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 12 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

It was another week of crazy college football games that almost shook up the rankings. We are getting teased each and every week, and we still have yet to have a monster top 5 upset, despite #1 TCU trailing most of the game in Lawrence against the Jayhawks. Rivalry games are coming up soon though! Check out the fallout:

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Oklahoma

Dropped from the rankings: Notre Dame (14), Minnesota (21), Clemson (23)

25 (NR). Missouri (8-2) – With their first “ranked” win of the year playing the horrible Texas A&M squad, Missouri is now a couple cakewalks away from winning the East division of the SEC. Best conference in football…sure.

24 (9). Nebraska (8-2) – The story of the past few years showed its head again. Nebraska simply cannot stop a power running attack or win a big game on the road.

23 (NR). Utah (7-3) – After beating Stanford (now 5-5, somehow), Utah continues a very impressive run in the Pac this year. They are one of those teams that you simply do not want to see in a bowl game.

22 (NR). USC (7-3) – The USC offense is absolutely humming. Cody Kessler might be the guy to eventually take them to the top of the Pac-12 South.

21 (15). Duke (8-2) – They dropped a game to up-and-down Virginia Tech, but they still are a consistent team and probably the best team in the Coastal.

20 (19). Colorado State (9-1) – IDLE.

19 (20). Boise State (8-2) – With their only losses coming to Air Force and Ole Miss, and already having beat otherwise unbeaten Colorado State, this team is in the driver’s seat to represent the other conferences in the CFP bowls.

18 (11). Auburn (7-3) – After getting hammered by Georgia, Auburn is suddenly reeling and cannot even find consistency in their run game. If they can somehow take the Iron Bowl, then this will not be a complete disaster season for Gus Malzahn’s squad.

17 (18). Mississippi (8-2) – IDLE.

16 (17). Marshall (10-0) – They keep getting wins and looking pretty average doing it. It is hard to go undefeated, I get it. But how impressive is it really if your best win is a home win against 6-4 Rice?

15 (25). Wisconsin (8-2) – They are not a great team, but they sure looked like one yesterday. Melvin Gordon is a maniac with the ball and is reminiscent of Jamaal Charles when he was at Texas.

14 (24). Georgia Tech (8-2) – This might be the most overlooked team in the nation. They have a pretty decent resume, and they are tough to prepare for. They are among the most consistent teams every season.

13 (8). Arizona State (8-2) – I do not know what it is about traveling to Corvallis as a heavy favorite. Mike Riley gets his guys up for those games. I always thought ASU might have been a tad fraudulent.

12 (16). Arizona (8-2) – They have had one of the stranger seasons to follow. They got the benefit of a team not taking a knee at the end, resulting in a fumble and a missed game-winning field goal negated via timeout, followed by the true game-winner. You know, normal Wildcat stuff…

11 (13). UCLA (8-2) – IDLE.

10 (22). Georgia (8-2) – After slaughtering Auburn and losing Todd Gurley officially for the season/Georgia career, we still have no idea what to expect from this team. They showed flashes of being the best team in the conference, as I predicted preseason.

9 (10). Kansas State (7-2) – IDLE.

8 (12). Michigan State (8-2) – Sparty had an uneventful win, and they still do not have a real signature victory. The teams they lost to are among the top in the rankings, so that warrants spots above teams we know aren’t that good, I suppose.

7 (2). Mississippi State (9-1) – Losing in Alabama is no shame, but they really were outclassed for the duration and looked pretty mediocre, despite what the final score indicates.

6 (1). TCU (9-1) – How exactly can you struggle that much with Kansas? The pressure of being slam dunk top 5 team got to the Frogs, and suddenly it seems inevitable that they will get passed up by Baylor in the standings.

5 (7). Baylor (8-1) – IDLE.

4 (5). Oregon (9-1) – IDLE.

3 (6). Alabama (9-1) – Taking out Mississippi State was a great win for the Tide, but they still cannot win on the road. And they won’t have to. That’s how the SEC rolls.

2 (4). Ohio State (9-1) – They survived some terrible conditions and a tough-minded Minnesota squad to continue a magical run leg by JT Barrett, who is the best Urban Meyer QB since Tim Tebow.

1 (3). Florida State (10-0) – They get it done again, somehow. Miami is a good win. I just wonder how many comebacks this team has in them. I would say that they won’t be able to do it against elite teams, but look at the BCS Championship Game last year…

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

It is going to be an ugly week for games, since it is the annual tune-up game week for the SEC. I hate that…

5. Mississippi (#17) at Arkansas, 12:30PM CBS –Arkansas got its first conference win in the last two years, and it has one of the top teams in the division traveling to their place. It could be an interesting/ugly game.

PREDICTION: Arkansas 13-9

4. Louisville at Notre Dame, 12:30PM NBC – Notre Dame is going to have quite a gut check, but they aren’t exactly playing for a big bowl invite anymore. Louisville has been a pretty solid team all year. This is just going to be an old fashioned battle.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 31-30

3. Kansas State (#9) at West Virginia, THU 4:00PM FS1 – West Virginia has been tough at home all year, giving Baylor its only loss among other fine efforts. Kansas State rolls in with one conference loss and a bye week. This should be quite a show.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 38-31

2. Arizona (#12) at Utah (#23), 12:30PM ESPN – Here is another key game in the Pac-12 South. Arizona is riding one of those strange waves of emotion, and Utah just saved their season with a tough fought victory over Stanford. Look for a physical game in this one.

PREDICTION: Utah 17-13

1. UCLA (#11) at USC (#22), 5:00PM ABC – The Battle for LA is back and has implications. Both teams are playing their best football, and both quarterbacks are rolling. I can’t wait to see this scene.

