2026 College Football Picks: Week Seven

Charlie Becker, Indiana

 

📊 THE RECORD

🏆 PICKS 29-16 | ⚡ UPSETS 1–4 | 🐕 SUPERDOGS 2–2 | 🔒 LOCKS 5–1

(4) Ohio State Buckeyes @ (5) Indiana Hoosiers

📍 Bloomington, IN

🏈 Ohio State -3.5 | O/U 50.5

A rematch of last year's Big Ten Championship Game, and perhaps a preview of this year's will be on display in Bloomington on Saturday. Vegas seems to believe Ohio State has recovered from their defeat to Texas a month ago and is now resorted back to being the league frontrunner. The Hoosiers will relish the underdog role once again, out to prove the conference race still runs through Bloomington.

It's no secret what has fueled Ohio State's 5-1 start to the season: wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The junior seems to be the Heisman favorite where we stand at the midway point of the regular season, with 48 receptions, 916 yards and 11 touchdowns to his credit on the year. If he continues on his current pace, he at least has a chance to get within range of the all-time single-season leader, Nevada's Trevor Insley in 1999. Indiana presents perhaps a greater challenge than he's seen in several weeks, but this is not a Hoosier secondary that has played up to the standard they did a season ago. They have lacked the D'Angelo Ponds character in the secondary, the fearless leader who goes up against the best receiver each and every week and relishes the opportunity to shut him down. If you're the Hoosier defense, the best strategy here is to somewhat contain Smith - you're not going to hold him to no damage, but you have to limit the game-breaking plays. If they can do that and force other Buckeyes to beat you, there's a chance to slow down this offense. Quarterback Julian Sayin has been good, but not particularly great. The rush offense has been a bit of a disappointment. The offensive line is banged up. And the receiver corps is really lacking much beyond Smith, with their next best target, Devin McCuin, listed as questionable. There are some real questions here Indiana could exploit, especially as their own defense seems to be progressing nicely after some early season woes. Yet, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are inevitable in many ways, and there are factors that could be looking up. Getting Phillip Daniels healthy at right tackle is going to be huge against this Indiana pass rush. The ground game, while disappointing, has seemed to find its footing last week, albeit against Maryland. I do still wonder what we see out wide from the Buckeyes, because this has to be more than just Smith if this team genuinely wants to compete for a National Title. Could McCuin stay healthy and show up as the Robin to Smith's Batman? Is this finally the Brandon Inniss game? I do think this Ohio State team is going to try and be aggressive vertically, in a way they weren't in last year's Big Ten Championship. You have to believe they learned their lesson in that game, and also want to exploit this Hoosier back-end.

There's a much different feel to this Indiana offense, which is expected given just how much turnover occurred over the offseason. TCU transfer Josh Hoover may not be Fernando Mendoza, but he's actually been really solid across the board. Two things jump out at you with Hoover and this Hoosier offense: he's taking care of the ball in a way he didn't with the Horned Frogs, and this team relies heavily on explosive plays in a way they didn't last year. Indiana's offense last fall sure hit some big shots, but it was more of a methodical, prodding offense that made the big plays in high leverage moments. This team needs the big shots to be successful, and they've gotten them this season. Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh have been an elite duo on the perimeter, and Hoover has formed quick chemistry with both. It's a real concern for an Ohio State secondary that has also been finding themselves. There's no Caleb Downs back here this season, and it has certainly shown. That's not to say Ohio State can't stop anyone through the air, but this is a big opportunity for the likes of Jermaine Matthews and Devin Sanchez. Sanchez in particular is a big-time talent who was considered a surefire breakout candidate, but has had an up-and-down campaign thus far. Up front, the Buckeyes lack the star-power they've had in years past, but Matt Patricia has still found a way to manufacture pressure, and the rush defense matches up fairly well against the Hoosiers. In fact, that seems to be the description of this Ohio State defense - there's no Bosa brother, or Chase Young, or Downs but they find a way to get the job done. They may be okay giving up yardage, if they can create a turnover or two and make the plays in high leverage situations.

As silly as it sounds, it does feel like Indiana is being a bit overlooked on the year. This may not be the 2025 team, but it's still a great football team and Ohio State has real questions. Yet, it seems to be in the games and moments on the schedule where the Buckeyes have the most questions, we see their most dominant performances. And when your difference-maker is Jeremiah Smith, that's an awfully important deciding factor.

