SteveDeace
Well-Known Member
Post-NFL Early Entrant Preseason Top 10 2011
1. Oklahoma…The return of All-America candidates Ryan Broyles and Travis Lewis makes the Sooners the clear-favorite to start the season #1 with 17 returning starters and several candidates for preseason honors, but road games at Florida State and Oklahoma State are not gimmes.
2. Oregon…Most of the key players on college football’s most explosive offense returns, and the Ducks should be hungry after consecutive BCS bowl defeats. Two tough away games versus LSU and Stanford will define their season.
3. Alabama…Though most of the Tide’s name players are gone, 17 starters still return, including what is likely the most devastating linebacker crew in college football. Trent Richardson must carry the load this fall with Mark Ingram off to the NFL. Crimson Tide could very well be favored in every game on the schedule.
4. Texas A&M…This is the year Mike Sherman has been building towards. With 18 starters returning, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill who sparked a late season run in 2010, there are no excuses this season. The only game the Aggies don’t figure to be favored in is at Oklahoma in November.
5. Boise State…Broncos won’t have as much preseason hype this season, but will still have a very good team led by quarterback Kellen Moore. Season opener against Georgia in Atlanta will set the tone for the season, and Boise State could get a break from Mountain West Conference if it forces TCU to play their game on the blue turf.
6. LSU…The Tigers have the best team returning on paper in the SEC with 16 returning starters, but to survive tough road games at West Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson is going to have finally become consistent. The season opener at the cathedral that Jerry Jones built versus Oregon could sort of become a BCS semifinal game.
7. Oklahoma State…When Justin Blackmon surprisingly decided to forego the NFL draft that meant the Cowboys may have brought back the best player in college football, regardless of position. A total of 16 starters return, but four road games against 2010 bowl teams won’t be easy, and that doesn’t even count Texas.
8. South Carolina…Steve Spurrier finally took the Gamecocks to the SEC Championship Game, and this season they’re thinking about winning it for the first time with clearly the best team returning in the East Division. Marcus Lattimore could very well be school’s first Heisman Trophy winner since George Rogers in 1980.
9. Notre Dame…Brian Kelly improved the Irish’s win total by two games in year one and should do even better than that with 19 starters returning in South Bend. An argument could be made Notre Dame has the best collection of skill position talent returning in the sport, and the Irish don’t play a team coming off a bowl win on the road until the finale at Stanford.
10. Florida State…Season comes down to E.J. Manuel for the Seminoles, who other than quarterback are clearly the most talented team in the ACC. If Manuel can play as well as he did in a fill-in role in 2009 the schedule is set for Florida State to be a dark horse contender for the national championship.
Honorable Mention
20 other teams that could make noise in 2011 (in alphabetical order):
Arizona State
Arkansas
Baylor
Florida
Georgia
Michigan
Michigan State
Mississippi State
Nebraska
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Southern Mississippi
Stanford
TCU
Texas
Tulsa
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Wisconsin
1. Oklahoma…The return of All-America candidates Ryan Broyles and Travis Lewis makes the Sooners the clear-favorite to start the season #1 with 17 returning starters and several candidates for preseason honors, but road games at Florida State and Oklahoma State are not gimmes.
2. Oregon…Most of the key players on college football’s most explosive offense returns, and the Ducks should be hungry after consecutive BCS bowl defeats. Two tough away games versus LSU and Stanford will define their season.
3. Alabama…Though most of the Tide’s name players are gone, 17 starters still return, including what is likely the most devastating linebacker crew in college football. Trent Richardson must carry the load this fall with Mark Ingram off to the NFL. Crimson Tide could very well be favored in every game on the schedule.
4. Texas A&M…This is the year Mike Sherman has been building towards. With 18 starters returning, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill who sparked a late season run in 2010, there are no excuses this season. The only game the Aggies don’t figure to be favored in is at Oklahoma in November.
5. Boise State…Broncos won’t have as much preseason hype this season, but will still have a very good team led by quarterback Kellen Moore. Season opener against Georgia in Atlanta will set the tone for the season, and Boise State could get a break from Mountain West Conference if it forces TCU to play their game on the blue turf.
6. LSU…The Tigers have the best team returning on paper in the SEC with 16 returning starters, but to survive tough road games at West Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson is going to have finally become consistent. The season opener at the cathedral that Jerry Jones built versus Oregon could sort of become a BCS semifinal game.
7. Oklahoma State…When Justin Blackmon surprisingly decided to forego the NFL draft that meant the Cowboys may have brought back the best player in college football, regardless of position. A total of 16 starters return, but four road games against 2010 bowl teams won’t be easy, and that doesn’t even count Texas.
8. South Carolina…Steve Spurrier finally took the Gamecocks to the SEC Championship Game, and this season they’re thinking about winning it for the first time with clearly the best team returning in the East Division. Marcus Lattimore could very well be school’s first Heisman Trophy winner since George Rogers in 1980.
9. Notre Dame…Brian Kelly improved the Irish’s win total by two games in year one and should do even better than that with 19 starters returning in South Bend. An argument could be made Notre Dame has the best collection of skill position talent returning in the sport, and the Irish don’t play a team coming off a bowl win on the road until the finale at Stanford.
10. Florida State…Season comes down to E.J. Manuel for the Seminoles, who other than quarterback are clearly the most talented team in the ACC. If Manuel can play as well as he did in a fill-in role in 2009 the schedule is set for Florida State to be a dark horse contender for the national championship.
Honorable Mention
20 other teams that could make noise in 2011 (in alphabetical order):
Arizona State
Arkansas
Baylor
Florida
Georgia
Michigan
Michigan State
Mississippi State
Nebraska
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Southern Mississippi
Stanford
TCU
Texas
Tulsa
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Wisconsin