PREDICTION: UCLA 24-21

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Rakeem Cato, QB, Marshall – When all is said and done, he may have led the only undefeated season of the 2014. He has been doing it for four years. In a year where all of the secondary candidates have flaws, he has none. He just hasn’t played anyone.

4. JT Barrett, QB, Ohio State – He had another monster game and broke the school record for touchdowns. He has three more games to keep piling up those stats.

3. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – After shaving some points in the first half again, Winston turned it on and had another “amazing” comeback on the road. He needs to leave.

2. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin – Breaking a record set by LaDainian Tomlinson in college will vault you up the Heisman rankings no matter who you are. Gordon simply was already having an all-time worthy season and career, with his absurd YPC above 8.0 for his time at Wisconsin. 408 yards against a ranked Nebraska all but guaranteed his invite.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – Suddenly, with Dak Prescott losing and looking bad doing it, Mariota seems like a shoo-in, assuming they make the CFP.

College Football Playoff Projections

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

Cotton Bowl: Ohio State over Mississippi

Fiesta Bowl: TCU over Mississippi State

Orange Bowl: Georgia over Michigan State

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

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

National Championship Game: Alabama over Oregon

Anti-SEC Scenario:

1. Alabama loses the Iron Bowl to Auburn

2. Mississippi State loses the Egg Bowl to Mississippi

3. Georgia drops the game of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate to Georgia Tech

4. Missouri loses to either Arkansas or Tennessee

5. Georgia beats Mississippi in the SEC Championship Game with 3 losses

OR

#1, #2, and Missouri wins the SEC Championship Game with a loss to Indiana on their ledger. Either way, the SEC would likely get shut out and we would all rejoice.

Thoughts on this weekend? What are your favorite college football rivalries? Is the Heisman race over? Comment.

Week 10 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

We had another great week of college football in week 10. The top teams in the nation got pushed, and there were some stunning upsets that all but ended the seasons of a couple teams. Check out the fallout below.

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Clemson, Georgia Southern, Minnesota, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Dropped from the rankings: West Virginia (20), East Carolina (24)

25 (23). LSU (7-2) – IDLE

24 (21). Boise State (6-2) – IDLE

23 (12). Georgia (6-2) – The Bulldogs at times look like the best team in the nation, and then they get blown out by a horrible Florida offense. I don’t know what to make of this team anymore.

22 (NR). Iowa (6-2) – Iowa opened some eyes with their dismantling of a normally pretty solid Northwestern squad. They are the dark horse in the conference.

21 (NR). Oklahoma (6-2) – Trevor Knight and company got back on track with a huge offensive day against Iowa State. The Big 12 is insane.

20 (22). Colorado State (8-1) – This is a team that we really don’t know much about, but they keep piling up wins in a really decent Mountain West Conference. They are a program on the rise.

19 (14). Mississippi (7-2) – Ole Miss gets their first home loss of the year at the hands of Auburn. It’s hard to believe that they have lost two in a row after those magical first 7 games.

18 (18). Marshall (8-0) – IDLE

17 (17). Utah (6-2) – The Utes got a hard fought road loss at ASU. The Pac-12 South is up for grabs. They are all taking each other out.

16 (19). Duke (7-1) – Duke is rolling right now. They look better than they did last season and is clearly the 2^nd best ACC team.

15 (8). Arizona (7-2) – For the first time, the slow offensive start for the Wildcats translated into a loss. UCLA was able to just confuse and shut them down all game.

14 (25). UCLA (7-2) – I really wish I could figure this team out. They are up and down and still the most talented team in the conference.

13 (16). Nebraska (8-1) – They won a sluggish game, but that was mostly due to Abdullah getting injured early on. They get a week off for him to get right before a key matchup in Madison.

12 (13). Ohio State (7-1) – This team is really hitting its stride and is as scary as any team in the nation with JT Barrett at the helm.

11 (10). Michigan State (7-1) – IDLE

10 (15). Arizona State (7-1) – They got one of the more impressive wins of the weekend with their gutsy victory over Utah. This team, aside from a disastrous special teams effort against UCLA, looks like one of the elite teams in the nation.

9 (11). Baylor (7-1) – The Bears continue to roll all over the weak teams and battle with the good teams. I love following that conference.

8 (6). Alabama (7-1) – IDLE

7 (5). Notre Dame (7-1) – They struggled mightily against Navy, as they usually do. Some games this team just decides to go through the motions. Remember the UNC game?

6 (9). Oregon (8-1) – The Ducks were able to open it up against Stanford for the first time in a while. This team is constantly improving.

5 (7). Auburn (7-1) – Winning in Ole Miss is nothing to take lightly. They looked like one of the nation’s elite, aside from their inconsistent pass defense.

4 (4). Kansas State (7-1) – What makes this K-State team different than the previous ones is that this team really can score.

3 (3). TCU (7-1) – TCU got another very impressive road win in Morgantown. It is hard to fathom that it really only took two years for this program to take over the Big 12.

2 (2). Florida State (8-0) – They got another scare and another huge comeback. They can’t win it all if they come out like that against a decent team.

1 (1). Mississippi State (8-0) – They still deserve to be #1, despite a lackluster effort against Arkansas. They get a glorified bye next week before heading to Tuscaloosa.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Oregon (#6) at Utah (#17), 7:00PM ESPN – Oregon is not the best road team out there, and Utah is typically very tough to beat at home. I am really intrigued by the clash of styles as well.

PREDICTION: Oregon 34-27

4. Alabama (#8) at LSU (#26), 5:00PM CBS – This matchup has become an annual thriller. Even though LSU is down, they proved that they can still take care of a top ranked team in Death Valley. Can they slow up the Tide offense?

