Tag: Texas Longhorns

2023 College Football Season Preview

College football is finally back in our lives, which means we’ll be treated with the best sport on the planet for the next four months. And this could be one of the craziest seasons we’ve ever seen. Here’s my preview of what should be another fantastic year of college football.

Cover photo taken from News IO.

The best sport in the world is finally back. College football has returned to us after a long seven month wait, and we could be in for one of the most fun seasons we’ve ever seen. 2022 will be a tough act to follow, but this is shaping up to be a season featuring some absolute juggernauts at the top that could provide us with some of the best games in recent memory as everyone vies to reach Houston and the National Championship. And with this being the last season of the both the four-team playoff and the Power Five as we know it before realignment takes shape, we are bound for some classic college football craziness. Here’s how I see each of the Power Five conferences playing out, along with my Heisman and Playoff picks for what could be one of the best college football seasons of all time.

Big Ten

Winner: Ohio State Buckeyes

Runner-Up: Wisconsin Badgers

If only the Big Ten got rid of their division system one season earlier. If there was ever a time to let the teams at the top of the league go at it, it’s now. The conference is as top-heavy as it has ever been with the big three of Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State boasting absolutely loaded rosters that can and will compete for this year’s national championship while the other 11 teams look up in admiration.

The two-time defending B1G champion Michigan Wolverines are undoubtedly the favorites heading into the season, and for good reason. In each of the last two seasons, they’ve thrashed their rivals from Columbus en route to conference titles and CFP berths. However, Jim Harbaugh’s squad is still chasing that elusive first Playoff victory. Despite Harbaugh’s upcoming absence due to a self-imposed suspension for recruiting violations in 2020, Michigan should cruise for the first ten weeks of their season thanks to a combination of their incredible talent — both returning and new — and one of the softest schedules in all of college football that culminates in matchups against Penn State and Ohio State in two of their final three games.

Almost all of the Wolverines’ key players from their dream 2022 season are back. QB J.J. McCarthy enters his second year a starter with perhaps the best RB duo in football behind him with returning stars Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. Their offensive line has been reloaded with two senior transfers to complete a unit featuring five players with a combined 23 years of experience. The receiving corps is also led by veterans Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson. Like last season, Michigan’s defense is extremely balanced with playmakers everywhere like Will Johnson and Mike Sainristil in the secondary and the senior edge-rushing duo of Braiden McGregor and Jaylen Harrell. Simply put, this is the most complete and talented team in the conference, and maybe all of college football. If Michigan doesn’t complete all of their three-peats, the season will be considered a failure.

Michigan RB Blake Corum is back to lead the offense after a sensational 1,463 yard, 18 TD season in 2022. (h/t 247Sports)

It might not seem like it on the surface, but Ohio State is a program in flux. The Buckeyes enter each season with three goals: beat The Team Up North, win the Big Ten, and win a national championship. They haven’t beaten Michigan since 2019 and have been embarrassed in back-to-back seasons. They haven’t won the Big Ten since 2020, and they only played in that game on a technicality. They haven’t won a national championship since 2014. Under Ryan Day, Ohio State is hitting 3-for-11 on their goals. That’s a .273 batting average, which would be solid in baseball but is absolutely dreadful for a program as proud as this one. There’s no excuse for the Buckeyes to be underachieving as much as they have been under Ryan Day. They have been blessed with countless offensive gems and have nothing to show for it. This is the season that he has to get Ohio State back to how they were under Urban Meyer. If he doesn’t, his time in Columbus might be up.

Luckily for Coach Day, his 2023 squad is another lethal one. C.J. Stroud is gone, but his replacement will be either Kyle McCord or Devin Brown (note: it is extremely strange that we are entering September and this QB battle hasn’t been settled yet), each of whom are extremely capable and talented quarterbacks. It helps that the surrounding cast is the best in the nation with two preseason first-team All-Americans at wide receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr. — the best WR in football and perhaps the most unique WR prospect I’ve ever seen — and Emeka Egbuka. The Bucks also boast a bullish RB tandem with veterans TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams. But offense is never a question in Columbus. It’s the defense that has let this team down again and again. Jim Knowles was brought in last year to fix that problem, but his first season was a resounding failure that included back-to-back embarrassments to end the year against Michigan and Georgia. This year’s unit returns every key player that suffered those embarrassments, headlined by the star pass rush duo of Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau and field general linebacker Tommy Eichenberg — a preseason first-team All-American. The secondary is significantly weaker than the front seven, and they will really need to pull their weight if the Buckeyes want to get where they want to. If young guys on this defense like C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles get their chances, the unit can take huge strides. It’s just hard to put any faith in the Ohio State defense at this point.

Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. could have a record-breaking season in Columbus. (h/t Sports Illustrated)

In Happy Valley, everything is lining up for Penn State to have their dream season. James Franklin has his most talented, complete team yet with studs all over the place and a plethora of returning talent from last season’s Rose Bowl-winning team. The running back duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen is one of the best in the country, the WR room features your typical Penn State wideout talents like KeAndre Lambert-Smith and underrated Kent State transfer Dante Cephas, and the offensive line is bolstered by perhaps the best tackle in the country in Olu Fashanu. The defense features studs like Abdul Carter, Chop Robinson, and Kalen King who should each hold down their respective sections of the field.

Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton spearheads one of the best rushing attacks in college football. (h/t Penn State Athletics)

There are only two real question marks with the Nittany Lions. The first one is new QB Drew Allar who has all the talent in the world to take this team to new heights. If Allar lives up to his potential, this team could cut through the Big Ten like a hot knife through butter. But he is inexperienced and could have some growing pains. I believe in Allar’s ability, and he should be a treat to watch. The second question mark is one that has loomed over this program for years now, and that’s James Franklin himself. There’s no doubt that he is a fantastic recruiter and — at the very least — a solid coach. But so many times he has fallen short in the biggest moments. I’d like to think that he and the program will keep the momentum from their great 2022 season where they only lost to Ohio State and Michigan and won a Rose Bowl. But it’s very hard to put any faith in a guy that hasn’t given anyone a reason to have any.

These three heavyweights will all go head-to-head this season, so it should all play out in a fairly straightforward manner… right? Not exactly. The way I see it, each of the three teams is built to beat one of the others, but not both. I think Michigan clearly has the blueprint to beat Ohio State as we have seen for two years in a row, but I think Penn State can match up with them physically. With that game being in Happy Valley, I see Penn State being the lone loss on Michigan’s schedule. However, Penn State clearly struggles with the overwhelming offensive talent that Ohio State possesses, and with the Nittany Lions traveling to Columbus for that game, I think the Buckeyes hand Penn State their only loss.

So, when this merry-go-round is all wrapped up, each of these three juggernauts will sit at 11-1. Who heads to Indianapolis? It would come down to the team whose Big Ten West opponents have the highest combined winning percentage. Ohio State plays Wisconsin, Purdue, and Minnesota while Michigan takes on Minnesota, Nebraska, and Purdue and Penn State clashes with Iowa, Illinois, and Northwestern. What stands out to me there is how awful the Nittany Lions’ trio is shaping up to be. It’s safe to say that they’ll get the short end of the stick in this scenario. And even though I believe that Michigan will notch their third straight win over Ohio State, I have the slightest feeling that Wisconsin’s success in year one of their new regime under Luke Fickell will catapult the Buckeyes to the top of the standings for a matchup with those very Badgers in the Big Ten Championship game where Ryan Day’s squad punches its ticket to the College Football Playoff with their first conference title since 2020.