The Pick: Ohio State, 35 Indiana, 31

(2) Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ (8) BYU Cougars

College Football Coaching Carousel Predictions 2026

Manny Diaz

Now a month-and-half into the 2026 college football season, we have a good sense of what teams are going to be this fall. There have been fun stories and some pleasant surprises, but several notable programs are already looking ahead towards the offseason and what they hope are brighter days ahead in 2027. No power conference jobs have opened just yet, but it's only a matter of time until the coaching carousel starts spinning. Here's who I see taking over at each projected opening this offseason.

Colorado Buffaloes

(Fire Deion Sanders?)

For as controversial as Deion Sanders has been through his playing days and coaching career, he was the right hire at the right time for Colorado. The program desperately needed some excitement after the uninspired Karl Dorrell era in Boulder, and a reason for fans to buy in as they made the jump to the Big 12. Deion brought energy, and for a short period of time, success. The Buffaloes went 9-4 in 2024 and won their first Heisman Trophy in three decades. Since those highs, they have has gone 5-12, and the prognosis for the remainder of this fall does not look promising. The staff changes over the offseason have not moved the needle in the way Deion had hoped and perhaps most frustrating has been the quarterback situation. Julian Lewis was the type of big-name prospect coming out of high school that Colorado was hoping would lead them into the post-Shedeur Sanders future. Instead, he has been benched, with control of the offense handed to Utah transfer Isaac Wilson - at least for now. When you also consider the health problems Deion has also dealt with over the last several years, you do wonder if this is a situation where both decide to mutually part ways, with "Prime" finding a new endeavor away from the Rockies. He is owed a $26 million buyout if he is fired this fall, so perhaps CU brass doesn't have the money they need to make this move directly. But it just feels increasingly difficult to imagine a scenario in which "Prime" is again head man next fall, especially with the way the rest of the season is shaping up.

Hire: Ryan Walters, Washington Defensive Coordinator

This may not be a super popular hire in Boulder at face value given what happened with Ryan Walters during his stint as Purdue head man. Walters took over a Purdue program riding high after a superb run under Jeff Brohm and proceeded to go 5-19 over the course of two seasons. But Walters does offer almost the complete opposite of what Colorado has been under Deion, and that's appealing for a program that will be hungry for change. He's not the loud, sometimes abrasive personality of Deion, but instead a soft-spoken, old school football coach. He's an alum who played safety at the school from 2004-2008, so he has a deep understanding of Colorado football and an appreciation for the university. He is the type of coach that would want to be here and build something for the long haul, which just never felt like the case for Deion and the current regime. And, for as frustrating as the Purdue tenure was, there was a reason Walters was immediately hired on by Washington run their defense - he's an elite football mind. He has risen up the coaching ranks quickly and still has a bright future, as he is only 40 years old. I do believe coaches often learn a lot from their first head coaching gig, even it wasn't successful, and the lessons he takes with him could be just what Walters needs to turn things around this time. Another point in his favor? He's likely to be one of the more affordable options Colorado can realistically get, which may be extra important given the financial pressure the athletics department is under.

Other Names to Watch: Dan Mullen (UNLV Head Coach); G.J. Kinne (Texas State Head Coach); Brennan Marion (Colorado Offensive Coordinator); Jason Eck (New Mexico Head Coach); Brian Kelly (former Notre Dame and LSU Head Coach)

Florida State Seminoles

(Fire Mike Norvell?)

2026 College Football Picks: Week Six

Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama

 

📊 THE RECORD

🏆 PICKS 26-10 | ⚡ UPSETS 1–2 | 🐕 SUPERDOGS 1–2 | 🔒 LOCKS 5–1

(2) Georgia Bulldogs @ (6) Alabama Crimson Tide

📍 Tuscaloosa, AL

🏈 Alabama -1.5 | O/U 51.5

For as much has changed in the SEC and college football over the years, Georgia and Alabama have remained constants - and the two are set to square off again on Saturday night in a matchup that has the feelings of another instant classic. Both are undefeated and have their sets sight on National Titles. The weather could be complete chaos. Future NFLers will line up all over the field. And only one team will come away with the win.

