Next Year

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

maybe Michigan

Won't even be the best team in their own state.

[WolverineSteve]

Michigan is not quite ready. Hoke and Borges' offense will be better served by a pro style guy. They've signed the top qb in 2013 and by his second or third year, sniffing the crystal football will be reasonable to discuss. Until then we'll have to settle for ten win seasons and bcs bowl invites, hopefully a Rose Bowl.

Mgo, you trolling? State loses Cousins, the 3 top receivers, a rb, Worthy, etc. Do you anticipate any drop off? Michigan loses some oline and dline starters but has a great crop of both coming in. I never expect much from freshmen, but Kalis is projected as college ready. With "our" game in AA, I think the streak ends.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

No, I'm not. I expect some drop off in the passing game, and replacing Cousins' leadership will be really difficult. But the o-line, running game and defense as a whole should be better. I still don't see how Dreadlock Jesus and his band of velcro warriors are going to do much against State's D.

Oh, and losing Edwin Baker is not a bad thing in my estimation as that will mean more carries for Le'Veon Bell. Only way it's a negative is if Bell gets hurt. Even then, still got Caper and Nick Hill who are very capable backs.

And before you think I'm being a total homer, just check ESPN's Big Ten bloggers' power rankings for next year.

[Laxplayer]

Alabama....not a chance
U$C...no way
LSU..really
Michigan.....absolutely not
Oklahoma....come on

Cal will win it all. I can just see it now the headline..
CAL BEARS WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
After finishing the season with another sub par performance and losing in the holiday bowl again the Cal Bears with their 458 #1 ranked recruiting classes in a row have once again won the national championships. Forget the other teams that went undefeated once again the Cal Bears over come mediocrity and losses to Stanford, Oregon, U$C, among others to win the national championship. Their impressive wins vs. Presbyterian, Eastern Western California technical school for the blind, and western Rhode Island have vaulted them to the top of the rankings once again. Congrats to the Bears again.

[SunCoastSooner]

I don't believe Oklahoma is a favorite to get to the title game this year. Need more depth at DT. Wide Receivers have talent but nobody certain to return who was consistent.

I'd like to believe that the return of Mike Stoops will fix the issues with our secondary though.

It's not out of the realm of possibility we make a run for the title game but I wouldn't consider it likely. I'm think OU is a 7-12 ranked team preseason wise.

[Mace]

I just hope that Iowa can beat Minnesota and Iowa State next season.

[Van]

Assuming decent health across the board, a spot in the BCS Title Game is realistic. Bare minimum, anything short of a trip to the Rose Bowl would be a failed season.

I'd really feel that way had Nick Perry and especially Matt Kalil stuck around, but I'll stick to it anyway.

[Van]

Our depth already took a big hit over these past two-plus seasons, what with all the NCAA-allowable transfers. Lack of depth remains our biggest concern.

[Dinsdale]

Assuming decent health across the board, a spot in the BCS Title Game is realistic. Bare minimum, anything short of a trip to the Rose Bowl would be a failed season.

That'll be tough with an 11-2 record.

[Van]

Depends on who gives them those two losses.

Again, assuming good health and solid form, USC will be favored in every game they play next year, and that includes the Oregon game at the Coliseum. There is no reason they couldn't run the table. They at least ought to make it to the Rose Bowl.

[Mikey]

Assuming decent health across the board, a spot in the BCS Title Game is realistic. Bare minimum, anything short of a trip to the Rose Bowl would be a failed season.

That'll be tough with an 11-2 record.

SC is looking formidable but it takes a little more than having a lot of returning talent to make it to the MNC game, much less the Rose Bowl. The quintessential SC fan is strong in this one.

As far as Stanford goes,

Gone are:
Jesus..err Luck
Two probable top 10 draft picks from the OL
One of the three great pass catching TEs

Returning are:
The rest of the outstanding OL.
Most of the running game, which averaged 210 YPG and scored 32 TDs in 2011, including Stepfan Taylor who has gained almost 2500 yards in the past two seasons.
The best group of LBs in the conference, probably one of the best in the country.


