My College Football (Political) Playoff Preview

I wanted a fresh and unique way to preview the college football season. Ranking teams 1-25 is an impossible task since every team is 0-0, and there is so much to find out about each program's new players still. That's why I settled on trying to form analogies between what we do know about certain favorites for one of the four coveted playoff berths and candidates for the 2016 Presidential Election. Is this odd? It sure is. But in a summer dominated by Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders headlines, I thought it was more than appropriate. So whether you lean left or right, you love or hate politics, or you couldn't pick any of these people out of a police lineup, I hope you leave this page better informed on who to vote for and/or who to place a wager on.

Teams are in no specific order. When I thought of a "good" analogy, I wrote about it. 

1) Ohio State- Hillary Clinton
The presumed front runner since day one, Ohio State, like Hillary, has more experience than just about every other team. Both the football team and former First Lady have had success in the past, and their expectation is win it all or experience a disappointing feeling. There has been some adversity for both parties recently- Hillary Clinton with her email account, and Ohio State with four suspensions they'll have to deal with in week one. Ultimately, I don't see either party being derailed. Hilary seems primed to win the Democratic primary, and Ohio State seems primed to win the Big Ten and have a fantastic shot at going back to back.

2) TCU- Rick Perry
Last season, TCU finished as the odd man out. All autumn long, they seemed destined to get into the College Football Playoff, but the final poll saw them suffer a catastrophic drop. In response, the Horned Frogs went out and embarrassed Ole Miss. Now, Gary Patterson hopes to get his air raid attack on the right side of the cut line. During the last presidential election, Rick Perry was gaining a lot of support and positive attention. Then, a disastrous debate night left him hopeless to winning the nomination. TCU's loss to Baylor last season, when they held a double digit lead in the second half, as just as significant of a gaffe. Both Texans have given themselves a chance to rebound, but they'll have to get over their pasts if they want to reach new heights this time around.

3) Alabama- Jeb Bush
A dynasty if there ever was one, both the Crimson Tide and Bush family have left a mark on their respective fields. This time, though, doubters and critics seem to have more firepower than ever to expose the two as insignificant. For Jeb, he doesn't even seem to be the most popular candidate from his home state of Florida. For Alabama, questions about the skill positions and a lackluster showing in the Sugar Bowl have resulted in the other team from the Yellowhammer State being declared the division favorite by many. Nobody should ever sleep on a Nick Saban coached team or a presidential candidate from such a prestigious family, but eyebrows could definitely be raised at the legitimacy of both parties this year.

4) Baylor- Ted Cruz
Art Briles is a maniac and still bitter about Baylor's exclusion from the College Football Playoff. He has sounded off countless times on the topic, and very few people are still willing to take him seriously. However, his ability to turn a Big 12 dormant into a dangerous contender is testament to a job well done. The same could be said for Cruz. His election to the US Senate back in 2012 was a surprise very few of the politically savvy saw coming. His rhetoric is far too extreme for most, but he still has a realistic shot at winning the nomination. Now, the only question that remains is whether both Briles and Cruz can avoid any costly tongue-in-cheek slip-ups on their way from the bottom to hopefully the top.

5) UCLA- Marco Rubio
If you're a fan of coincidental trends, the Bruins and Rubio are for you. UCLA will start true freshman Josh Rosen at quarterback this fall. Many of the football fans might be skeptical of a freshman's ability to lead a team to a great season, but look at the past few seasons. Johnny Manziel, Jameis Winston, and JT Barrett were all unknowns at this time the past three seasons. Last time I checked, Josh starts with 'J'. I like his chance to continue the trend, and he has plenty of talent around him on both sides of the ball. Comparisons of Marco Rubio's seemingly overnight rise in the US Senate to Barack Obama's own pathway have plenty of justification as well. A charismatic and textbook presidential candidate, don't be surprised if both Rubio, and Rosen, makes it a lot further than anybody was expecting.

6) Auburn- Bernie Sanders
Right now, both the Tigers and Sanders have a lot of hype. Auburn is supposed to be drastically improved on defense because of the hiring of Will Muschamp, while Gus Malzahan's offense is supposed to perform at Cam Newton like levels with Jeremy Johnson at the helm. Sanders' focus on issues prevalent amongst young voters is supposed to help issue in a new era in Washington. Here's the thing, though. The addition of two people isn't going to turn an 8-5 team into one of the nation's four best, especially since they'll have to run through the gauntlet that is the SEC West. For Sanders, you don't go from a tenured, "people call me a Socialist" senator to President. As the fall goes on, look for both entities to suffer a decline in the public's eye.

