Aug 1013 min read

CFB '24: Are You Ready?

video via CFB Kings//X

Are you ready? College Football is on the horizon!

Shoutout to CFB Kings for saving me some time; that's a killer hype video. I'm pumped, are you? This season will show a whole new look, and give off a whole new vibe on the college griddy. New-look conferences. Similar faces in new places. New crop of electric talent ready to claim collegiate superstar status. It's going to be a wild season; that's a no-doubter. A season cooking up to be so hot that I can't contain my excitement. No more waiting. Lets get prepped.

I have a full slate on this piece. Hopefully I can keep things short and detailed. I gotcha with the predictions; Heisman favorites; spicy headlines; and an all-around preview of the front page noise. You know the jazz. Predictions last; lets roll with the thunder first.

New conference alignment - Pac-12 demise

I will try and keep the positive energy, but it does become hard when having to discuss the new conference format across the FBS. My upper lip stays up whenever I allow my brain to ponder the expanded B1G & SEC conferences as well as the demise of the PAC-12. The last bit being the one that drives me mental the most.

The PAC-12 is now the abysmal PAC-2 (yes, it's still called PAC-12...). Oregon State and Washington State are the lone programs that remain after Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Washington dipped to the Big-18; Big-Ten, whatever; while the others bounced to either the ACC or Big-12. If you are a college fan under a rock or need another look at the changes:

2024 College Football Conference Realignment

My opinion? The NCAA is an utter joke. Going into 2024 with two teams in the PAC-12? That's pathetic. I hate it. Thankfully we do have an expanded playoff- which makes me not want to spend too much oxygen barkin' the joke up with these conference changes. New scheduling formats, scheduling alliances (Mountain West/PAC-2), and the expanded playoff will surely take some smoke off the stove.

The changes are huge when you look at the big-picture. Not just the Conference realignment changes, but the expanded playoff as well. Including the implications and requirements of the expansion. Now, everyone in P4 has a concrete path to a national championship no matter what their schedule looks like- plus G5 teams now have a realistic shot, too. The new format goes something like this:

Pretty solid; excited to watch the first rodeo play out with this new format. My excitement is far higher for the CFP expansion compared to the B1G expansion. The Big-Ten now consists of 18 teams; the most in Conference history. Which comes with another first: no more divisions. Yup... B1G goes away from divisions for the first time to spark this new era. No divisions is the right route when you consider the ridiculous new travel schedule and location of the schools on the map. All hail the new format: Flex Protect XVIII!

This new format model features a combination of protected opponents and rotating opponents for the programs. Each school will continue to play nine inner-conference games per season, and teams will play every other conference opponent at least twice; once home and once away; and will play rotating opponents no more than three times in a five-year span. Conference schedules will include 12 protected matchups that will continue to be played annually and feature a combination of the historic and geographic rivalries, as well as trophy games. Which is massive. They had to keep the prestige of the conference intact with the shaking of the head geographic expansion. Taking away those epic trophy games and rivalries amongst the Midwest would have been devastating. The scheduling format seems like it could be a homerun and cause major impact for the future of College Football. Positive or negative- that we will just have to wait and see on.

Tough season ahead in Ann Arbor for Michigan Football?

The closing sentence above can lure it's way down here as the opener. That's the exact situation going on in Ann Arbor: the waiting game for major impact to occur and rather it will be positive or negative. All signs are pointing to negative for UofM, coach Sherrone Moore, and the quick future of the football program in midst of the NCAA's grabbin' of the jock recruiting investigation. NCAA is too stubborn to not stop this tirade and poor Sherrone Moore went from accepting a dream job to accepting all the "consequences" and BS from Jim Harbaugh's bogus investigations (bogus NCAA).

I won't go into detail on that whole debacle regarding the NCAA's recent 'draft' to Michigan and Moore that sanctions are looming. That impact seems imminent; adding more destruction to the defending National Champion. Lets stick to football and the things that Sherrone and co. can control in the here and now. Michigan faces many challenges as it enters the season; the coaching staff has been flipped upside down, they lost some strong senior leadership, and it's back to having consequences loom over the program's head while the masses outside of Wolverines Nation run to the front door to shoot degrade and pray for it's downfall. Two factors are very-very important for UofM to once again hurdle the consequences to aim for a shot to return to the Wonderland: Harbaugh's recruiting class, and the Wolverines' ruthless defense built off the base of superstars (CB) Will Johnson and (DT) Mason Graham.

