I'm not sure where they came up with Virginia Tech. And Texas gained 4 inches per play last year. So they have nowhere to go but up. I think with the Whorns it's all about the QB. If Heard doesn't work out for them, they've probably lost two more years. If he comes through, then Texas could be just a year away. I definitely agree with Cal and PSU. And they should have replaced VT with Arizona St. I would have also thrown Tennessee in there somewhere, even though I'm still not 100% sold on Butch Jones. Auburn was in the NC two years ago, so I'm not sure they qualify as a team on the rise.
Aug 30, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver Marcus Johnson (7) celebrate an interception for a touchdown against the North Texas Mean Green during the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas won 38-7. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports1[h=3]Texas Longhorns[/h][h=4]6-7, (5-4), Big 12[/h]
Texas was just 6-7 in Charlie Strong’s first season as head coach, though there were obviously reasons to be optimistic about the future of the Longhorns.
Other than an embarrassing 41-7 loss to BYU in Week 2 and a 31-7 loss to a surging Arkansas squad in the Texas Bowl, the Longhorns only lost to ranked opponents: No. 12 UCLA, No. 7 Baylor, No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 11 Kansas State. They also beat West Virginia 33-16 when the Mountaineers were ranked in the Top 25.
Strong also set the tone for his tenure. Nine players were either kicked off the team or encouraged to transfer – and not just scrubs. Those nine players combined for more than 2,000 offensive yards and 28 touchdowns as Longhorns prior to Strong’s tenure, plus 38 tackles on defense.
Because they were shorthanded, Texas struggled – especially offensively. Texas ranked 90[SUP]th[/SUP] in the nation in passing (199.9 yards per game), 101[SUP]st[/SUP] in rushing (137.4 yards per game) and 109[SUP]th[/SUP] in scoring offense (21.4 points per game).
They’ll be shorthanded again in 2015. Unlike other most of the teams on this list of five college football programs on the rise, the Texas Longhorns won’t be especially experienced next season compared to other teams in the Big 12. Texas returns just 13 starters total, which is the third fewest in the league and middle of the pack nationally. Only five defensive starters are expected to be back in 2015, which is second fewest only to Kansas in the league.
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The team has eight starters returning on offense, but that doesn’t mean any of them are guaranteed to start in 2015. For example, quarterback Tyrone Swoopes (who started 11 games in 2014 after David Ash suffered a career-ending concussion in Week 1) is in the midst of a position battle with redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard.
However, the future is bright. Strong has not only shown he can coach and recruit talented players, especially on defense, but that he can also develop them. You only have to look at the two most recent NFL Drafts for proof.
Of the 22 players that signed with the Cardinals as part of the 2011 recruiting class, 11 have been drafted. Louisville had ten players drafted in 2015 alone, which was double the program’s previous best performance (five players were drafted in 2008). In the past two drafts combined, the Cards have had 14 players drafted, which is the best two-year stint in school history.
Strong has already infused the Texas roster with talent, having landed the Big 12’s highest rated recruiting class and the tenth ranked class in America according to 247Sports. With 29 highly touted newcomers competing for playing time this fall, the Longhorns won’t have to worry too much about their lack of experience.
Of course, there’s no time to waste getting those players up to speed. Texas opens the 2015 season at Notre Dame, hosts Rice in Week 2, Cal on September 19 and faces Oklahoma State, TCU, Oklahoma and Kansas State all before October 24.
Nov 1, 2014; Corvallis, OR, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) prepares to pass in the first quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Susan Ragan-USA TODAY Sports2[h=3]Cal Golden Bears[/h][h=4]5-7, (3-6), Pac-12[/h]
In the Pac-12, USC is a pre-season national title contender, Oregon is always in the mix for the conference crown and UCLA is loaded, but the team on the rise is Cal.
The Golden Bears were 1-11 in 2013 and 5-7 last season, and the bulk of that improvement can be attributed to head coach Sonny Dykes, offensive coordinator Tony Franklin and quarterback Jared Goff. The trio helped Cal score 36.3 points per game (which ranked second in the Pac-12 and tenth in the nation) and they amassed 346 passing yards (second in the league and sixth nationally) on average last year.
