 |
| Baker Mayfield brings Oklahoma to face Ohio State in a marquee non-league showdown (saturdaydownsouth.com) |
Prior to the advent of the College Football Playoff, teams would take the paths of least resistance to get to the top two spots in the rankings, and the BCS title game. There really was no mandated strength of schedule component, so teams would schedule three or four soft touches and then navigate their conference minefields, in hopes of grabbing the brass ring.
Well, if the first three years of the CFP have taught us anything, it's that teams are being punished for weak schedules, especially in the non-conference. While a team cannot control how strong or weak its league is, it most certainly can control who it plays in the run up to conference play.
Oh, sure, there are still some teams that haven't learned their lesson -- Baylor, I'm looking at you (Liberty, UTSA and Duke? Really?) -- but most programs have figured out that they need to play at least one good team in non-conference action if they are to be looked upon favorably by the playoff committee at the end of the season. That means some really tasty matchups in September, and a few sprinkled throughout the rest of the fall.
We are going to take a look at the top 10 non-conference matchups of 2017, running them down in chronological order:
FLORIDA STATE vs. ALABAMA, SEPT. 2 at Atlanta
And the season gets jump started by this colossal showdown --two teams that many have as part of their CFP field, locked in battle on the first full Saturday of action. Young quarterbacks Deondre Francois (FSU) and Jalen Hurt (Alabama) will be in the spotlight, but it will be the defenses of both squads -- each replete with future NFL Draft choices -- that determines the outcome.
MICHIGAN vs. FLORIDA, SEPT. 2 at Arlington
The appetizer for the Noles-Tide main course is this tasty tussle. The Wolverines are the least experienced team in America, completely overhauling the offense and losing vital cogs on defense, but returning Wilton Speight at quarterback. Florida will decide on either holdover Luke Del Rio or Notre Dame transfer Malik Zaire to run the offense, which returns nearly everyone, but is young on defense. A really interesting coaching showdown between UM's Jim Harbaugh and the Gators' Jim McElwain. The winner could springboard to a banner season while the loser could leave questioning itself.
AUBURN @ CLEMSON, SEPT. 9
Both should be in the top 10, and each might be just a bit under the radar, if that's even possible. Both will be breaking in new signal-callers, but should have excellent defenses. Auburn will want to play physical with RB Kamryn Pettway, while Clemson will want to utilize playmakers Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McDonald, as well as national championship game hero Hunter Renfrow. There will be plenty of athletes on display in Death Valley, and the atmosphere should be off the charts.
OKLAHOMA @ OHIO STATE, SEPT. 9
A rematch of the one of the more surprising results of last year (a 45-24 Buckeyes blowout in Norman) takes place in Columbus, and with the game under the lights you can bet the fans will be plenty lathered up. Oklahoma must replace a lot on offense, but still has the dangerous Baker Mayfield at quarterback, and he will want to play well against a rebuilding Ohio State secondary. He will look to TE Mark Andrews early and often. The Buckeyes are retooling on offense after losing a bit of firepower to the NFL, but return QB J.T. Barrett and RB Mike Weber. They will be operating behind an experienced line and a new offense, controlled by former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson. OSU will need to be wary defensively, and CB Denzel Ward will be in the crosshairs.
GEORGIA @ NOTRE DAME, SEPT. 9
This should be an early gauge of what's in store for both teams. The Bulldogs were extremely young last year, but have all kinds of talent, especially on offense. But they were shaky along the O-line, and the Irish defensive strength is up front, led by DT Jerry Tillery and LB Nyles Morgan. If the Georgia trench boys can protect, there could be plenty of holes for a stable of running backs, led by Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. If this one is close then maybe UGA is a bit worse and ND is a bit better than expected.
TEXAS @ USC, SEPT. 16
These bluebloods haven't played since the epic 2006 Rose Bowl, won 41-38 by the Longhorns and Vince Young. Texas has been down a bit, but has high hopes with new head coach Tom Herman hoping to infuse the same life he did into Houston's program. QB Shane Buechele could be in line for a big season, and will need all of his skill to knock off a Trojans program primed for a run at the CFP. USC QB Sam Darnold is a Heisman front-runner, and will have RB Ronald Jones behind him to keep the Texas defense honest.
WISCONSIN @ BRIGHAM YOUNG, SEPT. 16
This is a sneaky-good contest, matching the Badgers physicality against the Cougars' athleticism. Wisconsin doesn't have much on the schedule to worry about, but going to Provo is no picnic, and it wouldn't be a complete shock if the home team wins this one. The Badgers will go after BYU QB Tanner Mangum with a defense led by LB Jack Cichy and S D'Cota Dixon, one of the more underrated secondary players in America. This one could come down to the final minutes, and that could be what stands between Wisconsin and an unbeaten campaign.
CLEMSON @ SOUTH CAROLINA, NOV. 25
In the last two meetings in Columbia, the Gamecocks have upset Clemson and lost by five when the Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the nation. So this won't be a gimme by any stretch. The teams don't like each other, and it will be intriguing to see just how much each grows up. Clemson QB Hunter Johnson should have settled in, while Carolina's Jake Bentley could be ready to make a quantum leap from his bumpy freshman campaign. Having WR Deebo Samuel should make things easier.
GEORGIA @ GEORGIA TECH, NOV. 25
The Bulldogs have lost two of the last three meetings, and could be coming into this game with the SEC East title in their back packet. That could spell trouble, especially against a Tech team that returns two of its top four rushers from last season, most notably Dedrick Mills. Tech could be playing for bowl eligibility, which means this one might be closer than expected.
FLORIDA STATE @ FLORIDA, NOV. 25
The Seminoles have a tough late stretch, with three of the last five away from home, including Clemson and this in-state bloodbath. FSU is just 3-4 when ending the regular season against the Gators since 2006, and you can bet that Florida would love nothing better than to end the home season on a high note. Florida has scored just nine total points the last two meetings in Gainesville, so it will be interesting to see whether or not the offense progresses as much as McElwain hopes. The matchup between UF wideout Antonio Callaway and FSU corner Tarvarus McFadden should be worth the price of admission.
What are the non-league matchups you are most looking forward to?
No comments:
Post a Comment