College Football Preview 2018 by EDWARDS PUBLICATIONS

The Journal Friday, August 31, 2018

COLLISION COURSE TIGERS AND TIDE ENTER SEASON AS NATIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TOP TWO TEAMS AGAIN AFTER 3 YEARS OF PLAYOFF SHOWDOWNS

ALSO INSIDE: PREVIEWS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA AND THE REST OF THE AP TOP 10, PLUS MUCH MORE

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

August 31, 2018

NO. 2 CLEMSON

The Journal | 3

Last year: 12-2 (7-1 ACC); ACC champions; lost in CFP semifinal

COURSE MARK MCINNIS | THE JOURNAL

Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant prepares for impact from Alabama defensive lineman Daron Payne during the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 in New Orleans. Many experts have predicted the Tigers and Crimson Tide will meet in the College Football Playoff for the fourth year in a row this year.

Loaded Tigers eye another title run BY ERIC SPROTT THE JOURNAL

CLEMSON — abo Swinney would bristle at any question that even began to broach the subject, but there’s certainly a pertinent question on the minds of college football fans across the nation as the start of another season draws near. Are Clemson and Alabama once again on a collision course to meet in the College Football Playoff? High-stakes meetings between the powerhouse programs have become a hallmark of the playoff, as they’ve met each of the last three years — including the 2015 and 2016 title games won by the Crimson Tide and the Tigers, respectively. A season ago, Alabama — the only program to have appeared in the playoff in all four years of its existence — ended Clemson’s season with a 24-6 loss in the Sugar Bowl in one of the playoff semifinal contests on the way to winning its second national championship in three years, and its fifth in the last nine years. Not surprisingly, Alabama enters the 2018 season as the nation’s top-ranked team, but the Tigers come in nipping at their heels at No. 2, and Clemson is a trendy pick to claim its third national championship in school history. After all, Clemson returns 17 starters from

last year, including all four tory to win four straight of its starting defensive outright titles, while the linemen — three of whom Tigers are also looking decided to refrain from ento capture their eighth tering the NFL draft in the straight 10-win season — hopes of finishing their caextending what’s already reers with easily a another school-renational cord streak. title. Over the That expelast seven rience ceryears, Clemtainly has son has the Tigers amassed 82 thinking big wins — Alathis season bama, the — even if only other they aren’t team in the exactly nation with ready to more than specifically 80 wins, has talk about 89 in that the playoff, timeframe or Alabama, — and it’s just yet. expected “This the Tigers is wellwill pile documented up a bunch — this is the more this most vetseason as eran team a fourth Dabo Swinney that I’ve straight had since Clemson playoff trip, I’ve been and perhaps head coach the head a fourth coach, and straight seaI’m excited son with a about that,” postseason Swinney said. “Last year, meeting with Alabama, it was the polar opposite. most certainly appears to This time last year, we be in the cards. were starting over just “I think there’s going about everywhere, and now to be a ton of energy,” everybody’s back, for the Swinney said. “The guys, most part. And again, just they’re ready to go. They’re a lot of experienced guys. chomping at the bit to get “So, this is a rare year, started, and I think we and I’d say it’s unique to have a lot of veterans, but have a team like this.” we’ve got as much competiIn addition to its pursuit tion as we’ve ever had. of college football’s top “Everybody on this team, prize, Clemson is looking they know and they accept to become the first ACC the fact that they have to school in conference hisgo earn it. Nobody’s given

‘This is the most veteran team that I’ve had since I’ve been the head coach, and I’m excited about that.’

TABLE of CONTENTS 4 Features: Bryant earns Tigers’ starting quarterback job; Veteran Clemson DL a matchup nightmare 5 Commentary: Once more unto the seats, dear friends 6 Preview: South Carolina Gamecocks 7 Feature: Gamecocks welcome return of healthy Samuel, Allen-Williams 10 Preview: No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs 11 Preview: No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide 12 Associated Press All-America team 13 2018 Palmetto State schedules

anything, and that’s just the culture that we have.”

OFFENSE

It’s been the most dominant storyline surrounding Clemson during the offseason — will incumbent starter Kelly Bryant do enough to keep heralded true freshman Trevor Lawrence from stealing his job? For the time being, the answer is yes — a longawaited disclosure that finally came Monday, when the Tigers’ depth chart for this weekend’s season opener against Furman was announced. But throughout the quarterback battle that stretched from spring practice through summer workouts and into fall camp, Swinney has long said it’s not just going to be one guy taking all the snaps behind center. “Whoever is the starter, I don’t foresee any situation where we are right now where only one guy plays,” Swinney said. “That’s just not where we are.” A season ago, Bryant completed 262 of 398 passes for 2,802 yards and 13 touchdowns against eight interceptions, while he also ran for 665 yards on a teamhigh 192 carries and scored 11 touchdowns. Lawrence, meanwhile, came to Clemson as the topranked player in the nation regardless of position by Rivals.com. His presence certainly made an impact on Clemson’s quarterback depth, as three players who were set to return this season — Zerrick Cooper,

MARK MCINNIS | THE JOURNAL

After scoring two touchdowns in a loss against Alabama in the College Football Playoff championship game as a freshman, then catching the game-winning touchdown in the Tigers’ title-game win over the Crimson Tide during his sophomore season, Hunter Renfrow is the elder statesman of the Clemson receiving corps and could have an opportunity to face Alabama again as a senior this year. Tucker Israel and Hunter Johnson — decided to transfer out of the program, leaving only Bryant, Lawrence, Chase Brice and Ben Batson in the Tigers’ quarterback room. The Tigers return a loaded backfield, as Travis Etienne will get the starting nod at running back after an explosive freshman campaign — he rushed 107 times for 766 yards and a Clemson freshman record 13 touchdowns — with Tavien Feaster (107-678-7) seemingly set to provide a solid second option. However, veteran Adam Choice is listed as the Tigers’ second-string running back heading into the Furman game ahead of Feaster. True freshman Lyn-J Dixon, who has impressed in his first month on campus, will also likely see the field early this fall.

14 Preview: Atlantic Coast Conference 15 Preview: Southeastern Conference 17 Associated Press Top 25 18 Top 25 Heat Check 19 Associated Press playoff prediction 20 Dominant defenders: Defensive line is where stars are this season 21 Instant impact: True freshmen expected to play big roles 22 Award hopefuls: Stanford’s Love among early Heisman favorites 23 Heisman darkhorses: Can Browning repeat Mayfield’s path? 24 Welcome back: FSU’s Francois leads list of players returning from injury 26 Preview: No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers 27 Preview: No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes

28 29 30 31

The receiving corps moves forward following the early departures of Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McCloud to the NFL, but the group is loaded with potential. Veteran Hunter Renfrow, the hero of the Tigers’ win over Alabama for the national title two years ago, is back for his senior season, while Tee Higgins and Amari Rodgers are set to hold down the other two starting spots for Clemson after promising freshman seasons. Returnees T.J. Chase, Diondre Overton, Cornell Powell and Trevion Thompson will also rotate in heavily, and they’ll look to fend off true freshmen Derion Kendrick and Justyn Ross, who’ve drawn rave reviews in camp. At tight end, meanwhile, SEE TIGERS, PAGE 4

Preview: No. 6 Washington Huskies Preview: No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners Preview: No. 8 Miami Hurricanes Previews: No. 9 Auburn Tigers and No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions Editing: Eric Sprott and Alex Maminakis Photos: Rex Brown, Mark McInnis and Associated Press Design: Zack Mauldin

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August 31, 2018

LOCKED AND LOADED

PHOTOS BY REX BROWN | THE JOURNAL

Kelly Bryant, left, was named Clemson’s starter for Saturday’s season opener against Furman earlier this week, though coaches say heralded freshman Trever Lawrence, right, will also see plenty of action.

Bryant earns Tigers’ starting QB job over Veteran Clemson D-line a matchup nightmare strong competition ASSOCIATED PRESS

From left, Dexter Lawrence, Austin Bryant and Clelin Ferrell will combine with Christian Wilkins, below, to make up a Clemson defensive line widely regarded as one of the best in the nation this season.

BY ERIC SPROTT THE JOURNAL

BY ALEX MAMINAKIS THE JOURNAL

CLEMSON — In Kelly Bryant’s first season as Clemson’s starting quarterback, all he did was win 12 games, lead the Tigers to another ACC championship and take the team back to the College Football Playoff. It would have taken some serious competition this offseason to challenge Bryant for the starting job this fall, and that’s exactly what the senior got this preseason. True freshman Trevor Lawrence — one of the country’s highest rated high school prospects before arriving in Clemson — and redshirt freshman Chase Brice made it a three-man competition this summer for the quarterback job, but Bryant ultimately proved to the coaches that he was the best option to start Saturday’s season opener against Furman at Memorial Stadium. On the team’s depth chart that was released Monday, Bryant sat alone atop the quarterbacks. “(Quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter and head coach Dabo Swinney) brought me in and told me I’d be running out there first. That was good to hear, being able to be the guy, be the starter and run out there first with the guys,” Bryant said. “Now it’s about performing each Saturday. Nothing’s set in stone — this is just for the first game, so now I just have to go out there and perform.” Swinney made it clear this offseason that every player, regardless of position or their roles in the past, would be required to earn a starting job every

day at practice. Bryant evidently did just that this summer and preseason, and the coaches are confident with his ability to lead the Tigers’ offense. “We have a couple guys that have different parts of their game that they’re better at than others,” Streeter said this summer. “And so I think when you have a couple different kinds of quarterbacks, it can be really stressful for the defense. “Kelly’s the guy right now, there’s no mistake about it. He earned it. … He has improved every single semester that he’s been here, and he’s earned that right. And obviously we have talented guys that are right there with him, too, that are going to have an opportunity.” The Tigers’ depth at quarterback has taken a few hits since the end of the 2017 season with the transfers of Hunter Johnson, Zerrick Cooper and Tucker Israel, though Clemson did add Ben Batson, a former Daniel High School and Dorman standout, to its quarterback room. Bryant burst onto the college football scene last year in his first season as a starter. He was given the unenviable task of replacing Deshaun Watson — one of the greatest to ever play at Clemson — but Bryant never backed down from the challenge or the spotlight. The 6-foot-4 dual-threat Bryant passed for 2,802 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 65.8 percent of his passes last fall. He also rushed for 665 yards and 11 scores. Even before being named the starter this week, Bryant SEE QB, PAGE 5

CLEMSON — n the days following Clemson’s season-ending loss to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, the speculation began, and the thought processes seemed endless. It was perfectly plausible that three-quarters of the Tigers’ vaunted defensive front could throw their names into consideration for the NFL draft, as Austin Bryant, Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins all earned All-American honors following their performances during the 2017 season. Then again, there was a train of thought that maybe the three would all return together, looking to help Clemson atone for its 24-6 loss to the Crimson Tide in New Orelans that left a bitter taste in each of their mouths. On Jan. 13, during the team’s annual season-ending banquet, Bryant and Ferrell announced their impending returns. At that point, it seemed more than likely Wilkins was as good as gone. After all, why wouldn’t he take the opportunity to announce with his fellow havoc wreakers if he was returning to campus? But two days later, Wilkins announced he’d return for one last go-round with the Tigers, as the three return alongside another terror in defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, giving Clemson perhaps the most feared defensive front in the nation. “I’m just really glad to have those guys back, and they’re great players, but they’re great leaders, too,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “They love to hold their teammates accountable, and they hold themselves to an incredibly high standard. They make my job a lot easier, and I’m excited they’re back, and I’m happy for them. They’re back with a purpose.” The defensive front was critical last season in helping the Tigers finish second in the nation in scoring defense and fourth in total defense — at 13.6 points and 276.7 yards per game, respectively — while also leading the nation in sacks with 46. But while the stats are nice, the three are hungry for another crown, as they’re looking to cement their Clemson legacies with a second national championship in three years. “I just thought if I came back and put the work in

that I could really improve myself and become the best player I can be by continuing to develop physically,” said Bryant, a third-team All-American who finished last season with 57 tackles and 8.5 sacks. “That’s really what I want to do — become the kind of player that leaves a legacy at a place like Clemson.” And Ferrell, for his part, wants his name to long be remembered in Clemson — a goal he’s well on the way to accomplishing with one national title and first-team All-American honors last season to his credit. “People think that I came back just to improve my draft stock, and that was probably one of the last reasons why I came back,” said Ferrell, who led the Tigers with 9.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss during his sophomore campaign last season. “When I came to Clemson, I wanted to be known as one of the best players to come through here on the defense, and that’s one of the strongest reasons I came back. “My goal wasn’t to leave in three years and go to the NFL. It was to be a great player here, and that was the biggest thing for me.” And for Wilkins, returning alongside Bryant and Ferrell is a special opportunity after he was named a second-team All-American last season after racking up 55 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. “Honestly, it really was a personal decision for me, but I’m definitely happy that I’m going to get that opportunity to finish out with a lot of the guys I came in with, a lot of the guys I’m close to,” said Wilkins, who was also a third-team All-American as a sophomore in 2016. “That’s definitely something I’m looking forward to. “I’m just excited coming back for my fourth and final year, and just completely finish this chapter — just being in college. I’m happy that we all had our own decisions to make — no decision was because of anybody else or anything like that. But it’s fun that we all decided to do the same thing. I’m looking forward to what’s to come this year and finishing it out right.” And, that, naturally, is with another national championship — something they feel is certainly possible in their final seasons wearing the orange and white. esprott@upstatetoday.com | (864) 882-2385 Follow on Twitter @Journal_ESprott

TIGERS: ‘One of the best summers I’ve been a part of,’ Joseph said FROM PAGE 3

Milan Richard is back after starting all 14 games for the Tigers last season. Clemson also welcomes the return of Garrett Williams, who missed all of last season due to injury. Keep an eye on true freshman Braden Galloway, a Seneca High School grad, who may avoid a redshirt this season. Gone from the offensive line from last season are starting guards Tyrone Crowder and Taylor Hearn, but the Tigers are confident in what they have returning. Left tackle Mitch Hyatt is a preseason first-team AllAmerican going into his senior season, while center Justin Falcinelli earned first-team All-ACC honors last season. Sean Pollard, a starter at right tackle last season, will slide over to right guard, while Tremayne Anchrum will take the right tackle job after serving as a parttime starter last season. Junior John Simpson, meanwhile, will start at left guard.

