IT IS NOT TIME TO SEND RYAN DAY PACKING

Following Ohio State's loss to Oregon, a lot has been made about Ryan Day and his inability to win "big games" (in quotes because people have their own definition of big games, though truthfully it's pretty evident which ones are) and, going forward, taking the Buckeyes to their stated goal of a national title. 

Day is in his sixth full season in Columbus, which seems like a long time but really is not. The coaching business has changed, with fans expecting results sooner, and with transfers now a big part of the equation it is possible to boost a program to the top much quicker than in prior years. OSU fans who have skepticism seem to think that if Day was going to win a title, it would have happened already. But that's not the way it works. 

Some of the all-time greatest coaches took a long time to nab their first crown. Only Barry Switzer at Oklahoma and Pete Carroll at USC were able to break through in rapid fashion. Switzer won in his second year as a head coach at any college level, and Carroll took three years (though had a lot of NFL experience). Most of the others took quite awhile to grab their first national title, as the following numbers show. 

Kirby Smart (6th year as HC/6th at Georgia) 

Urban Meyer (6th year as HC/2nd at Florida) 

Jim Tressel (6th year as HC/6th at Youngstown State)

Woody Hayes(9th year as HC/4th at Ohio State) 

Jimmy Johnson (9th year as HC/4th at Miami) 

Dabo Swinney (9th year as HC/9th at Clemson) 

Nick Saban (10th year as HC/3rd at LSU)

Darrell Royal (10th year as HC/7th at Texas) 

Steve Spurrier (10th year as HC/7th at Florida) 

Ara Parseghian (11th year as HC/3rd at Notre Dame)

Jim Harbaugh (16th year as HC/9th at Michigan) 

Bear Bryant (17th year as HC/4th at Alabama) 

Tom Osborne (22nd year as HC/22nd at Nebraska) 

Bobby Bowden (28th year as HC/18th at Florida State) 

It's a good thing for a lot of these coaches that they weren't coming up today, because many probably wouldn't have had the chance to stick around long enough to win a natty. To say someone can't win a title just because they haven't is silly. They can't until they do. Most of the coaches on this list were probably derided by their fanbase as being unable to win the big one, to bring home the brass ring. Until they did. 

It is possible that Ryan Day isn't the guy to bring a title to Ohio State. But here's the thing -- that's impossible to say after one loss (by a single point) on the road to an excellent team, in an expanded CFP, with all of the Buckeyes' goals still attainable. If Ohio State loses another on the way then maybe that kind of talk can heat up. 

One current coach who has followed kind of the same trajectory and was bashed as someone who couldn't get it done is Steve Sarkisian at Texas. While he hasn't made that ultimate breakthrough, the Longhorns are once again relevant and seem ready for the long haul. Sark is in his 11th season and has a club that is more than just a small threat to win it all. Yet it wasn't that long ago that he was laughed at by outside fanbases, that Texas was going to continue in the malaise it had been in since Mack Brown left. 

Ohio State has not been in any kind of malaise under Day -- hell, the Buckeyes played for the national title in 2020 (yeah, it was a wacky year with Covid). You learn the most about a team following adversity, and the Buckeyes have a full week off before they get ready for another game. We'll see whether there is championship mettle with this bunch, from Day on down to the players. I am confident there will still be calls for his head -- with no definitive upgrade presented -- and that's fine. Fans can fan however they want to. But it should be noted that expectations don't always jibe with reality.

College Football 2018 Conference Previews -- SEC

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

OVERVIEW

Alabama's Nick Saban (Gridiron Now)

Nearly half of the SEC teams enter 2018 with new football coaches, but the discussion is still about the one at the top, and the one chasing him.

King Nick Saban and Alabama won yet another national championship, though not without some frantic late heroics, over the man who wants to be king, Georgia's Kirby Smart. Those two are recruiting lights out, and look like they could be at the top of their respective divisions for the foreseeable future. Other programs paid handsomely and are taking a shot at upsetting the apple cart, but it remains to be seen whether the two benchmark programs can be stopped.

