Complete 2016 College Football Preview

There is nothing like college football. It is now August, so fall camps have started and the season is actually in sight. Alabama is coming off another National Championship, but they need to rebuild all over their team. This might be one of the difficult seasons to prognosticate we have seen in the last decade. I can’t wait for the season to start. Read up on my favorite article to write every year!

Conference Rankings

Atlantic Coast Conference (#5)

ATLANTIC

7. Boston College Eagles (HC: Steve Addazio, 4^th season) – They had the top defense in the country in some meaningful statistics, but they still weren’t in a lot of games because their offense was so awful. A new coordinator could help that, but I still fear they are finishing at the bottom of the ACC.

6. Wake Forest Demon Decons (HC: Dave Clawson, 3^rd season) – It seems like an eternity since the last time Wake Forest was relevant in the Atlantic Division. They were a notably young team last season, so depending on how those players developed in the offseason, we could be looking at a much improved season under Dave Clawson.

5. Syracuse Orangemen (HC: Dino Babers, 1^st season) – The issue that Cuse is going to face is on the defensive side of the ball. Baber’s high powered offense coming from Bowling Green should excite the faithful, but they are going to have to outscore opponents and at least pull one decent upset to make it to a bowl game.

4. Louisville Cardinals (HC: Bobby Petrino, 7^th season) – The Cardinals have a bunch of hype coming into 2016. Lamar Jackson appears to be the QB who can take them to the next level, but their schedule is rough by ACC standards.

3. North Carolina State Wolfpack (HC: Dave Doeren, 4^th season) – The Wolfpack were formidable last season, but they have to replace key pieces on offense, including QB and O-line, but their defense should keep them in most games.

2. Clemson Tigers (HC: Dabo Swinney, 9^th season) – Clemson seems to be everyone’s pick to win the National Championship just because of their returning star QB DeShaun Watson, but the reason why they were so great last year was defense. They lost a truckload of players to the NFL from that side of the ball and will struggle in the trenches, particularly against the eventual division champion FSU.

1. Florida State Seminoles (HC: Jimbo Fisher, 7^th season) – With Dalvin Cook returning from a team that really exceeded expectations last year, the Seminoles should return to the ACC Championship Game after just a one year absence. They are going to be loaded once again.

COASTAL

7. Virginia Cavaliers (HC: Bronco Mendenhall, 1^st season) – The Cavaliers were awful a year ago, but there is some optimism with Mendenhall leaving the job we all expected him to be at his entire career, his alma mater BYU. They will likely be more sophisticated on offense, but that won’t translate into too many wins in year one.

6. Duke Blue Devils (HC: David Cutcliffe, 9^th season) – With starting QB Thomas Sirk coming off a February Achilles terror, the offense has a lot of question marks heading into 2016. Throw in a new look coaching staff under the great David Cutcliffe, and we might be looking at the first bowl-less Duke team in five years.

5. Virginia Tech Hokies (HC: Justin Fuente, 1^st season) – Fuente was an interesting hire for VT, looking to replace Frank Beamer after 29 seasons. He was a sudden star at Memphis, but how much of that was Fuente and how much was Paxton Lynch? That remains to be seen, but the Hokies have enough returning talent to still keep their impressive bowl streak alive.

4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (HC: Paul Johnson, 9^th season) – Aside from the shocking, amazing last second upset of Florida State a season ago, GT was  the biggest disappointment in the nation. Their offensive line was atrocious, making talented triple option QB Justin Thomas look pedestrian at best. They need to fix the line, and if they do, then they could return to the ACC Championship Game in a weak Coastal Division.

3. Miami Hurricanes (HC: Mark Richt, 1^st season) – Yes, Brad Kaaya is the real deal, but Richt could never win the big game at Georgia with NFL talent at all levels. Miami has developed a culture of disappointment over the past decade, and I am just not sure if Richt will change that too quickly.

2. North Carolina Tar Heels (HC: Larry Fedora, 5^th season) – They had a shocking run to the ACC title game a year ago, and with a lot of their players coming back (excluding game-breaking QB Marquise Williams), the Tar Heels should have another strong season led by Gene Chizek’s improved defense.

1. Pittsburgh Panthers (HC: Pat Narduzzi, 2^nd season) – Narduzzi’s team will be heavily run-based and defensive-minded. Putting them in the ACC Championship Game is mostly assuming that former star RB James Conner, fresh off MCL surgery and chemotherapy, will return to form as one of the top backs in the nation. Either way, having an inspiration like him on the squad could elevate the lesser talent on the team to being as good as anyone in the Coastal Division.

Offensive Player of the Year: DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Defensive Player of the Year: Devonte Fields, LB, Louisville

Coach of the Year: Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh

Conference Championship Game: Florida State over Pittsburgh

Big 12 Conference (#4)

10. Kansas Jayhawks (HC: Dave Beaty, 2^nd season) – Things aren’t exactly looking up for the Jayhawks, who finished last season 0-12 with tons of injuries and a loss to an FCS team. Beaty’s leash should be pretty long, given the fact that they are expected to be horrible and no one really cares about football in Lawrence. I expect modest improvement, but an FBS win is a lot to ask for.

9. Iowa State Cyclones (HC: Matt Campbell, 1^st season) – This team will be much improved under former Toledo coach Matt Campbell. He already changed the game in recruiting to Ames, and he has some offensive talent returning. It will take a couple years to establish himself in the Big 12 hierarchy, but the Cyclones will be capable of pulling an upset or two in 2016.

8. Texas Tech Red Raiders (HC: Kliff Kingsbury, 4^th season) – The season will rest on the shoulders of the great Patrick Mahomes once again. The talent around him is not as strong as a season ago, but he is good enough to keep them in many games and outscore teams on a weekly basis. Their defense is going to be putrid, however.

7. Texas Longhorns (HC: Charlie Strong, 3^rd season) – Texas is going to have an uphill climb to get back into the mix in the Big 12. They are likely going with a true freshman QB to start, which will hurt when playing a brutal stretch in September and early October.

6. West Virginia Mountaineers (HC: Dana Holgorson, 6^th season) – Skyler Howard is a great option at QB in that high powered offense, but the hard-hitting defense of 2015 has to be rebuilt. This will likely look a lot more like the first couple years of Holgorson’s tenure than last year’s optimistic return to form.

