Tag: college football preview 2020

NCAA Academic Progress Rate: APR Football Rankings By Conference

Academic Progress Rate 2020-2021 football rankings by conference.

The Academic Progress Rate 2020-2021 report has been released. Where to all the schools rank in each of the conferences?

Contact @PeteFiutak

The NCAA released its annual report of the Academic Progress Rate, or APR, measuring the improvements and academic success for the 2020-2021 school year.

From the NCAA, the APR is calculated as follows:

  • Each student-athlete receiving athletically related financial aid earns one point for staying in school and one point for being academically eligible.
  • A team’s total points are divided by points possible and then multiplied by 1,000 to equal the team’s Academic Progress Rate.
  • In addition to a team’s current-year APR, its rolling four-year APR is also used to determine accountability.

So which teams got the job done in the classroom? Here’s everyone’s APR ranking by conference …

APR Rankings By Conference
ACC | AAC | Big 12 | Big Ten | C-USA
Ind | MAC | MW | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt
APR Rankings overall 1-130

ACC APR Rankings

1 Clemson 999

2 Wake Forest 990

3 Louisville 988

4 Boston College 986

5 Duke 985

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6 Pitt 984

7 Virginia 983

8 Miami 982

9 Georgia Tech 979

10 North Carolina 977

11 NC State 974

12 Virginia Tech 964

13 Florida State 958

14 Syracuse 957

APR Rankings By Conference
ACC | AAC | Big 12 | Big Ten | C-USA
Ind | MAC | MW | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt
APR Rankings overall 1-130

NEXT: AAC APR Rankings

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Big Ten Football Preview Keys To Every Team: Offense

With the Big Ten season finally about to get going, what are the keys to every team’s offense? What does each team have to work on?

With the Big Ten season finally about to get going, what are the keys to every team’s offense? What does each team have to work on?

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big Ten Preview: Keys To Every Offense
Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern
Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

Biggest Key To The Illinois Fighting Illini Offense

Establish the run again. The 2018 Illinois running game worked. It came up with over 2,900 yards, averaged close to six yards per carry, and it found a groove from the start with 200 yards or more in nine of the first ten games.

That was the only time in the last eight years that the program ran for 1,900 yards or more.

The 1,874 yards Illinois ran for last season were the second-most in a season since 2011, but it was still ugly. There were four 200-yard rushing days – the Illini won three of them – with the shootout loss to Nebraska the only time the ground game averaged over five yards per pop.

The offensive line is better, but the running backs have to emerge in a hurry. Statistically, the pass protection has to be there, too, with the numbers depending a bit on who takes the quarterback gig.

– Big Ten Preview Keys To Every Team: Defense

Biggest Key To The Indiana Hoosiers Offense

It was this simple for the Hoosiers, at least last year – run well, win football games. Being able to run for any relatively arbitrary number wouldn’t have mattered in losses to Ohio State and Michigan, but IU was 8-0 last season when it ran for 100 yards, and 0-5 when it didn’t.

How much does 100 rushing yards matter to the Hoosiers? November 3rd, 2012. That was the last time they won when going under the mark, beating Iowa 24-21. They’re 0-23 since then when the ground game doesn’t hit triple-digits.

For a team that finished seventh in the nation in time of possession, run well, rely on your accurate passer to move the chains, control the tempo.

Big Ten Preview: Keys To Every Offense
Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State
Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State
Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

NEXT: Iowa Hawkeyes, Maryland Terrapins

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Big Ten Football Preview Keys To Every Team: Defense

With the Big Ten season finally about to get going, what are the keys to every team’s defense? What does each team have to work on?

With the Big Ten season finally about to get going, what are the keys to every team’s defense? What does each team have to work on?

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big Ten Preview: Keys To Every Defense
Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern
Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

Biggest Key To The Illinois Fighting Illini Defense

Stop the run. Lost a bit in the shocking win over Wisconsin was the job done all day by the Illini D, holding Jonathan Taylor and company to just 156 yards on the ground.

Illinois needed an epic comeback against Michigan State – getting gouged for 275 yards on the ground – and went 1-4 on the season when allowing 200 rushing yards ore more. Since beating Rutgers in the middle of the 2016 season, Illinois is 1-22 when giving up two bills.

