college football preview – Page 2

Big 12 Preseason Predictions For Every Game: Preview 2022

Big 12 predictions for every team and every game in the 2022 college football season

The Big 12 preseason predictions were harder than ever to do.

While the world might be diving into the Big 12 expansion possibilities, don’t lose sight of what’s happening for this season – the league is going to be crazy-fun and totally wide open.

Warning: with these predictions, there will be at least one major miss – like last year with Baylor.

It seems like every year the Big 12 has at least seven teams that could finish anywhere in the pack – at least after Oklahoma – but this year it’s more like everyone but Kansas, and even it has the potential to be far better.

Oklahoma is hardly a sure thing to be on top, defending champion Baylor has a ton of tough road games, and TCU and Texas Tech – along with OU – are wild-cards with their new coaching staffs.

West Virginia should be more dangerous with Graham Harrell taking over as offensive coordinator. Texas has way too much talent to be mediocre. Texas Tech is an eight-win caliber program disguised as a team that’s going to struggle thanks rough non-conference games.

Iowa State isn’t going to fall off the map, right? Kansas State should be feisty with Adrian Martinez at quarterback, right?

There will be several twists and turns, and a whole slew of surprises – Kansas is going to win more than three games, but how you predict that?

So here we go. While the Big 12 is still a ten-team conference with Oklahoma and Texas still hanging around …

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2022 Big 12 Preseason Predictions

Big 12 Predicted Finish

1. Oklahoma
T2. Oklahoma State*
T2. Texas
T4. Baylor
T4. West Virginia
T6. Iowa State
T6. Kansas State
T6. TCU
9. Texas Tech
10. Kansas
*Oklahoma State predicted to win tie-breaker with Texas for No. 2 spot to face the Sooners in the Big 12 Championship.

Baylor Bears Preseason Prediction

2022 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2022 Big 12 Prediction: 5-4
2021: 12-2, Prediction: 6-6
2020: 2-7, Prediction: 6-6
2019: 11-3, Prediction: 7-5

Sept 3 Albany W
Sept 10 at BYU  L
Sept 17 Texas State W
Sept 24 at Iowa State W
Oct 1 Oklahoma State W
Oct 8 OPEN DATE
Oct 13 at West Virginia  L
Oct 22 Kansas W
Oct 29 at Texas Tech  L
Nov 5 at Oklahoma  L
Nov 12 Kansas State W
Nov 19 TCU W
Nov 26 at Texas  L
Baylor 2022 Preview
Baylor 10 Best Players
Baylor Schedule Analysis

Iowa State Cyclones Preseason Prediction

2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2022 Big 12 Prediction: 4-5
2021: 7-6, Prediction: 9-3
2020: 9-3, Prediction: 7-5
2019: 7-6, Prediction: 7-5

Sept 3 SE Missouri W
Sept 10 at Iowa  L
Sept 17 Ohio W
Sept 24 Baylor  L
Oct 1 at Kansas W
Oct 8 Kansas State W
Oct 15 at Texas  L
Oct 22 OPEN DATE
Oct 27 Oklahoma  L
Nov 5 West Virginia W
Nov 12 at Oklahoma State  L
Nov 19 Texas Tech W
Nov 26 at TCU  L
Iowa State 2022 Preview
Iowa State 10 Best Players
Iowa State Schedule Analysis

Kansas Jayhawks Preseason Prediction

2022 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2022 Big 12 Prediction: 1-8
2021: 2-10, Prediction: 2-10
2020: 0-9, Prediction: 4-8
2019: 3-9, Prediction: 3-9

Sept 2 Tennessee Tech W
Sept 10 at West Virginia  L
Sept 17 at Houston  L
Sept 24 Duke W
Oct 1 Iowa State  L
Oct 8 TCU W
Oct 15 at Oklahoma  L
Oct 22 at Baylor  L
Oct 29 OPEN DATE
Nov 5 Oklahoma State  L
Nov 12 at Texas Tech  L
Nov 19 Texas  L
Nov 26 at Kansas State  L
Kansas 2022 Preview
Kansas 10 Best Players
Kansas Schedule Analysis

Kansas State Wildcats Preseason Prediction

2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2022 Big 12 Prediction: 4-5
2021: 8-5, Prediction: 6-6
2020: 4-6, Prediction: 7-5
2019: 8-5, Prediction: 6-6

Sept 3 South Dakota W
Sept 10 Missouri  L
Sept 17 Tulane W
Sept 24 at Oklahoma  L
Oct 1 Texas Tech W
Oct 8 at Iowa State  L
Oct 15 OPEN DATE
Oct 22 at TCU  L
Oct 29 Oklahoma State W
Nov 5 Texas W
Nov 12 at Baylor  L
Nov 19 at West Virginia  L
Nov 26 Kansas W
Kansas State 2022 Preview
Kansas State 10 Best Players
Kansas State Schedule Analysis

Oklahoma Sooners Preseason Prediction

2022 Preseason Prediction: 10-2
2022 Big 12 Prediction: 7-2
2021: 11-2, Prediction: 11-1
2020: 9-2, Prediction: 10-2
2019: 12-2, Prediction: 11-1