DEFENSE

Clemson’s defense a season ago was exceptional. The Tigers were in rare air a

year ago, as they allowed just 13.6 points and 277 yards per game — figures that ranked second and fourth in the nation, respectively. Now, eight starters are back — including the entire front four, and six of the front seven — and the unit is hellbent on helping the Tigers again hoist the national championship trophy in January. “We definitely remember last year, but we’re excited about this year,” senior linebacker Kendall Joseph said. “It was one of the best summers I’ve been a part of.” It all begins up front on the defense, as defensive ends Austin Bryant and Clelin Ferrell both return, as do defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins. Bryant, Ferrell and Wilkins — all of whom earned All-American honors from the Associated Press last season — all decided to return after considering turning pro, and their presence is a huge boon for the Tigers’ title hopes. What’s truly scary, though, is that Lawrence, a first-team All-ACC selection last season, may be the most talented of the

group, and he didn’t even play anywhere close to full health during his sophomore season. “I’d say I was 45 or 50 percent last season,” Lawrence said, adding he experienced nerve blockage following surgery to insert a screw in his foot after suffering a fractured toe in spring practice a year ago. “I had a club foot, basically.” Albert Huggins, Xavier Kelly and Nyles Pinckney will rotate in heavily at the tackle spots, while a host of defensive ends including Justin Foster, Chris Register and Logan Randolph will factor in, along with true freshmen K.J. Henry and Xavier Thomas looking to make an impact early in their careers. One of the biggest question marks for the Tigers comes in the linebacking corps, where they have to replace Dorian O’Daniel at the SAM linebacker spot. However, Joseph — who had 87 tackles during his junior campaign — will hold down the WILL spot after briefly contemplating a jump to the NFL. Tre Lamar is also a returning starter at MIKE after recording 52 tackles in 10 games last season,

while Isaiah Simmons is primed to take over O’Daniel’s job. The linebacking corps also features tremendous depth, as the staff is extremely comfortable with J.D. Davis, James Skalski, Chad Smith, Shaq Smith and Jalen Williams, among others, mixing in. While depth in the linebacking corps is outstanding, the same can’t be said about the secondary, particularly at cornerback, where the depth is extremely inexperienced. Trayvon Mullen is a returning starter at one of the corner spots, while Mark Fields and A.J. Terrell are trusted contributors perhaps primed for big seasons, with Terrell earning the starting nod against Furman. Behind them, true freshmen Mario Goodrich and Kyler McMichael will almost certainly be pressed into action. “They’re not consistent, detailed, polished players right now, but they are fast and athletic and have the mindset that it takes to get better,” Swinney said. Tanner Muse is back at free safety for the Tigers, while

K’Von Wallace — who started six games last season — will take over the strong safety spot vacated by the departure of Van Smith.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Tigers will welcome the return of place-kicker Greg Huegel this season after he missed nearly the entirety of last season with a torn ACL suffered during practice. As a freshman in 2015, he led the nation with 27 field goals, and he’s made 43 of his 55 career field goal attempts. After a closely contested battle with Carson King, Will Spiers is back after averaging 40.6 yards per punt as a freshman last season. True freshman B.T. Potter, meanwhile, is set to handle the Tigers’ kickoff duties after impressing with his big leg during fall camp. There’s also no shortage of options in the return game, with Kendrick, Renfrow and Rodgers among the candidates to fill the void in the punt-return game left by McCloud. Powell, Etienne, Dixon and Rodgers, meanwhile, appear to be the favorites to return kicks.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

August 31, 2018

QB: Bryant confident

The Journal | 5

Once more unto the seats, dear friends

FROM PAGE 4

was feeling confident during fall camp in his abilities to again lead the Tigers’ offense as a senior. “I prepare like I’m the starter,” Bryant said after the Tigers’ last practice of fall camp. “I feel like I came out here and stepped on the field like I’m the starter, trying to be that leader for all the guys. I don’t feel like I’ve changed anything.” Perhaps the biggest threat to overtake Bryant’s starting job this summer — and who still could earn snaps throughout this season — was Lawrence, the 6-foot-5 five-star prospect from Cartersville, Ga. Lawrence’s first steps onto the field at Memorial Stadium during the Tigers’ spring game drew raucous applause from the 55,000 fans in attendance. He created serious competition at quarterback this summer, and regardless of how much he plays this fall, his future at Clemson is undoubtedly bright. “He’s got a unique ability to have so much poise, similar to Deshaun, where the pressure really doesn’t bother him,” Streeter said of Lawrence. “By no means is any freshman going to go out there and be perfect, but he’s a type of kid that can shrug it off and move on and be very successful.” Bryant has now had to win the starting quarterback job two summers in a row — last year in a wide-open competition to replace Watson, and this year with the hype and expectations of Lawrence now in the mix. But in both cases, Bryant didn’t try to do too much to impress anyone — he worked hard and drew from his experiences to win the job. “I feel like they were both challenging for me,” he said of the last two offseason competitions. “But I wouldn’t want it no other way, because I didn’t want anything to be handed to me. I wanted to go out and prove and work my butt off to be the guy.”

nce more unto the seats, dear friends. Once more. Once more, Clemson football fans will flood into Memorial Stadium on the first Saturday of September with the highest of hopes. And justifiably so. One hundred and eighteen out of 119 Football Bowl Subdivision fanbases would love to be in the position that Clemson fans are in. They’ve had the pleasure of watching three straight College Football Playoff campaigns and are well within their right to wonder if this season’s edition could be the best of the bunch. It’s certainly the best defensive line, because it’s the same defensive line. College football is made for cameos, not recurring characters, but all four defensive linemen have played a role in a national championship game — either the 45-40 loss to Alabama in 2015, or the 35-31 win over the Crimson Tide in 2016. Christian Wilkins in particular has a chance to enter, “Dad, what is that name on the side of the stadium?” territory, as the defensive tackle will be aiming to start a playoff game in all four seasons of his college career. The only player to currently hold that honor is Alabama punter J.K. Scott. But while Wilkins may be the closest to Clemson immortality, linemates Austin Bryant, Clelin Ferrell and Dexter Lawrence are also household names who make up the rest of college football’s premier position group. All could have been drafted in the spring, but Bryant and Ferrell decided to join Wilkins in returning to school with the not-yetdraft-eligible Lawrence.

Kickin’ Off

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All in all, you would be well within your rights to deem this Clemson’s deepest team of the Dabo Swinney era. Considering that includes a national-championship-winning team from 2016, such a statement would then extend to whether this could be the best team to ever wear the orange and white of Clemson. While we are still ROAR MAY 14 Saturdays and 13 ECHO | games — 12 regularseason contests and a ROBBIE potential conference championship game TINSLEY — away from knowing whether this team will have yet another chance at a national title, the preseason expectations are already the strongest of the Swinney era. Remember, the 2015 and 2016 teams each had to deal with a mass exodus among the defensive starters, as well as questions about the health of Deshaun Watson when you talk about the 2015 team. Last year’s playoff team then had to answer the questions about the loss of offensive firepower with the likes of Watson, Wayne Gallman, Jordan Leggett and Mike Williams. This season, there’s only one question, and it revolves around whether the MVP of the ACC Championship game who went 12-1 as a starter in games that he did not leave with injury will be able to hold off the uberprospect with the dreamy hair and

dreamier arm talent at quarterback. There isn’t a playoff projection to be found that doesn’t include Clemson, and most project a fourth straight meeting with Alabama — albeit with this one back in the national championship game in Santa Clara, Calif. Most record predictions are 12-0. And most predict the ACC title game will be a rematch with Mark Richt’s Miami Hurricanes, who barely put up a fight in last season’s meeting in Charlotte, N.C. In short, this is the first season where it’s championship or bust. Some teams may be daunted by that declaration. Expecting 18-to-22year-olds to succeed 14 times out of 15 never feels like a sane decision. But when you have a team that’s been there and done that time after time after time, it’s hard to imagine these Tigers cracking under that pressure. The new normal of Clemson football is not to feed off the doubt from the outside. It’s to fulfill the widespread expectations. So stiffen up the sinews and summon up the blood, because we are on the brink of yet another season of Clemson football. A season unlike we’ve ever seen before. Or perhaps one we’ve seen a time. Or two. ROBBIE TINSLEY is an award-winning columnist from his time as the sports editor of The Journal. He now works on a freelance basis from his home in Medford, Mass. For compliments, he can be reached either via Twitter @RTinMan13 or email robtinsley13@gmail.com. Any complaints can be directed to esprott@upstatetoday.com.

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SOUTH CAROLINA

LIVE

August 31, 2018

Last year: 9-4 (5-3 SEC); 2nd in SEC East; Won Outback Bowl

AND

LEARN

ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina coach Will Muschamp overhauled his offense in the offseason in an effort to improve production.

Muschamp takes steps to keep South Carolina moving forward BY PETE IACOBELLI ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBIA — outh Carolina coach Will Muschamp wants to learn from history, not repeat it. Muschamp had seemingly set Florida back on a championship course in his second year with the Gators at his previous coaching stop, winning 11 games and reaching the Sugar Bowl. Things fell apart, however, during his final two seasons, as Muschamp went 10-13 before Florida let him go. This time around, after South Carolina’s best season in four years, Muschamp overhauled his offense to make things faster, and he hopes that will improve an attack that ranked 12th in the Southeastern Conference the

past two years. Muschamp named receivers coach Bryan McClendon his new offensive coordinator, replacing Kurt Roper. “You’ll see a noticeable change in our offense as far as the tempo is concerned,” Muschamp said. Early results are positive. The Gamecocks and quarterback Jake Bentley rallied from 16 points down in the final 20 minutes of the Outback Bowl in January to defeat Michigan, 26-19. Led by Bentley, who is 13-7 in his year and a half starting, the offense has so far taken to the quicker pace. “I think Jake plays better when he plays faster,” Muschamp said. It will surely help the offense to have healthy playmakers back in receiver Deebo Samuel and tailback Rico Dowdle when the season starts

ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley throws a pass against Clemson in Columbia in November. After his numbers dropped from 2016 to 2017, a strong season in 2018 could put Bentley into the NFL draft picture. at home against Coastal Carolina of the Sun Belt Conference on Saturday. Samuel was the most dynamic player in the game with six touchdowns in the first three weeks of the 2017 season before he was lost for the year with a broken bone in his leg. Dowdle is a speedy junior who has only played 17 games in two years because of injuries. “We feel ready to go,” Samuel said. Muschamp could’ve stayed the course and called on more experienced players to grow into Roper’s schemes. The more experienced Muschamp did not want to wait. “I think you live and learn every day on the job,”

he said. “Certainly I’m a much better coach today than I was that first year.”

BENTLEY BREAKOUT

Bentley has been the face of the franchise since his expected redshirt season in 2016 was disrupted by the Gamecocks needing a spark. Bentley figured to take a big step forward last fall, but instead saw his passing percentage drop and threw 12 interceptions. With a big year, Bentley could put himself in the NFL draft picture. It’s something he’s aware of, but won’t dwell on too much. “Coaches keep telling us, be where your feet are,” Bentley said. “Be present in the moment.”

RUNNING GAME REBOOT

South Carolina has struggled the last two seasons to find any footing on the ground. Some of that can be attributed to Dowdle’s injuries, some to spotty offensive line play and some to the tailbacks’ lack of consistency. The Gamecocks averaged 122 yards a game last fall, something Muschamp knows much change for continued success.

PASS RUSH

South Carolina hopes to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks this year. The Gamecocks were 11th in the SEC with just 26 sacks last season, due in large part to a shoulder

injury to defensive end/ linebacker Bryson AllenWilliams that led to him missing 10 games. AllenWilliams had two sacks in three games, which still left him tied for fourth on the team. Allen-Williams says he’s healthy and ready to perform. The Gamecocks are looking to defensive end D.J. Wonnum, who led the team with six sacks in 2017, to be even more active this season.

KEY GAMES

South Carolina starts in the deep end when it opens SEC play against conference champion and national runner-up Georgia, followed by rising Mississippi State. The good news for the Gamecocks is both contests are at home. The bad news is they have not beaten either team since 2014. Strong showings in those games could set the stage for a strong run through the SEC Eastern Division. The regular season concludes against state rival Clemson, which has won four straight in the series and is a favorite to make the College Football Playoff.

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at full strength

Trainers help South Carolina star Deebo Samuel off the field after his injury against Kentucky last season in Columbia. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gamecocks welcome return of healthy Samuel, Allen-Williams BY ALEX MAMINAKIS THE JOURNAL

COLUMBIA — ast year’s game against Kentucky is not one that brings fond memories for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Not only did South Carolina drop the third game of the year to the Wildcats by a score of 23-13 at home, but the Gamecocks also lost two key players for the season in that contest — wide receiver Deebo Samuel and linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams. South Carolina did bounce back from that game, though, and finished 9-4 in head coach Will Muschamp’s second season, topped off with an Outback Bowl victory over Michigan on New Year’s Day. But as the Gamecocks look forward to the 2018 season, which kicks off Saturday, when they host Coastal Carolina at noon, they are thrilled about getting both Samuel and Allen-Williams back on the field, each healthy and ready for their fifth and final seasons in Columbia. “God has blessed (Samuel) with a lot of ability, but one of the abilities that he has been blessed with is work ethic — the guy works extremely hard,” Muschamp said of the dynamic star. “I think anytime as an athlete, when the game is taken away from you, maybe personally it means a little bit more to you, but his work ethic has always been outstanding, so I don’t really see a change in that. He has really attacked this offseason, and we are looking forward to getting him the ball.” The redshirt senior wide receiver, who is also a difference-maker as a kick returner, broke his ankle in that Kentucky game last season after a red-hot start to the year. The Inman native scored six touchdowns — three receiving, two on kickoff returns and one rushing — in the three games he played in last year, and in 2016 he logged 1,320 allpurpose yards in 10 games. “When you break your ankle, you can get down on yourself. You can say to yourself, ‘Maybe football is not for me,’” Samuel said. “I didn’t look at it that way. I had motivation from coach Muschamp, (offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon) and my parents to motivate me to be able to push myself to get back to where I was before I got hurt.” If Samuel can return to that level, he will give the Gamecocks’ offense a major boost. He has already been named to the 2018 preseason Associated Press All-American second-team as an all-purpose player, and he was also named to the preseason All-SEC first-team as a receiver, an all-purpose back and as a return specialist. So the belief is already there that Samuel will return to form. “I saw him attack the off-

season like I felt he would. The injuries were obviously very frustrating for him, but he’s a great young man, and he understands the situation,” Muschamp said this spring. “Control what you can control is what we talk about all the time. The injuries happen. We can grieve about it for a short time, but we’ve got to get ready to move on, and that’s what he’s done, and done quickly. I’m extremely proud of how he’s approached the offseason and how he’s worked.” Even without Samuel for the majority of last season, fellow receiver Bryan Edwards stepped up and

caught 64 passes for 793 yards, and the Gamecocks finished sixth in the SEC in passing yards (2,794) with Jake Bentley under center. Samuel’s return should only help to boost those numbers — and the team’s morale. “Not only did the offense take a hit confidence-wise, but it hit the whole team,” Bentley said of Samuel’s injury. “When you’ve got a guy like that who you know can make a game change with one play not be out there, I think it took a toll on us a little bit. But when he got back out there, you can just see the guys’ confidence in him and what

he is able to do. Not only is he a great player, he is a great teammate as well. He’s a very good teammate, a very selfless guy.” On the defensive side of the ball, Allen-Williams’ return to the Gamecocks’ linebacker corps should also be a boost, especially to a unit that lost All-SEC linebacker Skai Moore — who led the team in tackles — to the NFL. But alongside junior linebacker T.J. Brunson, AllenWilliams and the South Carolina defense have a lot of upside this fall. “Bryson Allen-Williams is probably our best edge rusher. It really hurt us last year when we lost Bryson,” Muschamp said. “We lost a lot of speed off the edge and a guy that can

deebo samuel

bryson allen-williams

really threaten a tackle with speed. He’s a guy coming back that will play the SAM and the BUCK for us.” Allen-Williams was granted a fifth year of eligibility after his seasonending shoulder injury late in last year’s loss to Kentucky. The Ellenwood, Ga., native has started 13 games over the past four seasons, racking up 135 tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss. Now this year, he’ll get to make up for lost time

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and help strengthen the Gamecocks’ defense. “Happy that Bryson Allen-Williams is in his senior year. A very frustrating last year — had the shoulder injury, applied for the medical redshirt and they granted that,” Muschamp said. “He gives us some pass rush ability. A guy that can play in space, and excited for his senior year.” alex@upstatetoday.com | (864) 882-2386 Follow on Twitter @alexmaminakis

8 | The Journal

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August 31, 2018

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NO. 3 GEORGIA

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

August 31, 2018

Last year: 13-2 (7-1 SEC); SEC champions; Lost CFP championship

FAMILIAR SCRIPT ASSOCIATED PRESS

Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm, left, throws a pass as freshman quarterback Justin Fields watches during practice Aug. 3 in Athens, Ga. Fields is competing with Fromm, whose composure as a freshman starter in 2017 was a big key in the Bulldogs winning their first Southeastern Conference championship since 2005 and advancing to the national championship game. In each of the last two years, Georgia’s new kid won the starting job after only one game.