Goff threw for 3,973 yards and 35 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He and seven other starters (plus a deep crop of receivers) return on offense.
In a day and age where “system” quarterbacks are looked down upon by NFL scouts and talent evaluators (and the offense at Cal is literally the Tony Franklin System), Jared Goff is getting respect. In his “way-too early 2016 NFL mock draft,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay has Goff as the third QB selected, ninth overall.
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Of course, as good as the offense was, the defense was as bad. Opponents scored 39.8 points per game against Cal last season, which was more than all but five other FBS teams. The Bears allowed 511.8 yards per contest, which was also dead last in the Pac-12 and 121[SUP]st[/SUP] nationally. Nine starters return in 2015, so at least there’s experience, but the unit will need to improve dramatically under new defensive coordinator Art Kauffman to help Dykes earn his first winning season in Berkeley.
The Bears open the non-conference portion of the 2015 schedule with home games against Grambling State and San Diego State before hitting the road to play Texas in Austin. Goff, Franklin and company will certainly have their hands full will Charlie Strong’s Longhorns in Week 3. In league play, Cal plays in the weaker Northern Division of the Pac-12 and avoids Arizona, but must play USC, UCLA, Utah and Arizona State out of the South.
It’s a tough schedule, but this is an experienced team and much-improved program capable of a winning record and a trip to a bowl game. If they score an upset or two, Cal might be a Top 25 football team.
Dec 27, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton (5) celebrates a touchdown catch with Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) the second half of the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Penn State won 31-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports3[h=3]Penn State Nittany Lions[/h][h=4]7-6, (2-6), Big Ten[/h]
It’s impossible to deny how far Michigan has fallen in recent seasons. The 5-7 Wolverines were 112[SUP]th[/SUP] in the nation in scoring offense (20.9 points per game) and worst in the Big Ten and 112[SUP]th[/SUP] in total offense (333 yards per game) last season, which led to the firing of Brady Hoke.
Though it’s reasonable to expect Michigan will be better in 2015 and beyond under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, there is another team in the conference that has an upward trajectory that began last season: Penn State.
Under first-year Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin, Penn State started 4-0 and finished the regular season 6-6, which is hardly spectacular. However, the team lost three games by a combined eight points and also lost to national champion Ohio State 31-24 in double overtime. In the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Franklin and the team pulled out a dramatic 31-30 overtime victory over Boston College that helped the program to enter the off-season with positive momentum.
Yes, Franklin and Penn State lost to Michigan last season. Also, it’s fair to point out that Penn State was just as bad offensively (20.6 points and 225.3 yards per game in 2014) as Michigan. However, there’s a difference between the two that gives the Nittany Lions an edge.
Much like Jared Goff at Cal, a major reason for optimism surrounding Penn State entering the 2015 season is quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Now a junior, Hackenberg has two seasons of starting experience under his belt. Plus, he has the physical tools to be the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, according to NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay.
Hackenberg and the young Nittany Lions took their lumps offensively last year, but nine starters return on that side of the football for 2015. Six starters are back from the Big Ten’s best defense, which ranked second in the nation in total defense (278.7 yards per game) and seventh in scoring defense (18.6 points per game).
Plus, Franklin has the Penn State program headed in the right direction on the recruiting trail. His first full class ranked second in the Big Ten and 14[SUP]th[/SUP] in the nation according to 247Sports, and at this point in the 2016 cycle the Nittany Lions are ranked 19[SUP]th[/SUP] overall.
Aug 30, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee (left) high-fives quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) after a touchdown as head coach Gus Malzahn celebrates in the background against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports4[h=3]Auburn Tigers[/h][h=4]8-5, (4-4), SEC[/h]
There are a few football programs in the Southeastern Conference on the rise, including the rebuilding Tennessee Volunteers, the always dangerous LSU Tigers and the Arkansas Razorbacks, but the one that should rebound nicely for 2015 and set up a prolonged period of great success is Auburn.
The Tigers lost a lot of talent and experience from the 2014 squad. Only 12 total starters return, and eight of those are on defense, where Auburn was historically bad last season. Last year’s Auburn defense allowed at least 31 points in each of their final seven games against FBS opponents, which resulted in five losses. Overall, the Tigers allowed 26.1 points and 388.7 yards per game in 2014 – both of which ranked 61[SUP]st[/SUP] in the country.
