The decision was made to skip college football’s “Week Zero” since there was only one game that could be considered even remotely interesting, and in the interest of full disclosure I’ll admit I likely would’ve made the wrong pick, so we’re already off to a good start with wise judgment. At any rate, we are happy to be back for another delightful season of making choices that have absolutely no consequences other than stubborn pride. A season ago I secured the overall victory with a 74-61 record, while Zach was 61-74. I’ve lost track of how long we’ve been doing this and am far too lethargic to do research, but I know that it’s been long enough that these picks have become a touchstone that marks the transition from summer, which I have loved my entire life, to autumn, a season I have grown to appreciate more with maturity. A tip o’ the cap to Jerry Lewis and his eponymous Labor Day Telethon, which slipped into the past more than a decade ago, and bygone school days, which for me have been over for much longer. Even the transitions transition.
North Carolina (-1) at Minnesota
The Tar Heels finished last year with a bowl game loss to my WV Mountaineers and an 8-5 record. The Gophers also lost their bowl game and finished 6-7, which says alot about bowl games. These two teams actually met during the regular season last September, with Carolina scoring a 17 point win. However, QB Drake Maye has moved on to the NFL and they also have an entirely new offensive line. This is a Thursday night game on Fox, but I’m not sure casual fans will appreciate it. We’re probably looking at a low scoring defensive struggle, with field position & time of possession being key stats. Definitely take the under, and I believe the home field helps Minnesota eek out a close victory. Zach concurs.
My Pick: Minnesota
Zach’s Pick: Minnesota
Florida Atlantic at Michigan State (-13.5)
How can anyone not root for a team nicknamed the Owls?? FAU is coming off of a miserable 4-8 season, so head coach Tom Herman, who never had losing records at Houston or Texas, won’t be satisfied with the status quo. Meanwhile, the Spartans begin anew with head coach Jonathan Smith, who moves east after six years at Oregon St. Three of the past four seasons under former coach Mel Tucker were abysmal, so they too are looking for a big turnaround. It’s a 7pm Friday kickoff on the Big Ten Network, which means no one will be watching, although ESPN may show a highlight or two, or atleast mention the score on SportsCenter. I really want to pick an outright upset, but just can’t go that far. However, I do think the points are a bit much and the visitors will keep it close. Zach agrees.
My Pick: Florida Atlantic
Zach’s Pick: Florida Atlantic
Miami (Fla.) (-2.5) at Florida
The Hurricanes have been getting some preseason love, but let’s be real. Vinny Testaverde isn’t walking thru that door. Neither is Michael Irvin. Ditto for Warren Sapp, Edgerrin James, & Ray Lewis. These are not the legendary ‘Canes from “The U” that dominated college football a few decades ago. Having said that, they can certainly be a dominant force amongst the mediocrity of the ACC. Conversely, the Gators are swimming upstream in a loaded SEC. They lost five straight games to end last season, and head coach Billy Napier’s job could be in jeopardy in just his third year in Gainesville. The Swamp has traditionally been a formidable home field, and I still believe that holds true. Miami will probably go on to have a better season while Florida struggles against conference foes, but I smell an upset to get things started. Zach believes Miami could put themselves in position to snag a playoff berth and doesn’t think Florida poses much of a challenge.
My Pick: Florida
Zach’s Pick: Miami (FL)
Notre Dame at Texas A&M (-3)
The Aggies fired Jimbo Fisher before the end of last season, paying him the largest buyout in college football history. New head coach Mike Elko is a former Aggies defensive coordinator who had a couple of solid winning seasons at Duke. A&M only had one losing season in six years with Fisher at the helm, but 9-4 or 8-5 simply isn’t good enough with so much money involved. We’ll see how the Elko Era plays out. The Fighting Irish are no strangers to change. Head coach Marcus Freeman is 19-7 in two seasons in South Bend, but we all know that ten wins & a Sun Bowl appearance don’t measure up to the lofty standards of a program that has won eleven national titles and has been in the conversation atleast as many times as that. The home field in College Station is amongst the most intimidating in the country, but I just think Notre Dame is a slightly better team. Zach doesn’t foresee a particularly interesting game, but agrees that the Irish will get the job done on the road.
