Complete 2015 College Football Preview

It feels so good hearing about college football again. Unlike the NFL, there is not wall-to-wall coverage on every channel talking about the same topics for hours and hours in primetime during the offseason. College football is more of a treat. It doesn’t matter who is talking or what topic it is, if I hear college football, I pay attention. I can’t get enough. This is my favorite article to write every year, and it is also the most expansive and overlong one. But it is complete. Take a look at what the upcoming season could look like. I know I will be referring back to this article several times throughout the season. Enjoy!

Conference Rankings

Atlantic Coast Conference (#5)

ATLANTIC

7. Wake Forest Demon Decans (HC: Dave Clawson, 2nd season) – The team has a bunch of returning starters, but those starters only won 3 games last year. They are a team to watch in the future, but right now there will be more tough sledding.

6. Syracuse Orangemen (HC: Scott Shafer, 3rd season) – The Orange lost the majority of the offensive output to graduation, but they do have 5^th-year QB Terrel Hunt returning, so you have to assume that last year’s 3 wins will at least be topped.

5. NC State Wolfpack (HC: Dave Doeren, 3rd season) – The season for the Wolfpack will ride on the shoulders of Jacoby Brissett, the breakout star from last year’s insanely high scoring affair when the Pack led Florida State for the majority of the game.

4. Boston College Eagles (HC: Steve Addazio, 3rd season) – BC is going to struggle on offense, with many of their key pieces departing, but they can stand their ground on defense. Addazio has the team going in the right direction, but Addazio is going to need someone to step up to be his next horse at RB.

3. Clemson Tigers (HC: Dabo Swinney, 8th season) – The Tigers might have a slight step back with their defense losing their rock Vic Beasley, but they do have rising ACC star Deshaun Watson at QB, who can almost single-handedly take them to 8-9 wins.

2. Louisville Tigers (HC: Bobby Petrino, 2nd season) – The majority of the defense is gone that finished in the top 10 last year, but Petrino constantly surprises with how well he can get his players to buy in and perform well individually. Expect a surprise run by Louisville in ACC play.

1. Florida State Seminoles (HC: Jimbo Fisher, 6th season) – Getting Everett Golson in the offseason was big, seeing as he is a winner and a gamer. He will not be as loved or controversial as Jameis Winston, but he should be able to direct that offense of top recruits to the top of the division. They have not lost a conference game since 2012, and I can see that streak continuing.

 

COASTAL

7. Virginia Cavaliers (HC: Mike London, 6th season) – The Cavaliers have hit a wall with Mike London. Their disastrous run in ACC play last year has him squarely on the hot seat. With their main defensive players leaving early, watch for this struggling program stay in the cellar for another season.

6. North Carolina Tar Heels (HC: Larry Fedora, 4th season) – The team is always loaded with talent, but they constantly underachieve. Adding Gene Chizek as DC is huge for a team that was awful on defense a year ago.

5. Pittsburgh Panthers (HC: Pat Narduzzi, 1st season) – The Panthers have a couple returning studs in WR Tyler Boyd and RB James Conner. It is just unfortunate that the team is stuck in a coaching change after a decent 2014 with Paul Chryst jumping ship after three seasons to Wisconsin.

4. Virginia Tech Hokies (HC: Frank Beamer, 29th season) – The last team to beat Ohio State (still boggles the mind how that happened) needs to gain some consistency on offense to help out a pretty strong Bud Foster defense in order to get back to their previous resting place atop the Coastal division.

3. Miami Hurricanes (HC: Al Golden, 5th season) – Miami has to deal with the departure of all-time leading rusher Duke Johnson, and they could have a tough time at it. They are certainly the biggest question mark in the ACC. They do have ACC Freshman of the Year Brad Kaaya returning under center, at least.

2. Duke Blue Devils (HC: David Cutcliffe, 8th season) – Replacing a QB like the productive Anthony Boone and a WR like Jamison Crowder can be difficult, but Cutcliffe has really recruited well at Duke. Look for the program to remain a threat in the division as long as he is the head coach.

1. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (HC: Paul Johnson, 8th season) – Georgia Tech is one of those teams that is overlooked at the start of every season, but then they end up getting a few good road wins and wind up right there in the thick of the conference race. Having returning starting QB Justin Thomas, the option attack should be humming early on despite losing talent at the other skill positions.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh

Defensive Player of the Year: Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State

Coach of the Year: Bobby Petrino, Louisville

Conference Championship Game: Florida State over Georgia Tech

Big Ten Conference (#4)

EAST

7. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (HC: Kyle Flood, 4th season) – After winning only one game in conference last year, it is clear that Rutgers is a bit overmatched in the B1G. They are also replacing four-year starter Gary Nova at QB, but that is a good thing. He was awful. Look for the program to have another rough season.

6. Indiana Hoosiers (HC: Kevin Wilson, 5th season) – The program is always a trendy pick to be on the rise, but they just can’t put a whole season together. They abandoned the air attack in favor of giving the ball to the best back in school history (Tevin Coleman), who is now playing on Sundays. The defense might be improved, but it is not good enough yet.

5. Maryland Terrapins (HC: Randy Edsall, 5th season) – The Terps had a nice season, but they have a lot of talent to replace on the roster. Edsall is a great coach, but their gauntlet in the East division is going to be a tall task.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions (HC: James Franklin, 2nd season) – The depth on the team is finally stabilizing, particularly on the worst offensive line in the Big Ten a year ago. Hackenberg makes the team go, and he has to perform more like his freshman campaign than his stale sophomore effort.

3. Michigan Wolverines (HC: John Harbaugh, 1st season) – Harbaugh walks into a program loaded with top recruits and bad player development. The offense is going to be a work in progress while breaking in a new quarterback, but the defense should be solid. This team should be rolling by late October.

2. Michigan State Spartans (HC: Mark Dantonio, 9th season) – Anything less than a second place finish in the conference would be a failure for Sparty. They have arguably the best pocket passer in the nation, and they have a stout defense, despite losing longtime coordinator Pat Narduzzi and their top three players on that side of the ball. Double digit wins should already be penciled in, however.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (HC: Urban Meyer, 4th season) – The defending National Champions have a problem. Well, it isn’t really a problem. They have three Heisman candidates at one position. Braxton Miller is rumored to be moving to receiver, however, so maybe just two. They had the best roster in the nation last year, and they were supposedly a year away. If this team loses any games, it will be a horrible disappointment.

