The Top 5 Overlooked Head Coaches in College Football.

In a college football world run by coaches like Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, and Brian Kelly, many great head coaches fly under the radar. These coaches need their due credit for their contribution to the team they coach. While this list includes great college football coaches, it only ranks the ones who get little or no attention. These coaches may or may not receive recognition from the conference or area they coach in, but do not get as much national attention as other coaches. All of these coaches are entering into at least their third season as a head coach.

5. James Franklin- Head Coach of Vanderbilt                                                                                                    James Franklin took on the most difficult head coaching job in the SEC in 2011. Vanderbilt pursued Franklin after then Auburn offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn, denied the opportunity to be the head coach. James Franklin had absolutely no prior head coaching experience before coming to Nashville to lead the Commodores. He was lured away from Maryland, where he was the offensive coordinator. In his first two years as head coach, James Franklin led Vanderbilt to consecutive bowl games including a 9-4 record last season. Why is this a big deal? Before taking Vanderbilt to consecutive bowl games in his first two seasons, the Commodores had appeared in 3 bowls in 34 years.  James Franklin is a big risk coach that may very well take Vanderbilt all the way to Atlanta in the future if given enough time. It is extremely hard to recruit for Vanderbilt because of the school's academic excellence, and Franklin has proved he can not only recruit but also win in the toughest conference in the country.

 

4. Dabo Swinney- Head Coach of Clemson                                                                                               Dabo Swinney became the interim head coach for Clemson after Tommy Bowden was fired in 2008. Prior to being named the interim head coach, Swinney was the wide receivers coach for Clemson. The Tigers finished the season 8-5, which included a victory over South Carolina. Clemson decided to name Swinney the official head coach at season's end. His career record at Clemson is now 40-21. Last year, Clemson went 11-2 and upset LSU in the Chik-fil-A Bowl. Dabo Swinney has defied all odds and proved his abilities as a head coach. This was just the fourth 11 win season in school history. Clemson will be pursuing a possible ACC Championship and a third straight double digit win season. Dabo Swinney brings a lot of excitement to this program through his electrifying coaching ability. He has lots of enthusiasm and will compete for the ACC on a yearly basis if he continues to recruit successfully.

3. Brady Hoke- Head Coach of Michigan
If there is any man who has proved that he can win at any college football program, it is Brady Hoke. Hoke's career record is 66-57. While that may not seem very impressive, Hoke has had to rebuild every program he has coached. After taking over as head coach for his alma mater, Ball State, in 2003, Hoke slowly but surely turned Ball State around which included an undefeated regular season in 2008. Ball State is obviously not an FBS powerhouse, so having an undefeated regular season is very impressive. Hoke  left Ball State to accept the head coaching job at San Diego State. In just his second season coaching at San Diego State, he led his team to a 9-4 record which included a bowl appearance. The Aztecs had not appeared in a bowl since 1998. After just two seasons at San Diego State, Brady Hoke accepted the head coaching job at Michigan. In his first season at Michigan he defied all odds and led Michigan to an 11-2 season and BCS bowl victory. Prior to Brady Hoke's first season at Michigan, the Wolverines had been to only one bowl since 2007. 2007 is also the last year Michigan won a bowl. Fans in Ann Arbor are excited and they have every right to be. Hoke has also proven himself as a great recruiter. Michigan will once again will be competing for a spot in the Big Ten Championship and Brady Hoke has them back to their winning ways.

2. Art Briles- Head Coach of Baylor
Baylor's football team received a lot of publicity because of Robert Griffin's Heisman season. While Robert Griffin is one of the big reasons why Baylor had a successful season, a large amount of the credit should be awarded to head coach Art Briles. Briles started his head coaching career at Stephenville High School where he won 4 state championships and only lost 2 games in a period of six years. He began his college head  coaching career at Houston. In a 5 year career at Houston, he helped lead the Cougars to 4 bowl appearances. Prior to Briles being hired by Baylor in 2008, the Bears had not been to a bowl since 1994. After just two years at Baylor, Art Briles coached a 7-5 squad that received a bowl bid. A year later, Baylor produced a 10 win season behind quarterback Robert Griffin. Briles is hoping for a run at the Big 12 Championship. Although 2013 might be the year for Baylor to accomplish such a feat, a conference championship might just be in the near future.

1. David Shaw- Head Coach of Stanford
David Shaw took over the head coaching at Stanford following the departure of Jim Harbaugh. Shaw was the offensive coordinator for Stanford and had no prior head coaching experience before taking over. In his first two seasons, Shaw appeared in back to back BCS bowls, which also included a PAC-12 Championship last year. Although one may argue that Shaw is winning with players that Jim Harbaugh recruited, one can not deny how difficult it is to win not only at Stanford, but also compete in the PAC-12 on a yearly basis. David Shaw has great coaching skills and plenty of coaching experience in both college football and in the NFL.  Shaw has narrowly missed the opportunity to play in the national title game the last two seasons. Stanford has a strong chance to win another PAC-12 Championship and may very well make it to the national championship if they survive teams like Oregon, UCLA, and USC. If he continues his success, do not be surprised to see programs chasing after Shaw to be their head coach. The ability to continue Stanford's success after Harbaugh's departure shows David Shaw's coaching skills and ability to win. If you do not already know this man, I suggest memorizing his name because he is on track to be one of the best coaches in college football.