My Pick: Notre Dame
Zach’s Pick: Notre Dame
Penn State (-8.5) at West Virginia
We usually don’t pick WVU games, but I can’t resist this one. After a rocky start in his first few seasons in Morgantown head coach Neal Brown seemingly found the right formula last year, going 9-4, including a postseason beatdown of North Carolina. With Texas & Oklahoma moving on to the SEC a revamped Big 12 could be ripe for the picking, and the timing seems good with the ‘Eers perhaps fielding their best team since 2011. The narrative rarely changes for the Nittany Lions, having won ten games & finishing in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten, which seems to be their ceiling. These two teams opened the season a year ago, with Penn St. winning comfortably at home. Can West Virginia flip the script?? Most people will tell you no…but I am not most people. Despite being a West Virginia native Zach isn’t much of a Mountaineers fan. However, he does acknowledge that they should be pretty good this season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. He isn’t impressed by Penn St. junior QB Drew Allar and believes WVU could pull off a big upset.
My Pick: West Virginia
Zach’s Pick: West Virginia
USC vs. LSU (-4.5)
QB Caleb Williams is now plying his trade in the NFL, but I never quite figured out the hype given the fact that the Trojans were a combined 19-8 the past two seasons. Certainly not terrible, but they weren’t a playoff contender. Will that change this year?? Probably not, especially in their inaugural season in the…*checks notes*…Big Ten. Just finishing in the top half of the conference and achieving bowl eligibility should be the goal. As for the Bayou Bengals, hopes are high that they can build on two straight ten win seasons under third year head coach Brian Kelly. This is a neutral site game in Las Vegas on Sunday evening, which would seem like a delightful way to wrap up the weekend except for the fact that Monday is a holiday and there is one final game that night. I don’t believe this will be a particularly close contest, with LSU winning by double digits. Conversely, Zach has faith in USC coach Lincoln Riley and opines that LSU lost alot of talent from last year’s squad. He believes the underdogs will win a close battle.
My Pick: LSU
Zach’s Pick: USC
Clemson vs. Georgia (-13.5)
Sadly this is not the aforementioned Monday night game. It’s actually a Noon kickoff on Saturday, which says alot about how much juice the Tigers have lost. They haven’t been terrible by any means, but after securing six straight playoff berths from 2015-20 winning nine games & playing in the Gator Bowl feels hollow. Conversely, the Bulldogs haven’t lost two games in a season since 2020 and won back to back national titles in 2021 & ‘22. It’s a neutral site game in Atlanta, and I’ll be shocked if Clemson pulls off the upset. Can Georgia cover the points though?? It makes me a little nervous, but go big or go home, right?? Zach doesn’t think the ‘Dawgs will have any problem and predicts a big win.
With the pre-season drawing to a close this upcoming weekend it’s time to fasten the ol’ chinstrap, buckle down, and prepare for battle. Unlike college football my NFL cynicism seems to have plateaued. With the help of instant replay we finally have a handle on what a catch actually is, and I no longer have the intestinal fortitude to become emotional about silly roughing the passer penalties, players kneeling in protest, or the divisive singing of two national anthems. I know who Fidel Goodell is & understand that we are in the era of big business kowtowing to special interests to improve their social credit score. Follow the money is a rule of life that has never & will never change, and with our nation on the verge of giddily embracing full blown communism the way the NFL conducts business is just a small piece of the impending implosion of the United States. Read your Bible, specifically the Book of Revelation, and you will begin to recognize the reality. In the meantime, I will continue my growing immersion into the hermit lifestyle, part of which entails happily watching “seven hours of commercial free football” each Sunday afternoon on RedZone, as well as games of varying interest on Sunday, Monday, & Thursday nights.
East
NY Jets (7-10) 10-7
Miami Dolphins (11-6) 9-8
Buffalo Bills (11-6) 9-8
New England Patriots (4-13) 2-15
Brady…gone. Belichick…gone. The Patriots are essentially a mediocre cover band, wearing the same uniforms as the (allegedly) most successful franchise of the past quarter century with none of the talent. They may right the ship someday, but not this year. I foresee the Bills dropping off just a bit after losing receiver Stefon Diggs. That leaves the Jets & Dolphins to battle for the division crown. Odds are Aaron Rodgers’ season will last longer than five minutes, which instantly improves his team’s chances. I opined that last year was a pivotal season for Dolphins’ QB Tua Tagovailoa, and his success led to a four year, $200+ million contract extension, so now he has to earn that. Unfortunately for him Rodgers, if he can remain healthy, is motivated by something bigger than money.
