8 Team College Football Playoff: It's Time

I feel like every year when we see the reveal of the College Football Playoff field of 4 teams, I am one of what seems like a vast majority of college football fans that are pleading either for their team to have a shot or for an expanded playoff field.  I have been saying for years that an expanded playoff of at least 8 and maybe even 16 is needed.  I feel this season, maybe more than any other, proves that it is time for this to happen.

Here is the craziest part of this realization: the CFP committee got it right this year.  There were 3 or 4 teams that had a legitimate claim on that final playoff spot.  Ohio St. had possibly the best win of anyone this season, demolishing Michigan in embarrassing fashion.  Georgia had 2 losses, but they were the only team to even compete with Alabama, who needed another miracle comeback to pull out the SEC Championship.  UCF just finished their second straight perfect season.  However, Oklahoma seemed most deserving after avenging their one and only loss by beating Texas in the Big 12 Championship game.  I look at the 4 teams that will be playing for the championship, and they are exactly who they should be.  However, the fact that these four are the right four show that the system is flawed and needs to be fixed.

This is the fifth year of the College Football Playoff, and something that has been an issue since its inception is how in the world can you have a playoff a four when you claim to have a "Power 5" conference group.  It makes no sense.  One of your conferences, who are all said to be of equal standing, is guaranteed to be left out of the playoff.  On top of that, this is the second straight year only three conferences will be represented in the Playoff (Alabama made it as a non conference champ last year, Notre Dame is conference-less this year).  Both years, the Pac 12 and Big 10 have been the conferences left out of the party.  Ranking these top teams not only is judging the quality of that team, but also the quality and priority of a conference.  For instance, the SEC will never be left out of the CFP no matter what the best record is coming out of the conference.  There is a definite priority of some conferences over others.  I'm not even going to touch the fact that Notre Dame is still allowed to exist outside of the conference system.

Another argument I have always made for an expanded is the fact that about 2/3 of the college football landscape in FBS starts their season knowing they have no chance at winning a national championship.  UCF just finished their 2nd straight undefeated season, even destroying a team that ended up in the ACC Championship Game this season, and they were never even considered a serious option.  There must be a way that every team can have a legitimate shot at winning a title every year.

A lesser issue I have with the current system, and actually how the system has always worked, is the fact that we now have to wait a month to see these top teams play again.  I have always found this odd.  No other sport would even consider taking a month off between its regular season and postseason.  All momentum is gone, all continuity is gone, teams come out rusty as if they were playing the first game of the season.  It really produces a product that is less than the best.

This really is an easy problem to fix I think.  Go to an 8 team playoff.  Everything currently in place can stay the same.  It would just add one wild weekend of football to set up the current four team format.  This weekend would take place two weeks after championship weekend, which is the current start of bowl season already.  There wouldn't be a need for more travel and neutral site games as the first round can simply be a home game for the top seed.  The field would consist of the conference champs from the Power 5 conferences, the top Group of 5 team, and two at large teams.  The committee can continue to do what it is doing, however their primary function would shift to choosing the last three teams and seeding the playoff.  If this were to take place this year, here is what it would look like.  Tell me this doesn't sound worth it!

1.  Alabama (SEC Champ)

2.  Clemson (ACC Champ)

3.  Notre Dame (at large)

4.  Oklahoma (Big 12 Champ)

5.  Georgia (at large)

6.  Ohio St. (Big 10 Champ)

7.  UCF (Group of 5 team)

8.  Washington (Pac 12 Champ)

On Saturday, December 15th, here would be the quarterfinal matchups.

Washington at Alabama

Washington proved earlier this year that they are not afraid to play in the south and go toe to toe with a big bad SEC team.  The Huskies started this season beat up, playing a sloppy game, and still almost beating Auburn in Atlanta.  They are now at full strength, playing their best football, and would give Bama a run for their money.  I'm not saying they could win in Tuscaloosa in a game like this, but it would be worth the watch.

UCF at Clemson

This game would be a lot more intriguing if McKenzie Milton hadn't tried to get his leg ripped off a couple weeks ago.  With that said, the Knights have shown the last two weeks that they are much more than Milton as they have continued their winning streak.  So you would have the most hungry team in the playoff facing, potentially, the most untested team in the field.  Clemson played their way through a weak ACC without ever really needing to break much of a sweat.  It would make an interesting dynamic for a playoff game for sure.  It definitely would add some weight to UCF's game on the big stage; much more weight than the Fiesta Bowl against LSU, who has been irrelevant since their loss to Bama last month.

Ohio St. at Notre Dame

No one would argue about seeing these two powerhouses face off in a playoff game!  Notre Dame and Ohio St. share something in that they are the only two teams to defeat Michigan this season.  This would be a fun game to watch for sure!

