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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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Dec 12, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Navy Midshipmen quarterback Keenan Reynolds (19) reacts after leading the Naval Academy past the Army Black Knights 21-17 at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Navy Midshipmen quarterback Keenan Reynolds (19) reacts after leading the Naval Academy past the Army Black Knights 21-17 at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2015 Navy Midshipmen had a fantastic year, going 11-2 (7-1) under head coach Ken Niumatalolo with quarterback Keenan Reynolds spearheading the Triple Option attack. Navy only lost two games all season: at No. 15 Notre Dame and at No. 21 Houston. The Midshipmen finished as the No. 18 team in the country during their first year in the American Athletic Conference.

It was a great story to see Reynolds emerge as a Heisman candidate last fall, but don’t expect Navy to be a top 25 program this season. Reynolds was a late round draft pick by the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. While Niumatalolo will find a capable player to make Navy’s Triple Option run smoothly, Reynolds was as good of an on-field leader as the Midshipmen have had in years.

Teams in the American have now prepared themselves to handle the Triple Option attack of the service academy. It’s not going to catch other good mid-major programs in the American completely off guard like it did in 2015.

Navy also plays in the tougher of the two divisions in the American West. They’ll face the best Group of 5 team in the Houston Cougars at home on October 8th. It’ll be hard for the Midshipmen to overcome a head-to-head loss to Houston in the American West.

Tulane and SMU may not get to bowls for another year, but Memphis and Tulsa could be back in 2016. Notre Dame on November 5th in Jacksonville of all places is a must-win game for the Midshipmen to re-establish national credibility after an early season loss to Houston.

Losing to Houston and Notre Dame is totally understandable, as they are both top 15 teams entering 2016. However, that means Navy couldn’t be better than last year’s 11-2 at that point.

Without being able to play Temple or Cincinnati out of the American East and an expected regression for the Memphis Tigers, Navy can win a bunch of games this fall, but won’t have signature wins to put the Midshipmen back in the top 25. 9-3 or 8-4 would be a good season for Navy, but would pale in comparison to last year’s 11-2 mark for sure.

Next: 5. Oregon Ducks.

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