It's been smooth sailing over the first five weeks of the season for Georgia, who has taken advantage of one of the weakest schedules in the SEC up to this point to get to 5-0. Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt may genuinely be the worst three teams in the league this fall, and the Bulldogs cruised over all three. Even so, the Bulldogs still have to be excited about what the offense has been able to achieve, averaging 51.4 PPG entering the weekend. There is real balance to this group and some explosiveness, with quarterback Gunner Stockton at the controls. Stockton is completing 76% of his passes and keeping the ball out of opponent's hands, while still being willing to take the shots down the field. His supporting cast is a bit light on star power, as compared to some of the past Kirby Smart teams we've seen, but Nate Frazier and a deep backfield power the run, and there are real weapons at receiver. Craig Dandridge is the team's leading receiver, despite just nine catches on the campaign. His big play ability is something that has been missing at times for Georgia over the years and he does so by creativity after the catch. We saw Ryan Coleman-Williams become a household name with a dominant showing of his own against the Bulldogs a few years ago - could this be the type of moment for Dandridge, too? More than likely given the potential for inclement weather, it's going to be the old ground-and-pound for Georgia. It's good news they are so deep in the backfield, per usual, but the chess match against Kane Wommack and this Alabama defense is a fun storyline. Wommack is awfully creative with what he is able to do on the defensive side, and he seems to elevate his performance for the big games. The Tide are going to be aggressive and it's worth noting this is still a very young Georgia offensive line. The Bulldogs have held up on the line all season, but this is a different animal than they've seen and games like these often have a way of coming down to the war in the trenches.

There's not an overwhelming favorite in the Heisman race just yet, but if you said it was Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell, I don't think anyone could argue with you. Russell simply does not look like a first-year starter - his comfortability and feel for this offense is well beyond his years. He's able to make things happen in a variety of ways, whether it's sitting back and picking apart a defense from the pocket, or going out and improvising. It has helped that Alabama's great weakness last fall, the O-Line play and the ground game, have both been much improved so far on the season. That's allowed Russell a bit more of a margin for error and not forced him to create the entire offense, as was often a problem for Ty Simpson in 2025. I'm curious what Glenn Schumann and this Georgia defense draw up to try and stop him. You almost wonder if they're going to sit back and not apply as much pressure as usual given Russell's excellent improvisation skills. When he can get out of the pocket and find openings with the big play threats the Tide possess on the perimeter, that's when he's especially dangerous. More so than anything, this feels like a mental game for this Georgia defense. Who is the toughest quarterback they've faced so far this fall, Vanderbilt freshman Jared Curtis? They're probably going to take a punch or two, potentially early, from Russell and this Alabama offense, and it's going to be about how they respond. If Alabama is able to steal away the early momentum and get the crowd fully into this one, mounting a comeback is going to be that much harder. 

Alabama has owned the regular season series between these two in recent years, and they do get the homefield advantage. Yet, Kirby is going to have his boys up for a game like this, and you almost wonder if Georgia will be fresher given the light schedule. The weather throws another wrench to consider. I don't think you can go wrong either way, but we just know Alabama more at this juncture in the season and going into Bryant-Denny Stadium and coming away with a victory is an arduous process for any opponent - especially a rival like Georgia.

The Pick: Alabama, 31 Georgia, 28

(21) UCLA Bruins @ (13) Oregon Ducks

2026 College Football Picks: Week Five

 

Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State

📊 THE RECORD

🏆 PICKS 20-7 | ⚡ UPSETS 1–1 | 🐕 SUPERDOGS 1–2 | 🔒 LOCKS 3–1

(5) Ohio State Buckeyes @ (14) Iowa Hawkeyes

📍 Iowa City

🏈 Ohio State -14.5 | O/U 45.5

It took until the very last play of the game, but Iowa found a way to overcome Michigan in a thriller in Ann Arbor last weekend. Now they welcome the Big Ten favorite to Kinnick, which has long been where ranked teams go to die. Can the Hawkeyes continue the magic, or is this the type of game that will bring them back down to Earth?

