College Football Preview 2016-2017: 10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Tarean Folston

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Conference: Independent
Location: South Bend, Indiana
2015-2016 Record: 10-3
Bowl Result: Loss in Fiesta Bowl
Breakout Player: RB Josh Adams
Heisman Hopeful: QB DeShone Kizer
X-Factor: OT Mike McGlinchey
Recruiting Rundown (via Rivals)
Schedule
Roster

Last season, Notre Dame entered the year with a serious quarterback quandary. Veteran quarterback Everett Golson had led the Irish to plenty of wins in his career, but slumped mightily in the second half of 2014. An impressive bowl showing by his backup, Malik Zaire, seemed to indicate that Zaire was the future at the position. That was further confirmed when Golson announced he would transfer, ending his college career at Florida State. Zaire put on a show in his debut, against Texas, and the Irish dominated. However, in his second start, Notre Dame got all they could handle from Virginia and Zaire broke his ankle, effectively ending his season before it really began. His backup, redshirt freshman DeShone Kizer did an admirable job in his absence. Despite playing some great defenses, Kizer threw for 2,884 yards and 21 touchdowns. Now, the quarterback question begins again: should ND go with Kizer, a rising sophomore who has superstar potential, or Zaire, who is 4-0 as a starter? The competition could mean the difference between Playoff berth or not in South Bend.

Backfield: Stats don't do what Kizer did in Zaire's absence enough justice. Despite being extremely young and facing an offense that was also hit by other injuries, Kizer posted strong numbers but also showed wonderful poise despite his youth. Although it came in a loss, his performance against Clemson earlier in the year showed what he could do. Dueling with eventual Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson in what was literally a hurricane, Kizer nearly led ND on a miraculous comeback against the eventual National Runner-Ups. Kizer's arm strength, big frame and athleticism are all special, and he should cut down on his turnovers this season (10 in 2015). Zaire has his strengths as well; he may not have the arm strength of Kizer, but he is a better runner and has also proven himself to be a great leader. There is a chance Brian Kelly could use both this season, in different packages. However, he will be careful not to do what Ohio State did last season, switching between the two too often and ruining momentum. If I had to put my money on one, it would have to be Kizer. He rallied the locker room last season, and has a higher ceiling than Zaire. The Irish have a similar situation at running back, even as C.J. Prosise departs. Prosise came in when feature back Tarean Folston was also lost for the year, and was wonderful. Despite the fact it was his first time ever playing full-time running back, Prosise ran for 1,029 yards and 11 scores, while averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Folston is back healthy, and he has proven he can handle the load. Folston had 889 yards back in 2014 when he was fully healthy, including four 100-yard performances at the end of the year. He will certainly play a major role, but may also be overtaken by a rising sophomore. Josh Adams was superb last season as a change-of-pace for Prosise, who wasn't healthy at the end of the season. Adams rushed for 838 yards and six touchdowns, showcasing impressive speed and vision. What was most impressive about Adams is that he consistently picked up huge chunks of yardage, evidenced by his wonderful 7.2 yards per attempt in '15. Possibly becoming the No. 1 back, Adams yards per attempt will most likely slip with more usage, but he could put together a huge year and is an intriguing dark horse Heisman threat. Notre Dame will also turn to another sophomore, Dexter Williams, in different situations. Williams ran for just 81 yards on 21 carries last year, but has wonderful upside.

Receivers: The Notre Dame receiver corps took some major lumps this off-season. First, leading receiver Will Fuller, among the most dynamic weapons in the entire nation, made a relatively surprising jump to the NFL a year early. Fuller will take his wonderful burst and explosiveness to the next level, along with his 1,258 yards on 62 receptions. Making things worse for the Irish was the loss of Corey Robinson just a few months ago. Robinson, who was looking forward to a healthy senior season, announced his retirement from football, citing concussion concerns. Robinson is the son of NBA legend David Robinson, and had showcased his amazing potential on countless occasions, like his three-touchdown performance against Florida State in '14. Those losses leave ND scrambling for answers at the position, but the cupboard is far from bare. Torii Hunter Jr. returns, and looks like he may be leaned on as their top option in the passing game. Hunter has great speed and agility, and did have 28 catches and 363 yards last season. Unfortunately, Hunter has struggled with drops at times in his career, something he'll obviously look to iron out this year. Sophomore Equanimeous St. Brown has a wonderful name, but will have to show he belongs. He had just one catch all of last season, but was a deep reserve, so it is understandable. He has okay speed, but also brings much more athleticism and size to the equation. Beyond those two, even more inexperience abounds. Sophomore Corey Holmes and sophomore C.J. Sanders are two of a number of pieces fighting for increased roles. Sanders at least got in the stat sheet, with one reception last season, while Holmes is extremely unproven. The lack of depth and proven commodities at receiver will put more pressure on the starting quarterback and also the backs to step up out of the backfield (Adams had seven catches for 42 yards a year ago). Notre Dame has produced some wonderful talent at tight end over the years, with guys like Kyle Rudolph and Tyler Eifert emerging from their ranks and making waves in the NFL. The Irish look like they've zeroed in on their next star at the position, as sophomore Alize Jones has wonderful potential. He recorded 13 catches for 190 yards last season, but that was with splitting snaps with Chase Hounshell, who is gone. Jones was a First-Team All-Independent last season, and he'll hope to build on that by becoming a better option in the red zone. Junior Durham Smythe is once again healthy and brings a solid blocker and decent pass-catcher.

Offensive Line: While the receiver corps has some serious questions, the offensive line may have even bigger problems, although there is at least one proven piece. The unit is going to be without NFL first-rounder Ronnie Stanley at tackle, along with anchor Nick Martin at center. Stanley is certainly a major loss, as the massive tackle was a beast last year. Martin, however, may be even harder to overcome, as the seasoned veteran was as consistent and disciplined as they come. The loss of those two key pieces should make junior Mike McGlinchey much more important. McGlinchey came into his own last season, starting 13 games at right tackle and displaying wonderful ferocity and power. Notre Dame may ask McGlinchey to make a transition to the left tackle position, but that shouldn't be too hard for the veteran. McGlinchey's harder transition will be going from a pretty young player to an important leader on the O-Line, and ND will ask a lot from him. ND will also ask a lot from sophomore Quenton Nelson, the other returning starter to the group. Nelson was very young last season, but showed he could hold his own. He is a terrific run blocker, and will open up big lanes for Adams and Folston to work with. He was a Second-Team All-Independent last season, but should be even better in '16. The other guard spot should likely go to junior Colin McGovern, who isn't a returning starter, but at least has some experience. McGovern appeared in eight games last season, and showed decent mobility. At right tackle, expect sophomore Alex Bars to get a good shot to start. Bars has the size and upside to make the position a strength, but he has to stay healthy this season. The center position could very well be the biggest issue, as a number of players will compete to fill the void left by Martin. Sophomore Sam Mustipher and redshirt freshman Tristen Hoge are the two favorites. The Irish are hoping for big things in the near future from a couple of their newcomers, particularly four-star linemen Liam Eichenburg from Cleveland.

