2020 Post-Week Four College Football Power Rankings

Kadarius Toney, Florida

(* Important note: teams are not eligible for Top 25 until they have played a game. This would effectively disqualify Big Ten, Pac-12, Mountain West, and MAC teams for the time being.)

 1. Clemson Tigers -- Clemson was off this last week after beating up on their lone non-conference foe of the season, The Citadel. It's hard to know too much about the Tigers at this point, but they haven't shown any indication that they won't once again be in the National Title hunt. Things will start to get more difficult starting this next week, with a rematch of the 2019 ACC Championship on the docket.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide -- The Crimson Tide opened up SEC play with a comfortable victory over Missouri, winning 38-19. The offense looked really good under the leadership of Mac Jones, and Najee Harris began a possible Heisman campaign with a three-touchdown showing. The defense may still need some work once this schedule begins to really get rolling, but there's ample time.

3. Florida Gators -- We expected that Florida's offense would be dangerous this season, but that didn't make the dismantling of Ole Miss this Saturday any less impressive. Kyle Trask opened things up with five touchdowns (three of them to Kyle Pitts) while the ground game flashed potential with Dameon Pierce and Malik Davis. It wasn't surprising to see the defense have a tough game considering they had no idea what Ole Miss was going to look like, but they'll have to be better.

4. Georgia Bulldogs -- Although the Bulldogs ended up winning 37-10 over Arkansas, their slow start left fans slightly uneasy. Starting QB D'Wan Mathis struggled mightily as the starter, forcing former JUCO transfer Stetson Bennett to come on in relief. The hope is that J.T. Daniels can eventually be cleared, but the O-Line and receivers also underwhelmed. The good news is that the defense should once again be among the best in the country.

5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- ND was hoping to build on their throttling of South Florida against Wake Forest, but their game was postponed. The Irish will get one more week off before going up against Florida State, a team that has been an absolute disaster over the first couple weeks. It should be an opportunity for the offense to try out some new things and continue to improve.

6. Miami Hurricanes -- The buzz surrounding this Miami team become even more palpable after this weekend, with the Hurricanes pounding the rival Seminoles 52-10. The offense continues to look terrific, but the role of this defense shouldn't be overlooked. It's playing with the energy and focus necessary to keep this team in the ACC Title conversation.

7. Auburn Tigers -- Although Auburn got outplayed for a big chunk of their Kentucky battle, they still won by two scores. Bo Nix wasn't perfect, but he made some throws in this one that simply didn't happen a year ago, and Seth Williams continues to assert himself as one of the best in the league. The defense was aided by some UK turnovers, but it still played well. 

8. Texas Longhorns -- The Longhorns got all they could handle from Texas Tech to open Big 12 action, but clutch play late from Sam Ehlinger helped them avoid a massive upset. Ehlinger and this offense have been good, but the defense continues to be a concern. Chris Ash came into this role without much of an off-season, and many of the issues with last year's group remain.

9. Oklahoma State Cowboys -- Oklahoma State has not been at full strength over the first couple of weeks this season due to an injury from Spencer Sanders, but you'd still like to see more from a potential Big 12 Title contender. Chuba Hubbard has been held mostly in check this season and if he doesn't start to get going, the Cowboys are a fringe conference title contender at best.

10. Cincinnati Bearcats -- Army is a tougher opponent than most people realize, but Cincinnati didn't have too much difficult taking down the Black Knights. Desmond Ridder continues to play well, which bodes well for an offense that needs to be more explosive if this team wants to go to the New Year's Six.

11. UNC Tar Heels -- UNC was another team that had their game cancelled this weekend, a chance for a tune up against Charlotte before they go on the road against Boston College. The Eagles have looked pretty good so far this season, giving the Heels an opportunity to show what they can do. Sam Howell has legit Heisman talent, but the defense must continue to play well.

12. Texas A&M Aggies -- This Saturday was an opportunity for Texas A&M to get an easy win over Vanderbilt prior to the Alabama game, but instead it ended up going down to the wire. The Aggies held on, but beating the worst team in the SEC by less than a touchdown was not particularly promising. Kellen Mond simply has to be better, which means more will have to step up on the perimeter.

13. Oklahoma Sooners -- Despite holding a commanding lead in the third quarter, Oklahoma fell apart late against Kansas State in the biggest upset of the year so far. The Sooners don't look like themselves; the offense is missing signature playmakers, and the O-Line has not been up to par. Defensive struggles were anticipated, but allowing 300-plus yards can't continue to happen.

14. UCF Knights -- The Knights rolled past East Carolina early Saturday, opening up their conference schedule with a solid win. Dillon Gabriel continues to impress, playing with complete command of this offense, and the defense has also been good. Tulsa should be another relatively easy win this upcoming Saturday, and then a bye before possibly the biggest game of the regular season: at Memphis.

15. Mississippi State Bulldogs -- What a start to the Mike Leach era, as K.J. Costello broke the SEC single-game passing record in the win over defending National Champion LSU. I was impressed with the confidence Costello played with in his first SEC action, and how quickly the offense has acclimated to Leach. They'll face better secondaries than the Tigers without Derek Stingley Jr., but it was a great debut.

16. LSU Tigers -- We knew that this season was not going to be like the dream 2019 campaign, but the Tigers would've liked to play better in their debut. The offense was okay, but the O-Line has clearly taken a step back, and Myles Brennan is obviously not Joe Burrow. Getting Stingley back healthy will help, but the secondary still needs work.

17. Memphis Tigers -- Memphis has been helped by the play of Arkansas State, their lone win of the year. A shootout should be expected this next weekend against SMU, can Brady White and this receiver corps keep it up after a month-long hiatus?

18. Tennessee Volunteers -- The Volunteers went down to the wire against South Carolina, but they managed to hold on in the 31-27 win. The UT offense looked solid and while the defense allowed plenty of yardage, they made the plays they needed to. A matchup next weekend with Missouri gives them another chance to build momentum prior to the Georgia game.

19. Pittsburgh Panthers -- There was nothing flashy about Pitt's win this past Saturday over Louisville, but it was a ranked win all the same. The Pitt defense continues to play like one of the best in the ACC, but can the offense take a step forward? Kenny Pickett needs to become more confident throwing the ball down the field. Despite quality numbers this week, he averaged less than six yards per attempt.

20. Baylor Bears -- Squaring off against Kansas is never a tall task, but the Baylor win did earn Dave Aranda his first victory as a head coach. Charlie Brewer was pretty quiet at quarterback, but the Bears deep stable of backs was too much to handle, totaling 203 yards.

21. Virginia Tech Hokies -- The Hokies opened up their ACC action with NC State, considered one of the weaker teams in the league. They played well enough to inspire confidence, building a three touchdown lead by halftime. It was particularly impressive considering the fact starting QB Hendon Hooker was out and his backup, Braxton Burmeister, was knocked out in the second quarter.

22. Marshall Thundering Herd -- Is this the best Marshall team since the 2014 team that went 13-1? Their victory over Appalachian State gives them a notable win, and who on their remaining schedule really scares you? Outside of road treks to Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky, the Herd should be able to roll.

23. Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns -- The Cajuns have followed up their big-time upset of Iowa State with two close victories over Georgia State and Georgia Southern. While the defense remains imposing, the offense has struggled to get back on track. An extended week prior to Appalachian State gives them a great chance to figure things out.

24. Kansas State Wildcats -- For the second straight season, K-State pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the Big 12 campaign by upsetting Oklahoma. Forcing four turnovers fueled the defense, but it was the offense that really sealed the deal, with Skylar Thompson throwing for a career-high 334 yards.

25. BYU Cougars -- The Cougars have won their first two contests by a combined 93 points, coming against Navy and Troy. It's an awfully promising start for a team that was incredibly streaky in 2019, but is loaded with potential. Much like Marshall, their schedule is very thin the rest of the way, so an undefeated season may already be in the back of their minds.

Just Missed the Cut

Virginia Cavaliers

Boston College Eagles

Arkansas State Red Wolves

Iowa State Cyclones

Kentucky Wildcats

UTSA Roadrunners

College Football Thoughts & Reactions: Week 3

 Miami Impresses in Saturday Primetime

Brevin Jordan, Miami

The only ranked matchup of the weekend came between Miami and Louisville, two teams looking to rise up the ACC totem pole. Miami's offense once again was on fire, totaling nearly 500 yards and putting up 47 points against a Louisville defense that looked overmatched. What was particularly impressive about the victory for the Hurricanes was that they moved the ball in a different way than Week 2. After running all over UAB previously, Miami chose to attack through the air in this one, with D'Eriq King finishing with 360 yards and three touchdowns. On the Louisville side, their offense kept things somewhat competitive, but it wasn't able to overcome some of the defensive struggles. Running back Javian Hawkins impressed by rushing for 164 yards, while speedy wide out Tutu Atwell added two touchdowns. Louisville still played decent enough to be considered somewhat of a factor in the league, but it was certainly the 'Canes that saw their stock rise in a considerable manner here. So far, the Rhett Lashlee hire has looked tremendous, and his relationship with King has been a match made in heaven. Will it continue next week in a rivalry game with Florida State?

UCF Once Again a Serious Group of Five Contender

UCF opened up their 2020 season on the road against Georgia Tech, hoping to begin a resume that could garner them CFB Playoff attention. The Knights did not disappoint, taking down the Yellow Jackets by four touchdowns in a game that was never close. Dillon Gabriel was in complete command, burning GT's pass defense to the tune of 417 yards and four touchdowns. The defense also forced Tech into five turnovers, picking off Jeff Sims twice and forcing three lost fumbles. It's a good sign all around for UCF, even though the Yellow Jackets aren't exactly the cream of the crop for Power Five football. The offense has to continue to be aggressive and explosive, and the defense can still be effective playing a bend-don't-break method. It might not be a victory that will convince the Playoff Committee UCF is definitely a Playoff team, but it's a win that can help bolster a resume.

Another Bad Week For the Big 12

Only one Big 12 team was in action this past Saturday, and that was Oklahoma State squaring off against Tulsa in Stillwater. It was a perfect opportunity for the Cowboys to flash their potential as a Big 12 Title contender but it instead led to more questions than answers. OSU QB Spencer Sanders went down with injury early on in this one, forcing the Cowboys to turn to Ethan Bullock originally and then later, Shane Illingworth. Neither Bullock nor Illingworth had ever thrown a pass in college football, and while Illingworth did jumpstart things, the offense looked incredibly underwhelming. Chuba Hubbard also struggled to get things going, averaging just 3.4 yards per attempt on 27 carries. Certainly Hubbard was hurt by the lack of a passing game to keep the defense honest, but you still would've liked to see more. Of course, Oklahoma State still ended up winning, which is a good thing but it wasn't the resounding win they were looking for. This is a team that has legit Big 12 Title aspirations; they should be beating the bottom of the American Athletic by more than nine points.