In many ways, Iowa's upset of Michigan was peak Iowa football. They found a way to make it ugly, kept it close the entire way, and then made the big play when it counted to steal away the win. But, the way they did it was not a typical Iowa effort. The Hawkeyes never found a way to get anything going on the ground limping to just 58 yards total on 24 carries. Instead, it was Hank Brown and the passing attack that stepped up most when it was needed, as Brown threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns, including an excellent throw to the sideline in the end zone to seal the win. That's not to say we can expect Iowa to suddenly became a team that is going to sling the ball all over the field, but there is some actual balance to this offense this fall. Brown is a rock-solid quarterback who can make the big play when it counts, and there is real pass-catchers to throw the ball to. Tony Diaz made waves in the offseason and has impressed early on, Reece Vander Zee had the two touchdown catches last weekend, and tight end Addison Ostrenga will move the chains over the middle. Most importantly, offensive coordinator Tim Lester has worked hard to add just enough creative elements to this offense to keep defenses honest. To pull off an upset, the Hawkeyes are still probably going to have to play the field position game and rely heavily on the defense. Even the fact that there's any passing game to speak of is a far cry from some of the units Kirk Ferentz has thrown out there in recent years. Throughout the week, you have to imagine the priority for Lester and this Iowa offensive staff has been figuring out what they can do to revive the rushing attack, especially against a Buckeye defensive front that has some questions of their own. I'm of the belief Michigan has one of the best defenses in the nation, but the Hawkeyes will need more from Kamari Moulton and this entire backfield to play the type of game they are capable of.

Ohio State has recovered nicely from their shocking defeat on the road to Texas, pounding Kent State 59-3 and then running past Illinois in their opener. For as large as the offseason storyline was around the hire of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, there has not been a major difference to the way this team has operated so far this fall. The second half against Texas was ugly, but they've looked in complete command in every instance. Now, Iowa will give them the toughest test they've seen since the Longhorns. Phil Parker-coached defenses may not have the athletes of a Texas, but they're tough, disciplined, and fundamentally sound. They're going to force Ohio State to work in a way they have not for a large chunk of the season so far. The Buckeyes will need several things to put points on the board: the ground game to find a rhythm, and somebody else, anyone else, to emerge beyond Jeremiah Smith out wide. We know how good Smith is, he has a chance to take over this game, too. But against the other elite teams on the schedule, the Buckeyes need to find somebody else to take pressure off No. 4. Devin McCuin was the big-name transfer, Brandon Inniss was the former high-profile recruit and the veteran. There's even Chris Henry Jr., the prize of this year's recruiting class, who has been held to just three catches on the year. Somebody else is going to need to start making plays - we saw how limited the offense could be when Smith was held in check. Parker and this entire coaching staff are experts at throwing difficult looks at offenses and taking them out of their comfort zones. They have had all week to prepare for Smith and may have just enough to challenge the Buckeyes to look elsewhere.

I was a believer in Iowa all offseason, and there's always an energy in Kinnick when they welcome top teams to Iowa City. Yet, I fear this has the makings of a game where Ohio State has the potential to roll. There are still questions about this roster, but the athletes they have on the field will just look completely different than Iowa. They also face a Hawkeyes team riding an emotional high after last weekend, a team primed for a letdown. It may not be a pretty game from the Buckeyes, but I think they come away with a fairly comfortable victory.

The Pick: Ohio State, 35 Iowa, 17

(6) Alabama Crimson Tide @ (17) Miss. State Bulldogs

2026 College Football Picks: Week Four

Jayden Maiava, USC

 

📊 THE RECORD

🏆 PICKS 11-7 | ⚡ UPSETS 0–1 | 🐕 SUPERDOGS 0–2 | 🔒 LOCKS 2–1

(1) Texas Longhorns @ (14) Tennessee Volunteers

📍 Knoxville, TN

🏈 Texas -5.5 | O/U 55.5

A come-from-behind win at home over Ohio State in Week Two has Texas fans dreaming of a National Title run. The only thing standing in their way? Seven ranked matchups the rest of the regular season, not including the Red River game with Oklahoma. First up is a trip to Knoxville to face off with Tennessee, who has rolled to a 3-0 start but is short on resume wins.

Statistically, there isn't one thing that jumps off the page at you about Texas. They've had three strong offensive showings, with the Buckeye win particularly special given the strength of the opponent. But what they make up for with gaudy stats is just how many different ways they can approach a defense. Arch Manning has thrust himself firmly into the thick of the Heisman race, but the Longhorns have spent major money to give him the right support. Hollywood Smoothers and Raleek Brown have been a very effective 1-2 punch out of the backfield. Cam Coleman is the big name outside, but Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V have been just as valuable. And even though they've taken their lumps, the offensive line has been good enough to put Texas in position to win games. Perhaps most importantly, Steve Sarkisian has been on fire from a play-calling perspective, in the midst of one of his best runs since he was Alabama offensive coordinator. He'll be in store for a battle against one of the best defensive coaches in the game in Jim Knowles, who has engineered a quick turnaround for the Volunteer defense. This is a group that also spent big money this offseason, and it's obvious Knowles represents an upgrade over the departed Tim Banks. Tennessee believes they are good enough now on this side of the ball to compete with the big boys of the SEC and the early results are encouraging. With that being said, how much can we really take away from shutting down Furman, Georgia Tech, and Kennesaw State? This will tell us a lot about just how much those offseason changes can change things here in Knoxville.