5. Kansas State Wildcats (HC: Bill Snyder, 25^th season) – We will know a lot about Snyder’s club in week one when the Wildcats travel to Palo Alto to play Stanford. Last year was mired in injuries, particularly at quarterback. Their defense should be among the best in the Big 12, which will cover a lot of the deficiencies on offense.

4. Baylor Bears (HC: Jim Grobe, 1^st season) – It is difficult to predict what will happen to Baylor after everything that happened off the field. They still have a ton of talent offensively, and they keep their longtime defensive coordinator Phil Bennett in place. They should have some continuity, but losing recruits and transfers does not help.

3. Oklahoma State Cowboys (HC: Mike Gundy, 12^th season) – There are nine returning starters on offense, including Mason Rudolph, arguably the most talented QB Gundy has had at OSU. They have the other top three teams in the Big 12 on the road, the opposite of last year when the conference’s final month all went through Stillwater.

2. Texas Christian Horned Frogs (HC: Gary Patterson, 17^th season) – TCU’s bowl game against Oregon had to leave a good taste in the mouth of Frogs fans. Without star QB Trevone Boykin, they overcame a 31-0 deficit to win. The Frogs must be optimistic with their returning players from injury and an exciting transfer in Kenny “Trill” Hill from Texas A&M.

1. Oklahoma Sooners (HC: Bob Stoops, 18^th season) – Baker Mayfield and Samaje Perine should be able to single-handedly win the Big 12 for the Sooners. However, what may keep them out of the CFP discussion could be the turnover on defense. They have a lot of holes to fill, but we will see how that has progressed when they host Ohio State in late September.

Offensive Player of the Year: Seth Russell, QB, Baylor

Defensive Player of the Year: Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas

Coach of the Year: Gary Patterson, TCU

Conference Champion: Oklahoma

Big Ten Conference (#3)

EAST

7. Rutgers Scarlett Knights (HC: Chris Ash, 1^st season) – Chris Ash is an inspired hire for Rutgers, an athletic program that has been under scrutiny over the past half decade. Ash is an exciting young coach who can eventually get them back to where Greg Schiano had them. They do, however, have one of the toughest schedules of any team. It is a rebuilding process, but it might not take as long as some think.

6. Indiana Hoosiers (HC: Kevin Wilson, 6^th season) – It is going to be difficult for the Hoosiers to get back to a bowl game in 2016. They lost almost all of their offensive production, and their defense has been notably pathetic under Kevin Wilson. They will likely reload at running back, but I just can’t see them being as tough of a squad as in the previous couple seasons.

5. Maryland Terrapins (HC: DJ Durkin, 1^st season) – The team is not exactly loaded with talent, but building around defense will make them an interesting team in the division. With the running game in good shape, they should be able to control the clock and spring an upset or two in year one for Durkin.

4. Michigan State Spartans (HC: Mark Dantonio, 10^th season) – The offense has big shoes to fill with the departure of Connor Cook, but the defense will be stout and deep. I fear that the team will struggle to score, as they did when Cook was injured for part of last season. They will take a slight step back in 2016.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions (HC: James Franklin, 3^rd season) – There will be a new look spread offense in Happy Valley. Saquon Barkley comes back as one of the Big Ten’s best running backs. The QB situation will be settled soon, and the team will be the best that Franklin has had.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (HC: Urban Meyer, 5^th season) – We will know a lot about the 16 new starters for Ohio State when they travel to Norman in week three. JT Barrett will cover a lot of the deficiencies and be a calming influence under center. All of the top recruits will eventually get the Buckeyes back to being one of the best in the nation, but it might take a little while. The Game will decide this division either way.

1. Michigan Wolverines (HC: Jim Harbaugh, 2^nd season) – Michigan is breaking in a new quarterback, but they have some of the best receiving options in the conference. They return almost their entire frightening defense. They also have a cakewalk schedule. If they lose more than two games in 2016, then I would have to mark them as one of the biggest disappointments in the nation.

WEST

7. Purdue Boilermakers (HC: Darrell Hazell, 4^th season) – How exactly does Hazell still have a job? They just won their first home Big Ten game in Hazell’s third season. They were one of the worst teams offensively and defensively in the nation, but they return almost all of their starters! We will find out how much upper classmen actually matter in a rugged conference.

6. Minnesota Golden Gophers (HC: Tracy Claeys, 1^st season) – Claeys was a logical continuation coaching choice for Minnesota. With returning starting QB Mitch Leidner, the offense will be in good hands. The defense recruited well to replace some holes, but this division is so stocked in the middle that it will be difficult to finish above here with by drawing Michigan and Ohio State from the East.

5. Northwestern Wildcats (HC: Pat Fitzgerald, 11^th season) – They had a strange season in 2015, finishing with 10 wins, but getting absolutely blown out in their two losses. They return Justin Jackson and Clayton Thorson, which is good, but the offense was inept most of the season anyway. Those close, defense-driven wins will likely go the other way this season.

4. Wisconsin Badgers (HC: Paul Chryst, 2^nd season) – The Badgers return injured RB Corey Clement, which will help stabilize a team that has a lot of turnover. They also lost longtime D Coordinator Dave Aranda and steady QB Joel Stave. The offense will need to take a step forward if they want to compete in this division. They were a forgettable and irrelevant squad in 2015.

3. Illinois Fighting Illini (HC: Lovie Smith, 1^st season) – It is going to be interesting to see how Lovie Smith adapts to the college game. He is a strong personality and will likely be able to inspire players. Wes Lunt returns for a third season as QB, which will help the offense that struggled for some part of 2015. This is one of the overlooked teams and coaching hires in the country. I can see them springing some early upsets and getting to 8 wins.

2. Iowa Hawkeyes (HC: Kirk Ferentz, 18^th season) – Starting quarterback CJ Beathard returns once again, who has been one of the most consistent signal callers in the nation over the past season and a half. They will be a tough out again, but their schedule is not as pathetic as last year.

1. Nebraska Cornhuskers (HC: Mike Riley, 2^nd season) – The returning starters, including Tommy Armstrong under center, are going to be the key for Nebraska to get to the Big Ten title game. 2015 was defined by close losses for the Huskers, and those tend to return to the mean over time. They have some difficult matchups, but this division will come down to the season ending game against Iowa.