QB Fromm looks to keep job, lead Bulldogs to another title run BY CHARLES ODUM

rusher, but he must prove he can play a lead role. Freshman James Cook, the younger brother of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, had impressive runs in a scrimmage at Sanford Stadium this month. Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien also return at tailback, creating a possibility of a committee approach. The Bulldogs’ running attack did take a hit earlier this month, however, when heralded freshman Zamir White tore the ACL in his left knee after working hard to return from a torn right ACL suffered during his senior season in high school.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATHENS, Ga. — irby Smart has recruited himself into yet another quarterback competition at Georgia. For the third straight year, a highly regarded freshman is pushing the returning starter. Justin Fields, equipped to disrupt defenses as a runner and passer, was the big name of Smart’s toprated 2018 recruiting class. Fields is competing with Jake Fromm, whose composure as a freshman starter in 2017 was a big key in the Bulldogs winning their first Southeastern Conference championship since 2005 and advancing to the national championship game. In each of the last two years, the new kid won the starting job after only one game. Last year, Fromm took over after Jacob Eason suffered a knee injury in the opener. In Smart’s 2016 debut season as coach, Eason beat out senior Greyson Lambert after one game. Before Eason, only five true freshmen quarterbacks had started at Georgia, most recently Matthew Stafford, now with the NFL’s Detroit Lions, in 2006. Fields could make it three in three years, though Fromm remains likely to start in Saturday’s opener against Austin Peay. Smart understands the advantages that come with college experience. “Never would I say that you’re more comfortable with it,” Smart said of playing freshmen quarterbacks. “I think any head

‘Justin is making Jake a lot better now because it’s a very competitive spot right now.’ Charlie Woerner Georgia tight end

NEW NAME AT RECEIVER

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Georgia running back D’Andre Swift runs a drill during practice in Athens, Ga., on Aug. 9. Losing freshman tailback Zamir White, one of the Bulldogs’ top recruits, to a knee injury in preseason practice forced Georgia to recast its depth chart, affirming Swift as the favorite to be the team’s top rusher. coach that tells you they’re comfortable with that isn’t going to be telling you the truth. Experience is valuable, and I think experience pays off.” Some critics said Fromm did little more than hand off to senior tailbacks Sony Michel and Nick Chubb and connect on short throws last season. But Fromm also made some difficult passes while throwing for 2,615 yards with 24 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Fields (6-3, 225) showed his dual-threat skills in Georgia’s spring game. For Georgia veterans, this quarterback competition provides a familiar script with new names. Fromm’s roommate, tight end Charlie Woerner, described the race as “a lot similar to last year with Jacob and Jake.” “Now you’ve got Jake coming off a great year, and you’ve got the new guy Justin coming in,” Woerner said. “Justin is making Jake a lot better now because it’s a very competitive spot

right now. It’s interesting to see it happen again.”

MORE THAN A TAILBACK TANDEM

D’Andre Swift is Georgia’s leading returning

In a decision that could have a big impact on Georgia’s season, California transfer Demetris Robertson was granted a waiver by the NCAA recently for his immediate

eligibility this season. NCAA rules usually require transfers to sit out a season unless they have graduate from their previous school, but Robertson played only two games last season. Robertson was a five-star recruit from Savannah, Ga. He caught 50 passes for 767 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman at Cal.

BETTER TO GIVE

Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney has taken responsibility for coaching the tight ends this year. Naturally, the tight ends could be expected to hope they have more passes thrown their way. Woerner surprised reporters with his take on the tight ends’ role. “I’d say the word that defines us as a group is altruistic,” he said. “We’re there to serve the team and put the team before us.”

CRIMSON SHADOW

Even as the defending SEC champion, Georgia operates in Alabama’s shadow after losing to the Crimson Tide in the national championship game. They were the picks to win their respective divisions at the SEC’s annual media gathering in Atlanta.

FOR OPENERS

Georgia’s schedule includes nonconference home games against Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee and Massachusetts. Georgia must play its first two SEC games on the road, at South Carolina on Sept. 8 and at Missouri on Sept. 22. After playing at Louisiana State on Oct. 13, the Bulldogs have an off week before their annual game against Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. They play host to Auburn on Nov. 10 in a rematch of last season’s SEC championship game.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart directs his players during the G Day spring football game in Athens, Ga., on April 21. Smart has recruited himself into yet another quarterback competition at Georgia. For the third straight year, a highly regarded freshman is pushing the returning starter. Justin Fields, equipped to disrupt defenses as a runner and passer, was the big name of Smart’s top-rated 2018 recruiting class. ASSOCIATED PRESS

August 31, 2018

NO. 1 ALABAMA

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

The Journal | 11

Last year: 13-1 (7-1 SEC); T-1st in SEC West; Won CFP championship

SEEKING NO. 6 Saban, Bama looking for another title with old challenges, new faces BY JOHN ZENOR ASSOCIATED PRESS

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — labama and Nick Saban begin the quest for their sixth national title as college football’s ultimate power couple with many of the same old challenges — and lots of new faces. The Crimson Tide must replace a bounty of NFL talent, especially on de-

fense, like usual. What’s new: six assistant coaches, both coordinators, pretty much the entire secondary and maybe the starting quarterback. The quarterback battle between 28-game starter Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa has hogged the headlines, overshadowing the fact that eight members of the nation’s top defense were drafted. Gone is the starting secondary, including All-American Minkah Fitzpatrick, and a top reserve. “That’s probably the least amount of returning experienced

players that we’ve ever had,” Saban said. Nonetheless, Alabama faces its typical expectations of contending for Southeastern Conference and national titles and keeping a perfect string of four playoff berths intact. The Tide has won five national championships in the past nine years and is widely considered the favorite to win No. 6 next January. Saban, who also won a title at LSU, and Bear Bryant are the only major college coaches to win six national championships. Now, the fit-and-trim 66-yearold is flush with an eight-year, $74 million contract and showing no signs of slowing down. Nor is his program. Veterans like tailback Damien Harris already are SEE BAMA, PAGE 12

PHOTOS BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Entering the season, Alabama coach Nick Saban is tasked with choosing either 28-game starter Jalen Hurts, left, or 2018 College Football Playoff national championship game Offensive MVP Tua Tagovailoa to be the Tide’s starting quarterback — not a bad problem to have.

12 | The Journal

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

August 31, 2018

2018 ASSOCIATED PRESS PRESEASON

ALL-AMERICA TEAM FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB • Will Grier, senior, West Virginia RB • Bryce Love, senior, Stanford RB • Jonathan Taylor, sophomore, Wisconsin OT • Jonah Williams, junior, Alabama OT • Mitch Hyatt, senior, Clemson OG • Beau Benzschawel, senior, Wisconsin OG • Nate Herbig, junior, Stanford C • Ross Pierschbacher, senior, Alabama TE • Noah Fant, junior, Iowa WR • A.J. Brown, junior, Mississippi WR • David Sills V, senior, West Virginia AP • Myles Gaskin, senior, Washington K • Matt Gay, senior, Utah DEFENSE DE • Nick Bosa, junior, Ohio State DE • Clelin Ferrell, junior, Clemson DT • Ed Oliver, junior, Houston DT • Christian Wilkins, senior, Clemson LB • Devin White, junior, LSU LB • Devin Bush, junior, Michigan LB • T.J. Edwards, senior, Wisconsin CB • Greedy Williams, sophomore, LSU CB • Deandre Baker, senior, Georgia S • Jaquan Johnson, senior, Miami S • Taylor Rapp, junior, Washington P • Mitch Wishnowsky, senior, Utah

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE QB • Trace McSorley, senior, Penn State RB • A.J. Dillon, sophomore, Boston College RB • Damien Harris, junior, Alabama OT • David Edwards, junior, Wisconsin OT • Greg Little, junior, Mississippi OG • Alex Bars, senior, Notre Dame OG • Michael Dieter, senior, Wisconsin C • Sam Mustipher, senior, Notre Dame TE • Kaden Smith, junior, Stanford WR • N’Keal Harry, junior, Arizona State WR • Anthony Johnson, senior, Buffalo AP • Deebo Samuel, senior, South Carolina K • Rodrigo Blankenship, junior, Georgia DEFENSE DE • Rashan Gary, junior, Michigan DE • Raekwon Davis, junior, Alabama DT • Dexter Lawrence, junior, Clemson DT • Jeffrey Simmons, junior, Mississippi State LB • Cameron Smith, senior, Southern California LB • Troy Dye, junior, Oregon LB • Mack Wilson, junior, Alabama CB • Byron Murphy, sophomore, Washington CB • Julian Love, junior, Notre Dame S • Lukas Dennis, senior, Boston College S • Andrew Wingard, senior, Wyoming P • Jake Bailey, senior, Stanford

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy jumps to catch a pass in front of Georgia cornerback Malkom Parrish during the College Football Playoff national championship game in January in Atlanta. Jeudy is the most likely candidate to become the Crimson Tide’s next breakout receiver, following in the footsteps of Julio Jones, Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley.

BAMA: ‘Success isn’t going to be inherited’ FROM PAGE 11

acquainted with the challenges of trying to repeat as national champs. The Tide fell just short of pulling that feat off in 2016. “The mindset going into this season is that we know our success isn’t going to be inherited,” Harris said. “Anything we accomplish as a team this season is not going to come from the fact that we won a national championship last year. “If anything, it is just going to make it that much harder. We know that winning a national championship puts a target on your back.” This being Alabama, there are plenty of fourand five-star prospects waiting in the wings to fill vacancies on both sides of the ball. Former five-star LSU signee Saivion Smith and top freshman recruit Patrick Surtain Jr. could play big roles at cornerback. Safety Deionte Thompson started both playoff games. The front seven is anchored by defensive lineman Raekwon Davis and linebackers Mack Wilson and Anfernee Jennings.

QB QUESTION

From AJ McCarron/ Phillip Sims to Blake Barnett/Jalen Hurts, Saban has let quarterback competitions get settled on the field, not just in practice. That doesn’t mean he’ll wait that long this time, but it’s an indication that he won’t rush to judgment or be affected by public opinion. This time both have strong

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Veteran Alabama tailback Damien Harris said the Tide are well aware that playing as the defending national champion “puts a target on your back” entering the 2018 season.

credentials. Hurts is a 28-game starter, and Tagovailoa rallied the Tide to an overtime win over Georgia in the national championship game.

BREAKOUT RECEIVER

Alabama is seeking its next star receiver to follow behind Julio Jones, Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley. The starters are all gone. The most likely go-to candidate appears to be Jerry Jeudy, a highly touted recruit who had 14 catches for 264 yards last season. Fellow sophomores DeVonta Smith and Henry Ruggs III also carved out some highlights last season, including Smith’s gamewinning touchdown in the national championship game.

OPENER

Alabama faces Louisville — minus 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson — in Orlando, Fla. It’s the seventh straight season the Tide has opened with a neutral-site game against a Power 5 conference team, winning the first six by an average of 36.7-12.8 points.

KEY GAMES

Nov. 10 against Mississippi State and Nov. 24 against Auburn, both at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The opener, though, could clear up any lingering uncertainty about the quarterback starter.

August 31, 2018

2018 ALLEN UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS DATE OPPONENT Sept. 1 Columbus State Sept. 8 Livingstone Sept. 15 at Brevard Sept. 22 Middle Georgia State Sept. 29 at Clark Atlanta Oct. 13 Lane College Nov. 10 Virginia-Lynchburg BENEDICT COLLEGE TIGERS DATE OPPONENT Sept. 1 Florida Tech Sept. 8 at Johnson C. Smith Sept. 15 at Fayetteville State Sept. 23 Fort Valley State Sept. 29 at Central State Oct. 6 Virginia-Lynchburg Oct. 13 at Clark Atlanta Oct. 20 Morehouse College Oct. 27 Albany State Nov. 3 at Kentucky State CHARLESTON SOUTHERN BUCCANEERS DATE OPPONENT Sept. 1 at Florida Sept. 15 at The Citadel Sept. 22 Elon Sept. 29 at Hampton Oct. 6 at Savannah State Oct. 13 Virginia-Lynchburg Oct. 20 Presbyterian Oct. 27 Kennesaw State Nov. 3 at Monmouth Nov. 10 Gardner-Webb Nov. 17 at Campbell CLEMSON TIGERS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

PAL M E S SCH TAT TTO EDU E LES COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS DATE OPPONENT Sept. 1 at South Carolina Sept. 8 UAB Sept. 15 Campbell Sept. 22 at Louisiana-Lafayette Sept. 29 at Troy Oct. 13 ULM Oct. 20 at Massachusetts Oct. 27 at Georgia State Nov. 3 Appalachian State Nov. 10 Arkansas State Nov. 17 Georgia Southern Nov. 23 at South Alabama FURMAN PALADINS DATE OPPONENT Sept. 1 at Clemson Sept. 8 at Elon Sept. 15 Colgate Sept. 22 at ETSU Sept. 29 Western Carolina Oct. 13 Wofford Oct. 20 Samford Oct. 27 at The Citadel Nov. 3 Chattanooga Nov. 10 at VMI Nov. 17 at Mercer LIMESTONE SAINTS

The Journal | 13

NORTH GREENVILLE CRUSADERS DATE OPPONENT Aug. 30 at Tusculum Sept. 8 Lenoir-Rhyne Sept. 15 Mississippi College Sept. 22 at Delta State Sept. 29 West Alabama Oct. 6 at West Georgia Oct. 13 Shorter Oct. 20 at Valdosta State Oct. 27 West Florida Nov. 3 at Fla. Institute of Technology Nov. 10 at North Alabama PRESBYTERIAN BLUE HOSE DATE OPPONENT Sept. 8 at Austin Peay Sept. 15 Stetson Sept. 22 Bluefield College Oct. 6 at Kennesaw State Oct. 13 Hampton Oct. 20 at Charleston Southern Oct. 27 Monmouth Nov. 3 at Gardner-Webb Nov. 10 Campbell Nov. 17 at Wofford SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS DATE OPPONENT Sept. 1 Coastal Carolina Sept. 8 Georgia Sept. 15 Marshall Sept. 22 at Vanderbilt Sept. 29 at Kentucky Oct. 6 Missouri Oct. 13 Texas A&M Oct. 27 Tennessee Nov. 3 at Mississippi Nov. 10 at Florida Nov. 17 Chattanooga Nov. 24 at Clemson S.C. STATE BULLDOGS