A Pair of ACC Teams Make Statements

Neither Boston College nor NC State entered 2020 with particularly high expectations. BC had been a consistent .500 team under Steve Addazio before firing him this past off-season, while NC State was fresh off a 1-7 mark in the league. But, both teams responded with quality conference wins to get their seasons going, with Boston College taking down Duke, and NC State beating Wake Forest. The Eagles displayed a crisp passing attack that flew in the face of the power-run attack they had operated under Addazio. Notre Dame transfer Phil Jurkovec went for 300 yards and wide out Zay Flowers was tremendous, totaling 162 yards and a touchdown. The Wolfpack offense also looked very good for their first game action, going over 450 total yards and putting up 45 points. Ricky Person Jr. and Zonovan "Bam" Knight look like a potential potent 1-2 punch in the backfield, both nearing 100 yards on the ground and combining for four total touchdowns. Of course, I don't think either win necessarily moves BC and NC State into serious ACC contention, but they deserve a lot of credit. Jeff Hafley has quickly come in and injected serious energy into this lethargic BC program, while Dave Doeren hopes to work himself off the hot seat in Raleigh.

Welcome To the Coaching Ranks, Deion Sanders!

One of the more interesting developments in college football this past weekend happened to a team that wasn't even playing, as Jackson State hired Deion Sanders to be their next head football coach. Jackson State is a school that has had plenty of success in the past, but they've slipped significantly in the past decade. They desperately needed a breath of fresh air, and what better way to do it than to bring in Sanders, one of the best characters in the sport of football. Sanders has never coached on the collegiate level, so things will be a transition obviously. However, he knows the game of football, and he'll be an absolute beast on the recruiting trail. I'm not sure whether he'll win or not here, but it will be a fascinating watch either way.

College Football Thoughts & Reactions: Weeks 1 & 2

Jonathan Adams Jr., Arkansas State

After an off-season of wondering whether a college football season would happen or not in 2020, we finally have been gifted some football. Sure, things look and sound a lot different than a typical fall Saturday, but as a college football fan, any football is a good thing. The games in Week 1 and Week 2 weren't exactly loaded with marquee matchups, but there was still a lot we can take from the opening weeks. Here are a few thoughts and reactions I had to the first dose of CFB action.

The Sun Belt Has Come to Play
The Sun Belt Conference has long been considered the weakest of the ten conferences in FBS football (excluding Independents), but it might have had the best weekend of any conference playing. The league swept the Big 12 in all three matchups between the two conferences, as Louisiana-Lafayette upset Iowa State, Arkansas State beat Kansas State, and Coastal Carolina took down Kansas. All three victories are even more impressive when you consider the fact they were all on the road, even though fans weren't as much as a factor as they normally would've been, with Kansas State being the only team with some fans in the stands. The fact of the matter is that the Sun Belt is a lot stronger league than most might realize; Appalachian State, Arkansas State and Lafayette have all built some of the Group of Five's strongest programs. I think that it also shows a natural reality of this pandemic season; with such a short and uncommon off-season, we are going to see a lot of rust and poor play, which can help close the talent gap between teams. That will probably result in more upsets than we've ever seen before, and it's hard to complain about something that makes college football so fun and unique.

Florida State Is Still Florida State
Mike Norvell's debut in Tallahassee didn't go as planned, as Florida State was upset at home by Georgia Tech, a team coming off a 3-9 campaign. It certainly was a sloppy game on both sides, and the bad weather in Tallahassee only contributed to that. Give credit to Georgia Tech for finding out a way to close out the game and a lot of credit to true freshman QB Jeff Sims, who weathered two early interceptions to lead the Yellow Jackets to victory. However, the bigger story has to be FSU, who lost their fourth straight season opener for the first time since the mid-1970s. After a stellar opening drive, the offense looked dreadful, with the same old problems showing up once again: bad O-Line and QB play. To be fair to QB James Blackman, he was operating behind blockers that were shelled by GT's front seven, but he still had some head-scratching throws. It seems like only a matter of time until he is benched for good, leading way to dual-threat Jordan Travis, who we saw a little bit of in this one, or freshman Chubba Purdy. I do think that Norvell can find a way to help FSU climb out of this hole, but at some point the talent on this roster has to start showing up. We're probably going to see more screens or other creative ways to disguise this atrocious O-Line, which plagued the end of the Jimbo Fisher era and the entirety of the Willie Taggart tenure.

The Coaching Carousel Has Already Begun Spinning
With athletic departments strapped for cash as a result of the ongoing pandemic, most college football people believed we'd see a relatively uneventful coaching carousel this season. To a lot of programs, spending the money to make a coaching change just doesn't make much sense right now, no matter how bad things are. That idea of an uneventful carousel was shot down within the opening weeks of September, as Southern Miss decided to mutually part ways with head coach Jay Hopson. It wasn't a completely shocking move when you consider Southern Miss hasn't taken any significant steps forward under Hopson's leadership, but it definitely was surprising given our current predicament. So where does Southern Miss go now that they've made the move? I think there's a good chance they bring back a former head coach of theirs, Larry Fedora. Fedora left Southern Miss prior to the 2012 season to take over at North Carolina, but he was let go by the Tar Heels in 2018. Currently, he's the OC at Baylor but I think he would jump at another head coaching opportunity, particularly at a place where he has familiarity and had previous success.

Scheduling Flexibility: A Reality Of the Times
Prior to this pandemic, college football scheduling was notoriously strange, with programs often setting up their schedules years in advance. But all this scheduling chaos has shown us that college football scheduling can, and should be, flexible. Take BYU for example; with 10 of their 12 originally scheduled opponents cancelling their respective seasons, the Cougars had to put together a full schedule in just a matter of weeks. They weren't the only ones, as a number of independent and FCS programs had to scrap together schedules extremely fast once conference postponements or cancellations became a factor. And now just this week, Baylor and Houston figured out a way to play each other this upcoming weekend, despite no prior plans to do so. This is going to continue to be a reality of the times we are in; as teams are forced to cancel or postpone games a result of COVID-19, there is going to need to be flexibility and creativity in order to build a schedule. Hopefully this is something that can continue once this pandemic is behind us, and can be used in case of weather cancellations or other extraneous events.

Clemson & Oklahoma Will Be Just Fine
Clemson and Oklahoma have become fixtures in the CFB Playoff during the fresh Playoff era, and the two programs again confirmed they would be in the National Championship hunt with strong opening weekends. Clemson had absolutely no problems with a decent Wake Forest team, getting up early and putting in their back-ups by the third quarter. Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne came out and dominated, and the new-look defense played fast and physical, which obviously bodes well for the Tigers in 2020. Oklahoma might not have faced a top-tier team in the form of Missouri State, but it was still a good sign that they played so comfortably despite breaking in a new QB and dealing with a long list of players out as a result of COVID. Spencer Rattler certainly did not disappoint, tossing four touchdowns even as he sat the majority of the second half. Big 12 defenses may be slightly more difficult than Missouri State, but I don't blame Sooners fans for being excited about their newest star at the quarterback position.

Louisville & Miami Will Factor Into the ACC Title Race
It will be a particularly intriguing ACC Title race in 2020, as the removal of divisions and the addition of Notre Dame for a year should make things especially competitive in the conference. Obviously Clemson is still the team to beat, but the league's middle-of-the-pack teams helped out their stock with strong opening weekends. Miami took down UAB 31-14 in Miami Gardens, thanks to a great debut from D'Eriq King and the Hurricane rushing attack. In addition, Louisville handled Western Kentucky in their home stadium by two touchdowns, as Cardinal QB Micale Cunningham went over 300 yards passing. Sure, beating two C-USA teams in your own home stadium doesn't exactly qualify as a game-changing victory, but both teams answered significant questions about themselves. Miami looked ready to roll under new play-caller Rhett Lashlee, who seems like a pretty ideal fit with King. The fact their ground game looked so dominant is also a really good sign, considering it was one of the weakest in the ACC in 2019. For the Cardinals, their offense looked really good but it was the play of their defense that should be exciting for fans. They held Western Kentucky to under 250 yards in total and limited big plays, which was a huge issue for Louisville last fall. WKU might not have the most explosive offense in college football, but it still bodes well that the Cards played so well despite having a shortened off-season.

Complete College Football Preview 2020

DeVonta Smith, Alabama

Full Top 25*

1. Clemson Tigers -- The Tigers have the best backfield in college football, bringing back Heisman contenders in QB Trevor Lawrence and tailback Travis Etienne. The defense may lose do-it-all Isaiah Simmons, but the return of coordinator Brent Venables should ensure it is once again among the best in the nation.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide -- Alabama lost their usual crop of NFL defections over the off-season, but also returns more proven stars than usual. That list includes running back Najee Harris, wide out DeVonta Smith, linemen Alex Leatherwood, and linebacker Dylan Moses, players who all could've gone pro. That core, plus improved health, will keep the Tide locked in on top of the SEC.

3. Florida Gators -- Could this be Florida's breakout season under Dan Mullen? The Gators have one of the best returning quarterbacks in the conference in Kyle Trask, and the defense is loaded with future NFL talent. With Georgia revamping their offense, there is a clear window for UF to take back control of the SEC East.

4. Oklahoma Sooners -- Spencer Rattler looks ready to be the next great Oklahoma quarterback, and he'll be aided by a proven offensive line and an improved defense. OU is thinner at the skill positions than in years past, but they still have enough to be considered the favorites in the wide-open Big 12 race.

5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- The Irish bring back multi-year starter Ian Book at quarterback, and are loaded along the trenches. The offense should undergo a transition under new OC Tommy Rees, which could actually be a benefit as ND enters a one-year stay in the ACC.

6. Georgia Bulldogs -- UGA is absolutely loaded on the defensive side of the ball at all three levels, but can the offense take the next step? Kirby Smart brought in former NFL OC Todd Monken to help modernize the Bulldog offense, which will be led by USC transfer J.T. Daniels (Jamie Newman announced he was opting out).

7. Oklahoma State Cowboys -- Chuba Hubbard should be at the top of every preseason Heisman watchlist, but he's far from the only piece the Cowboys bring back. Tylan Wallace is a former Biletnikoff Award finalist on the perimeter, while the defense brings back a lot of experience for coordinator Jim Knowles.

8. Texas A&M Aggies -- Jimbo Fisher brings back a proven QB in Kellen Mond, but can he return to his 2018 form after a down 2019? Either way, the talent level in College Station has taken a major leap, and SEC West contention should now be expected.

9. Texas Longhorns -- Sam Ehlinger should be considered a serious Heisman threat as a senior, and the Longhorns have no shortage of talent on either side of the ball. The big question? How do they acclimate to new coordinators on both sides of the ball, particularly a defense that suffered through an injury-plagued 2019?

10. Auburn Tigers -- Can Bo Nix take the next step for this Auburn offense? Losses on the offensive line won't help but if he is, Auburn has a really potent group under new OC Chad Morris. The D-Line was similarly gutted, but the defense should still be serviceable enough to keep Auburn in the SEC Title mix.

11. LSU Tigers -- We shouldn't be expecting a repeat of last fall with so many Tigers gone, but LSU still has enough to contend in the SEC West. They may still feature the best secondary in the league, spearheaded by Derek Stingley.

12. Cincinnati Bearcats -- After two consecutive 11-win campaigns, Luke Fickell and Cincinnati are thinking bigger in 2020. They return a veteran QB in Desmond Ridder and are set up with a deep and experienced defense.

13. UNC Tar Heels -- Mack Brown has come on and elevated the North Carolina program, who returns a budding star at QB in Sam Howell, plus his top three receivers on the outside.

14. Iowa State Cyclones -- Don't overlook this Cyclones team; they have a rising star at quarterback in Bryce Purdy, and are experienced throughout the defense. With the Big 12 so wide open, this could be ISU's year to really breakthrough.