Saban's Crimson Tide lost a bunch of talent to the NFL, as usual, yet has the replacments on hand to barely miss a beat -- as usual. There is some mystery at quarterback as neither veteran Jalen Hurts nor title game savior Tua Tagovailoa won the job in the spring. Saban wasn't tipping his hand over the summer, though fans seem to be solidly behind Tua. The usual Bama strengths will be on display -- a mammoth offensive line, a powerful multi-pronged run game (led by Damien Harris) and a defense that has all-world talent seemingly everywhere. Even the rebuild secondary isn't causing a ton of worry in Tuscaloosa. One of the new coaches is Mississippi State boss Joe Moorhead, who comes to Starkville after serving as Penn State's offensive coordinator. His innovative, quick tempo offense seems tailor-made for Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, who should be fully recovered from an ankle injury by the start of the season. MSU has a ton of defensive talent and could surprise nationally. Auburn has been up and down under Gus Malzahn, winning 10 games after three seasons of single-digit victories. Jarrett Stidham is back to light up SEC defenses, and the Tigers defensive line will make yards and points hard to come by. Texas A&M went out and got its man in ex-Florida State boss Jimbo Fisher, but he may have a tough first year as there are offensive questions, notably at quarterback and receiver. Sophomore wideout Jhamon Ausbon could be a big-time weapon. LSU has the same old coach in Ed Orgeron but got an upgrade at quarterback when Joe Burrow came in as a graduate transfer from Ohio State. The offense is young, but the defense has talent and should be able to reach its potential with linebacker Devin White and cornerback Greedy Williams showing the way.

Smart has Georgia poised for a repeat in the East, and even after losing backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel and all-world linebacker Roquan Smith, there isn't much of a dropoff. Jake Fromm returns at quarterback, and will hand off early and often to D'Andre Swift and a boatland of talented backups. The defense might take a small step back as it rebuilds the linebacker corps, but Tyler Clark is an anchor up front. Florida has a new-yet-old coach in Dan Mullen, who comes over from Mississippi State. His first order of business will be to find a quarterback -- the spring solved nothing, though many felt unheralded Kyle Trask had a lead over incumbent Feleipe Franks and hotshot freshman Emory Jones. There is a lot of talent at the skill positions and a veteran offensive line. The defense returns nearly everyone and is especially good up front and in the secondary. South Carolina hopes that the return of stellar wideout Deebo Samuel gives a jolt to an offense that averaged just 24 points per game a year ago. The running game is unproven but has potential, and the defense has experience and playmaking ability, forcing 36 turnovers. Missouri surprised a year after winning just four games, and returns Drew Lock, one of the best passers in the country. He has a veteran receiving corps but may feel growing pains as new coordinator Derek Dooley takes over. Dooley will incorporate snaps from under center so there could be a learning curve. The defense could be surprisingly good, with linebackers Terez Hall and Cale Garrett.

RISING: Mississippi State
FALLING: Ole Miss
BOWL TEAMS (8): Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi State, Auburn, Texas A&M, LSU

SEC PROJECTED STANDINGS
EAST

1 Georgia (12-1, 8-0)

2 Florida (8-4, 5-3)

3 South Carolina (8-4, 5-3)

4 Missouri (7-5, 3-5)

5 Kentucky (5-7, 2-6)

6 Tennessee (5-7, 2-6)

7 Vanderbilt (4-8, 1-7) 
WEST

1 Alabama (13-0, 8-0)
2 Mississippi State (10-2, 6-2)
3 Auburn (9-3, 6-2)
4 Texas A&M (7-5, 4-4)
5 LSU (6-6, 3-5)
6 Ole Miss (5-7, 1-7)
7 Arkansas (5-7, 1-7) 
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP

Alabama over Georgia

ALL-SEC TEAM

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB Jarrett Stidham/Auburn
RB Damien Harris/Alabama

RB D'Andre Swift/Georgia

WR AJ Brown/Ole Miss

WR Deebo Samuel/South Carolina

WR DK Metcalf/Ole Miss

TE  Albert Okwuegbunam/Missouri

OT Jonah Williams/Alabama

OT Greg Little/Ole Miss

OG Hjalte Froholdt/Arkansas

OG Ben Cleveland/Georgia

 C   Ross Pierschbacher/Alabama 
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DE Raekwon Davis/Alabama