DATE OPPONENT Sept. 1 Furman Sept. 8 at Texas A&M Sept. 15 Georgia Southern Sept. 22 at Georgia Tech Sept. 29 Syracuse Oct. 6 at Wake Forest Oct. 20 N.C. State Oct. 27 at Florida State Nov. 3 Louisville Nov. 10 at Boston College Nov. 17 Duke Nov. 24 South Carolina

DATE OPPONENT Sept. 1 at Gardner-Webb Sept. 8 at West Georgia Sept. 15 at Tusculum Sept. 22 West Alabama Sept. 29 Mars Hill Oct. 6 at Carson-Newman Oct. 13 at Lenoir-Rhyne Oct. 20 Newberry Oct. 27 at Catawba Nov. 3 Wingate

DATE OPPONENT Sept. 1 at Georgia Southern Sept. 8 at Central Florida Sept. 15 North Carolina Central Sept. 22 Norfolk State Sept. 27 at North Carolina A&T Oct. 6 at Morgan State Oct. 13 Bethune-Cookman Oct. 20 Delaware State Oct. 27 at Howard Nov. 10 at Florida A&M Nov. 17 Savannah State

CITADEL BULLDOGS

NEWBERRY WOLVES

WOFFORD TERRIERS

DATE OPPONENT Sept. 1 at Wofford Sept. 8 Chattanooga Sept. 15 Charleston Southern Sept. 22 at Mercer Sept. 29 at Towson Oct. 13 ETSU Oct. 20 at VMI Oct. 27 Furman Nov. 3 at Western Carolina Nov. 10 Samford Nov. 17 at Alabama

DATE OPPONENT Sept. 1 at Western Carolina Sept. 8 at Florida Tech Sept. 15 Virginia-Lyncburg Sept. 22 Carson-Newman Sept. 29 at UNC Pembroke Oct. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne Oct. 13 at Tusculum Oct. 20 at Limestone Oct. 27 Wingate Nov. 3 Catawba Nov. 10 at Mars Hill

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

14 | The Journal

August 31, 2018

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE

Rest of conference aiming high to keep Clemson from taking 4th straight title BY AARON BEARD ASSOCIATED PRESS

lemson coach Dabo Swinney isn’t changing how the Tigers approach each season — and there’s no reason he should. The repetition is working. His program is the unquestioned Atlantic Coast Conference favorite again and has become a perennial national power. Everyone else in the ACC is looking up at the three-time reigning champions and trying to figure out a way to loosen their grip on the league. “We start over every year, reinstall the program, reinstall the core values, the philosophy that we believe in,

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Willie Taggart replacing Jimbo Fisher as head coach at Florida State is one of the major storylines in the ACC this season.

the why,” Swinney said, “and I just don’t vary from that.” The Tigers are the overwhelming favorite to win the ACC for a fourth straight season, which would make Clemson the first ACC team to win four straight since Florida State’s dominating romp through the 1990s. That would also make Clemson only the second power-conference team to win four straight league championship games. Over the past three years, the Tigers are 25-2 against league teams, with 18 wins by doubledigit margins and the losses coming by a combined four points. They are returning seven offensive starters and eight on defense, including first-team all-ACC performers in offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt, defensive ends Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins, and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. The biggest question around Clemson is whether quarterback Kelly Bryant keeps his job after guiding the Tigers to the College Football Playoff or if Swinney will switch to freshman Trevor Lawrence at some point during the year. As for the rest of the league, there continues to be an imbalance of power that has the Clemson-led Atlantic Division looking significantly stronger than the Coastal. But the Atlantic has plenty of change with Florida State bringing in new coach Willie Taggart, Louisville replacing former Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and North Carolina State overhauling its defense. They all have the same goal. “You have to beat Clemson,” Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. “There’s no question about that.”

TARGET N THE TIGERS REX BROWN | THE JOURNAL

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney speaks to his team during practice earlier this month in Clemson. Swinney’s Tigers are the overwhelming favorite to win a fourth straight ACC crown.

THE FAVORITES

Atlantic: Clemson. There isn’t another team in the country — much less the division — that can match what Clemson has accomplished outside of reigning national champion Alabama. Coastal: Miami. The Hurricanes were the first preseason division favorite to actually finish in first by the end of the year since Virginia Tech did it in 2011. That was also the last Coastal team to repeat as division winner, so Mark Richt’s Hurricanes are trying to hold onto their perch in a division that frequently features the unexpected and could see several teams convert experience into defensive improvement.

TOP PLAYERS

AJ Dillon, Boston College. Last year’s ACC rookie of the year is this season’s preseason player of the year after running for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns. Ryan Finley, North Carolina State. Finley returned to school for his final season after flirting with entering the NFL draft

in the offseason. He completed 65 percent of his passes last year and has three experienced wideouts in 1,000-yard receiver Kelvin Harmon, Jakobi Meyers and Stephen Louis. Cam Akers, Florida State. The sophomore running back ran for 1,024 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Clemson’s defensive line. Wilkins, Lawrence and Ferrell are all top-tier NFL draft prospects. That could make for some long Saturdays for offensive lines in the Atlantic Division. TaQuon Marshall, Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets’ quarterback ran for 1,146 yards and 17 touchdowns to go with 10 touchdowns passing in Paul Johnson’s run-heavy attack.

NEW FACES

Taggart spent a season at Oregon before coming to Florida State to replace Jimbo Fisher after he left for Texas A&M. He inherits a team with 10 returning starters on offense and defense after a bumpy 7-6 season.

SHORTHANDED EARLY

At North Carolina, 13 players will sit out games after committing NCAA secondary violations by selling teamissued shoes. That list includes quarterback Chazz Surratt — who was expected to compete for the starting job — returning starter Malik Carney at defensive end and another projected starter there in Tomon Fox. The suspensions could cut into the Tar Heels’ depth in the opening month as they try to regroup from a three-win season, the first serious stumble under seventh-year coach Larry Fedora.

MARQUEE OPENERS

The league has a couple of marquee matchups in Week 1, two against the Southeastern Conference. Louisville plays Alabama in Orlando, Fla., no Saturday, while Miami plays LSU in Arlington, Texas, the next day. And Monday, Taggart’s Seminoles will open the season with a Labor Day conference matchup against Virginia Tech.

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The Journal | 15

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

INSTANT REPLAY?

Alabama defensive lineman Raekwon Davis gestures after a stop against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. Davis seems primed to be just the next in a long line of dominant defenders for Nick Saban. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alabama, Georgia favorites to have rematch in Atlanta BY JOHN ZENOR ASSOCIATED PRESS

eorgia coach Kirby Smart gave mentor Nick Saban and Alabama a run for their money in the national championship game — and did it again in the offseason. Smart brought in the nation’s top recruiting class and stayed on point with Saban-like messages about guarding against complacency and embracing the pressure of high expectations while dismissing potential as “dormant ability.” “We can’t allow complacency to slip into our program and slip into our staff, because I know that will eat away at the core fundamentals that we started to believe,” Smart said during Southeastern Conference media days. Clearly a sentiment Saban would endorse. Alabama and defending SEC champion Georgia could very well be on a collision course for a championship showdown in Atlanta again, though it’s more likely to be a meeting in the

league title game this time. The Tide didn’t win the West last season after falling to Auburn in the regular-season finale. The Crimson Tide approaches the season widely regarded as the favorite to win a sixth national title in the last decade. That overtime win over his former defensive coordinator’s team did leave Saban with a months-long quarterback controversy: Heralded championship game hero Tua Tagovailoa vs. two-year starter Jalen Hurts. But neither mentor nor star pupil wanted their teams dwelling on that game or last season. “We’re constantly looking for the next edge...” Smart said. Saban’s message to his team: “Forget about what happened last year.” The league welcomes five new head coaches, including Saban disciples Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and Jeremy Pruitt at Tennessee. Fisher returned to his SEC Western Division roots from Florida State after past stints at LSU and Auburn. The primary SEC West challenger to Alabama might be

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Florida’s Dan Mullen is one of five new head coaches in the SEC this season, and his Gators could immediately challenge Georgia for the Eastern Division title. defending champion Auburn, which returns quarterback Jarrett Stidham and has one of the league’s most talented defensive lines. South Carolina and Dan Mullen’s Florida seem the most likely to challenge Georgia in the East. Some other things to know about the SEC in 2018:

THE FAVORITES

East: Georgia. The clear division front-runner after making it to the brink of the Bulldogs’ first national title since 1980. Kirby Smart must replace tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, along with linebacker Roquan Smith and six other defensive starters. Quarterback

Jake Fromm is back after an impressive freshman season (presuming he faces down a challenge from five-star recruit Justin Fields). West: Alabama. With enviable quarterback options and strong front lines, the Tide remains the team to beat — even after a runner-up division finish to rival Auburn. The Tide defense must replace eight NFL draft picks and the entire starting secondary. Tailback Damien Harris is a stalwart in the offense.

TOP PLAYERS

Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia. Baker had nine pass breakups last season to go along with three interceptions, including one in the national championship game. A.J. Brown, WR, Mississippi. Might have a hard time matching his huge 2017 numbers (75 catches, 1,252 yards, 11 touchdowns) if only because of QB Shea Patterson’s departure. Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama. Anchors the defensive line after racking up 8.5 sacks as a sophomore. Drew Lock, QB, Missouri. Led the nation with an SEC-record 44 touchdown passes, while flirting with 4,000 yards. First-

team All-SEC quarterback. Deebo Samuel, WR/RS, South Carolina. Tied for the team lead in 2017 with six touchdowns — three receptions, one run, two kick returns — despite breaking his leg in the third game. Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn. His 3,158 passing yards as a first-year starter ranks second in school history. Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State. Tied for the league lead with both 10.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. Devin White, LB, LSU. Led the league with 133 tackles and was SEC defensive player of the week four times.

NEW FACES

Texas A&M’s Fisher, Florida’s Mullen, Mississippi’s sort of new Matt Luke, Arkansas’ Chad Morris and Mississippi State’s Joe Moorhead. Alabama also has six new assistants, including coordinators on both sides of the ball. On the field, Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr. is among the potential impact newcomers.

ON THE HOT SEAT

With five new head coaches, there are fewer in precarious situations. Vanderbilt’s Derek Mason enters Year 5 seeking his first winning season. Kentucky’s Mark Stoops and LSU’s Ed Orgeron might be in some jeopardy with big drop-offs.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

August 31, 2018

NO. 6 WASHINGTON COACH: CHRIS PETERSEN CONFERENCE: PAC-12 2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

10-3

NO. 16 KEY GAMES

Auburn at Atlanta, Sept. 1 @ Oregon, Oct. 13 Stanford, Nov. 3

NO. 7 OKLAHOMA COACH: LINCOLN RILEY CONFERENCE: BIG 12 2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

12-2

NO. 3 KEY GAMES

Texas at Dallas, Oct. 6 @ TCU, Oct. 20 @ West Virginia, Nov. 23

The Journal | 17

CO L L E G E F O OT B A L L | P R E S E A S O N A P TO P 25

ALABAMA

NO. 16 TCU COACH: GARY PATTERSON CONFERENCE: BIG 12

3-PEAT By RALPH RUSSO |

NO. 8 MIAMI

AP COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER

2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

10-3

NO. 13 KEY GAMES

LSU at Arlington, Texas, Sept. 2 Florida State, Oct. 6 @ Virginia Tech, Nov. 17

NO. 9 AUBURN COACH: GUS MALZAHN CONFERENCE: SEC 2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

10-4

NO. 10 KEY GAMES

2017 FINISH

11-3

NO. 9 KEY GAMES

Ohio State at Arlington, Texas, Sept. 15 Oklahoma, Oct. 20 @ West Virginia, Nov. 10

NO. 17 WEST VIRGINIA COACH: DANA HOLGORSEN CONFERENCE: BIG 12 2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

7-6

UNRANKED KEY GAMES

@ Texas, Nov. 3 TCU, Nov. 10 Oklahoma, Nov. 23

NO. 18 MISSISSIPPI STATE COACH: JOE MOORHEAD

COACH: MARK RICHT CONFERENCE: ACC

2017 RECORD

labama will start its quest for a repeat national championship with a rare three-peat. The Crimson Tide is just the second team to be No. 1 in the preseason AP media poll for three straight seasons. The defending national champions received 42 out of 61 first-place votes to outpoint Clemson in the voting. The Tigers received 18 firstplace votes. Georgia is No. 3 and Wisconsin is fourth. The Badgers received one firstplace vote. Ohio State is No. 5. The preseason

AP poll started in 1950 and since then only Oklahoma from 1985 to 1987 had started No. 1 in three straight years. Until now. Ring up another milestone for coach Nick Saban’s Tide dynasty. Alabama has won five national championship since 2009 and now has been No. 1 to start the season five times under Saban. Last season was the first time, though, that Saban’s team has started and finished the season No. 1. This is the 10th straight season the Crimson Tide is preseason top five, one off Florida State’s record of 11 straight seasons in the preseason top five from 1990 to 2000. Ohio State is in the preseason poll for the 30th straight season, the third best streak of its kind behind Penn State (34 straight) and Nebraska (33).

CONFERENCE: SEC 2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

9-4

NO. 19 KEY GAMES

Auburn, Oct. 6 @ LSU, Oct. 20 @ Alabama, Nov. 10

NO. 19 FLORIDA STATE COACH: WILLIE TAGGART CONFERENCE: ACC 2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

7-6

UNRANKED KEY GAMES

Washington at Atlanta, Sept. 1 @ Georgia, Nov. 10 @ Alabama, Nov. 24

Virginia Tech, Sept. 3 @ Miami, Oct. 6 Clemson, Oct. 27

NO. 10 PENN STATE

NO. 20 VIRGINIA TECH

COACH: JAMES FRANKLIN

COACH: JUSTIN FUENTE

CONFERENCE: BIG TEN

CONFERENCE: ACC

2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

11-2

NO. 8

9-4

NO. 24

KEY GAMES

Ohio State, Sept. 29 @ Michigan, Nov. 3 Wisconsin, Nov. 10

@ Florida State, Sept. 3 Notre Dame, Oct. 6 Miami, Nov. 17

NO. 11 MICHIGAN STATE

NO. 21 UCF

COACH: MARK DANTONIO

COACH: JOSH HEUPEL

CONFERENCE: BIG TEN

CONFERENCE: THE AMERICAN

2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

10-3

NO. 15

13-0

NO. 12

KEY GAMES

@ Penn State, Oct. 13 Michigan, Oct. 20 Ohio State, Nov. 10

Florida Atlantic, Sept. 21 @ Memphis, Oct. 13 @ South Florida, Nov. 23

NO. 12 NOTRE DAME COACH: BRIAN KELLY CONFERENCE: INDEPENDENT 2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

NO. 11

10-3

NO. 1 ALABAMA COACH: Nick Saban CONFERENCE: SEC 2017 RECORD: 13-1 2017 FINISH: No. 1 CRITICAL GAMES: @ LSU, Nov. 3; Mississippi State, Nov. 10; Auburn, Nov. 24.