But that doesn’t mean the season is cooked for Michigan or Penn State. Similar to Ohio State last season, they will certainly be in consideration for a playoff spot despite not even winning their division. The chances of one of them sneaking in are higher than you think.

SEC

Winner: Georgia Bulldogs

Runner-Up: Alabama Crimson Tide

Like the Big Ten, the SEC is as top-heavy as ever. But unlike the Big Ten, this should play out in a much more straightforward manner.

The two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs are searching for college football’s first three-peat in nearly a century (Minnesota from 1934 to 1936). History would say the odds aren’t exactly in their favor, and the sport is extremely strong at the top. But each of the contenders has to go through Georgia. Ohio State came oh so close in the Peach Bowl last season before TCU got steamrolled in the national championship.

Now, the Dawgs are back and still absolutely loaded despite losing perhaps the most decorated player in program history in QB Stetson Bennett IV. The offense will see a lot of change following the departure of OC Todd Monken, but they still have the players to move the needle. Redshirt junior Carson Beck takes over under center, and while he’s not going to blow anyone away, he’s a very talented player with a better arm than Bennett. He’ll be helped out by an experienced group of skill players including Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards out of the backfield and Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint out wide. But we all know the true star of this offense is Brock Bowers: one of the best tight ends in recent memory and a surefire 2024 top ten pick. His talent alone will make this offense virtually unstoppable. But Georgia under Kirby Smart has been known for their defense, and this year’s unit is reloaded with some absolute studs like sophomore star Mykel Williams flying off the edge and a sensational secondary trio of Kamari Lassiter, Malaki Starks, and Javon Bullard. This is perhaps the most talented team in college football and a very worthy preseason No. 1 that plays one of the most embarrassingly easy schedules I’ve ever seen. Only one team stands in their way of a 13-0 cakewalk to the Playoff.

Georgia TE Brock Bowers is a generational talent at his position. (h/t Press Democrat)

Alabama is in their longest title drought in almost a decade. That drought is two seasons. God, Nick Saban really is the GOAT. And this is a perfect year for the Crimson Tide to bounce back and return to their expected glory. For the first time in forever, Bama is seemingly being overshadowed. Letting them be the underdog is probably a mistake.

Yes, Bryce Young is gone and this offense hasn’t lived up to expectations in a while. But the new-look offense is more of a blast from the past. This Alabama team is going to beat you up and run it down your throat just like the first half of the Saban dynasty. Bill O’Brien has been replaced by Tommy Rees, so this offense should also be more watchable in general. The starting QB will either be Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner who would play the role of Jake Coker or A.J. McCarron or Jalen Milroe who would play the role of Blake Sims or a young Jalen Hurts. They’ll make the throws and plays they have to while the other guys on the offense do the heavy lifting. All the while, the defense will be thumping people left and right with their physicality and athleticism. Dallas Turner leads the way off the edge as one of the premier pass rushers in college football and one of my absolute favorite players to watch. The secondary features some of the best DBs in the nation with Kool-Aid McKinstry, Malachi Moore, and Caleb Downs — a young superstar in the making. This is going to be a team that reminds you of the Alabama teams of the early 2010s, which will be good enough to get them to an SEC Championship Game. The only question is whether or not that will be their peak. With Nick Saban leading the charge, I’ll never doubt what this team is capable of.

Alabama LB Dallas Turner could be the next great Alabama pass-rusher. (h/t Touchdown Alabama)

But I think beating Georgia could be a very tall task. They’ve previously had success with beating the Dawgs when they had the offensive athletes to do so, similar to Ohio State’s blueprint against them last year. This isn’t that kind of Alabama team. Still, they should be good for a run at a playoff spot, and I’d be shocked if they wind up on the outside looking in come Selection Sunday.

The rest of the SEC isn’t much to look at. Teams like LSU, Tennessee, and Ole Miss should linger for a while, but I just can’t see them stepping up and competing with the two juggernauts at the top. LSU is certainly the third best team in this conference with their uber-talented squad in year two under Brian Kelly, but they have a very tough opening test against Florida State and have to travel to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama. Similarly, the Vols are coming off a resurgent season of their own, but it’s hard to believe they won’t get smacked by Georgia. Ole Miss has arguably the best running back in football in Quinshon Judkins, but they don’t have enough talent elsewhere to keep up in the brutal SEC West. Barring something unforeseen, this is a two-horse race.

Pac-12

Winner: Oregon Ducks

Runner-Up: Washington Huskies

One last ride. The last dance. Insert other clichés here. 2023 is the last year of the Pac-12 as we know it, which is a fact that fills me with melancholy. This once-proud conference is one that I grew up loving and gave me and so many others lifelong memories. We are all devastated to see it fall apart the way it has. But the silver lining here is that this year’s Pac-12 is absolutely stacked and should be a treat to watch and cover.

You might think the conversation starts with the defending champion Utah Utes or headline-grabbing USC Trojans, but I would point you in a different direction. I think the Pac-12 runs through the Pacific Northwest and two bitter rivals in Oregon and Washington. These are the two best teams in the conference for very similar reasons. Each team is entering year two of a new regime under a new head coach with Oregon’s Dan Lanning and Washingon’s Kalen DeBoer. Each team is led by a quarterback in his 148th year of football who transferred in 2022 and vastly exceeded expectations with Bo Nix of the Ducks and Michael Penix Jr. of the Huskies. Each team has a star WR in Oregon’s Troy Franklin and Washington’s Rome Odunze. Everything is lining up for these two teams to be on a season-long collision course culminating in a October 14th heavyweight fight in Seattle and an eventual rematch in Las Vegas in the conference title game.

Bitter Pac-12 Rivals Washington and Oregon will be neck and neck at the top of the conference in 2023. (h/t UW Dawg Pound)

With so many similarities, what separates these two? I’d like to say defense, but neither one is particularly impressive. They both had some low lows in 2022, and neither unit stands out heading into this season. But Oregon has revamped that side of the ball with a plethora of transfers, and I think that can put them over the top. I don’t think they will beat the Huskies and their explosive offense on the road, but that loss will help them get their act together down the stretch en route to a revenge victory in the title game to secure their first actual conference championship since 2019.

But what about the others? Utah is coming off back-to-back conference titles and Rose Bowl appearances, and like the two teams I’m buying into this year, they are led by a veteran QB in Cam Rising. They have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball and some of the best program culture in the sport in year 19 under Kyle Whittingham. USC just missed out on the Playoff in 2022, has the incumbent Heisman winner in Caleb Williams — who is also one of the best QB prospects in history — among abundant offensive talent and arguably the best offensive mind in Lincoln Riley. Oregon State is in the midst of their own resurgence under Jonathan Smith and should be getting an offensive lift with the arrival of Clemson transfer QB D.J. Uiagalelei.

