Hot or Cold: Predicting the Start of 5 Major College Programs 

These five programs have kept themselves newsworthy this offseason, conceivably because of tremendous hype or prospective struggles. So, in the time of year where we are reminded of the value of first impressions, we predict just how hot, or how cold, the starts of five major college programs will be.

Hot – Utah:

Utah homers could’ve predicted this tongue-in-cheek, but the possibility of an undefeated season for the Utes blew over the heads of the rational minds of the sport.

The craze started with them simply being able to adapt. Without quarterback Tyler Huntley and running back Zach Moss for the latter half of last season, the Utes managed to finish 9-5, scrounging up an NFL-bound defensive unit and a bevy of over-achieving journeymen. Returning this season is a sense of continuity in the nucleus of last year’s team, the dual-exhaust to last year’s impressive October in Moss and Huntley, and a favorable opening slate.

Usually, losable games through the first few weeks (BYU, USC, and Washington State pop up before week six) wouldn’t exactly dub them a potential “hot” team, but Utah’s mission is to become more than a buoy in the AP Poll. They want to mount the rankings enough to where there’s some stock behind their playoff push, and key wins are the way to do it.

Cold – Auburn:

There’s potential for a stroke of heat, but it’s mostly on the seat of their head coach, Gus Malzahn, who became persona non grata on campus after last year’s 8-5 record. Their schedule suggests a few dings where it hurts, and as weaknesses emerge, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that an opponent in the first six weeks (whether it’s Oregon’s air-raid, Texas A&M’s defense, or the explosive skill-players at Florida) will have the weapons to exploit their thinnest areas.

And, see it as Auburn is putting ample faith in Bo Nix, a true freshman quarterback, there’s quite a bit of unsureness with their potential. A freshman can only take the reins with so much forgiveness (unless, of course, it’s Trevor Lawrence). There will be growing pains, ditto for interceptions, poor judgment, and at Auburn, and a crap ton of added pressure and expectation.

Hot – Florida State:

Boise State. Week One. It’s a golden opportunity to grease the wheels of the Willie Taggart welcome-wagon, which didn’t come in on the best of terms last year. With a win week one over an elite non-power five school, there will be writers that prematurely usher in FSU’s reemergence. Especially if FSU’s five- and four-star recruits and an offensive-line can masquerade as a complete roster.

Cold – Florida:

So, Florida beat Miami. Cool. But they also coughed up the pigskin like no one’s business, while Florida DB’s nearly forked over the win with boneheaded penalties and their offense was vanilla aside from their electric playmakers. I get it, that was Florida’s first game, which isn’t the greatest when using it as grounds for prediction, but it’s a cold start nonetheless.

Looking ahead, Florida has to play Tennessee week four, Auburn week six, and travel to LSU week seven (Oh, and Georgia week nine). Right now, they start cold because of a rough game against Miami. While they could realistically stay undefeated until week seven, their wins are going to need to look much cleaner than it did last weekend if they want to be taken seriously. And that’s not something I see happening.

Hot…Then Cold – Penn State:

The Nittany Lions schedule looks like a vertical takeoff and then a jarring slope down. Without Trace McSorley behind center or their safety blanket at running back in Miles Sanders, the vertical portion may not be the longest or the most glamorous, either. Weeks one-through-five are cobbled of cupcake games (Idaho, Buffalo) and slip-up potential (Maryland, Pitt, Purdue). Weeks six, seven, and eight could be a skid of epic proportions. Losses at Iowa, Michigan, and at Michigan State (then at Ohio State week 11) are within reason — and, to some, the expectation.