In an attempt to turn the unit around, head coach Gus Malzahn has turned to former Florida head coach and longtime defensive coordinator Will Muschamp as his new DC. In addition to a veteran group of returning starters, Muschamp will have the benefit of 2013 Freshman All-American defensive end Carl Lawson, who missed last season with a torn ACL.
On offense, Malzahn must replace two-year starting quarterback Nick Marshall, the SEC’s leading rusher in Cameron Artis-Payne, explosive wideout Sammie Coates and All-American and the Remington Award-winning center Reese Dismukes. However, this year’s team may actually be more talented from top to bottom than the 2014 group.
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New signal caller Jeremy Johnson is a 6-foot-5, 240-pound rocket-armed NFL prototype that will remind fans of Cam Newton. Jovon Robinson joins the team as the nation’s top JUCO running back, and he’ll team with former five-star recruit Roc Thomas in the backfield.
Furthermore, D’haquille Williams led the Tigers in receptions and touchdown catches last season, is one of the best receivers in the nation and an early favorite to be a first rounder in the 2016 NFL Draft. Add five returning offensive linemen with starting experience – including 2013 Freshman All-American Alex Kozan and Ole Miss transfer Austin Golson, both of whom sat out last season, and there are very few question marks for the Tigers offensively.
Last year, Auburn started hot, won seven of their first eight games and sat at No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, but stumbled down the stretch of a brutal second half schedule and finished 8-5. With a more favorable schedule, a new identity on defense and an offense that is younger but arguably more talented, this is a team on the rise.
And we’re certainly not the only ones that expect Auburn to not only improve in 2015, but to compete for a conference championship and even a national title. Pre-season magazine guru Phil Steele projects the Tigers will be ranked in the top ten in the initial AP Top 25, and online sports book Bovada gives the squad 12-to-1 odds to win the College Football Playoff – second best odds in the SEC and fourth in the nation.
Sep 6, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver James Clark (82) looks to get away from Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (19) during the second quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports5[h=3]Virginia Tech Hokies[/h][h=4]7-6, (3-5), ACC[/h]
Finding a team in the ACC that’s on the rise is tough. Florida State and Clemson are the class of the conference, and there is little evidence to indicate that either is on the decline. Defending Coastal Division champion Georgia Tech is always dangerous, but it’s hard to imagine the Yellow Jackets doing better in 2015 than they did last year when they went 11-3 and won the Orange Bowl.
North Carolina is the league’s most experienced team heading into 2015, but the Tar Heels always seem to fall short of expectations, and while Miami is always one of the most talented teams in the ACC, that hasn’t translated very well to the scoreboard. The Hurricanes had more NFL Draft picks in 2015 (7) than wins in 2014 (6).
That leaves Virginia Tech. Despite concerns that the Hokies have slid into mediocrity over the past few seasons, the 2015 team has what it takes to rebound from a largely disappointing 2014 to compete for the ACC title next season.
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For head coach Frank Beamer, a model of consistency if there is one in college football today (he’s entering his 29[SUP]th[/SUP] season as head coach of the Hokies and has led the program to 21 straight bowl games), the 2014 season was among the toughest he has faced.
The Hokies were very inconsistent in 2014. They looked fantastic in a 35-21 victory over Ohio State in Columbus in September, which made Virginia Tech the only team to beat the national champions in 2014, and then they lost to East Carolina the following week. After a couple of wins, the Hokies lost three in a row from October 4 through November 1, then beat No. 21 Duke before falling to lowly Wake Forest 6-3 in overtime (after a scoreless four quarters). They finished the season with wins over rival Virginia and Cincinnati in the Military Bowl.
The offense struggled last season. Virginia Tech managed only 365.3 yards per game in 2014 (and 4.93 yards per play). Only Syracuse and Wake Forest were worse in the league. However, an experienced core of talented players returns.
Quarterback Michael Brewer is back as are his top three targets. Running back Marshawn Williams led the team in carries and rushing touchdowns last year, though he’s still recovering from a torn ACL. Trey Edmunds is finally healthy and J.C. Coleman showed flashes last season. – including a 157-yard performance in the bowl game. All three – plus electric athlete Travon McMilliam – will have a tough and solid group of linemen opening holes for them.