West
Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) 15-2
LA Chargers (5-12) 10-7
Las Vegas Raiders (8-9) 9-8
Denver Broncos (8-9) 3-14
The Chiefs had the talking heads buzzing for all the wrong reasons last year, going 4-4 in the second half of the season. Then they made all the doubters look stupid by winning the Super Bowl yet again. Don’t doubt them. The Raiders seem to be treading water, while the Broncos have the most unappealing quarterback room in recent memory unless rookie Bo Nix acclimates to the NFL very quickly. Nix may grow into a very good pro quarterback, but I believe it might take awhile for a great team to be built around him. I won’t go so far as saying that Sean Payton is an overhyped mid coach, but he needs to prove he can win without Drew Brees. New coach Jim Harbaugh, fresh off of winning a National Championship with Michigan, will transform the Chargers into a playoff contender, though they aren’t ready for the Super Bowl yet.
North
Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) 11-6
Baltimore Ravens (13-4) 10-7
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) 9-8
Cleveland Browns (11-6) 7-10
This is always my least favorite division to ponder because I know I’m too emotionally invested. No one is expecting much from my Steelers, but if the QB tag team of Russell Wilson & Justin Fields can atleast be decent and the defense stays healthy I honestly don’t think predictions of doom & gloom are accurate. Conversely, I cannot get onboard with the high expectations & praise for the Browns. I don’t give a damn what anyone says…TJ Watt > Myles Garrett. I believe we’ll see the Bengals rebound from a mediocre season to once again be a serious conference title contender as they were the previous couple of years. The Ravens have been getting all the preseason hype & Super Bowl love after adding wrecking ball RB Derrick Henry, but my vibes are telling me something is amiss or perhaps something will occur during the season to prevent them from fulfilling that potential.
South
Houston Texans (10-7) 11-6
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) 10-7
Indianapolis Colts (9-8) 7-10
Tennessee Titans (6-11) 4-13
The Texans have received all the offseason attention, and rightfully so. After adding WR Stefon Diggs, defensive end Danielle Hunter, and RB Joe Mixon to a squad that won the division & a playoff game a season ago, high expectations are understandable. However, let’s pump the brakes just a bit and not forget the Jags. QB Trevor Lawrence is just hitting his prime, and will now have former Bills receiver Gabe Davis & first round pick Brian Thomas as top targets. I like Jacksonville’s defense too, with Travon Walker & Arik Armstead up front and an underrated secondary. The Colts get QB Anthony Richardson back after he missed most of his rookie season with a shoulder injury. The kid has potential, but don’t get too excited yet…it might take him another year or two, and I’m not sure the defense is good enough to carry their team to many victories. I believe things will get worse for the Titans before they get better. Second year QB Will Levis doesn’t have Derrick Henry to tote the rock & draw the attention of opposing defenses anymore, and his receivers are a mix of has-beens & never weres. Tennessee’s defense will need to come up big, and much like their counterparts in Indy I doubt they’re up to the task.
Okay, so I was wrong. Last year I predicted that Dallas would finish below .500 & head coach Mike McCarthy would be fired before Halloween. Obviously that did not happen, but I believe I have the Cowboys figured out now. They are as good as everyone says they are thru the season, but won’t win a Super Bowl as long as the Jones Family is running the franchise. The underrated story in the division though was Philly, who imploded down the stretch, losing 5 of their final 6 games. I don’t know exactly what happened, but it might be a struggle for them to regain the mojo necessary to be a legit Super Bowl contender. The Giants & Commanders just sort of exist. They’ll win some & lose some, but no one will really notice or care all that much. Washington’s first round pick, QB Jayden Daniels, has the opportunity to be special, but that won’t happen right out of the gate.
West
San Francisco 49ers (12-5) 13-4
LA Rams (10-7) 9-8
Seattle Seahawks (9-8) 9-8
Arizona Cardinals (4-13) 6-11
As a Steelers fan I am all too aware of the offseason drama in ‘Frisco, but I doubt it’ll affect the team that much. Their Top 10 defense got younger & deeper in the offseason, so the offense doesn’t need to be fancy…just control the clock and don’t do anything stupid. That formula may not be sexy, but it is effective. The Rams & Seahawks will battle for a wildcard spot, but I think it’ll take new Seattle coach Mike MacDonald a season or two to get things going. I’m not concerned about QB Geno Smith losing his job to new backup Sam Howell because I think he has potent weapons & a good offensive line, but their defense was one of the worst in the league a season ago and I don’t believe it’ll be that much better in 2024. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray missed half of last season, but the team only improved slightly upon his return. It just feels like they are in one of those cycles that pro sports franchises go thru where everything they do & everyone currently associated with the team is meaningless & forgettable and things won’t improve until there is a total reboot.
