5 BCS Teams That Can Beat the SEC Next Season

We all know LSU and Alabama were as dominating as any team in the country this past season, but who can we label as the next heavy favorites to knock off the SEC next season?

Wait, this season isn’t even over yet, right?

Well, there is nothing more entertaining for a prognosticator then to attempt to predict the distant future.

Regardless, here are five heavyweight favorites to finally end the long six-year run (or draught) for non-SEC football programs.

Michigan Wolverines

Expected Starters Returning: 15

If the Wolverines were able to knock off a solid Alabama squad at Dallas Cowboys Stadium (9/1/12), they would immediately sneak up into the top five.

The Wolverines of course may need a win over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl to garner BCS title hype, but even if they lose they should crack the pre-season top 10 next season.

Denard Robinson should be sensational in his senior season, and the emergence of Fitzgerald Toussaint has helped lead this offense to new heights.

Roy Roundtree, Jeremy Gallon and Martavious Odoms will be an exceptional receiving corps and the defense will only get better, even after the loss of Mike Martin.

The schedule is extremely favorable outside of an early season tilt with Alabama and road trips to Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State.

If Michigan could win three of those four (very possible) then they could quickly be a Big Ten Championship victory away from playing in the BCS National Championship.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Expected Starters Returning: 14

If you are a prestigious program and have more than a dozen starters returning, you will have a shot at ending up with double-digit victories.

Of course, it helps to have Urban Meyer calling the shots, and starting quarterback Braxton Miller has the talent to carry this Buckeyes offense on his back.

He will have to win games against Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin or else this Buckeyes offense may fall short of its expectations.

The defense should be relentless, as the entire starting secondary will be coming back, and defensive end Nathan Williams should return healthy from injury, which will only help towards next season.

Oregon Ducks

Expected Starters Returning: 11

If the Ducks can win the Rose Bowl over Wisconsin they would have a decent chance of becoming the No. 2 team in the country behind likely LSU.

Darron Thomas felt disrespected by not being mentioned in the Pac-12 player of the year talks, so I would bank on him having an All-American season with a few possible future Heisman invitees.

DeAnthony Thomas and Kenjon Barner could even improve production next season with another year under their belts alongside Darron Thomas.

Also, don’t forget that the Ducks' disrespected defense that nobody trusts was first in the country with 43 regular-season sacks this past season.

They will only be that much better next season, and the conference should be a whole lot less top-heavy, assuming both Andrew Luck and Matt Barkley are gone. 

Oklahoma Sooners

Expected Starters Returning: 16

This squad could tumble a bit if Landry Jones enters the NFL draft, but I have a hunch he will come back for his senior season.

Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley and Robert Griffin III will steal the show in the first round assuming they all enter, so it would be tough for Jones to become anything better than a late-first or early-second-round pick.

Though some do leave if they can end up being among the top 40 picks or so, the Ryan Broyles may just be what the doctor ordered (no pun intended).

Landry Jones and the Sooners have struggled miserably this season down the stretch, but if Jones returns they will remain a likely top five preseason pick.

Kenny Stills, Trey Franks and Jaz Reynolds could make up the most talented receiving corps in the country, and, again, if Jones returns they may be unstoppable once again.

The defense will be losing Frank Alexander, Travis Lewis and Ronnell Lewis (doubt he comes back), but Brent Venables and Bob Stoops have a knack for getting freshman to play at a high level right out the gate.

As far as the schedule is concerned, only Texas (likely top 20) and Notre Dame (top 25) look like they have what it takes to even give the Sooners a serious challenge (barring they stub their toe again like they did against Texas Tech).

Florida State Seminoles

Expected Starters Returning: 15

The Seminoles were ranked fifth in late August when the preseason polls were released, but they were extremely young. That did not stop the hype machine, but they clearly threw all of their eggs into one basket against Oklahoma.

"College Gameday" showed up, and the 'Noles had the Sooners right where they wanted them until Kenny Shaw and E.J. Manuel’s worlds were rocked.

Things quickly fell apart after they lost to Clemson and Wake Forest in tough, heartbreaking games. The key was not the defense, it was clearly E.J. Manuel, the offensive line and running game.

If Devonte Freeman can it get going early on in the season (Andrew Datko may get a medical redshirt) this offense could rank among the top-scoring offenses in the nation.

The schedule is set up favorably, as FSU's three toughest games will likely be home games against both Orange Bowl participants, along with a road trip to Blacksburg against the Hokies.

Throw in the ACC championship (assuming they can knock off Clemson) and an Orange Bowl berth, and perhaps a BCS National Championship could be on the line, if unbeaten.