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Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, Pete Carroll and Co. are the overwhelming favorites entering the 2005 season, but no modern team has won three consecutive national college football championships. If that trend holds true, a new champion will be crowned at the Rose Bowl. Here's a look at the three strongest challengers to replace the Trojans.
Texas Longhorns
Texas has the best chance of dethroning the Trojans. Overcoming losses of star performers such as running back Cedric Benson and linebacker Derrick Johnson is nearly an impossible task. However, the Longhorns have enough returning starters and young, emerging talent to run the table in 2005.
Vince Young accounted for 372 yards and 5 TDs in the 2005 Rose Bowl.
Quarterback Vince Young is the focal point of an offense that returns eight starters. Tackle Jonathan Scott anchors a talented offensive line with four returning starters, and wideout Limas Sweed and tight end David Thomas are back as Young's favorite targets. If Young can build on his Rose Bowl performance and become more efficient as a passer, this unit has a chance to be more explosive and even tougher to defend than a year ago.
Middle linebacker Aaron Harris should emerge as the anchor of a Longhorns defense that returns eight starters of its own, including standout tackles Rodrique Wright and Larry Dibbles and playmaking defensive backs Michael Huff, Cedric Griffin and Michael Griffin.
The Longhorns could even overcome a loss at Ohio State on Sept. 10 to earn a second-consecutive Rose Bowl berth -- this time to play for the national championship. To do so, they will have to snap the five-year drought versus coach Bob Stoops' Sooners. Coach Mack Brown got the monkey off his back to a certain degree with a "big-game" win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl. But that win would pale in comparison to a Red River Rivalry win over Oklahoma. With the Sooners' losing so much talent on both sides of the ball, there may never be a better opportunity for Brown and the Longhorns to reclaim Big 12 supremacy. Texas must pass tough tests at Oklahoma State and in the regular-season finale at Texas A&M.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Quarterback Troy Smith will return versus Texas after serving his one-game suspension for the season opener versus Miami (Ohio). Smith is clearly the glue to the Buckeyes' offense, as the unit's improvement late last season coincided with his emergence as the starter. If Smith can regain his form and utilize the weapons around him (wide receivers Ted Ginn and Santonio Holmes), Ohio State stands to have one of the most improved offensive units in the nation.
Ohio State's Ted Ginn will be even more dangerous this season as he's certain to get more touches.
A.J. Hawk anchors arguably the deepest and most talented linebacker corps in college football. The defense returns nine starters from a year ago and should rank among the most physically dominating units in the Big Ten.
Overcoming the loss of place-kicker Mike Nugent won't be easy, but Josh Huston is an able replacement. The Buckeyes also are loaded in the return game thanks to the explosiveness of Ginn and Holmes.
The Buckeyes must capitalize on their good fortune of playing a night game at home against Texas on Sept. 10. The Buckeyes could still overcome a loss in that game and earn a trip to the Rose Bowl, but the absence of a conference championship game at the end of the season makes it more difficult. The big obstacles after the showdown versus Texas include a visit from Iowa on Sept. 24, along with trips to Penn State (Oct. 8) and Michigan (Nov. 19).
Miami Hurricanes
Larry Coker's team is not being mentioned among the nation's elite heading into the 2005 season. But the Hurricanes should never be underestimated.
The offense should actually benefit from quarterback Brock Berlin's departure -- he was never a great fit for the scheme. Kyle Wright is set to take over the helm. Even though he is inexperienced, Wright is a cerebral quarterback with the right tools to run the play-action based offense. He is surrounded by an extraordinary amount of talent. Left tackle Eric Winston returns from injury to anchor one of the nation's most talented offensive lines. Running backs Tyrone Moss and Charlie Jones will split carries and should prove to be a devastating one-two punch at the position. Wright also has an outstanding collection of talent to throw to, with wide receivers Lance Leggett, Ryan Moore, Sinorice Moss and Darnell Jenkins and sure-handed tight end Greg Olsen.
Devin Hester had four returns for a touchdown in 2004.
Miami's defense underachieved last season because of inexperience and durability issues, but it should be one of the most improved units in the nation in 2005. The secondary is loaded, with cornerbacks Kelly Jennings and Devin Hester, and safeties Brandon Meriweather, Greg Threat and Anthony Reddick, who all have starting experience. Tackles Baraka Atkins and Orien Harris have the potential to become the nation's best interior tandem and defensive end Thomas Carroll is set for a breakout season after notching 6½ sacks in 2004. Finally, the strength of the defense should be at linebacker, where Tavares Gooden, Leon Williams, Willie Williams and Rocky McIntosh are all competing for time. The Hurricanes open the season at Florida State, but they should continue to dominate that series, as the Seminoles have a bigger question mark at the quarterback position and are also coming off a devastating offseason. If the 'Canes can withstand early challenges at FSU, at Clemson and at home versus Colorado, they'll be in position to make a national title run. Wright will have three more tune-up games versus South Florida, Duke and Temple before getting into the heart of the ACC schedule. Miami gets Georgia Tech and Virginia at home, but the biggest test of the season promises to be the Nov. 5 trip to Blacksburg, Va., where Coker's squad will look to exact revenge for an embarrassing home loss to the Hokies last year.