Defensive Line: The Irish were also hit pretty hard on the defensive line by graduation, as they lost two great defenders in Romeo Okwara and Sheldon Day. Okwara led the team in sacks a season ago, racking up nine at the defensive end position, while Day proved to be a disruptive presence as well, with 15.5 tackles for loss. The Irish may be without those two, but they still have a group of solid defenders back, headed by senior Isaac Rochell. Rochell is a proven run defender, with 61 tackles a season ago. He isn't as great of a pass rusher as Okwara, but still finds a way to make plays, thanks to incredible instincts and power. The end spot left by Okwara is likely going to be handed down to junior Andrew Trumbetti, who has good experience. Trumbetti recorded 16 tackles in 2015, and also helped in a unique way: bringing a touchdown back 28 yards to the house on an interception. He doesn't have much explosiveness but is a gritty defender that should put together a strong campaign. The Irish will obviously miss Day, but there is reason to believe they could be even improved in the interior of the unit. Senior Jarron Jones has flashed his great potential on numerous occasions, but is still yet to put it all together. Jones missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but will be eager to prove he can return to his '14 form, when he had 7.5 tackles for loss. Joining Jones in the middle will be junior Daniel Cage. Cage is short and stout but still attacks defenses. He proved he could get into the backfield and finish off plays, with four tackles for loss last season. He was awfully young last season (forced into an increased role with the injury to Jones) but showed he could hold his own, even against some teams with great offensive lines. The Irish possess a good amount of depth throughout the unit, highlighted by valuable reserves like junior defensive end Grant Blankenship, along with sophomore Jay Hayes, who redshirted last season. Also returning, likely in a reserve role, is sophomore Jerry Tillery. Tillery was a highly touted recruit a season ago, and showed he could make plays. He doesn't have the experience of Jones or Cage, but has major upside, and the Irish coaching staff will likely experiment with him more this season.

Nyles Morgan

Linebackers: Life after Jaylon Smith begins for the Irish defense, particularly the linebacker corps. Smith was among the most versatile and best defenders in the entire nation, racking up 115 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five pass breakups. Smith was already set to graduate and depart before suffering a horrific knee injury in the team's Fiesta Bowl loss. The injury severely hurt his promising NFL Draft stock and many experts claimed him as one of the Draft's best players even though he fell to Round 2. Also gone in the unit is the solid Joe Schmidt, who wasn't quite the player Smith was, but still was a quality run defender. That leaves ND scrambling for some answers at the position; expect them to lean heavily on James Onwualu, their only returning starter in the unit. Onwaulu is a versatile defender off the edge that can so many things well, and he picked up 38 tackles and six tackles for loss last year. He has displayed great pass rushing abilities off the edge, with three sacks a year ago, and Notre Dame will look for him to do that even more, with the losses of Okwara and Day. Onwaulu is set to lock down one outside linebacker spot, but the other one is up for grabs. Sophomore Te'Von Coney, redshirt freshman Asmar Bilal and newcomer Jamir Jones are going to fight for the starting spot. Coney has shown some flashes in his Irish career but still is learning, while the Irish are thinking big for Bilal. Bilal was the Scout Team's Defensive Player of the Year in '15, but adjusting to a starting gig in big-time college football is obviously a different animal. Jones is a three-star pickup from Rochester, New York, who has an abundance of upside. The middle linebacker slot may undergo a change in leadership, but junior Nyles Morgan should be up for the challenge. Morgan had 47 tackles as a true freshman back in 2014, but didn't get the snaps he needed last season and his production plummeted. Without a whole lot of competition at inside 'backer, Morgan should put together a much stronger 2016. Junior Greer Martini is also going to find a way on to the field, as he brings some veteran experience. Martini had 35 tackles a year ago, and has proven he can be a major asset in run support.

Secondary: Much like the defensive line and linebackers, Notre Dame's secondary will have to endure some losses, although it could still end up being a considerable strength. The Irish will be without ball hawking cornerback KeiVarae Russell along with safety Elijah Shumate, but it isn't the end of the world. Russell had two interceptions and 4 pass deflections despite missing two games with injury, but was inconsistent at times. Shumate was third on the Irish last season, with 70 tackles but could have a replacement in the wings. Shumate's strong safety position could fall to senior Avery Sebastian, a former Cal transfer that can also play cornerback. Sebastian had some injury problems (like so much of this ND team had) last year but still flashed his superb athleticism and hard-hitting ability. He will be joined in the back by the player who could end up being Notre Dame's best defender this season, senior Max Redfield. Redfield has an excellent feel for the game and while he may not be the quickest player on the field, relies on that to make plays. He recorded 64 tackles last season, which was down from his 68 in '14. With the losses the rest of the defense suffers, expect those numbers to increase in a big way, as ND will lean heavily on his tackling ability. At cornerback, senior Cole Luke will likely replace Russell as the team's top cover option. Luke has proven on countless occasions that he can shut down some elite receivers, and his 11 pass breakups two years were the most at ND since 2008. Joining him will be a player that isn't technically a returning starter but has plenty of experience, junior Nick Watkins. Watkins has good size and a strong frame to match up against some larger receivers. Another player to watch in the defensive backfield has to be sophomore safety Drue Tranquill. Tranquill earned Newcomer of the Year honors before a torn ACL sidelined him. While Sebastian will play a much larger role, Tranquill will still find a way to make plays.

Special Teams: Notre Dame could have a great special teams unit this season. Sophomore kicker Justin Yoon returns after knocking down 15 for 17 field goals despite being extremely young. Rock-solid punter Tyler Newsome is also back for his sophomore campaign. The return game is led by sophomore C.J. Sanders, who should handle both kick and punt return duties.

Considering all the injuries and adversity Notre Dame faced last season to finish off 10-3 and make a major bowl like the Fiesta is a testament to how good of a coach Brian Kelly is and how well he recruits (which, granted, isn't super hard at a place like ND). Notre Dame will hope to be fully healthy this season, but even if they aren't completely the roster has great depth and some promising young talent. The key will be at the skill positions: will Kizer be back to lead the charge or will the staff stick with Zaire? Can Josh Adams really take the next step as a running back? Who is going to step up at receiver? Those questions will have to be answered, but no matter what, the Irish are still undeniably talented. Schedule-wise, Notre Dame gets it much easier this year than year's past, with dates with a number of softer ACC teams (NC State, Syracuse, Duke) and many of their tougher teams rebuilding or figuring things out (Michigan State, Texas, USC). That could only help back up the fact that the Irish are a legitimate Playoff contender, and a very scary team entering 2016.

