Here are 5 teams flying under the radar now, but will be worth watching in 2015:
Tennessee. The Vols could have as many as 9 staters retruning on each side of the ball. They won 3 out of their last 4 conference games to get to the Taxslayer Bowl and crushed Iowa in that bowl. On Sept 12, Tennessee hosts Oklahoma. That game will establish the legitimacy of both teams.
California. Another team that loses few sarters. QB Goff leads the return of up to 10 starters on offense. The defense can return 9 starters. After a 4-1 start, Cal's defense collapsed in the second part of the season, and the team ended up 5-7. With any type of improvment at all, Cal should find 6 wins in a schedule that sees them play in Austin Texas on Sept 19th.
Penn State. While everyone will be concentrating on Ohio State, Michigan State, and a few other teams, Penn state will be able to fly under the radar for the first 6 games until they go to Columbus in Mid October. 2nd year HC Franklin returns up to 9 starters on offense, and 7 on defense. The offense is going to have to rise to the occasion, but if they do, this team should win more than 6 regular season games.
Oklahoma State. Mike Gundy had an off year last season, and things got a little warm in Stillman until his cowboys won a stunnder against OU in Norman, and thendefeated Washington in the Cactus Bowl. Next season, Gundy gets as many as 8 starters returning on both sides of the ball. The schedule is a plus. The non-con games are Big 12 soft, and Okie State hosts TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma in November.
North Carolina. Larry Fedora is going to have to produce this season, and he has up to 10 starters returning on a very explosive offense. The problem is on the defense, and UNC loses 4 of their starters right up the middle. UNC's ability to develop a defense will determine just how successful they will be in 2015. The schedule really helps. UNC plays 8 games at home, and skips Florida State and Clemson in the ACC Atlantic.
Tennessee. The Vols could have as many as 9 staters retruning on each side of the ball. They won 3 out of their last 4 conference games to get to the Taxslayer Bowl and crushed Iowa in that bowl. On Sept 12, Tennessee hosts Oklahoma. That game will establish the legitimacy of both teams.
California. Another team that loses few sarters. QB Goff leads the return of up to 10 starters on offense. The defense can return 9 starters. After a 4-1 start, Cal's defense collapsed in the second part of the season, and the team ended up 5-7. With any type of improvment at all, Cal should find 6 wins in a schedule that sees them play in Austin Texas on Sept 19th.
Penn State. While everyone will be concentrating on Ohio State, Michigan State, and a few other teams, Penn state will be able to fly under the radar for the first 6 games until they go to Columbus in Mid October. 2nd year HC Franklin returns up to 9 starters on offense, and 7 on defense. The offense is going to have to rise to the occasion, but if they do, this team should win more than 6 regular season games.
Oklahoma State. Mike Gundy had an off year last season, and things got a little warm in Stillman until his cowboys won a stunnder against OU in Norman, and thendefeated Washington in the Cactus Bowl. Next season, Gundy gets as many as 8 starters returning on both sides of the ball. The schedule is a plus. The non-con games are Big 12 soft, and Okie State hosts TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma in November.
North Carolina. Larry Fedora is going to have to produce this season, and he has up to 10 starters returning on a very explosive offense. The problem is on the defense, and UNC loses 4 of their starters right up the middle. UNC's ability to develop a defense will determine just how successful they will be in 2015. The schedule really helps. UNC plays 8 games at home, and skips Florida State and Clemson in the ACC Atlantic.