 

WEST

7. Purdue Boilermakers (HC: Darrell Hazell, 3rd season) – The good news for the Boilermakers is that they have a lot of returning players. The bad news is that very few of them have much talent. They have won only one game in the Big Ten under Hazell.

6. Iowa Hawkeyes (HC: Kirk Ferentz, 17th season) – Kirk Ferentz is on the hot seat. He has a couple conference titles and a couple BCS wins, but most seasons are 7-5 at best, so it might be time to look for a change at the top if that trend continues another year. The offense is going to be ugly, replacing 3 year starter Jake Rudock at QB and pounding Mark Weisman at RB.

5. Illinois Fighting Illini (HC: Tim Beckman, 4th season) – The program is constantly improving under Beckman, even if it is slowly. Wes Lunt should be healthy to be the bonafide starting signal caller this year, and the defense is finally developing a bit of depth. Is it too much to ask for seven wins for the Illini?

4. Northwestern Wildcats (HC: Pat Fitzgerald, 10th season) – They undisputedly have the best coach in the division, and while they are replacing some great players on both sides of the ball, their roster is good enough to compete. But when is Fitzgerald going to be asked to do more? He is always working with less, but being a threat to win the division has to be called for at some point.

3. Nebraska Cornhuskers (HC: Mike Riley, 1st season) – New coach Mike Riley should bring a different feel to the team, especially after getting an offensive coordinator with NFL experience. The defensive front should be a load, but the team is going to win or lose with the offense. Can Riley’s tendency to start slow be nixed in Lincoln?

2. Minnesota Golden Gophers (HC: Jerry Kill, 5th season) – This is probably the toughest team to figure out in the conference. They are constantly undermanned on talent, at least that’s what “experts” think. You watch them play, and they are scrappy and hard-nosed, like their head coach(es). Their top two players on offense in TE Maxx Williams and RB David Cobb are in the NFL, so Mitch Leidner is going to have a lot on his plate, but he is good enough to take them to second in the division.

1. Wisconsin Badgers (HC: Paul Chryst, 1st season) – The transition to Paul Chryst should be seamless since he had spent years in Madison as OC before going to Pitt. Anyone who isn’t familiar with the Badgers would think that there will be a drop-off with Melvin Gordon going pro, but they haven’t seen Corey Coleman. He and that monster O-line should have this team coasting to the divisional crown.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Ohio State’s Starting Quarterback (JT Barrett or Cardale Jones)

Defensive Player of the Year: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Coach of the Year: Urban Meyer, Ohio State

Conference Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin

Pacific-12 Conference (#3)

NORTH

6. Oregon State Beavers (HC: Gary Andersen, 1st season) – If there is anyone who can make Corvallis relevant, it is a coach like Gary Andersen. However, he is going to want to change up the offensive culture, so the transition may take a few years. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are fighting for a division title by 2018.

5. Washington State Cougars (HC: Mike Leach, 4th season) – Luke Falk quietly became a reason for hope in Pullman when QB Connor Halliday went down with injury a season ago. He has the tools to run Leach’s air raid offense, but losing arguably the best receiver in program history Vince Mayle is going to sting a bit. The defense will be the key to whether they can get back to a bowl game or not.

4. California Golden Bears (HC: Sonny Dykes, 3rd season) – Jared Goff has created a lot of NFL Draft hype after his electrifying breakout season last year, so he will need to capitalize on that. Dykes seems to finally be getting his offense established, but as usual with the Bears, the success will hinge on whether they can stop anyone.

3. Washington Huskies (HC: Chris Petersen, 2nd season) – Last year’s starting QB Cyler Miles retired, so the Dawgs are looking for a new option for Petersen to play with. The rest of the offense remains intact, but the defense got decimated with four players taken in the first two rounds of the draft. This will be Petersen’s toughest coaching job of his career, so can he earn his stripes?

2. Stanford Cardinal (HC: David Shaw, 5th season) – Kevin Hogan had a disappointing junior season last year, so the Cardinal need him to return to his gamer status of the previous year for them to take the division. The best defense in the league has most of its key pieces returning as well.

1. Oregon Ducks (HC: Mark Helfrich, 3rd season) – They will have a slight step back without Heisman winner Marcus Mariota calling the shots, but Eastern Washington transfer (and the #1 rated passer in FCS) Vernon Adams is a great option in Helfrich’s offense. The defense will have to replace a few NFL draftee spots, but it should be good enough to let the high-flying offense win most games.

 

SOUTH

6. Utah Utes (HC: Kyle Whittingham, 11th season) – It may raise some eyebrows having someone other than Colorado in the cellar of the South, but Utah really is at a crossroads. They had their best Pac-12 season last year, but they still have uncertainty at QB with Travis Wilson, and both of their coordinators jumped ship. The defense must replace some key pieces as well. Look for a disappointing season for Whittingham’s Utes.

5. Colorado Buffalos (HC: Mike MacIntyre, 3rd season) – Sefo Liufau really lit it up last year when calling the plays for the 40^th best offense in the nation. If The Buffs get some stability at RB and on their defensive front, then they can start to pile up a few conference wins.

4. UCLA Bruins (HC: Jim Mora, 4th season) – The Bruins are breaking in a new starter at quarterback, which may take some adjusting, but the rest of the offense returns. The team is going to struggle on the defensive side of the ball, despite do-everything LB Myles Jack entering his junior (and probably final) season in Pasadena.

3. Arizona Wildcats (HC: Rich Rodriguez, 4th season) – Rich Rodriguez finally has a QB that he can groom with real talent. Anu Solomon led the team to the Pac-12 Title Game and was the only team to beat Oregon in the regular season. With Scooby Wright leading a tough defensive group, the Wildcats should be in contention for another double-digit win season.

2. USC Trojans (HC: Steve Sarkisian, 2nd season) – This team is loaded with returning talent, even though their two best players from 2014 are now in the NFL. Cody Kessler should rip up every defense he faces, and the defense should be stout. Sarkisian has yet to prove that he can take a team over-the-top, however. This is the best team that he has ever coached.

