The first two weeks of the 2023 season are in the books and man oh man do we have a lot to cover.
First, let’s talk about what happened in T-town on Saturday night-
Alabama hosted the Texas Longhorns in a prime-time matchup that has been hyped up since their clash last season in Austin. If you recall, the Longhorns had the Tide on the ropes for most of the game until late in the fourth quarter and the Tide kicked a game-winning field goal to win 20-19.
The 2023 matchup was a completely different story. Not only did Texas win, they totally outmanned(I can’t believe I’m saying it) and outmuscled the tide all night. Texas was in complete control from start to finish. The tide had no answer for Quinn Ewers and the Longhorn offense.
Let’s compare the stats, shall we:
Obviously, both teams wanted to air it out all night. Texas accumulated 349 yards in the air and Bama threw for 255. To me, this was the main difference in the game.
Texas has a star with Quinn Ewers. He’s throwing the ball masterly this season and will likely be a top-ten draft pick. Jalen Milroe however threw two interceptions and made many bad throws, some in traffic and some missing targets.
The bottom line, Texas had a master game plan and Coach Sark called one of the best games of his career.
Bama on the other hand looked like someone else besides Nick Saban coaching the team. I saw a lot of penalties, miscommunication, and poor play-calling. If Bama wants to turn this around, Coach Saban needs to relook at his QB situation. There is still time to salvage the season but things better change quick or it could be a very unbama-like season for the Crimson Tide.
Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over. The 2023 college football season is finally here.
I don’t know about you but I’m so tired of hearing about expansion and teams jumping ship, I just want to see some football! Let’s put the ball on the ground and play!
Some of the storylines to look forward in 2023:
Georgia is on a quest to threepeat but can they?
Alabama will be out for blood but do they have a Quarterback?
Tennessee has a new QB in Joe Milton but can they challenge Georgia?
Can Ryan Day and his Buckeyes make it back to the CFP?
How will Coach Prime and his buffs fare in his first season in Boulder?
Can FSU get back in the national title hunt?
Is Bobby Petrino the answer in College Station?
Can USC drown out the hype and focus?
Can the Longhorns win games they’re supposed to win this season?
What does TCU look like this season?
Will Clemson look more like the Clemson of old with Garret Riley?
Can Michigan focus without Harbaugh early on?
Here’s on tap for week 1:
Florida vs. Utah – Thursday at 8 PM on ESPN.
Louisville vs. Georgia Tech- Friday at 7:30 PM on ESPN.
Virginia vs. Tennessee – Saturday at Noon on ABC.
Colorado vs. TCU – Saturday at Noon on FOX.
Boise St. vs. Washington – Saturday at 3:30 on ABC.
UNC vs. South Carolina – Saturday at 7:30 on ABC.
West Virginia vs. Penn State – Saturday at 7:30 on NBC.
LSU vs. FSU – Sunday at 7:30 PM on ABC.
Clemson vs. Duke – Monday at 8:00 PM on ABC.
College Football is back! Here’s to a great 2023 season!
College Football is a strange game. Every preseason I read and listen to enthusiast, analysts, podcasts, and anyone who knows the game, to see what is on the horizon for the new season. I take that data and then I perform my own research to see what I think might happen for the upcoming season. And after all the reading, listening, and watching is done, I usually come to the conclusion that I’m a complete fool.
The fact of the matter is that there is no writing on the wall to tell you what is coming, only your own instincts and gut feelings can help you navigate through the hype and chatter about a new season of college football.
However, it will not stop me from trying to predict what will happen.
So, without further ado, here are my predictions for the 2023 College Football season.
Are you ready? Here we go!
Georgia will not “three-peat”. Dogs will still be good but I think they trip up in Knoxville and it will keep them out of the hunt.
Someone not named Clemson will win the ACC. You got a new OC and FSU comes to town in week four. Prove me wrong, Clemson.
FSU is going to be really good. They’re loaded at both sides of the ball. I know they’re being hyped up and I’m buying in. I think they will win the ACC. Week four in Death Valley will be electric.
Alabama will look like the Alabama of old. Saban is going back to what made Bama great when he arrived- ground and pound, wear your opponent out. Their defense will be stellar as well.
Deion Sanders and Colorado will have some growing pains. I love coach Prime and I love his passion for the game but reality is going to set in real fast when they play TCU in week 1.