Michigan will lean on that defense all season long. The defense took some hits with departures, especially on the back-end and in the middle, but has a built-in tradition from Harbaugh's regime to be the next man up. We will see that again this season. New guys will rise, and the unit should continue to be one of the most dominant defensive units in the nation. Mason Graham could be set up to have a special-special season- he's one of my favorites to win the Outland Trophy. It's the offense that raises the questions and red flags.

Alex Orji is the man to takeover the reigns of J.J. McCarthy under center with the offensive game-plan shifting from Blake Corum, to Donovan Edwards. We got a visual of that in the Natty. Now, I don't think Edwards is going to be on the level of Ollie Gordon II & Tahj Brooks like many of you think he will be (CFB 25 is a video game folks). Edwards had just 497 yards on 119 carries last season. His natty performance was remarkable, but it's a matter of him being really good on that given night. We have to wait and evaluate just what Kirk Campbell's game-plan will be; I can promise you it won't be a carbon copy of what you saw during the Harbaugh regime. Michigan gets a nice practice opp to get the feet in the sand before welcoming Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns into the Big House in the second game of the campaign. Then it's time to really see what this new regime is about.

I expect the impact of Harbaugh leaving to be pretty significant in year-1 under Sherrone Moore (if he will even coach the full year). The recruiting class along with Moore's success and experience with Harbaugh should ease the damage from the impact. Texas game is tough, real tough, but it's in the Big House. Longhorns just lost their starting tail-back CJ Baxter for the season (PCL/LCL) and will sure feel the brass of the Michigan D and the noise of the Big House. I can see Michigan winning that one; which is their only tough non-conference opponent. They have the talent on defense to win all their other games outside of Oregon and Ohio State. That's paper-talk, it's college football, you can make a bet that this team can and will feel some upset vibes in the intraconference battles. They shouldn't lose more than four games. Expect a decline, but don't expect no post-Lloyd Carr decline cha heard. Moore is no Rich-Rod. This all barring any ridic NCAA sanctions of course.

The transfer portal was poppin' in the '23 off-season! I will say, the landscape of college football is far more wild and exciting in this NIL era. The NIL has made the transfer portal a straight up rollercoaster extravaganza. I'm talkin' Steel Vengeance type sh**. It's just a black market of the best talent in the nation wanting a different vibe, different situation, or more spotlight. This most recent portal speaks volumes to just how raw it's become. The list is long and jam-packed. Star talent too. Caleb Downs. Marcus Carroll. Walter Nolen. Big time talent, now in new places. Could you imagine this back in the day? OK State losing Barry Sanders because of the greatness of Thurman Thomas. Felix Jones not wanting to share reps with McFadden in Arkansas (I'm talkin' NIL + transfer). No worries, now we can experience the thrill ride. So, with the long list of talent to switch schools, which cats will make the most impact? I have a list!

Ohio State are major portal winners:

Buckeyes bolstered their roster in the biggest way, being the clear winners of the portal with steals of S Caleb Downs (Alabama); RB Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss); QB Will Howard (Kansas State); and QB Julian Sayin (Alabama). Ohio State also took center Seth McLaughlin from Bama to bolster the O-line behind what should be the best 1-2 punch of any backfield in the nation.

Landing Judkins from Ole Miss is massive and an immediate impact move for the Buckeyes offense. Judkins brings in 1,158 yards and 15 rushing tuddies to join forces with senior TreVeyon Henderson. That's going to be a nasty duo. Don't get it twisted though; it will NOT be like what EA has made them out to be in CFB25. That spinnin' crap is not happening, ha! Nonetheless, the duo will succeed and give Ohio State another Hyde/Elliot type mega-duo, but with a different taste and style. I love it, and what's not to love about landing Caleb Downs? The cat is a stud and was the biggest impact player in the portal. Homer. The only possible flag is Will Howard. Transitioning from the Big-12 to this expanded Big-Ten won't be an easy transition. Howard had great performances against Texas and Mizzou (both K-State Ls), but struggled in the Wildcats other big games last season. Lets see what he can do in the B1G for his final collegiate campaign. Did the moves push them to a spot to beat Michigan again? Maybe so!

