🏈 ESPN Early 2011 Top 25

[Roll Tide Rev]

1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. LSU
5. Boise State
6. Okie State
7. FSU
8. Arky
9. Stanford
10. OSU
11. USCe
12. Wisconsin
13. TAMU
14. Notre Dame
15. Michigan State
16. Mizzou
17. Auburn
18. TCU
19. Nebraska
20. V-Tech
21. Arizona State
22. Texas
23. Florida
24. MSU
25. WVU

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=6009707

2. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama struggled at times in defending its 2010 BCS National Championship, but the Crimson Tide sure looked like one of the country's best teams when they routed Michigan State 49-7 in the Capital One Bowl. Alabama's youth was overlooked this past season, as 22 of its players were first-time starters. The Tide will have to replace three juniors who entered the NFL draft -- tailback Mark Ingram, receiver Julio Jones and defensive end Marcell Dareus. Quarterback Greg McElroy also is departing, and AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims will battle for the starting job this spring. Four starting offensive linemen are returning, and linebacker Dont'a Hightower and safety Mark Barron should be better after battling injuries this past season. The Tide play a nonconference game at Penn State and they'll play two difficult SEC West games at home (Arkansas and LSU) and two on the road (Mississippi State and Auburn).

 

[Hoos4Tide]

Wouldn't it be great to bracket the barn's "MNC" with two of our own-- assuming they keep it, which I personally highly doubt.

 

[joeman546]

-Im expecting the barners to have a cooldown year like texas had. our losses were always onb oneside of the ball or the other, they lose 25 guys, 13 starters + early jumps like newton and fairly, nd malzahns departure is likely

 

[foshman]

1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. LSU
5. Boise State
6. Okie State
7. FSU
8. Arky
9. Stanford
10. OSU
11. USCe
12. Wisconsin
13. TAMU
14. Notre Dame
15. Michigan State
16. Mizzou
17. Auburn
18. TCU
19. Nebraska
20. V-Tech
21. Arizona State
22. Texas
23. Florida
24. MSU
25. WVU

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=6009707

That looks like a pretty good guess. I would imagine regardless of who is #1 to start the season the LSU Oregon winner is #1 after the first week.

 

[BadAllergies]

why is Boise #5?

 

[TerryP]

When I saw this a few days ago there was one thing—two teams actually—that made me say, "DAMN."

I would have never, EVER, dreamed I'd see a football poll that had Florida (23) BS and MSU (24) ranked next to each other. Just a guess, but I'm thinking we'd have to go back to the Sherrill era at MSU to find the last time they started the season in the top 25 in any poll. I'm also thinking we'd have to go back to the first year or two of Spurrior's era at UF to find a year they've started out outside of the top 20.

It would be interesting to see if the past seasons number one team has started out the season outside of the top 15. Hell, I'd even wonder if there has been a case where that team has started the season outside the top 10.

One question earlier was "how is Boise State ranked at number five?"

Chew on this. How is a USC team, that finished the season with five losses, ranked higher to start the season than...well, (insert the team name here?)

 

[foshman]

When I saw this a few days ago there was one thing—two teams actually—that made me say, "DAMN."

One question earlier was "how is Boise State ranked at number five?"

Chew on this. How is a USC team, that finished the season with five losses, ranked higher to start the season than...well, (insert the team name here?)

Boise State probably deserves a top 10 ranking. 5 seems a little high to me only because I would expect Stanford to be ahead of them given the players that are returning.

As for the Gamecocks, don't they lose Garcia? That's got to be good for at least 2 more victories.

 

[ElephantStomp]

I think Boise is #5 for two reasions. One-They're the media darlings and two-they're bringing back their QB and he should've been closer to winning the heisman than he was.

 

[TerryP]

Boise State probably deserves a top 10 ranking. 5 seems a little high to me only because I would expect Stanford to be ahead of them given the players that are returning.

As for the Gamecocks, don't they lose Garcia? That's got to be good for at least 2 more victories.

Garcia will be a RS Sr. next year. I've seen their backup, Conner Shaw, play a few times. He looks to have some potential.

 

[foshman]

Garcia will be a RS Sr. next year. I've seen their backup, Conner Shaw, play a few times. He looks to have some potential.

I see, I think I read somewhere that Spurrier is expecting/hoping Shaw wins that job outright. I think USC and Georgia will probably battle it out for the East next year, assuming Richt hasn't completely lost Georgia.

If Brantley returns to UF then I think Weiss will work wonders for him though.

The SEC should be Alabama and LSU's to lose.

 

['65 Cobra]

I think Boise is #5 for two reasions. One-They're the media darlings and two-they're bringing back their QB and he should've been closer to winning the heisman than he was.

Yeah, but aren't they losing like 20 seniors or something?

 

[UAgrad93]

Boise does lose alot of seniors, alot like the Barn does. I think you would've seen Boise drop if Petersen could've been lured away to another job.

 

[BadAllergies]

just think of the problem with starting the ranking with the NAQ's ranked so high, they don't have losses on their schedule means their not going anywhere, sure they can be jumped but why give a WAC or any NAQ conference team that much of a head start and guarantee them a BCS bowl.

I'm sick of the BCS buster non-sense and would rather see top BCS conference teams play in the BCS bowls.

Thank you TCU and Utah for doing the right thing and joining BCS leagues.

 

[foshman]

just think of the problem with starting the ranking with the NAQ's ranked so high, they don't have losses on their schedule means their not going anywhere, sure they can be jumped but why give a WAC or any NAQ conference team that much of a head start and guarantee them a BCS bowl.

I'm sick of the BCS buster non-sense and would rather see top BCS conference teams play in the BCS bowls.

Thank you TCU and Utah for doing the right thing and joining BCS leagues.

Boise State would join any league that invited them. The PAC 12 and Big 12 are sort of running from them. They are a top 10 program at the moment, if not a top 5. If they are one of two or fewer undefeated teams at the end of the year I have no problem with them playing for the national title.

I'm looking forward to watching the Georgia game. We just gave the Bulldogs a pretty good template for beating the west coast spread teams. I'm anxious to see if UGA and LSU play Oregon and Boise the same way to start the year.