Is the U Really Back?

From 2000-2003, the Miami Hurricanes were 46-4 and lost just one conference game in that span. But, since the move from the Big East to the ACC the 'Canes have been downright average. Miami has been ranked three times in the final AP poll since 2004 and those have been rankings outside the Top 10. After beating the 12th ranked Florida Gators 21-16, a game that was dominated from start to finish by the Hurricanes, Miami jumped all the way up to No. 15 in the latest poll. Their recent success has led many to wonder if the old U, the dominant Miami teams from the 1980's to early 2000's is really back?


Stephen Morris

The talent on this Miami roster is fantastic. Sure it isn't yet the old Miami teams that were stacked with future NFL Hall of Famers, but it is impressive. The 'Canes are led by senior quarterback Stephen Morris who looks like he could be an NFL quarterback with his huge arm, sophomore back Duke Johnson who could be a Heisman threat and explosive receiver Phillip Dorsett who can stretch the field. Though it wasn't the offense that carried Miami to their upset of Florida, it was their defense who carried them to victory. The defense forced the Gators to commit five turnovers led by sophomore cornerback Tracy Howard and junior linebacker Denzel Perryman. The 'Canes hit hard and played aggressive and they played with a chip on their shoulder. If Miami's defense continues to play like they did against Florida and much of this offense stays healthy big things are going to happen for Miami.

A close look at Miami's schedule further suggests big things are on the horizon for the Hurricanes. Florida was their big opponent on their schedule and the win means an undefeated season, although it will obviously not be easy, is a real possibility. This week they get Savannah State, who shouldn't give Miami too much issues. After that they travel to South Florida, who just lost to a FCS opponent and Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets could make an interesting game, they beat Elon 70-0 to begin their year and it definitely isn't easy to stop their triple-option attack. Though, there isn't a lot of question that the toughest game on Miami's schedule this year will be the November 2nd date with Florida State, at Tallahassee. The 'Noles who could also be undefeated by the time they meet, are led by one of the nation's most exciting players in redshirt freshman Jameis Winston and a defense that has proven it can be dominant. The week after they meet up with Virginia Tech at home, a game that they should be favored in even if the Hokies offense finally starts getting things going. If Miami does manage to go undefeated in the regular season, or even a couple losses, they are loads better than any other team in the Coastal Division. They should roll to the ACC Championship where they have the possibility of playing Clemson.

Miami could be a dark horse national championship pick as they have the offense, explosiveness and aggressive defense that could take them to big games. This year, the 'Canes will have success, there is no getting away from it and they have the young talent and recruiting that could bring them to a consistent contender once more. Duke Johnson is just a true sophomore and they will have him for at least one more year and they already have a stocked 2014 class that includes four-star back Joseph Yearby and offensive tackle Kc McDermott an in-state talent.

So is the U really back? Are the 'Canes built once more to be a championship contender every single year? The past couple of years many have overreacted about the possibility of a Miami comeback, especially in the Jacory Harris era. But, this isn't an overreaction, this program is back and with Florida State back to their usual dominance it could make for an interesting ACC for years to come.

CFB Power Rankings

1. Alabama The Aggies await for the Tide and we will see just how good this Alabama team is. If they can get past Johnny Football and the Aggies they should roll to the SEC Championship game.
2. Oregon The Ducks' offense looks even more dangerous than usual; Marcus Mariota, De'Anthony Thomas and Byron Marshall form one of the scariest backfields in CFB history.
3. Clemson A week after beating Georgia, the Tigers dominated 52-13... Against South Carolina State. The offense, headed by Tajh Boyd, leads a fantastic offense.
4. Ohio State The Buckeyes' defense looked weak against Buffalo but responded with a dominant showing against an underrated San Diego State team.

