Though they were overpowered by Auburn in the 2010-2011 BCS title clash, the Ducks simply return too much firepower to be ignored in 2011-2012. They'll be challenged in the title race by some old standbys (Oklahoma, Alabama) as well as at least one superstar-powered darkhorse (Stanford).
1. Oregon Ducks
After watching the Ducks get pushed around and beat up during their national title loss to Auburn, it would be easy to make the mistake of underrating this bunch for 2011. I won’t make that mistake. Though several key players—most notably, wideout Jeff Maehl—will be lost to graduation, the Ducks are hardly going to be lacking in either talent or experience. Among the returnees? Star tailback LaMichael James, quarterback Darron Thomas and cornerback Cliff Harris. The Ducks—their annoying uniforms, their frustratingly effective offense, their wacky playcards—are here to stay.
2 Oklahoma Sooners
The Big 12 won't look the same this season, but one thing won't change: The Sooners are still the most talented team in the league. With a slew of talent returning from last year's 12-2 squad, coach Bob Stoops appears to have a great shot to make a run at another national championship in 2011. Quarterback Landry Jones and wideout Ryan Broyles will lead an explosive offense, though tailback DeMarco Murray will be tough to replace. One big factor working in the Sooners' favor? Texas is still rebuilding, leaving only Oklhoma State and Texas A&M standing in the way of another conference title.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
"Nick Saban Alabama"
Tuscaloosa is reeling. Tornadoes tore through Alabama earlier this spring, leaving disaster in their wake. And though it's "just" football, you can bet that the Crimson and White faithful will be looking to their Tide to offer them something to cheer about. Not surprisingly, coach Nick Saban appears likely to deliver. Though several key stars have moved on to the NFL, there's enough talent here to enable Saban to make a run at yet another SEC title--and possibly another national title. Look for tailback Trent Richardson to establish himself as one of the nation's best, and for Dont'a Hightower to lead another stout Saban defense.
4. LSU Tigers
"Jordan Jefferson LSU"
Another season of high expectations down on the Bayou. Can Les Miles live up to the hype? The Tigers have been an underperforming bunch ever since that national title season in 2007, but with both ‘Bama and Auburn suffering major losses, 2011 might be the year that the Tigers reassert themselves in the SEC West. Just one question: Will Jordan Jefferson hold on to that starting quarterback job, or lose it to transfer and former Georgia Bulldog Zach Mettenberger?
5. Stanford Cardinal
"Andrew Luck"
It never hurts to have the best player in the nation. Andrew Luck shocked the football world when he announced he would return to Palo Alto for his senior season. His return will bring some much-needed stability to a program that otherwise may have been sent reeling by the loss of coach Jim Harbaugh. Can new coach David Shaw keep this program on the path to greatness—the path that Harbaugh paved through grit, genius and hard work? We’ll know the answer in a couple of years. For at least one more season, though, the Tree figures to be a fixture in the Top 10. They'll challenge the Ducks for the Pac-12 crown.
6. Boise State Broncos
"Kellen Moore"
No, America. They’re not going away. Coach Chris Petersen made a huge statement when he declined Stanford’s overtures and chose to stay in Boise, where he’s built one of the nation’s most consistent and successful programs. Wideouts Austin Pettis and Titus Young are gone, but Heisman finalist Kellen Moore and tailback Doug Martin return to an offense that figures to be just about as explosive as ever. One has to wonder, however, how Boise will handle that ongoing NCAA investigation. That's a story worth following.
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys
"Justin Blackmon"
Quarterback Brandon Weeden is back. All-everything wideout Justin Blackmon is back, too. So yeah, even with the loss of offensive coordinator Dana Holgersen and tailback Kendall Hunter, I think it’s safe to assume that the Cowboys will, once again, put up a lot of points in 2011. I still wonder about this defense, though; the unit gave up more than 26 points per game in 2010 and doesn’t figure to get much better next season.
8. South Carolina Gamecocks
"Marcus Lattimore"
Make no mistake: Despite the awful performance against Auburn in the SEC title game, the Gamecocks took a giant leap forward in 2010. Winning the SEC East was a watershed moment for this long-underachieving program and its long-suffering supporters. The thing is, life may get even better in 2011. With the return of tailback Marcus Lattimore and wideout Alshon Jeffrey, the Gamecocks have to be considered the favorites to repeat as East champions. Hear that, Georgia and Florida?
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9. Texas A&M Aggies
"Reveille Texas A&M"
I was as skeptical as anyone when A&M tabbed former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman to lead their program in 2007. I simply didn’t think Sherman—an NFL guy through and through—would be a good fit in the decidedly college-football culture hotbed that is College Station. But here we are three years into Sherman’s tenure and, shockingly, he’s actually making some progress. A&M finished 9-4 in 2010 and figure to be even better in 2011. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is a star in the making, and tailback Cyrus Gray has Heisman potential.
10. Wisconsin Badgers
"Bret Bielema
Not too long ago, Bret Bielema was feeling the pressure (and sitting on the proverbial hot seat) in Madison, but after back-to-back impressive seasons, including a Big Ten title run in 2010, the coach seems to have this program back on its feet. The good times should continue in 2011. With Montee Ball and James White returning to bolster the always-powerful Badger running game, and with Nick Toon back on the flank, the offense should be just fine, even with the loss of steady Scott Tolzien. The defense loses a few standouts—most notably, the great J.J. Watt—but the Badgers are always solid on defense. That won’t change in the season to come.