Fortunately, Nebraska is the only team on the first half of the slate that has any semblance of a ground game.

Biggest Key To The Indiana Hoosiers Defense

More big plays would be nice. Helped by an offense that kept the chains moving and stayed on the field, the defense was able to do just enough to stay in most games. There’s enough experience returning, though, to start turning games around.

The pass rush was okay, but hardly anything special, especially in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers failed to generate more than one sack in five of the last nine games, and 14 of the 27 sacks overall came against Ball State, Eastern Illinois, UConn and Rutgers.

Partly because of the lack of steady pressure, the interceptions didn’t come with just seven on the season and three in the first nine games.

Big Ten Preview: Keys To Every Defense
Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State
Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State
Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

NEXT: Iowa Hawkeyes, Maryland Terrapins

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Big Ten Football Preview: Quick Overview Of Every Team

The Big Ten football season is finally here. We get you ready with a quick overview of every team before it all starts up on Friday.

The Big Ten football season is finally here and it’s finally happening. We get you ready with a quick overview of every team before it all starts up on Friday.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big Ten Preview Quick Overviews of Every Team
Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern
Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

Illinois Fighting Illini

– The Illinois offense wasn’t exactly a smoothly run organization. The running game was okay at times, and the passing attack came through late when it had to in a few huge upsets, but for the most part, it was a struggle.

The Illini finished 112th in the nation in total offense, but it made the yards count with a not-awful 26.7 points per game. However, the O almost never had the ball – long, sustained drives were a rumor – and the attack fell flat late in the season.

There’s hope for a boost, though, with four starters back on what should be a good line, a deep group of quarterbacks to play around with, and with almost all of the key targets back.

– It’s been one of the stranger disappointments in the Lovie Smith era. He’s an elite defensive football coach who crafted some killers in the NFL, and yet he hasn’t been anything special at Illinois. It’s his D – he’s the coordinator – and it’s been great at forcing takeaways and getting into the backfield – but it’s been blasted too easily against the run and it’s been way too inconsistent overall.

Fortunately, the linebackers are great and the secondary is going to be a plus. Now the thump has to come from the interior.

Indiana Hoosiers

– The offense quietly started to work really, really well. It might not have been able to keep up enough to overcome the occasional defensive issues, and the firepower wasn’t there to do anything against the Ohio States and Michigans of the world, but at least the attack was able to keep things moving.

The running game needs to be stronger, but the passing attack was the second-best in the Big Ten. With the potential of eight starters returning – along with some parts that missed time last year – the league’s No. 3 offense should be every bit as strong under rising star QB Michael Penix.

– The defense couldn’t handle the better offenses, and it struggled too often late in the year, but it was hardly awful. It allowed 352 yards and 32 points per game, was serviceable at getting into the backfield, and it didn’t have any one glaring issue other than not being able to pick off enough passes.

The D line needs to be better at getting to the quarterback, but there’s a nice blend of bulk and experience across the front four.

Big Ten Preview Quick Overviews of Every Team
IIowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State
Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State
Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

NEXT: Iowa Hawkeyes, Maryland Terrapins

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2020 Big Ten Schedules, Predictions For Every Game, Win Total Picks

With the new 8-game schedule, what will happen this college football season in the Big Ten? The schedules and predictions for every game.

With the new 8-game schedule, what’s going to happen this college football season in the Big Ten? Here are the schedules and predictions for each team and every game. 

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big Ten Schedules, Predictions

2020 Preseason Big Ten Championship Prediction
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin

Big Ten East Schedules, Predictions

2020 Indiana Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 3-5
2019 Preseason Prediction: 8-4
2019: 8-5, 2018: 5-7
2020 Indiana Preview

Oct. 24 Penn State L
Oct. 31 at Rutgers W
Nov. 7 Michigan L
Nov. 14 at Michigan State L
Nov. 21 at Ohio State L
Nov. 28 Maryland W
Dec. 5 at Wisconsin L
Dec. 12 Purdue W


Missed: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern

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2020 Maryland Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 1-7
2019 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2019: 3-9, 2018: 5-7
2020 Maryland Preview

