Here are top five storylines and games to watch in college football:
Top 5 storylines
Can anyone knock off Alabama?
Coach Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide start the year No. 1 and are the heavy favorite to finish that way after returning two of the premier players in the sport, reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and defensive menace Will Anderson Jr. Their top challenger is likely Ohio State, which features a Heisman Trophy favorite in quarterback C.J. Stroud a🐲nd a number of quality NFL prospects. Defending champion Georgia lost a large chunk of its record-setting defense, but remains one of the most talented teams in the country. Texas A&M, if it can find an answer at qu𒈔arterback, could threaten Alabama in the SEC West, and Clemson is a potential sleeper, led by a robust defensive front.
Will there be more movement in realignment?
Oregon is the school to watch. The Ducks, one of the top brands not part of the Big Ten or SEC, have reportedly expressed inte𒁃rest in joining the Big Ten, and commissioner Kevin Warren has said he could see his league expanding to 20 teams in the future. The ACC — in particular Florida State, Miami and Clemson — could be poached, though its grant of rights — which gives every school’s media rights to the league — extends to 2036 with current members. That could 🌃be prohibitive to a move.
Will the transfer portal impact the season?
A number of schools, some of them contenders, are relying heavily on transfers. Alabama went to the portal to land top running back J🍬ahmyr Gibbs (Georgia Tech) and cornerback Eli Ricks (LSU). USC did the same, in picking up quarterback Caleb Williams from Oklahoma, receiver Jordan Addison from Pittsburgh and running back Travis Dye from Oregon. Just look back to last year’s playoff teams, and how significant newcomers from other schools were — from Alabama star wideout Jameson Williams (Ohio State) to Cincinnati running back Jerome Ford (Alabama). It’s almost become as critical as high school recruiting.
Can the Pac-12 and Big 12 contend?
The Pac-12 hasn’t reached the College Football Playoff since 2017. The Big 12 has been left out the past two years. Both would just love to be in the mix in late November, which is more likely for the Pac-12, particularly after the arrival of coach Lincoln Riley at USC and his blockbuster transfer class. Utah, which opens at Florida, i🔯s a possible contender, too. Oklahoma and Baylor could be dark-horse candidates, though both lack the kind of premier non-conference opponent to impress the committee.
Can the talent-rich state of Florida return to relevance?
There are new coaches at two of the big three in the Sunshine State — Mario Cristobal at Miami and Billy Napier at Florida. Mike Norvell is in search of his first winning season in his third year at Florida State. Considering the level of prospects in the state and the rich history of all three programs, it’s stunning to see how far the three schools have fallen. They were a combined 18-19 last fall. Miami is the best bet for a breakth🅷rough, buoyed by Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback Tyler Van Dyke and quality transfer portal adds on defense by Cristobal.
Top 5 Games to watch
Notre Dame at Ohio State, Sept. 3
The season starts with an absolute blockbuster of a matchup, Notre Dame and new coach Marcus Freeman in Columbus to face loaded Ohio State. Freeman played for the Buckeyes and now starts ꦓhis head-coaching career against his old team in prime time.
Texas A&M at Alabama, Oct. 8
Jimbo Fisher became the first Nick Saban assistant to defeat him last October, then the Texas A&am𓄧p;M coach landed the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. It led to a public feud that saw the two men take shots at one another’s recruiting practices — Saban said the Aggies “bought every” recruit and Fisher responded by calling him a “narcissist” — though it has supposedly since been squashed. Get your popcorn ready.
USC at Utah, Oct. 15
USC has been anointed by some as the class of the Pac-12 following the arrival of coach Lincoln Riley and quarterback Caleb Williams, but the Trojans first have to get through Utah — the league’s South division champion three of the past four years. Williams a🐬gainst fellow dual-threat signal-caller Cameron Rising will be a must-watch.
Clemson at Notre Dame, Nov. 5
The also-ran status of the ACC makes this by far the best game on Clemson’s schedule. This showcase opportunity for these two playoff contenders could be a make-or-break contest, particularly if Notre Dame falls to Ohio ♏State in its opener.
Michigan at Ohio State, Nov. 26
The Game was getting stale until Michigan finally punched back last November, snapping Ohio State’s eight-game winning s🍬treak in the storied rivalry. C.J. Stroud and Co. will certainly remember that beatdown when the Wolverines visit Ohio Stadium in a showdown that is expected to determine the rugged Big Ten East winner.