There's a lot of great young quarterbacks in the SEC right now, and Tennessee's Faizon Brandon is playing as well as any of them. Brandon emerged from a crowded quarterback room and is off to a start that includes nearly 700 yards of total offense and nine total touchdowns. The most important stat, however, is the zero interceptions, quite an achievement for a quarterback playing his first three games of live college action. Again, the competition is not at the highest level it will be, but it has provided Brandon the momentum he needs to hit the meat of the schedule running. Still, this is going to be a Volunteer offense that is going to need to rely on the ground in these big games, at least early on. For all the talk of Josh Heupel playing a wide-open attack, a power-run game has been a key element in setting up everything they do out wide. He's been patient with his young quarterbacks, including Nico Iamaleava, and Brandon so far. It helps that they've held a superior edge in the trenches against all three of their opponents so far on the year, all of whom are leaky against the run. That's allowed DeSean Bishop, Daune Morris, and Brandon himself to feast against the early non-conference. This is a Texas defense with entirely different athletes, who are fast, twitchy, and physical. I am still quite a bit curious how this Longhorn defense shapes up the rest of the way this fall, and this game will give us some key indications. Will Muschamp was a big-name hire, and a bold move by Sark. The Longhorns have real star power, including Colin Simmons and Rasheem Biles, but will the consistency be there? Texas is going to have to win some ugly ones given the schedule, and that will be on the defense to get the job done.

Neyland Stadium is the type of home atmosphere that can close apparent gaps between teams, and the Volunteers will need the crowd in full tilt on Saturday afternoon. But, it's just so hard to gauge Tennessee at this point in the year, and I would need more justification if I were to go for an upset here. This has the chance to be a tough one, because this is a good Volunteer team... I think. Yet, the Longhorns look to be just too much at the end of the day.

The Pick: Texas, 38 Tennessee, 24

(20) Oregon Ducks @ (12) USC Trojans

2026 College Football Picks: Week Two

Raleek Brown, Texas

📊 THE RECORD

🏆 PICKS 6-3 | ⚡ UPSETS 0–0 | 🐕 SUPERDOGS 0–2 | 🔒 LOCKS 1–0 

(1) Ohio State Buckeyes @ (4) Texas Longhorns

📍 Austin, TX

🏈 Texas -1.5 | O/U 49.5

For the third straight season, two of the sport's Goliaths will collide, this time in Austin. The top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes have won the previous two meetings, and will look for the trifecta against a Texas team on the hunt for a signature victory. Both are fresh off blowout wins over Group of Five foes, with the Longhorns entering as slight favorites in their home stadium.

The Texas offense struggled mightily in last year's defeat, as Matt Patricia drew up a tremendous gameplan his Buckeye debut. This Longhorn offense has a different feel this year, at least on paper. Arch Manning seems to be getting more comfortable by the passing week, and it helps that Texas has invested so much around him. Cam Coleman is perhaps the most purely talented wide out in the country, and big things are expected of the backfield duo of Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown. That backfield combo was sorely missing in last year's loss, where the Longhorns lacked any explosiveness and were not able to stretch the field horizontally. That left them trying to work in between the tackles against a fearsome Buckeye front, and the lack of success showed. Another element that was missing last year was the quarterback run game, with Arch. It's easy to forget the 2024 season since it felt so long ago, but we first saw Arch in a Longhorn uniform mainly in designed quarterback run packages in the red zone. We didn't see it as often last season, and it did feel like an element of the Longhorn offense was missing. They are going to have to be creative in moving the ball against a talented Ohio State defense, and it does feel like there is going to be opportunities here. Opening things up horizontally could also set up Coleman in a way this offense needs if they want to find the big play down the field. 