Another group five team goes undefeated. Seems like some smaller school goes the distance without a blemish every season. Who will it be? Charlotte’s Head Coach, Biff Poggi, let the media know how he felt about their lack of interest/questions about his team so look out for the 49ers.
Michigan wins three in a row over Ohio St. After last year’s win in Columbus, something happened to Jim Harbaugh. Now that he has the Ohio State monkey off his back he is a new man. He’s got Ryan Day’s number and he knows it.
Jimbo Fisher survives this season. I don’t know how Jimbo Fisher survived the lynch mob in college station last season but he did. However, this is it for him and he knows it. I think Bobby Petrino calling plays will give Jimbo more time to oversee his team and keep the glue intact.
Texas is still a ways off from being back. I like what Sark is doing in Austin- he’s recruiting really well and he’s got a great staff but they got Bama, TCU, and Baylor on the road. They will get a new year six bowl birth.
Hugh Freeze gets Auburn to a bowl. This should not be a shocker. Freeze is an incredible coach, regardless of his shady, personal life, he’s one of the best offensive minds in the game. Auburn hit a home run with Freeze.
Penn State will win the Big Ten. Coach Franklin and his Nittany Lions are due. They will play and defeat Iowa for the B1G Championship.
Notre Dame vs. USC matchup will be a BIG game this year. USC has a pretty light, first-half schedule. Notre Dame plays Ohio State in week four. If both teams are undefeated going into this game, the hype will be nuts! Think 2005.
Georgia vs. Tennessee will be the biggest game of the regular season. The Vols are getting a lot of love this off-season. The Dogs are still on top, even with all the talent they lost. This is THE GAME everyone should circle on their calendars. It will be EPIC.
The four-team playoff will be 1. Alabama, 2. USC, 3. FSU, 4. Oklahoma. I’m sticking with this all season. I think all four teams have what it takes to win their conferences and go to the CFP.
Alabama wins the CFP National Championship. Saban is tired of hearing about retirement. He’s tired of Kirby Smart and Georgia’s recent success. He’s tired of people doubting him. Saban and Bama will be out for blood in 2023.
As I’ve said before, I’m not a prophet, I’m just telling you what I think will happen. So if you go to Vegas with this blueprint and I’m wrong, don’t come to my home with pitchforks!
Summer has finally settled in for most of us in North America and the heat is not the only thing closing in.. that’s right, the countdown to the 2023 college football season is on, fifty days to be exact.
The hype for the upcoming season increases by the day, with teams joining new conferences, five-star players looking to make an instant impact, and a certain coach making his FBS debut, my drool bucket is overflowing.
There are some very intriguing matchups for 2023 and some of these games could make or break a team’s season. Here are my top ten regular season games for 2023:
10. The rematch– LSU vs. FSU, September 3 at 7:30 PM on ESPN. This game came down to the wire last year and I think we will see a repeat this time around as well. The Noles are primed for a breakout season while LSU is looking to start to off hot. This game is a MUST if you love college football.
9. Prime’s debut – Colorado vs. TCU, September 2 at Noon on FOX. I’m not worried about all the media around this game, Prime Time is used to that. What I’m curious about is how well his team will perform against a team that played for the national championship last season. This game will get some serious ratings!
8. Sark vs. Saban II – Texas vs. Alabama, September 9 at 7:00 PM on ESPN. The Tide barely escaped with a win last season in Austin. I expect a much-improved Bama team in 2023. I don’t care who Sark puts behind center; whether it’s Manning or Ewers, Saban will have Bama ready to eat that night.
7. Dabo comeback? – FSU vs. Clemson, September 23 at TBA. Mike Norvell and Dabo Swinney are at very crucial stages in their tenures. Norvell has been given plenty of time to get FSU back to respectability and this is supposed to be the year the Noles break out. On the other side, it’s been a very dry season for Dabo and Clemson. However, Dabo now has a Quarterback and offensive coordinator that seem to get it. This is a game that will have many momentum changes and it will probably come down to some intangibles. Who wants it more? I can’t wait.
6. Deep South Oldest Rivalry– Georgia vs. Auburn, September 30 at TBA. The Dogs are coming off their second national championship in two years. Kirby Smart doesn’t like to hear the word “rebuild”, he loathes it. If that’s the case, then this is a must-win for his team to keep them in the playoff hunt.