1. Arizona State Sun Devils (HC: Todd Graham, 3rd season) – The success of the Sun Devils really depends on Mike Bercovici, the new starting QB who filled in well for Taylor Kelly last year when called upon. The most underrated part of this program is the recruiting, which has stacked the roster with defensive talent and incredible athletes. Look for the Devils to represent the South in the title game.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Mike Bercovici, QB, Arizona State

Defensive Player of the Year: Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona

Coach of the Year: Todd Graham, Arizona State

Conference Championship Game: Arizona State over Oregon

Southeastern Conference (#2)

EAST

7. Vanderbilt Commodores (HC: Derek Mason, 2nd season) – Vanderbilt was one of the worst offensive teams in the nation last year, and without continuity at QB, there is no really reason to think that they will be much better. The defense should be slightly improved, but look for another winless conference season for the Commodores.

6. South Carolina Gamecocks (HC: Steve Spurrier, 11th season) – Even though the team had one of its worst seasons under Spurrier last year, this season might even be worse. They lost all of their offensive talent, and their defense, which was one of the worst in the nation, did little to improve other than fire their coordinator.

5. Kentucky Wildcats (HC: Mark Stoops, 3rd season) – Kentucky is slowly improving under Stoops, and this will be his most talented team. Boom Williams will attempt to fill the void from departed stud Braylon Heard at tailback, and the defense should be able to reload due to Stoops and his commendable recruiting in Lexington.

4. Florida Gators (HC: Jim McElwain, 1st season) – Florida did show improvement last year, but not enough. They have their coach now, but the lack of real talent will prevent them from contending in the division just yet. The offense will be improved, but the defense might take a step back without Muschamp’s influence. However, they still have Vernon Hargreaves, who is an NFL CB still in college.

3. Tennessee Volunteers (HC: Butch Jones, 3rd season) – Everyone is hyping Tennessee, which happens every other year it seems. I am not as impressed by Joshua Dobbs as everyone else. It almost reminds me of Chris Relf at Mississippi State a while back. He is just a big-bodied athletic QB returning from a nice season, and he gets benched halfway through the year. Maybe I will be wrong. The team will win on defense, though, with a stout D-line and one of the best secondaries in the SEC.

2. Missouri Tigers (HC: Gary Pinkel, 15th season) – Missouri is the team that we love to overlook, but they have made the last two SEC Championship games. Maty Mauk is the grittiest and most successful QB in the program’s recent history. The team might struggle some on the defensive side, but Pinkel is the best coach in this division. The team will be playing well by midseason.

1. Georgia Bulldogs (HC: Mark Richt, 15th season) – Richt is always on the hot seat, but this year he needs to win the division or he may well take that hot seat to the boiling point. Nick Chubb is the best RB in the SEC. They have Brian Schottenheimer as their new coordinator. The defense is far better than previous seasons. It is all or nothing for the Bulldogs this year.

WEST

7. Texas A&M Aggies (HC: Kevin Sumlin, 4th season) – The Aggies struggled to find stability at QB in 2014, as well as find any sort of defensive pressure. Kyle Allen might be the answer under center, but despite all of the moves Sumlin made on defense, they are a couple years away from really having a unit that can compete in this division.

6. Mississippi State Bulldogs (HC: Dan Mullen, 7th season) – For a program that was ranked #1 for about a month last season, it seems weird to have them ranked 6^th in their own division. Dak Prescott, Heisman candidate, returns at QB, but that is about it. Josh Robinson must be replaced at RB, as well as a ton of players on defense. It is a rebuilding year for Mullen.

5. Mississippi Rebels (HC: Hugh Freeze, 4th season) – Freeze’s team has a ton of talent at WR and on the defensive line, but they must replace popular QB Bo Wallace. They have the top-ranked JC-transfer QB, but those players usually take time to really get going. I expect the team to struggle early on offense, but the defense should be ready immediately.

4. Arkansas Razorbacks (HC: Bret Bielema, 3rd season) – It didn’t take too long for Bielema to get his style rolling at Arkansas. They have Brandon Allen back under center, a backfield loaded with talent, and a monster offensive line. Their top 10 defense from a year ago has some players to replace in the front seven, but they should still be a tough unit that will not lose them any games on their own.

3. Auburn Tigers (HC: Gus Malzahn, 3rd season) – Auburn will have a more balanced offense with Jeremy Johnson at QB, and the defense should be much better than the putrid efforts we have seen in the past few years. Will Muschamp will make an immediate impact and put this team in position to win the division with some luck.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (HC: Nick Saban, 9th season) – A five-way competition at QB is not healthy. I am sure that one of them will emerge and be a great player in this conference, but it is not the way you want to open camp. They have NFL talent all over the field, led by Derrick Henry at RB and Reggie Ragland at MLB.

1. LSU Tigers (HC: Les Miles, 11th season) – The Tigers do not have a bonafide starter at quarterback, but Miles has shown in the past that he is one of the rare coaches who can make splitting snaps actually work. Leonard Fournette talks a big game, but he actually backed it up late in 2014. The offense should be better than last year’s 13^th-ranked SEC squad, and the defense should take another step forward. This may be a surprise, but I really think they have the most talented roster in the conference.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia

Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

Coach of the Year: Gary Pinkel, Missouri

Conference Championship Game: Georgia over LSU

Big 12 Conference (#1)

10. Kansas Jayhawks (HC: David Beaty, 1st season) – The perennial worst team in the Big 12 looks to stay there for at least another couple seasons. The new offense showed a couple flashes last year, but the defense is still abysmal and they only return five starters. If they win a game in conference, I would be surprised.

9. Iowa State Cyclones (HC: Paul Rhodes, 7th season) – Mark Mangino’s offense has now had a bit of time to be installed, so the team will likely not be winless in conference play in 2015 as they were a year ago. The team was one of the absolute worst defenses in the nation last year. They can only go up, and at least they have one team they know they can beat in Kansas.

8. Kansas State Wildcats (HC: Bill Snyder, 24th season) – The cornerstone offensive players for Snyder’s offense departed in the offseason, so they will have a tough time scoring until they really settle in. The defense should be strong, however. The Wildcats will likely take one step back before charging forward again to compete in the conference.

7. Texas Tech (HC: Kliff Kingsbury, 3rd season) – We are still not sure who their quarterback will be, but the offense is stuffed with returning starters. The team is never going to be good on defense, so if they can outscore teams, they can win games in the Big 12.