Ed Reynolds

5. Stanford This offseason many people wondered who would replace Stepfan Taylor in the
backfield. Their questions were answered: senior Tyler Gaffney had 104 yards and Anthony Wilkerson had 65.
6. Louisville Teddy Bridgewater hasn't disappointed at all so far this year throwing all over defenses; though things will get tougher than Ohio and Eastern Kentucky.
7. Texas A&M Johnny Manziel was amazing against Sam Houston State and proved he may have improved since last year, though can the Aggies defense stop 'Bama?
8. LSU The Tigers have been dominant this season but in a non-LSU way. Zach Mettenberger has 533 passing yards and 6 touchdowns and LSU has been great through the air this year.
9. Florida State After Jameis Winston's dominant debut and Florida's recent loss the 'Noles have a real chance to go undefeated.
10. Michigan Devin Gardner had a great showing against a fantastic Notre Dame defense and proved this Michigan offense can be scary at times.
11. Georgia After their tough loss to Clemson, Georgia responded with a dominant showing against South Carolina. Todd Gurley is a Heisman threat and the Bulldogs are the favorite in the SEC East.
12. Oklahoma State The Big 12 suddenly looks weak; Texas and TCU have lost and Oklahoma struggled against West Virginia. If J.W. Walsh continues to dominate the Cowboys could run away with the conference.
13. South Carolina The Gamecocks played decent against Georgia but Connor Shaw continues to make bad decisions. Even if Clowney can really get things going South Carolina may be held back due to an average passing game.
14. Miami It wasn't a lethal offense that was the reason Miami beat Florida; it was their defense which looked weak entering the year. That is bad news for the rest of the ACC.
15. Oklahoma The Sooners never really looked in trouble against West Virginia but the offense still looks like it is still an issue.
16. UCLA The game against Nebraska will be a proving one; can the Bruins compete with Stanford and Oregon in the Pac-12?
17. Northwestern The Wildcats' offense continues to look dominant as Northwestern has put up 40+ in their first two games. If the Wildcats keep playing like this they could surprise the Big Ten.
18. Washington After their beatdown of Boise State the Huskies will head to Illinois, a team that is surprisingly 2-0. Bishop Sankey has the chance to have huge day and get himself into a real Heisman conversation.
19. Florida The Gators' offense looked lost against Miami and they turned the ball over too much. They will face tougher defenses in the SEC then Miami's.
20. Baylor 70 points is something to be proud of even if it was against a FCS team and the Bears offense looks about as dangerous as anyone's in the nation.
21. Wisconsin The Badgers have blown outs two easy opponents but we will see just how good this Wisconsin team is against an Arizona State.
22. Nebraska After a squeaker of a win over Wyoming the 'Huskers blew out Southern Miss. Can Taylor Martinez finally lead this team over the hump?
23. Notre Dame The Fighting Irish have a tough schedule but I still think this team could definitely get into a BCS bowl. Tommy Rees is efficient and the offense has some explosive players.
24. Ole Miss The Rebels will get Texas this week but that game looks a lot less intimidating after the Longhorns were dominated by BYU. Jeff Scott and Donte Moncrief lead a great offense.
25. Northern Illinois The Huskies are starting to become the Boise State of the Midwest, dominating weak teams but not enough big wins on their schedule. Jordan Lynch could lead this team to another BCS bowl.

Week Two College Football Picks

6 South Carolina vs. 11 Georgia
The Bulldogs lost a close on to Clemson and must now play the sixth-ranked Gamecocks in Sanford Stadium. Connor Shaw and South Carolina dominated UNC for much of that game and that was without Heisman candidate Jadeveon Clowney on top of his game. Clowney will be ready to go in this one and should give Georgia fans headaches. Evan against a relatively weak defense Georgia's offensive line was terrible and now they get Clowney and Chaz Sutton? It is a recipe for disaster for the Bulldogs. Todd Gurley dominated against Clemson and other than their defensive line, this South Carolina defense is just average. He will need to have a big night once more, especially if Aaron Murray continues his trend of losing big games. The talent of the Gamecocks offense isn't a huge drop-off from Clemson's in my opinion. Shaw looked pretty good against UNC and Mike Davis looks just as good as Marcus Lattimore. If Bruce Ellington is healthy and ready to play and Shaq Roland has a big game this could be a comfortable South Carolina win.
South Carolina, 34 Georgia, 24

Devin Gardner

14 Notre Dame vs. 17 Michigan
This historic rivalry will breath one more breath before being lost of a long time as it will end after this year. Notre Dame and Tommy Rees dominated against Temple but the Wolverines will put up a
bigger fight. Rees looked very good in his first game back as starter and receiver Davaris Daniels proved he can be a real deep threat. Meanwhile, Michigan's Devin Gardner had a strong game against another weak team but decision-making appears to be an issue. This Notre Dame defense could be the best he will see all season with Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix and Bennett Jackson. Gardner is definitely the X-factor and this defense could struggle. It did look good in Week One but Jake Ryan is still not playing and there are few proven defenders. Gardner can scramble but he won't be able to get to far against this defense as Notre Dame shuts down the Wolverines.
Notre Dame, 21 Michigan, 17