15. Memphis Tigers -- Mike Norvell may be off to Tallahassee, but new head coach Ryan Silverfield should keep the Tigers humming. Brady White and Damonte Coxie will be an absolute chore for opposing defenses, and Memphis' defense should be good enough.

16. Louisville Cardinals -- Louisville is going to be fun to watch in 2020. They are loaded at the skill positions, with Micale Cunningham, Javian Hawkins and Tutu Atwell creating constant big plays. If the defense can become even just average, the Cards will challenge for an ACC Championship Game berth.

17. Tennessee Volunteers -- The Vols ended last season on a six-game win streak, and they have a solid core back in 2020. Tennessee may feature the best O-Line in the country, which will allow them time to figure out their QB situation.

18. UCF Knights -- Even with some recent opt-outs, UCF has the pieces to compete with Cincy-Memphis for the AAC crown. Sophomore QB Dillon Gabriel could be in store for a special season, but the defense has to improve.

19. Baylor Bears -- New head man Dave Aranda loses a lot from this Baylor defense, but he's got a veteran QB to work with in Charlie Brewer and some intriguing playmakers at the skill positions.

20. Appalachian State Mountaineers -- Eli Drinkwitz moves on to Missouri, but don't expect App. State to slow down anytime soon. Both sides of the ball are dotted with contributors from last year's 13-win squad.

21. Virginia Tech Hokies -- VT's 2019 second half should encourage fans that 2020 will be a quality campaign, with Hendon Hooker settling into his role leading the offense. Bud Foster might've retired, but the defense still has a lot to like.

22. UAB Blazers -- The C-USA favorite has back Spencer Brown to lead the offense, while returning nine starters to a defense that was eighth in the nation in total scoring last fall.

23. Mississippi State Bulldogs -- The controversial but never boring Mike Leach arrives in Starkville with a record-setting tailback in his backfield (Kylin Hill) and an experienced transfer QB to work with (K.J. Costello).

24. SMU Mustangs -- SMU has one of the nation's most underrated quarterbacks in Shane Buechele, who will help break in new OCs Garrett Riley and A.J. Ricker. Buechele has two proven weapons in Reggie Roberson Jr. and tight end Kylen Granson.

25. Pittsburgh Panthers -- Pittsburgh might have the ACC's best secondary, and the offense will once again be led by QB Kenny Pickett, who is hoping to end his Pitt career with a grand finale.

Others to Consider

Miami Hurricanes

Kentucky Wildcats

Marshall Thundering Herd

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Florida State Seminoles

Award Projections

Bednarik (DPOY): Derek Stingley, LSU

Biletnikoff (best WR): DeVonta Smith, Alabama

Davey O'Brien (best QB): Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

Doak Walker (best RB): Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State

Jim Thorpe (best DB): Derek Stingley, LSU

John Mackey (best TE): Kyle Pitts, Florida

Coach of the Year: Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

Heisman Memorial Trophy: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (winner), RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma St. (finalist), QB Mac Jones, Alabama (finalist)

Playoff Predictions

1 Clemson over 4 Oklahoma 

2 Alabama over 3 Florida

National Champ: Clemson Tigers

Maybe it's become "boring" to pick the Clemson Tigers to win the National Championship, but so be it. Even before the Pac-12 and Big Ten postponed their 2020 seasons, it was hard to overlook the pedigree of this program, and the offensive talent they have back. They'll once again face a familiar foe in Nick Saban and Alabama, but the Tide simply won't have answers to Lawrence and Travis Etienne.


* Note: Only teams that are confirmed to be attempting to play a 2020 season are eligible.

College Football Preview 2020: SEC

Kyle Pitts, Florida

Power Rankings

East Division

1. Florida Gators Projected Record: 10-1 (Lose SEC Championship Game)
Strengths: Quarterback Kyle Trask did an admirable job filling in for the injured Feleipe Franks in 2019, and now he's back for an encore. Trask's 2,941 passing yards were the most by a Florida quarterback since Tim Tebow over a decade ago, and he was so impressive that Franks opted to leave town instead of compete for the starting job against him. Can Trask take the next step from "good" to "great"?... Trask loses his top receiver from 2019 in Van Jefferson, but there's still a lot to like about the playmakers on this offense. Tight end Kyle Pitts finished second on the Gators in receiving yardage a year ago and should be considered a John Mackey Award favorite, while Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes are explosive weapons on the perimeter. Toney in particular is a thrill to watch, often playing the "Percy Harvin" role in this Dan Mullen offense... The Gators had the nation's seventh-ranked pass defense last fall and there's plenty back to work with for coordinator Todd Grantham. The secondary in particular is loaded with future NFL talent, bringing back junior corner Marco Wilson and senior safety Shawn Davis. The front seven will undergo somewhat of a rebuild now that Jabari Zuniga and Jon Greenard are gone, but there's no shortage of talent.

Weaknesses: The offensive line was not up to SEC standards last season and now must replace three starters. Seniors Stone Forsythe and Brett Heggie are solid starting points, but the rest of this group has to show up. Left tackle is a particular concern for me, without anybody emerging at that spot so far... Florida's ground game struggled to move the ball behind this offensive line, resulting in one of the worst rushing offenses in Power Five football. The blocking has to improve, but UF must also lean on a new feature back, as Lamical Perine left for the NFL. Expect junior Dameon Pierce to get the first crack at things, but the Gators will also see what Malik Davis can do. Davis has been pretty quiet the last two seasons, but he rushed for 526 yards in 2017... Greenard and Zuniga won't be impossible to replace, but where do the Gators find their new pass rushers? Former Georgia transfer Brenton Cox has the potential to be a star, but it may take some time for him to adjust. Junior defensive end Zachary Carter also could be in store for a breakout after notching 4.5 sacks in 2019.

Bottom Line: Dan Mullen has done a tremendous job in his return to Gainesville, going 21-5 over his first two seasons. Is 2020 the year the Gators will be able to take the next step and overtake Georgia in the division? I think so, because of two main reasons: stability at quarterback, and continuity on the coaching staff, two things that should be particularly important after the shortened off-season.

2. Georgia Bulldogs Projected Record: 8-2
Strengths: The defense might be the best in the nation, as seven starters are back from a unit that was 1st in the nation in scoring defense a season ago (12.6 PPG). There's a lot to like about all three levels of this unit, but you have to particularly love this linebacker corps, which is filled with speed and depth... Georgia has become one of the best in college football at producing running back talent, and they should be just fine, even as D'Andre Swift moves on. Sophomore Zamir White is a former five-star recruit whose time in Athens has been quiet mainly as a result of injuries. Fully healthy, he's going to get the opportunity to show what he can do, and the coaching staff seems to believe he can be a superstar. Veteran James Cook and freshman Kendall Milton will also likely get their chances to show what they can do... Kirby Smart juggled up his offensive coaching staff over the off-season, moving on from OC James Coley and turning to Todd Monken to run the offense. Monken has earned a reputation for up-tempo, aggressive offensive attacks, which was the antithesis of what UGA has run throughout most of Smart's tenure. It seems like a necessary change if the Bulldogs want to continue competing for national titles, even if there will be some growing pains early as this offense adjusts.

Weaknesses: The arrival of J.T. Daniels later in the off-season greatly changed Georgia's quarterback room. Former Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman, the projected starter, ended up opting out as a result of Daniels arriving, meaning it is likely the USC transfer's job to lose. We've heard a lot about Daniels' talent, but he arrived late, and hasn't played since 2018. Even if he is able to learn on the fly, there is likely to be some rust there... Once the strength of this offense, the O-Line underwent a transformation this off-season. O-Line coach Sam Pittman took the Arkansas job and then the Bulldogs watched three starters depart meaning the new coach, Matt Luke, will have work to do. Trey Hill, Ben Cleveland and Jamaree Salyer have all played plenty of snaps and they should be able to anchor the group, but this unit lacks the depth it once had. Salyer has spent most of his UGA career playing guard but he'll likely be flipped outside to tackle based on need... The biggest issue on this offense last season was their receiver corps, and while it should be improved, there are still some concerns there. Lawrence Cager is off to the NFL and projected starter Dominik Blaylock is out of the year. Sophomore George Pickens is ready to become a star, but he needs help from a supporting cast that includes Demetris Robertson, Kearis Jackson and a loaded incoming freshman class. Tight end should at least be in good hands, as Florida State transfer Tre McKitty arrives.

Bottom Line: Georgia's offensive questions make it hard for me to pick them to once again rule the SEC East, but the defense should still certainly keep them in the Playoff hunt. The X-factor has to be quarterback; if Daniels is able to acclimate quickly and give this offense the spark they need, another division title should be an expectation. If not, the Bulldogs could relinquish control of the division to the rival Gators.

3. Tennessee Volunteers Projected Record: 6-4
Strengths: The offensive line has a chance to be not just the best group in the SEC, but one of the best in college football, period. Four starters are back, led by All-SEC guard Trey Smith, and the Volunteers added Georgia transfer Cade Mays. Mays' eligibility for 2020 is still up in the air at the moment, but even if the Vols don't get him for this fall, there's still plenty to like about this group... Tennessee had a Top 20 pass defense in 2019 and nearly every important piece is back in the defensive backfield. Corner Bryce Thompson is the headliner of the group, with six interceptions over the past two seasons, although safeties Shawn Shamburger and Jaylen McCullough will play important roles... Tennessee ended 2019 on a six-game winning streak that was capped off by a come-from-behind victory over Indiana in the Gator Bowl. That, plus this coaching staff's work on the recruiting trail, has given this program momentum and energy going into 2020. If they're able to continue that hot streak into 2020, this team could be in store for one of their best seasons in recent memory.

Weaknesses: It's hard to know whether to qualify this quarterback room as a strength or a weakness. On the plus side, it's a fairly deep group with a lot of experience and a highly touted newcomer in Harrison Bailey. However, veteran QB Jarrett Guarantano has never really taken the next step at the position, resulting in a QB competition over the off-season. Guarantano will likely begin 2020 as the starter, but expect him to be pushed by Bailey and Brian Maurer... The Vols lost their top two receivers from 2019 in Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings, leaving the receiver room a little bit thin. There's still talent here, but it's a group lacking much star power, which won't help an aerial attack that has been mediocre these past few seasons... While Henry To'o To;o is a rising star at linebacker, he's the lone returning starter for this unit. Guys like Kivon Bennett and Quavaris Crouch look ready to step into starting roles, but it could still be a concern. Tennessee's rush defense was solid a year ago, but that was before losing Daniel Bituli, who led the Vols with 42 solo tackles.

Bottom Line: Tennessee once again appears to be on the rise, but can they turn that into wins on the football field? The O-Line should be elite either way, but can the rest of the offense take the necessary steps to compete for a division title? The Vols still appear to be a step below Florida and Georgia, but they are closing the gap quickly. A strong 2020 season could set up for a potential special '21 and beyond.

4. Kentucky Wildcats Projected Record: 5-5
Strengths: The backfield should be in good hands, even as do-it-all QB/RB/WR Lynn Bowden departs to the NFL. Terry Wilson was solid in 2018 prior to missing most of last season with injury. He's a tremendous runner and athlete, but he'll need to take the next step as a passer to really get this Wildcat offense humming. At running back, Asim Rose and Kavosiey Smoke did a great job moving this offense away from the legendary Benny Snell, and they'll form a potent 1-2 punch once again... Quietly, Kentucky had one of the nation's best pass defenses, allowing nearly 168 yards per game, which was second in the nation. Nearly every crucial piece is back to the puzzle, and UK adds on a potential starter in LSU transfer Kelvin Joseph. Joseph was a former high-profile recruit who played in 11 games in 2018 for LSU, but got forced out as they continued to add to their secondary... Max Duffy won the Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter last fall, and he's back in Lexington. Duffy averaged over 48 yards per game in 2019, and he's obviously important in the field position battles. Having a game-changing punter like him is a huge advantage once the SEC slate really gets rolling.