North
Detroit Lions (12-5) 10-7
Green Bay Packers (9-8) 10-7
Chicago Bears (7-10) 8-9
Minnesota Vikings (7-10) 5-12
The Lions will win the division again, but it won’t be easy. A year ago I counseled Packers fans to not worry because the powers-that-be will figure things out eventually. In hindsight, considering the injuries & turmoil they had to overcome last season, finishing above .500 was impressive. Now QB Jordan Love has a year of starting experience and a hefty $200+ million contract extension, plus new RB Josh Jacobs to ease the pressure. The Bears are getting alot of preseason attention, mainly due to #1 overall pick & new starting quarterback Caleb Williams. I’m not as sold on Williams as many others, but will reluctantly admit that the team will probably see some improvement with him under center. The Vikings lost QB Kirk Cousins and will replace him with journeyman Sam Darnold after rookie JJ McCarthy suffered a knee injury in training camp. McCarthy has potential and will likely seize the job when healthy next season, but that’s not going to help much right now. Expect some lean years in a tough division for Minnesota.
South
Atlanta Falcons (7-10) 9-8
New Orleans Saints (9-8) 8-9
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) 7-10
Carolina Panthers (2-15) 5-12
It’s always a tough grind to win this division, and this year will be no different. The Falcons going from Desmond Ridder & Taylor Heinecke at quarterback to Kirk Cousins is like trading in a ‘75 Pinto for a 2002 Camry. He may not be elite, but it’s still a hell of an upgrade. Will it be enough?? The Saints have been rather mediocre the past few seasons, and I don’t expect that to suddenly change. They won’t be awful, but there’s just no WOW factor in New Orleans right now. I may be underestimating the Bucs, but don’t see what the big deal is about QB Baker Mayfield, and the skill players around him aren’t moving any needles. Their defense won’t save them either. The Panthers, despite having the #1 overall draft pick two years in a row (okay, they traded into that spot in 2023 & out of it in 2024), continue to be one of the league’s worst teams. I do not believe that Bryce Young is the answer at quarterback, and new head coach Dave Canales probably isn’t going to work any miracles.
Folks, I don’t even know where to begin. I seriously contemplated not even doing a pre-season poll this year because, quite frankly, I’m not that excited about college football anymore. Money & politics have stained the sport, and I am simply too old to retain my usual level of plucky enthusiasm. A year ago I stated that “I will not let university suits or TV execs steal my joy”, but now I cannot deny that my fervor for the game has indeed significantly diminished. I can’t keep straight what conference half of these teams are members of anymore, and don’t have much interest in learning. I know that the Power 5 is now the Power 4 because the Pac 12 imploded. Perhaps in the long run that will be helpful in sorting out the playoff, but at the moment I perceive it as more dunking on tradition, whatever scraps of that may remain. Surely not a whole hell of alot. I am not even going to try to explain the new playoff format beyond its expansion from four to twelve teams, which neuters the impact of the regular season beyond its function as a time waster for couch potatoes with empty lives (like me) and a great excuse to get drunk for college students & rednecks in a state of arrested development. At any rate, let’s dive in!!
25 Southern Cal
Last Season: 8-5 (Won the Holiday Bowl)
Key Games: 9/1 vs. LSU, 9/21 @ Michigan, 11/30 vs. Notre Dame
Head coach Lincoln Riley came to USC with much fanfare, but in two seasons with future NFL bust Caleb Williams at QB he has achieved an unimpressive 19-8 record. Moving to the Big Ten won’t make things any easier, but sports media will prop up the Trojans if they can pull off an upset or two.
24 Iowa State
Last Season: 7-6 (Defeated in the Liberty Bowl)
Key Games: 10/5 vs. Baylor, 11/30 vs. Kansas St.
I went to high school with the mother & aunt of Cyclones’ QB Rocco Becht, and his father was a talented tight end for my WV Mountaineers in the late 90’s who had a solid career in the NFL. So are my expectations filtered thru rose colored glasses?? Perhaps, but I think the new Big 12 is intriguing and could provide a few surprises.