DE Montez Sweat/Mississippi State

DT Jeffery Simmons/Mississippi State

DT Terry Beckner/Missouri

LB Devin White/LSU

LB Mack Wilson/Alabama

LB David Reese/Florida

LB Tyrel Dodson/Texas A&M

CB Greedy Williams/LSU

CB DeAndre Baker/Georgia

 S  Mark McLaurin/Mississippi State

 S  Mike Edwards/Kentucky
 FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
 K Rodrigo Blankenship/Georgia
 P Corey Fatony/Missouri
KR Deebo Samuel/South Carolina
PR Mecole Hardman/Georgia

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB Drew Lock/Missouri

RB Benny Snell/Kentucky

RB Aeris Williams/Mississippi State

WR Bryan Edwards/South Carolina

WR Emmanuel Hall/Missouri

WR Ryan Davis/Auburn

TE  CJ Conrad/Kentucky

OT Andrew Thomas/Georgia

OT Martez Ivey/Florida

OG Zack Bailey/South Carolina

OG Bunchy Stallings/Kentucky

 C   Lamont Gaillard/Georgia 
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DE Josh Allen/Kentucky

DE Isaiah Buggs/Alabama

DT Tyler Clark/Georgia

DT Derrick Brown/Auburn

LB De'Jon Harris/Arkansas

LB D'Andre Walker/Georgia

LB Deshaun Davis/Auburn

LB Terez Hall/Missouri

CB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson/Florida

CB CJ Henderson/Florida

 S  Grant Delpit/LSU

 S  JR Reed/Georgia 
SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
 K Daniel LaCamera/Texas A&M
 P  Tommy Townsend/Florida
KR De'Vion Warren/Arkansas
PR Richaud Floyd/Missouri

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jarrett Stidham/Auburn
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Devin White/LSU
COACH OF THE YEAR: Joe Moorhead/Mississippi State
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: CB Saivion Smith/Alabama

Forget The Hype, Tide And Seminoles Want To Play

Nick Saban knows his Alabama squad faces a major hurdle in Florida State (NY Times)

 Alabama coach Nick Saban was never going to make any grand proclamations about his team as it heads into its opener against No. 3 Florida State, preferring instead to toe the company line.

 He would just as soon leave the bulletin board material to the Seminoles and let his team worry about doing what it does best -- pound opponents into submission with meticulous preparation and all-world talent.

 The top-ranked Crimson Tide face off against a young but hungry FSU squad in a game that is the first-ever season opener to match a pair of top three teams. The hype has been off the charts, deservedly, but both coaches are simply looking to get their teams ready and play the game.

"I think this is a great opportunity for our team to play in a great environment, a new stadium in Atlanta against one of the top teams, no doubt, in the country," Saban said. "Both of these teams are going to be well-prepared to play this game. I'm pleased with the progress we've been able to make with a lot of players, and we've had a good couple of days of work in Florida State prep."

 Fisher sounded like a man who almost relished the stakes, someone who isn't going to be awed by the magnitude of the moment and won't let his players be, either.

 “If you’re here at Florida State playing in these games, you’re going to be in hyped games,” he said. “Every year, we play Clemson, Miami, Florida, Louisville – whoever we play, what conference, what big bowl, play Michigan, (play) in the National Championship game, that’s part of being at Florida State.”

 Both teams have jaw-dropping athleticism, especially on defense, and each is vying for "best secondary in the nation" honors.

 Bama has ballhawk Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is a safety by title but who will line up just about anywhere, hard hitting safety Ronnie Harrison and veteran corner Tony Brown, and a host of guys just waiting to be "next man up."

 The Seminoles counter with safety Derwin James, who missed all but two games last year and has been welcomed back with open arms. James can cover, can play the ball, is a leader and is maybe the most aggressive defensive player in America. Teamed with corner Tarvarus McFadden, they form a great double dare for quarterbacks to face.