6. West Virginia Mountaineers (HC: Dana Holgorson, 5th season) – The Mountaineers are breaking in a whole new offensive crew, but if anyone can have a team ready by week one, it is Holgorson. The team just needs to get a defense. If they can get even a competent unit to take pressure off the offense, then they will be a contender year in and year out.

5. Texas Longhorns (HC: Charlie Strong, 2nd season) – The offense will be lead by Jonathan Gray at running back, but they have yet to really have a QB emerge. Despite a few lopsided losses last year, the defense will be what the team relies on.

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (HC: Mike Gundy, 11th season) – The positive for Oklahoma State’s substandard 2014 was that they were extremely young. Almost all of their talent is back, and especially the offense will be humming early. They are a sleeper in the stacked Big 12.

3. Oklahoma Sooners (HC: Bob Stoops, 17th season) – The Sooners probably have the best overall roster in the league. The offense will look somewhat different, but one thing we know is that Samaje Perine will be a stud at tailback. The defense has some holes to fill, but they are loaded, especially at linebacker. They are going to be a tough team in 2015.

2. TCU Horned Frogs (HC: Gary Patterson, 16th season) – The Frogs will have one of the elite offenses in the nation with almost their entire unit returning. Surprisingly, the issue last year was defense and depth. If they can fill the void of their departed NFL talent, they can cruise through the conference and gain a spot in the College Football Playoff.

1. Baylor Bears (HC: Art Briles, 8th season) – Seth Russell is the new QB who will put up unholy amounts of yards and touchdowns for the twice-defending top offense in the nation. Almost all of the pieces are back from a team that should have been in the playoff, but the defense is still what might hold them back. They have one of the top D-linemen in the league in Shawn Oakman returning, and even the secondary returns all four starters. Look for Baylor to run the table.

 

Offensive Player of the Year: Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU

Defensive Player of the Year: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State

Coach of the Year: Art Briles, Baylor

Conference Champion: Baylor

Top 5 College Football Playoff Busters

5. Houston Cougars – The Cougars had a horrible offense in 2014, but hiring Tom Herman from Ohio State will certainly help that cause. They had a top 10 defense, and most of that unit is returning. Their schedule is cake. If they can take down Louisville, they can potentially run the table if the offense clicks.

                Toughest games: at Louisville, vs Vanderbilt, vs Cincinnati, vs Navy

4. Navy Midshipmen – The key to this team is that 4-year starting QB Keenan Reynolds is back. He can single-handedly take the team to eight wins. Can they win the AAC in their first season in the conference? I wouldn’t doubt it.

                Toughest games: at Notre Dame, at Memphis, at Houston

3. Cincinnati Bearcats – Cincinnati returns stud QB Gunner Kiel and a potent offense. They had a horrendous defense last season, but they roll into 2015 as the favorite in the American Athletic Conference regardless.

                Toughest games: at Memphis, vs Miami, at BYU, at Houston

2. Utah State Aggies – The big positive for the Aggies is getting back QB Chuckie Keeton. He was a fringe Heisman candidate in 2013 before losing his entire 2014 due to injury. Defense is usually strong in this program as well. They get Boise at home. Watch out for another potential double-digit win season for Matt Wells and his Aggies.

                Toughest games: at Utah, at Washington, vs Boise State, at San Diego State

1. Boise State Broncos – The Broncos are absolutely the best team (other than Notre Dame) outside of the Power 5 conferences. They return nine starters on offense, but the two they are missing are QB and RB. They should have the best defense in the Mountain West as well. Looking at their schedule, an unbeaten year is definitely doable.

                Toughest games: vs Washington, at BYU, at Virginia, at Utah State

Top 5 Defenses

5. Mississippi Rebels – Look at any list of the best defensive players in the country, and Mississippi is sprinkled through all of them. On paper, they are maybe the best in the nation. The same could have been said about Georgia in 2012 with All Americans all over, but they were not a team. I fear the same could be true here, but we shall see.

4. Stanford Cardinal – The best defense a year ago in the Pac-12 returns most of its unit, but it doesn’t matter anyway. Other than Ohio State, this is the deepest defense in the nation.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes – I have said since early 2014 that Ohio State had the best roster in FBS, and they were all young. This defense is going to be scary good. I can’t see too many teams breaking 21 points on them.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide – Alabama once again has to reload on this side of the ball, but that should not be much of an issue. The Tide play so many players in rotation that when called upon to start the next season, the 5 star recruits jump right in and perform like seasoned All-SEC players. The same is true of this year’s group.

1. Michigan State Spartans – The Spartans own what is almost undisputedly the best defensive line in the nation. They were one of only two teams to average giving up less than 100 yards rushing in 2014 (Boston College), and their secondary is nearly as stout. If any team can take down Ohio State in the regular season, it is this defense.

Top 5 Offenses

5. Auburn Tigers – Gus Malzahn is going to have fun with this group. With a host of returning talent and a quarterback who can actually convert third downs through the air, look for this team to put up 35 on most SEC defenses.

4. Oregon Ducks – The Ducks have some options. Their backfield is stacked as usual, but their situation at quarterback is interesting. They can have one of two styles. Either way, they will be borderline unstoppable in the Pac-12.

3. TCU Horned Frogs – The Frogs have essentially their entire offense back. Ever since Patterson decided to revamp the roster and make it a spread air raid attack, they have absolutely scorched the opposition. Trevon Boykin, barring an unforeseen regression, should be a Heisman candidate all year.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes – Whoever ends up quarterbacking this team is going to look like the best player in the nation. With Braxton Miller moving to wide out, the options are the record-setter JT Barrett and the mightily impressive Cardale Jones. The offense could have a slightly different look either way they go, but Urban Meyer’s offense will be nearly impossible to handle.

1. Baylor Bears – The Bears have had the #1 ranked offense each of the past two seasons. They lead in basically every category other than time of possession. This year will be no different, barring a learning curve for QB Seth Russell.

Top 5 Coach of the Year Contenders

5. Gary Pinkel, Missouri – If Missouri can make another run at the SEC Championship Game, then the nation may finally have to recognize how great of a coach this guy is. It would be his most impressive feat yet if he can pull it off with this team, but doubt them at your own risk.

4. Todd Graham, Arizona State – The Sun Devils are absolutely good enough to win the Pac-12. Most of the time, this award goes to the most extreme defying of expectations, and that would absolutely be if ASU makes a legitimate run at the CFP.