Honorable Mentions
Mark Hudspeth- Head Coach of Louisiana
Charlie Strong- Head Coach of Louisville
Gary Anderson- Head Coach of Wisconsin
Bill O'Brien- Head Coach of Penn State (He is entering his second season as head coach so he was not eligible for the list. Extremely impressive first year as head coach considering the sanctions Penn State received.)



 

 

 

2013 Preseason SEC Breakdown

The SEC has made its mark as the best conference in today’s era of college football. While some may argue about the power of the SouthEastern Conference, here are a few stats that just might prove its power. An SEC team has won every BCS national championship since 2006. Since 2001, there have been 98 players drafted in the first round from an SEC team. Since 2007, there have been 4 Heisman winners from an SEC team. Seven teams from the SEC made it into my top 25. Two more were named as honorable mentions. The 2013 Preseason SEC Breakdown will rank both the West and East division with also other insight and analysis. The SEC looks to continue being the most powerful conference in the country.

SEC WEST

1. Alabama
Alabama is not only a preseason favorite to win the SEC, but also the national championship. Alabama brings back a solid team with the biggest concern being on the offensive line. The Tide only returns two starters from last year's team, future first rounder Cyrus Kouandijo and  senior Anthony Steen. The Crimson Tide also returns offensive superstars AJ McCarron, T.J. Yeldon, and Amari Cooper. If the O-line can hold up behind new offensive line coach Mario Cristobal, this may be the best Alabama offense in the Saban era. Alabama was in the exact same situation in '09 by having to replace 3 starters on the O-line.  On the defensive side of the ball, Alabama returns 7 starters. Defensively, cornerback Dee Milliner and safety Robert Lester have gone to the NFL which leaves a few questions in the secondary. Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart has plenty of depth and experience with players like Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Deion Belue, John Fulton, and Landon Collins. Alabama may struggle at times on defense, but they will have an experienced group of linebackers led by CJ Mosley. Alabama has a favorable conference schedule with the toughest road game being against Texas A&M. Alabama  avoids Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida out of the East. Alabama also has bye weeks before they play Texas A&M and LSU. Winning a third SEC Championship will be difficult with the target on Alabama's back. Just ask the 2010 Alabama football team. I predict Alabama to make it to Atlanta for the second straight year if the team stays healthy. A true dynasty has started in Tuscaloosa and it will be hard to stop the rising Tide.

2. Texas A&M
Texas A&M surprised many people with an 11-2 season their first year in the SEC. Freshman sensation Johnny Manziel won the Heisman and helped the Aggies upset Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Aggies returns 11 starters from last year’s squad. Similar to Alabama, A&M has starters to replace on the O-line including first round draft pick Luke Joeckel. Another interesting question that will need to be answered is the loss of A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury who departed to be the head coach at Texas Tech. While playing under a new assistant coach sometimes proves difficult. Manziel and the offense should be fine and will be difficult to stop. Defensively, the Aggies only return 5 starters and may struggle. Losing Damontre Moore will be the biggest loss, but the Aggies have a more experienced secondary than last year. Co-defensive coordinators Marcel Yates and Mark Snyder have a little work to do. On the schedule, the Aggies avoid Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida out of the East. They get Alabama at home, but must face LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, and Arkansas on the road. Manziel will have another great year if he stays healthy, but other teams now should be more prepared for him. Regardless, head coach Kevin Sumlin has proved he is able to hang with the best of them. Aggies will be in an SEC dogfight to finish second in the West.

3. LSU
Les Miles and his "Mad Hatter" ways are becoming less potent every year. LSU ended their 2012 season with a one point bowl loss to Clemson to finish 10-3. The only other two losses were against Florida and Alabama. Head Coach Les Miles hopes to make it back to Atlanta for the SEC Championship, but he must do it with 12 returning starters. On the offensive side of the ball, LSU returns 8 starters including quarterback Zach Mettenberger. Mettenberger did not perform as well as fans hoped for in his first year. He did however play a great game in the heartbreaking loss to Alabama. LSU's biggest concern is the defense. Only 4 starters return and may be the youngest defense Les Miles has ever had. Luckily, the Tigers have a great defensive coordinator in John Chavis. What makes LSU vulnerable is their schedule. While Alabama and Texas A&M avoid Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida out of the East, the Tigers will have to play Florida at home and Georgia in Athens. LSU also has away games at Alabama, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. To make matters worse, LSU's opening game is against an underrated TCU. Les Miles and his Tigers will give everything they have into winning the West. Their attempt will fall short with a young defense and tough schedule. The "Mad Hatter" will have to pull out some unused tricks to get this team where he wants them this year.

