Non BCS Teams to Watch Out For in 2012
The 2011 season is in the books and we are already looking ahead to next year. Here are a handful of non BCS teams that look to make some noise in 2012.
Tulsa
Tulsa returns their two leading rusher and although they lose their star senior quarterback G.J Kinne, R.S Sophomore Kalen Henderson looks to fill his shoes nicely. Henderson wasn’t recruited very highly out of high school but he showed flashes of brilliance as the backup for the Golden Hurricane last season. Tulsa returns 7 starters on defense and filling in the slots for graduating seniors are capable upperclassmen. Look for the Golden Hurricane to make some noise in Conference USA.
Louisiana Tech
The quarterback battle between senior Colby Cameron and sophomore Nick Isham is sure to be an interesting one this off season. Regardless who ends out on top, Louisiana Tech looks to be an offensive powerhouse in 2012. The Bulldogs return three starting wide outs and three linemen on offense. If Louisiana Tech has a weakness next season it will likely be on defense, which returns only 5 starters. If the defense can make some stops, look for the Bulldogs to dominate the WAC and be a dark horse BCS contender. Their toughest test will come at Houston against the Cougars on September 8.
Boise State
Kellen Moore is no longer a Bronco, but head coach Chris Petersen just signed a contract extension that will keep the 73-6 head coach around until 2017. Despite losing Moore and practically their entire defense (only 3 starters return), Petersen knows how to get his guys ready. New starting quarterback Joe Southwick will have some large shoes to fill but Boise State’s schedule got a little easier with TCU’s departure from the Mountain West Conference. With out of conference games at Michigan State and at home against BYU, the Broncos must go undefeated to obtain a BCS berth.
Toledo
This offensive juggernaut just got started last season. Toledo averaged 42.2 points last season behind the arm of sophomore quarterback Terrance Owens. Now with another year under his belt, and coming off an impressive performance in the bowl game against Air Force, Owens looks to take the Rockets to the next levels. Playing against weaker competition, look for Toledo to run the table in the MAC and possible go undefeated. Their toughest competition will be at home against Cincinnati and in Tucson against Arizona.
BYU
With the departure of sophomore quarterback Jake Heaps, BYU has to rely on the arm and legs of senior Riley Nelson. Nelson has moments of brilliance last season but also made some costly mistakes. BYU faces its toughest schedule in years playing in-state rivals Utah in Salt Lake City and then having to travel to Boise and South Bend to play the Broncos and Irish. BYU will have to rely on Nelson and junior wide receiver Cody Hoffman on offense and linebacker Kyle Van Noy and company to make stops on defense.
