It's officially the start of another college football season, so naturally I'm constantly in one of those moods where hearing a famous Brent Musburger or Verne Lundquist call has me ready to punch several dozen holes in the closest wall. I'm aware California played Hawaii already, but I refuse to recognize college football officially until I'm a day or two away of parking myself on my couch for 15 hours on a Saturday and watching the world's best octogenarian, Lee Corso, put on a mascot head.
I'll be honest with you, though, part of me is dreading the arrival of this season. Knowing this will be the final slate of games I watch as an undergraduate just sucks. I remember the first South Carolina game I went to as a freshman like yesterday; a 65 yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game definitely doesn't hurt keeping it in recall. A silver lining to my sadness is all the crazy happenings that have happened in the past three years across college football will continue for each fall for the rest of my life. But I'd be flat out lying if I won't feel a little extra nostalgia whenever I see one of Auburn's unimaginable victories during 2013, any Ohio State highlight during their unexpected and unprecedented 2014 championship run, or Michigan managing to lose by being unable to execute a punt in 2015.
As an amateur blogger, however, I have a duty to fight off my sentiments and do my job: Incorrectly predict the four teams that will make the College Football Playoff. This was a difficult task this year. On one hand, the star power across the country this year rivals any year in recent memory and should lead to a compelling Heisman race. On the other hand, many of the top teams in the preseason polls have troubling uncertainties that desperately need solutions. There were several contenders for the four spots, so I'll start out with the teams who got serious consideration, but narrowly missed the cut.
South Carolina
1. Do you believe in miracles?
2. Is it too soon to start a #FireMuschamp campaign?
Stanford
Christian McCaffrey should have won the Heisman last year. I'm rooting for him to carry the Cardinal to the playoffs all by his lonesome, but it's going to be a challenge in a cannibalistic Pac 12.
Oklahoma
The Sooners open up with Houston and Ohio State in September, and the Big 12 is going to offer much more staunch competition this fall. Unless Bob Stoops can fight off the plaguing force in sports that is complacency and his own past demons of faltering with a highly ranked team in the preseason, I envision Oklahoma taking a step back.
Tennessee
I read this article over the summer about Zac Efron. Essentially its thesis was despite all signs pointing towards him being an inevitable movie star, Efron is unable to get himself in a role that doesn't remind viewers of East High school sensation Troy Bolton. Naturally the first thing that came to my mind after reading the piece was the Tennessee Volunteer football program, and their struggles to escape the mediocrity that has plagued them during the past decade.
The past few offseasons have all featured headlines about a return to the ~rocky~ top of the SEC East. However, nothing has come to fruition yet. Butch Jones has a talented team, but he's still Butch Jones. Tennessee is bound to lose a game to a team they shouldn't, leading to an inevitable crash and burn even aerospace engineer/quarterback Josh Dobbs won't be able to prevent.
LSU
Leonard Fournette, unstoppable force and immovable object two-in-one, is enough to make the Tigers a compelling team. Add in the human interest story and motivation to play for the victims of the devastating flooding in Baton Rouge, and you've got a team that's hard to root against.
But until Nick Saban's grass eating replacement beats the actual Nick Saban, LSU won't make the playoffs. I'll give Les Miles credit, though. It's hard to win the SEC when your quarterback play resembles hybrid qualities of both a train wreck and a dumpster fire.
Washington
Sports Illustrated ranked the Huskies ahead of Houston and Ohio State at #6 in their preseason poll, which is undoubtedly the only reason I'm including Washington in my fringe teams. Sports Illustrated used to be a great magazine. Pathetic circulation now. Even worse reporting. Sad!
Michigan
The adage defense wins championships is going to be tested by the Wolverines. A lot, I mean A LOT, of people are pegging Jim Harbaugh's bunch as a playoff team. I think we're still a year away from a Michigan-Ohio State game with championship implications, Meyer and Harbaugh throwing punches at each other at midfield, and a clashing between both fan bases that might create enough energy to replicate the Big Bang.
Now, without any further ado, to the teams who will make the playoff .
1. Clemson
Last year, I previewed the college football season by noting the similarities between some of the top ranked teams and a presidential candidate. My predictions about the staying power of the Tigers and Donald Trump were both wildly wrong. Deshaun Watson's heroics were nearly enough to topple Alabama, and with his entire arsenal of weapons back, it's not hard to imagine Clemson challenging the record for most points scored in a single season.
A tricky test this Saturday down on The Plains and a trip to Tallahassee would appear to be their only potential defeats in the regular season. Dabo Swinney seems to be knocking on the door of the echelon of elite coaches, and should he get into the playoff again, it would be hard to deny him entry.
2. Alabama
They've never not made the College Football Playoff. Until Nick Saban isn't their coach, until the Crimson Tide don't bring in the #1 recruiting class, and until any other SEC team rises up and decides they don't want to hang on to the school's coattails for carrying the reputation of the conference, I won't pick against Alabama.
They'll plug in a new quarterback, lose one game (likely on the road because of a highly irregular deficit in turnover margin or fluke play), and embarrass some team from the SEC East in the championship game. The narrative is getting boring, but it will continue like clockwork down in Tuscaloosa for the immediate future.
3. Notre Dame
The playoff desperately needs to be expanded to eight teams. This year, when Notre Dame earns a spot, the process will hopefully be catalyzed.
With the Irish's schedule this year, an 11-1 record will likely earn them a spot. Home games against Stanford and Michigan State and road contests against Texas and USC are enough to build a strong resume. Whether Brian Kelly plugs in Malik Zaire or Deshone Kizer at quarterback, the offense will be in the hands of one of the more experienced quarterbacks in the country.
Notre Dame lost a lot of talent from last season, but enough remains for the Irish to sneak in the playoff of what I'm anticipating to be a wide open season (When Notre Dame inevitable loses to Texas in the season opener because of this selection, I'm going to feel way more nervous about their chances. This just feels like a year for Notre Dame to excel in before getting walloped by a far superior team).
4. Ohio State
The final spot comes up with three potential conference champions not represented. I'm going to side with the coach who is 50-4 the past four seasons for who to hang my reputation on.
It should be clear by know Urban Meyer knows what he's doing. He's brought in a stable of talented players who will step in to help out its unquestioned leaders with annually strong recruiting classes since his arrival in Columbus. This is JT Barrett's team on offense. This is Raekwon McMillan's team on defense.
I know Ohio State only brings back six starters. They had ten of the first ninety four players selected in the NFL Draft. But if this was Alabama and Nick Saban, would there be nearly as much talk or concern? I don't think so, and I'm not sure why. I also believe that pisses Meyer off to no end. Although he would never explicitly express his feelings on the matter, no other coach has been able to best Saban when it matters most.
Michigan has to come to the Horseshoe. Ohio State has to go to Norman, East Lansing, Madison, and Happy Valley. Contrary to past beliefs about the Big Ten, that's a schedule very few teams can compete with. With that, I wouldn't be surprised if Ohio State struggles and fails to get to ten wins. With Meyer at the helm, though, I see a very small chance of that happening.
J. Nave
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