It’s never too early to talk about the upcoming college football season. Last year, the Big 12 captured the nation with its flashy spread offenses and quarterback media darlings Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel and Graham Harrell. Those who began to claim the Big 12 as a superior conference to SEC were premature. The SEC remains atop our BCS conference list in ‘09.
While the Pac-10 is underrated as a whole, the Pac-10 is USC and the rest. Mike Belotti continues to amaze us with his long-term success at Oregon, but Arizona State and Cal seemed to take a step back. While on the subject of the Pac-10, we can’t wait to see the Washington Huskies pull return to the level of play it had under Don James. If you ever get an opportunity to catch a game at Husky Stadium, do it. The game-day setting on the lake is something to behold (we are eager to get back to Seattle).
The Big 10 with Ohio State and Penn State and has its moments, but just can’t get by the other conference’s top teams when it counts. The ACC is just mediocre, at best, with no real national power. And the Big East should have its automatic BCS bid revoked or given to the Mountain West until they figure out what to do without Miami, BC and Virginia Tech.
The Big 12 will have its mainstays in the top 5-10, OU and Texas. Either of those teams could compete at the highest level in the SEC. Texas Tech and Oklahoma State are tough teams but haven’t recruited the athletes required to build or sustain a top 10 program. Kansas and Missouri have had nice runs, but likely won’t be able to sustain that success. All due respect to Nebraska’s respectable Gator bowl win, but until Texas A&M and Nebraska (both teams with SEC-type fan support and facilities) get performance that equals their resources, there is no Big 12/SEC argument. Big 12 coaches also might want to consider moving some more speed to the defensive side of the ball.
As for the SEC, look for Alabama to again take its place as a mainstay in the top 5 for years to come. Since the day he flew into Tuscaloosa, Coach Nick Saban has recruited and developed a monster. Urban Meyer has fostered a culture of dominance, and has the Gators at the top of their game with another National Title. LSU lost several key players from the ‘07 season and struggled through ‘08, but Les Miles will have the Bayou Bengals back in the hunt in ‘09. After several close games, and wins AT the Swamp and in the Cotton Bowl, Houston Nutt has Ole Miss going into ‘09 with Jevan Snead returning to lead the Rebels. Georgia’s Mark Richt has recruited well but will have to replace the production from Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. We’ll have to wait and see how the Lane Kiffin project works out at Tennessee.
Who’s ready for the season?