College Football 2015-2016: 15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Malik Zaire

15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

2014-2015 Record: 8-5 (0-0 Conference Record, Independent)
Coach: Brian Kelly, sixth year (45-20 overall)
Schedule
Roster
Recruiting Rundown
Key Losses: TE Ben Koyack, QB Everett Golson
Heisman Hopeful: QB Malik Zaire
Breakout Player: WR Corey Robinson

It was perhaps the most questionable and scrutinized call of the 2014-2015 season: a late penalty on Notre Dame took away one of the team's touchdowns in a hard-fought battle against Florida State. In the end, it would be the deciding factor, and would drop Notre Dame to a 5-1 mark. The loss not only seemed to diminish the Irish's Playoff chances, it took away any confidence for the team. They would lose four of five following the heartbreaker, including a loss to lowly Northwestern and a blowout loss against archrival USC. A bowl victory against LSU gave ND fans something to cheer about, but in the end, the season was a downer. The impressive show put on by Malik Zaire, the backup QB, in that bowl game helped Everett Golson make the decision his time in South Bend had come to a close. And, while that will shake things up, it could improve the offense, which has a ton of playmakers. 10 starters on defense also are important, and the program looks primed to approve last year's eight wins.

Backfield: Golson's turnover problems became a death sentence to Notre Dame in the second half of the 2014 campaign. He finished with 14 interceptions and eight fumbles and just seemed to lose his confidence. He decided to head south to Tallahassee where he will compete for the void left by Jameis Winston. That opened the door completely to junior Malik Zaire, a dual threat who impressed in short action behind Golson. Zaire was very good in the Music City Bowl victory against a good LSU defense, and fans are excited to see what the gunslinger can do fulltime. The lefty will have some growing pains, but he has the arm strength and playmaking ability to be something very special. Tarean Folston returns as Notre Dame's feature back after a solid 2014 campaign, in which he ran for 889 yards and six touchdowns. The explosive junior is always a threat for a big run, but has to prove himself as a more worthy every-down running back. Unfortunately for the Irish, Greg Bryant, sure to fill in as Folston's backup in 2015, earned himself a four-game suspension to open the year due to violating team rules. Seen as a heralded recruit coming out of high school, Bryant has shown flashes of stardom in his time in South Bend, but has yet to truly deliver. He will be amped and ready to go when his suspension draws to an ending. Cam McDaniel was never a big-play back but he was a productive, efficient runner and his departure hurts, much like Bryant's suspension. Head coach Brian Kelly and staff did a great job finding players in this year's recruiting class that will be future stars for the Irish (which granted, isn't very hard at a program like ND). New Jersey prospect Brandon Wimbush is seen as a four-star recruit by nearly every recruiting service, and he could be the future at the quarterback position for the Irish. Dexter Williams is ranked as a Top-5 back by ESPN in the 2015 Class, and he could see action right away, without a ton of depth in the backfield. Three-star talent Josh Adams isn't as hyped as Williams or others, but he could be a solid contributor to the Notre Dame offense in a few years.

Will Fuller

Receivers: Making life easier for Zaire will be a stocked receivers corps, which all begins with junior
Will Fuller. Entering 2014, Fuller was seen as a rather one-dimensional receiver with one strength; his deep threat ability. But, Fuller quickly emerged as Golson's favorite and most reliable weapon and it helped him record 76 receptions, 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns. Fuller is an established route runner with great hands and is as speedy as you'll find. Perhaps what makes him dangerous the most is his burst in the open field, which enables him to make plays after the catch. While Fuller is clearly Notre Dame's top target, expect big things from Corey Robinson, entering his junior season. The son of NBA great David Robinson, Corey emerged as a legit weapon against Florida State a year ago and continues to improve each and every day. The 6'5" playmaker is fabulous in the red zone with his terrific size and uses that frame to make tough jump ball catches. Robinson had 40 catches, 539 yards and five touchdowns a season ago, all numbers that could absolutely explode this season. Senior Chris Brown is another established receiver who should put together a very good season. Brown has a lethal mix of speed and explosiveness, and he could take over as ND's top deep threat. He certainly showed he had big play potential, averaging over 14 yards per reception last season. Former USC transfer Amir Carlisle has grown into a productive receiver as well, in more of a slot receiver role. A small but shifty playmaker, Carlisle picked up 23 catches for 309 yards last season. Expect offensive coordinator Mike Sanford to utilize Carlisle as much as possible in screens and short yardage passing situations. Also returning is big-play C.J. Prosise, who returns for his final year in South Bend. Prosise averaged 17.8 yards per reception a season ago, and will continue to move the ball in big chunks of yardage for the Irish. Although he will drop the ball often and isn't a great route runner, there isn't any denying Prosise's importance to the Notre Dame offense. Sophomore Corey Holmes is in line for a breakthrough campaign. Holmes has been buried on the ND depth chart early in his career but he is another receiver with tremendous speed and big-play potential, and he could certainly become a valuable asset. The tight end position has been a strength at Notre Dame for years with players coming through like John Carlson, Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph and more recently, Ben Koyack, who was solid last season (30 receptions, 317 yards). Now, the position falls to junior Durham Smythe or true freshman Alize Jones, with Koyack graduating. Smythe had just one catch a year ago and is more of a blocker than a receiver, but Jones is a very dangerous weapon who is a prospect from Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman. Not only is he a unanimous All-Name Team First-Teamer but Equanimeous St. Brown has some game, as well. The four-star prospect from Anaheim is an explosive playmaker who has all the talent to grow into a very, very good receiver for ND for years to come.
 

College Football Preview: Welcome to the FBS

Last year FBS football welcomed in four new teams to their ranks: UMass, UTSA, South Alabama and Texas State. UTSA and Texas State rode the weak WAC to 8-4 and 4-8 marks, while UMass and South Alabama struggled to 1-11 records. This year, the FBS will once more bring in a number of new schools including Georgia State and Old Dominion. Here is a quick look at what to expect from the two newest FBS members in 2013:

Old Dominion logo

Old Dominion: The Monarchs enter FBS football after an 11-2 campaign that including a FCS playoff win. The Monarchs will be an independent this year before a move to the Conference USA in 2014. They have five games against FBS opponents this year but have an offense that can pull off some upsets. Junior quarterback Taylor Heinicke had over 5,000 yards and 44 touchdowns last year. He has plenty of top targets back including Larry Pinkard and Blair Roberts and also has a quality back in Tyree Lee who had 8 touchdowns a year ago. The offense averaged 548.2 yards per game last year but that was against FCS opponents, not teams like UNC, Pitt and Maryland. The defense is solid and has some playmakers like linebacker John Darr. The university from Norfolk, Virginia who began play in 2009 has the talent to surprise some people.

Georgia State logo

Georgia State: The Panthers will also begin play in FBS football in the Sun Belt Conference, which luckily for them, was weakened by the departure of a number of teams to Conference USA. Georgia State, who began playing football in 2010 went 1-10 last year and things won't be much easier this year. Senior receiver Albert Wilson gives the offense and former Boston College head coach Jeff Jagodzinski, the offensive coordinator, something to work with. The QB position is up in the air as head coach Trent Miles must decide between a number of candidates including sophomore Ben McLane, Ronnie Bell and Clay Chastain. McLane started 9 of the Panthers' 11 games last year as a redshirt freshman but struggled with accuracy on all types of throws. Bell gives the Panthers a more mobile option. GSU will play Alabama on October 5th and that will certainly show how far the program has to go. Though the Atlanta area and around are rich with talent and Georgia State should soon become respectable.