23 Tennessee
Last Season: 9-4 (Beat Iowa in the Citrus Bowl)
Key Games: 9/21 @ Oklahoma, 11/16 @ Georgia
If you listen to the talking heads they’ll have half of the SEC ranked in the Top Ten, but the truth is that someone will lose a game or two. Word on the street is that sophomore QB Nico Iamaleava is an upgrade over Joe Milton, who is now plying his trade with the New England Patriots. We’ll see.
22 Miami (FL)
Last Season: 7-6 (Lost to Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl)
Key Games: 10/14 @ North Carolina, 11/11 @ Florida St., 11/18 vs. Louisville
I don’t believe the ‘Canes will ever again be the dominant force that sat atop the college football world for much of the 1980s & ‘90s, but improving by a couple of games in a mediocre ACC is doable. They’ll need to beat atleast one favored opponent on the road.
21 Arizona
Last Season: 10-3 (Beat Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl)
Key Games: 9/13 @ Kansas St., 9/28 @ Utah
The Wildcats land in the…*checks notes*…Big 12, and they could have some early success. If you forced me at gunpoint to say something positive about realignment I might point to fresh matchups in which no one really knows what to expect. Arizona vs. BYU. Arizona vs. West Virginia. Arizona vs. UCF. I don’t think they’ll compete for a conference title or playoff berth, but matching last season’s success seems like a reasonable expectation.
20 Virginia Tech
Last Season: 7-6 (Beat Tulane in the Military Bowl)
Key Games: 9/27 @ Miami (FL), 11/9 vs. Clemson
The Hokies haven’t won 9+ games since 2017, and have had three head coaches since Frank Beamer retired in 2015. They improved tremendously in Year 2 under Brent Pry, and it doesn’t feel outlandish to expect further development, especially in a pedestrian ACC. Keep an eye on Clemson’s November visit to Blacksburg. The winner of that game could emerge as a conference title contender.
19 Texas
Last Season: 12-2 (Defeated in the CFP Semis by Washington)
Key Games: 9/7 @ Michigan, 10/2 vs. Oklahoma, 10/19 vs. Georgia
Well ‘Horns fans, you got what you wished for. Now it’s time to back up all the bragging & trash talk on the field against SEC opponents. Not only that, but the non-conference schedule features a visit to Ann Arbor to battle the defending national champions. The talent is unquestionable, but the path is treacherous. A playoff berth seems unlikely, but 9 or 10 wins doesn’t feel out of reach.
18 North Carolina State
Last Season: 9-4 (Lost the Pop Tarts Bowl)
Key Games: 9/21 @ Clemson, 11/30 @ North Carolina
I can’t decide if the ACC is a model of parity or simply tedious. I am feeling generous so let’s call it more of the former than the latter. If the Wolfpack wants to equal the success of last season they’ll need to have some great games on the road.
17 Penn State
Last Season: 10-3 (Lost to Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl)
Key Games: 10/12 @ USC, 11/2 @ Ohio St.
The Nittany Lions are amongst a plethora of teams that perpetually reside on the second level of college football. They’ll win alot more games than they lose and always field a talented team theoretically capable of beating just about anyone, but never quite reach elite status which would allow them to be perceived as a legit playoff contender. Ten wins and a solid bowl berth seems to be their ceiling.
16 Michigan
Last Season: 15-0 (CFP National Champions)
Key Games: 9/7 vs. Texas, 9/21 vs. USC, 11/2 vs. Oregon, 11/30 @ Ohio St.
I don’t believe that the loss of head coach Jim Harbaugh to the NFL means that the defending national champions will crumble & slink away into obscurity, but they are unlikely to be serious title contenders. I suppose they could sneak into the playoff, but even that feels like a bit much to ask. They’ll lose atleast one huge game in The Big House.
15 LSU
Last Season: 10-3 (Beat Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl)
Key Games: 9/1 vs. USC, 11/9 vs. Alabama
I’ll be honest…this one makes me nervous. I never know what to expect from the Bayou Bengals. That being said, head coach Brian Kelly has had two consecutive ten win seasons since arriving in Baton Rouge. Opening against USC in Death Valley might be the most intriguing matchup of the first full weekend of action, and they also host ‘Bama in November. Can they match last season’s success?? We’ll see.
14 Boise State
Last Season: 8-6 (Lost the LA Bowl)
Key Games: 10/25 @ UNLV, 11/29 vs. Oregon St.
