FBS Independents power rankings for 2010 going into 2011

The non-affiliated ranks in FBS college football increase by 1 in 2011.  But unlike a real conference, BYU will not play Notre Dame until next season and will not likely play Army or Navy until 2013 at the soonest.  Both Service academies get Notre Dame in 2011.

Power Rankings:

1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  Notre Dame finished the 2010 season on a four game win streak with and a freshman quarterback under center.  But he was filling in for Dayne Crist who was injured halfway through the season.  At least the passing game will be solid.  Notre Dame did not beat up on some lucky-to-be-here team in their bowl game either to keep their streak alive.  It was a pretty good Miami team in the Sun Bowl.  There is a lot of talent on this team.  Their hype going into 2011 will be well deserved, but 9-3, which is good for 99% of the college football world, does not cut it in South Bend.  But that is realistic for 2011.
Biggest potential 2010 obstacle: Running game.

2.  Brigham Young Cougars.  BYU returns 9 starters from an offense that won 5 of their last 6 games in 2011 while 7 starters return on defense.  One similarity with the 2011 schedule that they had in 2010 is the soft part of the schedule is in the second half of the season.  BYU gets the weaker part of the WAC in the later part of 2011.  Jake Heaps was very good when he would good, and lousy to begin with.  He was 154 in November.  The defense was also very good down the stretch including against the a ranked Utah team.  However, the competition down the stretch was suspect including the bowl blowout.  Against good teams, they may not do so well.
Biggest potential 2010 obstacle: Continued inconsistency on offense.

3. Navy Midshipmen.  Rick Dobbs will be in service somewhere out to sea when the 2011 season kicks off.  Most of the rest of this very tough to stop rushing offense will return.  The schedule, however, is a little bit more difficult than Navy has dealt with for a while.  Instead of being laden with the bottom-feeders from the MAC, C-USA and other east coast conferences, the schedule has a little bit more meat.  They begin with Delaware who is playing for the FCS championship next week and would certainly be a tough game for any FBS team.  The schedule also has South Carolina, Rutgers and SMU.  7-5 is possible but 5-7 might be realistic.
Biggest potential 2010 obstacle: Replacing Dobbs.


4. Army Black Knights. 2001 was the last time that Army beat Navy.  The seniors on the 2011 Army team were 11 or 12 the last time Army beat Navy and there now 6 Army classes that do not know what a victory over Navy is like.  But at least they now know what a winning season and a bowl game victory feels like.  There should be more of the same in 2011 as the schedule is favorable.  Leading rusher Jared Hassin will return.
Biggest potential 2010 obstacle: Lack of a real passing game.