Georgia at Oklahoma

Which team deserved to make it to this year's playoff?  Well, this rematch of last year's semifinal classic would help determine which team truly is best.  Honestly, I think Georgia is the better team, but Oklahoma is the more deserving team.  It would be fun to see Kyler Murray and that Oklahoma offense go up against an SEC defense (which we will see when they play Bama).  It would also be fun to see an SEC team Georgia have to go on the road to Norman and play the Sooners.

You are crazy if you think this wouldn't be beneficial to the sport.  Everyone wants to see it, all 8 of these teams have earned their opportunities to play for the title.  How is this a bad thing?  Make it happen NCAA!

Week 2 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

Week 2 brought us a lot of exciting games, including Auburn being exposed against FCS foe Jacksonville State and Arkansas getting upended at home by Toledo. Oklahoma had a huge comeback on the road. Notre Dame escaped with a win, despite losing Heisman frontrunner Malik Zaire for the season. It’s all happening!

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes:  Auburn, Boise State, California, Texas Tech, Toledo, Western Kentucky

Dropped from the rankings: Auburn (18), Boise State (20), Arkansas (21)

25 (25). BYU (2-0) – After a second consecutive miraculous win for the Cougars, they still can’t really rise in the rankings. That type of luck isn’t sustainable.

24 (24). Arizona State(1-1) – They treaded water for four quarters against FCS foe Cal Poly, but they came out on top. The Big Sky is as good as a couple FBS conferences.

23 (NR). Wisconsin (1-1) – The Badgers took out their frustration on Miami Ohio, winning 58-0. They will slowly climb the rankings as the season goes on.

22 (15). Florida State (2-0) – The Seminoles looked really bad against South Florida. Maybe Everett Golson isn’t the right guy under center.

21 (23). Arizona (2-0) – Playing in Nevada seemed like a trap game, but the Wildcats prevailed and really looked a lot better than in week one.

20 (NR). Kansas State (2-0) – K-State has only given up 3 points in the first 2 weeks. Good enough for me…but no one wants to pay attention to Coach Snyder’s squad.

19 (NR). Utah (2-0) – Utah took down in-state foe Utah State in week two. The Utes, unfortunately, are in the best division in college football (5/6 ranked teams).

18 (22). West Virginia (2-0) – The Mountaineers look to have a much better team than their disappointing 2014 campaign. They are going to surprise some teams in the Big 12 with an actual defense to go with the Holgorson offense.

17 (11). Clemson (2-0) – Clemson has been a bit underwhelming early on. They didn’t necessarily do anything to drop in the rankings, but they also didn’t do anything to sustain their spot.

16 (19). Mississippi (2-0) – I am not buying into the Rebels just yet. So what they can score almost 150 points against weak teams…let’s see how they do in Tuscaloosa next week.

15 (17). LSU (1-0) – LSU got a gutsy, close win on the road in their first game of the season. This team could wind up being a playoff contender.

14 (10). Baylor (2-0) – You simply cannot give up 31 points to Lamar.

13 (9). Oregon (1-1) – The Ducks performed admirably in a nearly impossible game to win in East Lansing. I actually have a bit more respect for the Ducks after this game.

12 (12). UCLA (2-0) – I am not going to buy completely into the Bruins like last year until I see them win a big game. They look awfully good so far, though.

11 (16). Northwestern (2-0) – Northwestern followed up their pounding of Stanford with a shutout at home. I might have them a bit high, but that defense is ferocious.

10 (7). Georgia (2-0) – The Bulldogs are going to run the ball on any defense they play, but the defense isn’t quite up to what it needs to be.

9 (13). Oklahoma (2-0) – Coming back from 17 down on the road in a hostile environment was mightily impressive for Baker Mayfield and company. This seems like one of those teams that just will not go away.

8 (14). Georgia Tech (2-0) – The Justin Thomas-led offense is humming like no running attack in years. The Yellow Jackets have got to be the favorite in the ACC, and they have a real shot at the playoffs if they can survive their schedule.

7 (8). Texas A&M (2-0) – The Aggies have a killer offense and a dynamic defensive line. That should be good enough to make real noise in the SEC West.

6 (2). Notre Dame (2-0) – Beating Virginia on the road is ok, but doing it how they did it was a real accomplishment. They lose their starting QB for the season, but their backup comes in and leads the game winning drive with under 30 seconds left. I just can’t see them going unbeaten anymore without Zaire.

5 (5). Alabama (2-0) – Alabama had a sandwich game with Middle Tennessee, and they looked as solid as possible. This team is going to be really tough to beat by anyone.

4 (3). TCU (2-0) – They looked much more potent on offense against an FCS opponent. I am not completely sure what to make of them, but they will get it all working by conference season.

3 (6). Michigan State (2-0) – Sparty had the most impressive win of the season so far, and they made a real case for being the most balanced team out there.

2 (4). USC (2-0) – The Trojans look like world beaters. The defense is playing outstanding, and Cody Kessler is the real deal. Watch out.

