Maybe it'll be three guys this year, what with them coming in 4th in the AP, 4th in the USA Today poll.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings
The general consensus in my neck of the woods is that it is going to be VERY hard to live up to that ranking. The defense will still be very, very good, but to play at that level, we'd need a massive step-up in QB play, which will be difficult to do with almost all of our receiving corps turning over from last year. The offensive line should be good to very good (again), and while losing Taylor hurts, there's a lot of talent in the backfield.
The schedule, however, is absolutely brutal, after some early cupcakes (and Utah). I am very surprised that UW and ASU are not ranked, and I'm very, very happy that they're not playing a tough Huskies team on the road. I think a safe bet is 8-4, maybe 9-3, one bad loss on an overlook week or maybe Big Game, no BCS bowl but a decent one.
Sat, Sept 7
vs. San Jose St
Sat, Sept 14
@Army
Sat, Sept 21
vs Arizona St
Sat, Sept 28
@ Washington St
Sat, Oct 5
vs Washington
Sat, Oct 12
@ Utah
Sat, Oct 19
vs #21 UCLA
Sat, Oct 26
@ #25 Oregon St
Thu, Nov 7
vs #3 Oregon
Sat, Nov 16
@ #24 USC
Sat, Nov 23
vs California
Sat, Nov 30
vs #14 Notre Dame
http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings
The general consensus in my neck of the woods is that it is going to be VERY hard to live up to that ranking. The defense will still be very, very good, but to play at that level, we'd need a massive step-up in QB play, which will be difficult to do with almost all of our receiving corps turning over from last year. The offensive line should be good to very good (again), and while losing Taylor hurts, there's a lot of talent in the backfield.
The schedule, however, is absolutely brutal, after some early cupcakes (and Utah). I am very surprised that UW and ASU are not ranked, and I'm very, very happy that they're not playing a tough Huskies team on the road. I think a safe bet is 8-4, maybe 9-3, one bad loss on an overlook week or maybe Big Game, no BCS bowl but a decent one.
Sat, Sept 7
vs. San Jose St
Sat, Sept 14
@Army
Sat, Sept 21
vs Arizona St
Sat, Sept 28
@ Washington St
Sat, Oct 5
vs Washington
Sat, Oct 12
@ Utah
Sat, Oct 19
vs #21 UCLA
Sat, Oct 26
@ #25 Oregon St
Thu, Nov 7
vs #3 Oregon
Sat, Nov 16
@ #24 USC
Sat, Nov 23
vs California
Sat, Nov 30
vs #14 Notre Dame