It will obviously be impossible to replace Luck, buth there's a lot of returning talent including a couple of young QBs. It will be a huge challenge for Shaw to keep the momentum going but, realistically, they should still win all but two of their scheduled games. And who knows what could happen against SC and Oregon.

Edit...Sorry, I forgot about the loss to Cal.

[Van]

Mikey, USC only suffered two losses this year, and one of those losses was in Triple O.T. to a very good Stanford team in a game that the Trojans obviously were in position to win. Returning as many starters as they do next season, and considering the fact that they seemingly have an easier schedule, what with Oregon, ND, Cal and Arizona St coming to the Coliseum, it would hardly be a stretch to think that they should be even better...plus they can actually go to a bowl game and finish the job, so they'll have a lot more motivation.

Better than last year means a minimum of 11-1, which probably means the Rose Bowl. Beyond that, and provided they stay healthy, there is really no reason they couldn't run the table.

[Van]

That'll have to wait until all the shower rods in Berkeley have been locked down nice and tight.

[Mikey]

Mikey, USC only suffered two losses this year, and one of those losses was in Triple O.T. to a very good Stanford team in a game that the Trojans obviously were in position to win. Returning as many starters as they do next season, and considering the fact that they seemingly have an easier schedule, what with Oregon, ND, Cal and Arizona St coming to the Coliseum, it would hardly be a stretch to think that they should be even better...plus they can actually go to a bowl game and finish the job, so they'll have a lot more motivation.

Better than last year means a minimum of 11-1, which probably means the Rose Bowl. Beyond that, and provided they stay healthy, there is really no reason they couldn't run the table.

Not a stretch at all to say that they could run the table.

Pretty premature, though. Staying healthy is a really big "if", and there are so many other factors that could come into play in the next 11 months or whatever that expecting anything like 11-1 or 12-0 is just setting yourself up for a huge letdown. A lot of teams that were expected to breeze through a season have ended up with 4 or 5 losses.

What was AyFayShoe's 2011 record, BTW?

[Shoalzie]

Michigan is losing a lot of good seniors...I think next year will be a step back because of new players coming in and with a major tougher schedule (brutal road games and the Alabama opener). I'm putting the over/under at 8 wins. If Hoke is as good as some are making him out to be...he'll win 10 including the game against State and even go down to Columbus and punk Urban in his first Michigan-tOSU game.

[Van]

Mikey, didn't you expect at least an 11-1 season this year? I know I definitely expected it for Stanford.

Well, next year's USC team looks to be better than this year's Stanford team, and next year's USC squad will be dealing with weakened Stanford and Oregon teams. 11-1 represents only a one-game improvement over last year, so no, I don't think it's the least bit of an unreasonable expectation. 12-0 would mean no major injuries and no major mental lapses. In USC's case, the latter has always proven to be the biggest issue.

Of course injuries can kill the whole plot, but I've already offered that qualifier.

[Mikey]

I was expecting 12-0.

After the debacle against Oregon I was ready to throw the entire team, school and northern half of the state under the bus.

My wife talked me out of it though.

[Mikey]

Assuming decent health across the board, a spot in the BCS Title Game is realistic. Bare minimum, anything short of a trip to the Rose Bowl would be a failed season.

That'll be tough with an 11-2 record.

SC is looking formidable but it takes a little more than having a lot of returning talent to make it to the MNC game, much less the Rose Bowl. The quintessential SC fan is strong in this one.

As far as Stanford goes,

Gone are:
Jesus..err Luck
Two probable top 10 draft picks from the OL
One of the three great pass catching TEs

Returning are:
The rest of the outstanding OL.
Most of the running game, which averaged 210 YPG and scored 32 TDs in 2011, including Stepfan Taylor who has gained almost 2500 yards in the past two seasons.
The best group of LBs in the conference, probably one of the best in the country.


It will obviously be impossible to replace Luck, buth there's a lot of returning talent including a couple of young QBs. It will be a huge challenge for Shaw to keep the momentum going but, realistically, they should still win all but two of their scheduled games. And who knows what could happen against SC and Oregon.

