 10

14. Buffalo

Last Game: L Bowling Green 42-28

It was not all that long ago that Buffalo was playing for the MAC championship. It may be a while before the Bulls get back to that point.

Buffalo's only wins this season came against FCS Stony Brook, woeful Akron and Ohio (which is actually a nice conference win).

Buffalo's offensive and defensive stats rank slightly below average across the board, so there is plenty of work to do in western New York.

Next Game: Season complete

13. Colorado State

Last Game: L Air Force 45-21

Is Steve Fairchild's job on the line at Colorado State? It is certainly worth keeping an eye on at this point in the season.

After a 3-1 start that included a close win over New Mexico, beating FCS Northern Colorado and an overtime win against Utah State, the Rams have lost the next seven games on the schedule, including a 63-13 home loss to Boise State in the Broncos' first Mountain West Conference game in program history.

Next Game: vs. Wyoming

12. Central Michigan

Last Game: L Toledo 44-17

The Chippewas sure do miss the old Dan LeFevour days. Though their passing ranks 25th in the nation, the running game is ranked 102nd in the nation, the scoring offense ranks 93rd and the scoring defense ranks 100th.

Central Michigan lost six of its final seven games of the season. It is strange that its two wins in the MAC came against one of the worst (Akron) and one of the best (Northern Illinois) teams. Now if Central Michigan can just pick up some wins in the middle of the pack in 2012.

Next Game: Season complete

11. Louisiana-Monroe

Last Game: L Florida International 28-17

Louisiana-Monroe may be improving, but it has some work to do to take things to the next step and begin thinking about contending in the Sun Belt Conference. The Warhawks have won just three games this season, but many of their stats are around average in passing and rushing offense and scoring offense and defense.

With just slight improvement next season, they should be able to pick up a win or two in some of their closer games this season.

Next Game: @ Florida Atlantic

10. Troy

Last Game: L @ Western Kentucky 41-18

Troy is usually a contender in the Sun Belt Conference, but that was not the case this season. After a 2-2 start this season, Troy has won just one game the rest of the year, against Florida Atlantic.

The Trojans can end their season on a high note by knocking off Sun Belt champions Arkansas State, which already has a bowl spot locked up. Can Troy take the Red Wolves by surprise?

Next Game: @ Arkansas State

9. New Mexico State

Last Game: L @ Louisiana Tech 44-0

New Mexico State has put up some good passing numbers this season in terms of total yardage, and it has scored 24.8 points per game, but the running game lacks a threat, and the defense has given up a ton of points.

New Mexico State has lost five of its last six games this season and hopes to spoil Utah State's season finale as the Aggies make a push for a bowl game.

Next Game: vs. Utah State

8. Ole Miss

Last Game: L @ Mississippi State 31-3

So long Houston Nutt. Despite being one of the all-time winningest coaches in the SEC (it's true), Nutt will be looking for a new job somewhere this offseason, as Ole Miss has decided to go in a new direction.

Ole Miss won just two games this season and while we'll give the Rebels a pass for losing to LSU, Alabama and Arkansas in conference play, we can't get past losing 31-3 to your rival, Mississippi State, and 27-7 at home against Louisiana Tech, even if the Bulldogs did have a bowl-worthy season.

Next Game: Season complete

7. Indiana

Last Game: L Purdue 33-25

Indiana completed the only winless season in Big Ten play this season by losing to Purdue this weekend 33-25. The Hoosiers were blown away by Michigan State the week before as the Spartans locked up the Legends Division.

All is not going well for new head coach Kevin Wilson, who surprised many by landing a verbal commitment from the nation's top high school quarterback only to see him de-commit and reopen his recruitment in the same season.

Next Game: Season complete

6. Middle Tennessee

Last Game: L Florida International 31-18

Middle Tennessee's biggest problem this year was scoring defense. The Blue Raiders rank 105th in scoring defense, allowing 34.7 points per game while only scoring 23.6 points per game.

The running game is slightly below average, but the passing game has performed pretty well, ranked 29th in the nation in averaging 269.2 yards per game.

Middle Tennessee State has had a couple close calls but has floundered down the stretch.

Next Game: @ North Texas

5. UNLV

Last Game: L San Diego State 31-14

What does it say when one of a team's two wins came against a team that was being investigated for possible point shaving (Hawaii)? It has been that kind of year for UNLV, which has been blasted by some tough competition.

The season opened at Wisconsin (the Badgers are pretty good) and continued with a blowout loss to Washington State (really, UNLV?), and the season is ending with games against Boise State, Air Force, San Diego State and TCU.

Nobody is expecting much from UNLV this weekend at TCU, which will wrap up the Mountain West Conference one final time before leaving for the Big 12 with a win.

Next Game: @ TCU

4. Memphis

Last Game: L @ Southern Mississippi 44-7

Memphis managed to win two games this season, against FCS Austin Peay and Tulane, but this was still a bad football team from start to finish. The Tigers averaged just 84 rushing yards per game and ended the season allowing at least 41 points in three of their final four games.

Larry Porter will no longer be the head coach at Memphis, and the athletic director appears to be stepping down as well. Can anyone salvage the Memphis football program and find a way to get it out of the grave in the shadows of Tennessee (and Vanderbilt)?

Next Game: Season complete

3. New Mexico

Last Game: L @ Wyoming 31-10 (Nov. 19)

The good news for New Mexico is that a new era is on the way in 2012. The hiring of Bob Davie may not be the best coaching hire out there this season, but he may be far from the worst. It appears to be a good fit for Davie as he gets back in the coaching game, and for New Mexico it should pay off.

Davie has work to do. Entering the final weekend of the season New Mexico ranks 92nd in passing and 98th in passing. The Lobos are dead last in the nation in scoring and are 119th in scoring defense. There really is no worse combination when you are talking about scoring averages. 

Next Game: @ Boise State

2. Florida Atlantic

Last Game: W UAB, 38-35

Congratulations to Florida Atlantic on picking up its first win of the 2011 season. All kidding aside, it is good to see retiring head coach Howard Schnellenberger pick up at least one last win before stepping down from the coaching ranks.

But let's be real. Even though FAU picked up a win, it came against woeful UAB, which fired its head coach following the game, and this has been a very long season for the Owls. The passing offense ranks 110th, running game 106th and scoring offense 119th, and they rank 109th in scoring defense as well.

Perhaps there is a bright future here, though, with stadium upgrades and an opportunity to bring in a coach who may have just been let go in the coaching carousel. It is Florida after all, and FAU could be a program that could turn things around, at least in the Sun Belt Conference.

Next Game: vs. Louisiana-Monroe

1. Akron

Last Game: L @ Western Michigan, 68-19

Akron deserves to be higher on this list just for the way the school informed Rob Ianello he would no longer be needed within the football program. Ianello learned he would not be in charge any more while on his way to his mother's funeral.

Shame on you, Akron. Shame on you.

Akron's one win this season came against Virginia Military Institute, an FCS program.

Next Game: Season complete

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