4. Ole Miss
Head coach Hugh Freeze proved his coaching ability in his very first year at Ole Miss. The Rebels finished 7-6 with a victory of Pittsburgh in the Compass Bowl. Ole Miss is not a team to underestimate. The Rebels return an SEC best 19 starters for Hugh Freeze's second season. Not to mention Ole Miss pulled in one of the best recruiting classes in school history led by number one player in the country Robert Nkemdiche. Robert's older brother, Denzel, is a linebacker for the Rebels. Ole Miss is fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball because of the 19 returning starters. The coaching staff is still young, but Freeze is building quite a depth chart in Oxford. As hard as it is to believe, Ole Miss would be a favorite to win the West if not for their schedule. They open with an underestimated Vanderbilt team in Nashville. Starting on September 14th, Ole Miss will have 3 consecutive away games at Texas, at Alabama, and at Auburn. After the Auburn game, Ole Miss will have to face Texas A&M and LSU in back to back weeks. The schedule will prove tough for Hugh Freeze and his Rebels, but expect to see this team upset some big name opponents.

Tied-5. Arkansas
The best thing Arkansas can do is forget about recent troubles within the football program and start fresh with new head coach Bret Bielema. Bret Bielema was the best hire in the SEC this offseason considering his record at Wisconsin. Of course that was the Big Ten. This is the SEC. Arkansas will have problems on offense with only 4 returning starters and replacing Tyler Wilson at quarterback. Defensively, the Razorbacks return 8 starters. This is good news considering how bad last year's defense performed. Arkansas very well may start of the season 4-0 before facing Texas A&M on September 28th. A 4-0 would be tremendous considering last year's final record of 4-8. Arkansas has to face Florida and South Carolina out of the East. They also have three other SEC road games at Alabama, at Ole Miss, and at LSU. It does not matter how bad Arkansas plays in the regular season, they will give LSU all they want on November 30th. A new staff and young offense are the two biggest faults for the Razorbacks. Give head coach Bret Bielema and this team time and Arkansas will be back fighting for a West division title.

Tied-5. Auburn
The second best hire in the SEC this offseason was made by Auburn. Bringing back Gus Malzahn was the best option for the Tigers. Auburn thrived in Malzahn's spread offense in the 2010 national championship. Malzahn has already shown his abilities as a recruiter with Auburn pulling in a very impressive recruiting class this offseason. Auburn going to the pro-style offense last year was a terrible decision and may very have cost Gene Chizik his job. Auburn is looking for a fresh start with Malzahn. Auburn returns a very impressive 15 starters with 7 of those being on offense. It will take Malzahn at least one year to adjust back to the spread which may be the biggest problem for the Tigers. The quicker they can adjust, the better season they will have. Defensively, Auburn returns 8 starters. Malzahn hiring Ellis Johnson as defensive coordinator was one of the best assistant coach hires in the SEC this past offseason. Auburn's defense will be highlighted by their D-line and secondary. It would be unfair not to mention that Auburn will also have the best kicking tandem in the SEC behind kicker Cody Parkey and punter Steven Clark. The Tigers have a tough but manageable schedule. Opening up against Mike Leach and his Washington State team should prove to be a very interesting game. They travel to LSU, Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Tennessee. While they do avoid Florida and South Carolina they do have to face their yearly rival Georgia. Auburn will definitely improve from last year’s 3-9 record (0-8 SEC), and may very well upset some big SEC teams. New coaching staff and adjustments on offense calls for the Tigers to finish 5th or 6th in the SEC. Regardless, Guz Malzahn will have one of the most improved teams not only in the SEC, but also in the country.

7. Mississippi State
Dan Mullen has been very impressive at Mississippi State so far. The Bulldogs finished 8-5 after beginning the season 6-0 and being ranked as low as #13. The Bulldogs have struggled defensively at times under Mullen, and returning 5 starters may not look good. Mississippi State does return 7 starters on offense including quarterback Tyler Russell. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs it looks to be a long upcoming season. Miss. State opens the season against an explosive offense in Oklahoma State. After a few more tough games, Mississippi State has the toughest remaining 5 games in the SEC. With back to back road games against South Carolina and Texas A&M, home game against Alabama, road game against Arkansas, and finally a closing home game with rival Ole Miss. Because of the toughness of their schedule and lack of depth on defense, Mississippi State looks to finish last in the West. Fans should not give up hope on Dan Mullen because the future is bright under this young coach.

 SEC East

1. Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs came up just a little bit short of winning the SEC Championship which would have led to a more than guaranteed national championship. An SEC East championship and a Capital One bowl win is all the Bulldogs had to show for last season. Georgia is an immediate favorite to win the SEC East for a third straight year. Aaron Murray leads an offense that may finish the best in the SEC when it is all said and done with 9 returning starters. Georgia also returns running back Todd Gurley who was last year's leading rusher. The biggest problem Georgia will have is lack of experience on defense with only 3 returning starters. Returning starters is not always the deciding factor on how good a team will be. Losing players like Alec Ogletree, Jarvis Jones, and Bacarri Rambo will be the biggest hit to this defense. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has made a significant change to the defense since he was hired at Georgia. The Bulldogs have depth, but the lack of experience may hurt them. Luckily, they are still the strongest team in the East behind their offense. Opening up with a game at Clemson will be challenging for the Bulldogs, but luckily Clemson is not an SEC team. That will be a close game and will be extremely important considering both teams are making a run at the national championship. Other than that game, Georgia faces their toughest SEC opponents at home not including the Florida game which is always played in Jacksonville. The defense will have to prove themselves early in order for Georgia to survive this year. But thanks to the coaching skills of Mark Richt and the quarterbacking skills of Aaron Murray, Georgia should find themselves in Atlanta for a third straight year.