1 (1). Ohio State (2-0) – They are the best, scariest team since 2001 Miami. If you vote for anyone else, you are lying.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Stanford at USC (#2), 5:00PM ABC – Stanford may look ugly on offense, but the defense is still there. This has become an interesting game year in and year out, no matter what the teams look like.

PREDICTION: USC 21-13

4. Auburn at LSU (#15), 12:30PM CBS – Yeah, Auburn is the current laughing stock in college football, but never underestimate Gus Malzahn. Remember in their near title run in 2013 they almost lost to Washington State early. They can totally win this game.

PREDICTION: LSU 37-34

3. BYU (#25) at UCLA (#12), 7:30PM FS1 – BYU really put together a schedule that is going to challenge them, and they look really good with a backup QB taking all the snaps. This will be a test for Josh Rosen, true freshman QB for UCLA.

PREDICTION: UCLA 24-17

2. Mississippi (#16) at Alabama (#5), 6:15PM ESPN – Ole Miss will not score 73 against Alabama. They do have the type of offense that give the Tide fits, though, and they did beat them last year. Revenge game? Yes.

PREDICTION: Alabama 31-16

1. Georgia Tech (#8) at Notre Dame (#6), 12:30PM NBC – These are two of the early season surprises. The Notre Dame defense is terrifying, as is the Yellow Jacket rushing attack. I love this matchup.

PREDICTION: Georgia Tech 23-21

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama – In that offense, he is going to be able to do whatever he wants. He might be splitting carries, but he is going to have the ball when it matters. Sometimes, that is enough.

4. Justin Thomas, QB, Georgia Tech – He is the leader of that relentless rushing attack, and maybe the best throwing quarterback that Paul Johnson has had. If they come out on top against Notre Dame, then we will hear a lot about him.

3. Cody Kessler, QB, USC – He is the best quarterback in the nation, and it is a quarterback award usually. He could be on his way to being the most efficient quarterback of all time.

2. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State – I am not sure if it is possible for him to finish with under 100 yards in any game, no matter the number of carries.

1. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia – He is going to put up insane numbers in that offense. If they can keep winning, this might be an easy vote.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Georgia Tech over Texas A&M

Rose Bowl: Michigan State over UCLA

Fiesta Bowl: TCU over Western Kentucky

Sugar Bowl: Oregon over Mississippi

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

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): USC over Alabama

National Championship Game: Ohio State over USC

What did you think of this week 2? Who is your Heisman frontrunner? Let me know below!

Week 4 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

I typically like to do one of these every week, but due to a busy schedule, I was unavailable to do one the past couple weeks. I almost prefer to not update every week now. This way I can tear up what I had before and start over, rather than involuntarily going off my previous week’s rankings. I will publish as much as I can, however. Check out what this week’s action did for the landscape of this college football season below.

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Duke, Marshall, Ohio State, TCU, Washington

Dropped from the rankings: Pittsburgh (20), Ohio State (24)

25 (NR). Wisconsin (2-1) – Melvin Gordon: 250+ yards and 5 TDs on 13 carries…what a freak! He is the next Jamaal Charles. The team goes as he goes.

24 (25). East Carolina (3-1) – After a third straight victory over North Carolina and dropping 700+ yards and 70 points, we have potentially the scariest non-AQ team in the nation.

23 (NR). BYU (4-0) – It is difficult to really judge this team who dominates first halves and then falters in the second halves, but they are a potent offense and near unbeatable at home.

22 (18). Kansas State (2-1) – They did everything possible to lose to Auburn on Thursday night. They were the better team on that day, and maybe overall, but they need to shut the door. K-State is on the cusp of greatness far too often to never really get over the top.

21 (23). Oklahoma State (2-1) – IDLE.

20 (22). Arizona (4-0) – They were aided by a miracle 36 point 4^th quarter and hail mary to take down upset-minded and improved Cal. They are potentially the most explosive and prolific offense in the nation not called Baylor or Oregon.

19 (17). Stanford (2-1) – IDLE.

18 (16). USC (2-1) – IDLE.

17 (8). LSU (3-1) – They were physically dominated for about 55 minutes against Mississippi State before mounting a near comeback in the final moments. This team just isn’t as great defensively as they need to be to take that division.

16 (14). Mississippi (3-0) – IDLE.

15 (15). Arizona State (3-0) – IDLE.

14 (10). Georgia (2-1) – They may have dismantled a team in record fashion, but they get a net loss on the weekend when South Carolina struggled to beat the worst Power 5 team in the nation.

13 (19). Nebraska (4-0) – The offense is humming and the defense showed some attitude in the renewed rivalry game against Miami. The Big Ten’s chances might very well rest on the shoulders of Nebraska and Ameer Abdullah.

12 (7). Auburn (3-0) – They basically lost on the road, but they survive and advance, I guess. The conference games are what will define this team, just like last year after they nearly got beat by WSU and then nearly ran the table.

11 (13). Michigan State (3-1) – The Big Ten had a big weekend, and Michigan State is continuing to prove that they may be the best team in the conference. Losing in Eugene should not take them out of playoff contention.

