In the middle of the Top 25 are some legendary teams that are looking for their return to glory. They may have had successful seasons in the past, but 2011 proved to not be their best. Starting off the weekend:

15. Wisconsin

“We all know that Wisconsin has always been good at sports, so it’s no surprise to see them being in the polls. I don’t see them being anywhere high up but I also don’t see them being anywhere towards the bottom. They will most likely hold their place around the middle of the polls for the entire season because they don’t have the players to take them to the top right now.”

Allie Balog, CSF Associate Editor

“The Wisconsin Badgers have a lot to replace this season. The loss of Russell Wilson, Nick Toon, and the entire right side of their offensive line will be a lot to overcome. However, after scoring 39 touchdowns and rushing for nearly 2,000 yards last season Montee Ball decided to come back for his last season. He will provide most of the offense for Wisconsin as they seem to be in a bit of rebuilding this year.”

Garrett Mayers, CSF Writer/Contributor

14. Michigan State

“Michigan State is out to prove how good they are in more than just basketball. They are slowly becoming one of those schools that schools don’t want to play because they are determined. Michigan State doesn’t like to lose in anything and that they will do their best to ensure that they are ranked well in this season’s polls. It’s just a matter of how good their players are this season that will be the final factor.”

Allie Balog, CSF Associate Editor

“Michigan State is looking to go undefeated at home this year, but they can only do that if they put forth everything they have. They will require speed and defense to get past teams like Michigan and Iowa. Mark Dantonio has a tough schedule ahead of him and the Spartans, but they just need to remember to keep up the effort.”

Elizabeth Garabedian, CSF Writer/Contributor

13. Arkansas

“Unfortunately for Arkansas, Bobby Petrino was a much better play-caller than he was motorcyclist. The Razorbacks already had an uphill battle, trying to knock off LSU and Bama in the SEC West, but Petrino’s abrupt firing has all but knocked them out of the picture. Still, quarterback Tyler Wilson will post big numbers and will have the Razorbacks in the Top 25.”

Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor

“A rocky offseason saw the dismissal of Bobby Petrino and the loss of playmakers on both sides of the ball, but the Razorbacks have the talent to overcome the challenges created. QB Tyler Wilson, already pegged by some as the top pick in next year’s NFL Draft, will be even better in 2012. He’ll be joined by a group of unproven, but skilled players on offense and defense who look to make an impact in the SEC.”

Anthony Manzella, CSF Writer/Contributor

12. Kansas State

“Kansas State is racking up a bunch of preseason awards for student-athletes and all-Americans, but if they are looking to be a top contender, they need to keep that up when the fall arrives. Collin Klein already has made his mark for the Wildcats, so as long as he can encourage the rest of the offense to do the same, Kansas State is on its way to redeem glory.”

Elizabeth Garabedian, CSF Writer/Contributor

“The Wildcats surprised some last year, going 10-3 and losing to high-powered Arkansas in the AT&T. That will not be the case this year, however. Amassing over 3,000 combined yards and 40 touchdowns, QB Collin Klein enters the 2012 season a legitimate Heisman contender. Top WR Chris Harper and RB John Hubert return and will join Klein to create a dangerous offense.”

Anthony Manzella, CSF Writer/Contributor

11. TCU

“The Horned Frogs finally have their shot playing with the big boys. A depleted Big 12 Conference got a huge shot in the arm when TCU and West Virginia joined the fold. Head coach Gary Patterson has shown that his teams fear no one and can perform on the big stage. The big test now is if they have the depth to make through a tough conference schedule. With a Texas program still trying to fight its way back to what it once was and a Baylor team minus RG3, look for TCU to show that they belong in their inaugural season in their new conference.”

Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor

“The Horned Frogs are a very interesting case this season as they are now part of the Big 12. TCU will be returning most of their high powered offense, but they did lose 3 starting offensive lineman. The question will linger all season as to if TCU will be able to handle the Big 12.”

Garrett Mayers, CSF Writer/Contributor

It is easy to say that college football has been, and always will be one of the most exciting sports to follow in college athletics.  In most colleges and universities, football takes the lead as the most followed athletic program.  Men’s basketball, especially Big Ten basketball, runs a very close second. Big Ten teams always have high-spirited crowds supporting them and legions of fans supporting them across America.  Right now Michigan State is one of the most thrilling teams to watch.  MSU is currently ranked number one in the Big Ten, with an overall record of 15-2.  The Spartans have won every single game they have played at home at the Breslin Center.  On January 10, the Spartans faced off against Iowa.  They started with an early lead, and held on to that lead the entire game. Top scorer, Draymond Green contributed 22 points, and Keith Appling scored 15 points. With the help of the rest of the Green and White, the Spartans swept the Hawkeyes away with a whopping 34-point lead by the end of the game (95-61). Michigan State has a tremendous basketball program, and the NCAA is definitely expecting great things from the Spartans this season.  Tom Izzo is an extraordinary coach who has impressive rapport with his players.  He keeps his players focused and pushes them hard.  It is a winning combination; both coach and players are determined to win each and every game.  It is shaping up to be one of the best seasons ever for the Spartans.