Offensive Player of the Year: JT Barrett, QB, Ohio State

Defensive Player of the Year: Malik McDowell, DE, Michigan State

Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh, Michigan

Conference Championship Game: Michigan over Nebraska

Southeastern Conference (#2)

EAST

7. Vanderbilt Commodores (HC: Derek Mason, 3^rd season) – There was improvement in 2015, but they still are at the bottom of the pack. They might be able to hold on against a few high quality SEC opponents like usual, but a bowl game is a lot to ask.

6. South Carolina Gamecocks (HC: Will Muschamp, 1^st season) – Once again, Muschamp fails up. However, he knows that it is a complete rebuild and they will be awful for 2016. Look for the defense to keep them alive, but they won’t be winning many conference games.

5. Kentucky Wildcats (HC: Mark Stoops, 4^th season) – This is one of those programs that seems to look the part, but their confusing losses still haunt them. They got a host of transfers that will help them immediately, but their offense will struggle the majority of the season.

4. Missouri Tigers (HC: Barry Odom, 1^st season) – The Tigers could quietly have a really nice season under a new head coach and offensive coordinator (Josh Heupel). They have a returning starter at quarterback, and the defense played reasonably well last season. They cannot contend in the division, but they can make some noise since they are constantly under the radar.

3. Georgia Bulldogs (HC: Kirby Smart, 1^st season) – Smart finally is getting his chance to being a head coach, and he inherits quite the roster to start out. He returns arguably the two best running backs in the SEC in Sony Michel and Nick Chubb. His defense returns a host of All-Conference level starters. We will see how the quarterback situation develops, but look for good things in year one for Smart.

2. Tennessee Volunteers (HC: Butch Jones, 4^th season) – Every year, Tennessee is anointed as being “back”. Every year, they fail to win the big one. They return a ton of starters, but this division is not as bad as it seems. They will likely be a really good team and win 10 games, but they are going to finish behind a better coached team.

1. Florida Gators (HC: Jim McElwain, 2^nd season) – They were the surprise SEC East champion last year. This year, they cannot really get much worse on offense, but their defense is still going to be difficult to move the ball on. I say they win in Knoxville and take the division with 10 wins.

WEST

7. Texas A&M Aggies (HC: Kevin Sumlin, 5^th season) – The Aggies had some players transfer and decommit after immaturity in the coaching staff. That cannot bode well for Sumlin, who is looking to get his team back in contention in the division. They did get Trevor Knight from Oklahoma, and Myles Garrett is the best defensive end in the nation, but that isn’t enough to cover all of the holes on this roster.

6. Auburn Tigers (HC: Gus Malzahn, 4^th season) – Malzahn’s genius took a hit last year when he couldn’t figure out the quarterback position. Everyone is writing them off, but that is what happened before they went on an SEC Championship in 2013. They will have a much improved defense, but they just aren’t going to be able to move the ball as well as we have become accustomed to.

5. Mississippi State Bulldogs (HC: Dan Mullen, 8^th season) – They must replace Dak Prescott, which is going to be difficult to do, but they have a pretty decent roster coming back around whoever is under center. They won’t be good enough to compete with the top teams in the division, but they can absolutely hold their own.

4. Mississippi Rebels (HC: Hugh Freeze, 5^th season) – Controversy is still rolling around at Ole Miss, but Chad Kelly and a bunch of All-Conference players return, despite a trio of first round picks leaving for the NFL. They have the potential to still beat Alabama, but they will always be the bridesmaid in the division.

3. Arkansas Razorbacks (HC: Bret Bielema, 4^th season) – The team is going to be stout on defense, and with a new starting quarterback, their outlook offensively is up in the air. Bielema is as uncompromising in playing within his own style as any coach, so I have to think that they will again be a tough out for any SEC squad.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (HC: Nick Saban, 10^th season) – Even though the schedule is completely manipulated to make it as easy as possible, they actually have a few really tough road games and a real threat in the non-conference with USC. I expect them to lose a couple games and miss the SEC Championship and (hopefully) the playoff.

1. LSU Tigers (HC: Les Miles, 12^th season) – You have to love the returning talent and potential of LSU this year. Leonard Fournette returns for his third and final year in college. They have a real returning quarterback and some options at receiver. New defensive coordinator Dave Aranda may cause a slight learning curve, but the only tough game in the first five weeks is Wisconsin, Aranda’s former employer.

Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Dobbs, QB, Tennessee

Defensive Player of the Year: Jamal Adams, S, LSU

Coach of the Year: Jim McElwain, Florida

Conference Championship Game: LSU over Florida

Pacific-12 Conference (#1)

NORTH

6. Oregon State Beavers (HC: Gary Andersen, 2^nd season) – Andersen is a great coach, but nothing could have helped the putrid roster that he had in 2015. He might be able to sneak a conference win this year with some returning players and a transfer QB, but this is the best division in college football. They have a long way to go before getting out of the cellar.

5. California Golden Bears (HC: Sony Dykes, 4^th season) – Getting air raid veteran Davis Webb as a graduate transfer should stifle the impact of losing the #1 pick in the draft. The defense actually had some improvement, but they will need a lot more in order get this team competing for conference championships.

4. Oregon Ducks (HC: Mark Helfrich, 4^th season) – The true colors of Helfrich were shown when Vernon Adams was not available for parts of last season. The offense is still pretty sustainable, and Brady Hoke could provide a spark to the defense, but this team seems to be on a downward trend. Royce Freeman can only do so much.

3. Stanford Cardinal (HC: David Shaw, 6^th season) – Shaw is normally really good at reloading seamlessly, but Christian McCaffrey is really the only impact player returning to its offense. The defense lost its emotional leader in Blake Martinez. It will be Shaw’s toughest task yet.

2. Washington State Cougars (HC: Mike Leach, 5^th season) – It would be easy to write off last season’s improvement as an aberration, but Luke Falk and Gabe Marks alone are enough to make this offense click as well as it did in 2015. They were the best road team in the conference last year. The Apple Cup could very well decide the division.

1. Washington Huskies (HC: Chris Petersen, 3^rd season) – The reason for all of the hype around the Huskies is its returning talent at the skill positions, as well as how much growth their underclassmen showed throughout last year. There are potential All Americans all over the defense, as well as under center with Jake Browning. This should be the best team in the conference.

SOUTH

6. Arizona State Sun Devils (HC: Todd Graham, 5^th season) – 2015 was a nightmare for a team with playoff expectations. They lose their whole line, their QB, and their playmaking RB from that team anyway. The defense was an issue as well. Graham might not survive if they finish in last in the South and miss a bowl game after last year’s disappointment.

