My favorite sport is finally back! After a long 8 month wait, college football has returned. Technically the season is already underway, after a few Week 0 games this past Saturday, but this week is when the real games begin. This first weekend has an absolutely loaded schedule, and if you want my thoughts on some of those games, I posted a video (which you can find here) in which I predicted them. Here, I just wanted to give brief predictions for each of the Power 5 conferences, as well as predicting this year’s Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Playoff. Let’s get into it.
Big Ten
Winner: Ohio State Buckeyes
Runner-up: Wisconsin Badgers
The Buckeyes have had a chokehold on this conference for the last 4 years and counting, and that won’t change this season. One of the most talented teams in the whole country resides in Columbus, and there is simply too much to write home about (I discussed that in depth in the aforementioned video). Despite the dominance of Ohio State, there are still some very good teams in the B1G. Wisconsin seems to be the favorite in the West, which is warranted. The Badgers have been historically great in the West/East era of Big Ten football, and despite a down year last season, they figure to bounce back in a big way. They’re not alone in that division, however, as many are high on Iowa. I like what the Hawkeyes have going on, but I’ve simply seen too much from Wisconsin for me to pick against them in that division. The East isn’t as formidable as year’s past, but it’s not without its bright spots. The Indiana Hoosiers are looking to have another big season after last year’s historically great one, which was the best I’ve ever seen them have. QB Michael Penix Jr. figures to have another huge year surrounded by a very strong WR core. Penn State and Michigan certainly don’t have their strongest squads, but surely they can’t be as bad as last year! In any case, this conference belongs to the Buckeyes and no one else. It’s hard to foresee them losing a game en route to yet another CFP appearance.
SEC
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
Runner-up: Georgia Bulldogs
The SEC is just as wild of a ride as ever. Obviously the story of the offseason was the deal struck with Texas and Oklahoma for them to join the conference in a few years, but we’re still a few years away from that mattering. Even still, this conference is packed with storylines, as always. The two teams dominating the SEC are obviously Alabama and Georgia, with the Tide coming off another national championship, and the Dawgs loaded with returning talent looking to finally get over the hump. Bama has lost a ton of offensive talent, but with new QB Bryce Young at the helm, they are going to be just fine. Georgia is returning most of their starters from 2020, including star QB J.T. Daniels, who has the chance to establish himself as one of the top QB prospects heading into the 2022 Draft. These teams are on a collision course for the title game in Atlanta, but that doesn’t mean the SEC isn’t without its other notable teams. Texas A&M had a playoff-caliber season last year, and could definitely make some noise in the SEC West. Other perennial contenders such as LSU and Florida aren’t as formidable as they typically are, between losing talent to the NFL and injuries, but I think there’s enough talent to at least reach 8-9 wins. The bottom of this conference is still a complete dumpster fire, so teams at the top with any talent whatsoever will always thrive. The team with the most talent is Alabama, so it should be another SEC title, and perhaps another national title, on the way.
ACC
Winner: Clemson Tigers
Runner-up: Miami Hurricanes
I don’t even want to talk about the ACC. While I can recognize that it is certainly better this year than it has been in the last few seasons, especially in the Coastal, it’s still horrible. Teams like Miami and UNC just happen to be serviceable enough, at least on paper, for this conference to not be a complete wash. Despite the talent in those programs, the ACC is still just Clemson and everyone else. Even though this isn’t as good of a Tigers team as their past few squads, Clemson still has an abundance of talent at every position, especially defensively, and has no excuse to lose a single game this season (even their opener against Georgia). I’m very excited to watch D.J. Uiagalelei, who is taking over the QB position now that Trevor Lawrence is in the NFL. I think he can do massive things on a national level. Who knows, perhaps Clemson might finally get their elusive first Heisman winner. Only time will tell.
Big 12
Winner: Oklahoma Sooners
Runner-up: Iowa State Cyclones
The Big 12 is honestly very interesting to me. Obviously this was a very tumultuous offseason for the conference, as Texas and Oklahoma agreed to leave for the SEC in a few years, and several other teams are reaching out to try and leave as well. Who knows if the Big 12 even exists in 5 years time? In any case, that will be then, this is now. And now, like any other year, Oklahoma figures to bulldoze everyone in their path. It was a rough start last season in Norman, but you could argue that no other team finished as hot as the Sooners did. Led by QB Spencer Rattler, the runaway Heisman favorite, this offense will be as explosive as ever, and I can’t wait to watch it. Another team that had a strong season last year was Iowa State, who had arguably their best year ever. They’re always interesting under Matt Campbell, and with a guy like Breece Hall in the backfield, this will be one of the nation’s must-watch teams in 2021. Texas is also here, and while they’re not back, they seem to be on the precipice. Tom Herman is finally gone, and Steve Sarkisian has been handed the reins to try and return the Longhorns to glory. I think it was a great hire, and while this year will be sort of a “figure it out” type of season, I think the future is very bright in Austin. The rest of the Big 12 is nothing short of a dumpster fire, but these teams will be on everyone’s radar all season long.