Ole Miss get A&M DT Walter Nolen:

What a move for the Rebels to snag former Aggie Walter Nolen. Ole Miss was active in the portal! Nolen is their best gem. The cat has all the makings to be a star & and I expect him to bring immediate impact to a strong-strong Ole Miss defense. Nolen's stat production should rise in a big-way as he is prepped to take the next steps in his development. I see Nolen as one of the shiniest gems out of the portal. Homerun for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels.

Texas get speedster Isaiah Bond:

Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond heads to Austin to hook the horn. A deep threat speedster who shreds defenses down the seams and in the middle of the field joins a Texas offense that is beyond thankful for his arrival. Now more so than ever after having CJ Baxter lose his season to a knee surgery. Quinn Ewers is going to look for Bond to elevate the pass game in a big way. Something he did with ease for the Crimson Tide. It's a massive portal pickup for a team that lost it's three leading receivers last campaign, to the NFL. No Worthy. No Mitchell. No Sanders. Now, no Baxter. Bond's impact will surely be greater than any transfer.

Mizzou loses 3rd leading rusher, but bring in the 10th:

Missouri losing Cody Schrader to the NFL meant they needed to replace 1600 yards and 14 tuddies. Losing their number two tail-back to the NFL didn't help either, making the transfer addition of former Georgia State RB Marcus Carroll ultra-important. Carroll ran for 1,350 yards and 13 tuddies last season to become a top item on the transfer market. He stamps that production in for a bigger opportunity at Mizzou and in the SEC. Huge move for the Tigers and senior signal caller Brady Cook.

Aidan Chiles joins Jonathan Smith in East Lansing:

The last two years in East Lansing have been horrendous. I don't expect that to continue under newly hired Jonathan Smith as HC. It won't happen over night, as it didn't for Smith at Oregon State, but I expect the Spartans to have much better execution and a better culture this campaign than those last two. Having QB Aidan Chiles join Smith on the Beaver to Spartan express is a big deal for MSU. Chiles showed strong potential in the reps he had last season behind D.J. Uiagalelei. He steps into the reigns of an offense with solid skill players that include RB Nate Carter, WR Montorie Foster Jr, and freshman WR Nick Marsh. Chiles will be one of the biggest producers from the '23 portal.

Texas A&M replace Nolen with Nic Scourton:

Aggies replaced Nolen in loud fashion by bringing in last year's B1G sacks leader (10), edge Nic Scourton. The former Boilermaker is a PROBLEM for any offensive game-plan, and has only gotten stronger & better going into his Junior season. I thought naming Scourton to the All-Big Ten 2nd-team was pure robbery. He belonged on the 1st-team; Aggies have a huge get here. Nolen and Scourton are very similar protypes; each with high potential. Scourton is the better bet going into this season after seeing his production with Purdue in '23. At first it was a major loss in losing Nolen; now the Aggies may be looking at an upgrade. Money move by Texas A&M and a great selection by Scourton.

Riley Leonard wants his revenge tour to be in South Bend:

Former Duke QB Riley Leonard will be the new man under center for the Fighting Irish. Leonard lost his season to injury last season, but was stellar in 2022 for the Blue Devils, leading the team in passing & rushing with 3,666 all-purpose yards and 33 all-purpose tuddies (20 in air; 13 on ground). Leonard is a much better option for Notre Dame than Sam Hartman (graduated). Leonard did have a second surgery on his ankle in March to correct the first; his timetable is in the air, but I do fully expect him to still be a difference maker for the Irish when he does return. Good match between the Irish & Leonard. Great fit.