5. Ruhle’s first big test – Michigan vs. Nebraska, September 30 at TBA. New Cornhusker head coach Matt Ruhle has his work cut for him; returning Nebraska to glory will be no easy feat, and he will hit the ground running when the Wolverines come to Lincoln. It will be interesting to see if Ruhle can somehow get his team ready for this major test. I see possible trap game for Michigan.
4. Jimbo’s last stand? –Alabama vs. Texas a&m, October 7 at TBA. Jimbo Fisher is like a cat with nine lives, somehow he can’t stay down. However, he better find his mojo this season or will be sent to the showers. The Aggies are not a true blue-blood program, but they want to win and win now. They have the talent; they just have to put it all together. Bama will be replacing Bryce Young behind center, but they’re still loaded everywhere. Can Jimbo pull off another upset in college station against the Tide?
3. Battle of the Tigers– Auburn vs. LSU, October 14 at TBA. LSU finished strong last season, beating Alabama and putting a hurting on Perdue in the Citrus Bowl, the Tigers should be prime for a breakout season. That being said, Auburn and Hugh Freeze will still be trying to figure out what their identity is, but if LSU underestimates Auburn by looking toward the Bama game, I could see Freeze coming up with a game plan to bring LSU back down to Earth.
2. Bucs and Irish – Ohio St. vs. Notre Dame, September 23 at 7:30 PM on ESPN. This is a game I’m really looking forward to. The buckeyes had no issues with the Irish last season in Columbus, but beating ND in South Bend will be a totally different story. This is a must win game for head coach Ryan Day and his team. Win, and you set the tone for your season. Lose, that’s a big hole to dig out of. And when it’s playoff selection time, this is a game the committee will look at and it could make or break their playoff hopes.
Threepeat for Harbaugh? – Ohio St vs. Michigan, November 25 at TBA. Michigan is enjoying a two-game win streak against Ohio State and they’re not taking it lightly. History is not on Michigan’s side to win three in a row, at least recent history. However, Harbaugh and his team can quiet all the doubters with a win this year. If Michigan can get a third win in a row, this will catapult their recruiting against a team that has had hold on them for nearly two decades. It could change everything for their football program. Make no mistake, this game is a must win for Michigan- no pressure!
There will be plenty of new faces playing this Fall. Here are my top ten incoming freshmen for 2023:
Arch Manning(QB) Texas
2. Keon Keeley (Edge) Alabama
3. Nico Iamaleava (QB) Tennessee
4. Zachariah Branch (WR) USC
5. Dante Moore (QB) UCLA
6. Caleb Downs (S) Alabama
7. David Hicks (DL) Texas a&m
8. Jackson Arnold (QB) Oklahoma
9. Kaydan Proctor(OT) Alabama
10. Francis Mauigoa (OT) Miami
And we got to talk about the elephant in the room, or should I say buffalo? Deion “Prime Time” Sanders is now the head coach of the Colorado Buffalos. Prime has brought some serious attention to Boulder Colorado, serious being the key word. The truth is no one has taken Colorado seriously for over two decades, maybe longer, but Prime is determined to change that. He has already brought in some key transfers and had a solid recruiting class, but the biggest thing Colorado desperately needs is a culture overhaul, and who better to do that than Prime Time. He’s got EVERYONE on board at Boulder, he just has to win. It will be a daunting task for him but if anyone can do it, it’s him.
The countdown is on. We got some great games, some new faces, and an electric debut on the horizon. I’m not incredibly patient this time of year, I can only watch baseball for so long. Very soon, the heat will cool down, the leaves will turn bright red, and the whistle will blow.
By now the confetti has dropped and the lights have dimmed on the 2022 College Football Season. The Georgia Bulldogs have once again obtained the sport’s highest honor-National Champions.
What the bulldogs have done over the past two years is nothing short of extraordinary. Not only have they won back-to-back National Championships but the way did it- In 2021 they dominated on defense and in 2022 they unleashed a dominant offense. In many ways, they have been the most complete team in college football for the past two seasons.
However, if I have learned anything about college football, these things go in cycles. The question is, who is the next team to take the next step to obtain college football glory? Who will be the next Clemson or Georgia?
