Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

Texas A&M Aggies

2010 Record: 9-4 (6-2), Tied for 1st in the Big 12 South

Returning Starters: Offense (10), Defense (9)

Bowl Result: Lost to LSU 41-24 in the Cotton Bowl

Overview: After struggling throughout most of the last decade, the Aggies finally seemed to put the pieces together in 2010, rattling off six straight wins after a 3-3 start. The six game win streak included victories over 11th ranked Oklahoma and 9th ranked Nebraska, leaving A&M in a three way tie for first place in the Big 12 South. However, the Sooners still advanced to the Big 12 Championship Game due to their higher standing in the final regular season BCS rankings. The Aggies early season loss to Oklahoma State in which quarterback Jerrod Johnson threw five interceptions and fumbled once ended up being one of the main reasons the Aggies didn’t win the South, as a win there would have avoided the eventual three way tie. Following the Oklahoma State game, Johnson, rumored to not be completely healthy following offseason shoulder surgery, was benched in favor of backup Ryan Tannehill. An exceptional athlete who played receiver throughout his first two years in the program (and even punted twice during the win over Nebraska), Tannehill ended up serving as one of the catalysts that ignited the Aggies’ six game winning streak.

Also returning are runningbacks Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray. Michael, the Big 12’s Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2009, ran for 631 yards in seven games before breaking his leg against Texas Tech. From there Gray took over Aggies’ running game, finishing the year with 1,133 yards, despite splitting time with Michael for most of the year. In addition to the quarterback and runningback positions, the Aggies also return four starters on the offensive line and all of their leading receivers from 2010, including Jeff Fuller. Fuller is sometimes overshadowed in the Big 12 by star receivers Ryan Broyles and Justin Blackmon, but the 6’4” 220 pound Fuller has NFL caliber talent and set an A&M record with 1,066 receiving yards in 2010. On defense the Aggies will have to replace 2010 Butkus Award Winner Von Miller, drafted by the Denver Broncos with the number two pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, and leading tackler Michael Hodges. However, every other starter returns and coordinator Tim DeRuyter’s defense made huge strides in his first season, improving the Aggies from 104th in scoring defense to 34th in just one year.

Key Matchup: Texas A&M @ Oklahoma, November 4th: This showdown between preseason top ten teams should have major implications in the Big 12 title race. The Sooners have been virtually unbeatable at home for the last decade, particularly against Texas A&M. The Aggies lost 42-14 in 2007 and 65-10 in 2009, but last year’s 33-19 win in College Station broke a seven game losing streak to Oklahoma. For the Sooners, a national title favorite in most preseason publications, this game will be one of their biggest tests as they look for revenge for last season’s loss. Should both teams make it through tough early season schedules unscathed, this game could end up serving as a de-facto Big 12 title game.

Impact Newcomer: Damontre Moore, LB: A team that only needs to replace three starters doesn’t have a lot of room for an impact newcomer, but the player charged with replacing Von Miller will certainly need to be a difference maker. At the hybrid defensive end/linebacker position known as the Joker in the Aggie defense, Moore will be able to display the speed and athleticism that allowed him to make five and a half sacks in a backup role last season. Junior Caleb Russell also excelled at the Joker position in spring practices, but it’s Moore who has the pass rushing ability to create the pressure from the outside that Miller was able to generate throughout his stellar career for the Aggies.

Coach’s Quotes: “The one thing Ryan [Tannehill] brings to the table, always has, is confidence. Even when [former A&M quarterback] Stephen McGee [who] is playing with the Cowboys right now. Stephen was a senior starting, Ryan thought he was the best one, and he was our third quarterback at the time, but he thought he was the best one.” – Head Coach Mike Sherman

Ohio State Buckeyes

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

Returning Starters:  Offense (6), Defense (4)

Bowl Result: Beat Arkansas 31-26 in the Sugar Bowl

Overview: The Buckeyes continued their run as one of the top programs in the country in 2010, finishing the year with a Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas in their sixth straight BCS bowl appearance. A road loss to Wisconsin was the only blemish on the Buckeye’s record, but the Badgers were also tied for first place in the Big Ten and ended up being crowned Big Ten Champions based on final BCS rankings. However, a tumultuous offseason resulted in the retirement of iconic head coach Jim Tressel, the suspension of five players for the first half of the 2011 season, and the early departure of star quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Now an Ohio State team that already had a number of contributors to replace must play the first five games of the season without three key offensive players: runningback Dan “Boom” Herron, receiver DeVier Posey, and First Team All Big Ten left tackle Mike Adams.

New interim head coach Luke Fickell will also have to deal with replacing Pryor. As of right now, no starter has been named at the position, but freshman Braxton Miller is the latest in a long line of blue chip Ohio State quarterback recruits and seems to be in the lead after enrolling early in January and participating in spring practice. If Miller is not ready, senior Joe Bauserman will probably be a safer option as he has the experience to lead the Buckeyes while Miller adjusts to the college game. Defensively the Buckeyes have even more to replace, including star defensive end Cameron Heyward, selected 31st by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2011 NFL Draft. Although if the past is any indication, the Buckeyes have plenty of talent waiting to replace those six departed defensive starters. Andrew Sweat and Etienne Sabino look to be next in the tradition of great Ohio State linebackers, and massive 6’ 3”, 335 pound tackle Johnathon Hankins will anchor the defensive line.

Key Matchup: Wisconsin @ Ohio State, October 29th: Ohio State will have had two games with Herron, Posey and Adams back before they host Wisconsin at Ohio Stadium. Just like last year, this game could have both Big Ten and national implications. The Badgers lost their starting quarterback but gained an excellent replacement when Russell Wilson decided to transfer to the Badgers after starring at NC State. They also return the reigning 2010 Big Ten Freshman of the Year in runningback James White. Wisconsin is more than likely the favorite in the Leaders Division, so this game could be a must win for Ohio State if they want to play in the first ever Big Ten title game.

Impact Newcomer: Braxton Miller, QB: Miller hasn’t been named the starter yet and may not begin the year at number one on the depth chart, but he could be the most talented out of the Ohio State quarterbacks. The number one high school player in Ohio in 2010, Miller is a dual threat quarterback in the mold of Pryor or last year’s Heisman winner, Cam Newton. He threw for 2,172 yards and 17 touchdowns while also rushing for 921 yards and 17 touchdowns his senior year, leading Wayne High School to the state title game. Miller may be a riskier choice than senior Joe Bauserman, but his upside is much higher and he’s likely the future of the Buckeyes’ program.

Coach’s Quotes: “Everything happened pretty fast. The greatest thing I guess I could say is I had no time to sit and think. I had no time to feel sorry of any sort, to have a whole lot of emotion. The situation arose and obviously I had to stand up.” – Interim Head Coach Luke Fickell on taking over for Jim Tressel

Previous Team Previews:
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