5. Colorado Buffaloes (HC: Mike MacIntyre, 4^th season) – There has been enough improvement shown that justifies taking them out of the cellar. The health of Sefo Liufau will be key to their early success, as well as a host of returning talent on defense. This could be the most complete Colorado team in a decade, which I realize isn’t saying a whole lot.

4. Arizona Wildcats (HC: Rich Rodriguez, 5^th season) – Anu Soloman brings back some stability to an offense that should carry the team. Bringing in a new defensive coordinator should lighten the impact of losing Scooby Wright, among others. Rodriguez has the pieces in place to finally win a conference title, but it just won’t happen this year.

3. UCLA Bruins (HC: Jim Mora, 5^th season) – Yes, they have Josh Rosen. Yes, they have expectations of a conference title. But yes, they are UCLA. Until they actually put all the pieces together, I am done predicting them to win this division.

2. USC Trojans (HC: Clay Helton, 1^st season) – The Trojans have as much individual talent as any team in the country, but the uncertainty of Helton’s ability to bring it all together, as well as the lack of a clear #1 quarterback, will hold the team back for a bit. The opener against Alabama is a must-see.

1. Utah Utes (HC: Kyle Whittingham, 12^th season) – They may have to break in a new quarterback, but last year was an important season for the development of this program. If the players can continue to grow and realize that they really are as good as anyone else in the conference, then they can take their place atop the division. I believe that happens this year.

Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

Defensive Player of the Year: Azeem Victor, LB, Washington

Coach of the Year: Chris Petersen, Washington

Conference Championship Game: Washington over Utah

Top 5 College Football Playoff Busters

5. Cincinnati Bearcats – The Bearcats disappointed after having New Years Six expectations in 2015, but they return powerful QB Gunner Kiel, who along with his occasional replacements, led one of the most prolific offenses in the country. Tommy Tuberville takes over the playcalling on defense, so that could boast good results even early in the season.

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

4. Boise State Broncos – The Broncos took a slight step back after winning another Fiesta Bowl in 2014. They do, however return their starting quarterback and some NFL caliber defensive players. They’ll have a tough road early, but they will be clicking by midseason.

                Toughest games: vs Washington State, at Oregon State, vs BYU, at Air Force

3. South Florida Bulls – The Bulls had a really good 2015 under new head coach Willie Taggart. They had a tough physicality and gave some top teams a pretty good game. They finished on a tear offensively, and I have to think that trend could only continue with the growth of the young squad. Their schedule is tough, but if they can get out with one or two losses, they will be right in the mix.

                Toughest games: at Syracuse, vs Florida State, at Cincinnati, at Memphis

2. San Diego State Aztecs – The 2015 Mountain West champions return Donnel Pumphrey, one of the best running backs in the nation. They have a good chance to run the table if they can get past in-state foe California in September. They also miss Boise State on the crossover.

                Toughest games: vs California, at Northern Illinois, at Utah State, at Nevada

1. Houston Cougars – Tom Herman remained in Houston, giving them instant momentum to have a return to the New Years Six. Greg Ward Jr. is back under center, promising a dynamic offense that should coast through the AAC. They do get Oklahoma at home, which depending on the records of the major conferences, could be the ticket to vault them into the playoff.

                Toughest games: vs Oklahoma, at Cincinnati, vs Louisville, at Memphis

Top 5 Defenses

5. Tennessee Volunteers – Tennessee has a bunch of returning starters from a formidable 2015 unit. Derek Barnett is potentially the best defensive player in the SEC. Bob Schoop was brought in from Penn State to coordinate the squad that will be strong at linebacker and have a vicious pass rush.

4. LSU Tigers – Bringing in Dave Aranda from Wisconsin should make an immediate difference for this team that regressed defensively in 2015. They have NFL players all over, but Aranda will make them a more disciplined defensive team.

3. Washington Huskies – They were one of the best in the nation last year, and despite losing a senior leader to the draft, they return virtually all of their important pieces, including the undisputed best secondary in the nation, led by Budda Baker. Pete Kwiatkowski has become a rockstar a D Coordinator. Combine that with the calm and genius of Chris Petersen, and this group should show no signs of slowing in 2016.

2. Michigan Wolverines – Michigan replaces coordinator DJ Durkin with Don Brown, the architect of the best statistical defense of 2015 at Boston College. Harbaugh’s team is littered with talent, especially Jabrill Peppers, one of the best all around players in college football. They will be incredibly tough to score on.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide – Jeremy Pruitt was brought over from Georgia to replace beloved Saban assistant Kirby Smart as the playcaller of the defense. They lost a lot of talent to the NFL as usual, but no one has more 5 star players waiting for an opportunity than Alabama. Tim Williams and Jonathan Allen will lead the way for the Tide to have the most effective defense in the country once again.

Top 5 Offenses

5. Florida State Seminoles – There is some uncertainty at quarterback, but any team that has Dalvin Cook running the ball is in good hands. They will be dynamic on offense if touted freshman QB Deondre Francois takes the QB spot, but they will still be balanced with Sean Maguire at the helm, forcing Cook to have a Heisman-winning season. The strength of the Seminoles offensive line can’t be overlooked either.

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Whether DeShone Kizer or Malik Zaire are at quarterback, the Irish will return quite the offense. Yes, replacing Will Fuller, Ronnie Stanley, and CJ Prosise will be a handful, but the offensive line is in great shape. Tarean Folston should also prove to be the next great at running back for Notre Dame.

3. Oklahoma Sooners – Returning Baker Mayfield is huge for the Sooners. They also return both of their stud running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. The team was incredibly young last year, and they made an appearance in the college football playoff behind this unit. They should be every bit as good, even though senior leader Sterling Shepard is off to the NFL.

2. Baylor Bears – Scandal or not, Baylor is still absolutely loaded on offense. Art Briles may be gone, but his son Kendall Briles is not. Corey Coleman was tremendous, yes, but so were the last 5 NFL receivers coming from Baylor. KD Cannon is the next in line. Seth Russell was the best quarterback in the nation before his injury a year ago. Shock Linwood still somehow has eligibility. This team should once again be in the top 5 nationally in points and yards.

