How Will UL and LSU Football Fare In 2012?

Of course, it's early! After all, the 2011 college football bowl season isn't even over with yet.

Nevertheless, let's have some fun and project whether college teams will fare better, or worse, than they did in 2011.

From a local standpoint, for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns, and the LSU Tigers, they will have a hard time duplicating their success from this season.

Ryne Hodkowski, of Bleacher Report, on the Cajuns future: "The long-term future of the Cajuns looks outstanding, and they may very well be a bowl team again in 2012, but matching nine victories will be a tough feat to accomplish, much less eclipsing it. Next year they will lose nine of their top 11 tacklers from a strong defense. The offensive line and some skill players are back, but to expect a similar finish would be asking a lot."

LSU is in the same boat. The Tigers are 13-0, with the BCS title game to go, which makes it impossible for them to fare better, even if they are a national title contender again next season.

Ryne continues with analysis of LSU's future: "It is possible that the Tigers are as good next year. They'll have all their backs and receivers back, but they'll need a new quarterback.

Defensively they'll return Sam Montgomery, Tyrann Mathieu, Barkevious Mingo, Michael Brockers and Eric Reid. In other words, all major contributors other than Brandon Taylor and possibly Morris Claiborne; Claiborne figures to be a Top 10 pick in the draft if he wants to leave.

Either way, LSU should be preseason No. 1 next year. Whether or not they stay there will be dependent on intangibles such as chemistry and drive—not talent."

Ryne Hodkowski, of Bleacher Report, has an early projection on every FBS school for 2012.