12 Florida vs. Miami
After a relatively close win the Gators get a team from in-state in dangerous Miami. The 'Canes dominated a weak Florida Atlantic 34-6 as sophomore back Duke Johnson ran for 186 yards. Johnson will be a force in this game but the Gators have proven their defense is still stout. Florida held Toledo very good and that was without defensive stars Antonio Morrison and Loucheiz Purifoy. Morrison should really help the rush defense which is obviously an important thing with Johnson running around. We will see how much Will Muschamp plays Purifoy at cornerback as he may also need him on offense. Purifoy will be needed as well; Stephen Morris is one great quarterback and can beat teams deep. Once more, Florida's hopes will hinge on junior QB Jeff Driskel who was average in the opener. Driskel does have a dangerous weapon to work with in back Matt Jones but the rest of the offense is mediocre. Even against Florida's defense Miami will put up points and it is tough to imagine Florida matching their number.

Miami, 38 Florida, 30

Other Picks
2 Oregon, 52 Virginia, 20
3 Ohio State, 35 San Diego State, 24
16 Oklahoma, 27 West Virginia, 9
15 Texas, 42  BYU, 27
19 Northwestern, 38 Syracuse, 28

Current Pick Record: 6-2

CFB Power Rankings

1. Alabama The Tide certainly have some things to work on but the fact that they beat Virginia Tech by 25 even with their offense struggling is scary.

Marcus Mariota

2. Oregon 66-3 is quite a way to start your coaching career. Yes, it was against Nichols, but Mark Helfrich has the talent on this roster to sneak into the national championship.

3. Clemson With the offense led by Tajh Boyd, Roderick McDowell and Sammy Watkins the Tigers
will put up a lot of points but their defense looked very improved against Georgia.

4. Ohio State At one point in the Buffalo game the score could have been 30-27, if a penalty hadn't been called on Buffalo's Khalil Mack. Scary for Ohio State but the talent is there.

5. Stanford Not much to say about Stanford as they had a bye week. We will see how their defense performs against David Fales and San Jose State.

6. South Carolina The Gamecocks dominated UNC for much of that game and that was without Jadeveon Clowney dominating. If he does this week against Georgia expect a huge win.

7. Texas A&M The Aggies handled Rice without much issues and now gets Johnny Manziel back for full games. Alabama awaits next on Texas A&M's schedule.

8. Louisville Teddy Bridgewater looked like a real Heisman threat, throwing for five touchdowns, even if it was against Ohio.

9. Florida State Jameis Winston started his Florida State career off with a bang against a decent Pitt team. The redshirt freshman dominated and should have a huge year.

10. LSU The Tigers were far from perfect in their opening game against TCU but they have the talent to survive in the SEC West.

11. Florida They might have won against Toledo and played dominant defense, but I still have a ton of questions about this team.

12. Georgia The Bulldogs did play well against Clemson, but as usual couldn't finish out the game. Things won't get easier as they face South Carolina this week.

13. Oklahoma State J.W. Walsh and the rest of this Cowboys team impressed against Mississippi State and their defense, which has been a weakness over the years, looks improved.

14. Texas The Longhorns blew out New Mexico State but this team is a mystery. David Ash looks very much improved, we will find out against Kyle Van Noy and BYU.

15. Notre Dame Tommy Rees had no issues in Notre Dame's dominating performance against Temple but it remains to be seen how good this offense around him is.

16. Michigan The Wolverines dominated but there are some questions about Devin Gardner, who made some bad decisions. The Notre Dame game will prove just how talented the junior is.

17. Oklahoma Redshirt freshman Trevor Knight played well after stealing the QB job from Blake Bell but the Sooners will face tougher opponents than Louisiana-Monroe.

18. UCLA The Bruins had no issues with Nevada, beating the Wolfpack by 38 and it appears sophomore QB Brett Hundley is poised for a huge 2013.

19. Nebraska  Wyoming gave them some real troubles but the 'Huskers still look strong. Taylor Martinez still has the same issues and the defense has some real questions though.