Thought you guys would like this. Finally some love for our buckeyes!
Texas Longhorns
Texas has the best chance of dethroning the Trojans. Overcoming losses of star performers such as running back Cedric Benson and linebacker Derrick Johnson is nearly an impossible task. However, the Longhorns have enough returning starters and young, emerging talent to run the table in 2005.
Vince Young accounted for 372 yards and 5 TDs in the 2005 Rose Bowl.
Quarterback Vince Young is the focal point of an offense that returns eight starters. Tackle Jonathan Scott anchors a talented offensive line with four returning starters, and wideout Limas Sweed and tight end David Thomas are back as Young's favorite targets. If Young can build on his Rose Bowl performance and become more efficient as a passer, this unit has a chance to be more explosive and even tougher to defend than a year ago.
Middle linebacker Aaron Harris should emerge as the anchor of a Longhorns defense that returns eight starters of its own, including standout tackles Rodrique Wright and Larry Dibbles and playmaking defensive backs Michael Huff, Cedric Griffin and Michael Griffin.
The Longhorns could even overcome a loss at Ohio State on Sept. 10 to earn a second-consecutive Rose Bowl berth -- this time to play for the national championship. To do so, they will have to snap the five-year drought versus coach Bob Stoops' Sooners. Coach Mack Brown got the monkey off his back to a certain degree with a "big-game" win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl. But that win would pale in comparison to a Red River Rivalry win over Oklahoma. With the Sooners' losing so much talent on both sides of the ball, there may never be a better opportunity for Brown and the Longhorns to reclaim Big 12 supremacy. Texas must pass tough tests at Oklahoma State and in the regular-season finale at Texas A&M.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Quarterback Troy Smith will return versus Texas after serving his one-game suspension for the season opener versus Miami (Ohio). Smith is clearly the glue to the Buckeyes' offense, as the unit's improvement late last season coincided with his emergence as the starter. If Smith can regain his form and utilize the weapons around him (wide receivers Ted Ginn and Santonio Holmes), Ohio State stands to have one of the most improved offensive units in the nation.
Ohio State's Ted Ginn will be even more dangerous this season as he's certain to get more touches.
A.J. Hawk anchors arguably the deepest and most talented linebacker corps in college football. The defense returns nine starters from a year ago and should rank among the most physically dominating units in the Big Ten.
Overcoming the loss of place-kicker Mike Nugent won't be easy, but Josh Huston is an able replacement. The Buckeyes also are loaded in the return game thanks to the explosiveness of Ginn and Holmes.
The Buckeyes must capitalize on their good fortune of playing a night game at home against Texas on Sept. 10. The Buckeyes could still overcome a loss in that game and earn a trip to the Rose Bowl, but the absence of a conference championship game at the end of the season makes it more difficult. The big obstacles after the showdown versus Texas include a visit from Iowa on Sept. 24, along with trips to Penn State (Oct. 8) and Michigan (Nov. 19).
Miami Hurricanes
Larry Coker's team is not being mentioned among the nation's elite heading into the 2005 season. But the Hurricanes should never be underestimated.
The offense should actually benefit from quarterback Brock Berlin's departure -- he was never a great fit for the scheme. Kyle Wright is set to take over the helm. Even though he is inexperienced, Wright is a cerebral quarterback with the right tools to run the play-action based offense. He is surrounded by an extraordinary amount of talent. Left tackle Eric Winston returns from injury to anchor one of the nation's most talented offensive lines. Running backs Tyrone Moss and Charlie Jones will split carries and should prove to be a devastating one-two punch at the position. Wright also has an outstanding collection of talent to throw to, with wide receivers Lance Leggett, Ryan Moore, Sinorice Moss and Darnell Jenkins and sure-handed tight end Greg Olsen.
Devin Hester had four returns for a touchdown in 2004.
Miami's defense underachieved last season because of inexperience and durability issues, but it should be one of the most improved units in the nation in 2005. The secondary is loaded, with cornerbacks Kelly Jennings and Devin Hester, and safeties Brandon Meriweather, Greg Threat and Anthony Reddick, who all have starting experience. Tackles Baraka Atkins and Orien Harris have the potential to become the nation's best interior tandem and defensive end Thomas Carroll is set for a breakout season after notching 6½ sacks in 2004. Finally, the strength of the defense should be at linebacker, where Tavares Gooden, Leon Williams, Willie Williams and Rocky McIntosh are all competing for time. The Hurricanes open the season at Florida State, but they should continue to dominate that series, as the Seminoles have a bigger question mark at the quarterback position and are also coming off a devastating offseason. If the 'Canes can withstand early challenges at FSU, at Clemson and at home versus Colorado, they'll be in position to make a national title run. Wright will have three more tune-up games versus South Florida, Duke and Temple before getting into the heart of the ACC schedule. Miami gets Georgia Tech and Virginia at home, but the biggest test of the season promises to be the Nov. 5 trip to Blacksburg, Va., where Coker's squad will look to exact revenge for an embarrassing home loss to the Hokies last year.
Thought you guys would like this. Finally some love for our buckeyes!
it had nothing to do with being the better team. Tell you what I'll take the lucky 11-1 rosebowl champs and 12-0 NC champs, and you can can have the GOOD teams.
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