FAVORITE TEAMS

I did this last year just for kicks. I’m doing this again since Week 0 of college football is approaching us next weekend. I’m currently working on more CFB info, so expect plenty of posts in the next couple of weeks. Let’s see what should be expected from the Top 25 teams in September.

#1 ALABAMA – …Yeah, get back to me in October. Hello??? Texas??? Hello???

#2 OHIO STATE – Big time matchups of the month. Notre Dame and Wisconsin, and both are defensive-minded. Buckeye defense, redeem yourselves or the offense carries much more.

#3 GEORGIA – The Champ Dawgs face Oregon’s former DC Dan Lanning and Auburn transfer Bo Nix on neutral site. Also, be wary of a potential trap game at South Carolina. Spencer Rattler will be waiting.

#4 CLEMSON – Can’t tell if a neutral site game in Atlanta against Georgia Tech is a trap game? Expect DJ Uiagalelei to redeem himself when Clemson travels to Winston-Salem (unsure if Sam Hartman will be active by then).

#5 NOTRE DAME – First game will be primetime at Ohio State. Playing at Chapel Hill against UNC could be tricky. Let’s see what new coach Marcus Freeman has for his squad.

#6 TEXAS A&M – The AP was too generous to A&M. They’re young and replacing key players across the defensive line and trying out a new quarterback. They’re in the state of Texas for a full month, but Miami and Arkansas are no slouch. Maybe Appalachian State too??? Talent and youth must step up alongside experience.

#7 UTAH – Quarterback Cam Rising has changed the way Utah played last season. Florida will be a huge test. Florida transfer linebacker Mohamoud Daibate will see old faces on the opposing end. Also, never underestimate San Diego State.

#8 MICHIGAN – They’re home all month and will be 3-0 before the Maryland matchup. The Terps’ offense will test the defense without Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, and Daxton Hill. Be ready for the air assault.

#9 OKLAHOMA – Sooners retool their roster with new faces, especially on offense. Familiarity is there with quarterback Dillon Gabriel and OC Jeff Lebby. Familiarity is also there for Texas transfer quarterback Casey Thompson (Nebraska) and Nebraska transfer Adrian Martinez (Kansas State). Be ready for the last two weeks.

#10 BAYLOR – Road games at BYU and Iowa State will test Baylor’s meddle. They have depth in the trenches on both sides, but the skills players on both sides must come through.

#11 OREGON – Former SEC co-horts Dan Lanning and Bo Nix face their SEC counterpart Georgia. BYU won’t have pity on the ducks. The road game at Washington State shouldn’t be underestimated either.

#12 OKLAHOMA STATE – Central Michigan and Arizona State warm ups for the Pokes as long as they don’t slip up. However, they must find new leadership and new DC Derek Mason must maintain the defense’s stability.

#13 NC STATE – East Carolina could scare the Wolfpack a bit. Besides that, they should intimidate the rest of their September foes. They have enough experience to start 4-0 in September.

#14 USC – I’ll be a respectable Oklahoma fan and not put the “F” in front of USC. They have an abundance of transfers that could make immediate impact. How quickly they connect remains to be seen. The trenches on both sides are a concern though. They travel to Stanford and Oregon State and face a dangerous Fresno State team at home.

#15 MICHIGAN STATE – Somewhere on that schedule could be a trap. They can’t sleep on Western Michigan. The MAC loves spoiling the Big Ten. A road game at Washington could be challenging. Then their big game is against Minnesota.

#16 MIAMI (FL) – Don’t assume the Canes are back. It’s only coach Mario Cristobal’s first season at Miami. Their September schedule is simple, but the game at College Station will determine if the Canes are ready for a big year.

#17 PITTSBURGH – Kenny Pickett and Jordan Addison will be sorely missed. They will be fine, but games against West Virginia and Tennessee will be tough. A road game at Western Michigan could be a trap if Pittsburgh’s wounded from the first two teams…

#18 WISCONSIN – They should handle Washington State no problem and go 3-0. And then there’s Ohio State in Columbus in the last week of September. It’s quarterback Graham Mertz’s time to finally step up. Come on, boy!

#19 ARKANSAS – The Hogs look primed this season, but let’s see how they handle September. Believe it or not, they’re tested against Cincinnati. And then there’s South Carolina, who has Spencer Rattler and an underrated defense. Follow up with Texas A&M in Arlington at the end of September and we’re all wondering if the Hogs are for real in 2022?

#20 KENTUCKY – It should be a fairly easy September for quarterback Will Levis and the Wildcats. Their only test is at Gainesville, Florida against new coach Billy Napier and quarterback Anthony Richardson.

#21 OLE MISS – The Rebels should have no problem starting 4-0. Big hype! HOWEVER, Troy or Georgia Tech shouldn’t be taken lightly.

#22 WAKE FOREST – With Sam Hartman out for a few weeks, it’s hard to say how they fair at Vanderbilt, and home against Liberty and Clemson. Hartman returning to Clemson would be a major relief. For now, Winston-Salem should be sweating.

#23 CINCINNATI – The Bearcats season gets a bit more challenging. They travel to Fayetteville for a big test. It’s also possible Miami (Ohio) has an improved roster to compete with Cincy too. There’s no telling what Indiana will look like, so Cincinnati should survive their home stand.

#24 HOUSTON – The Cougars have a tough two weeks on the road against UTSA and Texas Tech. Houston should beat Kansas but Lance Leipold has been “low key” rebuilding this program in the right direction, so don’t underestimate them.

#25 BYU – BYU’s run to the playoffs starts in September. Everyone’s already writing off USF, but the last two meetings against the Buffs were decided by eight points or less. Next are back-to-back games against #10 Baylor and #11 Oregon. Wyoming should be simple, but then there’s a potential shootout with Utah State to finish off September.

10 NON-RANKED TEAMS THAT COULD BE RANKED IN SEPTEMBER

1) TENNESSEE

2) IOWA

3) PENN STATE

4) LSU

5) FRESNO STATE

6) MINNESOTA

7) PURDUE

8) AUBURN

9) SOUTH CAROLINA

10) NEBRASKA