The 5 College Teams That Will Surprise Everyone in 2015

College football isn’t just about scores and highlights and rankings. It’s about teams and comebacks and feel good stories and programs shocking the world. It’s about UCF and Blake Bortles two seasons ago. It’ about TCU and Gary Patterson the Horned Frogs could be every bit as good as Alabama and FSU. It’s about upstart programs like Utah and a one-loss Marshall making some noise this season.

And just when you think they are down and out, the revival of solid college programs that have dipped a bit in the rankings or the eyes of the media and their fan bases, only to rise from the doubt to become a powerhouse again.

These five teams may not be national title contenders this season, but they may make a statement on the field and bring back the images of days past to become contenders in the near future.

FLORIDA

The Gators have their man. Jim McElwain will bring a high efficiency offense from Colorado State to Gainesville and make the necessary changes to the Gators offense. He has ties to Alabama as a former offensive coordinator, so he knows what to do to stay competitive in the SEC.

VIRGINIA TECH

While Frank Beamer may be on the hot seat in Blacksburg, he may also surprise all of us this coming season. The Hokies have always been a solid program that is highly competitive. Given the fact Beamer is such a high profile coach and he motivates players like few others, look for Tech to challenge in the ACC next season.

PENN STATE

Christian Hackenberg will have his best season in Happy Valley. He will be the best quarterback to come from the program since Kerry Collins. The Nittany Lions are a team that could surprise many and become the second place program behind Ohio State next season in the Big Ten.

MICHIGAN

Why not? There is no head coach yet, but with all the strife that has gone on with the program and not winning, missing a bowl game and then firing Brady Hoke, whomever the athletic department brings in (Jim Harbaugh), the alums will be excited about a new era in Ann Arbor.

OKLAHOMA STATE

Mike Gundy was said to be a candidate for the Florida job, but that was refuted. He should have been a consideration, given the fact his Cowboys started the season with very few experienced players and built a team that not only played FSU tough in the season opener, but beat Oklahoma in their final game. The Cowboys will be strong next season.