Unfortunately we all know for a example a team that starts the season ranked 15th, can't move up unless the teams in front of them lose and in all likelihood you can't lose a game either. That said which teams outside the top 10 have a shot at going undefeated and getting to the national title. It's going to take a good combination of luck, scheduling, and some nice breaks for these teams for this to happen. I'm just saying there's a chance.
ESPN's Robert Smith says Miami is a sleeper team that could play for the National Title. Forget it... When you play at Ohio State, then at Pittsburgh, then at Clemson then Florida State, back to back to back to back, that's a series of games Alabama would be hard pressed to go better than 3-1. Did he even look at that schedule?
Just a comment even though the ACC has several teams ranked 11-30th there’s just too much balance in the league for any to go undefeated.
Now we are going to look the pre-season coaches poll and AP polls to get the top 5 teams that may have a shot at pulling the improbable run to the title game.
1) Wisconsin Badgers: AP Poll 12th, Coaches Poll 12th
I've been high on Wisconsin all year long. They return senior quarterback Scott Tolzien and outstanding running back John Clay. The defensive line is young, but they won't be pushed the first month of the season. That's will give the Badgers a chance to build up experience on that unit.
This is a physical football team that should be favored in all but two of their games. They get Ohio State at home October 16 then face Iowa on the following week. If the Badgers survive that 2 game test, they'll probably win the Big 10 and be in the national title mix.
2) Utah Utes: AP Poll 28th, Coaches Poll 24th
The Utah Utes are the original BCS Busters. The Utes will play one more season in the Mountain West conference before joining the Pac 10. They might have the easiest path to an undefeated season of anyone outside the top 10, but it's also make it difficult to move up in the polls.
The Utes could make early noise when they face the Pitt Panthers at home. The winner of that game becomes the early leader for a sleeper national title team. After that's its not until a tricky game October 30th at Air Force that the Utes could be challenged. They get TCU home then go to Notre Dame.
This is a team used to winning. They've averaged nearly 10 wins a year for seven seasons. Coach Kyle Whittingham has continued where Urban Meyer left off. Offensively the Utes should be very good.
3) Georgia Bulldogs: AP Poll 23rd, Coaches Poll 21st
Believe me as a Georgia Tech fan this pains me to write this, but when I look at the Bulldogs schedule, I'm seeing one of the softest SEC schedules you can have. Look at their schedule. Do you see a game they won't be favored in before the October 30th match up with Florida? If they get by South Carolina in Columbia I'm not seeing a loss in there before then. They avoid Alabama and LSU from the SEC West and get Georgia Tech at home.
They have an experienced talented offensive line returning. A.J Green has All-American talent at WR, and the RBs Washaun Ealey and Caleb King are solid. QB is a question mark with first time starter Aaron Murray and the defense will be adjusting to a new 3-4 defense, but that schedule provides a great chance for an 8-0 start.
4) Oregon St Beavers: AP Poll 24th, Coaches Poll 22nd
With the USC Trojans in a state of flux, and Oregon now without Jeremiah Masoli, the Beavers might be able to step in and fill the gap. The Beavers are similar to Pittsburgh. They have scheduled up in the non-conference. Oregon goes to Arlington, Texas to play TCU then two weeks later goes to Boise St. If the Beavers somehow knock off both teams, they will shoot up in the polls.
Also like the Panthers, they have great playmakers on offense with Jacquizz Rodgers at RB and James Rodgers at WR. The offensive should also be good, but there will be new starter Ryan Katz at quarterback, and the defense is a little suspect.
5) Pittsburgh Panthers: AP Poll 15th, Coaches Poll 15th
There seems to always be one Big East team each year that starts the year 9-0 or 10-0 and gets into the national title discussion. Often Big East teams are criticized for a soft schedule. The Panthers have the type of non-conference opponents that can silence critics and still win the Big East.
In 2 of their first 3 games the Panthers play at Utah then get Miami at home. There's also a high profile game at Notre Dame October 9th. There's tremendous play making ability at the offensive skill positions with WR Jonathan Baldwin and RB Dion Lewis. Lewis gained nearly 1,800 yards last year. The defense was in the top 20 in scoring and led the nation in sacks.
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