The majority of FBS programs across the country open play
this weekend. There’s no better way to close the summer every year than a full
slate of college football during Labor Day weekend. Here’s what I’m looking at
with another season commencing.
1.
Hangover in Columbus?
It was the biggest story in sports last
week. Everyone had an opinion on Ohio State coach Urban Meyer’s three-game
suspension upon the conclusion of an investigation into his inaction regarding
domestic violence involving one of his former assistant coaches, Zach Smith.
The overwhelming consensus was that
Meyer got a slap on the wrist with just three games, two of which Ohio State is
a heavy favorite in and no Big 10 games. It certainly didn’t dispel the idea
that coaches at brand programs have job security for days provided they just
win football games. During the entire season, the story is going to loom over
the program. Interim head coach Ryan Day will have to win a tough
non-conference game against TCU on September 15. Meyer’s second game back, and
first conference game, is at Penn State. I’m not normally one to place too much
value on intangibles, but who knows what’s been going through the heads of the
Ohio State players during the last month? If the Buckeyes start fast, it’s only
logical to assume blocking out the distractions will get easier. That’s why the
first month of the season is pivotal.
2.
Taking the next step
through the maize
 |
| Patrick Semansky/Associated Press Harbaugh has won lots of games at Michigan, but now must take the Wolverines into the playoff. |
Expectations are always going to be high for
whoever is coaching at Michigan. It’s hard to quantify just how much those
expectations were multiplied by when Jim Harbaugh was hired back in 2015. It
was a feel-good story of a man returning to his alma mater looking to bring the
program its first national championship in close to two decades. It’s now been
more than two decades. With three seasons in the books at Michigan, Harbaugh is
28-11. It sounds good on the surface, but Michigan fans are probably fed up
with 1-5 against Ohio State and Michigan State the last three seasons, despite
getting screwed in Columbus in 2016. Michigan opens with another rival in Notre
Dame on Saturday. Year four of Harbaugh’s tenure feels like a good time to jump
forward.
3.
How do things end at
Maryland?
This one could be settled before Saturday,
but was unfortunately another one of the big stories from the offseason. DJ
Durkin has been on administrative leave for almost three weeks now, but there
is simply no way he can survive the death of Jordan McNair. This Big 10 program
has nowhere to hide. There is no long track record of winning at Maryland. The
entire culture that was created within the Maryland football program needs to
be replaced.
4.
No end in sight for the Tide
Enough with the Big 10 and on to the
defending champs. The legend of Nick Saban grew last season and now he’s got a rare
quarterback decision to make. It would be nice if Alabama faced some serious
adversity before the Iron Bowl with Auburn on November 24. Not sure that’s
going to happen though. That also doesn’t make the Crimson Tide bad for college
football. Winning a championship is very difficult in any sport. Saban’s staff is
frequently raided and every college coach always has to replace players and
recruit though not many turn things over as well as he does.
5.
Powerhouses looking up at Alabama
Dabo Swinney at Clemson and Kirby Smart at
Georgia have built elite programs in every sense of the word. Smart has restored
order with the Bulldogs very quickly following the Mark Richt era in Athens.
Swinney managed to take down Saban in the National Championship game two
seasons ago. A Georgia-Alabama SEC Championship feels too easy to call, as does
Clemson and Alabama in the College Football Playoff for the fourth time. But
can anyone complain with either matchup? Alabama, Clemson and Georgia are the
top three programs respectively in the opening AP Poll. Alabama is the program
everyone aspires to be, but the staying power of Clemson and Georgia is very
impressive.
6.
Quarterback eaters
Last year’s college season was rife with top
quarterback prospects which resulted in five going in the first round in this
past spring’s NFL Draft. This season is
the year of the defensive lineman and Dabo Swinney’s got an entire line of
Tigers on the defensive interior ready to destroy quarterbacks. It seems like
Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa or Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver is the
favorite to be the first name called next spring. But there’s a long way to go,
and plenty of hungry defensive linemen.
7.
Brands in need of revival
As mentioned earlier, Kirby Smart did it
pretty quickly at Georgia. Texas has long been in search of a return to the top
and there’s reason to believe Tom Herman can provide that. We’ll see what comes
of Herman’s involvement with Zach Smith at Ohio State earlier this decade, but
he made great strides in just two seasons at Houston. After posting the first bowl
win in five years at Texas last year, Herman’s Longhorns are in the preseason
top 25 this year and trending up. Oregon is on its third coach in three years
and went 20-18 from 2015-17. The Ducks could certainly use some juice as could
Florida under new coach Dan Mullen as the Gators have posted just one
double-digit win season in the last five years.
8.
Open Heisman race
All eyes were on Lamar Jackson and
Baker Mayfield last year and both ended up in New York for the Heisman
presentation which ultimately was awarded to Mayfield. Stanford running back Bryce Love probably has
the pole position entering week one, but if this is a year where an odd ball
candidate winds up flashing the pose, that wouldn’t be a surprise. Jonathan Taylor looks like the next Wisconsin
running back to pop off, Trace McSorley gets a chance to burst out of Saquon
Barkley’s shadow at Penn State and Jake Fromm and D’Andre Swift should take big
steps for the Georgia offense. But none of those names carry the profile
Jackson or Mayfield did.
9.
Group of Five powers
Central Florida and Boise State are in the
preseason top 25. Central Florida’s perfect season in 2017 is well-documented
by now. Western Michigan was undefeated until its loss in the New Year’s Six in
2016. Houston smacked Florida State on the same stage in 2015. The group of
five has produced some very talented football teams in the College Football
Playoff era. But it’s still waiting for a seat at the table and who knows when
that’s coming?
10. Playoff turns five
This marks the fifth season of the College
Football Playoff. This was undoubtedly a good change for the sport, and it’s
fascinating to see how certain teams are valued or devalued each season. This
always opens up discussions on scheduling and non-conference opponents, the
value of a conference championship and when the day might come that the playoff
is expanded. Having five years to look at will add more fuel to these
conversations.
Award Picks
Heisman: Jake Fromm (Georgia)
Doak Walker: JK Dobbins (Ohio State)
Fred Biletnikoff: Collin Johnson (Texas)
Chuck Bednarik: Devin Bush (Michigan)
Playoff
Alabama, Georgia, Stanford and Michigan
National Champion
Georgia Bulldogs
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