20. Northwestern Junior Treyvon Green had a great game and the Wildcats offense looked as good as ever. But, the defense couldn't stop freshman Jared Goff of Cal and they will see better quarterbacks than him in the Big Ten.

21. Wisconsin The Badgers used their power rushing attack to win, as usual. Sure, it was against UMass but it proved Gary Andersen won't change much things here in Madison.

22. Washington The Huskies came into the Boise game with a chip on their shoulder and blew out the Broncos 38-6. Back Bishop Sankey looks like a real threat to win the Heisman.

23. Ole Miss Vandy gave the Rebels all they could handle but Ole Miss prevailed. QB Bo Wallace is the real deal and the hyped recruiting class impressed.

24. Baylor 69-3 was Baylor's score in their first week. Sure, it was against Wofford, a terrible FCS school but new quarterback Bryce Petty showed great command of the offense.

25. USC So many questions surround this team. They don't even know who their starter is but managed to hang on and beat a weak Hawaii team.

CFB Week One Impressions

It is finally back and the first week of the college football season didn't disappoint. There were huge upsets like North Dakota State over Kansas State, dominant performances and a fantastic game between two of the nation's better teams. So what caught my eye this week?

Clemson, 38 Georgia, 35
Clemson beat their second straight SEC opponent with a squeaker of a win over Georgia. The game

Tajh Boyd

was back and forth and both teams played well but the Tigers won and that is all that matters. The big issue for Aaron Murray was shown in this one; he can't win big games. Murray can rack up impressive stats but he is 1-10 now against Top 25 opponents including two straight losses in the SEC Championship Game. If the Bulldogs didn't have back Todd Gurley, a preseason All-American, Georgia's offense would look terrible. Gurley showed us why he is a preseason All-American, rushing for 154 yards on 12 rushes and two touchdowns. It was against a Clemson defense that has been famous for making average offenses look explosive. Clemson couldn't tackle Gurley and that leaves questions to how they will perform against psychical runners. Clemson's defense did do one thing right; they got a ton of pressure on Murray. The Georgia offensive line looked like they couldn't stop anyone and that is a real cause for concern because they are going to be facing better pass rushers than what Clemson possesses.

I think Tajh Boyd should be considered the Heisman front runner after his impressive performance in this one. Boyd threw for 270 yards and three scores and also rushed for 43 yards. For any NFL scouts questioning if he can run a read-option offense, they probably were reassured.

A huge question for Clemson was whether or not they could find a replacement for All-ACC back Andre Ellington. On 22 carries senior back Roderick McDowell ran for 132 yards, averaging 6 yards a carry. McDowell has the speed and vision to be a force and also proved he can make great moves in the open field. Plus, junior receiver Sammy Watkins is a playmaker who can help in a number of different ways, including running the ball.

South Carolina, 27 UNC, 10
The war of the Carolinas wasn't even a contest. South Carolina dominated from start to finish against an underrated UNC team, winning 27-10. They dominated on both sides of the ball, as they ran effectively and played fantastic on defense, even though Heisman candidate Jadeveon Clowney wasn't a force. This was a quality win for South Carolina but it only gets tougher from here on, as the Gamecocks get Georgia next and their annual rivalry game against Clemson, who could be undefeated when the two square off.

Senior QB Connor Shaw was competing with junior Dylan Thompson for the job and definitely impressed. Shaw proved he can throw a deep ball after a beautiful strike to explosive receiver Shaq Roland. Though the same issues he has struggled with seem to still be there; he pulls the ball down the moment he feels pressure and still lowers his shoulder when embracing contact, leaving him vulnerable for injuries. Thompson only played a little bit but made a fantastic throw to Kane Whitehurst for a 29 yard throw but definitely has happy feet.

Other Thoughts
Oregon State coach Mike Riley should definitely be worried about how his Beavers performed against FCS Eastern Washington. Junior quarterback Sean Mannion passed for 400+ yards and his Beavers were still downed in the last second. If the defense allows 49 points to Eastern Washington, what is it going to be able to do against Oregon and Washington?

The SEC should be scared of Alabama, if they aren't already for some reason. The Tide, who are famous for a strong, power ground attack were held under 100 rush yards against Virginia Tech. Even with that issue the Crimson Tide still managed to put up 35 points on the score board and found an emerging star in Christion Jones, a junior who had three total touchdowns.