Weaknesses: Bowden is a massive loss, even with Wilson able to come back healthy. He recorded over 2,000 yards per scrimmage and 17 total touchdowns and at times last fall, he was Kentucky's sole source of offense. It's never easy to replace a guy like him, who meant so much to this team and program... The front seven has numerous important pieces back, including DT Quinton Bohanna and linebackers DeAndre Square and Jamar Watson, but it's not a very deep group. If the Wildcats once again deal with injuries or possible ramifications from COVID-19, you wonder if this group is going to be able to hold up in this league... While UK has one of the best kickers in the game in Duffy, their kicking was an issue in 2019. Mark Stoops pretty clearly did not trust either one of his kickers last fall and they missed a total of four extra points, which obviously can make a major difference in close contests. Sophomore Chance Poore was the starter to begin 2019 before losing his job to Matt Ruffolo, and the two will compete again this fall.

Bottom Line: Stoops continues to do a great job with this Kentucky program, one that has become among the most consistent in the SEC East. That stability should help them overcome the absence of Bowden, particularly if Terry Wilson is able to stay healthy. If the defense once again plays like a Top 25 unit, the Wildcats will be stiff competition for any team they play. They might not be able to win the division, but they'll certainly be in the mix.

5. Missouri Tigers Projected Record: 3-7
Strengths: A number of transfers arrive that will most likely play big snaps right away for first-year head coach Eli Drinkwitz. TCU transfer Shawn Robinson may be considered the favorite to start at quarterback, as he is competing with Taylor Powell and Connor Bazelak for the job. Robinson showed flashes while at TCU, but he was also incredibly inconsistent. On the outside, Virginia Tech transfer Damon Hazelton was one of the most underrated transfers of the off-season. He thrived in Blacksburg over his two seasons there, even without a reliable QB to get him the ball most of the time... Larry Rountree might not be a household name but he's established himself as one of the better tailbacks in the league. Rountree's numbers took a slight dip in 2019 as he dealt with a few nagging injuries, but he should be ready to roll in 2020. Rountree currently ranks sixth on Missouri's all-time rushing yardage list, and he could feasibly rise as high as No. 2 with a quality campaign... The Tiger defense posted good numbers across the board a year ago and they came in 14th nationally in total defense. Seven starters are back for coordinator Ryan Walters, who Drinkwitz decided to keep on staff. Included in that seven is junior linebacker Nick Bolton, who led the SEC in tackles a year ago and is sure to be a future high NFL Draft selection.

Weaknesses: While Robinson may provide some relief at QB, it's still a position group that has major questions. Robinson will need time to acclimate to Drinkwitz and this offense and neither of the other two have seen much snaps. Drinkwitz has done a good job coaching quarterbacks in the past, and he'll earn his money by leading this group in 2020... Outside of Hazelton, there really is not much else at receiver. Nobody on this team managed over 500 yards of receiving in 2019, and that was before natural attrition took away some of the top weapons. Versatile Tyler Badie, who you'll see line up in the backfield and outside, can make things happen but other pieces desperately need to step up... Life is never easy for a first-year coach in the SEC, especially during a pandemic that stripped away most of the off-season. Drinkwitz has risen up the coaching ladder quickly as an offensive coordinator and during a short stint as head coach at Appalachian State. That doesn't mean things will be a disaster in Year One, but expectations should certainly be dampened.

Bottom Line: After a 5-1 start to 2019, Missouri fell apart down the stretch, leading to Barry Odom's eventual dismissal. Drinkwitz already has upped the enthusiasm and atmosphere around the program, and Odom left the cupboard far from bare. With that being said, Year One will still be a transition year for the head coach, and some growing pains will be expected. Hovering around .500 still seems reasonable, especially if the QB situation can be figured out.

6. South Carolina Gamecocks Projected Record: 3-7
Strengths: Head coach Will Muschamp brought on Mike Bobo as offensive coordinator, about as close to a home run hire as you can get for that position. Bobo was offensive coordinator at Georgia from 2007-2014 and then head coach at Colorado State from '15-'19. He'll hope to bring an aggressive, exciting offense to Columbia... The Gamecocks should be strong on both lines of scrimmage, particularly on offense. The O-Line returns four starters, including All-SEC caliber players in Dylan Wonnum and Sadarius Hutchinson. The defensive line has Zacch Pickens and newcomer Jordan Burch, two of the highest-rated players to sign with South Carolina in school history. Pickens is likely to start and should be a serious breakout candidate, and Burch will see snaps... Although South Carolina's pass defense numbers weren't great (80th in the country), they have two future NFL corners in Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu. Mukuamu had three interceptions in the upset over UGA last fall and at 6'4", is an imposing presence on the outside. Horn is a little bit streaky, but he seemed to get more comfortable last fall as time went on.

Weaknesses: South Carolina's running back position was already a question mark entering 2020, and that was before true freshman MarShawn Lloyd tore his ACL a few weeks ago. Lloyd was the highest-rated RB recruit since Marcus Lattimore, and projected to seriously contend for the starting job. Instead, the Gamecocks turn to sophomores Deshaun Fenwick and Kevin Harris, two players who have not seen significant snaps in their USC career... Quarterback Ryan Hilinski had a promising freshman season after taking over for the injured Jake Bentley (who transferred to Utah), but how will he handle the transition to the Mike Bobo offense? According to reports, Colorado State transfer Collin Hill, who followed Bobo from his old gig, is pushing Hilinski for the starting job. Hill's comfortability with the offense is a major point in his favor, but Hilinski still seems like the QB of the future in Columbia. Either way, the passing offense will need to have some serious bite with the questions at running back... In addition to concerns at QB and RB, South Carolina is lacking much proven targets at wide out. Senior Shi Smith will start the year as their top option after bringing in 489 yards a season ago, but there's not much behind him now that Bryan Edwards is gone. Converted quarterback Dakereon Joyner is a fascinating athlete that can do some creative things, but is he really the second best receiver on this roster?

Bottom Line: The pressure is on for Muschamp, who is 26-25 in four seasons with the Gamecocks. There is some promising young talent throughout this roster and Bobo seems like a great hire, but I still think it could be a rebuilding year in Columbia. There are so many questions on offense, and the defense was just okay in 2019. Perhaps some of the youth can grow up quickly but if not, a middle-of-the-pack finish in the East seems likely.

7. Vanderbilt Commodores Projected Record: 0-10
Strengths: Vanderbilt has done a superb job producing running backs throughout the James Franklin and Derek Mason eras (Ralph Webb, Zac Stacy, Ke'Shawn Vaughn), and while this group doesn't have a proven star entering 2020, it has lots of upside. Senior Jamauri Wakefield missed basically all of 2019 with injury but is the most experienced weapon in the backfield. His receiving ability out of the backfield gives this Commodore offense more variety. Sophomore Keyon Brooks had 252 yards a year ago and his explosiveness will be sorely needed for this offense... Ten starters are back for the Vanderbilt defense, which will be led by new DC Ted Roof. Numbers-wise, this group wasn't very good in 2019, but having experience back should be crucial. The D-Line will undergo a slight transition into a 4-3 and there's upside there, while linebacker Dimitri Moore might be their best player on the team... Motivation shouldn't be a problem at all for Mason and his staff this season, which will hopefully bleed into the team. Mason enters his seventh season in Nashville on a scorching hot seat and even with the financial implications of COVID-19 hovering, another bad season should cost him his job. You'd hope that will give him more motivation to try different things and be more creative with a roster that is far less talented than most of the SEC.

Weaknesses: Quarterback is a major problem, as there is no starting experience on the roster. There's four players contending for the job, and none have gained much separation. Freshman Ken Seals arrived with some fanfare and led the offense in the spring, but he'll be pushed by former JUCO transfer Danny Clark. No matter what, there's going to be a learning curve for this offense as the QB situation is figured out... The offensive line really struggled against the elite pass rushers of the SEC in 2019, and even with three starters back there's a lot of room for improvement. The interior of the line is a real problem and struggled to get any push last fall, and the left tackle spot might be up for grabs after Devin Cochran transferred. With a new QB set to fill in, having poor protection on the line could be a death wish for this offense... Vanderbilt didn't have a complete breeze of a non-conference slate, but the move to the SEC-only schedule hurts programs like them. Instead of four non-conference opportunities that are all winnable (with the exception being Kansas State), the Commodores have to deal with a league that they went 1-7 against in 2019. They're simply not as talented as the rest of the league, and it should really show in 2020.

Bottom Line: Mason will have his work cut out for him if he wants to return for an eighth season. There's simply not much on offense that jumps out at you, and while the defense has a lot returning, they ranked 101st in the nation in total defense last season. Perhaps Vandy will be able to catch an SEC team sleeping, but rising out of the cellar in the East would be quite a surprise with their current makeup.

West Division

1. Alabama Crimson Tide Projected Record: 10-1 (Win SEC Championship Game)

Najee Harris, Alabama

Strengths: A number of possible NFL Draft selections decided to wait on the pros for at least one more season and return to Tuscaloosca. That list includes Najee Harris, DeVonta Smith, Alex Leatherwood, and Dylan Moses. All of those guys are All-SEC level players, and they give Nick Saban a tremendous, experienced core to start with in 2020... This offense is not your early-2010's Alabama offense. There is speed, playmaking and versatility throughout the unit, and it should again be one of the top offenses in the country. In addition to Harris and Smith, the Crimson Tide feature one of the fastest players in college football in Jaylen Waddle, and they have a few potential breakout candidates in John Metchie III and do-it-all Slade Bolden. They even have a superstar quarterback waiting in the wings in true freshman Bryce Young. Young might not overtake the veteran Mac Jones for the starting job, but he'll certainly see the field often in 2020... The defense was not as good as it usual is in 2019, but it should take a step back in the right direction this fall. First off, it will be significantly more healthy than it was a year ago, and some of the youth should continue to grow up. The rush defense was the worst part of the group in 2019, ranking 37th nationally, but should be much better now that Moses is back in the fold.

Weaknesses: Losing Tua Tagovailoa is significant, even though Mac Jones appears ready to fill the role. Although he ended up only really playing less than two full seasons for the Tide, Tua changed the way this offense operated with his arm strength and playmaking ability. Jones simply is not as talented, which means the offense might look a little bit different under his leadership... Can the pass defense return to form? It was strong a season ago but was still shelled by some of the tougher opponents Alabama played. It's got a great starting point, led by junior Patrick Surtain II, but must replace three starters. Junior Josh Jobe is expected to slide into the vacant corner spot opposite of Surtain, while sophomore Jordan Battle should be considered a serious breakout candidate... Placekicking remains a shockingly big problem for the Tide, even though they regularly bring in talent at the position. Sophomore Will Reichard is going to be the starter but he was erratic in 2019, even though he has a massive leg. If the Tide want to return to National Title form, he has to be more consistent, especially in the more important games on their schedule.