OUTLOOK: The Tide have played in the last three College Football Playoff championship games, winning two. The quarterback competition between championship game hero Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts, who has led the team to the national title game

NO. 22 BOISE STATE

as the starter in each of his first two seasons, has drawn much attention. Either way, the Tide should be explosive offensively. There is rebuilding to do in the secondary, with all new starters. DE Raekwon Davis is the next first-round draft pick up front.

COACH: BRYAN HARSIN CONFERENCE: MOUNTAIN WEST 2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

11-3

NO. 12

KEY GAMES

Michigan, Sept. 1 Stanford, Sept. 29 @ Virginia Tech, Oct. 6

@ Oklahoma State, Sept. 15 @ Wyoming, Sept. 29 Fresno State, Nov. 9

NO. 23 TEXAS

NO. 13 STANFORD COACH: DAVID SHAW

COACH: TOM HERMAN CONFERENCE: BIG 12

CONFERENCE: PAC-12 2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

9-5

NO. 20 KEY GAMES

USC, Sept. 8 @ Notre Dame, Sept. 29 @ Washington, Nov. 3

NO. 14 MICHIGAN COACH: JIM HARBAUGH CONFERENCE: BIG TEN 2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

8-5

UNRANKED KEY GAMES

@ Notre Dame, Sept. 1 @ Michigan State, Oct. 20 @ Ohio State, Nov. 24

NO. 15 USC COACH: CLAY HELTON CONFERENCE: PAC-12

NO. 2 CLEMSON

NO. 3 GEORGIA

NO. 4 WISCONSIN

NO. 5 OHIO STATE

COACH: Dabo Swinney CONFERENCE: ACC 2017 RECORD: 12-2 2017 FINISH: No. 4 CRITICAL GAMES: @ Texas A&M, Sept. 8; @ Florida State, Oct. 27; South Carolina, Nov. 24. OUTLOOK: Clemson looks for its fourth straight playoff appearance, led by the most-celebrated defensive line in the country with Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence and Austin Bryant. On offense, QB Kelly Bryant played well last season, but highly touted freshman Trevor Lawrence is threatening to take the job.

COACH: Kirby Smart CONFERENCE: SEC 2017 RECORD: 13-2 2017 FINISH: No. 2 CRITICAL GAMES: @ South Carolina, Sept. 8; @ LSU, Oct. 13; Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., Oct. 27. OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs have to replace a bunch of productive seniors off last year’s SEC championship team, including RBs Sony Michel and Nick Chubb, but there is plenty of talent for Smart to reload. QB Jake Fromm has maybe the deepest group of receivers in the SEC, led by Terry Godwin. CB Deandre Baker is a star in the secondary.

COACH: Paul Chryst CONFERENCE: Big Ten 2017 RECORD: 13-1 2017 FINISH: No. 7 CRITICAL GAMES: @ Iowa, Sept. 23; @ Michigan, Oct. 13; @ Penn State, Nov. 10. OUTLOOK: The Badgers are looking to breakthrough after losing the last two Big Ten championship games. RB Jonathan Taylor, a Heisman Trophy contender, operates behind maybe the best offensive line in the country. LB T.J. Edwards and S D’Cota Dixon leads a defense that has been consistently stingy in recent years.

COACH: Urban Meyer CONFERENCE: Big Ten 2017 RECORD: 12-2 2017 FINISH: No. 5 CRITICAL GAMES:TCU at Arlington, Texas, Sept. 15; @ No. 10 Penn State, Sept. 29; No. 14 Michigan, Nov. 24. OUTLOOK: DE Nick Bosa, brother of NFL star Joey Bosa, is the star of what should be a stellar defensive line. RB J.K. Dobbins ran for 1,403 yards as a freshman last season, and teams with Mike Weber to form one of the best combinations in the Big Ten. Buckeyes fans hope new starting QB Dwayne Haskins can stretch defenses with his strong arm.

2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

7-6

UNRANKED KEY GAMES

USC, Sept. 15 Oklahoma at Dallas, Oct. 6 West Virginia, Nov. 3

NO. 24 OREGON COACH: MARIO CRISTOBAL CONFERENCE: PAC-12 2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

7-6

NO. 18 KEY GAMES

Stanford, Sept. 22 Washington, Oct. 13 @ Washington State, Oct. 20

NO. 25 LSU COACH: ED ORGERON CONFERENCE: SEC

2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

2017 RECORD

2017 FINISH

11-3

NO. 12

9-4

NO. 18

KEY GAMES @ Stanford, Sept. 8 @ Texas, Sept. 15 Notre Dame, Nov. 24

ALSO RECEIVING CONSIDERATION:

South Carolina, Florida, Utah, Oklahoma State, Florida Atlantic, Arizona, North Carolina State, Texas A&M, Boston College, Northwestern, Kansas State, Iowa State, Houston, Memphis, Troy, Iowa, Kentucky, Arkansas State and Fresno State.

CO N T E N T BY T H E A S S O C I AT E D P R E S S

PAG E D E S I G N BY B I G S K Y D E S I G N C E N T E R

KEY GAMES Miami at Arlington, Texas, Sept. 2 @ Auburn, Sept. 15 Alabama, Nov. 3

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

18 | The Journal

August 31, 2018

HEAT CHECK How preseason Top 25 teams have handled preseason expectations BY RALPH D. RUSSO

ASSOCIATED PRESS

roadly speaking, a team that starts the season in the Top 25 and finishes it unranked has had a disappointing season, failing to meet expectations. The converse is likely to be true as well. Critics of preseason polls complain about setting artificial expectations, but it could be argued polls merely reflect expectations determined by factors such as the previous year’s record, recent recruiting and returning talent. The AP preseason Top 25 is out, and for the third straight year Alabama is No. 1. Nobody in Tuscaloosa needed a panel of 61 media members from around the country to tell them the Crimson Tide are expected to contend for a second straight national championship, and sixth under coach Nick Saban. Same goes for fans of No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Wisconsin, No. 5 Ohio State and a bunch of other teams for whom the preseason rankings simply validate what they already know: “My team should be good this year.” Heat Check was curious to find out how the teams in the preseason poll have done during the BCS/CFP era (1998-2017) when it comes to producing surprisingly good seasons (start unranked, finished ranked) and surprisingly bad ones (start ranked, finished unranked). Are some teams prone to unpredictability? Which are chronically underrated? Which tend to be overrated? What we learned:

NO. 1 ALABAMA

Open: vs. Louisville in Orlando, Fla., Sept. 1 Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 2 (avg. rank: 14). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 2 (avg. rank: 9.5) Heat check: Those four seasons above came during the volatile preNick Saban era. The Process does not allow for volatility.

NO. 2 CLEMSON

Open: vs. Furman, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 4 (avg. rank: 15.3) Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 5 (avg. rank: 22). Heat check: Clemsoning is dead for sure, but it was very much a real thing. From 2000-11, the Tigers would alternate between seasons in which they would: A) Modestly exceed expectations. B) Build hope for a breakout the following year. C) Fail to fulfill those hopes. Since 2012, however, Clemson’s final ranking has been better than its preseason ranking every year, which is kind of amazing.

NO. 3 GEORGIA

Open: vs. Austin Peay, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 5 (avg. rank 13.6). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 1 (22). Heat check: Four of those disappointing seasons came from 2009-15, and followed a 2008 season in which Georgia started No. 1 and finished No. 13. That’s why Mark Richt is no longer Georgia’s coach. The next challenge for Kirby Smart is meeting raised expectations.

NO. 4 WISCONSIN

Open: vs. Western Kentucky, Aug. 31. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 5 (avg. rank 18.6). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 3 (avg. rank 10.3). Heat check: The perception of the Badgers as overachievers is built more on recruiting rankings than the polls. But when the Badgers do exceed expectations, they tend to

do it in a big way, with three top-15 finishes after starting the season unranked.

NO. 5 OHIO STATE

Open: vs. Oregon State, Sept. 1 Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 4 (avg. rank 16.5). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 0. Heat check: Hard to exceed expectations when they are always high. The Buckeyes are the only team to appear in the preseason poll every season during the BCS/CFP era. The overall streak of preseason Top 25 appearances is 30.

NO. 6 WASHINGTON

Open: vs. No. 9 Auburn in Atlanta, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 4 (avg. rank 17.3). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 1 (25). Heat check: Hard to disappoint when little is expected. That was the case most of the time for the Huskies since 1998. From 2002-15, Washington finished a season ranked just once. Enter Chris Petersen. Problem solved.

NO. 7 OKLAHOMA 1.

Open: vs. FAU, Sept.

Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 2 (avg. rank 3.5). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 0. Heat check: The Sooners have been a model of consistency since Bob Stoops led them to their last national title in 2000, but they have had two of the most spectacular flameouts in recent years. In 2014, they started fourth and finished unranked, and in 2009 they went from No. 3 to unranked. Both of those teams had unexpected quarterback issues. OU is replacing Baker Mayfield this year. Just saying.

NO. 8 MIAMI

Open: vs. LSU in Arlington, Texas, Sept. 2. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 2 (avg. rank 12.5). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 2 (avg. rank 19.5). Heat check: The U has not been ranked preseason top 10 since 2005 so, if nothing else, the expectations are back.

NO. 9 AUBURN

Open: vs. Washington in Atlanta, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 5 (avg. rank 14). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 4 (avg. rank 14.5). Heat check: Legendary Alabama football player Forrest Gump once compared life to a box of chocolates because “You never know what you’re gonna get.” He could have been describing Auburn football. The Tigers have come from nowhere to contend for championships and three times started the season in the top 10 only to finish unranked.

NO. 10 PENN STATE

Open: vs. Appalachian State, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 3 (avg. rank 19.3). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 2 (avg. rank 5). Heat check: Penn State has reestablished itself as a program with a national championship-contender ceiling under coach James Franklin. This season is about sustainability.

NO. 11 MICHIGAN STATE

Open: vs. Utah State, Aug. 31. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 5 (avg. rank 18.2). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 4 (avg. rank 12.6).

Heat check: During coach Mark Dantonio’s 11-year tenure, the Spartans have more often than not been underestimated by poll voters. There have also been two seasons in which Michigan State started in the top 15 and finished unranked. Such is the nature of a program that does not recruit at an elite level. Every once in a while, there is not enough sheer talent to mask problems.

NO. 12 NOTRE DAME

Open: vs. Michigan, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 7 (avg. rank 18.2). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 5 (avg. rank 11.2). Heat check: There are two types of fans in college football: Those that believe the media loves to overhype and over-rank Notre Dame and those that believe the media has an inherent bias against Notre Dame. It turns out everybody can claim to be right. Only Arizona State has had as many seasons in the BCS/CFP era where it has been ranked in the preseason but unranked at the end. The Irish have also had more unranked-to-top 20 seasons (five) than any team in the country. (Amazingly, Arizona State made the preseason Top 25 eight times from 1998-2017 and only in one of those seasons (2014) did the Sun Devils finish in the rankings.)

NO. 13 STANFORD

Open: vs. San Diego State, Aug. 31. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 1 (11). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 2 (avg. rank 10). Heat check: The Cardinal have been about as steady as David Shaw’s temperament.

NO. 14 MICHIGAN

Open: at No. 11 Notre Dame, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 3 (avg. rank 10.7). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 2 (avg. rank 12). Heat check: In three seasons as coach, Jim Harbaugh has produced one unranked-to-ranked season and one ranked-to-unranked. And no victories against Ohio State, which is really the problem.

NO. 15 USC

Open: vs. UNLV, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 5 (avg. rank 11.4). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 0. Heat check: Two of those five rankedto-unranked seasons were pre-Pete Carroll. But the post-Carroll dynasty Trojans make a case for being the most consistently over-ranked team in the country. Since 2009, USC has been in every preseason poll and only twice finished better than it started. Most infamously, No. 1 to unranked in 2012.

NO. 16 TCU

Open: vs. Southern, Sept. 1 Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 4 (avg. rank 18.8). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 5 (avg. rank 10.6) Heat check: Beware an overlooked Gary Patterson team. Four times the Horned Frogs have gone from unranked to top 11 under Coach P.

NO. 17 WEST VIRGINIA

Open: vs. Tennessee in Charlotte, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 5 (avg. rank 15.8). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 4 (avg. rank 18.3) Heat check: The Mountaineers had a good run of top-10 finishes right before leaving the Big East, but since arriving in the Big 12 they have been more likely to come up short of expectations.

NO. 18 MISSISSIPPI STATE

Open: vs. Stephen F. Austin, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 2 (avg. rank 20). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 5 (avg. rank 16.4) Heat check: The Bulldogs clearly prefer being off the radar. All five times they have finished ranked since 1998 they started unranked and both times they were in the preseason poll they tanked.

NO. 19 FLORIDA STATE

Open: vs. No. 20 Virginia Tech, Sept. 3. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 4 (avg. rank 12.8). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 1 (21). Heat check: Last season’s most disappointing team — started No. 3 and finished unranked — looks to get back to normal.

NO. 20 VIRGINIA TECH

Open: at No. 19 Florida State, Sept. 3. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 2 (avg. rank 12.5). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 3 (avg. rank 16.3). Heat check: The Hokies have mostly delivered as expected, but this year’s ranking seems overly optimistic.

NO. 21 UCF

Open: at UConn, Aug. 30 Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 0. Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 3 (avg. rank 12.3). Heat check: The Knights are ranked in the preseason for the first time. Certainly not as high as their fans believe they should be, but, hey, it’s better than not being ranked at all.

NO. 22 BOISE STATE

Open: at Troy, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 4 (avg. rank 21). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 7 (avg. rank 13.9). Heat check: From 2002-08, Boise State started unranked five times and finished no worse than 16, with a high of No. 5 in 2006.

NO. 23 TEXAS

Open: vs. Maryland in Landover, Md., Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 3 (avg. rank 14.3). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 1 (15). Heat check: Voters seemed determined to be ahead of the curve for the Longhorns’ long-awaited revival. Texas hasn’t finished a season ranked since 2012.

NO. 24 OREGON

Open: vs. Bowling Green, Sept. 1. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 4 (avg. rank 20.8). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 4 (avg. rank 15.3). Heat check: These fringy preseason rankings have not worked out too well for the Ducks, three times failing to finish ranked when they started in the 20s.

