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College Football: 10 teams doomed to be worse in 2016

By John Buhler

Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second quarter in the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second quarter in the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 5, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner (24) rushes the ball against the Youngstown State Penguins during the first half at Heinz Field. The Panthers won 45-37. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner (24) rushes the ball against the Youngstown State Penguins during the first half at Heinz Field. The Panthers won 45-37. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2015 Pittsburgh Panthers had themselves an excellent first season under new head coach Pat Narduzzi. Narduzzi had been Mark Dantonio’s defensive coordinator at Michigan State University since 2007 before coming to Pittsburgh. His 2015 Panthers went 8-5 (6-2) in his first year on the job.

Pittsburgh’s on-field success last season was especially impressive since the Panthers lost their best player running back James Conner who tore his ACL in the 2015 opener versus Youngstown State. Though Narduzzi is a great head coach and Conner is a player any college football fan can cheer for after overcoming an ACL tear and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma this offseason, Pittsburgh might have a disappointing 2016 NCAA campaign.

Do Narduzzi and Conner have a chance to prove doubters wrong in 2016? Absolutely, but the Panthers have three things going against them this upcoming season:

1.) Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney leaves Pittsburgh after one season to join Kirby Smart’s staff at the University of Georgia. Chaney is one of the better offensive coordinators in college football, known for his ability to get the ball in his best playmakers’ hands. Conner will be alright without Chaney, but losing him to Georgia doesn’t help defensive-minded Narduzzi on the offensive side of the ball.

2.) The ACC Coastal has improved exponentially in the head coaching department. Getting Narduzzi was a great pick up for the Panthers last season, but Miami now has Mark Richt, Virginia now has Bronco Mendenhall, and Virginia Tech now has Justin Fuente. All seven coaches in the ACC Coastal are more than capable leading winning programs. Not great news for second-year man Narduzzi at all.

3.) Pittsburgh’s 2016 slate of games won’t be easy. In the non-conference, the Panthers will play Penn State of the Big 10, at Oklahoma State of the Big 12, and a strong mid-major in Marshall. Pittsburgh’s three toughest ACC games will all be away from Heinz Field: at North Carolina (September 24th), at Miami (November 5th), and at Clemson (November 12th).

While it is incredibly easy to recruit for guys the caliber of Conner and Narduzzi, Pittsburgh will be extremely lucky to go 6-2 again in the ACC. The Panthers should be able to make a bowl game in 2016 despite their tough schedule. Going 9-3 during the regular season seems a tad unrealistic. Even getting back to 8-4 may be hard in its own right.

Next: 9. Alabama Crimson Tide.

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