Bottom Line: 2019 was a "down year" for Alabama football and they still went 11-2 and came within a game of the CFB Playoff despite dealing with the injury bug all year. Now healthy and loaded with returning talent, the Tide should return to their perch at the top of college football. They're simply too talented not to, and they have more continuity on their roster and coaching staff than most years. I have them returning to the National Championship Game and once again dueling with Clemson for the title of national supremacy.

2. Texas A&M Aggies Projected Record: 8-2
Strengths: The Aggies have the most experienced quarterback in the SEC, as Kellen Mond is back for his fourth season as starter. Mond has had a great career in College Station, but he is coming off a little bit of a down 2019. He's played terrific in big moments for the Aggies, but has to become more consistent week-to-week. Mond doesn't even have to be a Heisman contender for this team to be an SEC West contender, he just has to play smart and limit turnovers... The defensive transformation that has taken place under Mike Elko continues apace, and now nine starters are back for him to work with. The only significant piece gone is D-Linemen Justin Madubuike, and Bobby Brown and DeMarvin Leal should more than make up for his absence. The secondary has the chance to be one of the best in school history, bringing back everyone to a group that was 41st in the nation in pass defense... Jimbo Fisher continues to bring in some tantalizing talent, and nowhere is it more obvious than at the offensive skill positions. Keep an eye on a few youngsters on the outside, namely Demond Demas and Jalen Preston, while tight ends Baylor Cupp and Jalen Wydermeyer do work underneath. Demas is a freakish athlete who should start right away as a true freshman, while Wydermeyer had the freshman campaign in 2019 Cupp was expected to have before injury struck. That isn't to say there is no experience in the receiver corps, as senior Jhamon Ausbon will help lead the way.

Weaknesses: Texas A&M didn't create much turnovers in 2019 and their turnover margin (-6) ended up tied for 100th in the country. If the Aggies are to contend for an SEC West Title, they need Mond not to turn the ball over, but also this secondary to make some things happen. There's plenty of talent back there, now it's just simply getting the results... Tailback Isaiah Spiller was quite a surprise filling in for the injured Jashaun Corbin, as Spiller managed 946 yards and ten scores. However, now that Corbin is gone, you wonder about who else can join Spiller in this backfield. He'll have no trouble handling the feature back role, but hasn't proven himself as a workhorse just yet. New RBs coach Tommie Robinson will turn to Ainias Smith or one of the newcomers as a change-of-pace option. Smith has proven himself on special teams, and I'm sure OC Darrell Dickey will find ways to incorporate him in this offense... For A&M to take the next step, they have to play better against the elite teams in this conference. All five of the Aggie losses were to Top 25 teams, but they were destroyed by LSU, and lost to Alabama and Clemson comfortably. Jimbo has to get his teams to play better against top competition and this is the year to do it, with LSU and Auburn possibly slated to take a next step. It's never easy to make the jump from a good team to a true National Title contender, but this A&M team has the talent, now it's just a matter of getting the on-field results.

Bottom Line: I'm a big fan of Texas A&M going into 2020 and think this could be the "breakthrough" year some fans have seen coming under Jimbo Fisher. This Aggie team has leadership at the most important places and they're deeper than they've ever been. If Mond can return to his 2018 form or possibly even get better, I think A&M pushes Alabama for the West Title. Even if he doesn't, there's still enough here to contend in college football's toughest division.

3. LSU Tigers Projected Record: 7-3
Strengths: There's still a lot to like at LSU's offensive skill positions, even with so many pieces moving on. At running back, veteran Chris Curry and former high-profile recruit John Emery should be able to handle things, while the receiver corps still has weapons. Terrace Marshall Jr. will now be the go-to guy, especially now that 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner Ja'Marr Chase has opted out. Marshall dealt with some nagging injuries in '19 and still managed 671 yards and 13 touchdowns. Sophomores Trey Palmer and senior Jontre Kirklin are a few names to watch behind Marshall... The secondary should still be really good, even with a few pieces moving on. Sophomore corner Derek Stingley Jr. has quickly established himself as the best corner in college football, and a favorite for the Jim Thorpe Award. He picked off six passes last fall and got even better as the season went on, which could set him up for a special sophomore campaign. Kary Vincent Jr. recently opted out, but senior JaCoby Stevens is still around, and LSU brought in some extra relief with the 2020 recruiting class. Five-star newcomer Elias Ricks could feasibly start right away, particularly with some depth issues at corner... Ed Orgeron not only watched his roster get gutted following last year's National Championship, but watched his coaching staff ravaged. DC Dave Aranda took the Baylor HC job and Broyles Award winner Joe Brady left for the NFL. With that being said, Orgeron seemed to go a good job patching together the rest of the staff. Former Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini was brought on as the new defensive coordinator, while former NFL head coach Scott Linehan takes over Brady's role as passing game coordinator.

Weaknesses: I don't know if we've ever seen this much roster turnover in a single-season. A mind-boggling 33 players have either gone pro or transferred off last year's team, crippling this team's depth. Not only was it the big names, such as Joe Burrow or Chase, but names expected to fill in this year, such as Marcel Brooks or Jamal Pettigrew. LSU still has plenty of talent, but it's hard to imagine them not showing any ill effects with so much roster turnover... Having to replace a record-setting, Heisman-winning QB is as challenging as it gets in college football, and the pressure's on for junior Myles Brennan. Brennan threw 40 passing attempts in mop-up duty last fall but he's now the big man on campus, especially with LSU not bringing in a grad transfer from the portal. Brennan seems like a fine fit for this offense and the tools are there for him to succeed, but it will not be an easy transition... There's concerns at nearly every position group, but the biggest problem for me is the linebacker corps. This is a very young group that loses Patrick Queen, K'Lavon Chaisson, Jacob Phillips and Michael Divinity Jr. Things got a little bit better when North Dakota State transfer Jabril Cox transferred in over the off-season, and he'll likely start. But, things are so thin that converted wide out DeVonta Lee has a significant chance to see a lot of snaps at OLB.

Bottom Line: It was always going to be hard for LSU to repeat last year's magical 15-0 season, and things haven't got any easier with numerous transfers and opt-outs. With that being said, this is a school that regularly brings in Top 5 Classes, and the talent is still in place. There is going to be some notable growing pains as that young talent is forced into larger roles, and a step back should be a natural result. Even so, I still think the Tigers keep afloat in the West, and even challenge Alabama/A&M for the division title.

4. Auburn Tigers Projected Record: 6-4
Strengths: After winning the tight quarterback competition prior to the 2019 season, Bo Nix had an up-and-down freshman campaign, unsurprising for a young starter in the brutal SEC West. Nix did have some truly impressive moments, but he also struggled with being decisive and turnovers. Auburn is very hopeful that his second year as starter can help him take the next steps, and he has a new OC in Chad Morris. Morris has promised to be a little bit more creative in the passing attack than his predecessors, which should only help Nix... Speaking of an improved passing game, Auburn has a lot of talent back at receiver. Junior Seth Williams emerged as a reliable downfield weapon in 2019, finishing with 830 yards and eight touchdowns. Behind him, the Tigers will also feature an absolute burner in Anthony Schwartz and a steady veteran in senior Eli Stove. Schwartz is the type of weapon that can truly score every time he touches the ball, and Auburn needs to find ways to get him more involved... The strength of the defense a year ago was the D-Line, but it will be the linebacker corps in 2020. Senior K.J. Britt and sophomore Owen Pappoe will be the starters in this 4-2-5 scheme, and both could be in store for big years. Pappoe especially is just scratching the surface of what he can be, and played extremely down the stretch last fall. Those two should help keep Auburn's rush defense a Top 25 unit.

Weaknesses: The offensive line is the biggest concern for the Tigers entering 2020. It was a fairly good unit in 2019, but now loses four starters, with the lone returnee being junior center Nick Brahms. Auburn will lean on relatively untested pieces at both tackle spots, and may end up using Akron transfer Brandon Council extensively. You never like seeing a team with a young QB have so much questions on the O-Line, but such is the reality this year on the Plains... The secondary is not completely devoid of returnees, but there is a lot gone from a passing defense that was okay a season ago. Nickelback Christian Tutt and corner Roger McCreary have played a healthy dosage of snaps in their Auburn careers, while junior Smoke Monday will be a tone-setter at safety. It's a group that will certainly look different in 2020, but the pieces are there for it to still be a productive group... Gus Malzahn teams are really best when they have a star running back that can keep defenses honest offensively, which really isn't the case this season. The Tigers do have a lot of depth in the backfield, that includes D.J. Williams, Shaun Shivers and newcomer Tank Bigsby, but it is a group really lacking in star power. One of those three will most likely step up and take the starting job, but how well will they fare behind such a crippled line?

Bottom Line: You never quite know what you're getting from an Auburn team year-to-year and this 2020 edition is no different. There's a lot to like on both sides of the ball, but it's difficult to overlook the concerns on both lines, particularly when you consider how the rest of the conference looks. The Tigers are still going to be a tough out in the West, but I think they are at least one step below the serious division contenders. However, maybe Gus can once again work some of his magic and push Auburn back into the "favorites" category.

5. Mississippi State Bulldogs Projected Record: 4-6
Strengths: The hiring of Mike Leach to replace Joe Moorhead seems like a popular one in Starkville, even if Leach can turn some people off with his quirks and oddities. Leach will bring his patented air raid to the SEC West, a division not known for air-it-out football. It certainly is a different look for a Bulldogs team that was 109th in the nation in passing offense last fall, but it should benefit them... The good news for Leach is that there is a lot to like in the backfield, as star back Kylin Hill returns, and Stanford grad transfer K.J. Costello arrives. Hill is extremely close to becoming Miss. State's all-time leading rusher, and he'll challenge for the title of league's best back while Costello has plenty to prove. Injuries cost him his job in Palo Alto, and his decision to follow Leach from the Pac-12 North to SEC West speaks volumes about what he thinks of his new head coach... The defense also has a new look, as new DC Zach Arnett arrives from San Diego State, bringing a 3-3-5 look with him. Arnett does have talent to work with, as the D-Line offers plenty of experience, and the top tackler, Erroll Thompson, is back. Of course, it will be quite an adjustment moving to this type of defense with such a shortened off-season, and there could be some problems early. Even so, I think the change in defensive philosophy will end up being a good thing for a defense that was far from great in 2019.

Weaknesses: An air raid attack will of course rely heavily on its receivers, and the Bulldogs are pretty thin on the outside. Osirus Mitchell has eclipsed 400 yards in each of the past two seasons, but can he take the next step and really be the go-to guy? Behind him, this group is pretty underwhelming, at least for now. Senior JaVonta Payton, once an Ole Miss recruit, and JUCO transfer Malik Heath are two names to keep an eye on... The pass offense might end up being pretty good, but the Bulldog pass defense might allow of yardage itself. There's a lot gone from a pass defense that was among the worst in the SEC in 2019, and neither corner spot has significant experience. Safeties C.J. Morgan and Marcus Murphy should be fun to watch, but can they get this group playing well? Arnett may have to come up with some creative looks to supplement the secondary for the time being... I love the addition of Costello, who started for three seasons at Stanford and knows how to win in major college football. With that being said, he is learning a brand new offense during a shortened off-season, and now joins a division loaded with defensive talent. I think Costello will end up being another success story for Leach and a future NFL Draft pick, but here's another situation where growing pains may be inevitable.