There are a few teams that come to mind- some might be obvious, and some might be a head-scratcher. Nevertheless, these teams have the players, coaches, and resources to compete and win a National Championship.
Tennessee– 2022 was the year that the Volunteers finally escaped college football purgatory. For the first time since 2001, the Vols won 11 games and for the first time since 2006, the Vols defeated arch-rival Alabama. Not only that, they ended the season with an Orange Bowl win over Clemson. That is a banner year for Knoxville, and it only means the stakes will be higher in 2023. With all this momentum and a reasonable schedule, the Vols could be looking at a championship run.
Utah-The Utes have been the model of consistency in College Football for almost two decades, which makes them an easy pick to make a run for the college football playoff. Once more, they have one of the most underrated coaches in Kyle Whittingham, who has had many offers from other schools in recent years and continues to make Utah a top-ten team year in and out. It just seems one team, whether it’s Oregon or Washington or UCLA, seems to trip them up year after year. Can they undo this trend in 2023?
USC– The men of Troy were the team in the early to mid-2000s; winning national championships and creating Heisman winners were the norm in Southern California. However, after Pete Caroll left for the NFL, they have not been the same team they once were. Thankfully, they now have a coach who has the experience and winning mindset to bring them back to an elite level. Lincoln Riley understands USC, he understands its rich tradition and history. And he also understands winning, which is what he did in Norman. He’s got a Heisman quarterback and a star recruiting class. All he needs now is to get to the PAC-12 title game and win.
Texas– The Longhorns have been the biggest tease in college football for so long, you really don’t know what to think of them. They have some of the biggest donors in College Football, yet, they have struggled to be a good football team since their last National Championship team which was in 2005. Mac Brown made the Longhorns a national contender but his last few seasons in Austin were mediocre. Three coaches later, they are still treading water. I do see a rebound though. They now have a good coach in Steve Sarkisian, and they have been recruiting really well, just look at their 2023 class on 247 Sports https://247sports.com/college/texas/Season/2023-Football/Commits/, and they will soon be in the SEC(2024-2025). This is a team that has all the tools to win on the big stage, they just got to do it every Saturday in the Fall.
Michigan– A team with so much rich history and tradition like the Wolverines should never be off the radar, but sadly, they have- at least since Lloyd Carr left their program in 2007. Michigan’s last National Championship was in 1997 and they split it with Nebraska(pre-BCS). Their last Heisman winner also came in 1997- Charles Woodson. That was a great year for the Wolverine football program. The problem has been a double-edged sword for Michigan since 1997: 1. Ohio State has had its foot on Michigan’s throat for over two decades. 2. Inconsistent product on the football field.
Michigan traditionally does well when they have a good quarterback and running back play. They finally have it in J.J. McCarthy (QB)and Blake Corum(RB). This duo has helped their team beat arch-rival Ohio State two years in a row and helped them reach the College Football Playoff. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has also brought great x and o’s to the Wolverine program, along with stability. They just need to take the next step in 2023 and win it all.
These five teams have what it takes to reach the ultimate prize in College Football. Some of them are new to the dance, and some of them have come up just short. Very soon, one of them will put it all together and shock the world.
We continue our series on the power five 2022 schedules and today’s topic is on the Pac-12 2022 schedule.
Like the Big Ten, only one school has played in the College Football Playoff since it’s inception and that was the Oregon Ducks who played in the Title game against Ohio State but lost.
Arizona – key games – Colorado, Oregon, and Arizona State- The wildcats were close to goose egg last season, with their only win was against lowly Cal. This year they look to turn it around and with their biggest games at home, it’s not far-fetched.
Arizona State – key games- Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon – The Sun Devils have a tough road schedule: at Stanford, at USC, and at Stillwater for their non-conference game against Oklahoma State. And with a coach in hot water already, it will be tough for Coach Edwards to be retained in 2023.
Cal – key games – Arizona, Oregon State, and Arizona State – The Bears showed up for USC and Stanford in 2021, can they do it again in 2022?
Colorado – key games- Arizona, Oregon, and Oregon State – Mel Tucker left a big mess for Karl Dorrell. Now he must take a leap in 2022 by taking on three quality non-conference teams and ending the year with Oregon, USC, Washington, and Utah. That will be tough.