NO. 25 LSU

Open: vs. No. 8 Miami in Arlington, Texas, Sept. 2. Seasons started ranked, finished unranked: 4 (avg. rank 20.8). Seasons started unranked, finished ranked: 4 (avg. rank 15.3). Heat check: Les Miles’ teams were preseason ranked every season from 2005-16 and only twice did they finish unranked. Underachieving this year’s relatively modest expectations could be a problem for coach Ed Orgeron.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

August 31, 2018

WHO WILL 1 WIN IT ALL

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

The Journal | 19

CLEMSON TIGERS

WASHINGTON HUSKIES

AP prediction: Tigers over Tide, Wolverines and Huskies BY RALPH D. RUSSO

ASSOCIATED PRESS

he College Football Playoff has yet to produce a real surprise team. In four seasons, nine schools have reached the semifinals — and even the teams that came from outside the AP preseason Top 25 were traditional powers. The lowest-ranked team in the preseason media poll to make the CFP was Oklahoma in 2015. The Sooners were 19th to start the season, mostly because they were coming off a disappointing season (8-5) and few knew how good Baker Mayfield would be. Clemson made the playoff that same year after starting the season ranked No. 12. The Tigers went 10-3 the season before, but Deshaun Watson was a sophomore coming off a knee injury, there was major turnover on defense and exactly what Dabo Swinney was building at Clemson had not yet been fully revealed. Washington was No. 14 going into the 2016 season before going on a playoff run. The Huskies were also coming off a mediocre season (7-6), but there was definitely a sense Chris Petersen’s team was ready to take a significant step forward in year two of his tenure. Turns out it was even bigger than expected. Last year, Georgia went from No. 15 to the CFP. The Bulldogs were 8-5 the season before, Kirby Smart’s first in Athens. The Bulldogs had an experienced team in ‘17 that was favored to win the SEC East, and ended up being the second-best team in the country. So what does this small sample tell us? If you want to pick a playoff dark

horse, look for a brand-name team ranked somewhere in the teens of the preseason poll. Maybe one with a talented quarterback who still has some uncertainty attached to him. And with that, predictions for the 2018 college football season:

CONFERENCE WINNERS

— American Athletic Conference: Memphis (West) over Temple (East). The last two teams to win the American lost their coaches soon after. So where’s Mike Norvell going? — Atlantic Coast Conference: Clemson (Atlantic) over Miami (Coastal). The Tigers are stacked and freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence could give the offense an explosiveness it was missing last year while sharing playing time with starter Kelly Bryant. — Big Ten: Michigan (East) over Wisconsin (West). Jim Harbaugh finally quiets his critics. — Big 12: Oklahoma (No. 1) over West Virginia (No. 2). The Big 12 is the most likely Power Five conference to provide an unexpected champ. There is little separation among the top six or seven teams but when in doubt, pick the Sooners. — Conference USA: Florida Atlantic (East) over Louisiana Tech (West). Lane Kiffin brings a second straight C-USA title to FAU. — Mid-American Conference: Ohio (East) over Northern Illinois (West). Ohio wins its first MAC title since 1968. — Mountain West: Boise State (Mountain) over San Diego State (West). Could be the Broncos’ best post-Chris Petersen team. — Pac-12: Washington (North) over Utah (South). The Huskies win their

second Pac-12 title in three seasons, but the opener against Auburn could determine playoff hopes. — Southeastern Conference: Alabama (West) over Georgia (East). This time only the SEC champion makes the playoff. — Sun Belt: Arkansas State (West) over Troy (East). Red Wolves win the first Sun Belt championship game.

HEISMAN TROPHY

The favorites are running backs Bryce Love of Stanford and Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin, but the Heisman has become a quarterback’s award. Fifteen of the last 18 winners have been QBs. Feels like a season where a not-so-obvious player makes a run. Top five vote-getters: 1. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon. 2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin. 3. Will Grier, QB, West Virginia. 4. Shea Patterson, QB, Michigan. 5. A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College.

NEW YEAR’S SIX/PLAYOFF

Cotton Bowl: Alabama (1) vs. Washington (4). Orange Bowl: Michigan (2) vs. Clemson (3). Sugar Bowl: Georgia (SEC) vs. Oklahoma (Big 12) Rose Bowl: Wisconsin (Big Ten) vs Oregon (Pac-12) Fiesta Bowl: Boise State (Group of Five) vs. Ohio State (at-large) Peach Bowl: West Virginia (at-large) vs. Miami (at-large)

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Clemson and Alabama make it four straight seasons meeting in the playoff. The Tigers even the series at two and win another national title.

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August 31, 2018

DOMINANT DEFENDERS D-line is where stars are this season BY RALPH D. RUSSO

ASSOCIATED PRESS

f you are looking for the best players in college football this season, pay attention to the defensive line. A group of former blue chip prospects has bloomed into dominant defenders who will be wrecking offenses across the nation in 2018. Then in 2019, they will likely be packing the first round of the NFL draft. Narrowing the star-studded class to six is difficult. Clemson alone has four. But here are the best of the big fellas who could be draft eligible in 2019:

ED OLIVER, DT, HOUSTON

The junior has already announced he will enter next year’s draft. No need to wait. Oliver was practically NFL ready when he arrived at Houston, choosing his hometown university over the Power Five programs. He has 38 1/2 tackles for loss in two seasons. At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, Oliver combines power, quickness and rare sideline-to-sideline speed for an interior lineman. Houston will push him as a Heisman contender, but he is more likely to be the first pick in next year’s draft.

NICK BOSA, DE, OHIO STATE

Bosa’s brother, Joey, was a star for the Buckeyes from 2013-15 and ended up being the third overall pick in the draft by San Diego. He was defensive rookie of the year in 2016 and made the Pro Bowl last year. At 6-4 and 270, Nick Bosa appears to be on the same path. As a sophomore last season, Bosa shared playing time with three defensive ends who were drafted last season, which makes the 8 1/2 sacks and 16 tackles for loss even more impressive.

RASHAN GARY, DE, MICHIGAN

Gary was the No. 1 overall recruit coming out of high school in 2016. He broke out as a sophomore last season, with 5 1/2 sacks and sturdy play against the run. The Wolverines could probably use a few

more sacks out of the 6-5, 281-pound junior, and if he does improve his pass rush he could push to be No. 1 overall when the NFL drafts next April. Gary will get plenty of help from teammate Chase Winovich, another potential first-round pick.

CLEMSON’S DEFENSIVE LINE

Yep, all of them. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and defensive ends Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant all could have left school after last season and been NFL picks. Instead, they all returned for another season. None more surprising than Wilkins, a 300-pound junior who has played extensively since his freshman year. The best of the bunch might be the youngest. Dexter Lawrence, the 340-pound junior, played through nagging injuries last year and could be a monster.

IRON BOWL RIVALS

At 6-7, 306, there is no more imposing player in college football than Alabama’s Raekwon Davis, who had 10 tackles for loss last season and seems primed to be just the next in a long line of dominant defenders for Nick Saban. Not to be outdone by its Iron Bowl rival, Auburn has a star in Derrick Brown, a 325-pound rock in the middle of what could be the SEC’s best defensive line.

ZACH ALLEN, DE, BOSTON COLLEGE

Allen broke out as a junior last season. He was one of two defensive linemen in the country to make at least 100 tackles. Unlike the others, Allen was a three-star recruit who has blossomed into a star for the Eagles, going from 250 as a freshman to 285 heading into his senior season.

EXTRA POINT

Six more defensive linemen to watch: Ben Banogu, DE, TCU Greg Gaines, DT, Washington Joe Jackson, DE, Miami Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame

PHOTOS BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

From top, Houston’s Ed Oliver, Michigan’s Rashan Gary and Boston College’s Zach Allen are three of an outstanding crop of defensive linemen who will be wrecking offenses around the country this season.

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August 31, 2018

The Journal | 21

INSTANT

IMPACT

PHOTOS BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Above: Patrick Surtain Jr. is interviewed with his family behind him, after announcing his commitment to Alabama on national signing day in February in Plantation, Fla. Left: Nebraska running back Maurice Washington carries the ball during a practice earlier this month in Lincoln, Neb. Below: Oklahoma defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles looks on during a practice in Norman, Okla., earlier this month. Surtain, Washington and Radley-Hiles are among the players across the country expected to make a splash during their freshman seasons this year.

Clemson, USC QBs among freshmen who could make impacts BY STEVE MEGARGEE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

reshmen should play a bigger role than ever in college football this season, thanks to an NCAA rule change. The NCAA is allowing players to participate in up to four games and still qualify for a redshirt season that would enable them to maintain four years of eligibility. That rule change should put many more freshmen on the field than in past years. “It’s a seismic change,” Baylor coach Matt Rhule said. Of course, more and more freshmen have been making an impact on the game well before this rule change. With a growing number of freshmen enrolling in school early and participating in spring practice rather than preparing for their senior proms, newcomers already have been delivering big performances on college football’s biggest stage. The latest example of that came in last year’s College Football Playoff championship game, when freshman Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench in the second half to rally Alabama to an overtime victory over Georgia.

“I know the freshmen are more ready now than maybe ever before,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Back when I first got into coaching, 95 percent of your freshman class would redshirt. Now it’s probably less than 50 percent.” A rundown of some true freshmen with the opportunity to make a major impact this fall:

CLEMSON

• QB Trevor Lawrence Lawrence is so promising that he forged a legitimate preseason competition with incumbent starter Kelly Bryant, who helped the Tigers win an Atlantic Coast Conference title and reach the College Football Playoff last season. Lawrence was the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect in his class according to the 247Sports Composite. He enrolled at Clemson early and was 11 of 16 for 122 yards with a touchdown pass and no interceptions in the Tigers’ spring game. While it was no surprise Bryant hung onto his job for the start of the season, Lawrence figures to get a chance at some point this year.

OKLAHOMA

• DB Brendan Radley-Hiles

Oklahoma has played championship-caliber offense the last few seasons but hasn’t had a defense to match. Radley-Hiles could help change that. The Sooners have high hopes for the top-50 recruit and expect him to contribute right away. Big 12 media selected him as the conference’s preseason newcomer of the year.

LSU

• WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall LSU doesn’t return any wideouts who had more than 219 yards receiving last season, so the Tigers could use some playmakers in the passing game. Chase and Marshall fit the profile. Chase has earned praise from LSU coach Ed Orgeron. “He has big hands,” Orgeron said. “He has 10 1/2-inch hands. He can catch the ball well. He’s very strong, fast, runs great routes. Very mature. He just has a natural knack for catching the football.” Marshall was the nation’s No. 3 receiver and No. 13 overall prospect in his class, according to a composite ranking of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. Chase also was a top100 recruit.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

• QB JT Daniels and WR Amron St. Brown These former high school teammates at Santa Ana (California) Mater Dei already are accustomed to connecting for touchdowns. St. Brown was the nation’s No. 2 receiver and No. 11 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite. Daniels was ranked second among prostyle quarterbacks and 16th overall. Daniels beat out sophomore Matt Fink and redshirt freshman Jack Sears for the right to replace New York Jets first-round draft pick Sam Darnold as USC’s starting quarterback. Daniels threw three touchdown passes to St. Brown at a recent scrimmage.

ALABAMA

• CB Patrick Surtain Jr. Alabama needs immediate help in the secondary after losing its top six defensive backs from last year’s national championship team. That should create an early opportunity for Surtain, rated by the 247Sports Composite as the nation’s No. 1 cornerback and No. 6 overall prospect in his class. Surtain is the son of former Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs

cornerback Patrick Surtain, a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

NEBRASKA

• RB Maurice Washington The most valuable player of the 2018 Under Armour High School All-America game has been the talk of Nebraska’s camp. Washington qualified academically just a few days before the start of preseason practice but has performed well enough already that Nebraska coach Scott Frost has said “he’s going to be a pretty special player.” “He’s definitely opening some eyes,” Frost said. “I think he’s got a bright future here.” Other freshmen to watch for Nebraska include cornerback Cam Taylor and quarterback Adrian Martinez, who was named the Huskers’ starter this week.

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August 31, 2018

Stanford’s Love, Arizona’s Tate among preseason award contenders BY STEVE MEGARGEE ASSOCIATED PRESS

tanford running back Bryce Love’s decision to return for his senior year instantly made him a preseason front-runner for some of college football’s top individual awards. Love won the Doak Walker Award as college football’s top running back and was runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting last year as he rushed for 2,118 yards. He’s an obvious candidate for both awards again this year, even though he will have a tough time matching his production from last season. “I had a good chance to talk with Bryce, to talk about (how) this year can’t be about stats,” Stanford coach David Shaw said. “He broke a lot of records last year, did some phenomenal things last year. This year’s about him getting bigger, stronger, being more versatile, different things, adding to his game. We’re not going to do the Bryce Love stat watch.” Love is among several players to enter the season as contenders to earn hardware this year. Here’s a rundown of

balloting last year and set an NCAA freshman record by rushing for 1,977 yards.

potential candidates for some of college football’s top individual awards.

HEISMAN TROPHY

(TOP OVERALL PLAYER) • Bryce Love, Stanford His 2,118 yards rushing last season ranked second among all Football Bowl Subdivision players, behind only Seattle Seahawks first-round draft pick and former San Diego State star Rashaad Penny. • Khalil Tate, Arizona As a versatile quarterback who can beat defenses with his arm and legs, Tate fits the profile of many other recent Heisman winners. • Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin Taylor finished sixth in the Heisman

ASSOCIATED PRESS

As a versatile quarterback who can beat defenses with his arm and legs, Arizona’s Khalil Tate fits the profile of many other recent Heisman winners.

DAVEY O’BRIEN

(TOP QUARTERBACK) • Will Grier, West Virginia Grier threw for 317.3 yards per game last season and was the media’s choice as Big 12 preseason offensive player of the year. • McKenzie Milton, Central Florida Milton finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting last year while leading UCF to a perfect season. • Khalil Tate, Arizona Tate rushed for 327 yards in one game last season and ran for over 200 yards in two other contests.

DOAK WALKER

(TOP RUNNING BACK) • J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State Dobbins rushed for 1,403 yards and gained 7.2 yards per carry as a freshman last season. • Bryce Love, Stanford Love will try to join former Texas star Ricky Williams and former Arkansas standout Darren McFadden as a two-time winner of this award. • Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin Taylor was one of three finalists for this award last year.

BILETNIKOFF

(TOP RECEIVER) • A.J. Brown, Mississippi Brown caught 75 passes

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for 1,252 yards and 11 touchdowns last year as an AP All-America third-team selection. • N’Keal Harry, Arizona State Harry had 82 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago. • David Sills, West Virginia Sills caught 18 touchdown passes last season to tie for the FBS lead and was a finalist for this award. ASSOCIATED PRESS

OUTLAND

(TOP INTERIOR LINEMAN) • Ed Oliver, Houston Oliver won this trophy last year and also was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy given to the nation’s top defensive player. • Christian Wilkins, Clemson Clemson’s defensive line is so fearsome that all four of its projected starters made the preseason all-Atlantic Coast Conference team. • Jonah Williams, Alabama Williams will try to become the fourth Alabama player in the last 11 years, joining Andre Smith (2008), Barrett Jones (2011) and Cam Robinson (2016).

BEDNARIK /NAGURSKI

(SEPARATE AWARDS GIVEN TO TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER) • Nick Bosa, Ohio State Bosa earned secondteam AP All-America honors last season and had 16 tackles for loss plus eight sacks. • Raekwon Davis, Alabama An Alabama player has won the last two Bednarik Awards (Jonathan Allen in 2016 and Minkah Fitz-

Stanford running back Bryce Love runs in front of Southern California safety Chris Hawkins during the Pac-12 championship game in Santa Clara, Calif., on Dec. 1. Love’s decision to return for his senior year instantly made him a preseason front-runner for some of college football’s top individual awards. patrick in 2017) and one of the last two Nagurski Trophy honors (Allen in 2016). • Clelin Ferrell, Clemson Ferrell was a first-team AP All-American who collected 18 tackles for loss and 9 1/2 sacks last year.

BUTKUS

(TOP LINEBACKER) • Devin Bush, Michigan Bush was a Butkus Award finalist and thirdteam AP All-American last year. • T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin Edwards was a Butkus Award finalist and firstteam AP All-American last year. • Devin White, LSU White had 133 tackles last season, including 14 for loss.

