Mr. Armchair's College Football Preview – Boomer Sooners are #1...for now?

After spending some well rested and relaxing time down in the basement, I thought I would make my first appearance out with my 2011 College Football Preview and first rankings of the season.  While Labor Day normally signals the end of summer and kids dreading going back to school, Labor Day only fires me up.  Labor Day weekend signals the start of college football, a sports that ranks third on my favorite sports to watch list, right behind Major League Baseball and NFL Football.  And there is nothing like going to a collegiate football game at a University where football has been installed as part of that campus’ tradition and culture.  Unfortunately, I did not attend such a University, but like all people who attended smaller Universities, we are afforded the right to adopt a University as I describe above as our school of choice to root for, even though we did not attend college there.  For me, I have adopted the University of California, Berkeley (CAL) Golden Bears as my collegiate football team. 

My reasoning for adopting CAL as my collegiate team is that it’s a family school.  My father attended CAL for his undergrad as did a lot of my family on my mother’s side.  I’ve had several aunts and uncles, as well as cousins attend CAL and still remain loyal donors and supports of the University.  I have two cousins in particular, who are major donors and border-line boosters for the CAL Athletic Program, so I am able to get my tickets through them.  It all started for me when my Alma Mater, Sacramento State University, was playing a non-conference game against CAL in Berkeley.  I attended the game through tickets my cousins had floated me and since then, I have been a season ticket holder for CAL football for 6 years now.  

The atmosphere was incredible.  The town was painted with blue and gold and walking up frat row to get to the stadium and seeing the hoards of students drinking beer and doing keg-stands while yelling their school chants was something that I wish I could be a part of.  Now that I’m older and getting married, I stand on the outskirts and observe from afar; though if asked, I am not one to turn down a red plastic Dixie cup.  If this is the scene at a lonely, hippie school like CAL, imagine what the atmosphere must be like at Universities where not only does college football rule, it’s a religion.  Schools like Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Texas, Oklahoma, FSU, The U, Penn State, any school in the SEC, and I hate to say it, Notre Dame.  It must be crazy!!  Next year, I will be attending CAL’s season opener when they go on the road to Columbus, Ohio and play Ohio State University.  The game might not be what it was suppose to be because of all the sanctions that will soon be handed down against Ohio State, but I’m mainly going just to be a part of the atmosphere surrounding Ohio State Football on a Saturday, and attend a game in the historic Horseshoe.  It should be a great time         

There is a large part of me that loves and admires college football.  I would like to think, and still believe in my heart, that the athletes participating are still pure and are playing for what it says on the front of their jerseys, not for what it says on the back.  I know with the recent allegations stemming from Ohio State and The U, that makes it hard to believe, but I can’t bring myself to believe that there aren’t still collegiate athletes out there who still play their sports for the love and pride of a University.  If I had the skills and abilities to play collegiate football (although in my prime, I have been known to run a 4.7 40-yard dash), that I would have been the type of player who plays for the reasons I believe in.  I’m not ready to give that belief up yet.

So now that I’ve bored you with why I love college football, here is my top 25.

1.  Oklahoma - The Boomer Sooners have a Heisman caliber QB in Landry Jones and a legit #1 WR in Ryan Broyles, to add to an always stout Bob Stoop's defense that features sophomore OLB Corey Nelson and Junior CB Demontre Hurst.  The combo of a powerful offense with a stout defense makes for a National Championship contending team.  Their schedule is tough, with a non-conference game in Tallahassee against FSU to go along with their BIG 12 conference schedule.  They are the favorite to win the ship.   

2.  Alabama - They say defense wins championships, and Bama may have the best defense in the country that features potentially 3 NFL first-round draft picks in CB Dre Kirkpatrick, ILB Dont'a Hightower, and OLB Courtney Upshaw.  Their season hinges on the arm of their QB, which will either be sophomore A.J. McCarron or redshirt freshman Phillip Sims.  If they win the SEC Championship, the BCS will not keep them out of the National Championship game. 

3.  Oregon - Oregon is returning a lot of key players from their National Championship runner-up team.  QB Darron Thomas returns to lead the offense as well as leading rusher LaMichael James.  Dynamic CB Cliff Harris returns to lead the Ducks defense, but his eligibility remains to be seen with his own possible NCAA violations.  If they get pass LSU week one, who is going to stop them in the Pac-12 from making the National Championship game? 

4.  Stanford - When you return the possible Heisman Trophy winner and the consensus number #1 pick in next years NFL draft in QB Andrew Luck, your team is going to be ranked high.  While Stanford may have lost several key players from last year's Orange Bowl winning team, including Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, Luck will keep Stanford in the National Championship hunt.  He is that good folks!!

5.  Boise State - Quarterback play is so important in college football, and Boise State is returning a very good one.  Senior QB Kellen Moore is on his way to setting all kinds of records at Boise State, that has been known for its high power offenses and strong QB play.  Moore lost his two starting WR from last years team to the NFL draft, but does it really matter in the Boise State offense.  If they beat Georgia week one, they may be in the National Champion game this year (finally). 

6.  LSU - I would have considered ranking LSU higher, but with all of the recent allegations surrounding QB Jordan Jefferson, LSU's season is now up in the air.  With CB Patrick Peterson got to the NFL now, Junior CB Morris Claiborne now is the star of a defense that many are saying is the best that LSU has had in years.  They also have a very underrated Head Coach in Les Miles.  Why LSU fan wants this guy run out of town is beyond me. 

7.  Nebraska - Sophomore Taylor Martinez exploded on the scene last year with a huge coming out game against Washington last year.  He returns to improve on his stellar freshman year.  RB Rex Burkhead is now the lone star in the backfield with Roy Helu leaving for the draft.  Also, Nebraska may have the best defensive down lineman in DT Jared Crick.  The question is:  will the change in conferences have a positive or negative impact on their schedule?  I'm thinking it was a good switch for Nebraska.   