Oregon– key games – Stanford, Washington, and Oregon State -The Ducks have a new head coach in Dan Lanning who helped Georgia win a national championship. The question is can he replicate what he did in the SEC for the Ducks on the defensive side of the ball? Lanning will get a chance to test early when he faces his old team in week 1.
Oregon State – key games- USC, Colorado, and Oregon- The Beavers might play little brother to the boys in Eugene, but they don’t back down from anyone. Boise State comes to Corvallis in week 1 and the middle of the schedule with USC and Stanford won’t be easy.
Stanford – key games- USC, Utah, and Notre Dame – The Cardinal were down in 2021. It seems they were on the an upward trajectory after the Oregon game but they lost seven straight after that game. David Shaw and company get USC, Washington, and Oregon in September so they need to get hot quick.
UCLA – key games- Utah, Washington, and USC – Chip Kelly turned a corner in 2021 and hopes to keep the trend going into 2022 and beyond. With their team joining the B1G, you wonder how hard it will be to keep his team motivated?
USC – key games – Stanford, Utah, and Notre Dame – New coach and soon to be new conference, the men of Troy will look a lot different in 2022. Lincoln Riley is an offensive guru and with Caleb Williams in LA, the trojans could be a sleeper team this season. It’s a favorable schedule for a first year coach looking to make his mark.
Utah – key games – UCLA, Stanford, and USC- The Ute’s are probably the best coached team in the Pac-12. They start off the season against SEC opponent in the swamp. Win that game, and that could be a catapult for the season.
Washington – key games – Stanford, Oregon, and Washington State- The Huskies won four games last season. To improve on that, they must play better defense. They have a non-conference game with Michigan State at home and Stanford makes a visit the next week.
Washington State – key games – Oregon, Utah, and Washington – The Cougars are another team you just can’t put a finger on. One week they’re world beaters and the next they lose to the sisters of the poor. 2022 is a tough schedule- trips to Madison, at USC, and at Stanford. They need to be road warriors this season.
Today we continue our series on the 2022 power five conference schedules and today’s topic is the Big Ten 2022 schedule.
Since the inception of the college football playoff in 2014, only three schools from the Big Ten have played in the CFP- Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State. Only one team from the Big Ten has won the National Championship since the CFP era and that was Ohio State in 2015.
Illinois – key games- Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Iowa- The Fighting Illini are coming off a 5-7 2021 campaign that truly was a roller coaster. There was a nine overtime win against Penn State but a 24-0 loss to Wisconsin at home. 2022 will not be easy as they draw Michigan and Wisconsin on the road.
Iowa – key games -Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin- The Hawkeyes have a tough 2022 schedule but they seem to do pretty well in this environment, and with Michigan and Wisconsin at home, never count them out.
Minnesota – key games-Michigan State, Penn State, and Wisconsin – The Gophers might have one of the toughest conference schedules in the country- Michigan State, Penn State, and Wisconsin all on the road. Good luck!
Nebraska – key games – Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Iowa – Is this the year Scott Frost and his Cornhuskers finally break through? With a trip to Ireland, the Sooners and Wisconsin at home, it’s going to be favorable. It’s time to win for Scott Frost.
Northwestern – key games- Nebraska, Penn State, and Wisconsin – The Wildcats get the buckeyes and badgers at home but face most of their division on the road.
Perdue – key games – Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois – The Boilermakers get Penn State and Iowa at home and winnable games on the road with Maryland and Minnesota. Could be another banner year for Perdue.
Wisconsin – key games – Ohio State, Michigan State, and Minnesota – The Badgers travel to Columbus, East Lansing, and Iowa. It will be tough to make it to the B1G Championship this season.
Indiana – key games – Illinois, Nebraska, and Penn State – Hoosier football has taken off the last few years, more than it has in a long time. It’s still got a ways to go to say they can compete but they’re moving in the right direction. They need a marquee win in 2022- could it be against Michigan at home or Cincy on the road?
Maryland – key games – Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State – The Terrapins have a bottom heavy 2022 schedule. Games at Madison and Happy Valley late in the season and then Ohio State at home will be a mighty test for the fighting turtles.
Michigan – key games- Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State- Jim Harbaugh checked all the boxes last season(minus one)- beat Ohio State, win the B1G, and get into the CFP. This season’s schedule seems to be favorable but they do have to travel to Columbus…
Michigan St. – key games- Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State – Sparty was close to reaching the B1G last season but lost to Ohio State which gave Michigan the tie breaker. 2022 will be another tough sled with visits to Happy Valley and to the Big House and a early non-conference visit to Washington.
