As we near the 2019 college football season, we see fans already trying to dispute who’s team is better. Nevertheless, we will not know which teams will do better than others until the season starts up. However, today we look further into the teams that are being talked about and break down where their stock should sit coming into the 2019 season.
Top Stock (CFP Contenders)
Clemson:
Obviously Clemson will be at the top of this list, with their blowout win against Alabama proving they belong at the top. Also, they return QB Trevor Lawrence and a lot more weapons on the offensive and defensive side. The Tiger’s schedule is quite manageable, but one stretch of games stand out above the rest. This would be their two week push: vs. Texas A&M, at Syracuse. If the Tigers can get across this short stretch of games, they should be in shape to make the College Football Playoff.
Alabama:
This team always finds it’s way back to the top spot after dropping to Clemson in the College Football Championship. Also, Alabama gets to work with QB Tua Tagovailoa again and will have a fresh stream of top high school athletes to build up. The Alabama schedule helps the Tide in big way with most of their upset potential games happening at home. Don’t be surprised to see yet another Crimson Tide CFP appearance next year.
Oklahoma:
The Sooners lose their star player in Kyler Murray, but bring in Jalen Hurts to help that situation out. Also, the ability to form highly impactful offenses out of thin air seems to be Lincoln Riley’s niche at this program. I think Riley will get his guys back on track to have another offensive year full of bulked up stats. Another thing that would sell me on Oklahoma is their schedule, which seems to complement them to have another playoff run. The Sooners get no back-to-back away games to throw them off.
Increasing Stock
Purdue:
The Boilermakers pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the 2018 season against Ohio State 49-20. This one game might have been the sole reason that Ohio State missed the College Football Playoff. However, Purdue brings back a strong infrastructure on the offensive and defensive side. Also, their true weapon in WR Rondale Moore, who amounted for 1,471 yards combined in between rushing and receiving. The Boilermakers face tough games all around their schedule. These games would be: vs. TCU, at Penn State, and vs. Iowa. If the Boilermakers can get one of these games and turn them into a win, they will have made a big step from 6-7.
Oregon:
The Ducks in Oregon went 9-4 in their 2018 season and finished with a poor, but earned, win against Michigan State in the RedBox Bowl. Now, the Ducks get to return nineteen starters and only lose three due to graduation. Also, they get to keep Justin Herbert at quarterback and away from the NFL Draft that was wanting to pull him in. Oregon brings in a comfortable non-conference schedule with Auburn (8-5), Nevada (8-5), and Montana (6-5). The Ducks should be able to streak their way to the PAC 12 Championship and perhaps another CFP appearance.
Michigan State:
Yes, I know this might sound a bit out there after the whole 2018 season fiasco with the Spartans turning out to be one of the most overrated teams. However, this Michigan State squad for next year has a lot working in their favor. First off, the Spartans don’t lose that many starters, only six, and they are spread evenly on both sides with three for offense and three for defense. Next, the Spartans get an easy non-conference (Arizona State, Tulsa, and Western Michigan) and an easier cross-division set (Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern). In fact, the three cross-division teams they play equal up to a combined record of 21-18. Watch for the Spartans to reinsert themselves into the Big Ten conversation.
Decreasing Stock
South Carolina:
I hate to do this to the South Carolina fans, but your team is in for a rough year. The Gamecocks lose nine starters all around, but majority of them are on the defensive side. The positions that will hurt the most for South Carolina would be the secondary and linebacker spots. Plus, South Carolina gets a fun schedule that includes Clemson, Alabama, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, and Missouri. I think you catch the drift here when I mark that South Carolina will play six opponents that finished in the top-25, with the seventh bringing in a former CFP quarterback. The Gamecocks need to brace for a rough battle of a year.
Stanford:
If Stanford would have had recruited a infrastructure class about 2-3 years ago, they would have been fine. However, the Cardinal are in for a rough one with their schedule and team. Stanford loses twelve starters around the board, including RB Bryce Love and most of their base defense. Plus, Stanford has a hard and vigorous non-conference schedule with games like: vs. Northwestern, at UCF, and vs. Notre Dame. And for their conference slate, the Cardinal get some good teams they’ve struggled with in the past like USC, Oregon, Washington, Washington State, and California. I hope this season, if it goes awry, doesn’t affect the fan’s view on David Shaw.
Pittsburgh:
Not as if the Panthers 2018 was any success outside of winning the ACC Coastal, which had one of it’s worst years ever. The Panthers will end up losing twelve starters this year. Plus, their schedule isn’t very helpful in boosting them back to the ACC Championship. For non-conference, the Panthers get Penn State and UCF (two top-20 teams). And for their conference slate, the Panthers get some really troubling games with: vs. Virginia, at Syracuse, vs. Miami, and at Virginia Tech. I will not be surprised if the Panthers end up missing a bowl game and the outing for Pat Narduzzi starts up.
Photo Credits: Evan Norris