3. Mark Richt, Georgia – Richt is always maligned and doubted, but this is potentially his best team in Athens. An SEC Championship would catapult him into the discussion for this award.

2. Urban Meyer, Ohio State – He didn’t win last year. How? You got me…

1. Art Briles, Baylor – He is going to be in the press all year, and suddenly the pressure is squarely on him and his team. They are the twice defending conference champions, and they are going to start the year in the top 5. If he can put up that kind of offense and do it on national TV every week, it is going to be incredibly hard to not give him this award.

Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects

5. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida – 5’11’’ 192 LB. The kid is a star at corner, maybe even better than Janoris Jenkins was in Gainesville. He will likely lead the SEC in most relevant categories if the QBs are inclined to throw his direction.

4. Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State – 6’1’’ 194 LB. Ramsey has pretty much been the best player on that defense for two seasons. Word is that he is going to play more of a corner position this year for the Seminoles, which just makes him more versatile, in more plays, and an even better NFL prospect.

3. Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State – 6’4’’ 218 LB. He is the most seasoned quarterback in college football. It would not exactly be a sexy pick to take him in the top five in the 2016 draft, but it would be a smart move if your team needs leadership and stability. All the guy does is convert third downs. It is the most frustrating thing to watch if you are a fan of the other team.

2. Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Mississippi – 6’5’’ 293 LB. He was a former #1 ranked recruit, and his 2014 play reflected that ranking. The guy is an absolute monster and has the perfect measurables to be the top pick in the draft.

1. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State – 6’6’’ 276 LB. Yes, he was suspended for the first game, but that will not hurt his draft stock after he wreaks havoc on the Big 10 and all other teams. He is virtually unblockable, almost a JJ Watt-type player and his motor is that of Ndamukong Suh. He will be the top pick in the draft unless someone really needs a quarterback.

Top 10 Heisman Contenders

10. Mike Bercovici, QB, Arizona State – If Arizona State is going to have the kind of season that I am predicting, then Bercovici must have had a whale of a year statistically.

9. Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin – Filling in for Melvin Gordon is difficult, but in his backup time last year Clement showed burst and a ton of talent. Paul Chryst loves to run the ball as much as Bielema and Andersen did.

8. Cody Kessler, QB, USC – The Heisman voters love USC quarterbacks, and Kessler has the potential to be the best one since Matt Leinart. If he continues to develop with that trend, then he will be an easy Heisman candidate.

7. Jeremy Johnson, QB, Auburn – Manning Gus Malzahn’s crazy offense isn’t easy, but he actually has the dual threats to really light it up.

6. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State – His breakout season a year ago definitely puts him in the thick of this discussion. He is one of the most talented backs in the nation, and we know he will have his opportunities in Meyer’s ingenious offense.

5. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia – For my money, Chubb is the best running back in college football. In limited time when Todd Gurley was on and off the field, he was a superstar and immediately became the best player on that offense. The team is going to lean on him this year.

4. Seth Russell, QB, Baylor – In the Baylor offense, you are going to put up stats. If your team is approaching an undefeated season, you are a Heisman candidate. That is the only difference there was between Bryce Petty and Nick Florence. Or you can just have flash and a flair for the dramatic like RGIII.

3. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU – He should be the frontrunner, but he was so improved last year that it is hard to see him completely replicating his record-setting year at TCU. I understand why he is the Vegas odd-on favorite, though.

2. Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State – If he starts, I expect him to win the Heisman. He is likeable, a true dual threat, and his audition in the three biggest games of the year were as impressive as any I can remember.

1. JT Barrett, QB, Ohio State – If he starts, I expect him to win the Heisman. Once he got that ugly game against Virginia Tech out of the way, he was statistically the best quarterback in Ohio State history. A second season in that offense, barring health layovers, should produce all the awards imaginable.

Preseason Top 25

Others receiving votes: Louisville, Missouri, Penn State, Texas, Utah State

25. UCLA

24. Mississippi

23. Duke

22. Minnesota

21. Arizona

20. Boise State

19. Oklahoma State

18. Oklahoma

17. Clemson

16. Stanford

15. LSU

14. Georgia Tech

13. Arkansas

12. Florida State

11. Arizona State

10. Notre Dame

9. USC

8. Oregon

7. Michigan State

6. Auburn

5. Georgia

4. Alabama

3. TCU

2. Baylor

1. Ohio State

Bowl Predictions

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: USC over Boise State

Rose Bowl: Michigan State over Arizona State

Fiesta Bowl: TCU over Alabama

Sugar Bowl: LSU over Oregon

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Orange Bowl): Georgia over Ohio State

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): Baylor over Florida State

National Championship Game: Georgia over Baylor

 

Thoughts? Complaints? Overlooks? Let me know in the comments!

Week 14 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

Another regular season is in the books! 14 weeks really passed? That is hard to believe. Look below for a rundown of the last week and a look forward to conference championship games!

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Air Force, Colorado State, Minnesota, Utah

Dropped from the rankings: Colorado State (19), Minnesota (20), Utah State (25)

25 (17). Marshall (11-1) – They went back and forth with another insane offense, and they came up just short. Going 11-1 still has to mean something, though. If they get a lower level Power 5 team in a bowl, then there could be some fireworks.

24 (NR). Nebraska (9-3) – A late rally secured another 9 win season for coach Bo Pelini, but did not quite secure his job.

23 (NR). USC (8-4) – A big win over freefalling Notre Dame wrapped up a roller coaster season for first year coach Steve Sarkisian.

22 (23). Clemson (9-3) – They finally got over the hump and beat South Carolina when they were favored. This just happened to be the worst Cocks team in recent memory.

21 (21). Auburn (8-4) – They performed admirably in the Iron Bowl and actually had a chance to take over. They might be the best 4 loss team I can remember.

20 (24). Northern Illinois (10-2) – They are just one of those programs that can just win no matter what the makeup of the team is. Once again, they are the best team in the state.

19 (NR). Mississippi (9-3) – They got a surprise Egg Bowl victory, only adding to the strange resume of this (maybe great) Rebel team.

18 (22). Missouri (10-2) – They won the East, cool. They also have no real quality wins.

17 (16). Oklahoma (8-3) – IDLE.