2. Florida
Florida has had to come a long way since Urban Meyer left the program. Will Muschamp is restoring order in Gainesville with an 11-2 season in just his second year. While Florida has stood strong defensively, the Gators have struggled on offense the last two seasons. Jeff Driskel returns at quarterback along with 5 other starters on offense. Florida will not have a dynamite offensive year like in the Tim Tebow days, but the offense should improve under second year offensive coordinator Brent Pease. Florida only returns 4 starters on defense and should expect to see some young faces in the secondary. Florida does have depth on defense and should still be one of the best in SEC if all players stay healthy. This just proves once again that it is not always about the number of returning starters. Florida has road games at Miami, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, and South Carolina. There is also the Georgia game that is played annually in Jacksonville. Florida plays Florida State at home this year, but expect to see Florida lose at least one non conference game ( Miami or Florida State). Florida also faces Vanderbilt on November 9th for Homecoming. Although Vanderbilt is usually not an SEC threat, Florida may very well be "hungover" from the Georgia game and play a close one. If Florida beats LSU on October 12th, this team will be hot and may make a run for Atlanta.

3. South Carolina
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has caused a lot of hype around South Carolina. While it is no secret that Clowney is an animal, there are many other factors that make a team successful every year. Clowney will be the leader on a defense that returns 5 starters. South Carolina will have one of the best defenses in the East, but offensively a lot of questions arise. Before Marcus Lattimore's devastating injury, South Carolina relied on a solid running game to balance out their passing attack. Mike Davis is projected to get the call at running back and needs to get
his running game going for this offense to be successful. The Gamecocks do return senior quarterback Connor Shaw, who has the ability to be a running threat. Shaw may very well be the make or break it player for this team. South Carolina will have to face Georgia in Athens, but fortunately avoids Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M out of the West. From October 12th to October 26th, the Gamecocks will have three consecutive SEC road games which may cause a possible upset and a drop in the SEC East rankings. Playing Florida at home does help South Carolina's chances. The Gamecocks have a great chance to beat Florida, but will come up short in a trip to Atlanta due to other losses. Head coach Steve Spurrier will have to prove just how much magic he has left.

Tied- 4. Tennessee
Tennessee has had their fair share of struggles in the past with so many head coaching changes since the departure of Phillip Fulmer. Tennessee will begin a new season with new head coach Butch Jones. They return 5 starters on offense and that will cause some problems playing in the SEC. The Vols will be playing with a new quarterback and a very young group of receivers. They do, however, return an experienced running back in Martin Lane. That may not be enough and the Vols will have to show a lot maturity early in order to hang in the SEC. Defensively, Tennessee is fundamentally sound with 8 returning starters. The biggest question is will this new coaching staff be successful in their first year at a struggling program? Butch Jones will need time like any coach to get his program going. Tennessee does play Georgia and South Carolina at home. They will travel to Oregon, Florida, Alabama, Missouri, and Kentucky. While the Vols may not have a championship season on their hands, expect a close game when they play Georgia. Tennessee does need to watch out for Vanderbilt and Kentucky at the end of the season. It will take at least three years, but Butch Jones is the right fit for this program and will hopefully be the answer to Tennessee's problems.

Tied- 4. Vanderbilt
James Franklin is one of the most underrated coaches in all of college football. He has completely transformed this Vanderbilt squad. He took on the challenge and has delivered with consecutive bowl appearances. Before James Franklin's arrival, Vanderbilt's last three bowls occurred in 2008, 1982, and 1974. Two consecutive bowl appearances are very impressive. The Commodores lost starting quarterback Zac Stacy, but they do return 7 starters on offense. They also return 6 starters on defense including their leading tackle from last season, Kenny Ladler. Vanderbilt has an extremely difficult away schedule with road games against South Carolina, Texas A&M, Florida, and Tennessee. Vanderbilt may not win 9 games like last season, but expect this team to pull off an unexpected upset on at least one of their opponents. James Franklin is a gutsy coach, and he is slowly proving that Vanderbilt is much more than just an academic school.

6. Missouri
Missouri had a tough time their very first year in the SEC. Head coach Gary Pinkel is hoping to regroup and prove that the Tigers are SEC worthy. Missouri has 8 returning starters on offense including quarterback James Franklin. When Franklin is healthy he can be lethal. Defensively, the Tigers have 6 returning starters with their biggest loss being defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson. Leading tackler Andrew Wilson does return this year. Missouri has a tough road game against Georgia, but faces every other big name SEC East opponent at home. They will have a tough road game against Ole Miss and a final home game against Texas A&M. The Tigers will improve on last season and make it to a bowl, but it is going to take time for  Missouri to adjust to the SEC. Gary Pinkel has been successful with this team, and hopes to bring more success in the years to come.