Ohio State – key games- Michigan State, Penn State, and Michigan – The bucs will be out for blood in 2022, having lost to their bitter rival Michigan and missing out of the CFP. The buckeyes need to take care of business at home this season, and it starts with Notre Dame coming to town first game of the season.
Penn State – key games- Michigan, Ohio State, and Michigan State – The Nittany Lions finished 4th in the Big Ten-East in 2021 and are looking for a better finish in 2022. With trips to Auburn and Ann Arbor, the lions better be ready to play from the get go.
Rutgers – key games – Maryland, Indiana, and Penn State – The Scarlet Knights started off the 2021 season winning three in a row but got rocked by Michigan in game four and just couldn’t recover. The 2022 schedule isn’t too daunting as they host Penn State, Michigan, and Iowa, they just won’t be favored.
Today we continue our series on the power five 2022 schedules and key games and today’s focus is on the Big Twelve Conference.
Baylor – key games – TCU, Oklahoma, Kansas State, and Texas. The Bears are coming off a Big Twelve title run and are looking to repeat and get into the CFP. They get Texas and Oklahoma in Waco but two tough road tests with Kansas State and TCU late in the season.
Iowa State – key games – Baylor, Kansas State, Texas, West Virginia– The Cyclones were a roller coaster a year ago, beating Texas and Oklahoma State but losing two heart-breakers to the Sooners and Red Raiders. This team needs to complete games. Beating Iowa wouldn’t hurt either.
Kansas – key games – West Virginia, TCU, Baylor, Kansas State– The Jayhawks played admirably last season, even if their record shows else. However, 2022 should be more favorable for a team looking to make their mark again on big time college football. Kansas gets West Virginia, Oklahoma, Baylor, and Kansas State at home. They just need to get more offensive production this season and I believe they will.
Kansas State – key games – Oklahoma, TCU, Oklahoma State, Baylor– The Wildcats had a record of 8-5 in 20201 with a season-ending victory over SEC opponent LSU in the Texas Bowl. To get to the Big Twelve Championship, the Wildcats need to win on the road in Waco and Morgantown late in the season.
Oklahoma – key games – Kansas State, Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma State– The Sooners have a new head coach but the talent is still there. Venables will need Dillion Gabriel all season to get the Sooners back in the Big Twelve hunt. Bedlam and Baylor are on the road and the red river shootout in the middle of the season will be tough.
Oklahoma State – key games – Baylor, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas– The Cowboys were almost there last season but lost a close game to Baylor in the Big Twelve Championship. To repeat, they need to win tough road games in Austin and Morgantown. Bedlam is at home and the Sooners will be breaking in a new head coach so that shouldn’t be an issue for Gundy’s crew.
TCU – key games –Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Baylor– The Horn Frogs had a 5-7 2021 season which is definitely sub-par for this program. Thankfully, they get both the Sooners and Cowboys at home, along with Kansas State. The true tests come at the end of the season with Texas and Baylor on the road.
Texas – key games – West Virginia, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Baylor– It’s year two for head coach Steve Sarkisian and he is ready to take the Longhorns back to where they belong which is one of the top programs in the nation. The horns should be favored at the red river shootout but have three tough road games with West Virginia, Iowa State, and Baylor. The Longhorns will be tested early when Alabama comes to Austin in week two.
Texas Tech – key games – Texas, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, and Baylor – The Red Raiders have a brutal road schedule in 2022- at Texas, at Oklahoma, at West Virginia, and at Baylor. It will be a tough task to reach the Big Twelve Championship.
West Virginia – key games- Texas, Baylor, TCU, and Oklahoma – The Mountaineers are another team that always proves critics wrong and if they can get by Oklahoma and Kansas State on the road this season, they could be looking at a run for the Big Twelve Title.
Oklahoma has been for the Big Twelve what Clemson has been for the ACC- a shining star. They’re the only team in the playoff era to make it to the four-team playoff since its inaugural season in 2014. The issue is they get curb stomped in the playoff by Clemson or someone from the SEC like LSU or Alabama. The Big Twelve needs Texas, Kansas State, or someone else to step up their game and make this conference great again. I think Texas is the next team to do it with coach Sarkisian who was able to get Arch Manning to come to Austin in 2023. Baylor has been playing with greatness for a decade and they’re a good program but they still need to get over the CFP hump. Who comes out on top in 2022? We will find out soon enough.
