In a few weeks, the gut-wrenching, unnerving, madness that we affectionately call college football will begin it's 2016-2017 campaign. Hundreds of schools will be competing to earn the title of "elite" (better known as the College Football Playoff-- college football's version of the final four).
Since abandoning the BCS ranking system, the competition to be named the best of the best in college football has become a bit more challenging. Teams no longer get an automatic bid to the championship game, and now have to win a semi-final bowl game before even having an opportunity to play for the title. The first two seasons of this system has provided us with a variety of outcomes -- from instant classics to completely one-sided affairs (I'm looking at you Michigan State), and this season should prove to be one of the best renditions yet, with talented teams across the country.
While many teams have a legitimate shot at being selected as one of CFB's final four, they're a handful of teams that already seem to fit the bill, and will be a force to be reckoned with all season.
Don't be surprised if these four teams are the last ones standing come bowl season:
1. Clemson
Clemson returns all their impact players from a year ago, and for a team that was just moments away from hoisting the national championship, that is more than good news.
Of the many talented players on this team, no one is more important than Heisman hopeful, Deshaun Watson. Watson is sizing up to be one of the top players in the country this year and should look to solidify himself as a top 5 pick in next year's draft. After getting through a much improved ACC, the Tigers should look to represent their conference on the highest level for the second consecutive year, but this time they won't let the trophy slip away.
2. LSU
Most people assume Alabama to have the SEC spot in the playoff every year, and who knows, that may happen, but this is LSU's year. LSU always has a solid defense, and the talent is there offensively, but the biggest question is if Brandon Harris (Quarterback) can build on his solid sophomore campaign. Harris started off last season slowly, with Fournette provinding him with a rather large security blanket, and eventually began to look more like a confident QB and less like a game manager. Harris enters this season as a leader on the team, and as long as Harris keeps improving, he should free up running lanes for Fournette and the offense should flourish.
3. Stanford
Christian McCaffery should've won the Heisman last year. No offense to Derrick Henry, but what McCaffery did was absolutely astonishing, and if you take McCaffery off that Stanford team, they are not a top 10 team in the country.
Would they be good? Yes, but McCaffery was the difference between good and great.
With that said, Stanford looks like a force to be reckoned with this year, and McCaffery will be back, and presumably better. McCaffery, along with Fournette and Watson should be on top of Heisman watch lists all season.
The Pac-12 (formerly Pac-10) has long been a storied conference, and sent Oregon to the inaugural CFB two years ago. Stanford will look to restore the respect of the conference, and should be a participant in this year's playoff.
Many will question the new man stepping up in Kevin Hogan's shadow -- Keller Chryst. Chryst, however, is Stanford's most prestigious QB recruit ever, and is coming into an extremely QB-friendly offense under David Shaw. Chryst should be extremely familiar with the offense, and should be more than ready to compete as he sat behind Hogan for years, awaiting his turn.
4. Houston
Greg Ward Jr and Houston shocked the world by beating Florida State soundly in a 38-24 victory in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl.
Houston quietly went 13-1 in an underrated AAC conference, which also looks to be even better this season. And if you really look at their schedule, the 20-17 loss against a weak Connecticut team was probably a fluke, so an undefeated season was a real possibility.
Houston did themselves a huge favor by going undefeated in out-of-conference play last year, and is hoping for similar results this season. Houston starts off the season with a huge game against Oklahoma, and if they manage to get past Baker Mayfield & co. (another strong CFB candidate), then they should be able to handle the rest of their schedule. Memphis and Temple should prove to be strong conference foes as well.
Houston has the recipe for success, and a great coach and an electric QB to form a fantastic pairing (sound familiar Clemson fans????). Expect Houston to raise some eyebrows and to take a spot usually reserved for a team in a bigger conference. Greg Ward Jr is a HUGE Heisman sleeper.
Teams to watch: Michigan, Alabama, Oklahoma, Iowa, UCLA, Tennessee, FSU, Ole Miss, Mich. State, Baylor