Oct. 24 at Northwestern L
Oct. 31 Minnesota L
Nov. 7 at Penn State L
Nov. 14 Ohio State L
Nov. 21 Michigan State L
Nov. 28 at Indiana L
Dec. 5 Michigan L
Dec. 12 Rutgers W


Missed: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin

2020 Michigan Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 6-2
2019 Preseason Prediction: 11-1
2019: 9-4, 2018: 10-3
2020 Michigan Preview

Oct. 24 at Minnesota L
Oct. 31 Michigan State W
Nov. 7 at Indiana W
Nov. 14 Wisconsin W
Nov. 21 at Rutgers W
Nov. 28 Penn State W
Dec. 5 Maryland W
Dec. 12 at Ohio State L


Missed: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue

2020 Michigan State Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 4-4
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019: 7-6, 2018: 7-6
2020 Michigan State Preview

Oct. 24 Rutgers W
Oct. 31 at Michigan L
Nov. 7 at Iowa L
Nov. 14 Indiana W
Nov. 21 at Maryland W
Nov. 28 Northwestern W
Dec. 5 Ohio State L
Dec. 12 at Penn State L


Missed: Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin

2020 Ohio State Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 7-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 10-2
2019: 13-1, 2018: 13-1
2020 Ohio State Preview

Oct. 24 Nebraska W
Oct. 31 at Penn State L
Nov. 7 Rutgers W
Nov. 14 at Maryland W
Nov. 21 Indiana W
Nov. 28 at Illinois W
Dec. 5 at Michigan State W
Dec. 12 Michigan W

Missed: Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin

2020 Penn State Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 6-2
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019: 11-2, 2018: 9-4
2020 Penn State Preview

Oct. 24 at Indiana W
Oct. 31 Ohio State W
Nov. 7 Maryland W
Nov. 14 at Nebraska W
Nov. 21 Iowa L
Nov. 28 at Michigan L
Dec. 5 at Rutgers W
Dec. 12 Michigan State W


Missed: Illinois, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin

2020 Rutgers Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 0-8
2019 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2019: 2-10, 2018: 1-11
2020 Rutgers Preview

Oct. 24 at Michigan State L
Oct. 31 Indiana L
Nov. 7 at Ohio State L
Nov. 14 Illinois L
Nov. 21 Michigan L
Nov. 28 at Purdue L
Dec. 5 Penn State L
Dec. 12 at Maryland L


Missed: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Wisconsin

NEXT: Big Ten West Schedules, Predictions, Win Totals

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Sun Belt Preseason Predictions For Every Game

What’s going to happen this season in the Sun Belt? The schedules and predictions for each team and every game. 

What’s going to happen this season in the Sun Belt?  The schedules and predictions for each team and every game. 

Sun Belt Preseason Predicted Finish

East
1. Appalachian State
2. Georgia Southern
3. Troy
4. Georgia State
5. Coastal Carolina

West
1. Louisiana
2. Arkansas State
3. ULM
4. South Alabama
5. Texas State

[jwplayer e0mSNadS]

Sun Belt Championship Prediction

Louisiana over Appalachian State

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Sun Belt East Schedules

Appalachian State Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 10-2
2020 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 7-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019: 13-1, 2018: 11-2
2020 Appalachian State Preview

Sept. 5 OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 Charlotte W
Sept. 19 at Marshall W
Sept. 26 Campbell W
Oct. 3 OPEN DATE
Oct. 7 Louisiana W
Oct. 14 at Georgia Southern W 
Oct. 24 Arkansas State L
Oct. 31 at ULM W
Nov. 7 at Texas State W
Nov. 14 Georgia State W
Nov. 21 at Coastal Carolina W
Nov. 28 Troy W

Coastal Carolina Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 4-7
2020 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 2-6
2019 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2019: 5-7, 2018: 5-7
2020 Coastal Carolina Preview

Sept. 5 OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 at Kansas L
Sept. 19 Campbell W
Sept. 26 OPEN DATE
Oct. 3 Arkansas State L
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 17 at Louisiana L
Oct. 24 Georgia Southern L
Oct. 29 at Georgia State L
Nov. 7 South Alabama W
Nov. 14 at Troy L
Nov. 21 Appalachian State L
Nov. 28 at Texas State W
Dec. 5 Liberty W 