Quick Predictions of Second-Year Teams
South Alabama- After a 2-11 first year in the Sun Belt, coach Joey Jones has his work cut out for him. He has senior QB Ross Metheny to work with but must replace safety B.J. Scott who recorded 84 tackles last season. If the Jaguars turn the ball over less there should be improvement across the board. The good news is that the addition of Georgia State gives South Alabama a team they can beat inside the conference.

UMass- The Minutemen's offense was one of the worst in the nation a year ago as UMass only managed 12.7 points per game last year. Expect improvement in Charley Molnar's second year as senior tight end Rob Branchflower gives QB Mike Wegzyn a proven target. The Minutemen must also get more pressure on the quarterback. UMass appears to be improved as well but contention seems a while awa.

UTSA- UTSA went 8-4 last year but makes the move from the now-defunct WAC to the Conference USA. The Roadrunners have proven playmakers on offense including senior QB Eric Soza and junior receiver Kam Jones. The defense also has a lot of talent headed by junior safety Triston Wade and senior linebacker Stephen Kurfehs. A move to a tougher conference will be tough and it may hard for UTSA to escape the West cellar.

Texas State- The Bobcats will make a jump from the WAC to the Sun Belt but will have to do it without dual threat quarterback Shaun Rutherford, who graduated. Senior Tyler Arndt is the leading candidate to replace Rutherford but isn't as much of a game-changer. Brian Orakpo's little brother Michael Orakpo gives the Bobcats a solid linebacker.

College Football Preview: All-American Team

First Team
QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
RB T.J. Yeldon, Alabama
RB Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona

Shayne Skov

WR Marqise Lee, USC
WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington
OL Taylor Lewan, Michigan
OL Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
OL Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma
OL Weston Richburg, Colorado State
OL David Yankey, Stanford
DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
DT Will Sutton, Arizona State
DT Louis Nix, Notre Dame
DE Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame
LB C.J. Mosley, Alabama
LB Anthony Barr, UCLA
LB Shayne Skov, Stanford
CB Bradley Roby, Ohio State
CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
S Ed Reynolds, Stanford
S Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State
Second Team
QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State
RB Lache Seastrunk, Baylor
RB Todd Gurley, Georgia

Braxton Miller

WR Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt
WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson
TE Nick O'Leary, Florida State
OL Anthony Steen, Alabama
OL Cyril Richardson, Baylor
OL Bryan Stork, Florida State
OL James Hurt, UNC
OL La'El Collins, LSU
DE Scott Crichton, Oregon State
DT Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina
DT Anthony Johnson, LSU
DE Demarcus Lawrence, Boise State
LB Kyle Van Noy, BYU
LB Chris Borland, Wisconsin
LB Trent Murphy, Stanford
CB Quandre Diggs, Texas
CB Jason Verrett, TCU
S HaHa Clinton-Dix, Alabama
S Hakeem Smith, Louisville

Others to Watch:
QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
WR Stefon Diggs, Maryland
S Craig Loston, LSU
LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State
RB/WR Dri Archer, Kent State

College Football Preview: 13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

  It was a pretty stunning year for the Irish last season as they went 12-0 in the regular season with wins over Oklahoma, Michigan and Stanford. With the return of a number of star defensive players and some real potential on offense the Irish have the ability to reach another BCS bowl. Even without Everett Golson it could be a magical year in South Bend.




Backfield: Everett Golson will not play in 2013 but there is hope that he can start in the future. Senior Tommy Rees will take over for Golson at quarterback.

Tommy Rees

Unlike a number of backups he has great experience as a starter and has showed he has a good fell of the offense. Though he doesn't have the potential that Golson has and does struggle under pressure. The Irish must have also find a new running back after Cierre Wood graduated. Junior George Atkinson has the talent to be fantastic this season. He has a good mix of speed and strength and also can help out Rees as a receiver out of the backfield. Another junior, Amir Carlisle, will also compete to be an impact player immediately. The USC transfer is great in the open field but Brian Kelly could like to see him become more of a threat between the tackles.

Receivers: Senior wide receiver T.J. Jones has All-American potential. Jones caught 50 passes for 649 yards last year while breaking in a young quarterback. With a more experienced Rees and being the top receiver in Notre Dame's offense he could have a huge year. Other than Jones, this receiving corps is inexperienced but the talent is there. Davaris Daniels has the hands and breakaway speed to become a real threat in '12. Rees will also have to rely on sophomore Chris Brown and senior Daniel Smith, who uses his big frame to be a force on jump balls. The real question mark is at tight end where the Irish are looking for a replacement for Tyler Eifert, who was the best tight end in all of the land a year ago. 6-7, 260 pound junior Troy Niklas is more of a blocker while senior Alex Welch is more of a receiving threat. Kelly could lean towards Welch because Notre Dame needs a big force that can move the chains.

Offensive Line: The Irish offensive line didn't get enough credit for what it did last year. It helped the ground game become a force and helped devlope Golson by protecting him. Senior left tackle Zack Martin is an All-American threat and will be very important protecting the blind side of Rees. He has good size, moves very well and is a very good leader to this unit. Also sure to dominate on the left side will be guard Chris Watt and at center will likely be junior Matt Hegarty. If Hegarty struggles likely to get a shot will be junior Nick Martin, Zack's brother, who has a ton of potential. Brian Kelly and his staff will also rely on a number of freshman to play a lot of snaps from the start. Tackle Hunter Bivin has the talent to dominate and Illinois product Collin McGovern was a great four-star commit.

Defensive Line: Kapron Lewis-Moore and Manti Te'o are gone but this front seven still is so strong it could be on the nation's best. Senior nose guard Louis Nix has been an impact player for a long time. With his experience and huge size he can be a run stuffer (45 tackles in 2012) and can disrupt backfields. On the edge the Irish will definitely rely on junior Stephon Tuitt who had 12 sacks last season. He is incredibly tough to stop, standing at 6-6 and despite being huge he is extremely quick to the ball. The other starting D-Linemen in this 3-4 defense will likely be sophomore Sheldon Dann who has the talent to be a beast. Five-star talent Eddie Vandedoes will be an impact player from the beginning of his career to the end in South Bend. When Nix leaves expect Vanderdoes to become an All-American threat immediately. With this talent it appears teams should have some major issues running the ball against the Irish just like last year.

