It's a New Year, so a New Season....My Too Early 2011 Poll

[Eric]

Obviously this is subject to change, but I can't resist to make baseless predictions and look forward to the fall of 2011. Here's what I've got (not going to explain every placement, but will if asked why Team A is ahead of Team B ):

1. Auburn/Oregon (mixture depending on who wins the game Monday and whether or not Cam Newton comes back)
2. Auburn/Oregon
3. Oklahoma
4. Alabama
5. LSU
6. Wisconsin
7. Oklahoma State
8. Florida State
9. Virginia Tech
10. Arkansas (will be higher if Mallett comes back)
11. Missouri
12. Texas A&M
13. Nebraska
14. Boise State
15. TCU
16. Ohio State (even with the suspensions)
17. Mississippi State
18. West Virginia
19. Stanford (way higher if Luck comes back and Harbaugh stays)
20. Michigan State
21. Iowa
22. Florida
23. South Carolina
24. USC
25. Tulsa

Definitely on the radar: Houston (if Case Keenum is granted year 6), Notre Dame, Penn State (definitely depends on what happens at QB), Texas, Miami, Tennessee, USF, UConn

[BYUfan1]

Hehehe, you have UF at #22! There's no way anyone will know how good UF is until they finish their season. With so many new coaches, next year will be interesting!

Especially when the offensive coordinator is more qualified to be the head coach than the actual head coach.

[billybud]

Charlie was a heavyweight hire.

[Spence]

I don't know Muschamp's personality, but I can see some real troubles if he isn't a really strong presence.

[Vileborg]

Florida has talent I think with a fully involved coach and a good staff they can do it.

Virginia Tech is starting with a new QB next year. Nobody has really seen him. He has good height and size but it has been yet to see whether he has the game. Also, I wouldn't rank anyone in the top ten with Tech's schedule next year.

Appalachian St Blacksburg, Va.
at East Carolina Greenville, N.C.
at Marshall Huntington, W.Va.
Arkansas State Blacksburg, Va.

With an OOC like that how could you be ranked in the top 10. Boise should be lobbying against the Hokies weak schedule in 2011. They don't play NC St. or Fla St. and their three biggest games are Miami, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina. One of which may actually be a top 25 team.

I think it's a safe way to bring in a new QB and with another year this defense will grow and get better. They should run the table next year at least until the CCG.

[Eric]

One team that I did forget was North Carolina. Depending on what Butch Davis is left with, they could win the ACC next year. I don't know if I'd put them in the top 25 right now, but they could very well be #26

[Yeofoot]

So disheartening that I do not have any argument as to why Texas should be in the top 25.

[billybud]

Texas always has the talent....if they can get stellar play at QB, the Longhorns will be fighting Oklahoma for the title.

[Yeofoot]

Forget everything I've ever posted about you BB. I like you for giving me hope!

[..fanatic]

Florida has talent I think with a fully involved coach and a good staff they can do it.

Virginia Tech is starting with a new QB next year. Nobody has really seen him. He has good height and size but it has been yet to see whether he has the game. Also, I wouldn't rank anyone in the top ten with Tech's schedule next year.

Appalachian St Blacksburg, Va.
at East Carolina Greenville, N.C.
at Marshall Huntington, W.Va.
Arkansas State Blacksburg, Va.

With an OOC like that how could you be ranked in the top 10. Boise should be lobbying against the Hokies weak schedule in 2011. They don't play NC St. or Fla St. and their three biggest games are Miami, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina. One of which may actually be a top 25 team.

I think it's a safe way to bring in a new QB and with another year this defense will grow and get better. They should run the table next year at least until the CCG.

I don't see even us as preseason top 20, to be honest (well, maybe 18 or so at best). Schedule is weak; there were too many ? this season that will carry into next; we lose Taylor and Logan Thomas is unproven as starting QB; the defense either needs a lot of work or a lot of personnel changes.

However, my opinion on my Hokies right now is affected by the miserable second half in the Orange Bowl that I paid to witness live.
I'm still concerend about the OC, OL coach and QB coach.

All of that said, I have spent very little time even thinking about next season for us or anyone else.

[Jason G]

Obviously this is subject to change, but I can't resist to make baseless predictions and look forward to the fall of 2011. Here's what I've got (not going to explain every placement, but will if asked why Team A is ahead of Team B ):

1. Auburn/Oregon (mixture depending on who wins the game Monday and whether or not Cam Newton comes back)
2. Auburn/Oregon
3. Oklahoma
4. Alabama
5. LSU
6. Wisconsin
7. Oklahoma State
8. Florida State
9. Virginia Tech
10. Arkansas (will be higher if Mallett comes back)
11. Missouri
12. Texas A&M
13. Nebraska
14. Boise State
15. TCU
16. Ohio State (even with the suspensions)
17. Mississippi State
18. West Virginia
19. Stanford (way higher if Luck comes back and Harbaugh stays)
20. Michigan State
21. Iowa
22. Florida
23. South Carolina
24. USC
25. Tulsa

Definitely on the radar: Houston (if Case Keenum is granted year 6), Notre Dame, Penn State (definitely depends on what happens at QB), Texas, Miami, Tennessee, USF, UConn

What? Where's Akron? We'll be top 25 for sure after upsetting the Buckeyes in the opener!

Seriously though I just want Akron to get above that #110 mark next year. Nothing went right this year and just about every ranking sevice shows the Zips at #119 or #120 out of the 120 teams.

[Jason G]

How close will Northern Illinois be to the Top 25 to start 2011? Many seem to think they may make the cut.

[Eric]

How close will Northern Illinois be to the Top 25 to start 2011? Many seem to think they may make the cut.

Probably not even on the radar. No Chad Spann and a new head coach. The strength of Kill was his rushing gameplans, so nobody knows how they will do without that. Not to mention that Houston if Keenum gets one more year, SMU, Southern Miss, UCF, Air Force, Hawaii, and BYU will probably be in contention for more votes than any MAC team from the mid-major ranks in the preseason with TCU, Boise State, and possibly Tulsa already in the top 25.

The team probably best-suited to play their way into the top 25 from the MAC would be Northern Illinois and possibly Ohio, who I would argue is in the realm of possibility of going 11-1 this season with a very easy non-conference schedule. All it would take is to upset Rutgers and be slightly better than everyone is predicting. Granted I think it's more likely that they will be 8-4 or so by year's end, but I'm just saying it's possible. Northern Illinois needs to beat Kansas for sure and have a good showing against Wisconsin in order to be in top 25 consideration at the end of the year. Miami OH will also have momentum going into next year, but the non-conference schedule is too difficult to crack the top 25 this November (Cincinnati, Missouri, Minnesota).

[Eric]

UPDATED:

1. Oklahoma
2. Auburn (#1 if Newton returns)
3. Oregon
4. Alabama
5. Stanford
6. LSU
7. Wisconsin
8. Florida State
9. Oklahoma State
10. Texas A&M
11. Missouri
12. Arkansas
13. Boise State
14. Nebraska
15. TCU
16. Ohio State
17. Virginia Tech (losing Evans and Williams at RB really stings)
18. Mississippi State
19. West Virginia
20. Michigan State
21. Iowa
22. Florida
23. South Carolina
24. USC
25. Texas

[Derek]

So disheartening that I do not have any argument as to why Texas should be in the top 25.

Ditto. Our "fold under pressure like a Chair" QB leaves me wondering if they will win 5 games next year. I'd be REALLY surprised if AJ Green comes back after that miseralbe performance against UCF due to that horrid play calling.