7. Kentucky
Kentucky made a very good hire when Mark Stoops was named head coach. Although Stoops is a first time head coach, he already has fans excited by landing some nice recruits in the offseason. It is very challenging for a coach to bring excitement to a football program at a school that is known for its basketball program (even Bear Bryant had trouble). The Wildcats return 14 total starters from a team that went 2-10 last season. Stoops may struggle in his first year with a young quarterback and a young team. If there is a coach in the SEC that needs time to rebuild, the greatest example would be Mark Stoops and his coaching staff. Mark Stoops will coach his first game against Western Kentucky who is now led by former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino. While that game may be interesting, especially since Western Kentucky beat Kentucky last year, the Wildcats have a tough road game schedule. Kentucky must travel to South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt. Home games against Florida, Louisville, and Alabama make things a little more challenging. Mark Stoops might not have the best inaugural season ever, but with enough patience from the athletic department and fans, Kentucky will have the team needed to be successful in the SEC.

Other preseason predictions include:

SEC Championship Game
Alabama vs. Georgia

Most Anticipated SEC Game
Alabama at Texas A&M on September 14th.

Most Improved SEC West Team.
Auburn

Most Improved SEC East Team.
Tennessee

Surprise Team.
Ole Miss

2013 College Football Preseason Top 25

As college football season looms closer, patience slowly drains out of  football fanatics waiting on the first kickoff of the 2013 season. Johnny Manziel tweeting he wants out of College Station, Everett Golson being dismissed from Notre Dame, and the naming of the 2014 playoff selection committee has caused enough havoc for the off-season. There are even a few off-season incidents that have caused a team to rise or fall in my preview of the top 25 teams.

25. Ole Miss
Ole Miss headlined their off-season with one of the best recruiting classes in the school's history. Head coach Hugh Freeze has proven he can recruit, now it is time to show his coaching abilities. The Rebel's have one of the toughest schedules in the SEC with 4 of their first 5 games being away. Ole Miss returns a strong offense in QB Bo Wallace and running back Jeff Scott. Defensively, Ole Miss has experienced playmakers, but high caliber offenses in the SEC will cause trouble. Freeze and his Rebels will struggle early, but finish strong. A home game matchup against LSU on October 12th will be an interesting one to watch out for.

24. Miami
Miami has been in and out of headlines with scandals that have occurred within the football program. Head coach Al Golden is trying to look past the scandal and get the Hurricanes back to the glory days. Miami returns almost every starter on offense from last season including the offensive line. on the defensive side of the ball, Miami returns six starters from one of the worst defenses in the country last year.  Miami has a relatively easy schedule with the toughest away game being at Florida State. There is also a possible upset game at Duke on November 16th. Al Golden and the Hurricanes have a chance to make a run at the ACC Championship this year. If Miami fails to perform, Al Golden could be looking for a new job in his near future.

23. Notre Dame
Although Lou Holtz would strongly disagree, Notre Dame is looking at a possible avalanche size downfall from last season. Notre Dame will bring back most of their defense with the exception of All-American linebacker Manti Teo. Although his presence (and his girlfriend's presence) were not felt at the national championship game, having 107 tackles in a season is still very impressive. The defense and Brian Kelly will save the Irish from having a less than mediocre season. The offense, thanks to the loss of Everett Golson, may just finish as one of the worst offenses in the nation. Notre Dame will find room to have some big wins, but may also match those big wins with disappointing losses.

22. Oregon State
Just two years ago, Mike Riley and the Oregon State Beavers had a 3-9 season. One year later, they started on a 6-0 run that ended with a 9-4 season. Three of those losses were by 4 points or less. Mike Riley has a veteran offense with the only question being who will get the call at quarterback. Both candidates, Cody Vaz and Sean Mannion, have experience. On the defensive side of the ball, Oregon State will have to replace their interior linemen. They return a strong group of linebackers and a great secondary. The Beavers should start out hot like they did last season and a few interesting games may occur. One might be able to argue that Mike Riley could slip into the Pac-12 Championship game. Beating Oregon is unlikely, but the Ducks better keep a lookout on their in state rival.

21. TCU
TCU is a team to watch out for this season. Gary Patterson is not only known for his great coaching abilities, but also for putting together top notch defenses. TCU has 9 returning starters on defense which is great news for any program. Quarterback Casey Pachall also makes a return to the offense after leaving last year 4 games into the season. The Horned Frogs super tough schedule is to blame for being ranked at 21. Teams like LSU, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State should be on the lookout for TCU.

20. UCLA
Jim Mora proved he could coach by winning the South title in the Pac-12 his very first year there. Quarterback Brett Hundley has proven his leadership and capability despite only being a sophomore. Inexperienced receivers and a new running back will take the biggest toll on this team. The defense also has to replace 7 starters which is no easy task. UCLA has tough away games at Stanford, Oregon, and Nebraska. Be on the lookout for possible upsets in a couple of those games. The Bruins are also a favorite to win the South title for the second straight year.

19. Michigan State
Michigan State is very consistent on having good teams every year. This year the Spartan's return a strong defense despite only having 6 returning starters. The loss of running back Le'Veon Bell hurts the offense more than anything. A weak offense and unanswered questions at the starting quarterback position will take a toll on the team this season. The defense will have to carry the team on its' back as the Spartans face a weak Big Ten schedule that does not even include Ohio State. Michigan State is looking at a possible 5-0 start, but a few upsets will occur late in the schedule and balance their regular season record out.