USC QB and defending Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is going to light up college football once again in 2023. (h/t USC Athletics)

Well, the Pac-12 is simply going to cannibalize itself as it has so often in the past. USC’s abhorrent, porous defense will be victimized all year long, and no amout of offense will be able to save them. The same can be said about Washington. Oregon is bound to have their hearts broken in typical Oregon fashion. Utah’s injury problems at QB could derail their season from the start. Oregon State simply lacks the big game experience to fully compete at the top.

All five of these teams — and maybe others like Cal and UCLA — will take turns beating each other to the point where nobody has the season they really want to have. Thus, the Pac-12 misses out on the Playoff for the seventh consecutive season. There would be no more symbolic way for the conference to go out.

Big 12

Winner: Texas Longhorns

Runner-Up: Kansas State Wildcats

Buckle up folks. The 2023 Big 12 is going to be hilarious.

This is the first season for newcomers UCF, Houston, BYU, and Cincinnati and the last season for Texas and Oklahoma before they depart for the SEC. So this is an extremely unique season where the conference has 14 teams and very different scheduling. It’s going to be strange from start to finish, but when is the Big 12 not strange?

As a whole, the conference should be as competitive as it was in 2022, if not more so. Last year’s top teams like TCU, Kansas State, and Texas should all stick around while others like Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and even Kansas should have vastly improved campaigns. It’s difficult to imagine a world where TCU replicates the success they saw last year, which means the conference should be wide open.

As always, all the eyes are on Texas. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but it really does feel like this is the year that the Longhorns figure it out. If there has ever been a season for Steve Sarkisian’s offense to finally get it done, it’s this one. Yes, Bijan Robinson is gone and Quinn Ewers hasn’t exactly lived up to his potential, but the ingredients are there for this unit to thrive. Ewers dealt with a shoulder problem for much of last year, and if he stays healthy, there’s no doubt that his talent can help this offense do big things. It helps that he’s throwing to one of the best WRs in the sport in Xavier Worthy and gets a huge lift with the arrival of Georgia transfer Adonai Mitchell, who was absolutely nails last year against Ohio State and in the 2021 national championship against Alabama. Mitchell has also dealt with some injuries, but figures to be a massive part of this offense if he can stay on the field. We know the defense has the talent to be potentially dominant, but I just can’t put any faith in a Texas Longhorns defense in 2023. They haven’t earned my respect. Still, it feels like Texas has the most talent in the conference, and if they can channel that into actually good play on the field, the Big 12 should be theirs for the taking. I can’t wait to be wrong for the trillionth time.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers has what it takes to get the Longhorns to their first conference championship since 2009. (h/t San Antonio Express-News)

Kansas State might be the most overlooked defending conference champions ever, and I can’t exactly figure out why. Losing RB Deuce Vaughn certainly hurts, but they have a great, proven QB in Will Howard and return almost the entire offense that just won a conference title and went to a Sugar Bowl last season. The defense also features many of the same cast members as last year’s team, including one of the most experienced front sevens in all of football. By all means, Kansas State should be the favorites to run it back. Unfortunately, they just don’t have a Texas or Oklahoma logo on their helmet, so they don’t get the love they deserve. I was very close to picking them to win the conference, but for some reason I’m continuing to buy Texas’ stock. But it would not be a surprise at all if the Wildcats repeat.

Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and TCU figure to be the other teams to look out for. The Sooners enter year two under Brent Venables after a disastrous 2022 which included an all-time embarrassment at the State Fair with a 49-0 loss to Texas. It’s never good when your first season is remembered for one of the lowest moments in program history. But, like so many teams in the second year of a new regime, OU figures to be better this season. Eight or nine wins is certainly on the table. Texas Tech has been a trendy media darling in the last few months thanks to their extremely experienced offense led by QB Tyler Shough which returns each of its five top yardage leaders from 2022. But the story with the Red Raiders is whether or not their defense can bounce back from a dreadful season that saw them give up nearly 30 points per game. It’s another experienced unit that has what it takes to improve, but if they don’t, it’s hard to see Tech competing for a conference title. And TCU simply lost too many key players for me to have faith in them to do what they were able to last year. But Sonny Dykes is doing great things in Fort Worth, and I’m sure they will be very competitive, perhaps playing spoiler to some of the teams at the top.

ACC

Winner: Clemson Tigers

Runner-Up: Florida State Seminoles

Once again, the ACC is the worst Power Five conference in football. But I do think it’s improving. And I do think that it is much better at the top than it was last year. The ACC has two real playoff contenders, and all eyes will be on them from start to finish in 2023.

Clemson is coming off another disappointing season that saw them miss the playoff for the second consecutive season and suffer a tough Orange Bowl loss to Tennessee. But the Tigers have all the ingredients they need to return to form in 2023. They’ll get a full year out of sophomore QB Cade Klubnik, who has all the talent to be one of the top signal-callers in the sport. Junior RB Will Shipley enters his junior season coming off a tremendous 2022 where he made first-team All-ACC and was a first-team All-American. The offense has seen some struggles, but they should be infinitely better with the addition of OC Garrett Riley from TCU. Lincoln’s younger brother burst onto the scene last season and should help give this program the lift they so desperately need on that side of the ball. The defense needs no introduction, as is usually the case with this program. There are absolute dogs all over the field from Xavier Thomas up front to Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in the middle to Andrew Mukuba in the secondary. The Tigers could very well boast the best defense in college football, and that should help carry them to another ACC title and perhaps a return to the Playoff. But it won’t be easy. They have a tough matchup against Notre Dame late in the season, and a highly-anticipated game against a media favorite to open conference play.

Clemson QB Cade Klubnik has all the tools to become the next great Tigers signal-caller. (h/t The Athletic)

That media favorite is none other than Florida State, who admittedly had a great finish to their season last year and deserve at least some of the hype they’ve received this summer. Senior QB Jordan Travis is back as one of the premier dual-threat players in the sport, and he’ll be throwing to guys like Johnny Wilson and premier Michigan State transfer Keon Coleman. Defensively, the Seminoles are anchored by star edge rusher Jared Verse who shocked the world when he announced he would forgo the NFL Draft and return for one more year in Tallahassee. Verse will help elevate this defense to a level that can compete for a conference title and maybe even a playoff berth. They’ve got some other key players like Kalen DeLoach, Virginia transfer Fentrell Cypress, and Western Michigan transfer Braden Fiske. But FSU’s problem is their schedule. They open with a very tough game against a great LSU team and have to travel to Death Valley to take on Clemson in Week 4. There’s a pretty good chance that the Noles start 2-2 and have their season be over before we even reach October.

Florida State EDGE Jared Verse enters the 2023 season as college football’s premier edge rusher. (h/t ESPN)

The only other teams I like in the ACC would be North Carolina and Duke. The Tar Heels have one of the best QBs in football in Drake Maye, who will have eyes on him all year long as he figures to be a top 5 pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Duke could be a sleeper team to compete for a conference title as Mike Elko continues to build a very solid, experienced squad led by QB Riley Leonard. The Blue Devils have a real shot to knock off some top teams on their schedule, including Clemson in Week 1. If that happens, they could easily vie for an ACC title and/or a New Year’s Six berth.

Heisman Winner: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Here’s what I wrote about Marvin Harrison Jr. and his Heisman chances for the Student Media Poll Football Column:

At this point in his college career, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. needs no introduction. 