 Bama seems to have a slight edge in experience in the front seven, but it's paper-thin.

 Both quarterbacks -- Bama's Jalen Hurts and FSU's Deondre Francois -- were thrust into starting roles and combined to go 24-4 as freshmen a season ago. Hurts is more of a dual threat, but has reportedly worked on his pocket passing in the offseason, while Francois has more than a little Jameis Winston in him -- big arm, unflappable demeanor, ability to take punishment.

 Hurts and Francois will both be under the microscope, and whoever plays the cleaner game will likely be the one helping his team to victory.

 Alabama can overpower opposing offenses with its base defense, and Florida State did have a propensity for allowing Francois to get hit last year. He cannot continue to absorb these kinds of hits if the Seminoles have any kind of design on vying for a berth in the College Football Playoff.

Fisher likes what he has seen from his trench men thus far in fall camp.

Jimbo Fisher leads his young and hungry Florida State team into battle

“I do. I think our lines had a really good camp,” he said. “We ran the football, we pass-blocked and did the things we had assignment-wise, and worked hard on blitz pickups and different things – the running game, the pass game, all the different scenarios.”

Even if it means an early season setback, Saban likes games such as this one because it can prove to be a measuring stick for his team.

"A game like this shows where your team is," Saban said. "You could really play a lesser opponent, not play really well, not really find out exactly where you are and who you are and what you need to do to fix it. When you play a challenging team, I think you find out most of those things about your team in terms of their ability to execute, their psychological disposition."

 Saban and Fisher go back a bit and admit to being friends -- well, as friendly as anyone can be when Saban is involved. Fisher served as Saban's quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at LSU and often gave the Bayou Bengals defense fits when designing plays. Both coaches have fertile minds and come up with little wrinkles at the proper time, but at their core both win a ton of games because they have the best players.

 They will laugh and joke a bit in the pregame, pat each other on the back and give firm handshakes and congratulations after the contest.

 But during the game? Don't look for many pleasantries.

“When it’s time to keep score, we’ll keep score,” Fisher said. “Until then, we’ll be nice.”

WHAT
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 3 Florida State
WHEN AND WHERE
Sept. 2nd, 8 pm, Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
WHO TO WATCH
ALABAMA -- QB Jalen Hurts stirs the drink with his ability to extend plays. He has very good accuracy with the ball but tends to use the passing attack as an extension of the ground game. Alabama uses short, controlled passes to move the chains and grind opponents down. When it does challenge a defense, it's usually in the form of wonderful Calvin Ridley, the latest in a line of blue-chip receivers in Tuscaloosa. The front seven is, as usual, stout, and the secondary is marvelous. The two (or three) headed monster of Bo Scarbrough, Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs (or freshman Najee Harris, who might play if Jacobs can't answer the bell) might be Alabama's most talented backfield of the Saban era, which is saying something.
FLORIDA STATE -- S Derwin James will be all over the place, and if Alabama doesn't account for him with an extra tight end or a blocking back, he will in the backfield as much as Hurts. James is excellent tracking the ball and is a fearless tackler, and will add some swagger to an FSU defense that at times last season looked average. LB Matthew Thomas is nicked up but should play, and the defensive front is wondrous, led by Derrick Nnadi, Brian Burns and Josh Sweat. Deondre Francois must play a mistake-free game, and will use the running of freshman Cam Akers to pound out the tough yardage. FSU cannot get behind the chains because Alabama feasts on teams in third and long.
WHAT DECIDES THE OUTCOME 
 It would be easy to say the team that scores more, but getting in position to score is nearly as important, and neither team is very likely to put up huge rushing numbers. That means whichever quarterback plays mistake-free football will come out on top. Hurts could get loose for a big play with his feet, while Francois' cannon of an arm could test the vaunted Tide secondary. A close second is third down conversions. Alabama was successful on just two of 15 tries in the national title game against Clemson, and Florida State's defense can be on that level, especially up front. Hurts is not polished enough in the passing game to really win the thing with his arm, so if Alabama faces adversity and is put into a lot of second- and third-and-long situations, Florida State could gain an advantage.