A THREE YEAR PLAN TO THE NATIONAL TITLE

The long overdue BCS playoff is upon us and that finally means that a non AQ school such as CSU has a realistic shot at winning the National Title. Realize that while CSU may have about a 1 in a trillion shot, a school such as Buffalo or Idaho would never actually get a shot in a 4 team playoff. But the Mountain West has had a top 4 finisher in 3 of the last 4 years, so it is a realistic possibility. Here's the 3 year plan to how it can happen.

2012:

Finish the season 11-2. Boise St. might be more of a winnable game this year because Kellen Moore is gone. Every game on our schedule this year could be called a winnable game because our schedule matches what is likely the weakest schedule in the history of CSU athletics. The Rams actually have the 4th toughest schedule in Fort Collins this year behind Poudre, Rocky and Ft. Collins High School. A loss in a bowl game wouldn't be bad and would just simply validate how weak our schedule really is. But who's going to remember that 2 years from now?

Key to the Season - The real gem here is Chris Nwoke. He'll need to put up a 1500+ yd rushing season for this to happen. While Garrett Grayson is the man of the moment he won't finish the year as the #1, that will go to Craig Leonard or Conner Smith, both of whom have better size and arm strength.

2013:

Senior RB Chris Nwoke and Sophomore QB TBD are again the keys to the season. Either Craig Leonard or Connor Smith will be the true #1 going into the season. The Rams will again have to finish at 9 wins or better to get noticed going into the 2014 season and first year of the Non-BCS era. With the conference still decimated by defectors, the Rams should again have an easy schedule but will need to dominate conference games. A bowl victory is vital to the 2014 preseason rankings, (cough, cough), because preseason rankings are a complete joke.

Under the Radar Key - Donnell Alexander needs to develop behind Nwoke to take over in 2014. He has all the right talent and the benefit of having Coach Mac, who coached two Heisman finalist RBs, and it will pay off big for Alexander.

2014:

A banner year for the Rams will be expected in 2014 mostly because of the new, most awesome Frank-Graham stadium. The Rams will rush out of the mile long tunnel, (slightly winded) and have to make a huge statement game right away. Expect the Junior QB to be ready for anything and the running game to be solid. The Rams will get tested on the road and will win at home by an average margin of 20+. The ROTC will break records for the most push-ups done by a unit. Who knows what the conference will look like at this point but the non-conference games will be key, featuring CU, Alabama (thanks Coach Mac), and possibly a very overrated Big 10 team, which will look good but actually is never that good. Pencil in Ohio State for now because Urban Meyer likes us. The Rams will finish as the #3 in all computer based polls. And the #5 in the human polls. But the Rams will get selected for the 4 team playoff by the selection committee because they don't want to look bias by selecting two SEC teams in the first year.

Key to the Season - The 43,000 strong home crowd will carry the Rams throughout the season. All the locals who opposed the stadium will have their worst fears validated when 6 times per year, Fort Collins descends into complete chaos, riots claiming the streets, and Four Horseman will ride through campus. To add to the insanity, the true National Title Trophy will be placed atop the stadium, obstructing the view of Horsetooth and forever proclaiming Ft. Collins as the land of CSU Rams Football.

2015:

The Selection Committee will expand to a 32 team playoff so that no non-power football school can ever get so lucky ever again.