After breaking out for the Buckeyes in the 2022 Rose Bowl against Utah with three  touchdown receptions, the son of the NFL Hall of Famer had arguably the best season of any receiver in the nation last year with 77 catches, 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

The combination of his freakish six-foot-four, 205-pound frame, incredible hands, blazing speed,  precise route-running and lightning-fast athletic ability allows Harrison to make every  possible catch and play on the field, and even some seemingly impossible ones — look no further than his acrobatic sideline grabs against Michigan State and Indiana last season. 

Harrison enters 2023 as the top receiver in college football and would likely be the best player in the country if not for one reigning Heisman winner in Southern California. Although C.J. Stroud has departed for the NFL and Ohio State’s quarterback battle between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown hasn’t been settled, there should be no doubts about whether or not Harrison can replicate his success from 2022. 

Ohio State plays in arguably the biggest game of each month of the season with a trip to South Bend to take on Notre Dame in September, a home showdown against a loaded Penn State team in October, and a rivalry matchup with Michigan in November. Harrison Jr. played his best when it was needed against top teams last year, including a combined 12 catches, 226 yards, and 3 touchdowns against No. 3 Michigan and No. 1 Georgia in the final two games of the Buckeyes’ season. 

If he keeps that trend going in the national spotlight throughout the course of this season, there’s no doubt that he’ll be in the thick of the Heisman race down the stretch. And if the Buckeyes end up in the College Football Playoff over teams with Heisman contenders of their own, Harrison could be the first Heisman receiver since Devonta Smith broke records with Alabama in 2020.

College Football Playoff Prediction

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Penn State – Allstate Sugar Bowl

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Alabama – Rose Bowl Game

The College Football Playoff Committee is going to be in a very sticky situation in the final few weeks of the season. Three of these spots should be easy to fill: an undefeated SEC champion in either Georgia or Alabama, a one-loss SEC runner-up, and whichever team wins the Big Ten at 12-1. That leaves the fourth and final spot, which could be claimed by any number of teams. 11-1 Michigan and 11-1 Penn State would have great shouts, as could Clemson, Texas, Oregon, or any other team that finds themselves on a run late in the year like Washington, Notre Dame, Florida State, or even USC. I think the committee will be stuck with a dilemma — either put the best remaining conference champion in despite having more losses than Michigan and Penn State, or decide between one of those final two Big Ten teams. I think it’ll be the latter simply based on how dominant those teams will be down the stretch and the nature of this Big Ten merry-go-round will end up.

So, why am I giving Penn State the final slot over Michigan? There are two main reasons. The first of which is that the Nittany Lions will have a head-to-head victory over the Wolverines, which will likely end up being the top factor for this decision. The other is that Michigan will have lost later in the year (November 11) than Penn State (October 21), meaning the Nittany Lions will have more time to rise back up through the rankings and find themself with a wild, wacky playoff berth.

In the final four-team College Football Playoff, I like Georgia to beat Penn State in an old-school, physical Sugar Bowl and Ohio State to run past Alabama with their immense offensive talent to set up a rematch of last year’s Peach Bowl classic in the national championship game in Houston. Ohio State will no doubt have a massive chip on their shoulder after the way that game ended, but once again, I think the moment might prove too big for Ryan Day and company. I like the Georgia Bulldogs to once again emerge as college football’s national champion to complete the first three-peat of the 21st century and establish themselves as one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.

All stats taken from ESPN. All roster information taken from OurLads.

2023 NCAA Tournament: Second Weekend Preview and Predictions

After an incredible, historic first two rounds of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, 16 teams and 15 games remain to decide a champion. Here’s my preview of this weekend’s Sweet 16 games and predictions for who will reach next week’s Final Four in Houston.

Cover photo taken from Chron.

After one of the craziest first weekends in the history of the NCAA Tournament, we are left with 16 teams and 15 games to decide a champion. The second weekend of March Madness usually provides some of the best drama and highest quality basketball that the sport has to offer. With the matchups we have ahead of us, I have no doubt that this will be an even better four days of college hoops than what we’ve already gotten. Here’s my preview each game of the Sweet 16 as well as how I think the Elite 8 will play out.

South Regionals

#1 Alabama vs. #5 San Diego State

Unlike the bottom half of this bracket, I pretty much nailed this. This was the matchup I predicted in this Regional Semifinal, and I’m not surprised at either team being here, nor am I shocked at how they got here. Alabama easily dispatched of #16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and #8 Maryland thanks to huge second halves from both their offense and their defense. Brandon Miller looked like his usual self in the second round after a scoreless first game, and Jahvon Quinerly has looked as lethal as I knew he could, being the true X-factor on both sides of the ball. SDSU avoided the upset bid by #5 Charleston in the first round before making light work of #13 Furman in round two. Their defense has been as good as expected, and their offense has shown up in a big way, being their efficient selves by finding great looks and hitting them at a very solid clip. While I’d love to think that formula is enough to pull off this massive upset, I just don’t. You need to match the pace of the Crimson Tide on both sides of the ball if you want to keep up with them on the scoreboard. The Aztecs can slow the game down against inferior opponents like CofC and Furman, but not the best team in the field. Alabama will force SDSU to play this game at their pace, and even though I think the physicality of the Aztecs can keep them in it for a bit, they will simply be worn out by the time this one is over. A second half runaway by the Tide’s offense seems inevitable en route to the Regional Final.

Prediction: Alabama 71-60 San Diego State

#6 Creighton vs. #15 Princeton

Princeton is the third straight 15 seed to make a Sweet 16 after Oral Roberts did it in 2021 and Saint Peter’s went to the Elite 8 last year. Their style of play is much more comparable to the Golden Eagles than the Peacocks; they have simply been out-shooting their opponents and making more clutch shots. Their first round win over #2 Arizona was largely due to the Wildcats’ inability to make jumpers down the stretch, but in the second round against Missouri, Princeton shot the lights out. Missouri, like Arizona, struggled mightily from the field as well, which allowed the Ivy League champs to control the game from start to finish. But something tells me that the cold streak for the Tigers’ opponents is going to stop on Friday night. Creighton has been perhaps the most impressive offensive team in the field through two rounds. I said no one would want to see this team if they got hot, and I have been vindicated. The Bluejays’ shooting and situational offense has been a sight to behold. Ryan Nembhard has been the star of the show, including a 30-point effort against #3 Baylor on a scintillating 8-for-13 shooting performance, and Ryan Kalkbrenner has been his usual dominant self down low. They haven’t been playing the toughest of defenses, but they won’t be facing a very tough defense against Princeton either. I simply don’t see Creighton going cold and the Tigers continuing to get bailed out. I think this will be the biggest blowout of the Sweet 16 as the Bluejays gets one step closer to a Final Four.

Prediction: Creighton 79-56 Princeton

#1 Alabama vs. #6 Creighton

This would be a firework show. I hope this is the Regional Final we get simply because of how entertaining it would be. Creighton is one of the few teams in the field that can match Alabama on both sides of the ball, and it would make for an instant classic in Louisville. The Bluejays guards are arguably better than those of Alabama, and they could simply out-shoot them down the stretch. But the thing that would put the Tide over the top would obviously be Brandon Miller. I don’t know if any team has what it takes to stop him, and while I think the bigs of Creighton like Aluma and Kalkbrenner can slow him down, it might not be enough. This is the type of spot where stars shine the brightest, and there is no one more fitting than Miller to show up and show out to will his team to the Final Four for the first time in history.