Washington is definitely the dark horse of the Pac-12 conference. Bishop Sankey ran all over a strong Boise State rush defense, rushing for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns. Keith Price also proved that he can be a great quarterback once more this year and the defense, which has had a ton of questions during Steve Sarkisian's tenure held Boise to just six points.

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.

Week One College Football Picks

6 South Carolina vs. UNC

Bryn Renner

The college football season kicks off with the war of Carolinas. South Carolina has aspirations to win the SEC East and challenge for a national title, while the now-eligible UNC team looks to win the pretty weak ACC. NFL scouts will be watching to see how UNC's Bryn Renner performs against three NFL caliber linemen (Jadeveon Clowney, Kelcy Quarles, Chaz Sutton). Renner has talent around him to work with and has help from his offensive line which is led by All-American threat James Hurst at left tackle. We know the Gamecocks defense is great up front with Clowney and the rest of the line but we will have to see how the rest of the defense performs. South Carolina enters this game with a strong offense as well but we still don't know for sure who the quarterback will be. Senior Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson will fight for the starting job. Shaw is a more mobile threat who started the bulk of the 2012 season. It would appear Shaw has the edge and will likely be the starter. It will be interesting to see how Shaw plays because the quarterback position is definitely the X-factor for South Carolina. UNC isn't  a bad team but South Carolina will force turnovers and be able to squeak out a win.
South Carolina, 27 UNC, 17

5 Georgia vs. 8 Clemson
Both of these teams believe if they can get a win here their road to the national championship will be set. It will be easier for Clemson, after this their toughest ACC matchup will be Florida State then the rivalry against South Carolina. Both of these teams have explosive offenses and both will likely be throwing the ball all over the place. I want to see if Georgia can defend Sammy Watkins, if he plays to his full potential he may be the toughest individual player Georgia might see the whole year. The Georgia defense has a lot to prove, they lose a ton of talent and leadership from a great unit last year. Clemson's defense has a lot to prove as well, it improved mightily last year but it still has some questions. Georgia's offense is explosive as well led by Aaron Murray and Todd Gurley. These two teams seem really evenly-matched but it will come down to who ever can finish the games, I think Murray's experience in big games can carry the Bulldogs to a close win.
Georgia, 31 Clemson, 28

12 LSU vs. 20 TCU
Over the offseason people raved about Zach Mettenberger's improvement and his ability to have a strong senior year. Now, we will get our first look of Mettenberger against a great defense in TCU. The Horned Frogs have a fantastic pass rusher in sophomore Devonte Fields who could have a huge year. TCU also has cornerback Jason Verrett, a shutdown corner who will test Mettenberger constantly. For the first time in years it appears LSU has the receivers to help their QB with the return of Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry, who looks like the real deal. The Tigers defense has a lot to prove with tons of impact players gone and lacks leadership. We will see how they perform against dangerous dual threat Casey Pachall. Though, Pachall may be rusty after he missed the second half of last year. TCU looks like they have the defense to be able to keep up with LSU but their offense struggles against a great defense.
LSU, 24 TCU, 13

1 Alabama vs. Virginia Tech
The Tide get their first road block of the season on their quest for three straight national titles. Virginia Tech struggled to a 7-6 mark last year but this team is better and has more offensive playmakers. Senior QB Logan Thomas had a rough year in 2012 and will get a whole lot of pressure from this Tide defense. The Hokies defense is also solid and will be able to keep Virginia Tech in the game even if the offense struggles. The Tide's offense has the chance to be dangerous this year and the Hokies defense is without Antonie Exum. Virginia Tech won't be a pushover but don't expect this one to go down to the wire.
Alabama, 34 Virginia Tech, 20

Other Picks
13 Oklahoma State, 45 Mississippi State, 24
19 Boise State, 28 Washington, 27
Ole Miss, 24 Vanderbilt, 16
Northern Illinois, 31 Iowa, 17

College Basketball Preview Sneak Peek

Although Louisville was crowned national champion just a few months ago and the season is still a while away it is never to early to think about college basketball. Here are five big storylines to think about for 2013-2014:

Kentucky: Only in today's college basketball could a team miss the NCAA tournament, lose to Robert Morris in the NIT first round and still be considered the best team entering 2013-14. The Wildcats bring in the best class in college

The Harrison Twins

hoops history with Julius Randle, the Harrison twins, James Young and Marcus Lee. Center Willie Cauley-Stein is expected to make huge strides after an inconsistent freshman showing and another sophomore, Alex Poythress, should see major minutes. Archie Goodwin, Ryan Harrow and Kyle Wiltjer are all gone but that isn't really a bad thing for this team.