Edit...Sorry, I forgot about the loss to Cal.

Barry Sanders Jr. may provide some much needed speed in the backfield. Don't know how much action he'll see as a freshman with a 2 x 1000 yard runner returning, but the potential is definitely there.

[Van]

SC is looking formidable but it takes a little more than having a lot of returning talent to make it to the MNC game, much less the Rose Bowl.

Love how you reversed those two, as if making it to the Rose Bowl is more difficult than landing a spot in the MNC game.

[KC]The quintessential Tree fan is strong in this one.[/KC]

[Mikey]

The PACxx is a meatgrinder.

[Dinsdale]

The PACxx is a meatgrinder.

Especially for a team trying to avenge last season's loss by coming to the Animal House.

[Van]

Even with the first pick in the NFL draft manning the controls Stanford couldn't beat Oregon in Autzen Stadium, so what would ever possess them to think they can manage it without him?

[Mikey]

Even with the first pick in the NFL draft manning the controls Stanford couldn't beat Oregon in Autzen Stadium, so what would ever possess them to think they can manage it without him?

Haven't seen any predictions that they would. Next season is a long way off though, and it seems to me that both teams will be trying to make up for some offense leaving.

[Dinsdale]

it seems to me that both teams will be trying to make up for some offense leaving.

Thomas, leaving... replacement Bennett is better.

LaMike, leaving... Kenjon isn't quite as good, but more touches for DAT.

Paulson, leaving... Lyera is going to give defenses nightmares.

Besides, they get 2 1AAs (WTF is up with that?) at home to hone their offensive skills (3 OOCs... 3 home game, WTF... did we go with AtM and Mizzou?).


Stanford is fucked.

[Van]

Hmmmm, on the one hand we've got Darron Thomas, who supposedly didn't stick around simply because he feared losing his job to the guy who'll be starting this year. We've also got LaRollerCoasterQueef James, who, while excellent, may be no better than DeAnthony Speed O'Light, plus Kenjon Barner is returning.

On the other hand we've got a guy who nearly single-handedly propelled Stanford from perennial doormat status to two-time BCS bowl game participants.

Call me crazy, but I think Oregon has the decided advantage here.

[Dinsdale]

Darron Thomas, who supposedly didn't stick around simply because he feared losing his job to the guy who'll be starting this year.

Nah. He left for 2 reasons -- he had his degree in hand, and Drew Rosenhaus needed money.

We've also got LaRollerCoasterQueef James, who, while excellent, may be no better than DeAnthony Speed O'Light, plus Kenjon Barner is returning.

Problem is, neither one has much going between the tackles. Losing the guy who would have likely become the all-time NCAA rusher isn't a minor problem, but not an insurmountable one, either.

Still stupid-deep at RB.

On the other hand we've got a guy who nearly single-handedly propelled Stanford from perennial doormat status to two-time BCS bowl game participants.

And a couple of first-rounders at OL.

[Goober McTuber]

Darron Thomas, who supposedly didn't stick around simply because he feared losing his job to the guy who'll be starting this year.

Nah. He left for 2 reasons -- he had his degree in hand, and Drew Rosenhaus needed money.

I've read that he's not that likely to even get drafted. How is that making any money for Rosenhaus?

[SoCalTrjn]

Assuming decent health across the board, a spot in the BCS Title Game is realistic. Bare minimum, anything short of a trip to the Rose Bowl would be a failed season.

That'll be tough with an 11-2 record.

what was oregons record in 2011?

[Dinsdale]

I've read that he's not that likely to even get drafted. How is that making any money for Rosenhaus?

Free agent on a practice squad still gets $5700 a week. 3% (or whatever they negoshed) of $5700 is still... a weekly check for a very broke dude, for doing almost zero work.

If he makes a 53-man roster, it's around $400K... a hundred of those guys is... a nice paycheck. Add in 3% of what Marion Barber, Dez Bryant, Rex Grossman, DeSean Jackson, Willis McGahee Frank Gore Santana Moss Jeremy Shockey Winslow Jr (he gets a good chunk the Hurrigangstas), and...