10 (21). Mississippi State (4-0) – The Bulldogs finally get a big time win when it still matters! This team is always on the verge of competing, and after a huge road win in Death Valley, they are right in the thick of the race.

9 (9). UCLA (3-0) – IDLE.

8 (12). Penn State (4-0) – No one else really buys into this team as much as I do, but whenever I see them, I am fully impressed. Hackenberg could carry this team all the way to the B1G Title Game.

7 (11). Alabama (4-0) – The defense is not what we have come accustomed to, but Lane Kiffen has really ignited that offense. They could outscore almost the entire conference.

6 (5). Florida State (3-0) – The ‘Noles got extremely lucky to survive without Jameis Winston at home, but they did it in overtime. The defense is still really good, and the running game was able to show its power. They aren’t good enough to go unbeaten, though.

5 (6). Oklahoma (4-0) – Winning in Morgantown should not be underestimated. This team is as strong of a Sooner team as there has been since 2008.

4 (3). Baylor (3-0) – IDLE.

3 (2). Notre Dame (3-0) – IDLE.

2 (1). Oregon (4-0) – The offensive line was exposed in Pullman, one of the toughest places for teams to travel to. They will get it together and look back at this game as a learning experience.

1 (4). Texas A&M (4-0) – Kenny Hill has taken this team to places that Johnny Football never did. The offense simply cannot be stopped, it appears. I like them to take the SEC.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Tennessee at Georgia (#14), 9:00AM ESPN – Tennessee is a decent team, despite what we saw from them against Oklahoma a couple weeks ago. Georgia can be beaten again if they bottle up Gurley. This could be start of a bit of a lull in the Bulldog schedule after a tough stretch to start. PREDICTION: Georgia 28-24

4. Florida State (#6) at NC State, 12:30PM ABC/ESPN2 – This may not seem like a great game, but the last time that the Seminoles traveled to Raleigh they were upended and received their only loss of the year. Can it happen again to a newly cocky and seemingly vulnerable team against a team that hasn’t lost yet? PREDICTION: Florida State 31-24

3. Stanford (#19) at Washington, 1:15PM – This will probably wind up on one of the Pac-12 Network channels. Every time these teams get together, something crazy happens. For the fans in the west, this has got to be one of the top games of the weekend. PREDICTION: Stanford 35-31

2. Arkansas vs Texas A&M (#1) (in Dallas), 12:30PM CBS – Arkansas has improved since their opening loss to Auburn, and they get the best team in the nation on a neutral field. This could be a trap game for the Aggies before they get into the meat of their conference schedule. PREDICTION: Texas A&M 48-38

1. UCLA (#9) at Arizona State (#15), THU 7:00PM FS1 – Arizona State is the most underappreciated team in the country, and UCLA still is the most talented. This is one of those weird Thursday night matchups where we get an amazing game that isn’t even on ESPN. Ridiculous. PREDICTION: Arizona State 24-23

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Kenny Hill, QB, Texas A&M – I am beginning to think that anyone can put up numbers in that offense, but it has rarely looked as easy and exciting as it does with Hill calling the plays.

4. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor – He might put up historic numbers this year, and if the team is able to run the table, then he might be an easy winner in the end.

3. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia – He barely played against Troy, but he still has a couple insane games to carry his candidacy to the top.

2. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska – He is the entire team, and he has had a few Heisman-type moments already. If the Huskers continue to win, then he needs to be invited.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He had a very methodical and productive game despite getting sacked 7 times at WSU. He will be the frontrunner until they lose.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Arizona State over East Carolina

Cotton Bowl: Alabama over Nebraska

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma over BYU

Orange Bowl: Florida State over Michigan State

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Rose Bowl): Baylor over Texas A&M

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

National Championship Game: Notre Dame over Baylor

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

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

Watching week one of the college football season is at times exhilarating and a bit predictable. Some FCS teams always give the Power 5 conference teams a game, but the bigger schools almost always pull out the wins. There are always a couple marquee matchups, and there is always a player or two that leap into the public conscious with one insane debut outing. Sadly, preseason rankings still matter in determining rankings after week one, but hey, if we noticed anything in the past five days, it is that no team is going undefeated. Nobody is that good. Check out my breakdown of the week and a look forward to the best matchups for week two!

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Clemson, Louisville, Marshall, North Carolina

Dropped from the rankings: Washington (13), South Carolina (15), Texas Tech (20), Clemson (21), Missouri (22), Marshall (24)

25 (NR). Oklahoma State (0-1) – They really surprised a lot of people with their effort against the defending champions. With the confidence they built in week one, they could be a challenger in a wide open Big 12.

24 (NR). Pittsburgh (1-0) – I don’t think anyone really knows anything about the Panthers, but the 62-0 whipping they put on perennial FCS power Delaware was shocking.

23 (NR). Michigan (1-0) – They ended Appalachian State early and looked impressive doing it behind improved QB Devin Gardner.