Georgia Southern Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 8-3
2020 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 6-2
2019 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2019: 7-6, 2018: 10-3
2020 Georgia Southern Preview

Sept. 5 OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 Campbell W
Sept. 19 Florida Atlantic W
Sept. 26 at Louisiana L
Oct. 3 at ULM W
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 14 Appalachian State L
Oct. 24 at Coastal Carolina W
Oct. 31 South Alabama W
Nov. 7 Troy W
Nov. 14 Texas State W
Nov. 21 at Army  L
Nov. 28 at Georgia State W

Georgia State State Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 3-7
2020 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 3-5
2019 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2019: 7-6, 2018: 2-10
2020 Georgia State Preview

Sept. 5 OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 OPEN DATE
Sept. 19 Louisiana L
Sept. 26 at Charlotte L
Oct. 3 East Carolina L
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 15 at Arkansas State L
Oct. 24 at Troy L
Oct. 29 Coastal Carolina W
Nov. 7 ULM W
Nov. 14 at Appalachian State L
Nov. 21 at South Alabama W
Nov. 28 Georgia Southern L

Troy Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2020 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 5-3
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019: 5-7, 2018: 10-3
2020 Troy Preview

Sept. 5 OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 OPEN DATE
Sept. 19 at Middle Tennessee L
Sept. 26 at BYU L
Oct. 3 at South Alabama W
Oct. 8 Texas State W
Oct. 17 Eastern Kentucky W
Oct. 24 Georgia State W
Oct. 31 at Arkansas State L
Nov. 7 at Georgia Southern L
Nov. 14 Coastal Carolina W
Nov. 21 Middle Tennessee L
Nov. 28 at Appalachian State L
Dec. 5 ULM 
W

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College Football News Preview 2020: SMU Mustangs

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the SMU Mustangs season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the SMU Mustangs season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– SMU Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 10-3 overall, 6-2 in
Head Coach: Sonny Dykes, 3rd year, 15-11 overall
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 46
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 28
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 84

5. College Football News Preview 2020: SMU Mustangs Offense 3 Things To Know

– The SMU offense that was good under head coach Sonny Dykes ramped things up a bit last year. QB Shane Buechele came over from Texas and rocked the passing attack from the start, the receiving corps was terrific, and Xavier Jones was a machine for the ground attack. A whole slew of the key parts are gone, but nothing stops. The system is sound, the coaching staff knows how to generate production, and Buechele is back.

CFN in 60 Video: SMU Mustangs Preview
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– The passing attack went from 3,260 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2019 to 4,017 yards and 35 scores last year. There were more big plays downfield, but star target James Proche is now gone after making 204 grabs with 27 scores over the last two seasons. However, Reggie Roberson is back after missing the second half of last year with a foot injury, and tight end Kylen Granson has all-star talent coming off a 43-catch, 721-yard, nine-touchdown season. The air show continues, and it might have to do more, because …

– Xavier Jones and Ke’Mon Freeman are gone from the backfield. The two combined for close to 1,800 rushing yards with Jones scoring 23 touchdowns on the ground. Sophomore TJ McDaniel should be the next man up, but it’s an all-underclassmen running back group that will likely operate in a rotation for a bit.

On the plus side, the offensive line should be terrific. Four starters are expected back, starting with left tackle Jaylon Thomas. Give credit to the offensive system that gets the ball out of the quarterback’s hands in a hurry, but also give some love to a line that was just that good, allowing the fewest sacks in the conference.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: SMU Mustangs Defense 3 Things To Know

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College Football News Preview 2020: Kansas State Wildcats

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Kansas State Wildcats season with what you need to know

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Kansas State Wildcats season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Kansas State Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 8-5 overall, 5-4 in Big 12
Head Coach: Chris Klieman, 2nd year, 8-5 at KSU
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 32
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 41
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 31

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Kansas State Wildcats Offense 3 Things To Know

– The offense had its moments. The running game was okay, the passing attack was efficient, and … there wasn’t enough consistent scoring. The O fell flat early on in the Big 12, and it couldn’t come up with that one big drive in close losses to Texas, West Virginia and Navy. But as head coach Chris Klieman said from the start of his tenure last year, this is going to be a work in progress.

