College Football Articles
High expectations entering the 2016 season materialized into a 5-7 season and no bowl invite for Ole Miss. There will be no postseason appearance this fall either, as the school has imposed a one-year bowl ban in the midst of an ongoing NCAA...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
Texas’ schedule does new head coach Tom Herman no favors in his first season with the Longhorns. In addition to the Big 12’s round-robin slate, his team has a road date with USC and a home game against an improving Maryland program...
Allen Kenney
2 months ago
The American Athletic Conference leads the way among Group of 5 leagues, with USF entering 2017 as the clear favorite. The Bulls are the predicted champion by Athlon Sports, and coach Charlie Strong’s team has a good shot at an undefeated...
Steven Lassan
2 months ago
The ACC stuffed the trophy case last season and claimed the top spot among college football’s conferences. Clemson defeated Alabama for the national title, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson won the Heisman Trophy, Florida State defeated...
Steven Lassan
2 months ago
Kentucky finally ended an extended postseason drought and a second straight bowl invite could be in the offering this fall. Head coach Mark Stoops has the bulk of his offense returning and with improved quarterback play and a more reliable passing...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
Iowa won eight games last season, but got blown out by Florida in the Outback Bowl and struggled in general to move the ball and put points on the scoreboard. Head coach Kirk Ferentz overhauled his coaching staff in the offseason, turning the...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
Nebraska improved its win total by three games in head coach Mike Riley’s second season, but the Cornhuskers stumbled towards the end, losing four of their final six contests. This season is shaping up to be somewhat of a transitional one...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
Northwestern finished tied for fourth in the Big Ten West last season, but the Wildcats could challenge for the top spot thanks to a mix of experience and depth. The offense will be led by one of the conference’s better backfields and a...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
South Carolina won six games and went bowling in head coach Will Muschamp’s first season despite having an offense that was among the least productive in the nation. Quarterback Jake Bentley is back to lead the Gamecocks’ attack and is...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
After taking a back seat to Taysom Hill last season, Tanner Mangum is back as BYU’s starting quarterback. His experience should help the Cougars’ offense stay productive, although replacing the program’s all-time leading rusher...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
After a three-year run which saw North Carolina win the ACC Coastal in 2015 and finish no worse than a tie for third the other two seasons, the Tar Heels are practically starting over. Six starters return on each side, but the offense is looking to...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
Over the last three seasons, Utah has won at least nine games and been a tough out in the Pac-12 South Division. However, the Utes are still looking for their first division title since joining the conference in 2011. Head coach Kyle Whittingham is...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
Georgia is looking for a breakthrough in Kirby Smart’s second season in Athens. Such are expectations at a historical power that returns its starting quarterback, two talented running backs and 11 starters on defense.
The non-...
Matt Fortuna
2 months ago
For the third straight year, a strong finish by Texas A&M gave way to a late-season fade as the Aggies lost four of their final five games, including the Texas Bowl to Kansas State. Kevin Sumlin enters 2017 needing to break out of this 8-5 rut...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
Clemson’s first national title since 1981 was a blast for everyone involved. But once the regular season kicks off on Sept. 2, despite the championship and the heavy personnel losses, expectations will remain sky high.
In order...
Jon Kinne
2 months ago
Thanks to a strong finish, Georgia Tech enters 2017 with momentum in what looks to be a crowded ACC Coastal Division. The Yellow Jackets return plenty of experience, but will be breaking in a new starting quarterback and have some questions up...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
The Big 12 didn’t experience a ton of turnover in the coordinator ranks this offseason, but there were a few big changes to watch in 2017. Doug Meacham left behind his play-calling duties at TCU to coordinate the offense under coach David...
Steven Lassan
2 months ago
Boise State won 10 games last season, but that wasn't good enough to get a chance to play in the Mountain West Championship Game. The Broncos bring back just eight starters, but with quarterback Brett Rypien returning the offense should...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
Colorado broke through in a major way in head coach Mike MacIntyre’s fourth season, winning 10 games and the Pac-12 South title. The Buffaloes will need to replace a four-year starter at quarterback and nine starters from a defense that...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
It goes without saying that you need a good quarterback in order to be a successful college football team. While it may not wholly determine a team’s success each season if they have a quality signal-caller behind center, one doesn’t...
Bryan Fischer
2 months ago
After winning at least eight games in each of the past four seasons, UCLA cratered to 4-8 in 2016. Injuries, namely to quarterback Josh Rosen, certainly contributed to the decline, but that’s done little to squelch any talk about head coach...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
Nebraska enters Year 3 of the Mike Riley era looking to contend for the Big Ten West title. But the Big Ten schedule makers did the Cornhuskers few favors in 2017.
The Huskers' crossover opponents from the East this year are arguably...
Matt Fortuna
2 months ago
TCU’s offense may lean more on the running game in 2017 because of quarterback Kenny Hill’s struggles last year and questions about the wide receiver corps. On defense, head coach Gary Patterson put a priority on getting bigger up front...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago
The most decorated wide receiver in the FCS history has caught on in the NFL, but the depth behind Eastern Washington legend Cooper Kupp continues to be outstanding.
There were 19 1,000-yard receivers in the subdivision last season...
Craig Haley
2 months ago
Pittsburgh beat a pair of conference champions (Clemson, Penn State) last season, but the 2017 Panthers are going to look a lot different. More than half of the starting lineup is gone as the offense will be led by a graduate transfer quarterback...
Athlon Sports
2 months ago