The New Big East: After the fallout of the Big East in football, a new Big East has been formed. Syracuse and Pitt along with Notre Dame move to the ACC, while Louisville, Rutgers, Cincinnati, UConn and South Florida move to the newly formed American Athletic. This left the seven catholic schools to fend for themselves and they did well; they reeled in Butler, Xavier and Creighton, all strong mid-major programs. This new league might never be as good as the old Big East, where tournament teams sometimes reached the double-digits but it will still be strong. The addition of Butler, Creighton and Xavier will bring even more physicality to the league and more rivalries.

Repeat?:  The last team to repeat as national champions was the Florida team of All-Stars led by Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer. Louisville has enough back from last year's team to start thinking about it. Russ Smith flirted with the NBA but decided to come back and is immediately a Wooden Award threat. Luke Hancock, who had a dream tournament, gives the Cardinals a dangerous shooting threat and Montrezl Harrell and Chane Behanan are expected to develop into All-America big men. There will be some loss in leadership with four-year contributor Peyton Siva gone but somebody should take over the leadership reins.

Wichita State is a real threat: The Shockers shocked the college basketball landscape when they rod their tough, psychical brand of basketball to a Final Four, and nearly upset the number one overall seed, Louisville. Senior leader Carl Hall is gone from that team but nearly everyone else, except for Malcolm Armstead, returns. Big man Cleanthony Early had quite the NCAA tournament and should make quite the name for himself this year. Wichita also brings back swingman Ron Baker who should develop more in 2013-14 and guard Fred van Fleet will improve in big ways. Head coach Gregg Marshall also managed to bring in three-star prospect Shaquille Morris to help the frontcourt.

Coaching Changes: Andy Enfield's Florida Gulf Coast team made such an impression on college basketball fans everywhere, USC decided to hire the mastermind of "Dunk City". The other school in Los Angeles, UCLA, also found a new head coach after yet another disappointing year from Ben Howland. Former New Mexico head coach Steve Alford comes to Pauley Pavilion with a ton of pressure. Though he has proven he can succeed; his New Mexico teams won four Mountain West titles in his five years there. In the Big Ten, Minnesota said goodbye to Tubby Smith after a year in which the Gophers never fulfilled their vast potential. Rich Pitino (yes Rick's son) comes to the Twin Cities with some talent to work with. But the Big Ten will once more be brutal and Rodney Williams and Trevor Mbakwe are both gone. Rutgers hopes to start a new with Eddie Jordan, after firing the disgraced Mike Rice.

College Football Preview: Heisman

Although the past couple of years, the Heisman winner has been a surprise (Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin) it is still tradition to think about what players may be fighting for this year's Heisman. Here are a list of the top contenders:

Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

Johnny Manziel

Since he won it last year it would be silly not to put Johnny Football on this list. Manziel should still be one of the most exciting players in college football and it is reasonable to think that he will improve this year. Although, he didn't have a lot of weaknesses in 2012 and he shredded some of the nation's top defenses, Manziel still made bad decisions and struggled in close games. Other than a pivotal matchup with Alabama on September 14th, the Aggies schedule is pretty
favorable. Other than dates with LSU and Ole Miss, Texas A&M should be able to win easily. If Johnny Manziel performs as well as 2012 and manages to beat the Tide once more another Heisman will be in his hands.

Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State
Ohio State is the class of the Big Ten and they should be picked to win every single game this season. They will be favored to go 13-0 and appear in the national championship game meaning Miller will automatically get a lot of hype because he is the quarterback of an undefeated team. Everybody loves a dual threat for a Heisman and Miller is definitely one; he threw for 2,039 yards and ran for 1,271 more. If Miller's passing game continues to develop and the Buckeyes do indeed go undefeated in the regular season, Miller might well be the favorite.

