McCarthy, Jim Harbaugh may have his best offense as Michigan’s coach. Michiganīetween the return to health of star wideout Ronnie Bell, the top five pass catchers from a year ago, top running back Blake Corum and quarterbacks Cade McNamara and J.J. But if Uiagalelei can’t find his freshman year form- or top recruit Cade Klubnik is unable to unseat him - another trip to the playoff seems unlikely. That group could be similar to the one that started Clemson’s run atop the ACC eight years ago. Dabo Swinney had to replace both of his coordinators as Brent Venables took the head-coaching job at Oklahoma and Tony Elliott went to Virginia, but he does have a potentially elite front seven on defense led by linemen Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee. The former five-star signal-caller failed to come close to expectations last year, throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdown passes (nine) as Clemson failed to reach the playoff for the first time since 2014. Clemsonįorget just quarterbacks, there may not be a player dealing with as much pressure as junior DJ Uiagalelei this year. You can blame the inability to find a quarterback, and unless someone emerges among an unproven trio - sophomore Haynes King, LSU transfer Max Johnson and true freshman Conner Weigman are all options - that crucial position could be the otherwise-stacked Aggies’ downfall yet again. What he doesn’t have is a double-figure win season in four years at Texas A&M. Jimbo Fisher has recruited at an elite level and has six top-15 victories since taking the job in College Station. Quarterback Stetson Bennett IV returns after his storybook run last year, as do linebacker Nolan Smith and cornerback Kelee Ringo from that record-setting defense. It still features two of the nation’s premier talents in tight end Brock Bowers and defensive lineman Jalen Carter. This is where recruiting is so essential, and it’s why there won’t be too steep of a drop-off for Georgia, which has created Alabama-esque depth since Kirby Smart’s arrival seven years ago. The Bulldogs’ first national championship in 41 years came with a price: They lost 14 starters, most of them difference-makers. Senior edge rusher Zach Harrison could be the next star Buckeyes pass rusher, and safety Ronnie Hickman will guide a defense that came up short in season-altering losses to Oregon and Michigan, leading to the dismissal of defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs. Stroud under center and elite skill-position players at his disposal in wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back TreVeyon Henderson. Don’t expect history to repeat itself, not with coach Ryan Day’s electric offense featuring potential No. Last season was a rare down year in Columbus, the first time since 2016 Ohio State failed to win the Big Ten East. And they have an absurd assortment of talent behind those two that includes All-SEC preseason first-team selections Jordan Battle and Eli Ricks at defensive back, Henry To’oTo’o at linebacker, Jahmyr Gibbs at running back and Emil Ekiyor Jr. Anderson could break Terrell Suggs’ sack record of 24 set in 2002 for Arizona State, and Young is a preseason favorite to become the second repeat Heisman winner ever, joining Ohio State’s Archie Griffin. lead yet another stacked Crimson Tide roster that might have won it all last season if not for late-season injuries to star receivers Jameson Williams and John Metchie III. AlabamaĪrguably, the two best players in the country - defending Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and sack artist Will Anderson Jr. The Post breaks it all down in its preseason Top 25: 1. Coming off its first playoff appearance and with the potential for its best offense under Jim Harbaugh, Michigan has to be accounted for, and the Marcus Freeman era begins at Notre Dame.īut, as usual, the conversation begins and ends with Alabama. The Pac-12, without a playoff participant in six years, may have two challengers in Utah and USC following the arrival of Lincoln Riley and his quarterback, Caleb Williams, from Oklahoma. Clemson will be looking to return to the playoff after a rare down year, and Texas A&M is hoping for a breakthrough in Jimbo Fisher’s fifth season in College Station. This fall will feature the typical contenders, from Big Ten dynamo Ohio State to defending champion Georgia. and an obscene amount of talent around them, it would be a stunner if Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide didn’t reach the College Football Playoff title game for the seventh time in eight years. The college football season starts like so many others: With Alabama as the prohibitive favorite.īetween reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, menacing pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr.
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