PREDICTION: LSU 21-19

3. Ohio State (#12) at Michigan State (#11), 5:00PM ABC – Last year, in the B1G Championship Game, this game was uncompetitive. I can’t see that being the case this year. Michigan State seems incapable of losing a conference game, but this Ohio State team is frightening.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 34-30

2. Notre Dame (#7) at Arizona State (#10), 12:30PM ESPN – This is one of the marquee matchups of the season. ASU is coming in hot, and Notre Dame just nearly lost to Navy. What does that mean?

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 24-10

1. Kansas State (#4) at TCU (#3), 4:30PM FOX – This is the game that will likely decide the conference. K-State is still unbeaten in Big 12 play, and TCU has an offense that is relentless. This should be a stunner.

PREDICTION: Kansas State 23-21

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin – It is hard to get in when you are on a team that has a couple losses, but he is having a ridiculous season.

4. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – He is actually asked to do a lot more for this Seminole squad, and he is racking up the Heisman moments once again.

3. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska – The injury should not take him out of contention. If he still comes back and carries his team to a conference title, then he should be a shoo-in nominee.

2. Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State – He had a shaky effort this week, but he is the best player on the best team. That is almost always enough to get invited.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He has been unbelievably efficient, and he finally beat Stanford. He is and should be the frontrunner.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Mississippi State over Colorado State

Cotton Bowl: Baylor over Ohio State

Fiesta Bowl: TCU over Auburn

Orange Bowl: Oregon over Duke

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Rose Bowl): Kansas State over Florida State

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Sugar Bowl): Alabama over Notre Dame

National Championship Game: Alabama over Kansas State

What did you think of this weekend? Rankings? Heisman predictions? Let me know below!

Week 8 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

Week 8 brought us a few fantastic early games, then a host of blowouts, capped by one of the best games of the season so far. We have a rash of one-loss teams and only four unbeatens left, two of which from the same conference…division…state… This is the perfect scenario to mess with the selection committee and force the NCAA to boost their playoff system to 8 teams within a few years. I love this schizophrenic season. Check out the fallout below.

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: East Carolina, Georgia Southern, Oklahoma State, Stanford, UCLA

Dropped from the rankings: Oklahoma State (17), Stanford (18), Washington (21), Texas A&M (22)

25  (NR). Colorado State (6-1) – Their sole loss was in Boise, which there really is no shame in. They do not have a signature victory, but stacking up wins in BC and Nevada bode well for the ever-improving program.

24 (NR). Boise State (5-2) – Since their competitive opening loss to Ole Miss, the Broncos have continued to improve and have become maybe the best team in a decent MWC.

23 (12). Oklahoma (5-2) – The Sooners are always hyped so much, and then a team that is just better coached comes in a breaks their hearts at home. All of the Sooner upset losses are always in Norman.

22 (NR). West Virginia (5-2) – Morgantown proves once again to be one of the toughest places to play in the country after the Mountaineers dismantled Baylor. Their two losses to Oklahoma and Alabama look pretty good right now.

21 (19). Nebraska (6-1) – Weird to move them down after a big rivalry game win, but they sputtered for three quarters once again. Not every team will be worn down by their relentless running attack.

20 (NR). Minnesota (6-1) – Their only loss was a 30-7 beating by TCU, one of the best teams in the nation. This team is always hard to predict. David Cobb is a stud, though. This could be a shocker B1G Championship Game participant.

19 (20). Duke (6-1) – The Blue Devils are still sitting here with one loss to the most Jekyll and Hyde squad in the conference in Miami. This team is really good and always well coached. They have to be the favorite in that division.

18 (24). Utah (5-1) – When you travel to Corvallis, it is survive and advance. A double OT victory works. Their only issue is that they have that head-scratching loss to Washington State on their resume, the worst loss for a one-loss team in the nation.

17 (25). USC (5-2) – The Trojans demolished Colorado yesterday. Their two losses are a game in which they hardly showed up in Boston and that hail mary against ASU. This is a frightening team that no one should want to play.

16 (23). Arizona State (5-1) – This was the first time in several years where a team just completely made Stanford look average. They had no answer for the Sun Devil speed and versatility.

15 (15). Marshall (7-0) – They still count as an unbeaten, right? If they lose, I will be shocked. Rakeem Cato…check him out. That guy is a stat machine.

14 (11). Michigan State (6-1) – Sparty scuffled with Indiana for a bit before pulling away. The Big Ten is just not all that good. It is hard to really judge a team that lost its only real test by 19 points.

13 (10). Georgia (5-1) – Other than Utah, the Bulldogs (…and East Carolina, I guess) have the worst sole loss on their ledger. I think they are a great team, but how exactly did they lose to the Gamecocks? I watched that game, and I still don’t know.

12 (14). Ohio State (5-1) – Since their loss to Virginia Tech, the Buckeyes have pretty much stepped on the throat of every opponent. This looks like one of the best teams in the nation. We will see when they get to play Sparty.

11 (2). Baylor (6-1) – It has to be discouraging to Bears fans to have such a magical comeback / best win in program history one week, only to just not show up defensively and lose to a lesser team. Baylor is always going to just be one step away until they get a rockstar D Coordinator.

10 (6). Auburn (5-1) – IDLE.

9 (9). Oregon (6-1) – They torched the Huskies in that rivalry game that has lost nearly all its juice over the last 11 years. It disgusts me.

8 (8). Arizona (5-1) – IDLE.

7 (16). Alabama (6-1) – After hardly getting going against Arkansas, the Tide spanked a ranked Texas A&M squad as bad as any ranked team has ever been spanked. 59-0. Yikes.