1. Clemson Tigers – DeShaun Watson is maybe the best player in the nation, and he returns for his junior year to lead what many believe is the most talented team in the country. Mike Williams comes back after an injury in week one, who is poised to be the best receiver in the ACC. Wayne Gallman returns as the running back, a player who was constantly cited last year as being the most underappreciated player on the team. The offense is incredibly deep. We will have to see if the defense can reload enough to make it matter.

Top 5 Coach of the Year Contenders

5. Les Miles, LSU – A lot of picking candidates for Coach of the Year depends on in-season circumstances, but Miles is a strong contender. He has one of the most talented teams in the nation, and he had that bizarre deal after the season when he was all but fired, but then he was somehow brought back. If he wins the SEC, then the writers might throw a bone his way.

4. Butch Jones, Tennessee – If Tennessee lives up to the ridiculous expectations everyone is putting on their shoulders, then Butch Jones could be a clear choice for this award. He was touted as the next Brian Kelly after his stints following him to Central Michigan and Cincinnati, but this would finally be the validation of that claim.

3. Tom Herman, Houston – These awards go to smaller conference teams more than you would think. Herman has a tough road ahead of him, but he is one of the most respected coaches in the nation already, and he turned down some major jobs to stay loyal to Houston. You have to respect that, and if he can return to the major bowl games as the nation’s only unbeaten team, then this award could become a foregone conclusion.

2. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan – The Wolverines have such an easy schedule that they could run the table without a whole lot of trouble. If Harbaugh takes Michigan from where they were at two years ago to being ranked #1, then this award would be basically unanimous.

1. Chris Petersen, Washington – He has already won the award twice, but taking Washington to the playoff would make this an easy choice for the voters. He is already viewed as one of the best coaches and men in the business. This would prove without a shadow of a doubt that he is among the elite of his era.

Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects

5. Zach Banner, T, USC – 6’9” 360lb. Obviously, he is a mammoth human being and an absolute mauler for the Trojans. Many point to Cam Robinson as the top tackle in the draft, but as the process goes along, Banner will prove to be the class of the O-line prospects.

4. Desmond King, CB, Iowa – 5’11” 185lb. He is a playmaker and shutdown corner for the Hawkeyes. Players like King don’t come around every year. He won’t drop far in the draft, barring an unforeseen setback year.

3. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU – 6’1” 230lb. If he could have come out after last season, he would have. What is underrated about the big powerful running back is his speed. He is the perfect mix of size and burst. He could be the next Jamal Lewis.

2. DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson – 6’2” 210lb. He has the ideal size and leadership ability of an NFL quarterback. He is dynamic with his legs and accurate with his underrated arm. He sounds a lot like RGIII when he came out.

1. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M – 6’5” 262lb. He is a monster on the defensive line. He is the best pure pass rusher I have seen in a long time, including Jadeveon Clowney. Unless he has a mediocre year with the rest of the Aggies or if the Browns are picking first, then he should be an obvious #1 pick.

Top 10 Heisman Contenders

10. Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan – He is the most versatile player in the nation. They are grooming him to be the next Charles Woodson. Last year, he had 50+ snaps on offense, was the best returner on the team, and he was the unquestioned best defensive player. If he can put all of the stats together, then he can certainly make a run at an invite.

9. DeShone Kizer / Malik Zaire, QB, Notre Dame – The offense is going to be impressive no matter what. Both players are absolutely capable of running it and putting up dynamite numbers. I tend to be more of a Zaire guy, but I really have no idea which quarterback Kelly will choose.

8. Josh Dobbs, QB, Tennessee – He is the leader of a team with incredible hype. He had a strong year in 2015, including a few games where his physicality and talent really jumped off the screen. A repeat performance and an SEC title could make this Dobbs’s award to lose.

7.  Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA – The comparisons to Peyton Manning are still everywhere. UCLA will need to have a season where they don’t disappoint for once, but he can definitely lead them to where they want to go. He already looks like an NFL player out there. He is going to be a slam dunk #1 pick in the 2018 draft.

6. JT Barrett, QB, Ohio State – Two years ago, he played well enough to win the thing. Last year, he could not secure the starting job. This year’s team will have a much more balanced offense, and in the Urban Meyer system, the QB’s stats are unreal.

5. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State – He is the best pure running back in the country. If Florida State is as good as they should be this year, it will be because Cook carried them there. He very well might average over 30 carries.

4. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU – They had basically inscribed his name on the trophy last season in September, but then he faltered a bit with the rest of his team. If he can stay focused and torch SEC opponents like he does the rest of the nation, then he might win that award he’s been posing for since his first touchdown as a freshman.

3. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma – The former two-time walk-on was right in the mix for the award in 2015. He needs to have an equal or better season in 2016 to unseat some of the other favorites, but he can do it. He is a furious leader, puts up quietly marvelous stats, and has a flair for the dramatic. Sometimes, that is enough.

2. DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson – He is the quarterback of the team that everyone thinks is the favorite to win the CFP. He was invited as a sophomore last year, and this year one can only expect him to be as good or better with the best offensive personnel in the country.

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford – He should have won the Heisman a year ago, breaking every all purpose record there is to break. He absolutely unloaded his frustration all over Iowa in the Rose Bowl to show his displeasure. He will come back hungry and better than ever. Barring injury, he should be the favorite most of the season.

Preseason Top 25

Others receiving votes: Mississippi, Nebraska, Oregon, San Diego State, UCLA

25. Washington State

24. Michigan State

23. USC

22. South Florida

21. Utah

20. Arkansas

19. Pittsburgh

18. Stanford

17. Oklahoma State

16. Baylor

15. Michigan

14. Notre Dame

13. Florida

12. Tennessee

11. Georgia

10. Iowa

9. Clemson

8. Washington

7. TCU

6. Houston

5. Ohio State

4. Alabama

3. Florida State

2. Oklahoma

1. LSU

Bowl Predictions

Sugar Bowl: Alabama over Notre Dame

Cotton Bowl: Houston over TCU

Rose Bowl: Ohio State over Washington

Orange Bowl: Clemson over Florida

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl): Florida State over Oklahoma

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Fiesta Bowl): LSU over Michigan

National Championship Game: LSU over Florida State

That concludes my preview. Who is your Heisman pick? Who do you see getting to the CFP? Let me know in the comments.

Week 7 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

College football doesn’t get more exciting than that Michigan-Michigan State game. The absolutely shocking, absurd, and amazing ending had Jim Harbaugh almost weeping in his khakis. This week also showed us that a team is capable of turning the ball over 7 times in the first half. Way to go Boise. Oh, and Baylor was held to just 62 points. Just another week in college football!