 

22 (19). Kansas State (1-0) – The Wildcats are going to quietly produce for several weeks before anyone really notices that they exist and are playing amazing football, just like every year.

21 (NR). Mississippi (1-0) – The Rebels pulled away from a slightly overmatched Boise State team. They are still going to need to solve some consistency issues if they really want to be anything but a spoiler in that conference.

20 (25). Mississippi State (1-0) – They pitched a shutout in week one against an in-state rival. That is about as much as you can ask for, no matter the opponent. They are the sleeper in the SEC.

19 (NR). Nebraska (1-0) – They racked up 780+ yards in their opener. The offense was a machine and should send shockwaves throughout the conference. The defense is still looking for answers, though.

18 (9). Ohio State (1-0) – You do not get too much taller of a task than playing a triple option team in week one without your starting QB. They managed well enough and showed definite growth by the second half.

17 (23). Texas (1-0) – The Longhorns looked impressive against one of the elite non-AQ teams in North Texas. If they can continue to roll offensively, then they could be a real contender in the Big 12.

16 (6). Oklahoma (1-0) – They had a shaky opener, but it is just week one. This team will get it together soon, setting up a mightily intriguing matchup with Baylor in early November between two likely unbeatens.

15 (16). Wisconsin (0-1) – They had maybe the three most impressive quarters of football over the weekend. They looked like a title contender, but then they ran out of gas late. They might be the frontrunner in the Big Ten.

14 (2). Alabama (1-0) – It is hard to really criticize them for a 10 point neutral site win, but if the offense struggled that much against a Dana Holgorsen defense, then they have some issues.

13 (1). UCLA (1-0) – The Bruins did what they had to do to win, but they really struggled offensively. They need to put Myles Jack back on offense, at least occasionally. He adds that dimension that will cool the pass rush.

12 (NR). Penn State (1-0) – They had the gutsiest win of the weekend with their 6:00AM kick in Dublin against reigning Fiesta Bowl champion UCF. They had a two minute drill situation and actually hit a clutch kick. Watch out for this team, even if they are still bowl ineligible.

11 (11). LSU (1-0) – They had one of the toughest games in week one, and they got lucky to get out of there with a win. They started to look like a contender in the fourth quarter, but they are going to need to solve some issues if they are going to challenge in that division.

10 (18). USC (1-0) – The Trojans had a brilliant debut under new coach Steve Sarkisian amidst a host of off-field distractions. They might finally be back.

9 (5). Auburn (1-0) – I thought that they had a week one trap game, but they wore out Arkansas in the second half and proved that they are still a national title contender.

8 (8). Michigan State (1-0) – The Spartans smacked around the opposition, this time not struggling early in the year on offense. They are going to be a title contender if they can consistently score in conference.

7 (4). Oregon (1-0) – We really do not know exactly what to think of the team just yet, but when the starters were in there, they looked as good as they have any of the last five years.

6 (10). Stanford (1-0) – They physically destroyed UC Davis, which they should have. This program reloads as well as any.

5 (17). Texas A&M (1-0) – Their game against South Carolina opened eyes the same way Baylor-TCU did in RGIII’s Heisman year. It was a breathtaking first effort from a relatively unknown player (Kenny Hill) and a game that launched a team into the top ranks immediately.

4 (2). Florida State (1-0) – I knew that facing Oklahoma State would be no cakewalk. Everyone had them in a laugher, but the Cowboys are great at preparing for these types of matchups. The Noles will be fine, but they certainly can’t take anyone lightly, even in a horrible ACC.

3 (11). Notre Dame (1-0) – The Irish had a mightily impressive 2014 debut with QB Everett Golson back in the lineup. They stomped all over a very capable Rice team, producing one of their finest offensive outputs under Brian Kelly.

2 (14). Baylor (1-0) – The Bears got off to another scorching start, this time actually showing signs of a competent defense, shutting down in-state rival and usually offensive juggernaut SMU. Baylor could be looking at another magical season.

1 (7). Georgia (1-0) – There was not a team that had a more impressive win than the Bulldogs. Todd Gurley is healthy and going to dominate most defenses he plays against. Clemson was not a stellar defense or anything, but this team, as I suspected, is going to be a force.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. East Carolina at South Carolina, 4:00PM ESPNU – You know it is a weak weekend when one of the most intriguing games is simply seeing how a team is going to respond after getting blown out. East Carolina is a veteran and winning squad. Can South Carolina avoid a disastrous 0-2 start? PREDICTION: South Carolina 38-24

4. BYU at Texas (#17), 4:30PM FS1 – Last year, the Cougars racked up 550 rushing yards in a stomping of the Longhorns. Texas gets their chance at revenge against a very solid BYU team. PREDICTION: Texas 27-24

3. Michigan (#23) at Notre Dame (#3), 4:30PM NBC – This is always one of the marquee games of its given week. Both teams looked excellent offensively in week one. How will their final annual game go? PREDICTION: Notre Dame 31-23