6 (3). Notre Dame (6-1) – The Irish were a couple strange penalties away from taking down Florida State, who still hasn’t lost in two years. They proved to everyone (I didn’t really need that confirmation) that they are absolutely legit and still are well within play for a playoff spot.

5 (13). Kansas State (5-1) – It is weird to think that Kansas State really just outclassed Oklahoma in their own building for the second time in a row. Never count out Bill Snyder. This is the only Big 12 team without a loss, and their only non-conference loss was that fluky field goal debacle on a Thursday night against Auburn.

4 (7). TCU (5-1) – The Big 12 is insane. That conference has so much depth. This might be the best team? I really don’t know, though. I haven’t seen Oklahoma State get manhandled like that since…well before Dez Bryant was there. The Frogs somehow got that pathetic defensive showing against Baylor out of their heads in one week.

3 (4). Mississippi (7-0) – The Rebels will get beaten soon. You can’t go scoreless against hapless Tennessee for the first 25 minutes of a game and expect that to be good enough. That defensive is stifling, though…no doubt the best defense in the nation.

2 (5). Florida State (7-0) – After taking down Notre Dame in memorable and controversial fashion, I can now start to buy into this team again. Winning big games has never been this program’s problem. We will see if they can avoid a slipup against a bad team in that putrid ACC.

1 (1). Mississippi State (6-0) –  IDLE.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Ohio State (#12) at Penn State, 5:00PM ABC – The Nittany Lions used to be my darling pick, but after two losses in a row, it is clear that their format was not sustainable. The Buckeyes have been rolling, but can they keep it going in Happy Valley?

PREDICTION: Ohio State 20-13

4. Arizona State (#16) at Washington, 7:45PM ESPN – The nightcap game next week pits a couple teams that always seem to have memorable matchups. Washington is going to have a gut-check after getting smashed by the Ducks, while ASU is coming off a huge win against the Cardinal.

PREDICTION: Washington 17-10

3. West Virginia (#22) at Oklahoma State, 12:30PM ESPN – This will be another big shootout Big 12 game for a couple teams trying to avoid their second loss and being all but eliminated from conference title consideration.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 38-35

2. Mississippi (#3) at LSU, 4:15PM ESPN – The Tigers are not a great team, but they still somehow have racked up 6 wins in 8 weeks. Mississippi is coming off a sluggish performance. Can we see an upset in Baton Rouge?

PREDICTION: Mississippi 28-9

1. USC (#17) at Utah (#18), 7:00PM FS1 – This is certainly the most interesting matchup. They are two teams that are playing at the top of their game at the moment, and this could very well decide the Pac-12 South.

PREDICTION: USC 31-24

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Rakeem Cato, QB, Marshall – His team is probably going undefeated, and this would be the closest thing that we could have to recognizing greatness throughout a career. He is the most underrated player in the nation.

4. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin – His stats are just stupid. He is electric to watch and will no doubt get an invite if he can keep it up without much help at all from his passing game.

3. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska – Another absurd rushing day places the senior right back in the thick of things. If he can carry his team to a conference championship game, then he needs an invite.

2. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He still has yet to throw an interception, and with his offensive line looking better, he has been able to heal up and return to his unstoppable self.

1. Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State – He remains #1 even though he didn’t play and should remain #1 until they lose…if they lose.

College Football Playoff Projections

~Dream scenario for someone who wants the playoff system to expand or blow up~

1. Alabama lost to Ole Miss

2. Ole Miss loses to Auburn

3. Auburn lost to Mississippi State

4. Mississippi State loses to Alabama

5. All four teams finish with one loss, ranked #2-#5 behind an unbeaten Florida State team. 

Don’t get me wrong. I hate the SEC as much as anyone, but we need 8, 12, or 16 teams in a playoff to make it fair. This is not out of the realm of possibility either. Anyway, back to reality…

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Mississippi State over Marshall

Cotton Bowl: Michigan State over Mississippi

Fiesta Bowl: Oregon over Alabama

Orange Bowl: Notre Dame over TCU

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Rose Bowl): Florida State over Georgia

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Sugar Bowl): Kansas State over Ohio State

National Championship Game: Florida State over Kansas State

What did you think of this weekend? Rankings? Heisman predictions? Let me know below!

Complete 2014 College Football Preview

It is finally that time of year again! My social life on Saturdays will officially go by the wayside on August 30^th. I have no problem with that, however. College football is the greatest sport in existence. I spend several hours every day thinking about it and its implications, which is thrilling enough until I actually sit spellbound in front of a TV from 9AM-11PM every Saturday witnessing the pageantry and thrill ride of watching 5-10 games at any given time. Last year, I did my comprehensive preview article, which is about to be renewed for a new season, the first in 8 years where an SEC team is not the reigning champion and the first one ever where we have some form of a playoff! This article will rank the Power 5 conferences with my predictions for season-end standings, some top 5-10 lists of individuals and teams to keep an eye on, my preseason top 25, and finally my Bowl/Playoff predictions. Check it out!

