No clear front runner

[Dread-headed Texan]

Look around the college football landscape and you won't find any team to point at and say that's the team to beat. The darling right now is Oregon, because they beat a very bad OSU team. Their flaws haven't shown as much because in both of their wins they've been able to out athlete everyone. Wait until Dante Moore gets to face a defense that wants and has the ability to take away Oregon's strengths, and I don't care who or what era Oregon is playing in, after all the crazy uniforms, the first thing that comes to mind is SAWFT!

[LonghornFan4Ever]

My theory on this is, besides NIL and the portal, a lot of these covid super seniors have left these programs and that leaves them with very young, inexperienced rosters.  So you’ll probably have more weeks like this where the top teams outtalent lesser competition.

Right now, I would say Ohio State looks like they might go back-to-back, but a lot can happen between now and January 20th in Miami Gardens.

[Joe Zura]

4 minutes ago, LonghornFan4Ever said:

My theory on this is, besides NIL and the portal, a lot of these covid super seniors have left these programs and that leaves them with very young, inexperienced rosters.  So you’ll probably have more weeks like this where the top teams outtalent lesser competition.

Right now, I would say Ohio State looks like they might go back-to-back, but a lot can happen between now and January 20th in Miami Gardens.

I agree with you 💯 all these top teams are so young it’s going to make for a great season 

[Gerry Hamilton]

Too early to tell IMO 

I maintain that due to portal and playoff we won’t see dynastic runs anymore 

But also due to the portal teams change and improve so much early in the season … CFB is more like basketball now due to portal … teams build and round into form more like a basketball team due to roster churns annually 

[Joe Zura]

2 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Too early to tell IMO 

I maintain that due to portal and playoff we won’t see dynastic runs anymore 

But also due to the portal teams change and improve so much early in the season … CFB is more like basketball now due to portal … teams build and round into form more like a basketball team due to roster churns annually 

[Dread-headed Texan]

2 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Too early to tell IMO 

I maintain that due to portal and playoff we won’t see dynastic runs anymore 

But also due to the portal teams change and improve so much early in the season … CFB is more like basketball now due to portal … teams build and round into form more like a basketball team due to roster churns annually 

Even in basketball you kind of know. Barring that pesky 16 seed knocking someone off usually you end up with top teams going in the season competing to cut down the nets. You're right it is early, but with two games you have enough data on what teams want to do and what they need to clean up to actually accomplish their goals. No one right now is as good as they seem nor or they as bad, but issues are starting to bubble. Later on we'll look back and know if those concerns were warranted or were we like fans do are just over analyzing.

[harveycmd]

I don't think we'll know much about the top of the Big 10 until the playoff. Ohio State, Penn ST and Oregon only have one or two tough games. That means all three are getting in unless they lose key players or simply melt down. Big 12 and ACC are guesswork. SEC will likely beat each other up. Could mean the SEC will be more battle tested in the playoff; could mean they'll be battered and bruised. 

Obviously there's plenty of time for a team or two to figure it out.

[Gerry Hamilton]

1 hour ago, Dread-headed Texan said:

Even in basketball you kind of know. Barring that pesky 16 seed knocking someone off usually you end up with top teams going in the season competing to cut down the nets. You're right it is early, but with two games you have enough data on what teams want to do and what they need to clean up to actually accomplish their goals. No one right now is as good as they seem nor or they as bad, but issues are starting to bubble. Later on we'll look back and know if those concerns were warranted or were we like fans do are just over analyzing.

Somewhat, but not as much these days 

Florida won NC last year and was ranked 20-21 in preseason poll 

UConn had their great run, but look at the teams that were in E8 and FF those two years

Teams that have made a Final Four in last three years:

UConn 

Alabama

Florida 

Houston 

Auburn 

NC State 

FAU

San Diego State 

Miami 

Purdue 

Duke 

Times are much different now.

[Cujonation83]

1 hour ago, LonghornFan4Ever said:

My theory on this is, besides NIL and the portal, a lot of these covid super seniors have left these programs and that leaves them with very young, inexperienced rosters.  So you’ll probably have more weeks like this where the top teams outtalent lesser competition.

Right now, I would say Ohio State looks like they might go back-to-back, but a lot can happen between now and January 20th in Miami Gardens.

Totally agree 

[chennups]

Ohio state is definitely the front runner.  They will beat Penn State and beat Michigan.  If they play Oregon, it will be in the Big Ten Championship game.   We will have to beat them and Georgia at some point if we want to win.

[Dread-headed Texan]

2 minutes ago, chennups said:

Ohio state is definitely the front runner.  They will beat Penn State and beat Michigan.  If they play Oregon, it will be in the Big Ten Championship game.   We will have to beat them and Georgia at some point if we want to win.

Ohio State has just as many flaws as anyone else. They had 200 yards against Texas. 200 and the run game or run defense didn't exist. They may end up winning it all, nothing they've shown says this is their identity offensively and to win it all you need something to lean on. What is that for Ohio State? Can't say the passing game, can't say the running game, they crossed the 50 twice in four quarters. They are not the clear front runner.

[drag worm]

2 hours ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Too early to tell IMO 

I maintain that due to portal and playoff we won’t see dynastic runs anymore 

But also due to the portal teams change and improve so much early in the season … CFB is more like basketball now due to portal … teams build and round into form more like a basketball team due to roster churns annually 

Except in the case where a school goes all in to retain upperclassmen to win a natty like Ohio State did last year.