16 (12). Georgia (9-3) – They got upended by the Yellow Jackets in their state rivalry game. Georgia Tech is a tough team to beat, and it was in overtime. This ruined any hope for the playoffs, however.

15 (11). UCLA (9-3) – The Bruins just constantly disappoint late in the year. This is the best Bruin team in more than a decade, and they still finish with 3 losses, including that ugly and semi-embarrassing loss to Stanford to end the year.

14 (13). Arizona State (9-3) – The Sun Devils battled hard against in-state foe Arizona to close the year. This team is going to be a scary opponent for whoever winds up playing them.

13 (18). Boise State (10-2) – Jay Ajayi. Check it out.

12 (14). Georgia Tech (10-2) – They roll into the ACC Championship game on a streak and with a real argument for being a season-ending top 4 team with a win.

11 (7). Mississippi State (10-2) – They could not overcome a furious and angry Ole Miss team in the Egg Bowl. That series always seems to go to the underdog.

10 (15). Wisconsin (10-2) – Beating Minnesota was impressive, and they didn’t even do it in their classic manner. This will be a tough out for banged-up Ohio State.

9 (9). Michigan State (10-2) – Another year, another underrated 10 win team for Sparty.

8 (10). Arizona (10-2) – If they can take down Oregon again, they will be left out of the top 4. But they shouldn’t be. This is one of the most resilient teams I have ever seen.

7 (8). Kansas State (9-2) – Kansas State gets a real opportunity against Baylor to make one last statement and prove once and for all that they are a legit program in that conference.

6 (1). Florida State (12-0) – I am tired of putting them up there even though they suck but continue to win. They are not one of the best teams. It is as simple as that.

5 (6). TCU (10-1) – They spanked Texas on Thanksgiving for one final stake in their claim for a playoff spot.

4 (5). Baylor (10-1) – They were able to barely avoid disaster against Texas Tech, but they survived and…advanced? Maybe they still have to take apart K-State.

3 (2). Ohio State (11-1) – Losing their second Heisman candidate quarterback of the year is a huge blow to the team, but how will the committee react?

2 (3). Alabama (11-1) – Their defense showed serious holes, but their offense looked almost invincible.

1 (4). Oregon (11-1) – Can they be stopped by anyone? Arizona will let us know if that one night in Eugene was a fluke or not.

Conference Championship Games Next Weekend

Bonus Big 12 Game: Kansas State (#7) at Baylor (#4), 4:45PM ESPN – This may decide whether the Big 12 Champ gets in the tournament or not. Baylor definitely should be able to take care of business, but there is also some payback in order here for when K-State was seeking an unbeaten season a couple years back. Who takes it?

PREDICTION: Baylor 34-28

7. MAC: Bowling Green vs Northern Illinois (#20), FRI 4:00PM ESPN2 – This is a fairly uninteresting game, but Northern Illinois can put a claim in for a big bowl invite if Boise State gets upset. Look for a beat down either way.

PREDICTION: Northern Illinois 41-17

6. SEC: Missouri (#18) vs Alabama (#2), 1:00PM CBS – There really is little to look forward to here. We can all hope Missouri pulls an all-time upset and throws chaos into the landscape, but nope. That won’t happen.

PREDICTION: Alabama 48-13

5. C-USA: Louisiana Tech vs Marshall (#25), 9:00AM ESPN2 – LT can score, but Marshall is coming off a loss that is going to leave them inspired and looking for blood. Or it could be a letdown against a team who just dropped 70+ in their season finale. Hmm…

PREDICTION: Marshall 31-30

4. MWC: Fresno State at Boise State (#13), 7:00PM CBS – Fresno has recovered since an ugly start to the year, and Boise has really stomped on everyone since being upset by Air Force early on. This could be a compelling game if Fresno shows up offensively.

PREDICTION: Boise State 38-24

3. PAC-12: Arizona (#8) vs Oregon (#1), FRI 6:00PM FOX – We can all assume that Arizona is going to be able to do the same thing they did the last two times they played, but Oregon is amazing at making adjustments and their offensive line has been shored up.

PREDICTION: Oregon 41-31

2. Big Ten: Wisconsin (#10) vs Ohio State (#3), 5:17PM FOX – Can Melvin Gordon be stopped? Can Ohio State adjust to another starting quarterback? Your guess is as good as mine.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 31-27

1. ACC: Georgia Tech (#12) vs Florida State (#6), 5:00PM ABC – This might not be the best teams, but it is the most compelling matchup. That GT rushing attack against the long win streak. Coastal vs Atlantic. Good vs evil.

PREDICTION: Georgia Tech 24-21

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. JT Barrett, QB, Ohio State – Even though he is lost for the season, he had the most prolific quarterback season in Big Ten History, despite not playing the entire season. He deserves an invite.

4. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama – He continues to have monster games in the most important matchups. If he is invited, then this begs the question: What makes him different than Justin Blackmon, Marqise Lee, or Michael Crabtree? He plays for Alabama. That’s about it.

3. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU – He has had an absurd season in that new air raid offense at TCU. He should be a slam dunk choice for third place.

2. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin – I think he may need to break the all time rushing record to win the thing, unless Oregon gets taken down by Arizona again.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – Barring a loss, he has this thing wrapped up.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Florida State over Michigan State

Cotton Bowl: Arizona over Wisconsin

Fiesta Bowl: Boise State over TCU

Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech over Mississippi State

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Rose Bowl): Alabama over Ohio State

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Sugar Bowl): Oregon over Baylor

National Championship Game: Alabama over Oregon

Thoughts? Predictions for next week? What should the committee do with Ohio State? Hit me up below!

Week 5 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, BCS Projections

It was a thrilling week in college football. Lane Kiffin got fired after a beat-down by Arizona State. Alabama shut (out/up) Bo Wallace and Ole Miss. The northwest had monsoon-like conditions for a few of the top teams in the country who all rolled to victories. All the “experts” talk about how LSU at Georgia was going to be a defensive struggle, yet I called it a shootout. Who was right? 44-41 final score should tell the story. Check out how week 5 is reflected in my new rankings/projections:

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Florida, Houston, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, UCF, Wisconsin

Dropped from the rankings: Wisconsin (20), UCF (22)

25 (NR). Maryland (4-0) – IDLE. Next week: at Florida State. That blowout/shutout win over West Virginia looks pretty good now. This could be a bonehead inclusion after they play in Tallahassee next week, but they have been strong so far this season. Randy Edsall has his boys believing.