On the plus side, Kansas State started to do Kansas State things. It controlled the clock better than any team in the Big 12, the turnovers were kept to a bare minimum, and for the most part, it was able to keep things at its own pace.

Now it has to score more.

CFN in 60 Video: Kansas State Wildcats Preview
[jwplayer ofLWiSAD]

– Skylar Thompson isn’t going to be a threat to break any passing records, but he’s a solid veteran who runs well, doesn’t throw a ton of picks, and can keep things moving. He’s the experience leader the offense needs, but the explosion has to be there from the receiving corps.

Leading target Dalton Schoen is done, but he only caught 37 passes. Malik Knowles is a decent veteran, and kick return superstar Josh Youngblood needs the ball in his hands more as a receiver. Five of the top six pass catchers are back – Thompson will spread it around.

– The offensive line is going to be the biggest early concern. Last year’s group loses four starters but gets back crushing left guard Josh Rivas. It’s going to be a young front five, and the backs it’ll be blocking for are even more inexperienced.

Former Louisville transfer Harry Trotter is the leading returning back, and Tyler Burns will be an early option in the rotation, but redshirt freshmen Joe Ervin and Jacardia Wright had the biggest upside.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Kansas State Wildcats Defense 3 Things To Know

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College Football 2020: 5 (Potentially) Stupid SEC Predictions

Five bold, crazy, stupid, daring, wacky SEC college football predictions for the 2020 season. 

Five bold, crazy, stupid, daring, wacky SEC college football predictions for the 2020 season. 

5 (Potentially) Stupid SEC Predictions

As if everything we’re going through in the college football world – and in real life – isn’t stupid enough, let’s take it all down a few levels.

What if you were told last year at this time that Lane Kiffin would be at Ole Miss and Mike Leach at Mississippi State?

What if you were told that Lynn Bowden would turn out to be a star quarterback at Kentucky, and Tennessee would end up winning a bowl game after starting 1-4 with home losses to Georgia State and BYU?

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What if you were told last year at this time that LSU would come up with – arguably – the greatest season in college football history, and Joe Burrow would win the Heisman and be the no-brainer No. 1 overall pick in the draft?

They’re the wild and wacky curveballs that make each season fun. Enough safe and sane, it’s time for dumb and dangerous with five (potentially) stupid predictions thrown at the wall to see if they stick.

To keep this fun, this entire Stick To Sports piece is in a safe, COVID-19-free bubble – for the most part.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

2020 SEC Team Previews
East Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Missouri
South Carolina | Tennessee | Vanderbilt
West Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn | LSU
Miss State | Ole Miss | Texas A&M

– 2020 CFN SEC Preview
– SEC Week 1 Instant Predictions
– CFN All-SEC Team & Top 30 Players
– CFN SEC Team-By-Team Predictions
– SEC Schedule, Most Interesting Games

5. Texas A&M at Auburn is going to be massive

We’re getting (potentially) stupid here, but no, the insanity hasn’t crept in yet to make the call that Texas A&M at Auburn on December 5th will be for the West’s spot in the SEC Championship.

Buuuuuuut …

No. No, no, no. Even with Texas A&M getting to host LSU and Florida, it’s still asking way too much to expect it to be 8-1 – assume a loss at Alabama – before rolling into Jordan-Hare.

Auburn has to go to both Georgia and Alabama. Even if it splits those, beating LSU at home is still a tall task. However, win two of those three games, annnnnnnnd …

NO. No, no, no. I can’t make that leap. It’s still going to be the Alabama at LSU game on November 14th that turns out to be the biggest deal in the SEC West, and there are plenty of other landmines for both teams along the way.

However, the scheduled regular season finale will still be huge, but for other reasons.

– 2020 SEC Preseason Rankings

This year, merely having a winning record will be a tall task for most schools. Just six – Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee – were able to come up with a winning campaign in SEC play last year, and now it’s all SEC games all of the time. So Auburn and Texas A&M being above .500 really will mean something.