Bottom Line: Mississippi State decided to start brand new with Leach after last season's 6-7 mark, and this team will look quite a bit different in more ways than one. Returning a proven stud like Hill should be huge in keeping this team grounded as they undergo a transition period but unfortunately for the Bulldogs, there's no time to ease into the season. Once the schedule began with a September slate of New Mexico, NC State, Arkansas and Tulane. Now Miss. State opens with the defending National Champion LSU Tigers. With so much new pieces in place, sticking to around a .500 mark is about the best that can hoped.

6. Ole Miss Rebels Projected Record: 2-8
Strengths: Much like their Egg Bowl rivals, Ole Miss made a splashy off-season hire by bringing in Lane Kiffin from Florida Atlantic. Kiffin is another guy that hasn't shied away from controversy or headlines in his coaching career, but so far with Ole Miss he's seemed awfully subdued in his off-the-field shenanigans. That will be a good thing for a program that has had a chaotic few seasons of NCAA sanctions following the tenure of Hugh Freeze... I really like some of this offensive talent the Rebels can throw at you, and I'm curious to see how Kiffin and new OC Jeff Lebby work with it. Sophomore back Jerrion Ealy seems ready to have a breakout 2020 season after picking up nearly seven yards per carry last fall, while Elijah Moore and Jonathan Mingo lead a fascinating receiver group... The front seven should be solid, especially a linebacker corps that brings back its top two tacklers in Jacquez Jones and Lakia Henry. Junior Momo Sanogo is also healthy and ready to go for the 2020 season after missing most of last season with injury. He was the top tackler on this entire team in 2018.

Weaknesses: The quarterback position has talent, but it's still unclear what it will look like under Kiffin. Sophomore John Rhys Plumlee proved himself as an excellent runner, leading the SEC in rushing yards per game with nearly 114 per. However, he still leaves a lot to be desired as a passer, which is where Matt Corral comes into play. Corral is a former high-profile recruit who has flashed natural arm talent, but still struggles to play consistent football. I think we'll see both fairly extensively in 2020, but you never know with Lane... The offensive line was okay in 2019, but you wonder about the makeup of the 2020 group, only because the left side could be a concern. Both the tackle and guard spots are up for grabs going through fall camp, and it will be interesting to see how this group looks. Depth is also slightly a concern, which is important in the SEC even with a shortened schedule... New co-DCs D.J. Durkin and Chris Partridge's No. 1 priority? Figuring out how to improve a pass defense that was atrocious throughout most of 2019. Statistically, it was dead last in the SEC a year ago, and was thrashed by the better opponents on their schedule. If the Rebels have any hopes of SEC West contention, this unit needs to grow up quickly.

Bottom Line: Lane Kiffin's return to the SEC should be another thrilling rollercoaster ride, and the Rebels' offensive talent makes this a fun team to watch going forward. That offense won't have to be perfect for Ole Miss to be a tough out in 2020, but it may have to lead things early as the defense adjusts to new leadership. With a few more questions at important positions than Mississippi State, I have the Rebels finishing just behind them in the West.

7. Arkansas Razorbacks Projected Record: 1-9
Strengths: There are few players as underrated nationally as senior tailback Rakeem Boyd, who totaled 1,133 rushing yards in 2019. Boyd did that despite playing in a very one-dimensional offense, while operating behind a pretty weak offensive line. Arkansas is hopeful they can get him more space this fall, and also possibly include him more in the passing attack... This receiver group is also better than most people realize, even with a ton of youth. Treylon Burks and Trey Knox are a pretty potent 1-2 combo on the perimeter, and Burks looks like a future NFL player to me, standing 6'3" with huge hands. Tight end should also be in a good spot, as legacy Hudson Henry is ready to handle the role. Henry took a redshirt year in 2019, but some Arkansas fans have hypothesized he could be better than his older brother Hunter, who has been in the pros since 2016... New head coach Sam Pittman Jr. made a few interesting hires to round out his coaching staff. On offense, he brought in Kendal Briles to run the show, a guy who has been controversial to many, but who has had some fun offenses during his time as play-caller. On defense, former Missouri head coach Barry Odom remained in the SEC and will now run the show. He has his work cut out to improve a group that ranked 124th nationally in scoring defense last fall. I'm not sure if the hires will work out perfectly, but I do think they'll be entertaining to watch.

Weaknesses: The defense was clearly not very good at all a year ago and now there is a significant leadership gap. Program staples like McTelvin Agim, Kamren Curl, and Scoota Harris are all gone. Harris was an All-SEC linebacker last fall, while Agim and Curl are NFL talents who made plays at their respective positions. Finding new leaders is of top priority for Odom as he inherits this group... The quarterback competition is going to be very interesting to watch, and Pittman has some decisions to make. Arkansas brought in former Florida transfer Feleipe Franks, who started for the Gators for all of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 prior to a season-ending ankle injury. He has the experience, but he doesn't have the upside of K.J. Jefferson or newcomer Malik Hornsby. Jack Lindsey and John Stephen Jones (Jerry Jones grandson) also both started a game a year ago, and will factor into the decision... If Arkansas is going to climb out of the SEC cellar, the O-Line has to be better. It was once a notable strength under former coach Bret Bielema, but it declined rapidly under Chad Morris. With four starters back, there's a great starting point and Pittman's specialty is line play, so he should have some fun with this unit.

Bottom Line: The Razorbacks are in the midst of a dark time in their football history, as they've gone 8-28 overall and just 1-23 in the SEC the past three seasons. To make things worse, Arkansas now must play a conference-only schedule as instead of a slate that included likely wins against Nevada, Charleston Southern, and ULM. In short, it's probably going to be another rough year in Fayetteville. It's pretty hard to imagine them making any significant strides when you look at how daunting their schedule is, and the fact they didn't get much of an off-season. A reasonable goal? Winning a few games, and showing enough improvement on defense to feel good about this team going in '21.


All-SEC Teams
First Team
QB: Kyle Trask, Florida
RB: Najee Harris, Alabama
RB: Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
WR: DeVonta Smith, Alabama
WR: Jhamon Ausbon, Texas A&M
TE: Kyle Pitts, Florida
OL: Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
OL: Trey Smith, Tennessee
OL: Drake Jackson, Kentucky
OL: Deonte Brown, Alabama
OL: Austin Deculus, LSU
DL: Big Kat Bryant, Auburn
DL: Christian Barmore, Alabama
DL: LaBryan Ray, Alabama
DL: Zachary Carter, Florida
LB: Dylan Moses, Alabama
LB: Nick Bolton, Missouri
LB: Monty Rice, Georgia
CB: Derek Stingley, LSU
CB: Marco Wilson, Florida
S: Richard LeCounte, Georgia
S: JaCoby Stevens, LSU
Kicker: Evan McPherson, Florida
Punter: Max Duffy, Kentucky

Second Team
QB: Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
RB: Rakeem Boyd, Arkansas
RB: Larry Rountree, Missouri
WR: Seth Williams, Auburn
WR: Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
TE: Jalen Wydermeyer, Texas A&M
OL: Wanya Morris, Tennessee
OL: Ben Cleveland, Georgia
OL: Trey Hill, Georgia
OL: Landon Young, Kentucky
OL: Evan Neal, Alabama
DL: Tyree Johnson, Texas A&M
DL: Kyree Campbell, Florida
DL: Quinton Bohanna, Kentucky
DL: Aaron Sterling, South Carolina
LB: Henry To'o To'o, Tennessee
LB: K.J. Britt, Auburn
LB: Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
CB: Patrick Surtain Jr., Alabama
CB: Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina
S: Shawn Davis, Florida
S: Jordan Battle, Alabama
Kicker: Brent Cimaglia, Tennessee
Punter: Zach Von Rosenberg, LSU

Honors & Awards
SEC Championship: Alabama over Florida
Offensive Player of the Year: Najee Harris, Alabama
Defensive Player of the Year: Derek Stingley, LSU
Newcomer of the Year: Bryce Young, Alabama
Coach of the Year: Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

College Football Preview 2020: Big 12

Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State

Power Rankings

1. Oklahoma Sooners Projected Record: 9-2 (Win Big 12 Championship Game)
Strengths: The defense took a major leap in Alex Grinch's first year as defensive coordinator and now eight starters are back. There's a lot to like about all three levels on this defense and notable holdovers from a rush defense that ranked 32nd in the nation. Losing Kenneth Murray is obviously huge, but former five-star recruit Caleb Kelly looks healthy and ready to roll at linebacker... Oklahoma's offensive line has been the most underrated aspect of the Sooners' recent success and it looks loaded once again. Junior Creed Humphrey might be the best center in the country, and one of the best offensive linemen, period. Both tackles are also All-Big 12 material in senior Erik Swenson and junior Adrian Ealy... The next in line at quarterback is likely going to be redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler, assuming he can hold off Tanner Mordecai. Rattler will have a lot of attention on him this year, but the former high-profile recruit has a huge arm, and he's a tremendous athlete. He seems like the perfect fit for Lincoln Riley's offense, and should put up huge numbers.

Weaknesses: The Sooners didn't have a great off-season, losing projected star wide out Jadon Hasselwood to injury and then watching Kennedy Brooks opt out. Brooks is a much bigger loss than some might realize; he tallied over 1,000 yards a season ago and was the fuel of the offense at times. With Trey Sermon also gone (transferred to Ohio State) Oklahoma's got depth concerns. Rhamondre Stevenson would likely be the favorite to start, but he'll be suspended to begin the year. That could leave the job up the trio of Marcus Major, T.J. Pledger and newcomer Seth McGowan. Major and Pledger are the "experienced" options, but neither have seen a serious bulk of carries in their OU careers... With Hasselwood out, Oklahoma also has their weakest receiver group in some time. It's still a fairly talented collection, with the headliner being Charleston Rambo. Rambo had 743 yards in 2019 in a sidekick role but he'll have to be the go-to guy. He's not quite the playmaker of past Oklahoma star receivers like CeeDee Lamb or Marquise Brown. Keep an eye on sophomores Theo Wease and Trejan Brides, whose opportunities will increase... The defense does still need to make strides if OU wants to seriously contend for a National Title. Although the numbers were significantly better in 2019 than '18, they were still really bad in the red zone, and didn't create much turnovers. This secondary has some potential ball hawks, now it's time to see what they can really do.

Bottom Line: Replacing Jalen Hurts, Lamb and Murray is a tall task for any program, even one of Oklahoma's pedigree. Things didn't get any easier with the messy off-season, and the potential improvement of other Big 12 contenders. Oklahoma gets the benefit of the doubt after five straight league titles, but this may be Lincoln Riley's toughest job yet. There are a lot of questions on both sides of the ball, and Rattler will have to lead this offense without any hiccups.

2. Oklahoma State Cowboys Projected Record: 9-2 (Lose Big 12 Championship Game)
Strengths: The offense was the talk of the off-season in Stillwater, as the Cowboys return two proven stars in back Chuba Hubbard and wide out Tylan Wallace. Hubbard should be a Heisman contender once again after rushing for 2,094 yards and 21 touchdowns. He's a dominating force and after an interesting off-season, he'll be eager to get back on the field. Wallace on the other hand was a 2018 Biletnikoff Award finalist before dealing with injury a year ago. When healthy, he's a true game-changer on the perimeter... The defense wasn't very good in 2019, but it helps that nearly every major contributor is back. The linebacker combo of Malcolm Rodriguez and Amen Ogbongbemiga might be the best in the conference, and the secondary is led by junior Kolby Harvey-Peel, who had five interceptions last fall... It's time for big things from quarterback Spencer Sanders, as he's fully healthy entering 2020. Sanders was a breakout candidate for many (including me) entering 2019 and well he was okay, he also dealt with injuries and turnovers. His 16-11 TD-INT ratio certainly was underwhelming, even in an offense that wants to take shots down the field. With Dru Brown graduated, it's now or never for Sanders, who certainly has the talent to do big things.

