College Football Preview
I Could Give You An In Depth Analysis Of All 128 FBS Teams, But Hey…I Left My Anorak At The Office, So Here’s A Brief To Get You Up To Speed.
Headed in to its second season, the new College Football Playoff structure with its four-team knock out, looks set to pit some perennial powerhouses against each other. There always seems to be a surprise contender who bursts out of the blocks early in the season, but history would show you that they mostly gas out, when it gets to the business end of the year, and the schedule gets tougher. For me college football brings some of the most exciting action you will see on a gridiron. It’s less predictable than the NFL due to the (shall we say) youthful exuberance of the players. The gameday traditions of the different programmes add to the overall experience, with the students in the stands creating an electric atmosphere. When the regular season schedule starts at the end of August, there will be 128 teams in search of the championship title. Come January, there will be just four, who are still in with a chance. So who will be the teams to make that final quartet? Here’s how I see it shaking out.
Alabama – The reigning champions. It’s tough to bet against the Crimson Tide. Starting his tenth season in Tuscaloosa, coach Nick Saban is like the college version of Bill Belichick, a bit hard to warm to, but he gets the job done. They will need to replace Heisman trophy winning running back Derrick Henry, and they’ll also have a new starter under centre. The defense lost its heartbeat in linebacker Reggie Ragland, who is about to start his NFL career, but Reuben Foster will slot in at middle backer to key the defensive unit.
Ohio State – With 16 starters graduating, you could be forgiven for thinking that OSU will see a downturn in their fortunes this year. Maybe they will, but senior quarterback J T Barrett already has championship winning experience, and inspirational head coach Urban Meyer, is one of the best at getting the talent at his disposal, to perform at the highest level. They have a tough schedule, but having to play at your best each week can be a positive, as you are never going to get complacent. Running back Mike Webber has to pick up where Ezekiel Elliott left off, it’s a big ask, but he has talent.
Clemson – They came so close to winning it all last season, but were edged 45-40 in the final by Alabama. Do they have a chance to go that one step further this time around? With quarterback Deshaun Watson returning, indeed they do! He elevates a team who are good all over, to a level where they can legitimately be thinking about acquiring a championship ring each.
It won’t be easy, as teams will scheme against the dual threat triggerman. His 4,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing last term helped secure him third place in the Heisman trophy voting. Look for speedy wide-out Artavis Scot to snag plenty of balls from Watson.
Oklahoma – The Sooners I hear you say! Indeed say I. In quarterback Baker Mayfield, they have the man to lead them to a title. He will be swashing his buckles in the backfield, ably supported by a dynamic rushing tandem in Perine and Mixon. Their schedule pits them against some challenging non-conference opponents, no more so, than Ohio State. They will need to find support for stand out linebacker Jordan Evans in the second level, and will also need safety Steven Parker to lead a group of promising defensive backs.
The Champions? I’m going with Clemson.
Well that’s the team honours sorted, so let’s have a think about who will get the ultimate individual prize for collegiate footballers, the Heisman Trophy. I have five candidates for you to consider.
Deshaun Watson – QB – Clemson – A big arm talent, with good wheels, makes him a dual threat demon. Beaten in the championship game as a sophomore last year, he’ll now know what’s needed to win it. Can he go one better this time around? If he does, he has one hand on the Heisman.
Leonard Fournette – RB – Louisiana State – A very physical athlete, he averaged an impressive 162.8 yards per game last season, but was corralled to some degree by the better defensive programmes. He won’t bother side stepping you, when he can run right over you.
Christian McCaffrey – RB – Stanford – Mr Do-It-All, coming out of the Cardinal backfield. He posted an incredible 368 all-purpose yards in the Rose Bowl win over Michigan State last year. Doesn’t have elite straight line speed, but you try and tackle him as he cuts on a dime.
Dalvin Cook – RB – Florida State – The self-proclaimed “best running back in the country”, he certainly has the skills to pay the bills. He averaged 7.4 yards per carry last season, whilst “struggling” with injuries. Who knows what he’s capable of, if he’s fully fit.
Baker Mayfield – QB – Oklahoma – In his first season he threw for 36 touchdowns, averaging 284.6 yards per game. He has great field vision, which makes him hard to defend, and he can extend plays with his feet.
Assuming they all stay healthy…my choice is…Christian McCaffrey.