Conference Rankings

Atlantic Coast Conference (#5)

ATLANTIC

7. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (HC: Dave Clawson, 1^st season)

6. Syracuse Orange (HC: Scott Shafer, 2^nd season)

5. North Carolina State Wolfpack (HC: Dave Doeren, 2^nd season)

4. Boston College (HC: Steve Addazio, 2^nd season)

3. Louisville Cardinals (HC: Bobby Petrino, 5^th season)

2. Clemson Tigers (HC: Dabo Swinney, 7^th season)

1. Florida State Seminoles (HC: Jimbo Fisher, 5^th season)

COASTAL

7. Pittsburgh Panthers (HC: Paul Chryst, 2^nd season)

6. Virginia Cavaliers (HC: Mike London, 5^th season)

5. Miami Hurricane (HC: Al Golden, 4^th season)

4. Duke Blue Devils (HC: David Cutcliffe, 7^th season)

3. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (HC: Paul Johnson, 7^th season)

2. North Carolina Tar Heels (HC: Larry Fedora, 3^rd season)

1. Virginia Tech Hokies (HC: Frank Beamer, 28^th season)

The ACC has gotten been constantly shifting teams throughout the past few years. Adding the best of the AAC in Louisville is interesting. I would have loved to see Teddy Bridgewater vs Florida State last year. Anyway, the Hokies have been sputtering in recent years, but the rest of the teams in their division seem primed for a down year after losing key players. I see them as the unlucky squad who has to face the almost certainly unbeaten Seminoles in the title game. The bottom four teams in the Atlantic have basically no chance at challenging for the conference, so as it has been in the past few years, the Florida State-Clemson game will decide the division/conference. Also, look for North Carolina to have a nice year. Larry Fedora has had a couple years to get his legs under him. They have the talent to take the Coastal with some luck.

Offensive Player of the Year: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

Defensive Player of the Year: Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson

Coach of the Year: Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech

Conference Championship Game: Florida State over Virginia Tech

Big Ten Conference (#4)

EAST

7. Rutgers Scarlett Knights (HC: Kyle Flood, 3^rd season)

6. Indiana Hoosiers (HC: Kevin Wilson, 4^th season)

5. Michigan Wolverines (HC: Brady Hoke, 4^th season)

4. Maryland Terrapins (HC: Randy Edsall, 4^th season)

3. Penn State Nittany Lions (HC: James Franklin, 1^st season)

2. Michigan State Spartans (HC: Mark Dantonio, 8^th season)

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (HC: Urban Meyer, 3^rd season)

WEST

7. Purdue Boilermakers (HC: Darrell Hazell, 2^nd season)

6. Minnesota Golden Gophers (HC: Jerry Kill, 4^th season)

5. Illinois Fighting Illini (HC: Tim Beckman, 3^rd season)

4. Iowa Hawkeyes (HC: Kirk Ferentz, 16^th season)

3. Northwestern Wildcats (HC: Pat Fitzgerald, 9^th season)

2. Nebraska Cornhuskers (HC: Bo Pelini, 7^th season)

1. Wisconsin Badgers (HC: Gary Andersen, 2^nd season)

The Big Ten is extremely top heavy and becoming a compelling conference, but the new division realignment is really lopsided. Wisconsin should have very little trouble taking the west, unless Nebraska makes a surprising run with an unproven quarterback. The East is really where the interest lies. Ohio State and Michigan State are the top contenders, and seeing the clash of styles on a more regular basis will be amazing. Michigan looks like they are going to have a slide back this year after losing a lot of offensive talent (their only talent). Maryland appears to be one of the teams that could be a newcomer that no one can really get a read on in year one. They also have Stefon Diggs, one of the most exciting receivers in the nation. Penn State will be great under new coach James Franklin and dynamite QB Christian Hackenberg, but they are still ineligible, sadly.

Offensive Player of the Year: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

Defensive Player of the Year: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

Coach of the Year: Gary Andersen, Wisconsin

Conference Championship Game: Ohio State over Wisconsin

Big 12 Conference (#3)

10. Kansas Jayhawks (HC: Charlie Weis, 3^rd season)

9. TCU Horned Frogs (HC: Gary Patterson, 15^th season)

8. Iowa State Cyclones (HC: Paul Rhodes, 6^th season)

7. West Virginia Mountaineers (HC: Dana Holgorsen, 4^th season)

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys (HC: Mike Gundy, 10^th season)

5. Texas Longhorns (HC: Charlie Strong, 1^st season)

4. Kansas State Wildcats (HC: Bill Snyder, 23^rd season)

3. Baylor Bears (HC: Art Briles, 7^th season)

2. Texas Tech Red Raiders (HC: Kliff Kingsbury, 2^nd season)

1. Oklahoma Sooners (HC: Bob Stoops, 16^th season)

This conference is always hard to predict. Really, the top 7-8 teams could finish in any order depending on how schedules shape up. The most alarming thing about these rankings is probably seeing Texas Tech finishing second. Last year, they started off extremely hot, only to cool off due to a rookie head coach and a walk on true freshman QB. They will be better prepared for success this year, and Kingsbury is an offensive genius. Texas can take the conference, but I am more confident in the Longhorns underachieving than I am in Charlie Strong turning the program around immediately. Oklahoma is the team with all of the returning talent and definite momentum after taking down Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Never count out offensive power Baylor or a Bill Snyder-coached team either. Who am I kidding…I have no idea how this conference will line up.

Offensive Player of the Year: Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor

Defensive Player of the Year: Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas

Coach of the Year: Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech

Automatic Bid: Oklahoma

Southeastern Conference (#2)

EAST

7. Kentucky Wildcats (HC: Mark Stoops, 2^nd season)

6. Vanderbilt Commodores (HC: Derek Mason, 1^st season)

5. Tennessee Volunteers (HC: Butch Jones, 2^nd season)

4. Florida Gators (HC: Will Muschamp, 4^th season)

3. South Carolina Gamecocks (HC: Steve Spurrier, 10^th season)

2. Missouri Tigers (HC: Gary Pinkel, 14^th season)

1. Georgia Bulldogs (HC: Mark Richt, 14^th season)

WEST

7. Mississippi Rebels (HC: Hugh Freeze, 3^rd season)

6. Arkansas Razorbacks (HC: Bret Bielema, 2^nd season)

5. Texas A&M Aggies (HC: Kevin Sumlin, 3^rd season)

4. Mississippi State Bulldogs (HC: Dan Mullen, 6^th season)

3. LSU Tigers (HC: Les Miles, 10^th season)

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (HC: Nick Saban, 8^th season)

