It’s that time of year again boys and girls.  Time for the sport that showcases talented, young athletes battling it out for a chance to be the best in America (and more importantly, earn a pay check in the big leagues).  The sport that almost always sends the wrong two teams to play for a national championship yet refuses to create some sort of playoff system that would bypass that issue.  The sport that, no matter how wrong it is, just seems right…college football – where every game matters.  And with the dawn of a new season comes a new set of inevitable truths to go along with it.

1. Florida is still the best team in the county.  I don’t care who they lost to the draft; they still have Tim Tebow.  Their defense gained experience last season, and with the return of linebacker Brandon Spikes and safety Major Wright, they will be even better.  The loss of Percy Harvin only makes room for running back Chris Rainey.
   

   Tebow will lead a Gator team that is still an easy favorite to win another Nat'l Championship. (Charles W. Luzier/Reuters)

   Rainey and his blazing speed will see even more time.  Take all that and factor in that Urban Meyer is coaching them and has recruited for them in the offseason, and the Gators are still an easy favorite to win yet another National Championship.

2. USC is still overrated.  Even with the loss of several key defenses players and a “star” quarterback, the Trojans will still be in people’s Nat’l Championship talks (especially ESPN who must get paid every time they mention USC or Pete Carroll in the same sentence as the phrases “winning a National Championship” or “should be ranked number one”).  Don’t get me wrong, USC will win the PAC 10 again because the PAC 10 is…well…the PAC 10.  But unless they destroy Ohio State (with Terrelle Pryor playing the whole game) and schedule a BIG 12 or SEC team, they should NOT be in line to play for a Nat’l Championship, or be ranked higher than #5 for that matter.
3. Ohio State still stinks.  The Buckeyes have done everything right over the past few years and are currently in danger of becoming College Footballs’ Buffalo Bills (circa early 90’s).  They will have two real tests this season.  The first is the aforementioned game against ESPN’s favorite team, USC. The second will be against Penn State, who has a really good shot at winning the BIG 10 and playing for a Nat’l Championship.  If they can do that, then they have a shot at playing in a title game, and maybe then they will actually win one – unless they have to play Florida.

Now, with that being said, there are a few things that haven’t been written in stone just yet.  Although it’s more likely that these things will not happen, the opportunity is still very much there.

This was the guy who head coach Mike Gundy flipped out to reporters over, and now that we have seen him play, it makes perfect sense why that "man who is 40" would go nuts to protect this talented kid. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

The BIG 12 has a chance to overtake the SEC as the most powerful conference this year.  I know it’s shocking, and like I said, it probably won’t happen, but think about it.  Aside from Florida, the whole conference is one big fat “IF.”  IF Georgia, Alabama, and LSU can find decent quarterbacks, they will be complete teams again – but they haven’t just yet.  Georgia lost Matt Stafford to the draft, LSU has a rotation of four QBs who were all pathetic and have managed to cost them several key games last season, and Alabama lost John Parker Wilson – who was a leader, but the reason they couldn’t win the SEC or beat Utah…he stinks.  South Carolina is still a failing project that Steve Spurrier can’t get off the ground (how bad does he wish he was still at Florida) and Tennessee was atrocious last season and is now under a new coach in Lane Kiffin, so expectations can’t be set too high for them.  The only team with a good QB, Ole Miss and Jevan Snead, will only do well IF the team plays up to Snead’s level.  Sure they beat Florida last year, but everyone who knows football knows that was a fluke.

Now, take a look at the BIG 12 and see Texas with a solid team and Colt McCoy, Oklahoma State (a real sleeper this year) with a very talented team and Zac Robinson, and Oklahoma and Sam Bradford (while I do think Oklahoma will be good, I don’t think they will be as successful as last season because they lost so many offensive lineman).  They are just the top three too.  How about Kansas and Nebraska, both of those programs are on the up and up – and even Colorado showed some fight last season (even though it was very little, they still are making some big strides).

Don't be surprised if Darryl and Co. play for a Nat'l Championship this year. (John T. Greilick / The Detroit News)

So unless some QBs emerge in the SEC besides Tebow and Snead, the BIG 12 has a real shot at being the toughest conference in football.

Finally, the teams that I think have a real chance to shock the nation:  Oklahoma State and Penn State.  Oklahoma State has its core returning and three big-time athletes in Robinson, Kendall Hunter, and Dez Bryant.  They open up against Georgia this weekend and have a shot to set the tone for a great season.  Penn State hasn’t received much hype this year but they are quietly better than they have been before.  Although they lack the flashy receivers (Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood) Joe Pa has strong leadership from a talented QB Daryll Clark, and a solid running game with Evan Royster – oh yea, and I think they are pretty good on defense too, maybe at the linebacker position? I’m not sure.

2 Responses to “College Kickoff Weekend…”

1. Candice says:

   09/11/2009 at 1:44 am

   I was on the Dez Bryant bandwagon too. I guess I still am but, I thought he got manhandled in the Georgia game. I predicted Oklahoma State would win though and in the end they did. And, it was Bryant that finally got loose and scored. I say all that to say, “I want to see more from Bryant the rest of the year.” I don’t think he will win the Heisman though. I think the feel good vote is going to go to Colt McCoy this….especially if he and the team keeps winning.
2. Jon Dyer says:

   09/05/2009 at 10:50 am

   Dez Bryant was far and away the best WR in college football last year. The man is a straight up monster and he will be in NYC for the Heisman ceremony this year. Im praying the Eagles either tank it this year or trade up to draft this guy because his skill set and physical stature will translate really well into the NFL.