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Now that the 2015 season is in the books, we can start looking ahead to next year. At a few schools, they’re really excited about the new season to roll around.
Out of that frantic season came a group of teams on the rise for the 2016 season. Here are but a handful of those to look forward to when fall rolls around once again:
Michigan – Jim Harbaugh is a winner, and nobody ever doubted that. Michigan was destined to be great again with Harbaugh, a proud alum, back on campus. But hardly anyone could have imagined the meteoric rise of the Wolverines in 2015. Only the flukiest of fluke plays kept them out of the Big Ten championship game. After finishing 10-3 – including one of the most impressive bowl performances of the postseason, a 41-7 undressing of Florida in the Citrus Bowl – Michigan’s rise is only expected to continue. Harbaugh must find a quarterback to replace senior Jake Rudock, but a solid group of receivers return, and four starters are coming back along the offensive line. The Wolverines will also field a solid defensive line and secondary. Road games at Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan State are critical if Michigan is to continue the climb back to the top of the conference standings.
Houston – The Cougars were arguably the surprise team of the 2015 season. Tom Herman came over from Ohio State to take his first job as head coach. It couldn’t have gone better, as the Cougars enjoyed one of their best-ever seasons (13-1) that included an impressive win over Florida State in the Peach Bowl. CBS Sports has Houston ranked No. 7 in its “way-too-early” 2016 poll. That’s a taste of the respect the Cougars are getting around the nation, and deservedly so. Cougars QB Greg Ward, Jr. returns to work the system. Leading receiver Demarcus Ayers and leading rusher Kenneth Farrow are gone, but Herman looks to reload. A few key pieces on defense must be retooled as well if the Cougars are to get past a schedule that includes Oklahoma and Louisville. They have the best recruiting class in the country among the Group of 5 schools.
Tennessee – The Vols have been here before. Right on the cusp of the SEC East lead, Tennessee has faltered in past seasons. But Butch Jones has built up steadily each year beginning with a five-win 2013 debut. Tennessee won seven games in 2014 and finished 9-4 in 2015, including a victory in the Outback Bowl that was their sixth-straight win. Vols QB Joshua Dobbs looks to take the team over the hump and a veteran offensive line will provide the protection as well as open holes for RBs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara. New DC Bob Shoop must retool the secondary, but Tennessee has the necessary talent on that side of the football to compete for the SEC East title in 2016.
Washington State – The Cougars are on the rise under head coach Mike Leach. After posting a 9-4 record in 2015, the Cougars will once again be fun to watch with QB Luke Falk leading the charge. Fifth in the NCAA in passing (4,561 yards), Falk attempted more passes (644) than anyone in the country. He also completed more (447) and was second in passing touchdowns (38). Cougars WR Gabe Marks returns after leading the Pac-12 in receptions (104) and receiving touchdowns (15). He was second in the conference in receiving yards (1,192). He is one of many talented receivers Falk will have to choose from in 2016. Defense will once again make or break the season and Leach must shore up and retool the defensive line as the Cougars welcome in UCLA, Arizona, Washington and Oregon for home games.
North Carolina – The Tar Heels rose to the top of the ACC Coastal Division standings in 2015. Larry Fedora’s team finished with 11 victories (11-3) and an unexpected division crown. The Heels should be good again in 2016, but the first order of business for Fedora is to replace Tar Heels senior QB Marquise Williams, who threw for more than 3,000 yards in consecutive seasons. RB Elijah Hood, who led the Heels with 1,463 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns, is back. The Tar Heels will be tested early, opening the season with Georgia in the Georgia Dome. That game will go a long way in telling whether or not North Carolina is on the rise or just a one-hit wonder.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