1. Auburn Tigers (HC: Gus Malzahn, 2^nd season)

The SEC West is absurd, almost as much as the Pac-12 North. Everyone is predicting a surprise Ole Miss run or a Mississippi State rise to the top. How is that possibly going to happen with what is ahead of them? I actually think Texas A&M could be a lot better than last year, but they still sit in 5^th place? This is crazy. No one is going undefeated in this conference. The Iron Bowl will likely be the game of the year again. In the East, it is a much clearer path. Georgia has a ton of returning talent, even without Aaron Murray. Missouri cannot do what they did in 2013 again. South Carolina is always going to challenge. Florida isn’t quite ready to rise up yet. Whoever takes the East is going to win the SEC Championship, just because the West is such a war zone that they will all be beaten down by that point.

Offensive Player of the Year: Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

Defensive Player of the Year: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida

Coach of the Year: Mark Richt, Georgia

Conference Championship Game: Georgia over Auburn

Pacific-12 Conference (#1)

NORTH

6. California Golden Bears (HC: Sonny Dykes, 2^nd season)

5. Oregon State Beavers (HC: Mike Riley, 14^th season)

4. Washington State Cougars (HC: Mike Leach, 3^rd season)

3. Stanford Cardinal (HC: David Shaw, 4^th season)

2. Washington Huskies (HC: Chris Petersen, 1^st season)

1. Oregon Ducks (HC: Mark Helfrich, 2^nd season)

SOUTH

6. Utah Utes (HC: Kyle Whittingham, 11^th season)

5. Arizona State Sun Devils (HC: Todd Graham, 3^rd season)

4. Colorado Buffaloes (HC: Mark MacIntyre, 2^nd season)

3. Arizona Wildcats (HC: Rich Rodriguez, 3^rd season)

2. USC Trojans (HC: Steve Sarkisian, 1^st season)

1. UCLA Bruins (HC: Jim Mora, 3^rd season)

Now, to what is unquestionably the best and deepest conference in the land, we have the teams out west. The North is going to be a battle. Oregon, Washington, and Stanford will likely split the games between each other. It all depends on if they can escape their rivalry games and how they play against the top of the South. I suspect Oregon will grade out the best, but maybe that is just a fear of getting my hopes up too far for my Huskies. The South appears to be pretty set with UCLA at the top, but USC has the talent and coaches to take over very soon. The window for the Bruins to keep their crown in LA is closing quickly. Colorado definitely improved at the end of last year, and I suspect that they will be able to fight off a few conference wins this year. I am probably underrating Oregon State again, but that has become a tradition, I guess. They should play South Carolina sometime. They are in the same boat every year.

Offensive Player of the Year: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

Defensive Player of the Year: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

Coach of the Year: Jim Mora, UCLA

Conference Championship Game: UCLA over Oregon

Top 5 BCS College Football Playoff Busters

5. Marshall Thundering Herd – They will almost certainly run the table. They do not play anything close to Power 5 talent all season. It depends on how much everyone falls in love with Rakeem Cato if they will even be on the discussion table for the playoff.

                Toughest games: vs Ohio, vs Western Kentucky

4. UCF Knights – Yes, Blake Bortles is gone, but they had enough talent to take a BCS bowl last season. Most of it returns, and they have quite the slate of games this year. If they approach another unbeaten season, they might get enough respect to make a run at the top 4.

                Toughest games: vs Penn State, at Missouri, vs BYU

3. Wyoming Cowboys – With 3-time defending FCS national champion Craig Bohl calling the plays in an already dynamic spread attack, the Cowboys will soon rise to the top of the non-AQ programs. This year will be tough, but don’t completely count them out.

Toughest games: at Oregon, at Michigan State, at Fresno State, at Boise State

2. Boise State Broncos – Under new coach Bryan Harsin, the Broncos will have a new look. He has been on the staff in the past, however, and their tradition of success will likely not take too much of a hit.

                Toughest games: vs Ole Miss, at Nevada, vs Utah State

1. Southern Methodist Mustangs – They have the type of schedule that if they are able to run the table, they will have a good shot at sneaking into the playoff. It is a brutal road, but maybe this is finally their return to national prominence.

                Toughest games: at Baylor, at North Texas, vs Texas A&M, vs TCU

Top 5 Defenses

5. Mississippi State Bulldogs – They ranked in the top 20 last year in total defense, and they really hit their stride late. Losses to the draft were minimal, so look for this to be that team in the SEC that is able to spring upsets simply because they make it ugly.

4. USC Trojans – The Trojans quietly had one of the best defenses last season, despite being in an offensive conference. As the sanctions have slowly gotten lifted, we have started to see the talent and depth on the defensive side of the ball. With Justin Wilcox calling the shots, this will be one of the best units in the nation this season.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide – They lose a handful of All-Americans to the draft. They also had their fourth straight #1 recruiting class filled with defensive talent and athletes. With Vinnie Sunseri returning from injury, they have their leader and rock that will make this another top 5 defense for Nick Saban and Kirby Smart.

2. Florida State Seminoles – They play in a conference without too many challenging offensive attacks, and they return several great players like Jalen Ramsey and Ronald Darby from their National Championship team. They will be stifling again in 2014.

1. Michigan State Spartans – The Spartans lost a host of NFL players, but they still have the scariest defensive line with Shilique Calhoun and Marcus Rush and one of the best coaches/motivators in the nation. They will be near impossible to move the ball against again this season.