Here are some other notable transfers to keep an eye on in 2024:

Several big-name QBs are set for their last shots at the collegiate level to make more memories; achieve greatness; and set the path to a potential career on the griddy. I'm talkin' a RICH list of signal callers with even some possible Heisman watch candidates such as the likes of Cam Ward (Miami FL) and Shedeur Sanders (Colorado). Then you got captains like Mizzou's Brady Cook; Seth Henigan (Memphis); Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss); and Carson Beck (Georgia) who are looking to give their universities a double-digit win season, with a CFP berth. Count in household name Cameron Rising (Utah) as well. Rich-rich list.

On top of those cats above, we have a SLEW of Senior transfers who locked in their final shot to make an impact; wanting to do so in another place, because why not? That list is quite rich too: Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Kyle McCord (Syracuse), Will Howard (Ohio State), Riley Leonard (Notre Dame), and D.J. Uiagalelei (Florida State). We have a strong list of senior Quarterbacks that we will likely not see again in College Football. Lets see which of them will make the most of their final opportunity.

We have a shiny showcase of preseason Heisman favorites this season; more so than the year prior. You can shut down the Travis Hunter stuff; he's not Charles Woodson. Frankly, Ollie Gordon II is really the only skill-position player that I believe has a chance to win Heisman... that's preseason talk obviously. I do have a few on my watch list that I think has a chance to prove me wrong: Mizzou's Luther Burden III & Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan being at the top of the list. The odds are low. This should be another year of the QB.

I laugh when I look at MGM's preseason odds. I don't see Dillon Gabriel, Quinn Ewers, or Will Howard being leading candidates. My leading three going into WK-0: Cam Ward (Miami FL), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), and Jalen Milroe (Alabama). Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava is my sleeper with Jalon Daniels (Kansas) being my major-major sleeper. The Jalen Milroe prediction surprise you? I like Milroe's odds under new coach Kalen DeBoer. We saw what coach did with Penix Jr. (Heisman front-runner) last season in Washington- I expect DeBoer to elevate Milroe's game in a big way. Alabama is going to give off a different vibe post-Saban. The Cam Ward take is one I feel good with.

Ward was one of my Heisman favorites until he fell off after the UCLA performance. Ward had a tough stretch in October and November, but finished well in the whomping of Colorado and near loss to Washington. Now he takes his talents up a notch. Both in tier level (program) & audience. It's different being Washington State's QB, and being the Miami Hurricanes' QB. I think Ward will thrive in this moment. He's got some solid skill players around him; I think he has a big year. Ollie Gordon II is a strong candidate as well. If he becomes the third Cowboy to surpass 2K and can punch in 20+, then bet on him joining Barry Sanders in the Heisman house.

It's right down to business off the opening kickoff this season! We have a strong slate of marquee matchups to kickstart the new campaign. The three games to watch:

Gators and Hurricanes installment 56; five years in the making. Oh, put it in my veins! That's my game of the week. I also can't wait to see Barrett Carter and Clemson march into Sanford to take on top ranked Georgia, as well as the Fighting Irish travelin' to Kyle for a nighttime banger with the Aggies. All three should be bangers. Allow me to spread some predictions.

What a way for Cam Ward to start his campaign in Miami by slayin' the Gators; I think the Hurricanes get it done. The roster is sneaky talented and super under spoken about. Canes make a splash by getting their 30th win over Florida. LSU should beat the Trojans in Death Valley. Harold Perkins Jr. will cause fits for that USC O-line and QB Miller Moss. Perkins racks up 2 sacks at the least or 3+ tackle for loss. Book it! Now the big one in most people's eyes- Dawgs versus Tigers. Klubnik versus Beck. Power defense versus power defense. That's going to be a slobber knocker. It's the same theme as the last time these two met in the early shades of the '21 campaign. That game was a top-5 matchup, but it was booked as a defensive chess match; and went just that way, 10-3 to Georgia. This meeting will be no different, minus the top-5 note. Believe it or not, I can smell a Clemson upset. It's slightly in the air, I don't know. I'm still rocking with UGA, though! In a close game.

We are almost there! I won't hope for a rush; time flies any way, we need to enjoy the last bit of summer we have left, but damn does it feel good knowing pigskin is right around the corner. We are set for one helluva ride this year with the expanded playoff and everything else discussed. Bring on the madness! Bring on football!