I wrote this article in the September Issue of The Hoof Print, which is the monthly newspaper produced at Alamo Heights High School. Kristin Cade is the teacher for The Hoof Print class, which is where different staffs meet and collaborate on each monthly issue. This particular article was written right before the college football season began and was published this week for the whole school to see.
The pride and pageantry of college football is officially back. Saturdays can again be filled with watching games from 11 a.m. until late night hours, but before you sit back and enjoy the wonder that is college football, I’ll detail some favorites that should make the College Football Playoff and win the Heisman Trophy.
Going into its fourth year, the College Football Playoff has revolutionized the sport. Back in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) era, polls and a computer selection system meant losing once almost immediately eliminated teams from championship contention. Now, a committee consisting of 13 members watches the entire season and they’re the people who ultimately decide the final four teams in the Playoff. Humans instead of computers now make decisions based on what they see, which allows factors such as strength of schedule, in game performance and competition to be more accurately evaluated.
This year’s National Championship will be held at the brand new state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The season began in the same place it will end, with the top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide defeating the third ranked Florida State Seminoles in Atlanta. There’s a good chance week one of the season was a preview of the Championship, as this opening match-up was the biggest season opener ever between two powerhouse programs. A top ranked team had never played another team in the top three on week one.
Alabama has made the Playoff in each of its first three years and they should roll through the SEC once again to reach the Playoff. Under the leadership of Head Coach Nick Saban, Alabama should never be counted out and this year they have Quarterback Jalen Hurts returning with more experience. With only four road games, the road to Atlanta goes through Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
After a dominating Alamo Bowl victory a season ago, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, led by senior Quarterback Mason Rudolph and Receiver James Washington, seem poised to make a big run through the Big 12 and to the Playoff. The Big 12 has only had one team qualify for the Playoff, but this year a conference championship has been added to the schedule. They were the only Power 5 conference without a championship game, which hurt the conference greatly, but that addition now adds an extra game and an extra possibility for teams to showcase themselves to the Playoff Committee. If the Cowboys run the table, which would mean defeating preseason ranked Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State and West Virginia, they’ll have as good a resume as any.
With an extremely difficult schedule, the USC Trojans will truly have to earn their way to the Playoff. After an impressive freshman season, Heisman hopeful Quarterback Sam Darnold has a ton of hype around him. He put on a show at the Rose Bowl last year against Penn State in an electrifying victory. If that performance carries over, look for the Trojans to return to glory for the first time since losing to Texas in the 2006 Rose Bowl. USC hosts Stanford and Texas, two tough opponents, within the first three weeks of the season, so the Trojans must get off to a hot start.
Similarly to USC, the Penn State Nittany Lions fell off the college football map ever since the Joe Paterno scandals came to light in 2012. The NCAA originally banned Penn State from postseason play for four years and removed 20 scholarships per year, which drastically hurt the program. After storming to a surprising Big 10 championship last year, sophomore Quarterback Trace McSorley looks to lead the Nittany Lions through some lofty expectations. With Head Coach James Franklin back for his fourth year and Heisman Candidate Saquon Barkley in the backfield, the championship buzz is back in the air in State College, Pennsylvania.
Now that you’ve read my predictions for who will make the Playoff, it’s time to talk about the most sought after personal trophy in college football, the Heisman. The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding college football player each season. Both offensive and defensive players can win the Heisman, but it’s typically quarterbacks and running backs that claim the award.
It’s no coincidence that my top two predictions to win the Heisman play on teams I predicted to make the Playoff. Darnold will be the main reason USC returns to relevance this season. His stellar play at the end of last season dazzled many and positioned him as the Heisman favorite to start the year. Meanwhile, if Penn State hopes to achieve their goal of winning a championship, Barkley must carry the team on his back and be the best running back in the country. He weighs 230 pounds and runs a 40 yard dash in 4.33 seconds, making him a lethal weapon in the Nittany Lion backfield.
While experts can make prediction after prediction with in depth analysis, there’s always bound to be upsets throughout the college football season. Upsets define college football. Some under the radar teams that could crash the party include the Texas Longhorns under first year Head Coach Tom Herman, the North Carolina State Wolfpack in a stacked ACC Atlantic Division and the Washington State Cougars led by potential NFL first round pick Luke Falk.
No matter what happens this season, college football will surely produce thrilling games week in and week out. Every team gets a fresh start and dreams run wild for fan bases across the nation. Get ready and gear up for another fantastic college football season!