1. Oregon Ducks
After watching the Ducks get pushed around and beat up during their national title loss to Auburn, it would be easy to make the mistake of underrating this bunch for 2011. I won’t make that mistake. Though several key players—most notably, wideout Jeff Maehl—will be lost to graduation, the Ducks are hardly going to be lacking in either talent or experience. Among the returnees? Star tailback LaMichael James, quarterback Darron Thomas and cornerback Cliff Harris. The Ducks—their annoying uniforms, their frustratingly effective offense, their wacky playcards—are here to stay.
2 Oklahoma Sooners
The Big 12 won't look the same this season, but one thing won't change: The Sooners are still the most talented team in the league. With a slew of talent returning from last year's 12-2 squad, coach Bob Stoops appears to have a great shot to make a run at another national championship in 2011. Quarterback Landry Jones and wideout Ryan Broyles will lead an explosive offense, though tailback DeMarco Murray will be tough to replace. One big factor working in the Sooners' favor? Texas is still rebuilding, leaving only Oklhoma State and Texas A&M standing in the way of another conference title.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
"Nick Saban Alabama"
Tuscaloosa is reeling. Tornadoes tore through Alabama earlier this spring, leaving disaster in their wake. And though it's "just" football, you can bet that the Crimson and White faithful will be looking to their Tide to offer them something to cheer about. Not surprisingly, coach Nick Saban appears likely to deliver. Though several key stars have moved on to the NFL, there's enough talent here to enable Saban to make a run at yet another SEC title--and possibly another national title. Look for tailback Trent Richardson to establish himself as one of the nation's best, and for Dont'a Hightower to lead another stout Saban defense.
4. LSU Tigers
"Jordan Jefferson LSU"
Another season of high expectations down on the Bayou. Can Les Miles live up to the hype? The Tigers have been an underperforming bunch ever since that national title season in 2007, but with both ‘Bama and Auburn suffering major losses, 2011 might be the year that the Tigers reassert themselves in the SEC West. Just one question: Will Jordan Jefferson hold on to that starting quarterback job, or lose it to transfer and former Georgia Bulldog Zach Mettenberger?
5. Stanford Cardinal
"Andrew Luck"
It never hurts to have the best player in the nation. Andrew Luck shocked the football world when he announced he would return to Palo Alto for his senior season. His return will bring some much-needed stability to a program that otherwise may have been sent reeling by the loss of coach Jim Harbaugh. Can new coach David Shaw keep this program on the path to greatness—the path that Harbaugh paved through grit, genius and hard work? We’ll know the answer in a couple of years. For at least one more season, though, the Tree figures to be a fixture in the Top 10. They'll challenge the Ducks for the Pac-12 crown.
6. Boise State Broncos
"Kellen Moore"
No, America. They’re not going away. Coach Chris Petersen made a huge statement when he declined Stanford’s overtures and chose to stay in Boise, where he’s built one of the nation’s most consistent and successful programs. Wideouts Austin Pettis and Titus Young are gone, but Heisman finalist Kellen Moore and tailback Doug Martin return to an offense that figures to be just about as explosive as ever. One has to wonder, however, how Boise will handle that ongoing NCAA investigation. That's a story worth following.
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys
"Justin Blackmon"
Quarterback Brandon Weeden is back. All-everything wideout Justin Blackmon is back, too. So yeah, even with the loss of offensive coordinator Dana Holgersen and tailback Kendall Hunter, I think it’s safe to assume that the Cowboys will, once again, put up a lot of points in 2011. I still wonder about this defense, though; the unit gave up more than 26 points per game in 2010 and doesn’t figure to get much better next season.
8. South Carolina Gamecocks
"Marcus Lattimore"
Make no mistake: Despite the awful performance against Auburn in the SEC title game, the Gamecocks took a giant leap forward in 2010. Winning the SEC East was a watershed moment for this long-underachieving program and its long-suffering supporters. The thing is, life may get even better in 2011. With the return of tailback Marcus Lattimore and wideout Alshon Jeffrey, the Gamecocks have to be considered the favorites to repeat as East champions. Hear that, Georgia and Florida?
Sponsored Links
Be The Next Sport Star$1 Million Up for Grabs. Share photos,video, tips & more.www.nextsportstar.com
EagleTurf Sports GrassPremier synthetic turf surfaces Football, hockey, golf, tenniswww.eagleturf.us
9. Texas A&M Aggies
"Reveille Texas A&M"
I was as skeptical as anyone when A&M tabbed former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman to lead their program in 2007. I simply didn’t think Sherman—an NFL guy through and through—would be a good fit in the decidedly college-football culture hotbed that is College Station. But here we are three years into Sherman’s tenure and, shockingly, he’s actually making some progress. A&M finished 9-4 in 2010 and figure to be even better in 2011. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is a star in the making, and tailback Cyrus Gray has Heisman potential.
10. Wisconsin Badgers
"Bret Bielema
Not too long ago, Bret Bielema was feeling the pressure (and sitting on the proverbial hot seat) in Madison, but after back-to-back impressive seasons, including a Big Ten title run in 2010, the coach seems to have this program back on its feet. The good times should continue in 2011. With Montee Ball and James White returning to bolster the always-powerful Badger running game, and with Nick Toon back on the flank, the offense should be just fine, even with the loss of steady Scott Tolzien. The defense loses a few standouts—most notably, the great J.J. Watt—but the Badgers are always solid on defense. That won’t change in the season to come.