LSU
Coming into this season, the LSU Tigers have been one of the most talked-about programs. With the controversial hire of new head coach Lane Kiffin and transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt, this is a team that can make a massive turnaround from previous mediocre seasons.
I think LSU is one of those teams with the highest ceiling but the lowest floor. The talent is most definitely there. It is simply a matter of whether they can execute at the highest level in the SEC with all the new faces.
Texas A&M
Last season, I did not expect to see what we saw from the Aggies, and it was impressive. That being said, they did have a bit of an easy schedule.
I feel the exact opposite about this team this season. I doubt they see the same success as last season.
In my opinion, Marcell Reed is a good quarterback with all the talent in the world, but he can kind of fold under pressure sometimes. I expect there to be way more pressure this season than last.
Alabama
If there’s any team that is hard to rank this preseason, it’s the Crimson Tide. For starters, they still have yet to name a starting quarterback, which, in my opinion, is detrimental to the chemistry of the team.
I do think it is obvious that this program is not where it used to be, and it makes me wonder which direction it takes them. This season is a huge one for this program and especially Kalen DeBoer.
They can come out this season with a chip on their shoulder, ready to prove everyone wrong, or they can drown in a sea of critics and fans.
Miami
I don’t know about everyone else, but I am extremely high on Miami this season, especially after what we saw from them last season.
Even though it’s a new season, they still have a lot of familiar faces across the board. Malachi Toney is arguably a top-three wide receiver in college football.
Though they lost their quarterback in Carson Beck, they picked up Darien Mensah from Duke, who I expect to be in the Heisman running.
The Hurricanes should be a very fun team to watch this fall.
Indiana
For a program that has built its foundation on proving others wrong, it baffles me that Indiana, the defending national champions, is STILL not getting the respect they deserve.
Yes, I know it is a new season, but they still have a damn good leader and coach in Curt Cignetti. And from what we saw last season, I can’t say I expect anything less than dominance.
While losing Mendoza is a tough gap to fill, I think they have found a good replacement in Josh Hoover. Last season, Indiana and Mendoza led the country in RPO plays. In second place was Josh Hoover.
Cignetti knows what he wants and definitely knows what he is doing.