The Broncos are back!! After a couple of underwhelming seasons and a coaching change Boise has rebounded the past two years and won the Mountain West title a season ago, their first championship since 2019. I don’t expect them to upset Oregon in Eugene, but that’s a Week 2 non-conference battle. Their focus should be on winning ten games & another conference championship.
13 Appalachian State
Last Season: 9-5 (Won the New Mexico Bowl)
Key Games: 9/28 vs. Liberty, 11/23 vs. James Madison
The overhyped teams in the power conferences will beat each other up. Only one or two might emerge unscathed. That leaves room for a Group of 5 team (or two) to rise thru the rankings a bit. I believe the highest ranked conference champion of those “lesser” conferences is guaranteed a playoff berth. A year ago that would’ve been the C-USA champion Liberty Flames, but I’m predicting a horse race between Boise St. & the Sun Belt’s Appalachian St. The Mountaineers’ two key games are both in the cozy confines of Boone, NC.
12 Alabama
Last Season: 12-2 (Defeated in the CFP Semis by Michigan)
In case you hadn’t heard, Nick Saban is no longer the head coach at Alabama. He simply had nothing left to prove. New coach Kalen DeBoer is no slouch, having won 25 games the past two years with the Washington Huskies, including an appearance in last season’s CFP Title game. I don’t believe we’ll see that much of a decline for The Tide. Saban surely didn’t leave the cupboard bare. However, I think it is too much to expect an undefeated championship caliber effort out of the gate. Fans in Tuscaloosa will need to settle for a solid record & a playoff appearance.
11 Oregon
Last Season: 12-2 (Won the Fiesta Bowl)
Key Games: 10/12 vs. Ohio St., 11/2 @ Michigan
Expectations are thru the roof for the Ducks heading into their inaugural season in the…*checks notes*…Big Ten, but I’m not buying it. I don’t believe this is the team that walks into a new, STACKED conference and wins a title. They will not beat Ohio St., and upsetting Michigan in The Big House is a tall order. Ten wins & a playoff berth is the ceiling for Oregon right now.
10 Clemson
Last Season: 9-4 (Beat Kentucky in the Gator Bowl)
Key Games: 10/5 @ Florida St., 11/9 @ Virginia Tech
The Tigers have not lived up to their lofty standards the past few years, last making a playoff appearance in 2020. That is likely to change with the new format, but I’m still not convinced they are serious title contenders. Of course the first task is to win the ACC, which means the game in Tallahassee on my birthday is a must win.
9 Missouri
Last Season: 11-2 (Beat Ohio St. in the Cotton Bowl)
Key Games: 10/5 @ Texas A&M, 10/26 @ Alabama
It is easy for the Tigers to get lost in the SEC shuffle, but a season ago they announced their presence with authority, with wins over Tennessee & Florida. I’m not sure how much credence to give their defeat of Ohio St. in the Cotton Bowl considering alot of the Buckeyes’ firepower was MIA, but it looks good on paper. Can Missouri mirror that success this year?? Don’t overlook their late season visit to Tuscaloosa. If there was ever a time to make a powerful statement that’d be it.
8 Mississippi
Last Season: 11-2 (Beat Penn St. in the Peach Bowl)
I will freely admit to caving into peer pressure on this one. The Rebels are getting a ton of preseason love from almost every outlet, so I assume where there’s smoke there has to be some fire. Still, visits to Tuscaloosa in September and Athens in October seem daunting. Winning both games, though a gargantuan task, would certainly secure a Top Ten ranking. Heck, pulling off just one upset would grab some attention. The linchpin to the entire season might just be hosting LSU only one week after visiting ‘Bama. The loser of that game probably tanks their playoff aspirations.
7 Oklahoma State
Last Season: 10-4 (Won the Texas Bowl)
Key Games: 9/21 vs. Utah, 9/28 @ Kansas St.
Okay, okay…I actually did some research so I’d get this right. The Big 12 lost Texas & Oklahoma while gaining Arizona, Arizona St., Utah, and Colorado, and you’ll recall that Cincinnati, BYU, Houston, and Central Florida joined a year ago. What all of that boils down to is an opportunity to seize the top spot & become the new standard bearer for the conference. The Cowboys were in the mix last season, but they’re probably going to face a tough battle with newcomer Utah for conference supremacy. The Utes visit Stillwater in September. Don’t sleep on that game.