7) Clemson- Donald Trump
If you ask a Clemson fan about their season's outlook right now, I'd expect back a few minutes of passionate yelling about how Deshaun Watson is going to lead the Tigers to a 15-0 season where they win every game by 25 points. If you ask Donald Trump about what he's going to accomplish as president, you will receive an equally ridiculous list of things that the President of the United States is actually incapable of doing. It's truly a minor miracle to me that Trump has stayed as the front runner for so long, and who knows, he might just be able to pull this thing off. However, something is telling me that Watson's knee injuries during freshman year will flare up once more, Trump will make a fatal statement about the wrong person, and both will be derailed and crash before they reach their dream destination.

8) USC- Carly Fiorina
Like the Trojans, Fiorina used to be on top of the Californian power structure. As CEO of Hewlett-Packard, she was a major player in the Silicon Valley's early days. After disappointing results forced her to resign, she tumbled from her pedestal. Fiorina was dismissed in 2005, right around the time Reggie Bush and a host of other violations would star an investigation into the USC football program causing a serious reversal in the perception of the program. Today, though, using a strong performance in an early debate for momentum and an experienced, Heisman candidate quarterback as cause for hope, both Fiorina and USC are right back in the national spotlight. The next few months will be crucial to see if the two can rebound from their rocky, recent histories to accomplish great things once again.

9) Notre Dame- Rand Paul
Notre Dame used to be a trademark college football program. There have been some brief ascents towards the top of the polls in recent years, but the program still finds itself unable to permanently elevate themselves past mediocrity. This year, the Irish faithful truly believe Malik Zaire, and a crop of returning players can get Notre Dame into a playoff. Here's the thing about that proposition. Anybody under a certain age laughs at Notre Dame's inclusion as a college football power. Meanwhile, anybody over a certain age thinks of Rand Paul as Ron Paul's son who has simply rode his dad's coattails and policies to this point in his political career. Both the Irish and Rand better hope for something new and fresh to propel an escape from the shadows of their lineages.

10) Arizona State- Martin O'Malley
Many of you are probably asking "What?" and "Who?" by these mentions. O'Malley is a former governor of Maryland who has only the most of the politically inclined feeling obligated to pay him any attention. The Sun Devils could pity O'Malley's lack of attention. With UCLA, USC, and Arizona all in talks to win the PAC 12 South, the Sun Devils get left out. Although I can't name or endorse any of O'Malley's policies, I can say I have a lot of confidence in Mike Bercovici and DJ Foster scoring a lot of points in an offensively focused conference. It's going to be a challenge for both Arizona State and O'Malley, but who knows. Crazier things have happened.

11) Georgia- John Kasich
Ohio's John Kasich has more tenure and accomplishments than just about every single GOP candidate. He won his last gubernatorial election in a landslide, which is an accomplishment in the swing state of Ohio. However, he hasn't really been able to gain much traction in comparison to the rest of his opponents on the campaign trail. Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs have been pegged as a championship contender several times over the past decade. However, an injury or an unexpectedly poor showing on one Saturday always seems to end their chance. I'm not sure why John Kasich hasn't gotten more respect in the polls, and I'm not sure what keeps such a talented team from winning the SEC and getting a crack at a title. I am sure, though, John Kasich has the record to win the Republican nomination, and Nick Chubb can lead Georgia to a playoff berth, if they are just able to live up to their billing and talent.

12) Michigan State- Ben Carson
The Spartans have gone from an underrated football power to a respected football power because Mark Dantonio continues to turn in double digit win campaigns season after season. This year, Sparty brings back their most important player on offense, quarterback Connor Cook, and their most important player on defense, end Shilique Calhoun. In an era of high tempo spread offenses, it's refreshing, yet somewhat unprecedented, to see a pro-style system built on toughness find a way to succeed. It's also unprecedented that a neurosurgeon has worked his way into becoming one of the frontrunners for the Republican nomination. Carson is an extremely intelligent individual, but will his unconventional background come back to haunt him? Only time will tell.

What teams do I ultimately like to make the playoff? I'll take Ohio State and TCU as #1 and #2. They're too talented and too pissed off respectively not to get the job done. For #3, we'll go to the PAC 12. I like UCLA for some reason. A true freshman quarterback scares me to death, but I'm intrigued by Jim Mora and the rest of the Bruins' roster. For #4? You have to pick a SEC team, right? Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Georgia(?). Yeah, I'll go with Georgia. Let's see how long it takes for each of those four teams to lose their first game now...

J. Nave

The Grandeur of Carolina Football and College Football

As a tour guide at the University of South Carolina, there is one stop I eagerly look forward to sharing with prospective students above the rest. It takes place besides Sumter Street and behind Longstreet Theatre where the occasional bus, truck, or a "Go Cocks!" chant from a passing student in a car forces me to raise my voice up to a yell. Considering the information I'm privileged to share, though, I really don't mind the minor inconvenience. Gazing down the divided road, split by a row of scenic palm trees, I'm able to point out the dominating upper deck of Williams-Brice Stadium off in the distance. While services offered by the career center, library, or academic advisers might pique the interest of the parents and a small portion of the true scholars in the group, the imposing stadium seems to always capture everybody's attention.