18. Nebraska
Nebraska is also another team that fans should lookout for this season. Quarterback Taylor Martinez has proven himself as not only a runner, but also a matured passer. Nebraska returns a stout group of wide receivers which only makes it easier for Martinez. The Husker's defense is the one and only question mark because of only three returning starters. Head coach Bo Pelini is a defensive mastermind although he has not exactly shown it in the last few years. If Pelini can find playmakers for his defense, then Nebraska will try to make a run at the Big Ten title. A tough conference game at Michigan will be the deciding factor for the Legends division. Also, look at Taylor Martinez to be a dark horse candidate for the Heisman.

17. Texas
Mack Brown has finally found a solid quarterback in David Ash. Texas has the tools to do some real damage this year. Texas returns a very solid 10 starters on offense and 8 on defense. Texas running the spread offense may bite them in the backside this year. You can have any player you want on an offense but switching playbooks is always difficult. If you do not believe it, ask Gene Chizik about his decision to switch Auburn from the spread to the pro style offense. The Longhorns will start hot and cool down by seasons end. I predict a victory over Oklahoma in Dallas on October 12th, but the final four game stretch may end with 2 losses. Mack Brown is bringing the Longhorns back. Do not be surprised if you see Texas in a BCS bowl this year.

16. Baylor
Baylor emerged as a high caliber team due in part to RG3. Now it is time for Baylor to prove that they are capable of big things without RG3. Baylor will make a strong run at the Big 12 title, but Oklahoma State will kill the dream. Baylor is capable of pulling the upset, but inexperienced quarterback Bryce Petty has to prove he can hold his own. Running back Lache Seastrunk will help lead this offense. Seastrunk is also a possible candidate for the Heisman if he can prove himself worthy. The Bear's defense will not be the best in the country as usual, but returning 8 starters is never anything to complain about. Art Briles is also an underrated coach and do not be surprised to see big name teams pursuing him in the future. At the end of the season, Baylor will finish with good regular season record and a few upsets to brag about.

15. Michigan
Head coach Brady Hoke will once again have a Michigan team that will be more reliant on their offense than a team should be. Hoke is a great coach that can pull out needed victories but one must always remember that defense wins championship. Michigan is only returning three starters on defense and that may give Brady Hoke a few headaches. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has the defense heading in the right direction, he just needs a little more time to rebuild. Michigan will have a strong regular season record with the possibility of a few slip ups including a trap game at Penn State on October 12th. Michigan has the best chance of any team in the Legends division to be in the Big Ten Championship. That also means that there is a chance that Michigan will meet their rival, Ohio State, in the championship game. If this happens, the same team will not win both times. So who will win when it matters most?

14. Oklahoma
It is a new year and Bob Stoops is looking for results. Stoops wants a crystal ball more than any other coach in the country. Does he have the players that will punch his ticket to Pasadena? Returning 8 starters on offense including the bulk of the offensive line will always help, but losing one of the all-time great passers in Landry Jones will hurt the Sooners. New starting quarterback Blake "Belldozer" Bell has proven he can run, but has not yet shown his throwing abilities. Oklahoma relied on the pass game behind Landry Jones a lot last year. Oklahoma only returns 3 starters from an already rough defense. Oklahoma will struggle, but will battle for the Big 12. Bob Stoops is hungry for victories and that alone will help the Sooners succeed. The race for the Big 12 is tight this year, and only the best will survive. Oklahoma will lose a few key games that will hurt their chances, but will recover with a possible upset over Oklahoma State on December 7th if the offense stays healthy.

13. South Carolina
Jadaveon Clowney is arguably the best defensive end college football has seen in a long time. South Carolina is expected to make a strong run for the SEC Championship and possibly the national championship. There is not a single person that doubts the skills of Steve Spurrier, but the hype around Jadaveon Clowney has caused South Carolina to be a little overrated. The Gamecocks have two good quarterbacks in Connor Shaw and Dylan Thomspon. Inexperience at wide receiver will cause the Gamecocks to rely on the running game. The running backs Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds have talent but need to show it early in order for the rushing attack to be successful. The defense has Clowney and returns a few starting players in the secondary, but an inexperienced group of linebackers may cause problems. Does South Carolina have enough talent to make it to the SEC Championship? Absolutely. Unfortunately it seems the Ole Ball Coach is running out of gas and South Carolina will struggle in their games against Florida and Georgia. Clowney is the best defensive candidate for the Heisman. It will be interesting to see the amount of leadership he will have to show on the defensive side of the ball.

12. Florida
The Florida Gators are slowly but surely starting to go back to their dominant status. Offensive coordinator Brent Pease will have the Florida offense getting better every year behind quarterback Jeff Driskel. Driskel is not Tim Tebow, but will hold his own at quarterback. A tough schedule that includes visits to Miami, LSU, Missouri, and South Carolina will cause a little bit of trouble for the Gators. The offense has not yet found the rushing attack they need to be successful in the pro-style offense. The defense on the other hand may be the one of the best in the SEC by season's end. Head coach Will Muschamp has this team heading in the right direction. Florida is going to make a strong push for an SEC championship appearance, but will come up a little short in favor of Georgia. Anything can happen in the SEC and Florida is a team that may go further than experts believe.