Prediction: Alabama 68-64 Creighton

Midwest Regionals

#1 Houston vs. #5 Miami

This matchup is even more scintillating than I envisioned, and it’s largely due to how Miami has played in the first two rounds of this tournament. They struggled a bit with #12 Drake, but they showed up and showed out against #4 Indiana in one of the most impressive performances of any team in the field. They were able to have an inside presence defensively and limit the damage of star Hoosiers big man Trayce Jackson-Davis while the guards did their thing on the other end of the floor. Nijel Pack, Isaiah Wong, and Jordan Miller have turned their level of play up to 11, and it’s making all the difference on both sides of the ball. They will need to keep that level of play up with their toughest test yet awaiting them on Friday night. With Marcus Sasser not at 100%, Houston struggled with #16 Northern Kentucky, and the questions started flying. But with Sasser looking much better against #9 Auburn, the Cougars looked as dominant as we knew they could. I’d say the key piece has been Jarace Walker, who has been blocking everything he sees while being a monster on the glass and unstoppable down low offensively. With Miami’s guards largely being able to match up with Houston’s I think Walker will once again be the X-factor in this game. He’ll be up against Miami’s Norchad Omier and should have the upper hand. If the Canes can’t keep Walker in check, then they simply won’t be able to win. They need to control the paint and continue to let Wong, Miller, and Pack do their thing on the perimeter if they want to live to see another day. I don’t doubt the possibility of that happening. Those guys have proven themselves, and Jim Larranaga is a tremendous coach with a ton of success in March under his belt. But this might be too difficult of a test for them. Houston has a ton of great momentum on their side, and Sasser will only be healthier for the second weekend. This is going to be an absolute dogfight, but I’m rolling with the Cougars simply due to their better matchups, especially down low, and their superior defense.

Prediction: Houston 63-58 Miami

#2 Texas vs. #3 Xavier

This matchup is even harder to analyze and pick than it was when I was filling out my bracket this time last week. Both Texas and Xavier have had an interesting path to the Sweet 16. That of the Musketeers has definitely been a bit more strange, as they had to overcome a double-digit deficit in the final ten minutes of their first round game against #14 Kennesaw State to avoid total humiliation. They were able to right the ship thanks to some timely misses from the Owls as well as some clutch buckets and defensive moments of their own. The second round was much easier as they completely dismantled #11 Pitt to reach the second weekend. Texas’ road here has essentially been the opposite with a very easy first game and a much tougher second game. After making light work of #15 Colgate, the Longhorns had their hands full with #10 Penn State and their pesky shooting. Still, some big time shots down the stretch from guys like Marcus Carr and Dylan Disu lifted Texas out of a bad spot and into the Sweet 16. So, what to make of this game? Xavier certainly has the shot-making ability to give Texas fits like Penn State did. But what if the shots aren’t falling? They’ll have to control the game inside the arc, and they’re definitely capable, as big man Jack Nunge has had a huge tournament thus far. But he hasn’t faced a player like Timmy Allen or Dylan Disu in his first two games. I just feel like Texas matches up too well with Xavier across the board; their guards are more physical and can disrupt the game and their big men are too athletic for the Musketeers to handle. It certainly won’t be easy, but I like the Longhorns to win what will be an extremely physical game.

Prediction: Texas 56-51 Xavier

#1 Houston vs. #2 Texas

If you looked up “war” in the dictionary, a picture of this matchup would show up. With the Final Four being in Houston, I don’t see a Regional Final more fitting than Houston vs. Texas. It just feels right. Two powerhouses duking it out for the right to go home and play for a national championship is something that we deserve as college basketball fans. This was the Regional Final I predicted, but I’m changing my pick. While I love both of these offenses, I think this is the type of game where defenses thrive. Shots are going to be contested from start to finish, and the game will be won inside the arc. While I previously picked Texas to win this game, I was wildly impressed with Houston’s second half against Auburn. Jarace Walker is proving himself as one of the best players in the country who can take over any game, and it’s clear how much better the Cougars play when Marcus Sasser is on the floor. Barring something unforeseen, he will be as healthy as he’s been in weeks for this weekend’s games, and I think that will make the difference for Houston. While I love the Longhorns from top to bottom, I just don’t think they’ll have an answer for someone who plays as well as Sasser. His defensive efforts against Texas’ guards and his shotmaking ability on the other end will provide the Cougs the lift that they need to go home and try to capture that elusive national championship.

Prediction: Houston 58-57 Texas

West Regionals

#4 UConn vs. #8 Arkansas

Don’t show up if you’re soft. This is going to be an absolute war. UConn’s path to the Sweet 16 has been pretty straightforward, and I pretty much predicted it to a T. They have simply beaten teams up down low with Adama Sanogo and trusted their guards to make shots. Their first two opponents, #13 Iona and #5 Saint Mary’s, were able to deal with that for about a half or so, but over the course of a full game, they just get worn down. But now they have to face a team that can match their physicality across the board in the Razorbacks. Eric Musselman is in pursuit of his third straight Elite 8 appearance, and this team can certainly get him there. They have found their winning formula, which unfortunately involves sidelining star guard Nick Smith, but the results speak for themselves. A first round dismantling of #9 Illinois and an inspiring comeback to knock off top-seeded Kansas have them in a golden position for a potential Final Four, which has eluded them for so long. These squads match up so well with one another that it’s almost impossible to find a differentiator on either side. Signs point towards it being Adama Sanogo, and he’ll have to put together his best performance yet if the Huskies are to advance. Arkansas’ guards are just as good if not better than UConn’s, and the defensive efforts of guys like Devo Davis, Ricky Council IV, and Jordan Walsh can put the Hogs over the top. But I just don’t know if their offensive performance can match that of their defense. I know UConn’s offense will show up night in and night out. I can’t say the same thing for Arkansas. If the Razorbacks make their free throws like they did against Kansas, then they can certainly win this game. But that can’t be their only win condition. I just don’t see them stopping Sanogo down low while simultaneously keeping Jordan Hawkins and Tristen Newton in check. The Huskies offense will be a bit too much, and they will reach their first Regional Final in eight years.

Prediction: UConn 64-57 Arkansas

#2 UCLA vs. #3 Gonzaga

In last week’s West region preview, I said this was the best game we could potentially get. Now it’s here. And I cannot wait. I outlined all the history and storylines last week, but now we have an actual game to play. And I can’t really make heads or tails of it. Despite two impressive wins to get here, UCLA is limping right now. Jaylen Clark is obviously out, Adem Bona is still dealing with shoulder problems, and most recently, David Singleton suffered a scary ankle injury late in the second round against #7 Northwestern that could sideline him for this contest. The Bruins will need all hands on deck to deal with Gonzaga’s explosive offense, especially with Drew Timme dominating down low. Timme absolutely took over the second half against #6 TCU in the second round, and his elite level of play is arguably the biggest reason that the Zags are in this spot. If Bona isn’t 100%, the responsibility falls on Kenneth Nwuba, who had a nice game in Bona’s absence against #15 UNC Asheville. But that was a 15 seed. This is Gonzaga. Their offense is picking up steam quickly, and UCLA figures to be trending downwards with their injury problems. But I haven’t backed the Bruins this long and this far to give up hope now. Every sign points towards them losing this game, but I’m going to continue to stick with them… for now. I think they have more clutch shot-making with guys like Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez, and that will make the difference down the stretch. I worry about their perimeter defense without Clark and potentially Singleton, and I worry about their ability to win a shootout against perhaps the best offensive team in the field. But when the chips are down, there isn’t a team in this field I trust more than UCLA.