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Arizona, Duke, Georgia, Georgia Southern, Marshall, Western Kentucky

Dropped from the rankings: Boise State (16), UCLA (17), Northwestern (18), Arizona State (24)

25 (20). Mississippi (5-2) – Everyone made their loss out to be some big upset, but they were playing on the road in the non-conference in the middle of the season against a borderline elite offense. They were going to lose, and they lost their best player to an injury because they decided to keep playing their DT at RB with a 2 touchdown lead. This team can’t get out of its own way.

24 (NR). North Carolina (5-1) – Their resume is looking stronger each week. This team can really score. Their only loss was an ugly season opener to South Carolina by 4 points.

23 (NR). California (5-1) – IDLE

22 (22). Florida State (6-0) – I cannot buy into this team. They have some real players, but they can’t take over a game. They are the weakest of the unbeatens.

21 (NR). Pittsburgh (5-1) – Pitt has quietly moved up the rankings in the ACC. Their sole loss was against Iowa, which is looking more reasonable with each passing week.

20 (NR). Temple (6-0) – The only time the Owls have appeared to struggle with anyone this year was against Cincinnati. They have one of the most underrated defenses in the land.

19 (21). Houston (6-0) – Any other year, this would be the slam dunk Group of 5 choice. They are dominant in every way. Tom Herman is going to get a great job next year.

18 (23). Toledo (6-0) – Toledo continues to ride the momentum of beating Arkansas to just dismantle every team that steps in their way.

17 (25). Memphis (6-0) – The American Conference is the 4^th best conference in America. Memphis appears to have one of the best offenses in the country, and their defense actually showed up in their whipping of Ole Miss as well.

16 (9). Florida (6-1) – The Gators performed admirably after Will Grier was suspended for a year due to PEDs. Losing in Death Valley is no shame, but their potential going forward looks a little bleak.

15 (6). Texas A&M (5-1) – They simply cannot win big SEC games at home. They rallied in the second half, but Alabama put them away by running the ball down their throat.

14 (3). Michigan (5-2) – There really are no words for their loss. They lead for the entire game...until the last play.

13 (13). Oklahoma State (6-0) – IDLE

12 (15). Iowa (7-0) – Iowa exposed Northwestern on Saturday. Iowa hasn’t really played anyone, and they won’t play anyone. But they are undefeated.

11 (19). Oklahoma (5-1) – Their 55-0 win on the road in Manhattan just shows how much of a fluke losing to Texas was. They played angry, and they took it out on Bill Snyder’s overmatched squad.

10 (14). Notre Dame (6-1) – The Irish looked pretty good against an inspired and upset-minded USC team. They are just going to quietly move along with one-loss until they play Stanford.

9 (11). Alabama (6-1) – They had a mightily impressive win on the road. Their loss to Ole Miss seems less and less like a great loss.

8 (4). TCU (7-0) – TCU simply has no defense. You cannot give up points to Iowa State, especially not 21 in the first quarter.

7 (5). Clemson (6-0) – Clemson struggled a bit with Boston College, which is surprising considering how much they struggle to put any points on the board. They are still one of the best teams out there, and they are probably not going to lose in the regular season.

6 (12). Stanford (5-1) – They are maybe the best team playing right now. That offense has really gotten going. It is just hard to justify their loss to Northwestern given what we now know about both teams.

5 (10). Michigan State (7-0) – Yeah, they won with a lucky last play. They played way better than I thought they were going to, though. Connor Cook is a big game QB.

4 (6). LSU (6-0) – They won differently this week. Fournette did not exactly go off, but Brandon Harris played a strong game at quarterback and proved that this is the team to beat in the SEC.

3 (8). Ohio State (7-0) – The Buckeyes have finally figured it out. Cardale Jones is the starter, and JT Barrett is the red zone guy. They will not lose in the regular season if they keep that up.

2 (2). Utah (6-0) – I was impressed with Utah taking down a pesky, talented, and upset-minded Arizona State squad. They are going to be a force, but they are now the hunted. I would be surprised if they can get through conference play unscathed.

1 (1). Baylor (6-0) – They could drop 50 points on any defense. They can actually stop some people too…not well, but they aren’t giving up 40 points to anybody outside of maybe Oklahoma or TCU. They probably shouldn’t lose, but then again last year I thought the same thing before they got a 14 point loss on the road. This team just seems different.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Western Kentucky at LSU (#4), 4:00PM ESPNU – You know it is a weak slate of games when I am looking for a potentially closer than expected game. WKU can score, and those midseason non-conference mid major games for SEC teams don’t always go as planned.

PREDICTION: LSU 41-27

4. Washington State at Arizona, 1:00PM TBD – The Cougars have been great since getting beat by Portland State to start the year. Arizona has been struggling. This could be a great game, and Gameday said that they will likely be in Pullman on Halloween night if WSU gets past the Cats.

PREDICTION: Washington State 31-28

3. California (#23) at UCLA, THU 6:00PM ESPN – UCLA is still one of the most talented teams out there. They have never been a traditionally good home team. California had a week off after the heartbreaker in Salt Lake. I like this matchup.

PREDICTION: UCLA 24-16

2. Utah (#2) at USC, 4:30PM FOX – I am not sure what else could go wrong for USC. Utah rolls into town, not having exactly been most impressive in recent weeks. Upset?

PREDICTION: USC 35-28

1. Texas A&M (#15) at Mississippi (#25), 4:00PM ESPN – The only matchup of ranked teams has a couple teams coming off tough losses. Ole Miss at home is tough to beat, but A&M can travel.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 34-20

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State – He is the best player on the team, maybe the best player in the ACC. He is single-handedly keeping the team unbeaten when they are not asking the QB to do much of anything.

4. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU – He might not be having the statistical year he had a year ago, but he is still dominant and scoring touchdowns at will.

3. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford – He is setting all-purpose records in Palo Alto. His emergence alone has ensured that Stanford will no longer struggle to score. He is a gamebreaker.

2. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor – He is being put in the same sentence as two-time Biletnikoff winners Justin Blackmon and Michael Crabtree. His first half season has been absolutely unreal.

1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU – He is the best player in the country. The entire defense keys on him, and he still drops 125. He is unstoppable. Only an injury will prevent him from taking the trophy.