However, when it comes to grouchy fan bases, the loser of this game will have to deal with a whole lot of guff.

Unless some sort of scandal pops up – let’s just see where this Derrius Guice thing goes at LSU – or someone leaves for another gig or retires, Will Muschamp at South Carolina and Derek Mason at Vanderbilt are the two SEC coaches in the most danger of losing their jobs with a bad season.

There’s no possible chance Jimbo Fisher gets fired at Texas A&M – two words: buyout clause – but another underwhelming campaign would put the pressure on in Year Four to at least make some sort of a move to be a factor in the SEC West.

In his third season after going 17-9 in the first two years, this is when the program is supposed to rise up and rock. It might happen, but lose at Auburn and it’ll likely be a pedestrian 6-4/7-3 campaign.

Gus Malzahn took his team to a BCS Championship game, has beaten Alabama as often as could reasonably be asked for – going 3-4 – and he has two SEC Championship appearances in his seven years.

And it never seems to be enough.

He hasn’t lost fewer than four games since his first season, and his job security – media creation or not – always seems to be on a one-bad-game-away alert.

The loser of A&M-Auburn is going to have the pressure on in the offseason, and the winner might just end up playing for the SE…

NO. I can’t do it.

NEXT: Florida and Georgia will be good, and …

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College Football 2020: 5 (Potentially) Stupid Big 12 Predictions

Five bold, crazy, stupid, daring, wacky Big 12 college football predictions for the 2020 season. 

Five bold, crazy, stupid, daring, wacky Big 12 college football predictions for the 2020 season. 

5 (Potentially) Stupid Big 12 Predictions

As if everything we’re going through in the college football world – and in real life – isn’t stupid enough, let’s take it all down a few levels.

What if you were told last year at this time that Baylor was going to play for the Big 12 Championship?

What if you were told that Jalen Hurts would be one of the most efficient passers in the history of college football? What if you were told that eight of the ten teams – including Texas – would fail to hit the nine-win mark for the season?

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What if you were told last year at this time that Matt Rhule would have an NFL job – hardly a shocker – but Lincoln Riley was still going to be in Norman?

They’re the wild and wacky curveballs that make each season fun. Enough safe and sane, it’s time for dumb and dangerous with five (potentially) stupid predictions thrown at the wall to see if they stick.

To keep this fun, this entire Stick To Sports piece is in a safe, COVID-19-free bubble.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big 12 Team Previews, 5 Things To Know
Baylor | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State
Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | TCU | Texas
Texas Tech | West Virginia

– 2020 Big 12 Preview
– Ranking The Big 12 Coaches
– CFN All-Big 12 Team & Top 30 Players
– CFN Big 12 Team-By-Team Predictions
– Big 12 Schedule, Most Interesting Games

5. The Big 12 will lose two non-conference games

It’s going to take some work for the Big 12 to biff two or more of their Plus-1 games.

Each Big 12 team gets one non-conference tune-up game before diving into the nine-game conference run, and let’s just say no one is exactly pushing the envelope.

Let’s just give Texas Tech (Houston Baptist), West Virginia (Eastern Kentucky), TCU (Tennessee Tech), Texas (UTEP), and Oklahoma (Missouri State) the benefit of doubt and chalk up wins for all of them.

And that’s fine. With no preseason, all college teams are insane to not schedule a winnable game to work out all the kinks. Unless something crazier than even 2020 can throw at the Big 12, assume 5-0 out of that group.

And 3-2 from the other five.

– 2020 Big 12 Preseason Rankings

Tulsa has a potentially amazing offense that might come up with something special on the right day against Oklahoma State, but nah – the Cowboys will win that. However …

Be very, very careful of the opening of the Dave Aranda era at Baylor with a dangerous Louisiana Tech team coming into Waco.

Ha ha ha, Kansas gets Coastal Carolina to start. Yeah, the Chanticleers won 12-7 on its trip last year to Lawrence.

Arkansas State absolutely has the chops to pull off something fantastic in Manhattan against Kansas State, and watch out for a dangerous Louisiana team with the offense, coaching and firepower to upset Iowa State.

NEXT: The quarterbacks …

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