11. Florida State
Florida State has shown a lot of improvement with Jimbo Fisher as head coach. Fisher is trying his best to make Florida Sate and SEC caliber type team. The offense will surprise everyone and thrive under redshirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston has a great arm and can run the ball as well. The Seminoles have a solid rushing attack led by running backs Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr. Florida State also returns a veteran offensive line to help protect Winston. Florida State only returns 4 starters from last year's great defense. The defense will also be led by new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. If Pruitt can produce a solid defense, the Seminoles will find themselves battling Clemson for a spot in the ACC championship.

10. Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State will have one of the top offenses in the country this year. The offense has 7 returning starters, and the youngest projected starter this year will be sophomore left tackle Devin Davis. Projected quarterback Clint Chelf should put up big numbers this year. The Cowboys return 7 starters from last year's not so great defense. Head Coach Mike Gundy promoted linebackers coach Glenn Spencer to defensive coordinator this year looking for better results. The defense returns a solid secondary and group of linebackers and should be much improved from last season. Oklahoma State toughest away game will be at Texas on November 16th. Oklahoma State is the favorite to win the Big 12, but may have trouble finishing the season with the last three games being against Texas, Baylor, and Oklahoma. The Cowboys will win at least two of those three games and could be looking at a BCS bowl appearance.

9. LSU
LSU has established themselves as a successful team year end and year out. The Tigers begin their tough 2013 schedule on August 31st against a tough TCU. Les Miles and his Tigers are trying to bounce back from last year’s loss to Clemson in the Chik-fil-A Bowl. Miles will continue to put his trust in quarterback Zach Mettenberger who had his best game in a loss against Alabama. Although LSU returns Mettenberger and group of talented running backs, it will be interesting to see how the offense will perform under new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. On the defensive side of the ball, LSU only returns 3 starters. Although this defense will arguably be one of the weakest in recent history, Les Miles and his staff bring in great recruiting classes every year. The Tiger's tough schedule includes road games at Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Alabama. Playing in the SEC is one of the hardest things to do so you can easily say every SEC team has a "tough schedule" due to the high level of competition. LSU will battle for the SEC West title. An upset over Texas A&M on November 23rd is possible but LSU needs to watch out for Ole Miss on October 19th.

8. Louisville
Louisville showed just how good they were capable of playing in last year’s upset victory of Florida in the Sugar Bowl. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is a dark horse candidate for the Heisman trophy. Louisville returns 15 starters from last year’s team. Charlie Strong is a fantastic, underrated head coach. The Cardinals also play a much easier schedule because they are in the American Athletic Conference (formerly known as the Big East). Louisville has the mechanics to run the table and go undefeated and slip in the national championship. Unfortunately, Louisville tends to have trouble with their pretty simple schedule. Last year they beat Florida International, Southern Miss, and Rutgers by a total of 14 points. That is not saying that those teams were not talented, but Louisville had the team and capability to destroy those teams. Last year’s two losses came from Syracuse and Connecticut which also does not look good. Despite all this, the Cardinals still have a lot of potential. Head coach Charlie Strong said it best when he was quoted saying, “If we stay humble and stay hungry, then there's no telling what this team can do."

7. Clemson
Clemson will start their 2013 season coming off an electric upset victory of LSU in the Chik-fil-A Bowl. They will be moving on to another difficult SEC opponent when they play Georgia on August 31st. Quarterback Tajh Boyd has the mechanics to be a Heisman frontrunner. He will look for help in his offensive line that has 4 returning starters. Boyd's number one go to receiver will be Sammy Watkins. Second year defensive coordinator Brent Venables has turned the defense around, but will have his work cut out for him in an inexperienced secondary. Fortunately, he will be returning an experienced defensive line. Clemson is the outright favorite to win the ACC with their biggest challenge being Florida State. Dabo Swinney has proven himself as a head coach and has high expectations for this team. An opening victory over Georgia would be a very good start.

6. Georgia
Georgia ended the 2012 season with an impressive victory. Unfortunately, Mark Richt and the rest of his team probably still had the devastating loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship in their heads. Not only does Georgia have to open up with Clemson and South Carolina, they also have to replace a lot of leaders on defense. The defense returns 3 starters from last year's team. Replacing players like Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree is no easy task, but Georgia's defense has been through worse. Georgia is going to have one of the best offenses not only in the SEC but also in the country. Aaron Murray is an early Heisman candidate and tends to prove it with a veteran offensive line and solid group of receivers. Georgia will also have a solid rushing attack led by Todd Gurley. Georgia has the best chance of winning the SEC East, but playing in the SEC is no easy task. The Bulldog's first two games will show just how hungry they are to get back in Atlanta. On a side note, look for Vanderbilt to give Georgia trouble on October 19th. That game will be a lot closer than fans think.