College Football Playoff Projections

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

Rose Bowl: Utah over Iowa

Fiesta Bowl: Toledo over TCU

Sugar Bowl: Alabama over Florida State

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

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

National Championship Game: Baylor over Ohio State

There you have it! Comment below and give me your take on that Michigan-Michigan State finish, which is, for my money, the craziest walk-off win I have ever seen,

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

College football is officially bananas. I am going to rip up my previous top 25 polls and start over each week. There is no reason to have preconceived notions about any team. I mean, Ole Miss got spanked by Florida, who could barely take care of East Carolina. Ohio State looks pretty awful every week, yet I still have them #1 for some reason. Michigan State can’t put away freaking Purdue. LSU seemed totally content letting Eastern Michigan put up 20+ points. I’m done with the past. I’m starting fresh.

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Duke, Houston, Kansas State, Toledo, West Virginia

Dropped from the rankings: Wisconsin (15), West Virginia (17), Kansas State (20), Texas Tech (23), Miami (25)

25 (NR). Memphis (5-0) – The Tigers have one of the top offenses in the nation. We will see how true that statement is when they host Ole Miss after their bye next week.

24 (NR). California (5-0) – They struggled with both Washington schools, but they have survived. They are an offense that no one really wants to deal with in the Pac-12.

23 (7). Georgia (4-1) – They got humbled by Alabama at home with all the hype and even gave points in Vegas. Mark Richt will never win the big one.

22 (22). Florida State (4-0) – They still have not lost a game in the ACC since NC State upended the unbeaten Seminoles in 2012. It is a weak conference, but still. They just keep winning.

21 (NR). Mississippi (4-1) – I accidentally left them off last week, so that is how you can get shellacked and move into my top 25. It seemed fluky watching them get dismantled by the Gators, but it was emphatic.

20 (19). Boise State (4-1) – This is a team that will probably not lose the rest of the season. Their loss at BYU seems more and more confusing.

19 (18). Oklahoma State (5-0) – They survived a scare from the well-coached Kansas State squad looking for the upset. No one really knows what to make of this team.

18 (NR). Iowa (5-0) – The Hawkeyes were able to get out of Madison with a win…you can’t say that about many teams in the last decade. It was ugly, but that is how they win.

17 (6). UCLA (4-1) – The Bruins came in thinking of national titles after crushing Arizona on the road under the lights, but then the favor was returned by the seemingly dead in the water Sun Devils.

16 (11). USC (3-1) – IDLE.

15 (2). Notre Dame (4-1) – Their wins do not have the same luster they seemed to previously, but they had a nice comeback attempt against a really good Clemson team.

14 (9). Oklahoma (4-0) – At some point, the defense for the Sooners has got to start playing. West Virginia looked lost, which is rare for them. They were lucky to have such a big win because they really didn’t play all that well overall.

13 (14). Alabama (4-1) – Yes, they stomped all over Georgia, but their loss to Ole Miss loses some of its prestige seeing the Rebels get kicked around by Florida.

12 (10). Stanford (4-1) – This team might be playing at the highest level of any team in the country at this moment. They are going to be right there in the thick of the playoff hunt when all of the teams get a loss (and they all will).

11 (12). Northwestern (5-0) – They are going to be the ones helping Stanford get there if they can keep shutting teams out and winning in that beautiful Big Ten West way.

10 (16). Baylor (4-0) – They simply cannot be held under 8 touchdowns. They are going to terrify every team they line up against.

9 (NR). Florida (5-0) – I am still stunned by the beating they put on the Rebels on Saturday. They aren’t that good, are they? Maybe they are?

8 (1). Ohio State (5-0) – They have flashes of being the team that was the obvious national championship pick, but they just can’t get off to a good start. They will lose one very soon.

7 (24). Michigan (4-1) – After a second straight shutout, it seems clear that Harbaugh has the team right back where it was before Hoke. They might win the conference.

6 (21). Clemson (4-0) – After a couple underwhelming efforts, Clemson proved that they can really play well against elite competition (unless that team is South Carolina).

5 (5). Michigan State (5-0) – You just can’t let Purdue score 21 points in a row in the second half and expect to be able to beat legitimate Power 5 conference teams. They will lose one soon.

4 (8). LSU (4-0) – The Tigers looked pretty bad against Eastern Michigan. If they didn’t have a horse at running back, they would look very ordinary. But they do have him, and he alone makes them maybe the team to beat in the country.

3 (13). Texas A&M (5-0) – You would be hard pressed to find a team that has looked more impressive on paper and on the field than the Aggies. They are incredibly exciting to watch too.

2 (3). Utah (4-0) – IDLE.

1 (4). TCU (5-0) – Oh, Texas hahaha… The Frogs got life from that miracle win last week, and they are going to charge toward a playoff berth the rest of the way.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Navy at Notre Dame (#15) – This is always a good game, and Keenan Reynolds is going for the FBS rushing TD record and is still unbeaten. It should be quite a show.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 24-20

4. Florida (#9) at Missouri – Missouri is not an easy place to play, and Florida is coming off their biggest win in years. This is a sneaky good game here.

PREDICTION: Florida 17-14

3. TCU (#1) at Kansas State – This is the type of overlooked game that could give the Frogs issues. K-State can lull you to sleep with their fundamentals, but they are always somehow in the game. Watch out for this one…

PREDICTION: TCU 27-25

2. California (#24) at Utah (#2) – Utah got a week off to prepare for the high paced Golden Bear attack, but that might slow their momentum as well. It is almost impossible to win in Salt Lake, though.

PREDICTION: Utah 35-24

1. Northwestern (#11) at Michigan (#7) – This is going to be an ugly game offensively, but it is going to be a beautiful football game featuring two teams who have multiple shutouts through five games.

PREDICTION: Michigan 13-9

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia – The loss hurt his team’s chances, but he extended his all time Georgia-best streak of 100 yard games. He is one of the elite players and will be invited if he keeps it up.

4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State – If they have finally figured out that all they need to do is hand the ball to the beast, then he will be in this discussion by season’s end.

3. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma – He is more of a dark horse contender, but he really is rolling in that air raid offense in Norman.

2. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU – He is already setting records at TCU, and his numbers this year are only going to get better the deeper he gets into Big 12 play.

1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU – Unless he gets injured or completely shut down by someone, he is going to run away with this thing.