Today I begin a series on conference schedules and who I believe will come out on top as the winner of their conference and the strength of each team’s schedule.
Today we’re looking at the ACC.
I’m not going to go over each team’s weekly opponent, just the important games for each team.
Boston College– key games- VT, FSU, Clemson, and ND. The Eagles get Clemson at home but have to travel to South Bend, Blacksburg, and FSU. These will be huge tests for this program but they have done well in the transfer portal so those additions should be helpful this year.
Clemson– key games- Georgia Tech, NC State, FSU, and Notre Dame. The Tigers need to start off hot in Atlanta. If they get upset or barely escape that game, it could set the tone for the season. It all depends on what Dabo does about the quarterback situation. If DJ struggles, does he pull him for the five-star freshman Klubnick?
Florida State– key games- Louisville, BC, Clemson, and Miami. Never mind that they open and end their year with two SEC schools, they have a tough ACC schedule as well.
Louisville– key games- FSU, BC, NC State, and Clemson. The Cardinals drew the short straw for their away game schedule, plus two non-conference games on the road(UCF and Kentucky)-ouch! They need a hot start before three Florida schools back to back to back!
NC State– key games- Clemson, FSU,BC, and Louisville. The Wolf Pack have an easy September schedule, outside Texas Tech but October is when the fun begins, at Death Valley.
Syracuse – key games- Louisville, Clemson, NC State, and Wake Forest. The Orange open up with Conference play, host a B1G team, and play Notre Dame and Clemson back to back. The Orange will be fortunate to get to a bowl game this year.
Wake Forest – key games- Clemson, FSU, NC State, and Louisville. Only good thing is they get Clemson, Liberty, and Army at home. The Deacs travel to Nashville early in the season but have BC, Syracuse, and UNC at home. First half will be tough.
Duke – key games – UVA, VT, GT, and UNC. The Blue Devils were the worst team in the ACC last season but this year’s schedule sits well for them. If Duke can go 3-3 in their Coastal division, it will be a successful year.
Georgia Tech– key games- Clemson, Pitt, VT, and Miami. The Yellow Jackets have one of the toughest schedules in the country. They play Clemson and Georgia annually, now add a good Pitt team, Ole Miss, and UCF and that my friends is a gauntlet. Tech needs to win their ACC games because that non-conference schedule is brutal.
Miami – key games – VT, FSU, Clemson, and Georgia Tech. Mario Cristobal gets to show the world what he can do in the ACC. It will be tough as the canes have an early non-conference test in College Station and then at Death Valley.
North Carolina – key games – Notre Dame, VT, UVA, and GT. Mack Brown’s heels are reeling from a year that should had been better. They do get ND, VT, Pitt and rival NC State at home so the load won’t be as tough.
Pitt– Key games- GT, VT, Miami, and UNC. The Panthers play West Virginia and Tennessee at the beginning of September, so they will be tested early. They also have Louisville, Miami, and UVA on the road. It will be hard to repeat what they were able to do a year ago.
Virginia – key games-GT, Miami, Pitt, and VT. The Hoos don’t have a terrible schedule this season for first year head coach Tony Elliot. If they can take care of business at home and win a few crucial road games, they could sneak in the ACC championship game.
Virginia Tech– key games- UNC, Pitt, Miami, VT. The Hokies are another team breaking in a new head coach. Thankfully, the majority of their tough games are in Blacksburg(West Virginia, Miami, and UVA).
Since 2000, there have only been two teams from the ACC to win the National Championship- FSU(2013) and Clemson (2016 and 2018). Miami won a championship in 2001 but they were in the old Big East at the time.
For a team from this conference to get into the playoff, they will need to be near perfect.
The Clemson Tigers have been the favorite to win the ACC the past decade and I don’t really see that changing. Their biggest tests come late in the season and hopefully by then, either DJ will have held onto the starting job or Klubnick will be the man behind center. Regardless of the QB position, the Tigers will once again have one of the best defenses in College Football and that will make them one of the top teams in the nation. I am going with the Clemson Tigers as the team to win the ACC Title and get an invite to the College Football Playoff.