Prediction: UCLA 69-66 Gonzaga

#2 UCLA vs. #4 UConn

Like Houston-Texas, this was the Regional Final I predicted last week. Just like that game, I’m switching up my pick. It hurts me to bail on UCLA, but I just don’t see how they can keep winning games being as shorthanded as they are. You need all hands on deck to make a championship push in March, and when several key pieces are missing, it’s just impossible. Even if Adem Bona plays in this game, he won’t be 100%, and that means Adama Sanogo will once again be able to lead UConn to victory. I actually like UCLA’s perimeter players more than those of the Huskies, but I don’t think they’ll be able to lead the Bruins to victory by themselves. Unless this turns into a complete shootout, which I don’t think it will, I don’t see a win condition for UCLA. Their defense has to give out eventually, and if it’s not against Gonzaga, then it will be against UConn, who will be headed back to the Final Four in Houston, where they won a championship in 2011.

Prediction: UConn 62-55 UCLA

East Regionals

#4 Tennessee vs. #9 Florida Atlantic

What a strange matchup. While I didn’t think top-seeded Purdue would be playing here, I certainly didn’t expect this to be the matchup. FAU certainly had the stranger path to the Sweet 16 with a bizarre victory at the death over #8 Memphis in the first round before pulling away from history-making #16 FDU late in the second round. They definitely deserve to be here, but it hasn’t been the most difficult of roads to get to MSG. Tennessee, on the other hand, looked remarkably impressive in the first weekend with a dominant win over #13 Louisiana and a defensive masterclass against #5 Duke, who everyone thought would be here in their place. Without their star PG and defensive anchor Zakai Zeigler, I thought the Vols had no chance to beat a team like Duke. But the rest of the team stepped up in a massive way on both sides of the ball as the perimeter defense was suffocating, the paint was completely taken away, and the shots fell at all the right times. It’ll be hard to replicate such an impressive performance, but I don’t think Tennessee will need to do that much against a team like FAU. I know the Owls have a great team and have had a remarkable season, but I don’t see them keeping the magic going against such a difficult defense to beat. If they make their shots, they have a real shot. But I think the Vols have been the far more impressive team, and I’m finding it impossible to pick against them.

Prediction: Tennessee 57-51 FAU

#3 Kansas State vs. #7 Michigan State

If you like guard play, you’re going to want to be seated in front of the TV for this game with a big bucket of popcorn in front of you. Both the Wildcats and Spartans have some of the most fun, electric guard play in the country, and that’s exactly what has propelled both squads to the second weekend. Surprisingly, Michigan State has been the more dominant team in this tournament with two mightily impressive wins over #10 USC and #2 Marquette when many thought they would be one and done. Tyson Walker has been the main catalyst of this run with his impeccable scoring and his ability to run the offense perfectly and control the game in the half court. Other contributors on offense like Joey Hauser and AJ Hoggard are also making key plays on both sides of the ball. Sparty’s defense is doing a great job of disrupting shots and forcing turnovers, and the offense is cashing in on those extra possessions. It’s classic Tom Izzo ball, and it’s once again working wonderfully in March. K State is also playing the role of being slightly overlooked. I personally had them losing to #6 Kentucky, and even though they came very close to doing so, they made some clutch shots down the stretch to pull away. The main reason they were in the game late was the play of star guard Markquis Nowell, who might be the most fun player to watch in this tournament. He may stand at 5’8, but he’s almost always the best player on the floor. His handles, his passing, his shotmaking, and his overall skillset has made him a force to be reckoned with offensively, and watching him hoop is like watching poetry in motion. No one has been able to slow him down yet, but this will be the toughest test yet for the Wildcats. Unlike Kentucky, MSU has the guard play to match Nowell on the perimeter. Moreover, we saw KSU struggle mightily with Oscar Tshiebwe in the second round, and while the Spartans don’t have a force like him down low, they certainly have the size to disrupt Kansas State, the worst rebounding team in the field, in the paint. And it’s just too difficult to pick against Tom Izzo in a spot like this. Jerome Tang is doing amazing things for the K State program, but this moment might be too big for them. They will battle to the bitter end, but I think Michigan State will be able to hold on for just a little bit longer to reach the Elite 8.

Prediction: Michigan State 61-60 Kansas State

#4 Tennessee vs. #7 Michigan State

Of all the Regional Finals, I think this one is the easiest to predict. Simply put, Tennessee’s luck will run out eventually. Regardless of who they play in this spot, they will be facing an offense that won’t vanish into thin air. This is where not having Zakai Zeigler will finally bite the Vols. Even if the shots aren’t falling, a team like Michigan State can beat you with their guard play if you don’t have players to match them on the perimeter. If it’s K State in this spot, I think the same thing goes. While defense is a key component to getting you far in March, I don’t think there are any two more important factors than guard play and coaching. MSU has the clear advantage in both of those areas against Tennessee. I don’t think this moment will be too big for the Spartans, and Tyson Walker will become a household name as he leads Michigan State to yet another Final Four: their ninth (!!) under Tom Izzo.

Prediction: Michigan State 60-56 Tennessee

So, I’m predicting a #1 Alabama vs. #7 Michigan State / #1 Houston vs. #4 UConn Final Four. That’s your sign to bet against that happening! Regardless of what happens this weekend, I know we’re in for some great games and a tremendous Final Four. I’ll be here to give my thoughts on that when the time comes.

2023 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: Midwest Region

The Midwest Region of the 2023 NCAA Tournament features some great teams and plenty of potential madness. Let’s break it down and preview how the Midwest will play out.

Cover photo taken from the Houston Chronicle.

Welcome back to the Madness. The 2023 NCAA Tournament is upon us with 68 teams and 67 incredible games ahead to crown a champion. The 2022-23 college basketball season has been one of the most unique in recent memory, as the field appears to be as wide open as it has ever been. There isn’t necessarily a clear favorite in this tournament, so March Madness is sure to live up to its name in the coming weeks. To preview the tournament, I’ll be breaking down the 2023 bracket region by region. This is the preview of the Midwest: perhaps the strangest, most unpredictable quadrant of the entire bracket.