2. USC (#10) at Stanford (#6), 12:30PM ABC – This has got to be one of the most intriguing games of the young season. The matchups between Stanford and Sark were always compelling, and USC and Stanford have really taken part in some instant classics and upsets in the past few years. PREDICTION: USC 31-17

1. Michigan State (#8) at Oregon (#7), 3:30PM FOX – This was one of the matchups that has been circled since January. It is the most important non-conference game of the season, and we get it in week two. I cannot wait. PREDICTION: Oregon 27-21

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State – He may have had a couple turnovers, but if this team is going to continue winning, then it will be squarely on his right shoulder. He has the talent to really put up some serious numbers, particularly in a defensively deficient conference.

4. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor – Petty was in the running a year ago as well. It seems as if he needs to have an undefeated season to really have a shot at winning, but his numbers might speak for themselves in his senior season.

3. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia – Gurley is already being touted as the Heisman frontrunner, but this is fairly reminiscent of Marcus Lattimore a couple years ago. Everyone knows he is the best, but running backs don’t win the award anymore unless there aren’t great QBs. This year, there clearly are.

2. Kenny Hill, QB, Texas A&M – Kevin Sumlin’s offense is insane. Any quarterback could come in and put up absurd numbers. If he can keep pulling upsets and passing for half-a-thousand yards through the SEC schedule, then look for another Heisman winner to come out of College Station.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – Another year, another case for Mariota’s Heisman. He had his way with the opposition in week one. If he remains healthy, then he is going to be right there at the top of the race all year.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Auburn over Marshall

Cotton Bowl: Oregon over Oklahoma

Fiesta Bowl: USC over Michigan State

Orange Bowl: Florida State over Alabama

 

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

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

National Championship Game: UCLA over Georgia

I am not completely abandoning my preseason prediction just yet. Georgia proved me right, UCLA greatly underwhelmed on the road. I still think those are the two most complete teams in the nation in the two best conferences. Baylor and Notre Dame appear good enough to go unbeaten, which would be the only way either makes the playoff.

There you have it! What did you think of week one? Who are your early Heisman contenders? Which team was most impressive to you? Let me know below!

Week 2 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, BCS Projections

Week 2 was fairly uneventful. There was not a great slate of games, and yet a few of the good ones ended up being one-sided anyway. We learned that Texas is a fraud again. Cincinnati had one of the most confusing blowout losses I can remember, plus they potentially lost QB Munchie Legaux with a leg injury. We learned that the Oregon ground attack can go on the road and put up the same monster numbers. The Heisman Trophy race is wide open. Next week is a big one. We will start to see what some of the preordained contenders are made of. Check out my rankings below:

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Cincinnati, Florida, Fresno State, Georgia Tech, Marshall, Oklahoma, TCU

Dropped from the rankings: Cincinnati (12), Florida (20), Texas (22)

25 (NR). Arizona State (1-0) – They obliterated the competition on Thursday night, showing their stout defense and potent offensive attack. They could be the South representative with some luck.

24 (24). Northern Illinois (1-0) – They had the week off, but they are still one of those offenses that no one wants to play. Look for an impressive streak to come for the Huskies starting with their next game at Idaho.

23 (21). Texas A&M (2-0) – They once again showed that defense is going to be an issue for the team, but scoring is not. Manziel was on fire against Sam Houston State. I can’t wait to see him against Alabama this week.

22 (NR). Miami (2-0) – They got an important win against Florida, showing that Al Golden has actually somewhat gotten them back to competing. The ACC has shown some worth in these first two weeks, taking out the top of the SEC.

21 (19). Wisconsin (2-0) – They have not given up a point in their first two games against FCS competition, while running the ball down almost exclusively. Let’s see if they can throw to win a game before we anoint them as a contender.

20 (25). Nebraska (2-0) – The defense rebounded in a big way after the debacle against Wyoming. It sets up a nice game next week against UCLA in Lincoln.

19 (6). Notre Dame (1-1) –The defense got shredded through the air the majority of the game against Michigan. The offense is there and not there. They have a brutal stretch coming up. We will see what the Irish are made of.

18 (19). Mississippi (2-0) – I still like this team as a sleeper in the SEC. They had a bit of a letdown win vs SE Missouri State, but they are still an offense who can score on anyone. They are about ready to explode.

17 (17). Texas Tech (2-0) – The Red Raiders had another huge offensive display on Saturday. They are going to be scary for any Big 12 team to face.

16 (16). UCLA (1-0) – They took the week off in preparation for their huge trip to Nebraska. That is going to be quite a game.

15 (23). Northwestern (2-0) – Northwestern is one of those teams who always plays AQ conference foes in the non-conference season and always beat them. They probably have the most impressive pair of wins in the nation.

14 (11). South Carolina (1-1) – The Gamecocks came up short for the first time against Aaron Murray and Georgia, giving up points all over the place. That has got to be discouraging heading into the meat of their schedule.