8.  Florida State - Jimbo Fisher is finally starting to get his own players into the starting lineup, with his prized player being QB E.J. Manuel.  And if there is one thing you can count on from FSU, they are going to be a fast team and with players flying around the field both on offense and defense, especially with CB Greg Reid and OLB Nigel Bradham.  They'll have to beat Oklahoma and Florida to even get mentioned in the National Championship conversation, but with a soft ACC schedule that doesn't feature Va Tech, FSU may have an outside shoot of making it.  

9.  South Carolina - Many forget that this team made the SEC Championship game last season and are still loaded with talent.  They return RB Marcus Lattimore and WR Alshon Jeffrey, but will QB Stephen Garcia be able to stay out of trouble and on the field to get them the ball?  Plus, the Gamecocks are bringing in number #1 high school recruit DE Jadeveon Clowney, who will almost certainly get immediate playing time.  

10.  Texas A&M - The Aggies return 17 starters from last year's team.  Their offense is as high-powered as any in the country, featuring QB Ryan Tannehill.  When inserted as the starter midway through last season, all he did was beat Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas.  With a full offseason to practice and having leading rusher RB Cyrus Gray and leading receiver WR Jeff Fuller coming back, this offense will put up some points.    

11.  Oklahoma State - They have the best receiver in the country in WR Justin Blackmon, who shocked the NFL draft world and decided to return to school for his junior year.  If they can get him the ball, he can make special things happen.  Side note, their QB Brandon Weeden is 28 years old, coming back to college after a washed up minor league baseball career.  Last college team to feature a 28 year old washed out baseball player won the National Championship.  Name that team and player??  

12.  Wisconsin - This team always features a bruising RB, and RB Montee Ball is just that.  Built in the same mold as another big Wisconsin RB, Heisman winner Ron Dayne, Ball will help lead the Badgers back in a Big 10 title.  They also have QB transfer Russell Wilson from North Carolina State starting this year. 

13.  TCU - They lost a lot from their 2010 Rose Bowl victory team, but Head Coach Gary Patterson is one of the best in the country and they play in the semi-competitive Mountain West Conference.  Their schedule features two tough games:  BYU and Boise State.  Win both of those and we have another undefeated mid-major, National Championship debate. 

14.  Michigan State - Who would have thought that perfectly executing a fake field goal to win a game would propel a team to such national predominance?  Michigan State was definitely a surprise team last season.  However, their fortunes may change this season, as in the month of October, they play at Ohio State, Michigan at home, Wisconsin at home, and then at Nebraska.  Good luck Spartans.  

15.  Notre Dame - I refuse to talk about this team!!!!  (I'm sorry, but I can't be objective when analysing ND.  They suck!!  But I have to be realistic and put them somewhere.)  

16.  Arkansas - They lost both their starting QB and RB from last year's team, QB Ryan Mallet to the draft and RB Knile Davis to injury.  Davis led the SEC in rushing but got injured in spring ball and is now out for the year.  With their tough schedule that features games at Alabama, Texas A&M, Auburn, South Carolina, and at LSU, I don't see them finishing the year in the top 25.  

17.  Virginia Tech - Beamer Ball always plays tough, close games.  They play a very soft schedule, especially sense they don't have to play FSU.  They special teams and defense will always be good, but with no Tyrod Taylor at QB and no Ryan Williams at RB, how will they score points?  They may always play tough, close games, but they always lose one or two of those.

18.  Ohio State - Believe it or not, this team actually has something to play for.  And no, it's not tattoos.  Despite all that has happened this offseason to THE Ohio State University, they may actually come out and play with a chip on their shoulder, and that may lead to wins.  Teams with that kind of mentality sometimes surprise you.  Once they get RB Dan Herron back from suspension (first five games), depending on where they are in the standings, they could make a run.

19.  USC - Not Bowl eligible.  Not Conference Championship eligible.  Not worth my time talking about.  Still, for some reason, they are still allowed to be ranked.    

20.  Mississippi State - Dan Mullen is doing some good things at Mississippi State.  They are returning 15 starters from a 9-4 SEC team.  They could cause some problems for teams in the SEC trying to make the National Championship, if you catch my drift.

21.  Arizona State - Since USC can't win their conference division, ASU is the likely favorite to go to the PAC-12 championship game from the South.  They do have talent, with standout OLB Vontaze Burfict on defense, but if they falter again this year, it could be the end of Dennis Erickson as Head Coach.

22.  West Virginia - They have a QB guru as Head Coach in Dana Holgorsen and have a talented QB in Geno Smith to run their spread-offense.  The Big East is way down this year so despite being ranked this low, you may find West Virginia playing in a BCS Bowl game come NYE.

23.  Florida - This team is ranked this high based on reputation.  The reputation of their previous Head Coach, and the reputation of their new Head Coach.  New Head Coach Will Muschamp has a challenge in front of him, starting with getting his QB (Jeff Brantley) to play the position.  

24.  Texas - They can't stay down for too long.  Their is just too much talent in Texas for this team not to start winning again.  They have had too many good recruiting classes over the years for someone not to step up.  QB Garrett Gilbert had a full season to start and should be better this year.

25.  Auburn - How can you not rank the defending National Champions in the Top 25 to start the season?  I know they lost all of their key players from their National Championship team, but now its time for other players to shine, most notably RB Michael Dyer.

Predictions:
National Championship Game - Alabama over Oregon
Heisman Winner - Andrew Luck, QB Stanford


Mr. Armchair Speaking