Georgia is Top Dawg
John, our college football resident expert, shares his thoughts (and questions) as we venture into the uncharted territory of the 2024 college football season
I can’t bring myself to write about a preseason Top 25. It’s not me. So instead, let’s talk about the things that I can’t wait to see play out this season.
Forget the new 12-team College Football Playoff format. Nothing is more important this season than conference realignment.
How teams handle the changes will reveal the playoff future.
In the Big Ten, the Pac-12 royalty comes calling.
Texas and Oklahoma move into the SEC, and the ACC adds more teams that still don’t quite make them relevant.
So let’s focus on what to me are the Top 2 conferences.
The Big Ten
The Pac-12’s Oregon and Washington both challenged for titles last year. USC and UCLA have storied legacies. But do their styles of play mesh with the Big 10?
And vice versa?
Oregon is the poster child for FAST offenses. They want to run 80 plays a game. But that leaves their defense sucking wind cause they are on the field a lot.
Well, in contrast, the Big 10 is about plodding offenses and strong defenses.
Oregon is believed to be a national title contender. But what happens if they can’t run their offense at full speed?
What if instead of 80 plays they only get 55 in a game because of a Northwestern team that wants to ground and pound?
That goes for USC as well. Head coach Lincoln Riley wants to go fast. But what if they can’t?
And can any of the former Pac-12 teams play defense well enough to counter the new Big 10 teams they have to face?
The SEC
Then there’s Oklahoma and Texas.
But honestly, I just want to talk about Texas.
I truly do not believe Oklahoma is ready for the SEC, which is maybe a story for another day. But the collective football world thinks Texas is.
And why not? Returning QB, decent defense and weapons galore!
Buuuuttttttttt…there’s a difference between the Big 12 and the SEC.
I saw them struggle against teams last year. And yes, I’m an SEC homer, but if you’re truly being honest with yourself, there is a massive difference between a Big 12 schedule and slogging through a full SEC schedule.
And I don’t just mean the Oklahoma-Georgia back-to-back games on Oct. 12 and Oct. 19.
It’s whether if you can stand up to everyone that will be throwing everything at you because you are the hunted?
Each team in the SEC — they all have talent. And they can all catch you whenever you let up just a bit. And if Texas A&M fades early, that last game on Nov. 30 becomes the biggest trap game of the season.
The second most important thing of the season will be (get this) QB play.
So many old faces in new places with lofty expectations — looking at you Dillon Gabriel in Oregon!
Ohio State loves their chances, but is Will Howard, a Kansas State transfer, the answer?
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe could advance leaps and bounds! Or fall flat on his face.
Can Quinn Ewers stay healthy for the Longhorns?
So many title contenders have questions at QB.
Which leads us to the only prediction I’ll truly make.
With so many questions, one question I really don’t have is: Who I think will be the best?
I said it at the end of last season, and I’m sticking to my guns. Georgia is an angry monster.
They will be out to make a statement. They will be out to punish people.
And they will.
The 63-3 beat down of Florida St. in the Capital One Orange Bowl, was just a warm up. The nation better remember who the Bulldogs are, and quickly.
Three points is all that separated them from a third straight national title.
I’ll take them right now to win it all.
As long as Kirby takes their keys away.