For the next few minutes, I'm able to discuss the pageantry of a Saturday in South Carolina framed within the context of the sensory overload you experience several times each fall. First off, and most intimidating, are the captivating sounds in the minutes leading up to the game. The Mighty Sound of the Southeast gets the process going with the brass and woodwind sounds expected in any college football environment. Next, the opponent is given a history lesson and their final warning of what is to come throughout "Welcome to Williams Brice". The crowd joins the symphony for the first time immediately following the video, as a loud "GAME" is echoed by an infinitesimally louder "COCKS!". When he's decided he's heard enough, the Head Ball Coach greets the crowd as a prelude to the 2001: A Space Odyssey theme. This familiar sound reverberates throughout every corner of the stadium indicating blastoff kickoff is right around the corner. Finally, the most iconic of the sounds begins with a piercing ring. For approximately the next minute and a half, Sandstorm sends the stadium into a frenzy to announce the game has begun, and when played following any South Carolina score for the rest of the game, it breathes even more life into the 80,000+ garnet and black clad fans.

Nearly all the sounds compliment picturesque sights in this spectacle of a pregame routine. The Carolina band forms the gates of the Horseshoe on the perfectly manicured, stadium grass. Videos of Gamecocks from past and present play on the "Beast Board" to remind opponents of the imminent battle. A notable alumnus, beloved athlete, or combination of the two gets his or her moment under a Carolina sky to lead the chant every native fan learns from birth. The powder from several fire extinguishers shrouds each player on the team for a brief second as they run out on the field for the start of the game. Finally, a seemingly rehearsed choreography of waving, white hand towels begins to cover every inch of the bleachers, hinting that surrender would be the opposing team's best bet.

As the game goes on, the tastes and smells of the student section begin to consume you. A neighbor to your right brings back a box of Bojangles' chicken and a buttery biscuit. To your left, three students fight over the last slice of a Little Caesar's pizza. A flask, previously hidden well enough to be sneaked into the stadium, clanks off the bleachers behind you, and while you might get a brief whiff of booze from the owner's breath, all you really crave is a bottle of cold water to save you from a long afternoon of tailgating and Columbia's daunting and famous heat. In front of you, a student sips a Coke hoping it provides herself temporary relief, and your mind momentarily wanders to wherever those polar bears in the commercials hang out and desperately longs for cooler temperatures.

While your emotional feelings might be dependent on the game's result each week, you'll physically feel certain things every time you step foot in Williams-Brice. Your towel's cotton will feel natural in your palm by the third time Sandstorm plays, but your dominant arm might become numb by then. The bleachers will shake beneath your feet after each Carolina first down. Beads of sweat will drip down your face for three and a half hours, even if the game doesn't get started until 7 PM. Your legs will become weary, and blisters, from either boat shoes or cowboy boots, will leave you longing for a brief time off your feet in the form of a timeout. In a loss, these factors could add up to hours of miserable complaining. However, if the Gamecocks manage to pick up a win, you don't mind them at all. In fact, you'll happily embrace them.

Why did I choose to write about my love affair with Williams-Brice Stadium? The sentiments and experiences I shared above exist on every campus with a powerhouse, college football program in the country, but each has its own unique culture and rituals. The tradition of these programs goes back over a century in some cases, and children grow up hearing stories of all the legends who have suited up to entertain past generations. The passion displayed by college football fans is insatiable, and their fervor can turn a mundane, February day into a national holiday when top ranked recruits pledge loyalty to establish a brighter future for their team. Lively stadium atmospheres full of fans who stand for nearly the whole game make it much more appealing to experience the action firsthand, rather than watch it all unfold nestled on your couch at home. Now in the second year of the playoff format, the fans' obsession is even more maniacal as more programs can hold onto their national championship aspirations into December and January. This leads to more intense schedule scrutiny, a deeper reading into the weekly rankings, and closer attention paid to practices in anticipation of next week's game. This energy needs to be recharged and conserved for three months and hopefully will be rewarded by fulfilling the dream of landing one of the bracket's four coveted slots.

College football might have the shortest season of any of the major sports in the United States, but its rabid fans make it one of the most fun. Luckily for us, that fun resumes this week with fall practices. A month from the today, the first games will arrive. Whether you prefer "Roll Tide" or "War Eagle", "Boomer Sooner" or "Hook 'Em Horns", "Geaux Tigers" or "Go Blue", enjoy your Saturdays this fall. Before you know it, another winter will have settled in, and another class of your favorite players will have moved on.

J. Nave