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| We glimpse DJ Uiagalelei and that’s enough. The quarterback’s athleticism makes him perhaps more dangerous than Trevor Lawrence. Dabo Swinney loses Travis Etienne and some defensive game makers, but the closet is always full in Clemson. Expect a seventh consecutive ACC title and the fifth National CFP Championship in the past seven years. In addition to the opening against Georgia, Clemson’s biggest challenge may be at NC State. |
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| This has a chance to be Lincoln Riley’s best team in Oklahoma. After two seasons, one as a starter, Spencer Rattler is now reaching his peak. Remember Kennedy Brooks? The tailback chose to leave in 2020 after consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. The Sooners are expected to win the seventh consecutive title from the big 12. |
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| Defensively, the Dawgs have everything. Offensively, they need to catch up with companies like Alabama, Florida and LSU. With JT Daniels back (and healthy), it will be easier. A neutral opening of the site against Clemson should give us a window into the value of the Dawgs’ playoff. |
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| There will be wholesale changes for the Crimson Tide in 2021. Without Mac Jones. Not DeVonta Smith. Without Najee Harris. There is no Patrick Surtain II. No Dylan Moses. As Nick Saban has proven over the years, it doesn’t matter. We turn the tide on the CFP based on history and faith. The Bryce Young era begins with the second year quarterback taking control. |
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| Better in the Big Ten, but the Buckeyes take a step back in 2021. CJ Stroud or Jack Miller take on Justin Fields. Ryan Day has options, but we go with Stroud, the second pro-style quarterback in the 2020 class, who has yet to give a pass. No more Trey Sermon. All linebackers leave too. |
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| Forget his rise as a college coach, Matt Campbell had the interest of at least two NFL teams in the off season. He chose a loaded Cyclones squad over the pros. Campbell welcomes his quarterback (Brock Purdy), the leader of the American football team (Breece Hall) and star linebacker (Mike Rose). It is the title of the big 12 or bankruptcy in 2021. |
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| Sixteen match holders return from a Group of Five darling who won nine games and took Georgia to the wire. This means that Desmond Ridder as quarterback must be a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Ridder receives all his receivers and three of the five offensive line games back. Big loss with defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman going to Notre Dame. Still, this could be the year if all goes well, the Bearcats will make it to the playoff. |
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| 2020 should be a low season. But is it low? There were rumors about Ed Orgeron’s job security before defeating Florida and Ole Miss to finish 5-5. Wait for the Tigers to return to the top 10. They look firm in the quarterback (Myles Brennan, Max Johnson). The entire defensive line is back, including the talented Ali Gaye. |
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| Tar Heels was one of the most fun teams to watch in 2020. It’s about to get better in 2021. Quarterback Sam Howell is the candidate for Heisman. Mack Brown will have to find replacements for Javonte Williams and Michael Carter, the best pair of running backs in the country. The future is bright, despite the loss of the bowl. Brown was losing his rusher, receiver and tackler leader and led Texas A&M in the bowl game. |
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| In year 3, Jimbo Fisher almost put the Aggies in the playoff. What does he do as an encore in the fourth year? Find a replacement for Kellen Mond for beginners. The Aggies’ main career hitter proved stealthily good. There is a lot of talent in running back to facilitate the transition. Jimbo won everything in year 4 in the state of Florida. Is this an omen of things to come? |
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| Brian Kelly loses talent. Your program has not lost its identity. Jack Coan was transferred from Wisconsin to give Fighting Irish a quarterback chance after the loss of Ian Book. There will have to be a replacement for left striker Liam Eichenberg to make the attack buzz. RB Kyren Williams has a 1,500 yard season on him. The defense faces challenges with the loss of the country’s best linebacker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, but All-American security guard Kyle Hamilton is back. Huge Freeman entry from Cincinnati. |