13 (15). Georgia (1-1) – Georgia got their must-win game out of the way. Their defense is going to struggle all season, but that offense is a juggernaut even with their best WR or not.

12 (14). Oklahoma State (2-0) – Why was Oklahoma State playing at UTSA? They had an uneventful win, but JW Walsh showed that he is their guy and a dark horse Heisman candidate.

11 (13). Michigan (2-0) – Michigan was able to pick apart the strong Notre Dame defense in front of a record attendance at the Big House. The defense was shaky, but it was a rivalry game no matter what Brian Kelly says.

10 (10). Washington (1-0) – Washington suddenly has an interesting game traveling to Illinois next week after the Illini destroyed Cincinnati in the same building.

9 (NR). Baylor (2-0) – 139 points in two games? This offense is absurd. Watch out Big 12. The offense led by Bryce Petty and Lache Seastrunk might just be the best offense Baylor has had under Art Briles. They took apart that same Buffalo defense that Ohio State struggled to score against last week.

8 (8). Florida State (1-0) – If anything, the Seminoles gained some points in their week off with the ACC getting another win against the SEC.
7 (9). LSU (2-0) – The Cam Cameron passing attack gives LSU a dimension that I have never seen them have before. This could be a scary team.

6 (7). Louisville (2-0) – Teddy Bridgewater is not going to have much competition this year, and they are only hurt by Cincinnati’s blowout loss. He should still be in the Heisman conversation, but I now think that the Cardinals may need everyone to have two losses for them to get a chance at the BCS Championship Game.

5 (5). Ohio State (2-0) – After Braxton Miller went down, the offense suddenly took off. Yeah, I don’t get it either.

4 (4). Clemson (2-0) – Clemson’s offense is for real. They do not have a losable game until Florida State heads to Death Valley in late October.

3 (3). Oregon (2-0) – Marcus Mariota and De’Anthony Thomas are torching the competition. They play an improved Tennessee team next weekend. That could be a mini-test before hitting the tough Pac-12 conference schedule.

2 (2). Stanford (1-0) – The Cardinal played much better against San Jose State than they did last year. That linebacker group is the best there is in college football. I do not see them losing this year.

1 (1). Alabama (1-0) – Alabama seems to always have the clever scheduling that gives them a week off before their biggest games. How do they always know?

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Wisconsin(#21) at Arizona State (#25), 7:30PM ESPN – The two unbeaten teams who have yet to allow a score face off in a Pac-12/B1G clash. This should be a really competitive and nasty game.

4. Mississippi (#18) at Texas, 5:00PM Longhorn Network – We will see how good Ole Miss really is this year when they travel to Austin to play an angry Texas squad who got taken to the woodshed by an average running game at BYU. This should be a battle.

3. UCLA (#16) at Nebraska (#20), 9:00AM ABC – The game last year was high-scoring and filled with big plays. Expect the same this year. Who scheduled this at 9:00AM Pacific Time? UCLA kinda got screwed there…

2. Texas Tech (#17) at TCU, Thursday 4:30PM ESPN – This is going to be our first big Thursday night game. It should be an offensive show. TCU’s defense is not as strong as years past, but their offense is really coming on.

1. Alabama (#1) at Texas A&M (#23), 12:30PM CBS – Everyone has waited nine months to see the reigning Heisman winner take on the 2-time defending national champs. We get to see it at Kyle Field, one of the best venues in the country. If you are not watching this game Saturday afternoon, you are doing it wrong.

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – He is going to be able to put up whatever numbers Charlie Strong lets him, since they do not really have any marquee games on their schedule. A trip to an SEC school (Kentucky, but still) next week may give him a slight bump.

4. Lache Seastrunk, RB,Baylor – It appears that the offense is going to put up video game numbers, and he is going to be the beneficiary of that. It is scary to think if he was still enrolled at Oregon…

3. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – A week off, and people are still talking about him. He could be our next RGIII, but he is far better than the former Heisman winner was as a freshman.

2. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – He has been and is going to continue to be in the spotlight all year long. A win against the Crimson Tide on Saturday would almost guarantee his invitation back to New York.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – If he played in the SEC, he would have won last year. He has only gotten better. Unless the Ducks lose a couple games, then he is going to remain the frontrunner.

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – Oregon over Michigan

Orange Bowl – Clemson over Louisville

Sugar Bowl – Alabama over Ohio State

Fiesta Bowl – Oklahoma State over LSU

BCS Championship Game – Stanford over Florida State

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

College Football: If I had a ballot...

I guarantee that none of the voters who decide who plays for national championships and post-season awards watch as much college football as I do. I deserve a vote. Here is a rundown of what my ballot would look like for all major awards and of course my top 25. Not a whole lot has changed since last week, so I will cut down on the analysis. Check it out:

Top 25

1. (1) Notre Dame

2. (2) Ohio State

3. (4) Stanford – Honestly, this is the best team in the nation. If they had started Hogan all year, they would have rolled won in South Bend and rolled all over Washington.

