College football season is just around the corner; you’ve survived another offseason, congrats! The preseason Coaches Poll is out and the major award watch-lists have been announced. To quote John F. Kennedy, “to those whom much is given, much is expected.” So, how do teams respond to being ranked #1 in the nation? How do 20-year-old players react to being predicted as Heisman front-runners? It’s a mixed bag; some teams and players will rise to the top, while others will fade away. Here are my top eight teams with the greatest expectations going into 2014:
Great Expectations of 2014 College Football Season
- Florida State: Grocery shopping debauchery aside (okay, fine, that was after the season, but I couldn’t resist), Florida State was flawless last season. The Seminoles are ranked number one in the preseason Coaches Poll and are positioned to repeat their National Championship bid. Led by college football’s second coming (no, not Tim Tebow), Jameis Winston will have the opportunity to not only win another championship, but perhaps a second Heisman. Will the team crack under the enormous pressure to repeat?
- Alabama: Nick Saban is the most competitive person alive and nothing less than a National Championship blowout is acceptable to him. After all, “Roll Tide!” is not just a slogan; it’s a way of life. Alabama lost two consecutive games last year, which is the first time that’s happened since the 2008 season. The following year, they went undefeated and won a National Championship. Boom! There’s no doubt that this team will be good, despite losing eight players to the NFL Draft, but how will the Crimson Tide recover if they falter? If they focus more on playing solid football, and less on being perfect, this team is a playoff shoo-in.
- Oregon: Oregon has been dominant for years now, and honestly not much has changed since Chip Kelly packed his collection of Nike visors and scampered off to Philadelphia. However, recently they’ve proven that they can be beaten. Not often, but occasionally. Playing in the PAC-12 disadvantaged the Ducks in the BCS era, being perceived by east coast audiences as a weaker conference than nationally recognized powerhouses like the SEC and Big 10. Oregon yearns to be back in the national title picture and they have something to prove this year. Circle Saturday, November 1 on your calendar; this one’s gonna be a bloodbath.
- University of California, Los Angeles: UCLA has been knocking on the door of something special from the moment Jim Mora arrived. In his first season, they went 9-3, before losing to Stanford in the PAC-12 Championship game (and subsequently their bowl game). In 2013, they were even more impressive, going 10-3, losing only to Oregon, Stanford, and Arizona State. Heading into Brett Hundley’s third season under center, and ranked seventh in the preseason Coaches Poll, how will the Bruins react?
- University of Southern California: With Lane Kiffin safely exiled to the state of Alabama, the future looks bright for the Trojans. A new visor-wearing sheriff is in town and he’s ready to shake his just-above-.500 image. USC was remarkable in the latter half of last season and they are looking to get back to the glory days of Rose Bowls and Championships. Sark knows that 7-6 won’t cut the mustard in L.A.; the pressure is on.
- Michigan: In 2011, under new coach Brady Hoke, the Wolverines compiled an impressive 11-2 record and beat Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. Say it with me in your best Charlton Heston biblical voice: “and the Maize and Blue were pleased with what they saw.” The following year, they went 8-5 and lost to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. And then last year, Michigan started the season by going 5-0 before losing six out of their last eight games. Womp, womp. Expectations are always high with this football program, but it’s time for Hoke to prove that the 11-2 season wasn’t a fluke, or he might not get another chance.
- Duke: Two years ago, David Cutcliffe was on the hot seat after a highly disappointing 6-7 year. The Blue Devils lost six of their last seven games, including a last-minute meltdown against Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl, which is the most bizarre loss I’ve ever seen in person. Duke turned it all around last season, making it to the ACC Championship game and the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. With almost all of their key players returning this season, 2014 looks bright. Can Duke win the ACC, or will they fall short once again?
- Some Random Team: How awesome would it be to see some team from the MAC, Big 12, or Mountain West go to the first ever college football playoff? Well, unless they take out one of our favorite teams, we’re pretty stoked. So, who will be this year’s TCU, Boise State, or Northern Illinois? We don’t know, and honestly it doesn’t really matter, but we’ll all be rooting for them when the time comes. Don’t disappoint us, sexy mid-major team!
So, what do you think? Who has the highest expectations this year?
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
Thank you for reading. Make sure you support LWOS by following the site on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” the Facebook page.
Football fans… check out our two partnered NFL podcasts – Thursday Night Tailgate Radio and Overtime Ireland. Both shows bring you interesting commentary, critical analysis and fantastic guests including former and current NFL players, coaches and personalities.