Speaking of struggling offenses, Ohio State didn't exactly have a highlight reel day in last year's win over the Longhorns. They managed just 203 yards of total offense, managing just 77 yards on the ground - just 2.3 yards per carry. Something tells me that is going to change here, as Bo Jackson is the type of weapon that can change things, and he didn't receive a single carry in last year's matchup. Ja'Kobi Jackson could also factor in, as the former Florida transfer matched the sophomore in yardage in the opener against Ball State. For all the criticism around the hire of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, he earned a reputation for himself in the pros for finding ways to set up the ground game with jumbo packages and heavy sets. It may not always be pretty, but it should help the Buckeyes control the line of scrimmage in the way they need to if they want to come out victorious. That's not to sell short an aerial attack that features perhaps the nation's top QB-WR combo in Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. The Longhorns found a way to contain Smith, but we've seen countless times how the junior superstar can take over games. New Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has had the entire offseason to devise a gameplan to contain Smith, but there are also plenty of new pieces in the secondary. Beyond Smith, I am watching to see who emerges in this Ohio State receiver room, which no longer has Carnell Tate. UTSA transfer Devin McCuin feasted in the opener, and looks he could be the Robin to Smith's Batman. That's a terrifying thought for the rest of the Big Ten, and for the Longhorns in this one.

Beating any team three straight years is not an easy feat in today's modern college football with how much rosters can turn over yearly, an few teams are investing in their roster quite the way Texas is. The Longhorns also get the favorable homefield advantage, so it's no surprise to see them as the favorite. But, the pick for me is super simple - I just trust Ohio State more. The program under Ryan Day has a clear, established identity. They reload as well as anybody in the country. And I'm not sure there's anyone that can match what they feature at the skill positions, including the Longhorns. This will be a battle, but I think the Buckeyes make enough plays to secure a signature win early on in the year.

The Pick: Ohio State, 34 Texas, 27

(11) Oklahoma Sooners @ Michigan Wolverines

2026 College Football Picks: Week One

Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

📊 THE RECORD

🏆 PICKS 0–0 | ⚡ UPSETS 0–0 | 🐕 SUPERDOGS 0–0 | 🔒 LOCKS 0–0

Clemson Tigers vs. (11) LSU Tigers 

📍 Baton Rouge

🏈 LSU -10 | O/U 50.5

The 2019 National Championship Game feels like a lifetime ago, especially for these two respective programs. At that point, LSU was putting the finishing touches on an all-time season. Clemson had established themselves as one of the sport's most consistent programs, playing in their fourth National Championship in five years. Now, both collide in this 2026 season opener looking vastly different, and out to prove themselves in different ways. LSU now has Lane Kiffin on the sidelines and were one of the most aggressive teams in the nation in the transfer portal. Clemson has slipped significantly under Dabo Swinney, but is out to prove last season's disappointing 7-6 finish was merely an aberration. One team will come out Saturday, while the other will find themselves under pressure as they look towards the remainder of the fall.

There's a whole lot of new faces for Lane and the Bayou Bengals as they begin this new era, and it starts at quarterback. Sam Leavitt was brought on from Arizona State to jolt an offense that was downright ugly last year. He'll have a new-look offensive line, bolstered by stud tackle Jordan Seaton, and some fresh weapons to work with at the skill position. How he looks in the opener could set the tenor for the rest of LSU's season. Leavitt missed a big chunk of last year with injury, and he needs to be back to 100 percent if this team is to reach their lofty ceiling. Yet, I'm perhaps more curious about this ground game, which features holdovers Caden Durham and Harlem Berry. Every great Lane Kiffin-coached team has always featured an elite ground game that opens up everything they do through the air. For an offense that struggled to run the ball throughout the entire Brian Kelly era, finding rhythm here would be a huge testament to the quick turnaround Lane appears capable of. You do get the sense Lane is going to want to test what Clemson's athletes look like up front. If he feels he has the advantage, he is going to be just fine sitting back and running the ball all game long. Clemson has some quality pieces, namely defensive end Will Heldt and linebacker Sammy Brown, but this is not the same Tiger front seven we came to know during their height in the 2010s. It feels like LSU is going to hold the edge and be the more physical team, unless Tom Allen and this Clemson defensive staff can come up with some creative blitzes and looks to get into the backfield. Clemson feels like the team that is going to have to take chances, particularly on the road, and that has never been the strength of Dabo or this coaching staff. Their golden years were about their advantage in talent, player development, and preparation. I'm curious to see if they can devise a gameplan to overcome the talent gap here.

It's a different feel to the Clemson offense, too, after they overhauled this unit following the frustrating