4. (3) Alabama – I came to realize that those SEC teams were just frauds and their defenses really are not that good. I had Bama winning 35-31. Don’t think anyone else saw those average defenses getting exposed the way they obviously were.

5. (5) Oregon

6. (6) Kansas State – They completed their brilliant regular season, maybe the best in school history with a win over a solid Texas squad.

7. (7) Texas A&M

8. (9) Florida State – They avoided a BCS nightmare in the form of a 6 loss team making it to the Orange Bowl.

9. (11) Florida

10. (10) LSU

11. (14) Oregon State – Nice school record for points against hapless Nicholls State…

12. (8) Georgia

13. (16) Northern Illinois – This team is going to be in a BCS bowl, as long as they do not get screwed by the computers. Too bad their coach jumped ship for NC State. It would be a shame if he wouldn’t be able to coach the Sugar Bowl or wherever they end up.

14. (13) Clemson

15. (NR) Oklahoma – They continue to sneak out victories. Hopefully Northern Illinois will take their BCS spot.

16. (15) South Carolina

17. (19) Utah State

18. (20) San Jose State

19. (12) Nebraska – What an ugly loss they had. That has got to be an aberration, considering the roll they were on coming into the Big Ten Title game.

20. (21) Michigan

21. (22) Boise State – They took down their rival Nevada in their territory, a place that has given them trouble in recent years. Can they sneak into the BCS?

22. (23) Louisville – A nice win over Rutgers all but clinched their spot in a soon-to-be ugly-as-hell Orange Bowl.

23. (28) UCLA – They got beaten up by the best team in the nation a couple weeks in a row, but this week they showed some fight at least.

24. (17) Kent State – They took Northern Illinois to overtime. That shows even more clearly that the loss to Kentucky was the biggest head-scratcher of the year.

25. (NR) Northwestern

Dropped from rankings: Rutgers (24), Oklahoma State (25)

Heisman Trophy

1. Colin Klein, QB, Kansas State – He deserves the award. He has had an amazing season. One loss does not take you completely out of a race. Every winner has an off game.

2. Manti T’eo, LB, Notre Dame – His playmaking ability on a stingy defense is impossible to ignore. One of the best and most impactful linebacker seasons I can remember.

3. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – He had an incredible freshman year statistics-wise, except when he was playing Florida and LSU. Oh yeah, all the other voters must have missed those games…

4. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – Aside from Klein, Miller is the one player whose team could least afford to losehim. He single-handedly went unbeaten in the Big Ten, which is rarer than you might expect.

5. Jordan Lynch, QB, Northern Illinois – Nobody can argue with the stats this guy put up all season. Even in the team’s average games, he was dominant. For a trophy that has turned into an Offensive Player of the Year Award, he needs to get notice. For the doubters, watch what he can do if they make it into the top 16. Seriously. He is a stud.

Coach of the Year

1. Bill Snyder – Kansas State

2. Brian Kelly – Notre Dame

3. Jim Mora – UCLA

4. Bill O’Brien – Penn State

5. David Shaw – Stanford

Davey O’Brien (QB)

1. Colin Klein – Kansas State

2. Braxton Miller – Ohio State

3. AJ McCarron – Alabama

4. Geno Smith – West Virginia

5. Johnny Manziel – Texas A&M

Doak Walker (RB)

1. Stepfan Taylor – Stanford (most underappreciated player in the nation)

2. Ka’Deen Carey – Arizona

3. Joseph Randle – Oklahoma State

4. Jonathan Franklin – UCLA

5. Kenjon Barner – Oregon

Biletnikoff (WR)

1. Terrance Williams – Baylor

2. Marqise Lee – USC

3. Tavon Austin – West Virginia

4. DeAndre Hopkins – Clemson

5. Quinton Patton – Louisiana Tech

John Mackey (TE)

1. Austin Seferian-Jenkins – Washington

2. Zach Ertz – Stanford

3. Tyler Eifert – Notre Dame

4. Joseph Fauria – UCLA

5. Jordan Reed – Florida

Chuck Bednarik (Defense)

1. Manti Te’o – Notre Dame

2. Jadeveon Clowney – South Carolina

3. Arthur Brown – Kansas State

4. Jordan Hill – Penn State

5. Jarvis Jones – Georgia

Way-too-early 2013 Heisman Trophy Watchlist

1. Braxton Miller – Ohio State

2. Johnny Manziel – Texas A&M

3. Taylor Martinez – Nebraska

4. DeAnthony Thomas – Oregon

5. Jordan Lynch – Northern Illinois

6. Marqise Lee – USC

7. Marcus Mariota – Oregon

8. TJ Yeldon – Alabama

9. Devin Gardner – Michigan

10. Ka’Deem Carey – Arizona

Ok, that is about all I got. Give me your rankings, thoughts, snubs, etc.