The writers for College Sports Feed have continue to break down our College Football Preseason Poll, and this week, we move up the charts and take a look at teams #16-#21.  In case you missed it, check out last week’s breakdown of teams #21-#25. 

20.  Auburn:  The Tigers must replace four starters on the offensive line, Nick Fairley, who was arguably the most dominant defensive player in the nation last season and the best player in the country last season, in Heisman Trophy winner and first overall NFL Draft selection Cam Newton.   Dyer and the offense will have success, but they will have a tough time with Bama and LSU this time around.  –  Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor

Losing a ton of talent to graduation and the NFL is rough, but their defense will be fine because of the return of several key players, including Neiko Thorpe andEltoro Freeman. The big question is quarterback and who will try to fill Cam Newton’s shoes.  –  Nick Mattar, CSF writer/contributor

19.  Florida:  With the offense learning a new system under Charlie Weis, the defense will need to step up this season. Linebackers Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic should anchor a strong defensive unit, however, the loss of Janoris Jenkins will have the Gators searching for a shut down corner. Offensively, Weis has a lot to work with between super-athlete Trey Burton and running back Jeff Demps. The big question is John Brantley - can he bounce back after a disappointing 2010 and lead the Gators back to the promise land?  –  Nick Mattar, CSF writer/contributor

Bad season or not, when you have the athletes they have, you bounce back…unless you are FSU 10 years ago…and Miami 5 years ago…and Texas last year.  Wait a minute….  –  Christian Hon, CSF writer/contributor

18.  Missouri:  No Gabbert is tough but the recruiting pipeline seems to be consistent now.  Remember Gabbert took over for a Heisman nominee.  Should be a fun team to watch…until they play OU.  –  Christian Hon, CSF writer/contributor

Seven Seniors starting on the offensive side of the ball may give Head Coach Gary Pinkel the experience he needs to replace QB Blaine Gabbert effectively.  Tigers will be tested early in the season going to Tempe to play ASU in week two.  –  Peter Marhoefer, Mr. Touchdown USA

17.  Michigan State:  The familiar Jekyl and Hyde-like Spartans showed their immaturity in the Capital One Bowl on New Year’s Day by getting boat raced to the tune of 42 points by the Crimson Tide.  They have plenty of weapons returning, but I just don’t trust this program, especially with a much more difficult schedule this year.  –  Justin Cange, CSF writer/contributor

The Spartans will be the last benefactor of the season from the Ohio State tattoo parlor incidents….luckily for MSU, this wasn’t a bowl game, so the NCAA may actually uphold a suspension.  The Spartans do, however, have to travel to Ohio State, Notre Dame, Iowa and Nebraska, which will be a challenge.  If they can put up points in Lincoln against the Huskers, they should be in the thick of a Big Ten title run in 2011.  –  Jeff Dunbar, CSF Senior Editor

16:  Nebraska:  Nebraska may have the toughest slate of games in the country. Three 11 win teams and nine bowl teams make up the schedule. Home games with Michigan State and Ohio State at full force are two tests that must be overcome.  –  Peter Marhoefer, Mr. Touchdown USA

The Huskers’ inaugural campaign in the Big Ten promises to be interesting and a significant upgrade from the Big 12 North.  After seeing how last season ended, I’m not convinced they’re about to end their 12 years and counting conference championship drought.  –  Justin Cange, CSF writer/contributor

Do unto others what you would have them done to you–the Golden Rule.  It has applied and held true since the beginning of time, and continues to be a part of every day life to this day.  Just ask former Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl.

Pearl was fired this week, amid an NCAA investigation that he lied and misled the NCAA.  Pearl admitted to lying to the NCAA and has been very up front with the media and fans that he was wrong and any punishment he incurs is due to his mistakes.

If you feel like Pearl got a bad wrap for this recent incident that ultimately cost him his job, think again.  While I have been (and will continue to be) critical of the NCAA and some of their rules and decisions, it could be argued that Pearl got a nice dose of karma over the last year.

To most basketball fans, Pearl is known for the charismatic coach that has a great relationship with the media and has embraced the success of legendary women’s coach Pat Summitt, even showing up at one game in body paint to cheer with the students for the Lady Vols.

