• Houston, Miami, Michigan could rise

  • By Bruce Feldman | August 10, 2011 5:05:04 AM PDT

As the ESPN.com/ESPN The Magazine preseason Top 25 gets unveiled this week, we decided to take a look at the group of teams that missed the cut but have a lot of potential and could flash on the national radar this season. These off-the-radar teams are the subject of this week's Top 10:

1. Houston Cougars

Case Keenum is back from the ACL injury that derailed Houston's 2010 campaign, when the Cougars finished 5-7. They should double last season's win total, at the very least. Keenum has a very, very underrated batch of skill guys to help him pile up points. If the Cougars don't stumble against the UCLA Bruins in their season opener, they may roll into mid-November before they get another serious challenge.

2. Miami Hurricanes

The Canes have two outstanding young backs in Lamar Miller and Mike James and a big, athletic offensive line to go with a defense that has playmakers at all three levels. Also, the team really seems to have embraced new coach Al Golden's message.


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