Linebackers: Manti Te'o was the heart and soul of this defense and it isn't easy to replace that. Who will replace him is a definite question. Junior Jarrett Grace and Carlo Calabrese should both get a chance to start at the inside 'backer slot. Starting alongside the Te'o replacement should be senior Dan Fox. He is a leader and has loads of experience. With his instincts and smarts he can definitely make plays from sideline to sideline. The outside linebacker positions are also in good hands with loads of experience at them. Senior Prince Shembo is extremely fast and should rack up a lot of tackles. It will be intresting to see if he can also make an impact as a pass rusher with offensive lines really focusing on the 1-2 punch of Nix and Tuitt. Also sure to be a real impact player this year will be senior Danny Spond who is a sure tackler. Another five-star commit Jaylen Lewis should get an opportunity to spend time at outside linebacker as well.

Bennett Jackson

Secondary: There were a lot of questions surrounding this secondary when 2012 began but it proved to be a strong and effective unit. The most imporant part of it returns with senior Bennett Jackson who had 4 interceptions a year ago. He is a great coverage cornerback and recognizes plays extremely well. Presumed 2012 starter Lo Wood returns after missing all of last season with a torn Achilles. He has the potential to be a stud but his maturity is a little bit of an issue. Both of those cornerbacks are strong coverage players and Wood has proved he can be a hard hitter. Notre Dame should also rely on both their safeties. Unfortunately that is a weakness with little experience and a number of issues. Senior Austin Collinsworth has proven he can be a real factor at times though is weak in a number of areas. The other starting safety is a real question as both junior Matthias Farley and sophomore Elijah Shumate will compete for the spot.

Bowl Picks (Pinstripe to Buffalo Wild Wings)

Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse vs. West Virginia

Tavon Austin

Old Big East opponents square off once more in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. At one point it seemed West Virginia could end up in a BCS bowl and Geno Smith would win the Heisman. Then, the loss to Kansas State hit and everything went downhill from there. Smith still had an incredible year passing for 40 touchdowns with just 6 picks and over 4,000 yards. He has two of the best receivers in the nation in Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin. The Orange don't quite have the explosiveness on offense but are balanced with quarterback Ryan Nassib and receiver Alec Lemon. If Syracuse plays at their pace they win. But, their secondary still has issues stopping Smith as the Mountaineers escape.
West Virginia, 38 Syracuse, 31

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Navy vs. Arizona State
Navy finds themselves in a bowl something they might not have thought would have happened after opening their year losing 50-10 to Notre Dame in Ireland. Meanwhile Arizona State used a solid passing game and an underrated ground game to gain 7 wins. Quarterback Taylor Kelly struggled in Pac 12 play and has been inconsistent but should have a strong game. The Sun Devils should rely heavily on back Marion Grice (17 total TD) to get points past a pedestrian Navy defense. The Midshipmen will use their triple-option attack led by quarterback Keenan Reynolds and Gee Gee Greene. They could have serious success on the ground as Arizona State's run defense has been terrible this year. Though, they still win over the Midshipmen, handily.
Arizona State, 34 Navy, 21

Alamo Bowl: Texas vs. Oregon State
For Texas, an Alamo Bowl is a huge disappointment. For the Beavers, who won just 3 games a year ago and lost to Sacremento State, it's a pretty nice thought. The Beavers will use Cody Vaz at quarterback over inconsistent and injury prone Sean Mannion. Vaz has a strong arm and has the smarts. Mack Brown also uses a different quarterback in David Ash who started the season for the Longhorns at the position. Texas has a veteran secondary but they could have some serious issues against receivers Markus Wheaton and sophomore Brandin Cooks.
Oregon State, 28 Texas, 27

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: TCU vs. Michigan State
Two of the year's biggest disappointments square off in Tempe. TCU has gone through adversity losing star quarterback Casey Pachall midway through the season forcing Gary Patterson to rely on freshman Trevon Boykin. Boykin has done pretty good considering the circumstances but he hasn't had to face a defense like the Spartans. Defensive backs Johnny Adams and Darqueze Dennard had huge seasons for Mark Dantonio and the whole defense only allowed five rushing touchdowns the whole season. Meanwhile, the Horned Frogs will try to handle back Le'Veon Bell who was embarassed defenses much of the season.
Michigan State, 20 TCU, 17

Bowl Projections

Jordan Lynch and NIU in Little Caesars

New Mexico Bowl: Nevada vs. Washington
Idaho Potato Bowl: Utah State vs. Ball State
San Diego County Poinsettia Bowl: BYU vs. San Diego State
Beef O' Brady's Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Tulsa
New Orleans Bowl: Arkansas State vs. SMU
Las Vegas Bowl: Fresno State vs. Arizona
Hawaii Bowl: East Carolina vs. Boise State
Little Caesars Bowl: San Jose State vs. Northern Illinois
Military Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Louisiana Tech
Belk Bowl: Miami vs. Cincinnati
Holiday Bowl: Stanford vs. TCU
Independence Bowl: Toldeo vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
Russell Athletic Bowl: UNC vs. Louisville
Meineke Car Care Bowl: Iowa State vs. Minnesota
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. Houston
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Navy vs. USC
Pinstripe Bowl: West Virginia vs. Syracuse

Gary Nova, RU in Orange

Alamo Bowl: UCLA vs. Texas
Buffalo Wild Wing Bowl: Northwestern vs. Oklahoma State
Music City Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Duke
Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Oregon State
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Texas A&M vs. NC State
Heart of Dallas Bowl: Ohio vs. Purdue
Gator Bowl: Michigan State vs. Mississippi State
Capitol One Bowl: Georgia vs. Wisconsin
Outback Bowl: Michigan vs. LSU
Cotton Bowl: Texas Tech vs. South Carolina
Compass Bowl: Missouri vs. ULM
GoDaddy.com Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. Kent State
BCS Bowls
Rose Bowl: Nebraska vs. Oregon
Fiesta Bowl: Kansas State vs. Clemson
Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. Oklahoma
Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Rutgers
BCS National Championship: Notre Dame vs. Alabama

College Football Preview: Best of the Rest: BYU Cougars

28. BYU Cougars Returning Starters: 16 Returning Star: WR Cody Hoffman Key Loss: QB Jake Heaps
Player to Watch: QB Riley Nelson

Once more Bronco Mendenhall's squad made a bowl in 2011, marking their seventh straight postseason bid. Things look different in 2012, maybe better. Riley Nelson is now the full-time starter at quarterback as Jake Heaps has transferred to Kansas. Nelson has a strong arm and is pretty accurate. Though, his advantage over Heaps is his ability to extend plays with his legs. Nelson has one of the best playmakers BYU has ever seen in wide receiver Cody Hoffman to throw too. Hoffman has great hands and has some good speed. Another receiver back is sophomore Ross Apo who is a possession receiver that isn't much of a deep threat. Expect big things from junior tight end Austin Holt as BYU tight ends seem to always have success. Nelson should throw a good amount with talent like Hoffman and Apo surrounding him but Mendenhall loves to run the ball also. He has the depth to run a lot with guys like junior Michael Alisa and senior Zed Mendenhall. Both fit the Cougar mold of a tough, powerful back. The offensive line could end up an issue. Senior Braden Brown is a monster at tackle but a lot of talent is gone from an okay unit in 2011. Mendenhall has said his defense could be a formidable unit and with seven starters back it could be a possibility. The line is pretty good with two starters back. Eathyn Manumaleuna has huge name. But, he has even more talent. Up the middle senior tackle Romney Fuga could have a big final year for the Cougars. The linebackers are okay headed by Brandon Ogletree and Kyle Van Noy. Van Noy could lead the team in tackles while another Tyler Beck could end up being a strong pass rusher. The secondary is also decent with the returns of cornerback Preston Hadley and junior Daniel Sorensen.