 

College Football Playoff Projections

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

Rose Bowl: Michigan State over USC

Fiesta Bowl: Texas A&M over Baylor

Sugar Bowl: Stanford over Florida

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Orange Bowl): LSU over Clemson

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): TCU over Utah

National Championship Game: LSU over TCU

Thoughts? Comments? Your top 4? Let me know below.

Week 3 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

Ohio State benches their starting QB and almost loses to a MAC team. Alabama was -5 in turnovers home and still had a drive to win in the fourth quarter. Kliff Kingsbury talks smack to Bret Bielema after a win. Just another college football Saturday.

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Arizona, Boise State, BYU, California, Stanford, Temple, Utah, West Virginia

Dropped from the rankings: West Virginia (18), Arizona (21), Wisconsin (23), BYU (25)

25 (NR). Oklahoma State (3-0) – The Mike Gundy offense is really humming right now. As usual, they are going to be a spoiler in the Big 12.

24 (17). Clemson (3-0) – They nearly lost to Louisville, which would have been a bad loss. I am just not buying into DeShaun Watson.

23 (NR). Texas Tech (3-0) – Kingsbury had some awesome trash talk to the jerk head coach of Arkansas after kicking his ass for four quarters.

22 (22). Florida State (3-0) – The Seminoles are just holding on each week. This team is going to implode if they ever play a decent team.

21 (NR). Miami (3-0) – They blew a 23 point lead at home before surviving in overtime. They are a tough team to read, but Brad Kaaya is the best QB in the ACC by a longshot.

20 (NR). Toledo (2-0) – They had a second straight win over a Power 5 conference team. If they wind up going unbeaten, it is going to be hard to not invite them to the Fiesta Bowl.

19 (20). Kansas State (3-0) – They just keep slugging along under the radar. Bill Snyder seems to love that position.

18 (23). Wisconsin (2-1) – The Badgers didn’t exactly look great against lesser competition, but they were missing their star RB. They are going to be a tough out for anyone.

17 (19). Utah (3-0) – The Utes are one of the biggest surprises for me. The south is so up in the air…Utah is right in the thick of it.

16 (14). Baylor (2-0) – IDLE

15 (8). Georgia Tech (2-1) – I really thought they would be able to run the ball on the Irish, but they proved to be out of sorts as the road favorite. They are still the best team in the ACC.

14 (2). USC (2-1) – Losing to Stanford carries no shame, but losing how they did to a team that looked to have no offense whatsoever is hard to swallow.

13 (13). Oregon (2-1) – The Ducks need to find a defense to have a chance in the Pac-12.

12 (15). LSU (2-0) – Leonard Fournette is a beast. They slaughtered Auburn, who might just be the worst team in the SEC West.

11 (5). Alabama (2-1) – The Tide self-destructed and still should have won. The team is just sloppy, which is uncharacteristic of Nick Saban teams.

10 (12). UCLA (3-0) – They survived a scare against the magical lucky BYU team. Rosen showed his first signs of being a freshman, but they avoided the upset. They can move forward.

9 (11). Northwestern (3-0) – Winning at Duke is a nice win. No one wants to give this team credit, but especially with Stanford’s win, this team is looking great. That defense is relentless.

8 (9). Oklahoma (3-0) – Yeah, they gave up way too many points and yard against Tulsa. That is a veteran offense though. The Sooners should be able to outscore most teams with 2-time walk-on Baker Mayfield at the helm.

7 (7). Texas A&M (3-0) – This team might be the most terrifying team out there. If the eye test mattered, they would be #1.

6 (10). Georgia (3-0) – Georgia is looking better and better. They are still in the national championship picture, but they are flying under the radar.

5 (16). Mississippi (3-0) – There was a fair amount of luck involved in their big win in Tuscaloosa, but Chad Kelly and company can score on anyone.

4 (4). TCU (3-0) – The Frogs are just going to keep rolling along, probably not lose, and then somehow get left out of the playoff.

3 (3). Michigan State (3-0) – They struggled defensively against the triple option attack of Air Force, but their offense really looked sharp.

2 (6). Notre Dame (3-0) – Kizer answered whether losing Zaire would derail their chances. Their win against Georgia Tech, defensively in particular, was mightily impressive.

1 (1). Ohio State (3-0) – They looked sluggish, horrible on offense, shaky on defense, but they won. A lesser team would have folded.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. BYU at Michigan, 9:00AM – This is more out of curiosity than anything else. Michigan has looked decent, but BYU is almost must-see TV each week.

PREDICTION: BYU 27-24

4. Georgia Tech (#15) at Duke, 9:00AM – Duke is tough at home, and Georgia Tech is coming off a disappointing game. This is a gut check game.

PREDICTION: Georgia Tech 31-24

3. Utah (#17) at Oregon (#13), TBD – The Utes are a team that no one really wants a piece of right now. The Ducks are coming off giving up 4 touchdowns to one of the worst teams in FBS. This is an interesting matchup each year.

PREDICTION: Oregon 42-34

2. UCLA (#10) at Arizona, TBD – Arizona is still just trying to buy time before they get All-American linebacker Scooby Wright back. UCLA is going to need to rebound after a near loss.

PREDICTION: Arizona 27-20

1. TCU (#4) at Texas Tech (#23), 1:45PM FOX – TCU hasn’t really had to deal with a great offense yet. Texas Tech is feeling really good about themselves after whipping an SEC team. Playing in Lubbock is tough.

PREDICTION: TCU 38-35

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State – Sometimes being the most pro ready player in the game makes a difference. If they go undefeated, then he will be invited no matter how unsexy his stats may look.

4. Chad Kelly, QB, Mississippi – He has the flashy offense and has a few Heisman moments already.

3. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma – He is going to shatter every record in Oklahoma’s history. If they make it out of the Big 12 unbeaten, which is really possible, then he might emerge as the frontrunner.

2. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia – Chubb is going to be in the running all year. He is the most talented and consistent back in the SEC.

1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU – It shouldn’t really matter that he is going to be one game short of everyone else. He is the most feared player in the land.

College Football Playoff Projections

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

Rose Bowl: LSU over UCLA

Fiesta Bowl: TCU over Toledo

Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma over Texas A&M

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Orange Bowl): Michigan State over Mississippi

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): Notre Dame over Ohio State

National Championship Game: Michigan State over Notre Dame

Thoughts? Comments? Feel free to vent below.