5. Texas A&M
Johnny Manziel ended his freshman season with a dominant victory over Oklahoma. Head coach Kevin Sumlin showed what the Aggies were capable of. Now the question is, can they do it all over again? A&M lost key offensive lineman in this year’s NFL Draft. Manziel probably thinks he does not need any offensive lineman to put up big numbers, but he at least needs decent ones. The offense will still thrive behind Manziel's capability and Sumlin's coaching ability. Defensively, the Aggies will be weaker than last year’s team. A&M only returns 4 starters on defense. The offense will have to lead the way for this year’s team. Manziel will be a contender for the Heisman, but more than likely will not repeat. Texas A&M would be ranked higher if not for playing in the SEC and giving opponents a year to prepare for Mr. Johnny Football. The Aggies will finish with a 10 win season and begin giving Manziel a sales pitch on why he should not leave for the NFL. A&M has a good chance of playing in a BCS bowl with an at-large bid. On another side note, Texas A&M needs to be careful going into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to play Ole Miss on October 12th.

4. Oregon
Oregon's biggest loss of the offseason was head coach Chip Kelly. Oregon was smart to promote offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich. Helfrich already knows the system and understands that the offense has to lead this team every year. Oregon returns a great bulk of their offense from last season including superstar quarterback Marcus Mariota. Mariota may establish himself as a Heisman candidate early. Speed kills and Oregon plans to kill every opponent with their team's speed. The Ducks are not only set on offense, but also on defense. Oregon returns their entire secondary along with a strong defensive line. The biggest issue with Oregon (not counting their off the field problems) will be the coaching ability of Mark Helfrich. Although Helfrich is an experienced coordinator, he is still a first year head coach in a conference full of talented teams. Oregon will begin their season in dominant fashion, but will be on their toes starting on October 12th when they take a trip to Washington. Oregon has a great chance to make it the Pac-12 Championship, but will most likely be playing in a BCS bowl with an at-large bid.

3. Ohio State
Ohio State finished the 2012 season undefeated, but had nothing to show for it thanks to NCAA sanctions. The Buckeyes are ready to do more damage behind second year head coach Urban Meyer. Ohio State will be led by quarterback Braxton Miller who is a contender for this years Heisman. The offense is solid, returning 9 starters from last year's team. Braxton Miller will not only be an effective runner but also a much improved passer this season. The defense only returns 4 starters and defensive coordinator Luke Fickell has a bit of reconstruction to do on the defensive line. Ohio State should easily win the Leaders division and play in the Big 10 championship game. A trip to Pasadena on the other hand is not guaranteed. Six of Ohio State's twelve victories were decided by 7 points or less. Ohio State will lose as many as two games in the regular season, but may end up in a BCS bowl game with a Big Ten Championship victory. A third loss is possible. Ohio State needs to watch out for Penn State on October 26th and arch rival Michigan on November 30th. Playing at California on September 14th should also be a tricky game. Can the Buckeyes go undefeated again? Absolutely. Will they go undefeated again? Not likely. The leadership and coaching skills of head coach Urban Meyer will definitely need to be on display this season.

2. Stanford
Nick Saban has been called by many the best coach in college football. Will there ever be a coach that can be as successful as Nick Saban? The answer is yes. The coach that can do this is Stanford head coach David Shaw. Stanford is hungry for a national championship appearance and they are ready to prove themselves as a dominant football program. The Cardinals will not disappoint. Stanford returns a very good defense that may be one of the best in the country by season’s end. Quarterback Kevin Hogan has proven he can be a leader. He will need to show his leadership skills due to lack of experience at the receiver and tight end position. David Shaw is an elite coach and he is ready to take his team to the top. The Cardinals have their hearts set on Pasadena and that is not out of the question. If Stanford can handle tough games against UCLA, Oregon, and USC, the sky will be the limit for this team. Do not be surprised if David Shaw gets a lot of big offers after season’s end. When Shaw was asked about the upcoming 2013 season he said, "The biggest question I had for the guys is, 'Are they collectively hungry?' The older guys have answered...There is no Rose Bowl hangover."

1. Alabama
Nick Saban has created a dynasty at Alabama. A coach who came to the university living in the shadow of the great Bear Bryant has now created his own legacy and his own shadow. The Crimson Tide has all the mechanics to win their fourth national title in five years. Now executing will be the most important part. Alabama returns two possible Heisman candidates in AJ McCarron and T.J. Yeldon. The defense is stacked with big time players thanks in part to the great depth Alabama has. The biggest question mark for the Crimson Tide is filling in the holes on the offensive line. While Alabama returns two great linemen in Cyrus Kouandijo and Anthony Steen, Alabama still faces a little bit of concern as they try to rebuild the offensive line. New offensive line coach Mario Cristoball seems to have what he needs on a team that has plenty of depth. Winning a national championship is difficult. Alabama accomplished it. Winning back to back national championships is even more difficult. Alabama also accomplished that feat. Can Alabama continue their dynasty with their third straight national championship? Anything can happen in the SEC, but Alabama and Nick Saban always seem to be a step ahead of everybody else.

Honorable Mentions
USC
Auburn
Vanderbilt
Washington
Georgia Tech