College Football Preview: 24. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

24. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Returning Starters: 14 Returning Star: LB Manti Te'o Key Loss: WR Michael Floyd Player to Watch: DE Stephon Tuitt Brian Kelly's last two teams here in South Bend have been average. Not too good but not too bad. This 2012-2013 team has the talent to turn Notre Dame into an above average 10 win team. If, they can get through this tough schedule that includes a Dublin battle with Navy, a road matchup against Michigan State and a good-looking Oklahoma team. Back is junior Tommy Rees who Kelly gave the starting job in 2011. But this quarterback position is far then settled. Junior Andrew Hendrix has a big arm and freshman Gunner Kiel could give Rees a run for his money. Rees has an okay arm and okay accuracy. He isn't too flashy but he did look good in a number of games last season and is the less risky option for Kelly. Though this team shouldn't pass too much with the talent they have in the backfield. Senior Cierre Wood ran for over 1,000 yards last season and should once more. Theo Riddick should also get carries as he should switch between a big and slot receiver. Riddick has the speed and agility to be lethal and since he was a receiver he can obviously catch. Gone is Michael Floyd greatly depleting Rees' options in the air attack. But back is tight end Tyler Eifert, an All-American. Eifert has size and stamina and brings toughness that not a lot of players have. Junior T.J. Jones could have a breakout '12 as he is the top returning true receiver. Also back is senior John Goodman who has the size to be a dominant force for Rees. Protecting Rees is this okay offensive line. Braxston Cave is fully healthy and should have a strong year at center. Guard Chris Watt is experienced and smart. This defense got a huge boost when tackling machine Manti Te'o decided to stay one more year with these Fighting Irish. Te'o has the athleticism that is truly dangerous and his numbers don't lie. This defensive line could end up being very good after returning two starters in Kapron Lewis-Moore and tackle Louis Nix. Nix is a force up the middle that can also provide a decent pass rush. The most talented player on this line, though, is end Stephon Tuitt. The versatile Tuitt can play just about every position you need him to. Other than Te'o these linebackers have senior Dan Fox back who can also make plays. The secondary is unproven and is the weakest unit on this team. Heisman Hopeful: Cierre Wood Independent Rank: 1st

Bowl Preview: Dec. 29 to Dec. 30

Champs Sports Bowl: (8-4) Notre Dame vs. Florida State (8-4)
I'm really excited to watch this one as two teams that have been disappointments meet. Both of these could easily have 10 wins but both meet up with 8 wins and 4 losses. Now as the two historic teams meet up the X-factor will likely be quarterback. E.J. Manuel has struggled with injuries but in the time he played he has been productive. Tommy Rees can hang with anyone but he can make mistakes occasionally. Rees has better options in Michael Floyd and tight end Tyler Eifert. Both coaches want this one but only one can win.
Notre Dame, 34 Florida State, 28
Alamo Bowl: (9-3) Baylor vs. Washington (7-5)
Baylor's has had one of the most successful years in their history and will try to end the season with a win against the cold Huskies. Both have playmakers at quarterback as Heisman winner Robert Griffin goes up against Washington's Keith Price. Price has a better back though as Chris Polk can do serious damage. But the Bears offense is just too high-powered to stop as the Huskies defense gets smashed by the Bears.
Baylor, 38 Washington, 27
Armed Forces Bowl: (9-3) BYU vs. Tulsa (8-4)
A prolific Tulsa offense headed by quarterback G.J. Kinne and a deep ground game meets up with the BYU Cougars. The Cougars are led by efficient quarterbacks Riley Nelson and Jake Heaps. Though well an okay defense be able to handle a Tulsa offense that has averaged 56.6 point per game in it's last three games? Though the Golden Hurricane don't have a top defense either or a good rush defense where the Cougars are strong at.
Tulsa, 28 BYU, 27
Insight Bowl: (9-3) Oklahoma vs. Iowa (7-5)
Few people would believe me if I said that the preseason number one Sooners would falter to 9-3 and be playing in the Insight Bowl. But thats what happens when a Heisman canidate struggles and a star wide out gets injured. Now they meet 7-5 Iowa who hopes for a strong win. James Vandenberg had a strong year as he passed for 2,806 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has a fantastic back behind him in Marcus Coker who had 13 hundred plus this year. Landry Jones year may have been called a disappointment but he still passed for 4,302 yards and 28 touchdowns. Though with no Broyles to pass too he might not have a great game. The Sooners defense though can shut down the Hawkeyes offense though easily.
Oklahoma, 28 Iowa, 16
Other Picks for December 30th:
Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers, 21 Iowa State, 17
Music City Bowl: Mississippi State, 24 Wake Forest, 21

Week 3 Report

Oklahoma proved why they have the number one ranking by defeating Florida State 23-13 on the road. The defense, which had many question marks going into this game looked shutdown holding a strong Seminoles offense. E.J. Manuel ended up injured which definitely helped the Sooners win the football game. Notre Dame won a big game over a tough Michigan State team. With the win the Fighting Irish improved to 1-2 which looks a lot better than 0-3 at this point. Kirk Cousins had 329 passing yards but with the weak running attack behind him it wasn't enough damage against Notre Dame. Roger Blanton's huge 84 yard interception return helped seal the win. I liked Tennessee over Florida but the Gators ended up taking down the Vols 33-23 to have them win seven straight in the rivalry. Chris Rainey had a huge game with 108 rushing yards and 104 receiving yards. He also had 3 punt returns for a total of 21 yards. Tyler Bray didn't have as big as a game as hoped but still had 288 passing yards. After escaping past BYU, Texas replaced Garrett Gilbert with a combo of Case McCoy and David Ash against UCLA. And it definitely ended up working as the Longhorns dominated the Bruins 49-20. Case was 12 for 15 for 168 yards and two touchdowns and Ash was 3 for 3 with 31 yards. Top recruit Malcolm Brown had a strong appearance also rushing for 110 yards on 22 carries with a touchdown. Miami looked good as they routed a disappointed Ohio State 24-6. Where did the Buckeyes passing game go? Starter Jon Bauserman was 2 for 14 and had just 13 yards and backup Braxton Miller didn't do much better. If the Buckeyes keep playing like they did in this game their chances for the Big Ten championship game will be done very soon.