6 Florida State
Last Season: 13-1 (Obliterated by Georgia in the Orange Bowl)
After several years of mediocrity the Seminoles have rebounded the last couple of seasons, coming within a whisper of the playoff last year. It is likely that they would’ve received the nod if not for a serious injury to QB Jordan Travis, although the beatdown they received in the Orange Bowl caused people to wonder if it was all a mirage anyway. Travis has moved on to the NFL now, and Florida St. has the opportunity to answer any lingering doubts. They’re still in the ACC (for now), which is a double-edged sword. On one hand Clemson is probably the only obstacle to winning a conference title. Conversely, that title doesn’t earn much respect these days. A November trek to South Bend looks like the pivotal moment of their championship dreams.
The Fighting Irish will always be in the playoff conversation given their much ballyhooed history & independent status. An at-large bid is likely reserved in their name as long as they hover near the top half of the rankings. Perhaps I am being naive, but trips to College Station, TX & The Coliseum in L.A. don’t feel that intimidating. I believe Notre Dame wins both games. Hosting Florida St. to end the season is helpful, but it is also a classic trap game.
4 Kansas State
Last Season: 9-4 (Beat NC St. in the Pop Tarts Bowl)
Key Games: 9/28 vs. Oklahoma St., 11/30 @ Iowa St.
While Oklahoma St. will be in the Big 12 mix I foresee the Wildcats being the old school Big 12 team that’ll fend off (almost) all the newcomers. Winning on the road in Ames, IA to close the season is a tough mountain to climb, but I think it’ll clinch a conference title game appearance for K St. Undefeated?? It’s possible…until the playoff. They are not a legit national championship contender.
3 Ohio State
Last Season: 11-2 (Beaten by Missouri in the Cotton Bowl)
Key Games: 10/12 @ Oregon, 11/2 @ Penn St., 11/30 vs. Michigan
The Buckeyes lost some talented players to the NFL & in the transfer portal, but they also added a ton of five star recruits & well-regarded transfers. Not only do most expect them to not miss a beat, but it seems probable that they’ve actually gotten better. The Big Ten situation is a catch-22. On one hand changes at Michigan mean that they are unlikely to be as dominant and Ohio St. will probably be favored in that matchup. On the other hand, the conference has added Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Washington, so the path to a title is even tougher. I don’t know if undefeated is a realistic goal, but I am not sure it matters that much. Survive & advance to the Big Ten title game. Win the conference championship and receive a first round playoff bye. That’s the blueprint.
2 Georgia
Last Season: 13-1 (Destroyed Florida St. in the Orange Bowl
“To be The Man you’ve got to beat The Man”, and the only teams that have defeated the Bulldogs in the past three years are Alabama in the 2021 SEC Championship (Georgia then beat The Tide to win the National Championship) and Michigan in last season’s title game. Georgia has become THE team. They are on another level, and will need every ounce of that superiority to repel their challengers. Sadly I still think “style points” are a thing, so even if the ‘Dawgs grind out an unbeaten regular season they might not hold the top spot if a couple of those victories are unimpressive. Visits to Tuscaloosa & Austin, TX are mountains Georgia must climb, and those trips feel rather perilous.
1 Utah
Last Season: 8-5 (Lost the Las Vegas Bowl)
Key Games: 9/21 @ Oklahoma St., 11/23 vs. Iowa St.
Okay…stay with me. Imagine this scenario. Two loss SEC & Big Ten Champions emerge from the rubble. Notre Dame & the ACC Champ (either Florida St. or Clemson) both have one loss and a couple of tight wins. Meanwhile, the Utes, with 25 year old seventh year senior QB Cam Rising, who’s as old or older than half the starters in the NFL, returns after missing the whole season a year ago with a serious knee injury. Utah also returns 16 starters & 73% of their production from a year ago. In their inaugural Big 12 season Utah starts 4-0 before heading into Stillwater and getting a huge road win over Oklahoma St. They blow thru the remaining schedule like one of those tornadoes in Twister before winning the Big 12 title game over Kansas St. Can they stand tall against Big Ten & SEC opponents in the playoff?? Year in & year out…probably not. This season?? It seems plausible.
I hadn’t planned on publishing an edition of W&M right now since I am already in football mode, with both the annual NFL Preview & College Pre-Season Top 25 on the horizon. However, The Olympics popped up and, despite my decision to ignore the event’s existence, life had other plans and now I have some things to get off my chest.