PAC-12
Winner: Oregon Ducks
Runner-up: UCLA Bruins
The PAC-12 is still arguably the worst power conference in college football, but there is simply no way it is as bad as it was in 2020. The American was probably a better conference last year. It was embarrassing. Alas, things seem to be looking up this season, as certain teams are looking up. One team is looking way up: Oregon. This is easily the best team in this conference, and easily the only hope to get the PAC-12 into the Playoff. The QB room isn’t very strong in Eugene, but almost every other position is. Led by star DE and future top 10 pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, this is a very balanced roster that seemingly does everything well. Unfortunately for the Ducks, they have to travel to Columbus in Week 2 and will get the doors blown off them, but I don’t see them losing a conference game. Their toughest opponent will be the team that I believe is the second best in this conference: UCLA. Yes, I know the Chip Kelly era has been a complete failure until now, but it finally looks like he has a team behind him that can actually make some noise. The PAC-12 South is also unbelievably bad, as even USC is an afterthought in every regard. The Bruins aren’t as strong as the Ducks and won’t be a playoff contender, but that October 23rd game, and a potential PAC-12 Championship Game matchup, could do wonders for the future in southern California.
Heisman Winner: Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma Sooners
Is this the most basic pick ever? Yes. Do I care? Kind of. Is it going to happen? Absolutely. Rattler showed us his promise last season as the full-time starting QB in Norman, and in a second year with Lincoln Riley, the sky isn’t even high enough to be the limit. As I mentioned before, this team is absolutely loaded with offensive talent, and Oklahoma’s schedule is disgustingly easy. The Sooners out of conference opponents are Tulane, Western Carolina, and Nebraska, which is somehow perhaps the worst team of those three. They only play 4 road games (in addition to playing Texas at the State Fair), and like I said above, this is not a good conference at all. It’s a statpadding heaven for Spencer Rattler and Oklahoma. Combine that with his talent and playmaking ability, and it makes for an easy Heisman campaign, and another one in the legacy of OU quarterbacks in the last 5 years.
I think the other biggest contenders are QB C.J. Stroud of Ohio State, QB D.J. Uiagalelei of Clemson, and RB Breece Hall of Iowa State. Stroud is immensely talented and just sat a year under Justin Fields in addition to being surrounded by the best WR talent in the country and a deep, physical RB room, and could easily put up the numbers to at least be a finalist. Uiagalelei showed us his promise last season, and with Clemson’s lack of formidable opponents, he’s bound to have a massive season. Breece Hall is the best RB in football, and last year showed us that you don’t have to be a QB to win this award. So hey, why not give him a shot?
Playoff Prediction:
(1) Alabama vs. (4) Oklahoma – Capital One Orange Bowl
(2) Clemson vs. (3) Ohio State – Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Yes, I know. Again, it’s the most basic prediction ever. But unless you can provide me with some other evidence, there is no way these aren’t your four playoff teams. The only other team I can see getting in is Georgia, but that requires beating Clemson in the opener or Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, and I have watched enough Georgia games to know that they fold in the biggest moments, so I simply cannot put them into the Playoff with confidence. The order of these teams is honestly up for debate, but just based on precedence, this is how I think it’ll play out. Alabama will be the most balanced team and win enough blowouts to stay at #1 for the whole year. Same story with Clemson, especially after beating Georgia in Week 1. The Buckeyes will be plenty good, but maybe not have the resume to be in the top 2. And OU will round things out with the weakest resume of the bunch, but still a wickedly talented squad.
In terms of predicting how these games go, I’d take Alabama in an easy one over Oklahoma, simply because we’ve seen this story way too often with the Sooners. I do believe that if there’s any year for them to end this drought, it’s this one. I just don’t see it happening. In the inevitable Clemson-Ohio State matchup, I’d roll with the Buckeyes. I think that Ohio State simply has more offensive firepower, and that makes a big difference in a game like this. That sets up for an Alabama-Ohio State rematch in the National Championship Game in Indy, which is honestly impossible for me to predict right now. Obviously my heart tell me to pick the Bucks, but Alabama is Alabama. I’ll save that pick for when the time comes.
This is going to be another great year of college football. It’s hard to remember how tumultuous last year was, between all the cancellations, delays, and problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But full schedules are back, fans and bands in the stands are back, and this beautiful sport is back in full throttle. I can’t wait to watch it all unfold.
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