College Football: Five teams that will rebound big in 2021

With the 2021 season slowly creeping up on us, College Football News released its top five rebound teams. No matter who you are, 2020 was without a doubt one of the strangest years in recent memory. The COVID-19 virus took centerstage in everything and college football was no exception. No spring practice, conference-only schedules and canceled/postponed games. These were the realities to which fans, players and coaches grew accustomed.

With that being the case, it wasn’t surprising to see many teams fail to live up to expectations. This year should be much different thanks to the arrival of a vaccine. Spring practice and nonconference games returned, and we can only hope every game is played as scheduled. With last year behind us, which teams are primed to bounce back?

5. Louisville Cardinals

The Cardinals struggled to find consistency last season on their way to a 4-7 finish.

They showed potential in close losses to Notre Dame (12-7) and Pittsburgh (23-20). However, Louisville was also blown out against Georgia Tech, 46-27. It will hope that the group of 15 returning starters can learn from last season and make the Cardinals bowl eligible once more.

Malik Cunningham is back as one of college football’s top dual-threat quarterbacks after passing for 2,617 yards and adding 609 on the ground a season ago. He must replace his top two targets in Dez Fitzpatrick and Chatarius Atwell, as well as running back Javian Hawkins.

Louisville has a challenging schedule as it faces Clemson, Florida State, Ole Miss and UCF. But it still has manageable games and could be a dangerous team in the ACC.

4. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee ranked 11th in the SEC in total offense last season, and if it wants to improve it begins there.

The Volunteers brought in transfer quarterbacks Hendon Hooker (Virginia Tech) and Joe Milton (Michigan). The two are battling it out for the starting position in coach Josh Heupel’s first season.

Tennessee loses plenty on both sides and likely won’t find itself in any serious conversations in the SEC. However, an easy non-conference schedule and a game against Vanderbilt could be enough to get the Volunteers to a bowl game.

3. Michigan Wolverines

After opening with a dominant 49-24 victory against Minnesota, the Wolverines fell apart last year.

They lost four of their next five games before canceling contests with Ohio State and Iowa to end the season. This year, Alan Bowman transfers from Texas Tech to threaten Cade McNamara for QB1. Hassan Haskins gives Michigan veteran leadership as a senior running back.

Last year was an atypical season in Ann Arbor and for coach Jim Harbaugh. There is enough returning experience that he should have his alma mater back on track in 2021.

2. Wisconsin Badgers

The Badgers were hit hard by injuries and COVID-19 last season.

Graham Mertz put on one of the best performances of the college football season as he had 248 yards and five touchdowns on 20-of-21 passing in the season opener against Illinois. He tested positive for the virus days later. Their running game also struggled to get going, resulting in a mediocre 4-3 campaign.

Mertz is back and should have a healthy receiving corps, which wasn’t always the case last year. The running game has another year to improve. Combined with a solid defense, this Wisconsin team looks like a dark horse to take the Big Ten.

1. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State lost in heartbreaking fashion to Indiana to open last season, beginning what would eventually be a program-worst 0-5 start.

The Nittany Lions closed out the year with four straight victories, hinting at a much more promising 2021. Dual-threat quarterback Sean Clifford returns and so do his top targets Jahan Dotson and Parker Washington. The offense finished second in the Big Ten and should once again be lethal.

The defense will be the weakest upfront, but outside of that should be able to compete with the best in the conference. Penn State is the obvious rebound candidate of 2021 with as good a shot as anyone besides Ohio State at the Big Ten crown.