Meet the 1 Seed: Houston Cougars

What Kelvin Sampson continues to do at Houston is simply remarkable. Houston has been one of the most formidable teams in the nation for several years in a row, making the second weekend in each of the last 3 NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four in 2021. Now, he boasts his best team yet: one that has been on top of college basketball all season long. They sat in the #1 spot in the AP Poll for the majority of the season en route to being ranked first in BPI, NET, and KenPom and coming one game away from being the top overall seed in the tournament. This team utilizes so much of what made Houston squads of the past so strong: freak athleticism and ridiculous defense. The Cougars have both in bunches. Star guard Marcus Sasser, a First Team All-American, leads the way, averaging 17/3/3/2 and being an absolute pest on defense. Jamal Shead is his backcourt companion, who leads the team in assists and runs the offense to perfection. Forward J’Wan Roberts holds things down in the paint, averaging 10/8/1/1/1. But the player who has really helped separate Houston from the rest of the country this season has been star freshman forward Jarace Walker, a future lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. At 6’8 240, Walker is an absolute beast down low, averaging 11 points and 7 rebounds per game. Simply put, this is Coach Sampson’s best and most talented team in his time at Houston, which is really saying something. The teams of the past may have had their roads end in heartbreak, but this is a squad that feels destined to change the narrative. They deserve to be the favorites to win a fairytale hometown title.

Meet the Sleeper: #13 Kent State Golden Flashes

Honorable Mentions: #7 Texas A&M, #12 Drake

That’s right. The sleeper is the 13th-seeded team out of the MAC. And by all means, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. But this is March. Nothing makes sense! Kent State enters the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the field, having run the table in the MAC Tournament, including a win over heavily-favored Toledo, en route to a championship. Star guard Sincere Carry leads the way for this exciting offense that puts up nearly 80 points per game. They have all the makings of a Cinderella, relying heavily on their shooting and offensive play to simply outscore teams. But the real strength of this team is their defense, which ranks in the top 40 in efficiency according to KenPom. It’s a formula that nearly earned them road wins over Gonzaga, a 3 seed in the West, and Houston, the 1 seed in this region. In a quadrant of the bracket that looks ripe with upsets, the Golden Flashes are deservedly going to be one of the trendier picks. But don’t be afraid to pick them to win more than one game. They have proven that they have what it takes to do so.

Upset Waiting To Happen: #13 Kent State over #4 Indiana

Honorable Mentions: #12 Drake over #5 Miami, #10 Penn State over #7 Texas A&M

See above. Indiana certainly is the better team in this game, and the Hoosiers almost match up too well with the Golden Flashes. Kent State is pretty undersized while Indiana has one of the best big men in the sport in First Team All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis and are extremely well-balanced while Kent State is much better defensively than offensively. But like I said, this is March, a time when nothing makes sense. Honestly, Indiana hasn’t been very impressive down the stretch, and I think they’re over-seeded as a 4. But this would still be a shock for most people. The best upsets are the most unexpected ones, and this could very well be one of those upsets.

Best Potential Games: #2 Texas vs. #7 Texas A&M, #1 Houston vs. #2 Texas

Honorable Mentions: #2 Texas vs. #3 Xavier, #1 Houston vs. #5 Miami (FL)

On the surface, it doesn’t get much better than Texas vs. Texas A&M. Ever since the Aggies left for the SEC, we are never graced with this glorious rivalry. To get it in the second round of this tournament would be a delight. I think Texas is one of the best teams in the field, and I think TAMU is one of the most under-seeded teams in the field. This is a second weekend-caliber game just waiting to happen in the first weekend. Both teams are crazy athletic and extremely fun to watch. I would give the edge to the Longhorns, but I have no doubt that it would be air tight from wire-to-wire in an instant classic which we would be lucky to see so early in the tournament.

The appeal of a potential Houston vs. Texas Regional Final needs no explanation. In-state rivals battling for a chance to go back to the Lone Star State for a shot at the national championship? Sign me up. This game would be a peak display of athleticism and guard play. Marcus Sasser vs. Marcus Carr, Jarace Walker vs. Timmy Allen; the matchups are just too juicy. This is actually my prediction to be the Regional Final. As for who I think will win…

My Pick For Houston: #2 Texas

Honorable Mentions: #1 Houston, #3 Xavier

I love this Texas team. They are just so damn good. They have impressed me all season long. The Longhorns could have fallen apart after a world of controversy hit the program’s head coach Chris Beard, who was dismissed from the program amidst a domestic abuse scandal. Interim HC Rodney Terry has done an incredible job getting the program back on track, going 17-7 and leading the Horns to a Big 12 Tournament championship. They rank 5th in BPI, 6th in KenPom, and 7th in the NET, boasting one of the most-well balanced lineups in all of college basketball. Marcus Carr leads the way in the backcourt, leading the team in scoring (15.9 points/game), assists (4.1/game), and steals (1.8/game). Tyrese Hunter and Sir’Jabari Rice complete one of the best backcourts in the country. Star forward Timmy Allen locks down the paint as one of this team’s key pieces, but a leg injury might have him limited or even unavailable throughout the tournament. Still, I have full faith in Texas. This is a team that went 14-8 in Quad 1 games; they are as battle-tested as any team in the field, and they have been resoundingly successful in the most important games of the year. They won the best league in the nation (by a good margin, in my opinion) in emphatic fashion. They have all the makings of a Final Four team and championship contender. I can’t wait to see what they have in store.

Full Round of 64 Picks:

#1 Houston over #16 Northern Kentucky: Cougars might win this one by 50.

#9 Auburn over #8 Iowa: This could very well be the best game of the first round. Iowa has one of the best offenses in the country, but they’re playing a pseudo road game in Birmingham against Auburn, who have the athletes and defense to slow the Hawkeyes down. It’s going to be a war from start to finish, but I don’t trust Iowa’s defense to come through in the most difficult spots down the stretch.

#5 Miami over #12 Drake: It is so tempting to pick this upset. I would honestly pick Drake if we knew that Miami big man Norchad Omier is out. But the possibility of him playing is preventing me from rolling with the Bulldogs. Besides, the Hurricanes boast some of the best guard play in the country with Jordan Miller, Nijel Pack, and ACC PotY Isaiah Wong. Moreover, much of this team has the tournament experience from last year’s Elite 8 run. That should be enough to put them over the top, even without their commanding defensive presence down low.

#13 Kent State over #4 Indiana: You get the point by now. This game should be fascinating to watch, and I can’t wait to be either vindicated or proven completely wrong.

#11 Pitt over #6 Iowa State: This is a classic case of strength vs. strength. The Cyclones excel on defense, grinding you down slowly over the course of 48 minutes. The Panthers, on the other hand, excel on offense with a subpar defense. In March, I tend to favor the superior offensive team. Moreover, teams that win in the First Four carry some momentum with them into the Round of 64, and I think Pitt will have just enough gas to pull off the upset.

#3 Xavier over #14 Kennesaw State: Xavier has one of the best offenses in the country and can light up the scoreboard with the best of them. I like what they have going on in year one under Sean Miller, but I think the loss of Zach Freemantle will prevent them from going too far in this tournament. Thankfully for them, this first game won’t be too difficult.

#7 Texas A&M over #10 Penn State: Like Iowa-Auburn, this is one of the best games of the first round on paper between two power conference teams. Both A&M and Penn State played for conference championships last weekend, and both are more than capable of playing the role of bracket buster in this tournament. Their matchup should be fascinating. I was far more impressed with the Aggies throughout the course of the season as they went 15-3 with some standout wins in the SEC, which was much tougher than the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions will hang around, but their defense won’t be able to get enough stops late to pull the mini-upset.