Weaknesses: It will be interesting to see how this off-season impacts this football team. Mike Gundy and Hubbard had a very open spat over his decision to wear a shirt, and it wouldn't be shocking if that leaks into the season. Perhaps it will be a good thing for Gundy and the team as a whole, but it could also be a distraction... Oklahoma State will be on their third OC in as many years after Sean Gleeson took the same gig at Rutgers. The new coordinator will be Kasey Dunn, a long-time receivers coach who will now get the opportunity to run things. He won't change much up from his predecessors, but it's a tough adjustment without much of an off-season... How does Oklahoma State handle being considered a top-tier contender in the league? It's a fair question, considering the Cowboys have been good under Gundy, but rarely great. They obviously have to get past their in-state rival to take over the conference, but the returns of Hubbard and Wallace have skyrocketed expectations.

Bottom Line: On paper, this might be Gundy's best Oklahoma State team since the one that nearly went to the BCS National Championship in 2011. With that being said, the defense still has to make improvements, and Sanders has to cut down on turnovers if there's any hope of the Cowboys running the league. Gundy is just 2-13 against Oklahoma in his career; the opportunity is there for the 'Pokes to finally end the Sooners hold on the league, but can they do it?

3. Texas Longhorns Projected Record: 8-2
Strengths: Texas has the best quarterback in the Big 12 in Sam Ehlinger, and a Top 5 QB nationally. The senior just has that "it" factor, a fearless leader who goes out and competes every Saturday. Ehlinger ran the ball 163 times a year ago, a number that Tom Herman wants to decrease. Well Ehlinger is a good runner, he's most effective when he's on his feet and not risking injury... The defense suffered through an injury-plagued 2019, and their numbers reflect that. They were 97th in total defense and were particularly bad against the pass, 127th in the nation. The good news is that new coordinator Chris Ash does have a lot of talent to work with. Junior end Joseph Ossai is one of the best players that you've never heard of, leading the team in tackles and sacks in 2019. The secondary simply can't be as bad as last year, and there's nearly every important piece back... A major concern for this group going into 2019, the running back situation actually is in a good place going into this fall. Junior Keontay Ingram appears fully healthy and ready to take over feature back duties, but he will have to hold off challenges from Roschon Johnson and newcomer Bijan Robinson. Johnson, a converted QB, was thrown into a starting role last season and did well with it, finishing up with 649 yards. Robinson is ranked as the No. 1 RB in the 2020 Class, and is the most talented tailback Texas has had in some time.

Weaknesses: Herman changed up his coaching staff after last season's disappointing 8-5 mark, bringing in Ash on defense and former Ohio State OC Mike Yurcich as his new OC. It was a necessary move considering the frustration the Longhorns felt last year, but both coordinators had very little time to implement their schemes this off-season. Expect some growing pains early as the players adjust... The receiver corps is quite a bit thinner in 2020 than in year's past following the departures of Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson. Duvernay in particular is a huge loss, as he was the steadying force for this offense, hauling in 106 balls for 1,386 yards. A cast of relatively unproven characters will now have to step up into the limelight. Junior Brennan Eagles will be the lengthy, prototypical wide out on the outside while sophomore Jake Smith will be the burner. Fellow sophomore Joshua Moore is also likely to be inserted into the starting lineup... The defensive line was simply not very good last year, forcing former DC Todd Orlando to use exotic blitzes just to manufacture some pressure. Ash will bring a 4-2-5 scheme to Austin that will lean on the D-Line to make some plays, and there's talent to do just that. Beyond Ossai, names like Keondre Coburn and Ta'Quon Graham have to be better.

Bottom Line: Last season's stumble might actually be a good thing for Texas going into 2020, giving them extra motivation for this fall. The coaching staff changes seem to be good moves, but this chaotic off-season obviously hurts them, which makes it tough to believe Texas really is the favorite in the conference. However, with Ehlinger back and a defense ready to improve, the Longhorns should be firmly in the mix.

4. Iowa State Cyclones Projected Record: 7-3
Strengths: Quarterback Brock Purdy might be the most talented in Iowa State history. In his first full season as starter, the junior threw for 3,982 yards and 27 touchdowns, while adding eight more with his legs. His play helped the Iowa State aerial attack grow into a Top 15 unit nationally, creating more big plays than ever before. He could challenge Ehlinger as the best QB in the league, in what will likely be his final season in Ames.... Matt Campbell and his staff continue to do a great job with the defense, which is regularly among the best in the Big 12. Seven starters are back, and the unit also gets JaQuan Bailey back healthy. In 2018, Bailey was All-Big 12 after notching 46 tackles and eight sacks, but he played just four games last year before taking a medical redshirt. If he's 100 percent, he might be one of the best in the league... Iowa State entered 2019 unclear on who would seize the running back duties but by the end of the season, it was clear Breece Hall was the future of the position. He finished with 897 yards and eight touchdowns in '19 and while he may be overshadowed by Purdy, he should put up even better numbers this year.

Weaknesses: Four starters depart on the offensive line, which is always cause for concern. Campbell and his staff have recruited the line fairly well during his tenure here, but there is still going to be loads of inexperience. The lone returning starter is slated to be sophomore guard Trevor Downing... The Cyclones lose their top receiver from a year ago and while they will still feature Tarique Milton and tight end Charlie Kolar, there may be some questions there. Milton is a big play threat and Kolar is the best at this position in the Big 12, but you'd still like one or two more proven targets on the outside. Sophomore Sean Shaw is a perfect breakout candidate for the position, eager to step up into a more important role... Can ISU close out games better in 2019? Throughout the Campbell era, the Cyclones have had a frustrating time winning close ones. That carried on into last season, when Iowa State lost to Iowa, Oklahoma, and Baylor by a combined four points. Playing all those teams tough shows just how far the 'Clones have come, but can they close the job in 2020?

Bottom Line: Campbell is still awaiting his "breakthrough" and with the Big 12 so wide open, 2020 might be the year. This team a fun collection of playmakers on offense and you feel confident the defense will once again be among the best the Big 12 has to offer. Simply put, can the Cyclones win the close ones this fall? If so, they go from simply league title contenders, to possibly the favorites.

5. Baylor Bears Projected Record: 6-4
Strengths: Having a veteran quarterback is quite a luxury in college football, and it's especially huge in the Big 12. Baylor has just that in senior Charlie Brewer, who is back for his fourth year as starter. He had his best season yet in 2019, finishing with 32 total touchdowns and showed a toughness and leadership this team needed to contend for a Big 12 Title. It will be exciting to see what Brewer can do in his finale, and he has a new OC to work with in former UNC head coach Larry Fedora... Joining Brewer on offense will be some interesting skill position weapons. In the backfield, John Lovett and Trestan Ebner form quite the 1-2 punch, and Tyquan Thornton is ready to be the go-to guy at receiver. Losing Denzel Mims obviously hurts, but the Bears are deep enough at receiver to recover from his absence... Hiring Dave Aranda was a huge win for the program as whole, and a strength that will extend beyond 2020. Aranda has long been considered one of the best defensive minds in the game, and he had a number of suitors this off-season before agreeing to take the Baylor job once Matt Rhule left for the NFL. Aranda will have to rebuild some elements of this team from the one that just won 11 games, but he's proven himself as a great recruiter and excellent developer.

Weaknesses: The defense was the best in the Big 12 in 2019, but it was hit hard this off-season. Only two starters remain in Terrel Bernard at linebacker and corner Raleigh Texada, meaning there is going to be a learning curve as new pieces fill in. The primary concern is on the D-Line, where Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year James Lynch departs. It's going to be hard for a bunch of inexperienced linemen to replicate the 46 sacks Baylor had in '19... The offensive line is also a concern, as it was the real weak point on this team a year ago. The Bears allowed 2.7 sacks per game last fall (108th in the country) and now loses three starters. Guys like Connor Galvin, Jason Moore, and Blake Bedier are going to have to be anchors... While bringing back Brewer is huge for this Baylor program, can he stay healthy? Brewer suffered through head and neck injuries throughout 2019 and while he's incredibly tough, it's reasonable to wonder if he hold up in 2020, particularly if the O-Line doesn't improve. Backups Gerry Bohanon and Jacob Zeno came on and showed flashes late last fall, but neither are ready to step into a full-time role if Brewer were to go down for an extended period of time.

Bottom Line: Aranda is not going to be able to replicate last season's successes with so much gone on this defense, but Baylor certainly was not a one-hit wonder. This is a program that has proven they can compete with the big boys of the conference consistently, and there's still a lot to like about the 2020 team. A slight step back is expected, but I'd be shocked if there was any massive drop-off.

6. Texas Tech Red Raiders Projected Record: 5-5

Alan Bowman, Texas Tech

Strengths: The Red Raiders touted a Top 15 offense in 2019 despite not having their starting QB, Alan Bowman, for nearly the whole year. Bowman was lost for the season after Week Three, pushing Jett Duffey into the starting role. With Duffey transferred, Bowman is the man in this Tech offense, and he's an interesting talent. He has the prolific arm this offense always needs, and he was an excellent decision-maker for a freshman in 2018... Joining Bowman on offense will be a few dangerous skill position guys, namely senior wide out T.J. Vasher. He has eclipsed 500 yards in each of the past three seasons, but he's really looking to take the next step. It sounds like he's added more bulk to his frame, and should be ready to roll right away in 2020... The back seven should be better than last year, even with Jordyn Brooks gone at linebacker. Senior Riko Jeffers will hope to fill Brooks' spot at linebacker, while the secondary features plenty of talent at the corner spots. This pass defense was bad last season, and there's really nowhere to go but up.

Weaknesses: The defensive numbers didn't improve in Matt Wells debut season after taking over for his predecessor Kliff Kingsbury, and now Brooks and Broderick Washington are gone. While the pass defense should be improved, the front seven will need somebody else beyond Eli Howard to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks... There's some depth concerns in the backfield that wouldn't normally be a big worry, but they become much more crucial given Bowman's injury history. The race for the backup quarterback job is up in the air and while SaRodorick Thompson will be the guy at running back, there's not much behind him... Much like Iowa State, Texas Tech has to find ways to close out tight games. They lost four separate games all by just three points, all of them in the season's second half. If they can find a way to perform better when things get tight, I think we'll see a nice jump in their record.

Bottom Line: Texas Tech is my dark horse in the Big 12 entering 2020. That doesn't mean I expect them to shock everyone and win the league, but they could surprise some folks. If Bowman is able to stay healthy, this offense could contend for the best in the conference, and the defense has nowhere to go but up. The Red Raiders welcome Oklahoma, Texas and Baylor to Lubbock this season; I think they'll take down one of the big boys this fall.