Virginia Tech played well on defense, as usual. The Hokies ranked fourth in the ACC and 21[SUP]st[/SUP] nationally in total defense (343.8 yards per game), ranked third in the nation in sacks (3.69 per game), third in tackles for a loss (8.4 TFLs per game) and sixth in red zone defense (28.6%). The 2015 defense – led by star defensive coordinator Bud Foster and potential first round cornerback Kendall Fuller – should be as stingy as ever.
Overall, Virginia Tech welcomes back 16 starters from the 2014 squad, eight apiece on offense and defense, plus both their kicker and punter. Only North Carolina is more experienced in terms of returning starters in the ACC.
We may be creeping towards the end of the Frank Beamer era in Blacksburg, but the Hokies are on the rise in the ACC.
Tennessee is definitely on the rise. Jones may not be the next Nick Saban, but he has built that program back up and he has 5 starting OL returning and a QB w/ star potential. His D returns a bunch of talent. They likely go 8-4 or better this year w/ 2016 being the year we'll see if Jones is for real.
Not sure why Va Tech is on that list. For all the good Beamer has done there he has over stayed his welcome (a lot like Bobby Bowden did at FSU). Take a look at that pathetic record they had last year....3-5 in the worst (by far) Power 5/BCS conference....and they BLEW OUT the National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes (exactly why Ohio State should have never been in the 4-team playoff to begin with).
Not sure why Va Tech is on that list. For all the good Beamer has done there he has over stayed his welcome (a lot like Bobby Bowden did at FSU). Take a look at that pathetic record they had last year....3-5 in the worst (by far) Power 5/BCS conference....and they BLEW OUT the National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes (exactly why Ohio State should have never been in the 4-team playoff to begin with).
Penn State schedule is similar to last year. Should start 5-0. But man was that offense horrible. Should be better, but how much? The defense can only do so much. I know people are all enamored with James Franklin. His recruiting is damn good, but shouldn't it be at Penn St? Nothing I've seen in Franklin's curriculum says he can handle a pro-style QB, and this is the first time he's ever experienced expectations. He's always been with the underdogs. Then we get to Hackenberg. Holds the ball too long and turns it over. I'd have more faith if it were O'Brien coaching. I guess he's the #1 future pick, but by what standard? I say it's lack of pro-style qb's in college football. 8-4 and they fade hard just like last year.
Run... Penn State's recruiting was going downhill pretty fast under their probation. Their classes came in at #35, #51, and #43 before Franklin took over. Their last two classes came in at #24 and #15. So they are on the uptick. Whether it's just because they are PSU or it's all Franklin's doing I don't know. The main thing is they are getting back on track.I agree that they have a ways to go. But some people (we know who they are) think that because you say a team will improve, think we're talking about a 10 win season or something. Like Cal for example. They aren't going to win 10 games, but they are improved enough to where 6 or 7 wins is a realistic goal.. Very few programs go from 4 or 5 wins to 10 wins overnight. And when they do (like TCU last year) it makes me a little skeptical in betting them the next season. Winning is usually done in steps. That's what I think we are getting with Penn State. They should be improved on offense. Their big problem last season was their offensive line. But they are a year older, and have also brought in a couple veteran transfers. Stanford graduate Reihner and JC transfer Paris Palmer. So I think there is a chance the OL will be noticeably improved. It's not going to be an tOSU type of line, or even a MSU type of line. But there will be improvement over last season. Enough to where I think a 5 star QB like Hackenberg can at least breathe and have more time in the pocket. What will be difficult to do is for Penn State's defense to live up to it's excellent numbers from last year. They may have had the best D in the country last season. I think they'll fall back a little this year. What i like about this team and their future is the added depth they keep getting every year under Franklin. Like I said, they aren't a tOSU or a MSU, but they are getting there. If I had to set an over/under for wins for PSU it would be around 8/8.5. But I think they do improve on their 5-7 ATS record.