JIM THORPE

(TOP DEFENSIVE BACK) • Jaquan Johnson, Miami Johnson had a teamhigh 96 tackles and tied

for the team lead with four interceptions last season. • Deandre Baker, Georgia Baker had nine pass breakups last season to go along with three interceptions. • Andraez “Greedy” Williams, LSU Williams picked off six passes and earned thirdteam AP All-America honors as a redshirt freshman last season.

JOHN MACKEY

(TOP TIGHT END) • Noah Fant, Iowa He’s coming off a 2017 season in which he scored 11 touchdowns. • Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri As a redshirt freshman last season, he had 11 touchdown catches to tie for the SEC lead. • Caleb Wilson, UCLA Wilson caught 38 passes for 490 yards in only five games last year before a foot injury shut him down for the rest of the season.

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August 31, 2018

HEISMAN DARKHORSES

Can Browning repeat Mayfield’s path?

The Journal | 23

season. With the turmoil surrounding Ohio State’s program, Michigan State could end up as the favorite in the Big Ten East.

BY JOE REEDY ASSOCIATED PRESS

level, play after play after play.” A look at other Heisman longshots looking to improve their odds:

won the award since 2007, but the senior is going to need to produce wins for a Tigers squad that lost five of its first six last season before finishing 7-6.

MCKENZIE MILTON

JAKE BROWNING QB, WASHINGTON

ashington’s Jake Browning is hoping to repeat what Baker Mayfield did last year. Mayfield was a Heisman Trophy longshot in the preseason, but ended up winning the award while leading Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years. Browning was sixth in the Heisman voting two years ago after leading the Huskies to the Pac-12 title and the playoff, where they lost to Alabama in the semifinals. His productivity declined last year, though, as his touchdowns fell from 43 to 19. Washington was 10-3 last season, but is the preseason favorite to win the Pac-12. Browning and the Huskies will also have an early opportunity to make a favorable impression to the rest of the nation as they face Auburn in the opener in Atlanta on Saturday. Browning — who has thrown for over 9,000 yards and 78 touchdowns the past three seasons — is facing high expectations, but none might be bigger than what coach Chris Petersen expects out of the senior. “Jake plays really good football and has made some spectacular plays in his career,” Petersen said. “We’re looking for him to do that at the most difficult position in football at a really high, elite

ED OLIVER

DT, HOUSTON The junior might have set the record for being the earliest to announce that he is entering the NFL Draft. But there is good reason for that as Oliver might be the top pick. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman faces huge odds to win, but with 38 1/2 tackles for loss the last two seasons and the possibility that coach Major Applewhite could use him on some offensive plays, he could at least get to New York as one of the finalists.

CAM AKERS

RB, FLORIDA STATE New coach Willie Taggart says that the theme of his offense is “lethal simplicity.” That is also an apt description of Akers. The sophomore had four 100-yard games last season and set Florida State’s freshman rushing record with 1,025 yards. Akers will be counted on early to be a focal point of Taggart’s offense, starting with Monday’s opener against Virginia Tech.

QB, CENTRAL FLORIDA Milton was eighth in the voting last year after he led the Knights to an improbable 13-0 record and a victory over Auburn in the Peach Bowl. He was second in the nation in passing efficiency (179.3) and yards per attempt (10.22), finishing behind Mayfield. UCF, though, has a new coach in Josh Heupel after Scott Frost left for Nebraska. Also hampering Milton’s bid is a lack of weekly exposure. The Knights’ first national appearance won’t be until Sept. 15 against North Carolina.

RODNEY ANDERSON

DREW LOCK

QB, MISSOURI Lock set a Southeastern Conference record last season with 44 touchdown passes. Three SEC quarterbacks have

BRIAN LEWERKE

QB, MICHIGAN STATE The junior is a dual-threat quarterback who accounted for 3,352 yards of total offense as the Spartans won 10 games last

RB, OKLAHOMA There have been only three occasions where the same school has produced different Heisman winners in back-to-back seasons. Anderson didn’t even start until mid-season last year, but he finished with 1,442 yards and 18 touchdowns from scrimmage. In his best game, he had 290 yards and four touchdowns from scrimmage in a regular-season win over TCU. At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, he is a powerhouse with breakaway speed and good enough hands to have grabbed five touchdown receptions last season.

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August 31, 2018

FSU QB Francois heads list of players returning from injury BY STEVE MEGARGEE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

lorida State quarterback Deandre Francois is happy to be playing football again — and he’s even more excited now that he’s won his job back. Francois returned to the practice field to start fall camp after injuring his knee in a season-opening loss to Alabama last fall and sitting out the rest of the year. New Florida State coach Willie Taggart said this week the junior will be the team’s starter

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois carries against Alabama during the teams’ season opener last year in Atlanta, a game in which he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

for Monday’s opener against Virginia Tech. Francois beat out James Blackman, who filled in for an injured Francois last season, and redshirt freshman Bailey Hockman.

Francois welcomed the challenge this offseason. “I’ve been competing all my life,” Francois said. “Last year was devastating with the knee injury, but me being back is good. I’m in a better place. It took a toll on me, but I’m in a better place.” Francois wants to build on what he accomplished in 2016, when he threw for 3,350 yards and 20 touchdowns while helping the Seminoles earn an Orange Bowl victory. He’s one of several notable players coming back from injury. A list of players returning this year compiled by The Associated Press only includes players who missed at least half the season with season-ending injuries. That disqualifies Washington offensive tackle Trey Adams and Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson, who played just over half the season last year. They both could have a major impact on their teams. Since Middle Tennessee quarterback Brent Stockstill and Alabama linebacker Christian Miller returned from injuries late last season, they are also not listed.

SOUTH CAROLINA WR DEEBO SAMUEL

He scored six touchdowns

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in South Carolina’s first three games last season before a broken leg knocked him out for the remainder of the year. Now he’s back as a fifth-year senior. Samuel’s six touchdowns last year came on three receptions, one run from scrimmage and two kick returns. He shared team MVP honors with quarterback Jake Bentley in 2016.

downs in 2016, and he was on pace for another 1,000-yard season last year until he got hurt. He collected 28 receptions for 537 yards and four touchdowns in five games before a leg injury shut him down for the remainder of the season. The fifth-year senior has career totals of 133 catches for 2,665 yards and 20 touchdowns.

TENNESSEE OT CHANCE HALL, WR JAUAN JENNINGS, S TODD KELLY JR. AND LB DARRIN KIRKLAND JR.

UCLA TE CALEB WILSON

Injuries to key players played a major role in Tennessee’s fall from the Top 25 to the SEC East cellar last season. Hall, Jennings, Kelly and Kirkland have 62 career starts between them, but they played a combined total of three games last season. Hall and Kirkland didn’t play a single down due to knee injuries. Kelly, Tennessee’s leading tackler in 2016, played just two games before a knee injury shut him down. Jennings, the Vols’ second-leading receiver in 2016, injured his wrist in the 2017 opener. They’re all practicing now.

TOLEDO WR CODY THOMPSON

Thompson caught 64 passes for 1,269 yards and 11 touch-

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Wilson had 38 caches for 490 yards in only five games last season before a foot injury shut him down for the rest of the year. He already has shown an ability to produce big numbers against high-profile opponents. Wilson had 15 receptions for 208 yards when UCLA came from behind to beat Texas A&M in the season opener. He caught 11 passes for 145 yards against Stanford.

TEXAS A&M S DONOVAN WILSON

He headed into last season as a defensive team captain, but Wilson broke his foot in the opening loss to UCLA and didn’t play again. He’s back as a fifth-year senior this fall and should play a big role in Texas A&M’s secondary. He picked off five passes in 2015 and made 59 tackles in 2016.

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NO. 4 WISCONSIN

Last year: 13-1 (9-0 Big Ten); Big Ten West champions; Won Orange Bowl

THINKING Offensive front, Taylor have Wisconsinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sights set high BY GENARO C. ARMAS

BIG depth-chart afterthought when camp began last season. Now his goal is to become more reliable with the football after having some ball-security issues last season. Chryst also wants to get Taylor more involved in the passing game.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MADISON, Wis. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he big guys are front and center at Wisconsin. Running back Jonathan Taylor probably wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be drawing attention as a Heisman Trophy candidate if not for the holes opened by the Badgersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; offensive line during his record-setting freshman season. The line is tough, physical and agile in typical Wisconsin fashion, and all five starters are back. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the kind of stability and experience that most other schools would envy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s huge,â&#x20AC;? Taylor said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The potential is there. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see where it takes us.â&#x20AC;? Taylor set a major college record for a freshman with 1,977 yards last year, finishing sixth in the Heisman voting. Throw in a deep receiving corps and improving quarterback Alex Hornibrook, and the Badgers might very well barrel their way over the rest of the Big Ten West division. The Badgers finished a school-best 13-1 last year. But one victory has eluded this group during what has otherwise been a wildly successful run since Paul Chryst took over as coach in 2015. The school is 0-2 under Chryst in the Big Ten title game. A win would better position the Badgers to get into the playoff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just think you just pick up where we were last year. This is a different team, a different group of guys,â&#x20AC;? right guard Beau Benzschawel said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every year is going to bring its new challenges, and hopefully weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be the best for it.â&#x20AC;?

August 31, 2018

GETTING DEFENSIVE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wisconsin offensive linemen Brett Connors (64) and Beau Benzschawel (66) celebrate at the end of the Badgersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dec. 30 win over Miami in the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla.

FIVE GUYS

While the offensive line may have the same five starters, a couple players will be in different positions. Senior Michael Deiter is sliding one spot over from left tackle to guard, an interior position to which he might be better suited in the NFL. Guard Jon Dietzen, who has fought through injuries in his career, appears to be the favorite at tackle. Benzschawel, Deiter and right tackle David Edwards each looked into entering the NFL draft before deciding to return to school and rejoin Dietzen and pancakeblocking center Tyler Biadasz up front.

TAYLOR-MADE

Let the Heisman hype begin for Taylor, who by all accounts remains the grounded and hard-working player who burst into the spotlight as a freshman. Taylor was a

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The Badgers return a strong core up the middle in nose tackle Olive Sagapolu and safety Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Cota Dixon, along with inside linebackers T.J. Edwards, Ryan Connelly and Chris Orr. But second-year defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard needs new starters at every other position. Defensive end might be the biggest question mark to start the year with injuries knocking out Garrett Rand (torn Achilles tendon) for the year and Isaiahh Loudermilk (left knee) through at least nonconference play. A positive is that Chryst has a recent track record of developing young players quickly to take on important roles, while Leonhard has kept the defense humming along at an elite level.

LOOKING AHEAD

The toughest tests on the schedule are on the road in the Big Ten against Iowa (Sept. 22), Michigan (Oct. 13) and Penn State (Nov. 10). Still, another unbeaten regular season is a possibility. But can the Badgers win the Big Ten title game and get into the playoff?

Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor runs the ball during the Orange Bowl against Miami on Dec. 30 in Miami Gardens, Fla. Taylor probably wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be drawing hype as a Heisman Trophy candidate if not for the holes opened by the Badgersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; offensive line during his record-setting ASSOCIATED PRESS freshman season.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

August 31, 2018

NO. 5 OHIO STATE

The Journal | 27

Last year: 12-2 (8-1 Big Ten); Big Ten East champions; Won Cotton Bowl

Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins scrambles during the Buckeyes’ win over Michigan on Nov. 25 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Haskins will take the keys to the Ohio State offense from four-year starter J.T. Barrett this season. ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUCKING THE DISTRACTIONS Even with Meyer sidelined, expectations sky high for Ohio State Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins sprints in the open field during the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis on Dec. 2. Any coaches would be thrilled to have just one of the two running backs who are vying for playing time in the Buckeyes backfield. Dobbins rushed for 1,400 yards as a freshman last year on the heels of a 1,000yard freshman season by Mike Weber in 2017. ASSOCIATED PRESS

THAT NEW QB

BY MITCH STACY

The major obstacle to Haskins becoming Ohio State’s next starting quarterback was erased when Joe Burrow decided to transfer to LSU after spring practice rather than battle it out with Haskins in fall camp. Haskins — who secured his place in Buckeyes lore by winning last year’s Michigan game — takes the keys from four-year starter J.T. Barrett. The redshirt sophomore is a passfirst, pro-style QB with a rifle arm who brimmed with poise when he spelled the injured Barrett and led Ohio State to a come-from-behind win over Michigan last November. “He has a little different way of doing it, but he’s earning the respect of our players and our staff,” Meyer said last month.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS, Ohio — lthough coach Urban Meyer’s future at Ohio State was in doubt for much of camp, the talent level on the field for the Buckeyes certainly isn’t a question. Meyer was put on paid leave Aug. 1 — two days before preseason practice opened — while the university investigated his handling of domestic abuse allegations against fired assistant coach Zach Smith. Ohio State finished up the probe into the incident Aug. 22, announcing Meyer will be suspended for the Buckeyes’ first three games against Oregon State, Rutgers and TCU. Meyer cannot work with the team at all through the Oregon State game, but he will be allowed to lead practices before the next two games. How the team will respond to the off-field drama is anyone’s guess, but this we know: The Buckeyes have a new starting quarterback, and the Dwayne Haskins Jr. era at Ohio State will start with the same sky-high expectations typical in Columbus. It helps that he is surrounded by a deep, experienced wide receiver corps and a tandem of running backs that might be the best in the nation.

BOSA’S SWAN SONG

Defensive end Nick Bosa is looking for the kind of monster year that will keep his NFL draft stock high. Following his brother Joey, now a star with the Los Angeles Chargers, Nick is one of the top defensive linemen in the sport going into his junior year. He’ll be a first-round draft pick just like his brother, unless something drastic happens. Part of a ridiculously deep defensive line last year, Bosa didn’t get as many snaps as he would have liked, finishing with 34 tackles and 8 1/2 sacks. With less depth this season, he’ll be on the field more.

TWO-HEADED RB

Ohio State’s tandem of J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber in the backfield may be the envy of all college football. Dobbins rushed for 1,400 yards as a freshman last year on the heels of a 1,000-yard freshman season by Weber in 2017. Weber was hampered by a hamstring injury for a chunk of last season, which gave Dobbins most of the carries and the chance to shine.

LOTS OF RECEIVERS

All six top pass-catchers from last season return for 2018. Any one of them could have a huge year with Haskins throwing. Seniors Parris Campbell — last season’s top receiver with 584 yards — and Terry McLaurin are captains and team leaders. Senior Johnnie Dixon and junior Binjimen Victor combined for 15 touchdown receptions. “We’re going to add to our game vertically,” Campbell said at Big Ten Media Days last month. “We already have an established running game with J.K. and Mike. I think it’s going to be hard for defenses to contain us.”

SEASON OPENER

At home Saturday against Oregon State. If the Buckeyes can put aside the distractions and Haskins performs as expected, they could be a contender for the College Football Playoff after finishing just out of the top four last year.