Week 3 Predictions

1 Oklahoma vs. 5 Florida State Prediction: Oklahoma, 42 Florida State, 34
The best match up of the weekend, this battle between number one Oklahoma and five Florida State has huge BCS implications. The Sooners stampeded the 'Noles last year but many believe this one will be closer. The big question for FSU is about E.J. Manuel and if he'll be able to do damage against Oklahoma. He has a deep stable of backs behind him and without Travis Lewis in the middle running will be key. Cornerback Greg Reid will try to stuff up talented wide out Ryan Broyles and also do damage on the return game where he is most dangerous. End/linebacker Brandon Jenkins is a beast and will try to apply enough pressure on Landry Jones to make him make bad decisions.
15 Michigan State vs. Notre Dame Prediction: Michigan State, 30 Notre Dame, 17
The Fighting Irish are coming off two games they were supposed to win but play this game as an underdog and will try not to fall to 0-3. Michael Floyd had double-digit receptions for Notre Dame in the loss to Michigan and will give the Michigan defense headaches. Cierre Wood also had a strong appearance against the Wolverines but Jerel Worthy will try to stuff him up immediately. Kirk Cousins, Edwin Baker and B.J. Cunningham will try to lead the Spartans offense against an improved Irish defense.
17 Ohio State vs. Miami (FL) Prediction: Ohio State, 27 Miami, 24
This will be a meeting between two teams that had horrible off-seasons. Ohio State escaped Toldeo to stay undefeated and their are still various questions about this squad. Miami has talented around with an underrated backfield and a strong receiving core. But Jacory Harris nor Stephon Morris will provide the punch the Hurricane need at the QB postition. Jon Bauserman will start for the Buckeyes but will miss DeVier Posey to pass too. Dan Herron also isn't going to play of course which means he won't be able to provide any help on the ground game. Tackle John Simon is a menace for Ohio State and will intimidate the Hurricanes.
Tennessee vs. 16 Florida Prediction: Tennessee, 28 Florida, 20
The Volunteers have lost six straight in the series but I like them in this one. Tyler Bray had a dominant performance in the team's last game and will try to tear up the Gators defense. He has a strong backfield led by Tauren Poole behind him and a great defense. Tackle Malik Jackson and defensive backs Janzen Jackson and Prentiss Waggner will constantly make John Brantley make bad moves. Though Florida isn't weak either with Brantley, Omarius Hines, Deonte Thompson, Trey Burton and Jelani Jenkins.

Week Two Report

Few knew who Melvin Ingram(6) was before his impressive game against Georgia.
The only ranked match up this week Alabama looked good against Penn State. The Crimson Tide still aren't confident about A.J. McCarron at quarterback but they'll still win games with the guys surrounding him. Nebraska didn't dominate Fresno State, in fact, it was pretty close. I don't think the Cornhuskers deserve the ten spot just yet because I think they need to figure out a little bit more on offense. A huge kickoff return sealed the win for the 'Huskers 42-29. Originally I thought Wisconsin should have been on upset alert when they played Oregon State but they routed them from start to finish. The ground game looks just as strong even without John Clay but I'm still worried about their defense which looked horrible week one against UNLV. Shutting down a sneaky Beavers team helped silence some critics about the defense. After getting shoved down by the LSU Tigers Oregon played angry against Nevada running up the score in the 69-20 domination. Darron Thomas stated his Heisman case by passing and running for touchdowns time and time again. Though a tough Pac 12 looms in the distance. South Carolina's win over Georgia proved they will be a formidable opponent in the SEC. The MVP had to be the defensive tackle Melvin Ingram for the Gamecocks who ran for a touchdown on a trick play, recovered a fumble for a touchdown and gained the key offside kick. Auburn dropped out of the Top 25 after sneaking a win against lowly Utah State but will likely get back in after deating Mississippi State, 41-34. Michael Dyer had a strong performance as the Tigers restart their BCS title chase. Arizona State has commonly been called a dark horse and after defeating 21st ranked Missouri they showed that they likely will be. Texas sneaked out a 17-16 win over BYU but they still have a lot of problems to fix. The defense looked okay against Jake Heaps and the Cougars but Garrett Gilbert and the offense looked flat. The Notre Dame-Michigan game was probably the craziest game I have ever seen. After what looked like Notre Dame's game Michigan fought back and scored late. At this point with the lead I thought the Wolverines had the game but after Tommy Rees led the Fighting Irish to a touchdown I changed my thought. But Denard Robinson and Junior Hemmingway led the Wolverines deep into Notre Dame territory. Star wide out Roy Roundtree's catch was the game-winner. Notre Dame starts season 0-2 and desperately needs a win.

Week One Report

B.J. Daniels and the Bulls looked great running all around the Fighting Irish defense.

I guess Notre Dame was a little bit overrated this year. Through two weather delays the Fighting Irish couldn't hold off the South Florida Bulls. Dayne Crist didn't look great and the Notre Dame defense couldn't keep with B.J. Daniels and the rest of the Bulls offense. LSU sure looks like a formidable opponent out of the SEC after beating Oregon pretty easily. The first half I thought both of the teams looked a little sloppy but both had an impressive second half. Imagine how good the Tigers can be once Jordan Jefferson returns and back and wide out Russell Sheppard. Darron Thomas appeared late last season as a Heisman canidate but he really hurt his chance for the race with a pretty weak performance. TCU had a dream year in 2010 but their strong defense didn't look good against Baylor. Robert Griffin harassed the Horned Frogs defense from running the ball and passing it. Casey Pachall looked pretty good but TCU will still definitely miss Andy Dalton. Boise State showed once more they can win against teams from major conferences when they took down Georgia. Kellen Moore still looked fantastic even without Austin Pettis, Titus Young and tight end Tony Gallarda. Georgia's ground game had some big plays but it wasn't enough to take down the Broncos. I thought the game between Texas A&M and SMU would be close but it ended up being a big lopsided performance. Kyle Padron looked overmatched against the Aggies defense. Oklahoma showed why they were number one by just destroying a pretty tough Tulsa team. Landry Jones tore up a Tulsa secondary and the Sooners defense looked pretty good. East Carolina looked good early but couldn't keep pace with South Carolina. Connor Shaw looked good after Steve Spurrier announced he would start over expected starter Stephen Garcia.

Predictions for College Football Games: Week One

3 Oregon vs. 4 LSU Prediction: Oregon, 38 LSU, 27
How to Beat Oregon: Force deep throws. Darron Thomas doesn't have a great arm and Jeff Maehl is gone meaning the Ducks don't have a go-to receiver. Run the ball also. Casey Matthews and Kenny Rowe are gone in the front seven so you can gain a lot of small yardage through out the game.
How to Beat LSU: Make them prove that they can throw the ball. Whether Jordan Jefferson or Jarrett Lee's the starter the Tigers don't have a great passing game. Throwing for effective short passes will beat Morris Claiborne and the rest of the secondary.
5 Boise State vs. 19 Georgia Prediction: Boise State, 28 Georgia, 21
How to Beat Boise State: Cover the wide outs as close as possible. Kellen Moore is accurate but isn't as strong with the deep ball. Throw the ball as much as possible. The secondary is the Broncos' defense weakest link so some big gains in the air would help.
How to Beat Georgia: Pressure Aaron Murray quite a lot. He is still young and every young QB won't make great decisions under pressure. Make him move out of the pocket and throw the ball. A lot of effective 8 to 11 yard passes will weaken the Georgia defense.
South Florida vs. 16 Notre Dame Prediction: Notre Dame, 31 South Florida, 17
How to Beat Notre Dame: Double-team Michael Floyd. Other then Floyd Notre Dame's options aren't very strong. Make Dayne Crist spread the ball around as much as possible. Deep passes will help significantly due to the fact that the Fighting Irish have a weak secondary.
How to Beat South Florida: Make B.J. Daniels stay in the pocket. He is much more effective when he can move around on the run and make throws. He is also effective by scrambling. Power-up your offense. Pass and run the ball confidently. The Bulls defense isn't very great.