I did not watch the opening ceremonies of The Olympics. I had already decided I didn’t have much interest in the whole deal, and on that particular Friday night actually had plans (comedian Henry Cho at my beloved RGPAC). That being said, by now I assume most of us know all about it whether you watched or not. Look, I am not easily offended. Modern society drives me crazy with everyone being so triggered and seemingly looking for things to be upset about. But…but…the producers of that opening ceremony knew exactly what they were doing. Sure, it was a celebration of French history & culture. Fine. However, those so assuredly opining that the depiction of The Last Supper was instead a portrayal of The Feast of Dionysus were mostly wrong. It was an homage to Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting of The Last Supper, with Dionysus making an appearance. An artistic mashup. No one can be sure of the intent or what is in the hearts of others, and perhaps Christians need to cool our jets a bit, but to deny that there were reasons for feathers to be ruffled is intellectually dishonest.
I am still young & hip enough to adapt to the changing tides of technology, but can’t help but empathize with older sports fans as the landscape expands and so much content moves to streaming channels. My father always loved watching our WV Mountaineers, but many of their games (particularly basketball) are now only available on streamers like ESPN+. I have an older neighbor who loves pro wrasslin’ (I know it’s not exactly a sport, but stick with me) and he’ll be lost when some WWE programming moves to Netflix next year. Thursday night NFL games are shown on Amazon Video, which will also be getting a piece of the NBA pie in the near future. A big chunk of the ongoing Olympics is on Peacock. I just ran across an article indicating that future NASCAR races will be split amongst multiple outlets, including Amazon. Streaming is no longer the future, it is the present. For elderly folks that means keeping track of a multitude of new & unfamiliar channels with varying price points that begin to add up, especially when living on a meager fixed income.
I’ve never been a huge fan of The Olympics. It always seemed odd to celebrate a bunch of sporting events every four years that we pay absolutely no attention to 99% of the time. Insomuch as I have watched thru the years, I usually prefer the Summer Games. I don’t care for winter or snow, and watching events like speed skating or skiing just makes me wonder “Aren’t those people cold??”. Summer though, has basketball, boxing, and gymnastics. Yes, I am confident enough in my smoldering machismo to admit that those talented performers vaulting and flinging themselves across uneven bars is impressive, and being from West Virginia means that I proudly watched Mary Lou Retton bring home the gold in 1984. However, either something has changed with many of these athletes or my perception has changed. Either way, patriotism & the honor of representing one’s country seems to have…devolved…atleast here in America. NBA players in the Olympics was cool when Magic, Jordan, Bird, and a plethora of future Hall of Famers steamrolled their way to basketball gold in 1992, but now, seeing a guy like Lebron James, who is his own biggest fan and didn’t hesitate to disrespect the American flag not that long ago, being chosen to carry that flag during the Opening Ceremonies simply leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Reading about all of the controversy involving the boxing competition just reinforces my negative attitude. There are so many conflicting opinions flying around that it’s difficult to nail down the actual truth, but as a sports fan such disputes ruin the appeal no matter what. Your mileage may vary, and that’s okay. If these Paris Games are providing you with hours of solid entertainment by all means enjoy, but I am glad to have other options.
Hey, my Pittsburgh Pirates are remaining slightly above .500 and, though a division title is quite unlikely, they are only a few games out in the chase for a wildcard spot. Do I believe they will make a post-season appearance for the first time in nearly a decade?? Of course not. I’m not even convinced those last couple of playoff berths…both one game & out situations…even count for much. However, as a lifelong fan who has suffered thru decades of irrelevance (mostly) since the Pirates last World Series victory in 1979, I will opine that it is nice to atleast have the illusion of opportunity this late into a season. It’s much better than cellar dwelling.
Let’s talk about rule changes in sports. We got a glimpse of the new NFL kickoff format during the Hall of Fame Game, and my first impression is that I don’t hate it. Give me a few more games to digest it and I will form a more conclusive opinion. A rule I know I don’t like though is MLB’s Ghost Runner, in which the team at bat during extra innings gets an automatic runner at second base that hasn’t been earned by any stretch, except for some kind of weird obsession to get the damn game over with so people can go home. I am a baseball purist who doesn’t appreciate attempts to alter a sport that’s been doing just fine for a century & and half, but also realize that technology evolves and society shifts in various directions, so I don’t complain about every little thing that changes. That being said, just giving teams a runner already in scoring position can significantly impact the outcome. It compromises the integrity of the game. Of course we’re talking about an entity that recognizes Barry Bonds as its All-Time Home Run King, so I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.
The Manofesto 