One of the most exciting elements of the college football season is the likelihood that we will see the unlikely unfold on the biggest stages. With the season now right around the corner, we have built a list of bold predictions that we think can actually happen. Here is a look at five bold predictions for the 2017 college football season.
Ohio State Will Be National Champions
Everything seems to be lining up for the Buckeyes heading in to 2017. Urban Meyer has strung together three straight impressive recruiting classes. J.T. Barrett is back for his fifth season with an impressive cast of weapons around him. Ohio State has one of the best linebacker cores in the country and their defense should be solid once again. It’s also important that the Buckeyes will have a manageable regular season schedule with a Week 2 meeting against Oklahoma the toughest non-conference clash on the slate. The SEC will beat one another up while Ohio State cruises to a Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff. If they stay healthy and play to their potential, the Buckeyes will be national champions in 2017.
USC Will Be A Playoff Team
The Trojans haven’t lived up to high expectations in recent years. However, that will change in 2017 when USC becomes a dominant program once again. A brutal early season schedule sidetracked the Trojans a year ago but they ran the table following a 1-3 start, including a win over Big Ten champions Penn State in the Rose Bowl. Sam Darnold and his receiving core are ready to put on a show that could end with USC contending for a national championship. The Trojans have the talent and a much more manageable schedule. Look for USC to be a playoff team in 2017.
A Running Back Will Win The Heisman Trophy
The 2017 college football season has been touted as the “Year of the Quarterback”. That might be true with so many highly touted prospects looking to steal the spotlight. However, with all of the hype surrounding the passers it’s easy to overlook the star running backs that could end up putting up massive numbers this season. LSU’s Derrius Guice, Penn State’s Saquon Barkley, Alabama’s Bo Scarbrough and Georgia’s Nick Chubb all have the potential to lead the nation in rushing yards and put up massive touchdown numbers. It will take a special season for a running back to win the Heisman trophy. All four running backs that we listed have the talent to make it happen.
Wisconsin Will Go 12-0 In Regular Season
Wisconsin appears to be one of the most overlooked programs in the country but they have the talent to make some noise in the Big Ten and a favorable schedule makes it conceivable that they could run the table in the regular season. Utah State, Florida Atlantic and BYU represent a relatively mediocre early season schedule. The Badgers will also play Northwestern, Purdue, Maryland and Iowa at home while visiting Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana in winnable road games. The toughest test will come in Week 12 when Wisconsin will play Michigan. However, the Wolverines could be caught in a trap game looking ahead to a date with Ohio State the following week. The Badgers will have a tough time in the Big Ten Championship regardless of which team they play and will likely end up losing to the Buckeyes in that game. However, the road to a conference title game seems relatively straightforward and it isn’t impossible to think Wisconsin can go 12-0 in the regular season.
The Fighting Irish Will Not Make A Bowl Game
While Badgers fans will enjoy one of their best seasons ever, it won’t be nearly as positive for fans of the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame hasn’t done much in the offseason to make anybody believe that they are about to turn things around. Outside of some talent at the quarterback position the Fighting Irish don’t have the elite skill or depth to be a serious contender this season. Coming off one of its worst seasons in the last 50 years, things could get worse before they get better for Notre Dame. It shouldn’t be a major surprise if the Fighting Irish fall short of reaching a bowl game in 2017.
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