College Football Preview: 21. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

21. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
QB Dayne Crist- Junior
WR Michael Floyd- Senior
OT Taylor Rever- Senior
LB Manti Te'o- Junior
It won't be a stretch to place the Irish here. Notre Dame returns 19 starters including 10 on offense. Quarterback Dayne Crist will improve quietly in his junior year after a decent sophomore year. Crist has good accuracy but doesn't have a great arm to longball it to senior Michael Floyd. The backfield lost Armando Allen but still returns runningback Cierre Wood. Jonas Gray is behind him and has more experience as he is a senior. Crist's options are of course led by Michael Floyd definitely the offensive star. Floyd is a home run receiver and can catch short balls also. Without good receiving tight end Kyle Rudolph the Fighting Irish are weaker. Sophomore T.J. Jones and junior Theo Reddick are okay. The offensive line is pretty talented too thanks to tackles Taylor Rever and Zack Martin. Senior guard Trevor Robinson is the anchor on the unit. Notre Dame's defense has never been their strength but it is better this year with many players back. Defensive end Ethan Johnson is good one the side and Hafis Williams is huge up the middle. Linebacker Manti Te'o is the best defensive player on the squad. He has improved dramatically in his first two years and will do the same in his third. The secondary is decent also with senior Gary Gray, Harrison Smith and others. Punter Nick Taucsch isn't too great but will do okay.

Heisman Hopeful: Dayne Crist
Independents Rank: 1st

Big Game Predictions

Alabama vs. South Carolina- Can anyone stop the might Crimson Tide? Two straight wins over top ten SEC teams will be helped by another one. Marcell Dareus has big game for Tide.
Michigan State vs. Michigan- Yes Denard Robinson has been superhuman in the first five games for the Wolverines. But other than him Michigan lacks depth. Kirk Cousins is dangerous and the defense can stop Robinson.
Oregon State vs. Arizona- Few teams have been bigger disappointments than the Beavers. Obviously they have had a tough schedule and have absoultely no momentum going up against a very hot team. Tackle Marcus Washington needs to shut down speedy Jacquizz Rodgers.
LSU vs. Florida- LSU escaped over Tennessee and Florida was destroyed by 'Bama. This means that both these teams need wins on their resume. Both teams need their young starters, Brantley for Gators and Jefferson for Tigers to star.
Miami vs. Florida State
Tons of people are talking about this one. I don't know if the Seminoles defense can shut down Jacory Harris and the rest of the lethal 'Cane passing game. Christian Ponder isn't too bad either.
Stanford vs. USC- Both are suffering from two key Pac 10 losses. Andrew Luck and Matt Barkley are two of the best quarterbacks in the Pac 10, and both have power run games. Shayne Skov is underrated and should help the Cardinal regain momentum.
Pittsburgh vs. Notre Dame- This is the most underappreciated game of the week. Both have first year starters but have options. Dion Lewis hopes to be healthy and make plays to secure a win for the Panthers.

Biggest Busts, Surprises In College Football

It's already been a crazy football season. Now I give you a list of my busts and surprises:

Busts: Cincinnati We thought that the Bearcats would be just fine without Tony Pike because they had Zach Collaros who won four games replacing the injured Pike last year. It hasn't worked that way. The Bearcats are 1-2 including losses against Fresno State and NC State. Iowa Already they look plain bad. After two straight cupcake wins they lost to 24 Arizona. Their offense looked weak and a good defense usually didn't look much better. Notre Dame We knew they weren't going to be top ten material but the win against Purdue showed promise. The loss to Michigan even if it was by just four showed they need improvement.

Surprises South Carolina They are a good football team. The combo of quarterbacks Christian Garcia and Conner Shaw has worked out fine and freshman Marcus Lattimore has been truly amazing riding the Game Cocks to high in the SEC. Arizona They didn't look great against Toledo but hey they beat Iowa. If Nick Foles can have the season he did last year-as a dark horse for the Heisman- the Wildcats could win the Pac 10. Michigan How about this? I doubted them against UConn and Notre Dame both but they won by a combined 24 points. They also survived against UMass. If Denard Robinson plays like he is playing they are a threat to beat Ohio State.

TCU Escapes, Michigan Routes UConn, Kelly Leads Notre Dame to a Win

6 TCU, 30 24 Oregon State, 21
Andy Dalton passed up Sammy Baugh as the all time winningest quarterback in TCU history last night in the Horned Frogs nine point escape. He deserved it, rushing for two touchdowns and threw for another as he routed a decent Beaver secondary. Ryan Katz, th young starter for Oregon State was the opposite equation. He did have 159 passing yards to Dalton's 175 but showed his strong arm passing for two touchdowns both over 30 yard scores to leading receiver last season James Rodgers(30 yards) and Jordan Bishop(34 yards). Many thought Oregon State was underrated in the polls and the Horned Frogs should be on upset alert. Dalton and back Ed Wesley(134 rushing yards) proved them wrong with a nice win to start off the season.
Michigan, 30 UConn, 10
A three quarterback race took place on Michigan's campus. Denard Robinson, a born scrambler (led Michigan in rushing with 29 carries for 197 yards) won the job and while obviously did pretty good. He also had 186 passing yards. Jordan Todman, the explosive Huskie back had a decent game and added another 100 yard game (105 yards). He also scored the Huskies only touchdown. Zach Frazier had a good game in terms of passing yards, he had 205, but he failed to complete enough passes 18 for 37 and failed to get the ball to receivers in the end zone. Rich Rodriguez is still on the hot seat but it was a good win but last season Michigan started strong and couldn't get a bowl berth.
Notre Dame, 23 Purdue, 12
In Brian Kelly's debut Notre Dame showed promise. The Purdue Boilermakers have a strong team with former Miami QB Robert Marve, wide receiver Keith Smith and defensive end Ryan Kerrigan. Dayne Christ in his first start replacing Jimmy Clausen. He passed for 205 yards and threw for a touchdown. He didn't need be fantastic as back Armando Allen looked good rushing for 93 yards on 18 carries and getting one touchdown. Strong recivers Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph obviously helped Christ. So it's far to say the Fighting Irish had a good game. Could this be the turning point of the Irish?