I agree with a lot of that. The Oline, better; dline, slight drop-off. No arguments about the recruiting, either. Who can blame a talented kid about avoiding a program with a black eye? My biggest deal is Hackenberg isn't going to be running the ball and I don't think these are the guys to max him out. To me, this smells of Josh Freeman, whom also happened to receive some coaching from Franklin.
I've always been curious to see what Hackenberg could have done behind a line like Ohio State. I think he has gotten a little more of a bad rap than he's deserved. His freshman year wasn't too bad for getting thrown to the wolves. Then he had to deal with a bad OL and the sophomore jinx last year. He still has a mediocre line to deal with, but i don't think we see his full potential until next year. PSU also needs to get much much better at running the ball. They just averaged a little over 100 ypg last year. That's not going to get it done in the Big 10. I do think they will be better this year, and RB Akeel Lynch COULD potentially have a breakout season. It would help Hackenberg greatly if he does. This could be the bigger indicator of what kind of season they are going to have, even more than Hackenberg. Nothing bothers me more than a team without a running game.
bizarre list....i would not pick one of those programs to be the "program on the rise" in their own conference let alone nationally
acc = Pitt.... they were always just a coach away from returning to a good program and while it took the better part of 30 years to hire a decent head guy, he is here now. add in an improving qb and the best WR/RB combo in ACC and hired a rising star at Defensive Coordinator. Va tech is somewhere between a has-been and a never-will-be
sec = tenn.... as much as I hate to type it, it's the truth
big10 = michigan... immediate turnaround coming under HCJH
pac10 = usc...four 4+ loss seasons in 6 years is over. will be in title playoff in next year or two. sark insane recruiter (look at Udub defensive players drafted this yr) and no more schollie deficit. already dreading playing them in 2016
big12 = no idea. tcu and baylor have the best coaches and baylor tremendous facilities but waco is, well, waco.
acc = Pitt.... they were always just a coach away from returning to a good program and while it took the better part of 30 years to hire a decent head guy, he is here now. add in an improving qb and the best WR/RB combo in ACC and hired a rising star at Defensive Coordinator. Va tech is somewhere between a has-been and a never-will-be
sec = tenn.... as much as I hate to type it, it's the truth
big10 = michigan... immediate turnaround coming under HCJH
pac10 = usc...four 4+ loss seasons in 6 years is over. will be in title playoff in next year or two. sark insane recruiter (look at Udub defensive players drafted this yr) and no more schollie deficit. already dreading playing them in 2016
big12 = no idea. tcu and baylor have the best coaches and baylor tremendous facilities but waco is, well, waco.
There are no teams on the rise in the Big 12. TCU and Baylor have both maxed out. WV and OSU are the only two teams that should be better this year. But I wouldn't go as far as saying they are programs on the rise. I agree about Michigan, but I think PSU is farther along. Ohio St. is going to have some very stiff competition in a couple of years. USC appears to have things back on track after their probation. But with them it's a matter of if Sark can get them over the top and make them a championship type of team. If he doesn't do it in the next two years, I don't think he ever will. Like I said, they probably should have thrown Tennessee in there. They are a program on the rise, although I think both them and Arkansas might be a little over hyped going into this season. They aren't quite there yet.
I agree with some of these. The Big 12 could be any one of 6 teams. BAsically T-Tech, Kansas, Kansas State, and Iowa State are the only ones I would count out, though I am not a big fan of West Virginia HC Holgorsen.
Tennessee had better improve and in a hurry. They have not defeated Florida or Georgia in the past 5 years and Alabama in the past 8 years. They are also 0-3 vs Mizzou. That is 0 for 4 against teams that they play on a yearly basis. Jones still has a ways to go.
My ACC vote goes to nobody. Every team seems to have the capability of making a statement, but only Florida State succeeds.
Pac 12 (Not Pac 10) is a grab bag. I would go for one of the Arizona teams before USC. Both Arizona teams have proven HC's and USC does not. At least not yet. If USC sticks to the Alum's schedule and wins the Pac 12 South, then we can revisit this next season.
I look for Virginia Tech to show improvement this season compared to the past three seasons of 8, 7 and 6 wins. The three seasons before the resent disappointments showed 11, 11 and 10 victories. Guess I would consider the Hokies on the rise compared to the resent slide for a program that has been pretty solid under Beamer over the years.