Top 5 Offenses

5. UCLA Bruins – They were clicking on all cylinders by the end of 2013 behind Brett Hundley and Myles Jack. If they continue to use the latter on both sides of the ball, then this offense will roll over almost any defense.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes – Braxton Miller could single-handedly make this a top 20 offense, but he has incoming weapons to replace the likes of Carlos Hyde and Jordan Hall. Meyer has slowly remade his Florida offense with even more athletic and impossible-to-guard players. This team should torch most Big Ten defenses.

3. Auburn Tigers – Replacing Greg Robinson and Tre Mason will be difficult, but they have reinforcements in the likes of Cameron Artys-Payne and such. Nick Marshall seemed to develop some passing skills late in the year, so if this can be more than just a running attack, then Auburn should roll over the overrated SEC defenses.

2. Oregon Ducks – Marcus Mariota returning to school did wonders for this program. With returning backs Byron Marshall and Thomas Tyner, this offense will be unstoppable again, as long as they let Mariota do his thing. There is no more talented player with the ball in his hands in all of college football.

1. Baylor Bears – Playmakers leave, but seeing how they averaged 600+ YPG and 52+ PPG last year, it is clear that the backups got some time. Shock Linwood is one guy I definitely have my eye on to be the next great one at Baylor, taking his place in the backfield alongside All-American candidate Bryce Petty.

Top 5 Coach of the Year Contenders

5. Chris Petersen, Washington – He is one of the elite coaches in the nation, and if he can get the Huskies over the hump in year one, then he will officially be the best coach in college football.

4. Mark Richt, Georgia – He is constantly on the hot seat, but he has the type of returning talent to make a run at a national title once again.

3. Charlie Strong, Texas – He has all of the talent in the world on his squad, but not even the beloved Mack Brown could make the most of it. If he takes Texas to the top of the conference this soon, then he will officially be anointed as the next great one in Austin.

2. Mark Dantionio, Michigan State – Objectively, he should have won the award last year. If Sparty can continue their string of overachieving, then his votes will come flooding in this time.

1. Jim Mora, UCLA – If the Bruins are able to get out of the gauntlet that is the Pac-12, then look for Jim Mora to start getting national notices and offers to take over one of the top programs in the nation.

Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects

5. Leonard Williams, DE, USC – He was the anchor of the improved Trojan defensive line last season. Under the new regime, look for his talent to be maximized and for him to have an All-America caliber year.

4. Cedric Oguehi, OT, Texas A&M – It is getting a little boring seeing all of these Aggie linemen at the top of drafts, but they just keep pumping them out. Playing RT for Johnny Manziel is just as important as LT, and this year he will get to show off his true talent under a more traditional offense.

3. Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska – He is clearly the best pass rusher in the draft discussion. He had a monster year in his JC transfer season, and he will be essentially unguardable in his last year in college.

2. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – We will see how he does without most of his receivers from last year, but his poise and decision-making are far beyond his years. I am not 100% sure that he will declare, especially if he can keep his nose clean.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – There is always a hyped up spread QB in the draft discussion, yet most of them need work actually throwing the ball. He has some of the best arm talent in the nation to go with the WR-type speed and elusiveness. He is going to be a game-changer at the next level.

Top 10 Heisman Contenders

10. Myles Jack, RB/LB, UCLA – His candidacy depends on how much of a role they give him on offense. He was a stub at linebacker, but then he was breathtaking when he took over the full time duties on offense as well. That versatility will bring him votes…if they utilize him as such.

9. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska – His production throughout his career has increased and continued to garner national attention. The passing game is not going to be stellar, so just like the past couple years, it is going to be all Abdullah. Look for an insane year from the tailback.

8. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor – In that offense, anyone can put up 5000 yards passing. He just happens to be a good, maybe even great, one. If the offense is as much of a juggernaut as the past three seasons, then he will get an invite.

7. Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina – He had a big year last season, and he will have the backfield basically to himself. In the SEC, if he has a 1400+ yard season, that is normally enough to get national attention.

6. Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn – He is going to get a lot more publicity this year with finalist Tre Mason leaving for the NFL and being a target from week one. If he continues to develop his passing, then he is going to put up scary numbers in Gus Malzahn’s offense.

5. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia – He finally has the backfield to himself, so we really can see what he can do. He has grown up so much throughout his career. If Georgia is as good as they can be this season, then he will be the sole reason why.

4. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – There is no more important player to his team than Miller is to the Buckeyes. Put the offense on his shoulders, and he will produce. Somehow, he has remained quite underrated throughout his career.

3. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – Winston has the talent and conference to become the second two-time winner ever. If he matures and improves on his stunning freshman year, then he could be right there for another Heisman invite.

2. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – Mariota is going to have stats that are going to blow everyone away. They need to go unbeaten, evidently, for him to have a chance.

1. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA – They are going to be hard to beat, and most of it is going to fall on Hundley’s shoulders, who I believe is the best and most complete QB in the nation. If they have the type of season I am predicting, then this could turn into a no-brainer.

Preseason Top 25

So much of college football these days are dominated by redshirt freshmen and sophomores, seeing how 6 of the last 7 winners of the Heisman trophy were playing in their first or second year of major college football, and four of them played for national championships. If you have the right young core, then your team will succeed. The teams with the top past few recruiting classes and the right talent-maximizing coaches will be the teams to beat at year’s end.

Others receiving votes: Arizona State, Florida, Nebraska, Oregon State, Virginia Tech

25. Mississippi State – They haven’t had a great season in a while, but this year they have all of their key pieces returning. They are probably going to end up with a handful of losses due to their division, but they are as talent-filled as they have been in a long time.