7. TCU Horned Frogs Projected Record: 4-6
Strengths: Gary Patterson remains one of the better defensive minds in the game, helping lead a group that ranked 27th in total defense a year ago. This defense will lose some pieces going into 2020 but there's more than enough back, namely veteran leaders such as linebacker Garrett Wallow and junior safety Trevon Moehrig. Moehrig is among the most underrated players in the entire nation and should contend for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's best defensive back... The Horned Frogs have some interesting pieces on offense, and it will be fascinating to see how they're used this season. Junior wide out Taye Barber is a burner who can open things up when he gets an inch of space, while sophomore Mikel Barkley is a potential breakout candidate. The backfield is a little unproven, but there's also upside there in the form of Daimarqua Foster, a redshirt freshman... TCU's juggling of their coaching staff should be a good thing, even with the shortened off-season. Doug Meacham rejoins the offensive coaching staff, teaming up again with OC Sonny Cumbie. The pair produced a few prodigious offenses in 2014-2015, and they have explosiveness to work with on this roster. Former Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill also joins the staff, also helping toy with this offense.

Weaknesses: The quarterback situation may be the worst in the conference, rivaling only Kansas in terms of question marks. Sophomore Max Duggan was expected to take the next step after a promising 2019, but a previously undiscovered heart condition took him out indefinitely a few weeks ago. There's still a chance Duggan returns in 2020 and takes back the starting gig, but TCU has real problems behind him following the departures of Justin Rogers and Matt Baldwin. Expect sophomore Matthew Downing to be the favorite for the job, a guy who has thrown ten passes in his entire collegiate career... It doesn't help the QB situation that the offensive line returns just one starter, center Coy McMillon. This unit was okay last fall, but there's an obvious lack of experience here with all the departures. The good news is that both tackle spots could be manned by seniors, even if neither have seen a large dosage of snaps in their careers... While Moehrig will keep the secondary intact, this unit still loses a lot from the 27th-ranked pass defense in the nation a year ago. Corner Jeff Gladney is now a Minnesota Viking, and the other CB spot is also up for grabs. It's never a fun time in a league like the Big 12 not to have either corner spot locked down.

Bottom Line: Patterson is too good of a coach for TCU to remain down for long, and this team would've been very dangerous with Duggan at the helm. However, the questions on offense are really notable, and while the staff should be a good thing, it won't be an easy transition. I still won't be shocked if TCU is able to climb up the league standings a little bit, but I don't expect much more than a .500 mark with all these concerns.

8. Kansas State Wildcats Projected Record: 4-6
Strengths: Kansas State is blessed with a veteran quarterback in senior Skylar Thompson, who is closing in on a number of K-State records. Thompson isn't very flashy, but he's a dual-threat who can move the ball and doesn't make very much mistakes. He really is an ideal fit for the offense that Chris Klieman wants to run... The Wildcats ranked second in the Big 12 in scoring defense a year ago and they return enough to feel pretty good about this group. Defensive end Wyatt Hubert was an All-Big 12 player a year ago and he should be even better as a junior, while senior linebacker Elijah Sullivan is a real tone-setter in the heart of this defense... Special teams has been a strength for a long time for Kansas State, and this unit looks strong entering 2020. Senior kicker Blake Lynch has hit 33 of 37 field goals in his career and while he may be small (5'5"), he's got a huge leg. The punter position loses their guy in Devin Anctil, but the Wildcats should be able to find someone.

Weaknesses: This offensive line was a major reason for K-State's success last fall, and now every starter is gone. It's particularly concerning for an offense that likes to rotate regularly, and likes to play a powerful brand of football, often different than most of what you'll see around the rest of the Big 12... In addition to the O-Line being gutted this off-season, the rest of the offense needs to find some new contributors at important positions, including tailback and receiver. Veterans James Gilbert and Jordon Brown were rock-solid last fall but are now gone from the backfield, meaning Harry Trotter is likely to be the feature guy. At wide out, sophomore Malik Knowles looks like he's ready to be the top guy, but who will step up behind him? Keep an eye on Josh Youngblood, who has proven himself as a special teams weapon, but must contribute more as a receiver... The K-State schedule is somewhat worrying. They begin Big 12 action on the road against Oklahoma then close out their schedule by getting Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Baylor and Texas all in a row. No schedule is a breeze this year, but that's a brutal way to end the regular season.

Bottom Line: Kansas State has traditionally been a team that exceeds expectations, much the same way they did by winning eight games in Klieman's debut. In the end, picking them eighth in the league might be too low, but I have real concerns about the offense. Even with Thompson back, there are enough fresh faces that this unit could really struggle to generate the yardage they'll need to compete in this conference.

9. West Virginia Mountaineers Projected Record: 2-8
Strengths: The Mountaineers have two proven quarterbacks on their roster, both of them former transfers. Former Oklahoma transfer Austin Kendall started 2019 off as the starter, but he was later overtaken by former Bowling Green transfer Jarret Doege. Doege appears to be slated in as the starter entering 2020, but having a reliable player like Kendall as the back-up is a win... In addition to the quarterback position, there's a lot back at the other skill positions. Junior back Leddie Brown as proven himself as a capable playmaker, and he'll get the bulk of the carries this fall. On the outside, T.J. Simmons and Sam James form a powerful 1-2 punch when they're both healthy... The Stills brothers are both back to guide a defensive line that could be among the best in the league. Nose tackle Darius Stills is a tireless worker on the inside who earned All-Big 12 honors in 2019. His younger brother, Dante, pairs him with him inside to give opposing blockers real problems. Dante technically wasn't a starter a year ago, but he saw a lot of snaps.

Weaknesses: The offensive line should be strong in the interior, but neither tackle spot can be considered a strength entering 2020. Left tackle Colton McKivitz is a particularly tough loss, and the line certainly has room for improvement, as it was a major reason why West Virginia's 2019 rush offense was one of the worst in program history... The secondary has some notable question marks as well, especially at corner. The Mountaineers are very young at the position, with junior Dreshun Miller the real favorite to be their No. 1 at the position. Sophomore Kerry Martin is a rising star at free safety, but the other safeties on this roster leave a little to be desired... Former defensive coordinator Vic Koennig was let go just over a month ago as a result of allegations of mistreatment and verbal abuse. Koennig did an average job with this defense from a season ago, but replacing a coordinator so close to the season is always difficult, now even more tough with the pandemic. It sounds like the defensive staff as a whole will share coordinator duties in 2020, which could either work well or be a disaster.

Bottom Line: Neal Brown seems like the right guy to lead this West Virginia program, but it will take time for him to build his foundation and culture here. The Mountaineers were respectable in 2019 at 5-7, and they should hover around the .500 threshold once again. However, they need their offense to put up points if they want any chance to compete with the other high-powered offenses in the league. While there is a lot to like that is back, this was the 116th ranked scoring offense in America last fall, and there's plenty of ground to make up.

10. Kansas Jayhawks Projected Record: 1-9
Strengths: With Kennedy Brooks opting out, Pooka Williams takes over as the second-best running back in the Big 12, trailing only Chuba Hubbard. Williams has been magical in his two seasons in Lawrence, rushing for over 1,000 yards in both years. He's had some off-the-field issues, but he sounds ready to go for 2020, and is the clear No. 1 option now that Khalil Herbert has transferred... In addition to Williams, the receiver corps should be really good. The trio of Andrew Parchment, Stephon Robinson and Kwamie Lassiter is highly underrated, and Parchment has emerged as one of the most reliable in the league. I expect the Jayhawks to try and take even more shots down the field in 2020, even with some of the questions they have at QB... Les Miles proved last fall he still has some magic left in him, even though a 3-9 record isn't exactly something to ride home about. Kansas played harder than they have in years past and were much more competitive in the conference, winning a game and pushing West Virginia and Texas. That doesn't mean Miles is going to be able to turnaround this program, but things will at least be more exciting.

Weaknesses: Quarterback play is the obvious concern on offense. Carter Stanley departed after a solid year, leaving former JUCO transfer Thomas MacVittie as the favorite to take the job. MacVittie began his career at Pittsburgh before taking the junior college ranks and ending up at Kansas. He appeared in just two games a season ago, so he isn't an overwhelming favorite and could be pushed by junior Miles Kendrick. Newcomer Jalon Daniels might end up being the biggest challenger, a youngster that can make things happen with his legs... The defense was still really bad a year ago, and now must replace six starters. There just wasn't much to like about this unit in 2019, as they gave up too many big plays, were poor at tackling, and didn't create much turnovers. They ranked in the bottom ten nationally in nearly every major defensive category. Clearly, there's still work to be done for Miles and DC D.J. Eliot... Moving to a conference plus-one schedule really hurts traditional bottom feeders like Kansas. Instead of getting the opportunity to figure things out in the non-conference and gain some momentum, the Jayhawks only play a conference they've struggled with mightily the past decade (plus Coastal Carolina). Their late October to late November stretch is absolutely brutal, even with a bye week sandwiched in.

Bottom Line: The Jayhawks are still far, far away from being any type of serious contender in the league, but at least they were more competitive in 2019. Returning Pooka Williams might give KU fans a reason to tune in, but it is likely to be another long year in Lawrence as they attempt to lock down a long-term core. A winless record in the league certainly shouldn't be shocking, especially with the rest of the Big 12 seemingly improving.

All-Big 12 Teams
First Team
QB: Sam Ehlinger, Texas
RB: Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
RB: Pooka Williams Jr., Kansas
WR: Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State
WR: Tyquan Thornton, Baylor
TE: Charlie Kolar, Iowa State
OL: Samuel Cosmi, Texas
OL: Dylan Galloway, Oklahoma State
OL: Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
OL: Tyrese Robinson, Oklahoma
OL: Jack Anderson, Texas Tech
DL: Darius Stills, West Virginia
DL: Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma
DL: Wyatt Hubert, Kansas State
DL: JaQuan Bailey, Iowa State
LB: Joseph Ossai, Texas
LB: Terrel Bernard, Baylor
LB: Amen Ogbongbemiga, Oklahoma State
CB: Raleigh Texada, Baylor
CB: Adrian Frye, Texas Tech
S: Trevon Moehrig, TCU
S: Greg Eisworth, Iowa State
Kicker: Gabe Brkic, Oklahoma
Punter: Kyle Thompson, Kansas

Second Team
QB: Brock Purdy, Iowa State
RB: Breece Hall, Iowa State
RB: Keontay Ingram, Texas
WR: Charleston Rambo, Oklahoma
WR: Tarique Milton, Iowa State
TE: Austin Stogner, Oklahoma
OL: Erik Swenson, Oklahoma
OL: Trevor Downing, Iowa State
OL: Coy McMillon, TCU
OL: Marquis Hayes, Oklahoma
OL: Blake Bedier, Baylor
DL: Eli Howard, Texas Tech
DL: Keondre Coburn, Texas
DL: Jalen Redmond, Oklahoma
DL: T.J. Franklin, Baylor
LB: Mike Rose, Iowa State
LB: Malcolm Rodriguez, Oklahoma State
LB: Garrett Wallow, TCU
CB: Tre Brown, Oklahoma
CB: Rodarius Williams, Oklahoma State
S: Caden Sterns, Texas
S: Ar'Darius Washington, TCU
Kicker: Cameron Dicker, Texas
Punter: Isaac Power, Baylor

Honors & Awards
Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma over Oklahoma State
Offensive Player of the Year: Chubba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
Defensive Player of the Year: Trevon Moehrig, TCU
Newcomer of the Year: Bijan Robinson, Texas
Coach of the Year: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State