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| The Gators are the SEC’s second best team, but what does that mean with the loss of Kyle Trask, Kyle Pitts, Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes? Emory Jones showed flashes as a quarterback, and coach Dan Mullen is expected to put more emphasis on the race with the transfer of five star Demarkcus Bowman from Clemson. Mullen’s erratic behavior should sometimes be a concern, but how do you criticize a guy who has won 29 games in three years? This would normally mean an automatic extension of the contract. |
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| Tom Allen put his mark on the Hoosiers in 2020. As long as he is there, Indiana will be a factor in the Big Ten. Michael Penix Jr. returns as a quarterback after a torn ACL. WR Ty Fryfogle decided to return. The difference is that the Big Ten has been alerted to the talent of the Hoosiers. For now, they are the second best team at the conference. |
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| COVID-19 would give Clay Helton a mulligan year if he hesitated. The USC technician didn’t have to. For the third time in the past six years, Trojans have competed for the Pac-12 title. His only loss was to Oregon in that game. Quarterback Kedon Slovis still has a return reception squad, despite the loss of Tyler Vaughns. |
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| When D’Eriq King announced that he was returning, the Hurricanes automatically had a chance in 2021. The offense increased dramatically with King in 2020. The next order of business is to win the ACC Coastal. |
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| Kirk Ferentz survived a terrible off-season. It was speculated that, at 65, 2020 would be his last season. Now there is all kinds of optimism after a 6-2 season. Guess who must be the favorite to win Big Ten West? |
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| Someone still needs to explain to me how the quarterback shuffled at the Fiesta Bowl. Tyler Shough or Anthony Brown? The Ducks “won” the Pac-12 (because Washington was unable to play), but they have a lot to prove after making it 4-3. |
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| There’s a lot to expect in Steve Sarkisian’s first season. The Alamo Bowl’s victory over Colorado showed that the attack could be centered around Bijan Robinson (8.2 yards per load in 2020). Casey Thompson was a delightful teaser launching for four touchdowns against the Buffs. Come and talk to me, though, when Texas beat Oklahoma. |
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| What does the national coach of the year do to repeat? For Jamey Chadwell, that means winning the Sun Belt at once and taking the ticket to the New Year’s Six. An 11-win season ended with a thump when the Sun Belt Championship Game was canceled (Louisiana and Coastal were declared co-champions) and then the Chanticleers suffered a bowl loss to Liberty. The Chants are ready to make another run with quarterback Grayson McCall and yet another unique attack option coming back. |
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| The Cowboys were supposed to be one of the most balanced teams of 2020, but a robust defense faltered in the second half, allowing at least 29 points in four of the last five games. The luggage room is stacked despite the loss of Chuba Hubbard. Quarterback Spencer Sanders is expected to become more consistent. |
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| It’s Graham Mertz’s team now with the transfer of Coan to Notre Dame. The Badgers had one of the most disconnected seasons in the country. Three games have been rescheduled or postponed. Mertz launched nine touchdown passes with five interceptions as a redshirt freshman. When was the last time there was uncertainty in the tailback? Senior Garrett Groshek was 17th in Big Ten Rushing. |
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| The bowl game loss to Kentucky left a bitter taste, but an eight-win season was Dave Doeren’s third in the past four years. Despite the loss of quarterback Bailey Hockman and two offensive line starters, a 6-0 start is possible. |
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| Everything you need to know about the Flames’ chances in 2021: QB Malik Willis is back. The former Auburn reserve had a bit of Lamar Jackson leading Liberty to a 10-1 season and leading the country in the quarterback race. Pay attention to the November 6 game at Ole Miss. Coach Hugh Freeze is returning to the … well, you know. |
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| Tigers were incredibly resilient, considering the impact of COVID-19 and how the SEC hurt them. The conference gave Mizzou games against Alabama and LSU in the beginning. The Tigers did not blink, beat LSU and won 5-3 in December, before losing the last two to Georgia and the state of Mississippi. Eli Drinkwitz has a defender (Connor Bazelak) and an idea of where to take him from here. Check the schedule. Nine wins are possible. |
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| Billy Napier has been mentioned for several jobs. This will be a reality as long as he is with the Ragin ‘Cajuns and doing 10-1. Quarterback Levi Lewis has all his receivers and the entire offensive line back. The defense loses a titleholder. |