A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama
Many believe (including me) that the Tide will win their third straight national title this year. If McCarron has the year he had in 2012, 30 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions it will be tough for Heisman voters not to give him the nod. McCarron isn't the exciting, dual threat that Miller and Manziel are but he is still a proven winner who is the leader of the nation's best team. If 'Bama beats Texas A&M and Virginia Tech, McCarron should be the favorite early on the season. The Tide's late-season schedule is relatively easy so if he does become the early favorite, McCarron could ride all the way to a Heisman.

Teddy Bridgewater

Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
The strong-armed quarterback out of Louisville who will likely be the first QB taken in next year's draft, Bridgewater should put up the numbers to sneak into the Heisman race. The question for him will be whether Louisville has the schedule for him to win it. The Cardinals play in the weak American Athletic and even if they do go undefeated it may be tough for them to get into the national championship game. Bridgewater should put up some huge numbers but he may remind some people of Boise's former QB Kellen Moore; a stat machine who doesn't play in enough big games to win the big one.

Others
De'Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon
Thomas has the explosiveness and excitement to get votes, especially if Oregon manages to win the Pac-12.

Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
If a defensive player is to win the Heisman anytime soon it will likely be Clowney. The massive, athletic end should be a sack machine and an impact player the whole year.

Marqise Lee, WR, USC
Lee had a magical 2012 but Matt Barkley is gone and we still don't know who will be the QB at USC this year. Even if there are QB issues, Lee should still be a playmaker.

2013 Heisman Winner: Braxton Miller

College Football Preview: 5 Impact Freshman

In case you forget last season, the Heisman winner was a freshman. More and more, freshman are being counted on to make an impact from the beginning. Here are five that have a chance to be the next Johnny Football:

Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Winston, who will likely take over the quarterback job at Florida State for Buffalo Bill E.J. Manuel, has the chance to have a magical year. The redshirt freshman has the size and arm of a NFL quarterback and his mobility is a major strength. Winston has smarts well behind his years and has showed tremendous poise in scrimmages and the spring game. But, those were only scrimmages. What happens when Winston faces Florida, with their agressive, speedy defense? It will be interesting to see how he handles it, but the raw potential is most definitely there for him.

LaQuvionte Gonzalez, Specialist, Texas A&M
If you were to make a list of the explosive players in college football who would you have on it? De'Anthony Thomas and a lot of Oregon players, I'm sure. Braxton Miller, Johnny Manziel? Add to that list Gonzalez, a four-star commit out of Cedar Hill, Texas. Gonzalez runs a 4.56 40 but seems even faster when he is on the field. Gonzalez is also extremely versatile and will get a bunch of different looks in the Aggies' offense. He can line up at back, receiver or be a primary returner. Coach Kevin Sumlin has a lot of talent on his roster but he will surely find ways to get Gonzalez the ball from the beginning, as he can score anytime he touches it.

Kelvin Taylor, RB, Florida
A big reason for the Gators' success last year was back Mike Gillislee, who is now gone. That leaves a big hole in the backfield one that could be filled by the productive five-star commit Kelvin Taylor. The nation's number eight overall prospect (according to ESPN.com) has the speed, vision and footwork needed to be an elite back. Junior quarterback Jeff Driskel is still learning the ropes and Will Muschamp loves running the ball meaning Florida will have a dominant ground attack. Taylor may not be the first choice; sophomore Matt Jones and junior Mack Brown should get their bulk of carries but it appears Taylor will still be an important factor.

Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
Penn State enters the season with a huge question mark at quarterback as they must decide between sophomore Tyler Ferguson and Hackenberg, the nation's top overall quarterback prospect. It appears coach Bill O'Brien may be leaning towards Ferguson, because he has the edge in experience and a better understanding of the offense. Even if Ferguson wins the job, that isn't set in stone. Hackenberg will still see snaps and should still be a factor. Hackenberg has the size and strength to be a great QB from the start.

Robbie Rhodes, WR, Baylor
Baylor has had one of the nation's most explosive offenses the past couple of years and that shouldn't change this season. The backfield is stacked and quarterback Bryce Petty is ready to step up. Add to that offense, Rhodes, a five-star commit in some scouting services. Rhodes has the speed to be a real deep threat but also has the size and strength to be a receiver who can operate in traffic. He gives the Bears quickness and smarts and should give Petty another option in the passing game behind Tevin Reese.

Others to Watch
Zach Kline, QB, Cal
Thomas Tyner, RB, Oregon
Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State