24 (19). Arizona State (3-1) – The Sun Devils could score at will against USC, but they also gave up some 41 points to a team that was struggling offensively. That does not bode well for their chances in the South division.

23 (NR). Northern Illinois (4-0) – After blowing out Purdue on the road, they are the first MAC team with two wins over the Big Ten in the same season. They are going to threaten another potential BCS bowl appearance.

22 (21). Michigan (4-0) – IDLE. Next week: vs Minnesota.

21 (17). Mississippi (3-1) – They were the latest shutout victim by Alabama, which there is no shame in, but for a team talking as much trash as they were, that has got to be discouraging and humbling.

20 (14). Oklahoma State (3-1) – Just when you want to count out West Virginia, they take out the #1 team in the conference. The Cowboys looked a bit lost throughout the game for the first time. Morgantown isn’t exactly the most hostile of crowds in the Big 12. They are going to need to get it together and soon.

19 (24). Fresno State (4-0) – They had one of those classic 9:00PM pickoffs in Hawaii that a team could sleepwalk through. Their offense was as on fire as it has been all year.

18 (18). Northwestern (4-0) – IDLE. Next week: vs Ohio State.

17 (25). Miami (4-0) – The Canes looked fantastic against the worst team in the nation, the South Florida Bulls. At some point, you have to think they will not show up. That hasn’t happened yet. Morris and Johnson have been scary good early on.

16 (15). Texas Tech (4-0) – IDLE. Next week: at Kansas.

15 (16). South Carolina (3-1) – They were down at the half and had lost their starting quarterback. They could have folded, but instead they came out furiously and took control of the game immediately on the road. Impressive effort by the Cocks.

14 (23). Oklahoma (4-0) – Here we go again…the Sooners look unbeatable early in the year, only to probably disappoint down the stretch again. Same story for the Bob Stoops-era Oklahoma squad.

13 (12). LSU (4-1) – The Tigers have now shown that they can put up the monster numbers in the SEC, and that Cam Cameron has suddenly turned Mettenberger into a top 5 QB in the conference.

12 (11). Texas A&M (3-1) – Johnny Football and company were able to escape with another shootout victory, this time at Arkansas in front of a ruckus crowd.

11 (13). Georgia (3-1) – The win against LSU proved that they still do not have a defense, but that offense can score on anyone. They have a terrific chance of not losing any SEC games.

10 (10). Louisville (4-0) – IDLE. Next week: at Temple.

9 (9). UCLA (3-0) – IDLE. Next week: at Utah.

8 (5). Florida State (4-0) – There is something always missing with hyped-up Florida State teams. The defense just decided it was ok to give up 34 points to a lame duck Boston College offense. They are going to need to get a lot better to contend for an ACC title.

7 (8). Ohio State (5-0) – The Buckeyes had an impressive win over a tough Wisconsin squad. Braxton Miller looked terrific in his return to the lineup. They are starting to look like the preseason #2 team in the country.

6 (7). Baylor (3-0) – IDLE. Next week: vs West Virginia.

5 (6). Washington (4-0) – They were able to blow out Arizona, who isn’t a great team, but one that came in rolling. The Huskies are for real, and with Stanford and Oregon coming up I consecutive weeks, they could prove to be the nation’s best team if they are able to spring the upsets.

4 (4). Clemson (4-0) – The Tigers jumped out to a big lead early and never let up. When they are hitting on all cylinders, I do not know who can beat them.

3 (3). Stanford (4-0) – They had the most impressive result of the week with a hammering of a confident and improved Washington State team in front of a crazy crowd at the Seahawks home stadium. They looked like the Stanford teams who pushed around the entire conference two years ago.

2 (2). Alabama (4-0) – They had one of the more confusing results of the season. Their defense had not been dominant, yet they were able to shut out perhaps the best pure offense they have played yet. The Tide are gearing up for another title run.

1 (1). Oregon (4-0) – The played in stupid conditions in Eugene, but they were seemingly unaffected by it when Cal looked like a bunch of fools. They did nothing to lose the top spot.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. BYU at Utah State, Friday 5:00PM CBS Sports Network – The Utah in-state matchups are all going to be amazing this year. It may be the best trio of teams the state has ever had. Chuckie Keeton vs Taysom Hill. Should be electric.

4. Maryland (#25) at Florida State (#8), 9:00AM ESPN – This is an intriguing matchup. Stefon Diggs and company are going to be able to score, but can they slow up Winston? No team has been able to do that yet.

3. TCU at Oklahoma (#14), 4:00PM FOX – TCU has looked mighty impressive defensively since losing to LSU on the opening weekend. This is the type of game that the Sooners like to drop.

2. Ohio State (#7) at Northwestern (#18), 5:00PM ABC – Northwestern is always a team that pushes the top B1G teams. This time, the Wildcats have their best squad in decades. Ohio State would be foolish to look any further than this game.

1. Washington (#5) at Stanford (#3), 7:30PM ESPN – No real surprise here, right? The game in Seattle last season, the last game that Stanford lost, was a hard-fought and low-scoring affair. Look for some more offense this time around a terrific game in front of a half-full stadium in Palo Alto.

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor – So far, he has put up video game numbers. If he can do the same in games against Oklahoma and his Texas state rivals, then he will be invited for sure.

4. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – It doesn’t matter the venue or situation he is in. He looks like a seasoned veteran. Next year may be his time, but he is threatening this year.

3. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson – He seems to get better and better each week. If they go unbeaten, he could potentially take the first Heisman Trophy in school history.

2. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – He has led his team to victories in every way possible. He is going to torch every SEC defense and probably win this thing again.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He will be the top contender all season, unless they lose a game. That seems unlikely at this point.

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – Ohio State over Washington

Orange Bowl – Clemson over Louisville

Sugar Bowl – Texas A&M over Oklahoma

Fiesta Bowl – Baylor over Northern Illinois

BCS Championship Game – Oregon over Alabama

What did you think of this weekend? Thoughts? Give me your rankings in the comments!

