Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

Oklahoma Sooners

2010 Record: 10-2 (6-2), Tied for 1st in the Big 12 South

Returning Starters: Offense (8), Defense (6)

Bowl Result: Beat Connecticut 48-20 in the Fiesta Bowl

Overview: Oklahoma enters 2011 as a national title favorite after returning a number of contributors from last season’s Big 12 Championship team. The Sooners started out ranked 8th in the country in 2010 and moved all the way up to number three before being upset by Missouri in Columbia. Their only other loss was also on the road, two weeks later to a streaking Texas A&M team that won their last six conference games in a row. Following that loss, the Sooners beat 13th ranked Oklahoma State and 9th ranked Nebraska en route to their 7th Big 12 Title. The Sooners’ successful season last year was just another example of their dominance since Bob Stoops began coaching in Norman. After taking over in 1999, Stoops has averaged almost 11 wins a year, lost just two games at home, and played in eight BCS games in 12 years – including appearances in six national title games.

2011 looks like it could be more of the same for Stoops. Oklahoma starts out ranked number one in both the AP and Coach’s preseason polls, narrowly edging out Alabama. This lofty preseason ranking is mainly due to the number of key players returning for the Sooners. At quarterback, redshirt junior Landry Jones is a Heisman contender after finishing second in the country in both yards (4,718) and touchdowns (38) last season, and is only about 500 yards from passing Sam Bradford as OU’s all time leading passer. Jones will again be throwing to one of the country’s top wideouts in Ryan Broyles (pictured). The 2010 Consensus All-American already holds a number of major OU wide receiver records, including most receiving yards in a game, season and career. Defensively the Sooners will have to overcome the tragic death of linebacker Austin Box during the offseason, as well as an injury to defensive leader Travis Lewis, who has a broken foot and likely won’t be available until at least the October 8th matchup against Texas. However, the rest of the Sooner’s defense is loaded with former blue chip recruits, including Ronnell Lewis, rated as the number one outside linebacker coming out of high school in 2009, and Tony Jefferson, the Big 12’s Defensive Freshman of the Year last season.

Key Matchup: Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State, December 3rd: Due to a scheduling quirk as the Big 12 moves to a nine-game regular season schedule, the Sooners will travel back to Stillwater for the second year in a row. Last year’s offensive shootout (450 yards of offense and 40 points in the 4th quarter alone) was eventually won by the Sooners, securing their place in the Big 12 Championship game. With the amount of offensive talent returning for both teams, this year’s matchup is likely to be a repeat of last season’s high scoring showdown. This game will also serve as an opportunity to see arguably the top two receivers in the country, Broyles and Cowboys junior Justin Blackmon, on the same field. Should OU make it through the regular season unscathed, this game could provide the perfect upset opportunity for the Cowboys to potentially end the Sooners’ national title hopes.

Impact Newcomer: Corey Nelson, LB: With Travis Lewis’ injury, it will be up to Nelson to fill in the void left by the senior defensive leader.  The former 2009 Texas Preps 5A Defensive Player of the Year from Dallas was committed to Texas A&M for most of his recruiting period, but defected to the Sooners on the morning of signing day. Nelson played sparingly as a special teams player and Lewis’ backup in 2010, but reportedly had a great spring and was auditioning for a starting spot at a hybrid linebacker/safety position. For now though, Nelson moves back to his old position and aims to showcase the talent that allowed him to make 133 tackles his senior year at Skyline High School in Dallas.

Coach’s Quotes: “It’s always been our philosophy to move coaches into positions we feel they are ready for and I’ve been pleased with the way the transition has gone. Our players really haven’t missed a beat. The transition has really been seamless. I feel really good about it. It’s never been one guy though. Kevin [Wilson] may have been out there calling plays, but Josh [Heupel] and the other guys were in there working on strategy. So, you really shouldn’t notice a difference in style for the most part with Heupel. “ – Head Coach Bob Stoops on the departure of offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, who left to become the head coach at Indiana

Wisconsin Badgers

2010 Record: 11-2 (7-1), Tied for 1st in the Big Ten

Returning Starters:  Offense (5), Defense (6)

Bowl Result: Lost to TCU 21-19 in the Rose Bowl

Overview: The Badgers won their 12th Big Ten Championship in 2010, winning a three way tie between Michigan State and Ohio State by virtue of a higher final regular season BCS ranking. Wisconsin, usually known for a strong running game and defense, put up surprisingly high scoring numbers on offense last season. They finished 5th in Division 1 FBS in scoring offense, averaging 41.5 points per game, including outbursts of 83 points against Indiana and 70 points each against Northwestern and Austin Peay. They also finished 10th in the country in rushing offense, and amazingly were only four yards away from having three runningbacks each finish with 1,000 yards rushing. Such a feat has only been accomplished once in NCAA Division 1 history, in 2009 by Nevada.

Two out of those three rushers return for 2010, including James White (pictured), who was the consensus Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Senior quarterback Scott Tolzien is also gone, but the Badgers received a tremendous boost at that position over the offseason when former NC State standout Russell Wilson decided to transfer to the Badgers. Wilson fills a big need for the Badgers after no quarterback separated themselves during spring practices. The Badgers must replace J.J. Watt on defense after he was drafted number 10 overall by the Houston Texans. Watt led the team with seven sacks and was selected as an AP Second Team All American. Aiming to take over for Watt as the new leader of the Badgers’ defense is former Big Ten Freshman of the Year Chris Borland. The linebacker missed almost all of last season with a shoulder injury, but will be counted on to pick up where he left off in 2009.   

Key Matchup: Nebraska @ Wisconsin, October 1st: Nebraska has a challenging opening game to start their debut season in the Big Ten, traveling to Madison in Week 4 to face the reigning Big Ten Champions. For the Badgers, this game should provide the first real test for new quarterback Russell Wilson, as Nebraska’s famed “Blackshirt” defense should once again be among the best in the NCAA. The Huskers finished 9th in scoring defense and 11th in total defense in 2010, but struggled somewhat against the run, giving up over 150 yards per game on the ground.  The Badgers and Huskers are the highest ranked teams in their respective divisions, so this game could serve as a preview for the Big Ten Championship Game.

Impact Newcomer: Russell Wilson, QB: Any time a three year starter transfers to a team at a position of need, that player is sure to have a large impact on the season. Wilson threw for over 8,500 yards and 76 touchdowns at N.C. State, and also added over 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. Tolzien was extremely reliable (he set Wisconsin single season records in passing efficiency and completion percentage in 2010), but Wilson has the game-breaking ability to make opposing defensive coordinators plan for him as well as the Badgers’ stable of runningbacks. Also a standout baseball player, Wilson was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 4th round last year and played second base for their Single A affiliate throughout the summer. While transfers are usually required to sit out a year, Wilson was able to take advantage of an NCAA loophole that allows students who have already graduated and are enrolling in graduate school to avoid the one-year waiting period.

Coach’s Quotes: “One of the first things I do every day, I’ll come into my office and plug into a web page that’s all about college football. I’ll read the top 12 headlines. Most of the time, more than three-quarters of them are about negative things around college football. For us to stay in a positive light, means a lot for me, means a lot for us in recruiting. I think that’s very evident in the kind of kids we’re playing.” Head Coach Bret Bielema

Previous Team Previews:
Texas A&M and Ohio State
Oklahoma State and Michigan State
Nebraska and Iowa
Missouri and Penn State
Texas Tech and Michigan
Kansas State and Northwestern
Iowa State and Purdue
Texas and Minnesota
Kansas and Indiana
Baylor and Illinois