NCAA Football: Five Teams Destined for a Painful "Experience" in 2012 - jmik58's Blog

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NCAA Football: Five Teams Destined for a Painful "Experience" in 2012 Stuck

Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:20 AM.

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As I mentioned in yesterday's article, talent alone isn't enough to be a winning team -- it also takes leadership and experience.

Today's list of teams, however, proves that returning starters aren't always a good thing -- if you can get them.

Veteran leadership and comradery is a beautiful thing on paper and in locker rooms, but many clubs struggle to win despite an abudance of returning starters. Conversely, there are teams who wish they even knew what it was like to have such problems -- settling instead for a squad riddled with more new faces than a kidnergarten classroom on the first day of school.

To recap quickly, I come up with my experience ratings by looking at the past few years of each college football team. I compare the number of returning starters with their eventual win-loss record and use that as a factor for predicting success or failure in subsequent seasons.

Some teams -- like Oklahoma State -- have a tendency to excel in the win column regardless of how few returning starters they field (see 2010 and '11). Others, however, struggle with few starters or fail to win even with experience to brag about.

Here are my top five college football teams in 2012 that will struggle the most due to a lack of returning starters, and/or an inability to capitalize historically on a squad of experienced players.

1. Maryland Terrapins

2011: 14 returning starters, 2 wins
2012: 15 returning starters
New starting QB
3/5 OL starters return
All DL starters return
50% of DB starters are back

2. Ole Miss Rebels

2011: 13 returning starters, 2 wins
2012: 14 returning starters
Brunetti and Wallace battling for starting spot
2/5 OL starters return
50% of DL starters return
3/4 of secondary starters return

3. Arizona State Sun Devils

2011: 15 returning starters, 6 wins
2012: 8 returning starters
New starting QB
2/5 OL starters return
1/3 DL starters return
50% of secondary starters are back

4. Northwestern Wildcats

2011: 16 returning starters, 6 wins
2012: 10 returning starters
New starting Quarterback
3/5 OL starters return
50% of DL starters are back
1/4 DB starters return

5. Miami (FL) Hurricanes

2011: 14 returning starters, 6 wins
2012: 10 returning starters
New starting QB
2/5 OL starters return
50% DL starters are back
2/4 starters in secondary return

Which of these teams has the best shot a winning record in 2012?

Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter @long_snapper.

Comments

# 1 scottyo60 @ Aug 1

Ole Miss and Maryland are the worst situations. Arizona State if the QB situation settles them and Northwestern can go over .500. Reservations on Miami.

# 2 THE YAMA @ Aug 1

I believe Miami has the best shot at a winning record in 2012.

# 3 seventwenty3 @ Aug 1

Miami has a 2nd year coach working with his players now. Should be much better than last year as far as running the style he wants.

# 4 mgsmith119 @ Aug 1

Love that picture. I'll never forget watching Colin McCarth de-cleat that Tar Heel on that Travis Benjamin punt return.

# 5 aimiami @ Aug 1

Miami is going to have a winning record in my opinion. they lost almost all their games by less then 10 points, even though they are losing a lot of starters backups got a good amount of playing time.

# 6 Blackout863 @ Aug 2

To piggy back on Aimiami, Miami lost 6 games by a combined 36 points. 2 of which vs K State & VT both came down to the last play of the game and the opener at Maryland coming down to the last drive after Stephen Morris who had very little experience held his own. Miami could have easily have been a 9-3