24. Marshall – Rakeem Cato is returning to school, which is about all you need to know. He is the best QB that no one knows about. He could start at most any other school in the nation. They should absolutely roll over the rest of the Conference USA.

23. Texas – They have continued to pipe in the best talent in Texas, yet they underachieve. They finally have what appears to be the right guy for the job in Charlie Strong, who will bring a balance and businessmanlike attitude back to the program.

22. Missouri – They shocked everyone last year (I had them finishing last in the division) by making an SEC Championship appearance, but this year will be slightly more difficult. I do like Maty Mauk, though. That kid can take this team places.

21. Clemson – Losing Sammy Watkins and Tajh Boyd will be a bigger stumbling block than many are projecting. They will take a step back, but they have enough returning playmakers to still be the second best team in the ACC.

20. Texas Tech – The Red Raiders got off to a quick start last year, and basically all of their pieces are returning, aside from star tight end Jace Amaro. The offense should be borderline unstoppable this year, but they need to get a defense to go along.

19. Kansas State – We should be getting accustomed to seeing K-State overachieve with modest talent. They have a few returning playmakers on offense, and a QB who hit his stride late. Bill Snyder will make this the best coached team in the conference by week 3.

18. USC – Steve Sarkisian was able to turn around Washington immediately, and now he steps into the biggest gig on the west coast. He has all of the talent he needs, and the sanctions are basically gone. He can return this struggling program to the top of the heap in a year or two.

17. Texas A&M – Yes, Johnny Manziel is gone, but Kevin Sumlin still has an elite offensive line and a dynamic group of returning defensive players. We have yet to see a decent defense under Sumlin, but the returnees have the experience to be moderately good.

16. Wisconsin – The team, aside from the opener against LSU, has a very manageable schedule. If they survive week one, they could run the table in a slightly down Big Ten.

15. South Carolina – Another season, another case of me probably underrating Steve Spurrier. I do not understand how he does it, but this is probably going to be another boring 11 win campaign.

14. Baylor – Bryce Petty returning to school was key for this program. They will not have the historic offensive output they had last year, but it can be close. Look for another high-flying, no defensive year for the Bears.

13. Washington – There is no better developer of talent than Chris Petersen, and he actually has some serious weapons to play with this year. This team is talented enough to take the conference, but we will see how long it takes for the coaches to implement their system.

12. Notre Dame – They are not a sexy pick to be up this high, but their schedule shapes up nicely and they will likely have their QB Everett Golson back after a season-long suspension.

11. LSU – Week one against Wisconsin will tell a lot about this team, who won’t have another real challenge until October. They were young last year, so this seems like time for the Mad Hatter to rally the troops and get in title contention.

10. Stanford – The Cardinal have become a staple in the top 10 over the past few years. Every year, it seems like they lose too much talent and seem poised for a step back. They reload, and they have a rock at QB. Look for another great year for David Shaw, future coach of the Oakland Raiders.

9. Ohio State – I find it hard to fathom how bad the defenses at Ohio State have been under Urban Meyer. That will likely change this year. Braxton Miller can put up points on his own, but if the defense is still as bad as we saw at the end of last season, then they will not make it out of the Big Ten Championship Game again.

8. Michigan State – The Spartans were undeniably the best team at the end of last season, with Connor Cook becoming one of the most reliable QBs in the nation and a stifling defense that shut down everyone. They return the key members of the defensive line and will likely have another ugly-looking season of double digit wins.

7. Georgia – Aaron Murray has finally graduated, so the Bulldogs might actually have a chance to win a big game or two. Todd Gurley should torch every defense he lines up against, as he has the past two years.

6. Oklahoma – The Sooners finally appeared to solve their QB issue at the end of the season. Their team was really young, and they blossomed late. This team might not lose a game, but the Big 12 schedule is a gauntlet of rivalries and tough environments.

5. Auburn – Tre Mason and a host of talent left in the draft, but Auburn’s past couple recruiting classes under Gus Malzahn have assured that they are back and ready to challenge for national titles on a more regular basis.

4. Oregon – With Marcus Mariota returning and an improving defense rising up the ranks, Oregon should be in position to take the Pac-12 North crown back from Stanford. They will likely get two shots at UCLA as well.

3. Alabama – The Crimson Tide have to replace one of college football’s greatest champions at QB, but weren’t we talking about the same thing when Greg McElroy graduated? This program is a machine.

2. Florida State – Yes, Jameis Winston lost many of his key targets on offense, but the defense is still stout and Winston will be a more mature player his sophomore season. They will almost certainly run the table in a weak ACC.

1. UCLA – The Bruins have probably the best returning quarterback in the nation in Brett Hundley. They have the most versatile player since Charles Woodson in Myles Jack. They have the right coach. This is their year.

Bowl Predictions

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Auburn over Ohio State

Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma over Marshall

Fiesta Bowl: Oregon over Wisconsin

Orange Bowl: LSU over Notre Dame

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Rose Bowl): Georgia over Florida State

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Sugar Bowl): UCLA over Alabama

National Championship Game: UCLA over Georgia

The playoff was difficult to figure out in year one without any basis for how the new committee is going to vote. I figured at least a few SEC teams will weasel their way in there. Marshall is going to be undefeated, and the top-ranked non-Power 5 team is guaranteed a spot in the big bowls. Defending champs Florida State really have a cakewalk schedule again, but UCLA is the best and most dynamic team in the nation. They should be the champions when all is said and done. It will be fascinating to follow this race as the season goes along.

So, there you have it. Feel educated and ready for the season? Are you as pumped as I am to finally see some live games? Who do you think will be in the inaugural CFP? Let me know in the comments.