A closer look at Pearl’s past, however, shows a completed different side of the former head coach.  Back in 1989, Pearl was an assistant coach at Iowa.  Pearl, known for being a great recruiter, was involved in the recruitment of blue chip recruit Deon Thomas, who was Mr. Basketball in the state of Illinois.

When Pearl lost the prized recruit to rival Illinois, without Thomas’ permission or knowledge, Pearl recorded a phone conversation with Thomas that bordered on entrapment.  In the conversation, Pearl coaxed the star recruit into allegedly admitting that he was offered a Chevy Blazer if he signed to play for the Illini. 

Pearl promptly submitted the recorded conversation, along with a memo to the NCAA.  Thomas would later tell investigators that he said the things he said to get Pearl off the phone with him, and after going as far as taking a polygraph, it was determined that Thomas was telling the truth, when he told investigators that he was not offered the vehicle.

Still, the damage was done.  When the NCAA investigates nearly any major athletic program, they’re going to find something.  I mean, let’s face it–any team that is competitive at the major revenue-producing sports of football and basketball is, at the very least, pushing the envelope and testing the grey areas of the NCAA rules.  Illinois was no different.  Although the investigation into Illinois found no violations with this particular issue with Thomas, it uncovered other minor violations, and a major violation in 1990.

Fast forward twenty years.  In case you haven’t been following Pearl’s struggle with the NCAA for the last several months, we will fill you in on why he was questioned by the NCAA in the first place.  Recruiting violations.  

Do unto others….well, you know the rest, right?

Week 8 in college football was saw another big upset and saw a Heisman contender move to a Heisman front-runner.  We cover these topics and more in this week’s edition of our 3rd & 1.

1st:  Oklahoma’s lack of a vertical passing game finally caught up with them.  Whether it is conservative play calling or zero confidence in quarterback Landry Jones, the Sooners’ lack of the intermediate and deep passing game was finally exposed by the Missouri Tigers this past weekend.  In match ups against Florida State, Texas and Mizzou, it was abundantly clear that the OU coaching staff does not want the sophomore QB to make reads down the field.  Until the Mizzou weekend, Jones’ weaknesses were somewhat masked by a barrage of bubble screens and the fast pace of the no-huddle offense.  Mizzou walked their safeties and corners up to the line of scrimmage and kept the bubble screens in check, and begged OU to challenge their pass defense.  Still, the OU play calling was bubble screens and quick slants, and it cost the Sooners one loss and could easily cost them another if the coaching staff doesn’t improve the passing game.

QB Cameron Newton has led Auburn to an 8-0 start this season (google images)

2nd:  The Heisman Trophy is Cameron Newton’s to lose.  Auburn’s  junior signal-caller eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in last weekend’s victory over previously undefeated LSU.  Although his passing numbers were far from explosive (10 for 16 for 86 yards), the elusive QB rushed for over 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns against a LSU defense that had previously only allowed one player, Tennessee’s Tauren Poole, to break 100 yards.  Newton is 9th nationally in total yards per game with 305.1 and has already accounted for 27 touchdowns, despite going against the stout defenses of the SEC.  If he can put up similar numbers in the Iron Bowl, not only will he have a great shot at the Heisman, but he will have the Tigers in position for a BCS Championship.

3rd:  Oregon’s offense is scary-good.  The Ducks lead the nation with just under 570 yards per game.  Their lowest scoring output so far this season was against Arizona State, when the Sun Devils “held” them to a mere 42 points.  Last Thursday’s 60-point, 582-yard thrashing of UCLA gave the rest of the nation an opportunity to see just how explosive the 2010 Ducks are.  Quarterback Darron Thomas has made everyone forget about Jeremiah Masoli’s departure last spring.  The sophomore QB has accounted for over 1,500 yards passing and 17 TDs to go along with 269 yards and two TDs on the ground.  Sophomore running back LaMichael James has picked up right where he left off last season and currently leads the nation in rushing yards per game with just over 161 YPG.

….and 1:  Only Iowa stands in the way of a Big Ten Title for Michigan State.  The undefeated Spartans invade Iowa City this weekend and face the Hawkeyes, who lost a heart-breaker at home last weekend to Wisconsin (who Michigan State beat earlier this month).  MSU has the luxury of not having Ohio State on the schedule this year, and after this weekend’s trip to Iowa, they wrap up the rest of the regular season with home games against 1-7 Minnesota and 4-3 Purdue, before traveling to Penn State for the finale.  If the Spartans can knock off Iowa this weekend, they can still afford to lose one game and be guaranteed at least a share of the conference title.  Look for Kirk Ferentz and his Hawkeyes to give MSU all they can handle in what should be a great game.