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28 | The Journal

NO. 6 WASHINGTON

Last year: 10-3 (7-2 Pac-12); T-1st Pac-12 North; Lost Fiesta Bowl

Washington quarterback Jake Browning participates in a practice Aug. 10 in Seattle. Browning is a fourth-year quarterback hoping to lead the Huskies back to the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington the clear favorite to win Pac-12 BY TIM BOOTH ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEATTLE — hen running back Myles Gaskin first arrived at Washington, the outside expectations for the Huskies were very different. They weren’t seen as an overwhelming favorite in the Pac-12. Three years later, Gaskin is about to enter his final season in the purple and gold knowing the Huskies have reached a level where the perception of the program has greatly changed. High expectations are now a given. And the goal? That would be to win a national title. “I know this program has been through a lot and taken a lot of steps forward but that’s always been our goal, just to win every game. Win every game and it’s going to put you in the

mix,” Gaskin said. Although they face a major test in the season opener against Auburn on Saturday, the Huskies are the clear favorites to win the Pac-12 title. Accomplish that, and there’s a good chance the Huskies could find themselves in the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years. Coach Chris Petersen, of course, hates the expectations facing the Huskies before the season begins. “We expect to be good and win games, and that’s never changed,” Petersen said. “So because other people think that we might win some games, that doesn’t really change our mindset.” The lofty hopes are centered on Washington’s experience. The Huskies return a fourth-year quarterback in Jake Browning who will be handing off to a fourth-year running back in Gaskin — who is poised to rewrite Washington’s

EMBRACE THE HYPE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington’s Salvon Ahmed reaches for the ball during practice Aug. 10 in Seattle. For the first time in more than 20 years, Washington will go into a season with a legitimate belief that being in the national championship conversation doesn’t sound foolish. record books. They’re both playing behind an offensive line returning four starters. Then there’s a defense that could be one of the best in the country, led by its stellar secondary.

MONTLAKE JAKE

As great as Browning was in his sophomore season in leading Washington to the national semifinals, he took steps back as a junior. He was tentative in making throws,

DYA GAMY SATUR S PLA

R E R G I E T N V O S E HEN CLEM

causing timing to be off and forcing Browning to scramble more than Washington wanted. He was more focused at times on not making a mistake than making a throw. Browning still threw for 2,719 yards and 19 touchdowns, but it was a major drop from 2016 when he passed for 3,430 yards and 43 scores. The evolution of the passing game will be a major story line for the Huskies this year. They lost star receiver Dante Pettis and won’t have injured tight end Hunter Bryant for most of the

In typical coach fashion, Washington coach Chris Petersen hates hearing about the expectations facing his team entering the season. ASSOCIATED PRESS

W E I V E R P Y E

August 31, 2018

n Read It I

al The Journ

season. Petersen said he’s just seeking consistency from Browning.

SIZZLING SECONDARY

Washington’s secondary, where all four starters return and there’s a wealth of depth, will be the strength of the defense. The group is led by safeties Jojo McIntosh and Taylor Rapp, but the talent is just as good on the outside with cornerbacks Byron Murphy, Myles Bryant and Jordan Miller.

TWO-HEADED ATTACK

Gaskin will likely leave Washington as the school’s all-time leading rusher. He has teamed with Lavon Coleman each of the past two years to give the Huskies’ back-

field a 1-2 punch. This year will be a little different. Gaskin will still be the primary ball carrier, but look for speedy sophomore Salvon Ahmed to have an increased role. Ahmed is built like Gaskin, but plays at a quicker pace while Gaskin is a far more patient runner waiting for holes to develop.

SCHEDULING MATTERS

After two seasons of having pundits lament Washington’s nonconference schedule, the Huskies have a major upgrade starting with the opener against Auburn in Atlanta on Saturday. Washington will also host BYU and face FCS North Dakota in the nonconference portion of the schedule.

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August 31, 2018

NO. 7 OKLAHOMA

The Journal | 29

Last year: 12-2 (8-1 Big 12); Big 12 champions; Lost in CFP semifinal

RILEY’S ENCORE

Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, left, directs quarterback Kyler Murray during practice Aug. 6 in Norman, Okla. The 34-year-old Riley led the Sooners to the College Football Playoff in his first season at the helm last year, so the pressure is on to take the next step in 2018. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oklahoma coach ready to build on playoff success in 2nd year BY CLIFF BRUNT ASSOCIATED PRESS

NORMAN, Okla. — year ago, new Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley was scrambling to find his way after Bob Stoops’ abrupt retirement put him in command just two months before fall camp. The 34-year-old offensive mastermind now has a season under his belt and the kind of pay increase that often comes with a job well done. He led Oklahoma to a No. 3 final ranking and cashed in with a new fiveyear, $25 million contract. There are plenty of reasons to believe Oklahoma’s investment will pay

Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown carries the ball during the Rose Bowl against Georgia in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1. ASSOCIATED PRESS

off. Riley’s No. 1-ranked offense from last year returns two of its top three receivers, the top two running backs and three starting linemen. Though Riley has to replace Heisman Trophywinning quarterback Baker Mayfield, his expectations haven’t changed. He believes newly minted starter Kyler Murray can step in and lead the Sooners back to the College Football Playoff. “We did lose an outstanding individual player, no question about that,” Riley said of Mayfield, “but we also had a lot of players around him that helped make him that player, too, and a lot of those guys are still here.” Oklahoma lost All-American left tackle Orlando Brown and Mackey Award-winning tight end Mark Andrews, but the Sooners are strong in both spots as they pursue a fourth consecutive Big 12 title. On the defensive side, the Sooners have to replace Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the

Year. Linebacker Kenneth Murray is the top returnee after finishing second on the team with 78 tackles last season.

NEW SIGNAL CALLER

Murray, who was selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft but chose to return to school, beat out Austin Kendall to win the starting job. The speedster completed 18 of 21 passes for 359 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions last season as Mayfield’s backup. He also ran 14 times for 142 yards, including a 66-yard burst on the first play against West Virginia.

RODNEY’S ROOST

Running back Rodney Anderson suffered a seasonending knee injury two games into the 2015 season and a season-ending neck injury in fall camp in 2016. He didn’t even start until mid-season last year, but he finished with 1,442 yards and 18 touchdowns from

scrimmage. In his best game, he had 290 yards and four touchdowns from scrimmage in a regular-season win over TCU. He’s a potential Heisman candidate if he gets off to a fast start.

RECEIVING THREATS

Oklahoma’s receivers were a question mark heading into last season, but they are a strength heading into this one. The main weapons are Marquise Brown, Ceedee Lamb and tight end Grant Calcaterra. Brown had 57 catches for a team-leading 1,095 yards last season.

HOT SEAT?

Despite his critics, Mike Stoops remains the defensive coordinator. The Sooners have had notable defensive collapses the past several years. Oklahoma improved on that side last season, yet fan disappointment reached a boiling point after the 54-48 loss to Georgia in last season’s College Football Playoff.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

30 | The Journal

NO. 8 MIAMI

August 31, 2018

Last year: 10-3 (7-1 ACC); ACC Coastal champions; Lost Orange Bowl

REPEAT THE FEAT

Hurricanes broke out in 2017, now must do so again BY TIM REYNOLDS ASSOCIATED PRESS

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — iami finally lived up to expectations last season. The Hurricanes now have to figure out a way to do so again. With 15 starters back from a year ago, third-year coach Mark Richt’s Hurricanes are again the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division title — just as they did in 2017 when they finally went to

the league championship game for the first time. It was a long-awaited breakthrough year, and Miami is aiming to keep building off that success. The Hurricanes started 10-0 last season, then lost their final three — the regular-season finale at Pittsburgh, the ACC title game to Clemson and then the Orange Bowl to Wisconsin. The 10 wins showed the potential. The three-game losing streak to end the year served as offseason fuel.

Returning quarterback Malik Rosier was announced in July as the starter for 2018, so he’ll be back. So will the star of Miami’s season a year ago — the turnover chain, the gaudy piece of jewelry that comes out when the Hurricanes get a takeaway and is the center of what’s usually a raucous sideline celebration. “The turnover chain itself is definitely like the 12th man,” defensive back Jaquan Johnson said. “As soon as it comes out, as soon as we get the turnover, it starts. You start to hear all the yelling and the shouting, but once the turnover chain goes on our neck, it’s like a whole ‘nother notch.”

THE SCHEDULE

This could be a bit thorny. Opening against LSU is a strong test. A road game at Toledo on Sept. 15 will be against a Rockets team that went into Miami and led the Hurricanes at halftime last year. And then the MiamiFIU rivalry resumes on Sept. 22 after an 11-year hiatus caused in large part by the infamous brawl between the teams in 2006. As far as key ACC games, the Hurricanes play host to Florida State but will travel to Virginia Tech.

RECEIVERS NEEDED

PHOTOS BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Miami quarterback Malik Rosier, above, running back Travis Homer, right, and the Hurricanes are the preseason pick to successfully defend their ACC Coastal Division title.

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The top two passcatchers from last season are gone. Braxton Berrios and Christopher Herndon IV combined for 95 catches last season; none of the returning Hurricanes made more than 24. Miami desper-

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Miami coach Mark Richt took the Hurricanes to their first ACC championship game in his second year in charge at his alma mater last season. ately wants Ahmmon Richards to return to his freshman form — injuries limited him to eight games last season. Jeff Thomas will be one of the fastest wideouts in the ACC.

TOP LINEBACKERS

Miami’s starting linebacker unit could be among the nation’s best. Shaquille Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud are all juniors and the NFL is probably going to come calling for at least two of them after the season. They combined for 199 tackles last season, including 22 1/2 for losses.

DEPTH QUESTIONS

The Hurricanes seemed to wear down toward the end of last season. Running back Travis Homer, the team’s leader in all-purpose yards a year ago, averaged 106.6 yards in the season’s first 10 games, all wins — and 45.7 yards in the season’s final three games, all losses. If Miami is going to be spry enough to challenge for the ACC title in December, the fuel tanks will have to have more left than they did down the stretch a year ago.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

August 31, 2018

NO. 9 AUBURN

The Journal | 31

Last year: 10-4 (7-1 SEC); SEC West champions; Lost Peach Bowl

Auburn aiming for repeat SEC West title — and more BY JOHN ZENOR ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUBURN, Ala. — he big question facing Auburn is no longer whether the Tigers can beat rivals Georgia and Alabama. They answered that emphatically last November, wrestling the Southeastern Conference Western Division title from the rival Crimson Tide. Winning an SEC title and January bowl game proved more elusive. Auburn once again appears likely to be ‘Bama’s top challenger in the West with a talented defensive line and the return of standout quarterback Jarrett Stidham. The team will have to navigate what coach Gus Malzahn has been calling “the toughest schedule in college football.” “It’s a man’s league, and if you

win the West, you really do something,” Malzahn, who has a new seven-year contract, said. “But there’s such a fine line in this conference of winning the conference championship and coming close. And we came close last year. “And we’ve got to figure out a way to take that next step. And that’s easier said than done.” Auburn ended last season with losses to Georgia in the SEC championship game and to UCF in the Peach Bowl to wind up 10-4. Auburn has high hopes for Stidham, who was one of the SEC’s most efficient passers as a first-year starter. But the team does have big question marks, particularly on offense. Auburn lost four starting offensive linemen and SEC offensive player of the year Kerryon Johnson,

NO. 10 PENN STATE

a workhorse runner who was a centerpiece of the offense last season.

STRONG DEFENSE

Coordinator Kevin Steele’s defense has been among the league’s best the past two seasons, and figures to be stingy again. The defensive line could be the team’s biggest strength with three-year starter Dontavius Russell at tackle and ends Marlon Davidson and Derrick Brown. Leading tackler Deshaun Davis is back at linebacker, and the secondary appears solid despite key losses.

BACKFIELD QUESTIONS

It’s not entirely clear who’s the best bet to give Auburn a 1,000-yard rusher for a 10th straight season. Kam Martin is the front-runner after averaging 6.6 yards on 118 carries in his first two seasons.

KEY GAMES

Auburn made the SEC championship game and moved into playoff contention thanks largely to wins over national title game participants Georgia and Alabama at Jordan-Hare Stadium. They play both the Bulldogs (Nov. 10) and Crimson Tide (Nov. 24) on the road this time.

SEASON OPENER

The Tigers, who have gotten off to stumbling starts in each of the past three seasons, open Saturday against preseason Pac-12 Conference favorite Washington in Atlanta. Auburn has high hopes for quarterASSOCIATED PRESS back Jarrett Stidham.

Last year: 11-2 (7-2 Big Ten); T-2nd in Big Ten East; Won Fiesta Bowl

Penn State looking for next set of stars to sustain success BY TRAVIS JOHNSON ASSOCIATED PRESS

James Franklin is entering his fifth season as head coach at Penn State and is turning to some new faces to lead the Nittany Lions this year. ASSOCIATED PRESS

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — ames Franklin knows Penn State is facing more uncertainty this season than the last two, when the Nittany Lions quickly matured into one of the best teams in the country. Entering his fifth season in Happy Valley, Franklin is confident that some new faces will step in and help Penn State sustain its re-established championship form.

“We’ve got a good-looking football team,” Franklin said. “We’re athletic. We’re inexperienced, but we’re talented.” The Nittany Lions return 13 starters and 10 players with starting experience from last year, when Penn State continued its ascent. Since 2016, Franklin’s teams have won 20 of 23 games and a Big Ten championship. The three losses came by a combined seven points, leaving them just a few plays away from the B:10”Playoff. College Football

NEW TALENTED TRIO?

There are many more reps to go around at running back, wideout B:10” the departures and tight end with of playmaking stars Saquon Barkley, DaeSean Hamilton and Mike Gesicki. The big three com-

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bined for 53 percent of the team’s offense in 2016 and 2017. Running back Miles Sanders, wideout Juwan Johnson and tight end Jonathan Holland have stood out through the summer and into training camp. New offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne has pledged to get creative like his predecessor Joe Moorhead and spread the ball around.

Franklin believes the offensive line will be a strength with four returning starters who all saw their first extended action early last year. A handful of players behind center Connor McGovern, guard Steven Gonzalez and tackles Chasz Wright and Will Fries also have experience.

HEISMAN WATCH

KEY MATCHUP

McSorley has already obliterated most of Penn State’s offensive records. The program’s leader in total offense is also the lone Penn State quarterback with 50 touchdown passes. He’ll have plenty of time to pad those numbers as online oddsmakers have him among the top 10 contenders for the Heisman.

Ohio State rallied to beat the Nittany Lions in Columbus last season. Penn State will get a chance for revenge — and likely early control of the division — when the Buckeyes visit Happy Valley on Sept. 29. The winner of this matchup has gone on to win the Big Ten title the last two years.

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32 | The Journal

August 31, 2018

REPOWER FINANCE REPOWER

FINANCE

Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new Six Years of 25 Protection outboards to 350 HP.

Instant Savings of up to $800 on select models. Instant Savings to $800 See your dealerof forup details.

Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards Rates as low as 5.99% on approved credit.*

at no extra charge on all new on select models. on new Suzuki outboards For a limited25time, get HP. Suzuki Extended Protection, Instant Savings and attractive financing on select Suzuki outboards outboards to 350 See your dealer for details. on approved credit.* from 25 to 350 horspower. See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for details or visit www.suzukimarine.com.

For a limited time, get Suzuki Extended Protection, Instant Savings and attractive financing on select Suzuki outboards from 25 to 350 horspower. See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for details or visit www.suzukimarine.com.

150 CLEMSON MARINA DRIVE // SENECA, SC 29678 864-670-4442 // WWW.CLEMSONMARINA.COM facebook.com/clemsonmarina

Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 07/01/18 and 09/30/18 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 07/01/18 and 09/30/18. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. (Suzuki will, in turn, credit Dealer’s parts account.) There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 07/01/18 and 09/30/18. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2018 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.