I could live on that.

[Goober McTuber]

I've read that he's not that likely to even get drafted. How is that making any money for Rosenhaus?

Free agent on a practice squad still gets $5700 a week. 3% (or whatever they negoshed) of $5700 is still... a weekly check for a very broke dude, for doing almost zero work.

Drew Rosenhaus is broke?

[Dinsdale]

Drew Rosenhaus, Leigh Steinburg... same guy, in my book.

[Goober McTuber]

Drew Rosenhaus, Leigh Steinburg... same guy, in my book.

Well, yeah, except one of them is actually broke, and the other one is loaning hundreds of thousands of dollars to one of his irresponsible clients (Cal grad, no less), which is probably a good formula for winding up like Leigh Steinburg.

[Terry in Crapchester]

ND will probably continue to be in somewhat a state of flux next year. I expect (although I could very easily be wrong in this regard) a change at QB. Most likely I suspect that either Hendrix or Golson will be named the starting QB. Assuming Rees stays (although I've heard rumors he might consider transferring if he loses the starting job), Golson also could be switched to a new position, most likely WR.

The biggest loss, far and away, is Floyd. I don't see anyone who could emerge to replace him as the go-to WR. Gray's departure is also big, as it means that ND won't have a true big back in the stable next year.

George Atkinson electrified on KO returns at times, and I hope the staff finds a way to get him on the field more often on offense, whether it's at RB or at WR. OL is a strength again after being a weakness since '07. We lose Robinson to graduation, but both Cave and Golic are eligible for fifth years. Assuming both get them, my hunch is that Golic (who moved in at C and played well after Cave went down with an injury) will move over to Robinson's G spot. DL also shows plenty of depth now, even though Cwynar elected not to take a fifth year.

On defense, with the improvement in DL play, the biggest weakness (as it usually was, except in recent years) is secondary. Harrison Smith leaves after seemingly spending the past decade at ND. And both starting CB's, Gray and Blanton, leave as well (although Florida State managed to expose both of them in the second half). Slaughter returns for a fifth year, and unless he moves to OLB (where he played, and played very well, against Florida State), figure that he and Motta will start at safety. Shepard could start at CB as a true freshman, which likely isn't very promising for ND.

Schedule gets a little tougher, as ND adds two traditional heavyweights -- Oklahoma and Miami -- although the latter is probably in worse position than ND right now. BYU also is added to the schedule. And ND will play Navy in Dublin this year. It's probably a good thing that that game will be played at the very start of the season. ND has to figure out a way to beat Michigan. On the bright side, the talent losses suffered by both Stanford and Michigan State may mean those series return to favorable standing for ND. But USC only figures to continue to get tougher.

ND has two legitimate first-team All-American candidates in TE Tyler Eifert and LB Manti Te'o, although I probably jinxed both of them by mentioning that.

Among ND fans, I'm probably in the minority on this, but I think Brian Kelly is the right coach for this program. That's not to say that I agree with every decision he's made -- for example, I think he had much too short a leash on Crist and much too long a leash for Rees. Also, I think the trajectory we figure to see from him is slower than we usually see from other head coaches, and probably will be more akin to the trajectory of Mack Brown at Texas. Patience may be the name of the game for ND fans now. I know many will resist a call for patience after 23 years without a national championship, but OTOH, I don't want to see ND become THAT school that replaces its coach every three years and never progresses.

[Left Seater]

You only make a coaching change if you KNOW you will get better at that position. There is no other reason, because of the stress and steps back to your program.

[King Crimson]

Ohio State cannot go to a bowl next season. Accordingly, there is a near 100% chance that Ohio State will go undefeated. Just sayin.

Well, I didn't do so well at CFB Pick'em this year, but at least I got this one right.

you been waiting on this all year...

please

[Mace]

Ohio State cannot go to a bowl next season. Accordingly, there is a near 100% chance that Ohio State will go undefeated. Just sayin.

Well, I didn't do so well at CFB Pick'em this year, but at least I got this one right.

Rack 88 for nailing his prediction and making everyone else look like YAFJ.