#2 Texas over #15 Colgate: While I think Texas will make the Final Four, it won’t start with an easy win. Colgate will not be a pushover; this is their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, and in each of their previous three first round games, they have been competitive. The Raiders, who are the best three point shooting team in the nation, won’t go down without a fight, but they simply won’t be able to overcome the athleticism and dominance of the Longhorns for a full 48 minutes.

All stats taken from ESPN.

Week 10 CFP Rankings Reaction

The first CFP rankings of the 2022 season were unveiled on Tuesday night, and I have some thoughts about the actions of the committee as we head into a massive weekend in college football.

Cover photo taken from Tennessee Athletics.

We’ve reached November, which means college football is entering its home stretch, and the College Football Rankings will be released every Tuesday from now until Selection Sunday. The first iteration brought some storylines, both expected and unexpected, as we head into the biggest weekend of the season thus far. Here are some of my thoughts on Tuesday night’s rankings.

Expected Top 3, Unexpected Order

We all know that Tennessee, Ohio State, and Georgia are the top three teams in the country. The order of those three has been debated for several weeks now. A lot of people love Ohio State’s offensive talent and improved defense and have them on top. CJ Stroud is playing like a Heisman favorite and Marvin Harrison Jr. has emerged as perhaps the best WR in the nation. Many continue to ride Georgia’s excellence despite some struggles. They have played the best defense of anyone in college football and deserve their flowers on both sides of the ball. And Tennessee has taken the world by storm with their top ranked offense led by Heisman favorite QB Hendon Hooker. I personally think the balance of the Buckeyes makes them the #1 team, but the committee went Vols, Bucks, Dawgs, and I honestly understand. I’m not upset at all; the Volunteers have been incredible all year long and boast the country’s best win in their 52-49 thriller over Alabama, who clocked in tonight at #6 in the rankings. Georgia being ranked 3rd was a bit surprising, but felt warranted thanks to some unnecessary tough wins against Missouri and Kent State. Most of the debate over this top 3 is pointless, seeing as though Tennessee travels to Athens to take on Georgia this Saturday (3:30 PM EST, CBS), and the winner of that game will likely be ranked #1 until the SEC Championship Game. I think the loser of that game will still rest in the top 5 or so (if Tennessee loses I don’t see how they fall below Alabama) unless it’s a complete blowout, which itself feels unlikely. Ohio State needs to win out and they’ll be just fine, although I feel like them being ranked #1 at any point feels unlikely for the reason I just mentioned. We all know the game that matters the most for them.

Clemson vs. Michigan vs. TCU

The other three unbeatens have had very interesting seasons up to this point. Clemson has put together a solid resume over wins against currently ranked teams like Wake Forest, NC State, and Syracuse. But, they’ve also had a ton of offensive struggles and have a weird situation going on at QB right now with DJ Uiagalelei and Cade Klubnik. The committee is valuing their resume apparently and slotting them in the 4 spot, and considering how awful their remaining schedule is, it’s hard to see them missing out on the Playoff. Michigan has looked the part after a CFP appearance last year, running all over opponents with Heisman candidate RB Blake Corum, but have an incredibly weak strength of schedule weighed down by one of the worst non-conference schedules you’ll ever see. However, the committee thinks they pass the eye test, which is fair. Their offense has been great and their defense is somehow better than last year. They only have two real tests left with a home matchup against Illinois and The Game. Both of those matchups will tell us what we need to know about the Wolverines. TCU has emerged out of the blue with their incredible offense led by QB Max Duggan and boast perhaps the best overall resume in the sport with 4 wins over then-ranked teams and the 3rd ranked strength of record in football. But, they was ranked 7th behind Alabama, who has a loss and has struggled mightily against vastly inferior competition. I do have TCU ranked 6th out of the 6 unbeatens in football, but if I were on this committee, I might have put them at 4. Their resume is too strong to be ignored, and they certainly should not be behind a team with a loss, even if that team is Alabama. Based on this precedent, it’s hard to say that the Horned Frogs control their own destiny, even if they go unbeaten and win the Big 12 at 13-0.

A Flawed Logic

The committee has LSU ranked at #10, one spot above #11 Ole Miss, who they thrashed at home two weeks ago. I think ranking the Tigers above the Rebels is totally fair and believed AP voters should have done the same, but #10 feels a bit high. However, that is not my concern. My concern is that the committee is once again picking and choosing when and where to apply their alleged value for head-to-head wins. If you’re going to put 2-loss LSU above 1-loss Ole Miss because of how that game went, then why is 2-loss Utah five spots below 1-loss USC? Why is 2-loss Kansas State six spots ahead of 1-loss Tulane? That last one is a bit more acceptable, seeing as though the Wildcats have looked sensational since that game. But the other one, not so much. USC is vastly overrated in my opinion, which brings me to my next point.

Benefit Of The Doubt

USC is getting the benefit of the doubt from the committee simply because they’re USC. This is a great team, don’t get me wrong, but they do not belong in the top 10. They were in dogfights against Oregon State and Arizona and lost to Utah, who is inexplicably five spots below them. They have a great offense, but a very subpar defense who got gashed by the Utes and most recently the Wildcats in Tuscon. UCLA has certainly looked like the better team, but they’re ranked all the way down at #13. The only reason I can think of for that is the logo on the helmet. This also applies to Alabama, who has no business being ranked in the top six. If there are six unbeaten teams, each with solid resumes, then what is a 1-loss team doing in the top six? I know they’re the Crimson Tide and have two of the best players in the sport in Bryce Young and Will Anderson. But they lost to Tennessee fair and square and honestly should have lost to both Texas and Texas A&M. They realistically control their own destiny to get to the CFP, but that doesn’t mean they should be slotted so high right now. The other teams need to get their respect for what they’ve done (namely TCU). Saturday’s mammoth clash against #10 LSU (7:00 PM EST, ESPN) will show us just how deserving the Tide are of their ranking.

Big Brand Tax

Finally, we have to stop favoring the big brands simply because of who they are. I said it above with the likes of Alabama and USC being ranked above TCU, UCLA, Utah, and others, but it’s also apparent on the backend of the rankings. Are we sure Penn State should be above Illinois? And are we absolutely positively sure that Texas deserves to be ranked at all? The Longhorns have three close losses, but two of them are against okay to bad teams in Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. Meanwhile, Florida State is on the outside looking in despite their three close losses all coming against ranked opponents and having a win against a top 10 team in LSU. Feels a bit strange, don’t you think?

My Top 10

1 – Ohio State
2 – Georgia
3 – Tennessee
4 – Michigan
5 – Clemson
6 – TCU
7 – Alabama
8 – Oregon
9 – UCLA
10 – Utah

I update this every week as the season progresses. Georgia and Tennessee are so close in my mind, I just trust UGA’s defense infinitely more than the Vols’. I’ve advocated for TCU, and I think they could feasibly be above Clemson, but I’d love to see them play more complete games in the next couple of weeks. Oregon is a team to look out for as they continue to play like one of the best teams in the country after their Week 1 thrashing at the hands of Georgia. UCLA and Utah are being vastly underrated and undervalued by the committee and AP voters, and I would love to understand why.

It’s safe to say this weekend is going to bring about a lot of turmoil in next Tuesday’s rankings. I’ll be right back here to break that all down when they are unveiled. Until then.

All stats taken from ESPN.