Week 1 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, BCS Projections

I am never really a fan of the rankings this early in the game, but since everyone else does it, why not? The big game of the week was Clemson-Georgia. The Tigers came out on top at home. Washington blew out Boise State. A bunch of top teams struggled on offense. Seven FBS teams lost to FCS teams, including reigning Big 12 champ Kansas State going down at home to 2-time defending FCS champ North Dakota State. The talent disparity is becoming less and less visible each season. Check out my new top 25 below, as well as my Heisman tracker, BCS predictions, and one new category:

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Baylor, Georgia Tech, Miami, Oklahoma, TCU

Dropped from the rankings: Oregon State (13), Boise State (16), Oklahoma (23)

25 (11). Nebraska (1-0) – The defense appeared to not be improved much at all, but that offense is about to explode. They can outscore most teams in the country, but teams riding that line never really win the important games.

24 (NR). Northern Illinois (1-0) – They got their revenge against the Hawkeyes in week one. The Huskies will probably charge toward another potential BCS berth.

23 (24). Northwestern (1-0) – They had a decent non-conference win against an improved Pac 12 team in California, but they are going to need Colter to get healthy to really justify the hype.

22 (14). Texas (1-0) – The Longhorns have no offense to speak of, but their defense should keep them in basically every game they play in conference.

21 (19). Texas A&M (1-0) – Against Rice, we saw two different teams. We saw the one where they showed their true colors that were shown last year against Louisiana Tech, and then we saw a motivated one. When Manziel gets hurt, this team is screwed.

20 (21). Florida (1-0) – Their offense is not going to be good, but no one is going to really score on them.

19 (18). Wisconsin (1-0) – They did just about everything that could have been asked of them with a new coach. They are going to struggle on defense, but that running attack should keep them in most games.

19 (NR). Mississippi (1-0) – They had the big opening night back and forth win over Vandy. This team is only going to get better too.

17 (16). Texas Tech (1-0) – This team is going to be tough to contend with for any defense. Keep an eye out for some big upsets and maybe a mini Big 12 title run for the Red Raiders.

16 (10). UCLA (1-0) – The defense is still a work in progress, but the offense was clicking like it was when it had Franklin at running back. Hundley is the real deal.

15 (5). Georgia (0-1) – They looked impressive against Clemson at times, but they are not quite as good as last year. Losing Mitchell for the season celebrating hurts big time for the previously most balanced team in the nation.

14 (8). Oklahoma State (1-0) – They struggled against the average Mississippi State team. They should quit with the QB experiment. JW Walsh is their guy.

13 (12). Michigan (1-0) – After a slaughtering of an in-state rival, everyone is about to jump on the bandwagon. That offense is not as good as it appears. That will be shown against the Irish.

12 (25). Cincinnati (1-0) – Tommy Tuberville had a great debut with a big time win over Purdue. Look for a battle of undefeated teams on December 5^th against Louisville.

11 (9). South Carolina (1-0) – They had an impressive win against North Carolina to kick off the new season. We will see how good they really are playing Georgia next.

10 (NR). Washington (1-0) – I am not sure if anyone had a more impressive win last weekend than the Huskies. They obliterated Boise State, who prepares for week one better than any school. This could be a Rose Bowl team.

9 (15). LSU (1-0) – Les Miles gets another huge non-conference win. The offense looks good under new coordinator Cam Cameron. They could be a sleeper BCS contender.

8 (22). Florida State (1-0) – They started off a lot fast than I expected them to with the electrifying newcomer Jameis Winston at QB taking over for 4-time bowl winner EJ Manuel.

7 (20). Louisville (1-0) – They demolished the competition, which I was not too sure they would do right off the bat. They could breeze to an undefeated season and maybe sneak into the title game with some luck.

6 (7). Notre Dame (1-0) – They looked the part of a title contender again against Temple. We will see how that goes at Michigan this week.

5 (2). Ohio State (1-0) – They had a very uneventful and ugly win over Buffalo. This is not the team we thought it was going to be. I will now be surprised if they go unbeaten.

4 (6). Clemson (1-0) – They got the signature win right off the bat. Can they stay focused during their much weaker conference schedule?

3 (4). Oregon (1-0) – They won in a blowout against a scrub like they always do. They go on the road this week. We will see how well that offense travels without Chip Kelly to call the plays.

2 (3). Stanford (0-0) – They did not play, but they are going to be a force all year long. Their first game will be a tricky game vs a tough San Jose State team that gave them problems last year.

1 (1). Alabama (1-0) – No real surprise here. Even though they could not block anybody and the offense was very stale, they still won in a blowout because their special teams and defense are head and shoulders above every other team in the nation.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Syracuse at Northwestern (#23), 3:00PM BTN – This is an intriguing non-conference game. Syracuse is coming off a loss to Penn State. This will be less of a clash of styles and probably a high scoring thriller.

4. Florida (#20) at Miami, 9:00AM ESPN – One of the classic in-state rivalries. The difference this year is that both teams are pretty good.

3. Texas (#22) at BYU, 4:00PM ESPN2 – The last time the teams met in 2011, it was a great game. This time they meet in Provo, which should ensure that this is a tough, probably low-scoring, but highly competitive game.

2. South Carolina (#11) at Georgia (#15), 3:30PM ESPN – We will see exactly what both teams are made of in this game. Georgia has a gut check and revenge game. South Carolina has an early test to see if they are the new favorite in the division. Should be quite a game.

1. Notre Dame (#6) at Michigan (#13), 5PM ESPN – This is going to go down as one of the most interesting matchups between the rivals. With the future of the rivalry in question, these games are going to mean even more to the teams.

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – He has everyone’s attention right off the bat. If he continues with his production and keeps winning, then I would not at all be surprised if he gets an invite.

4. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson – He had his first monster outing in an important game since his freshman year. If he can put up numbers like that all year long, then he will be a slam dunk Biletnikoff winner and Heisman threat.

3. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – He had an underwhelming game stats-wise, but his passing is improved. They need to go undefeated for him to win this.

2. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – He is a punk and a diva, but he is scary good. He is going to be gunned for all year long, but if he can stay healthy and productive, then he will be in the conversation for the duration.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He was able to do whatever he wanted against Nicholls State. He is going to be the frontrunner until he loses a game.

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – Oregon over Michigan

Orange Bowl – Ohio State over Florida State

Sugar Bowl – Alabama over Clemson

Fiesta Bowl – Oklahoma State over LSU

BCS Championship Game – Stanford over Louisville

What did you think of this weekend? Thoughts? Give me your rankings in the comments!