Sept 3 UTEP W
Sept 10 Kent State W
Sept 17 at Nebraska W
Sept 24 Kansas State W
Oct 1 at TCU L
Oct 8 Texas (in Dallas) W
Oct 15 Kansas W
Oct 22 OPEN DATE
Oct 27 at Iowa State W
Nov 5 Baylor W
Nov 12 at West Virginia L
Nov 19 Oklahoma State W
Nov 26 at Texas Tech W
Oklahoma 2022 Preview
Oklahoma 10 Best Players
Oklahoma Schedule Analysis

Oklahoma State Cowboys Preseason Prediction

2022 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2022 Big 12 Prediction: 6-3
2021: 12-2, Prediction: 8-4
2020: 8-3, Prediction: 10-2
2019: 8-5, Prediction: 8-4

Sept 3 Central Michigan W
Sept 10 Arizona State W
Sept 17 Arkansas-Pine Bluff W
Sept 24 OPEN DATE
Oct 1 at Baylor  L
Oct 8 Texas Tech W
Oct 15 at TCU W
Oct 22 Texas W
Oct 29 at Kansas State  L
Nov 5 at Kansas W
Nov 12 Iowa State W
Nov 19 at Oklahoma  L
Nov 26 West Virginia W
Oklahoma State 2022 Preview
Oklahoma State 10 Best Players
Oklahoma State Schedule Analysis

TCU Horned Frogs Preseason Prediction

2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2022 Big 12 Prediction: 4-5
2021: 5-7, Prediction: 8-4
2020: 6-4, Prediction: 7-5
2019: 5-7, Prediction: 8-4

Sept 2 at Colorado L
Sept 10 Tarleton State W
Sept 17 OPEN DATE
Sept 24 at South Alabama W
Oct 1 Oklahoma W
Oct 8 at Kansas L
Oct 15 Oklahoma State L
Oct 22 Kansas State W
Oct 29 at West Virginia L
Nov 5 Texas Tech W
Nov 12 at Texas L
Nov 19 at Baylor L
Nov 26 Iowa State W
TCU 2022 Preview
TCU 10 Best Players
TCU Schedule Analysis

Texas Longhorns Preseason Prediction

2022 Preseason Prediction: 8-4
2022 Big 12 Prediction: 6-3
2021: 5-7, Prediction: 9-3
2020: 7-3, Prediction: 8-4
2019: 8-5, Prediction: 9-3

Sept 3 ULM W
Sept 10 Alabama  L
Sept 17 UTSA W
Sept 24 at Texas Tech W
Oct 1 West Virginia W
Oct 8 Oklahoma (in Dallas)  L
Oct 15 Iowa State W
Oct 22 at Oklahoma State  L
Oct 29 OPEN DATE
Nov 5 at Kansas State  L
Nov 12 TCU W
Nov 19 at Kansas W
Nov 26 Baylor W
Texas 2022 Preview
Texas 10 Best Players
Texas Schedule Analysis

Texas Tech Red Raiders Preseason Prediction

2022 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2022 Big 12 Prediction: 3-7
2021: 7-6, Prediction: 6-6
2020: 4-6, Prediction: 6-6
2019: 4-8, Prediction: 5-7

Sept 3 Murray State W
Sept 10 Houston W
Sept 17 at NC State  L
Sept 24 Texas  L
Oct 1 at Kansas State  L
Oct 8 at Oklahoma State  L
Oct 15 OPEN DATE
Oct 22 West Virginia W
Oct 29 Baylor W
Nov 5 at TCU  L
Nov 12 Kansas W
Nov 19 at Iowa State  L
Nov 26 Oklahoma  L
Texas Tech 2022 Preview
Texas Tech 10 Best Players
Texas Tech Schedule Analysis

West Virginia Mountaineers Preseason Prediction

2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2022 Big 12 Prediction: 5-4
2021: 6-7, Prediction: 6-6
2020: 6-4, Prediction: 5-7
2019: 5-7, Prediction: 6-6

Sept 1 at Pitt  L
Sept 10 Kansas W
Sept 17 Towson W
Sept 24 at Virginia Tech  L
Oct 1 at Texas  L
Oct 8 OPEN DATE
Oct 13 Baylor W
Oct 22 at Texas Tech  L
Oct 29 TCU W
Nov 5 at Iowa State  L
Nov 12 Oklahoma W
Nov 19 Kansas State W
Nov 26 at Oklahoma State  L
West Virginia 2022 Preview
West Virginia 10 Best Players
West Virginia Schedule Analysis

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– 2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

CFN Preseason All-Big Ten Football Team, Top 30 Players: Preview 2022

Who are the best players in the Big Ten going into the 2022 college football season? They’re highlighted in the CFN 2022 Preseason All-Big Ten team, and top 30 players.

Who are the best players in the Big Ten going into the 2022 college football season? They’re highlighted in the CFN 2022 Preseason All-Big Ten team and top 30 players.

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– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews

2022 Preseason CFN Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year

QB CJ Stroud, Soph. Ohio State

Try not to compare the 2022 Stroud to the 2021 version that put up astronomical numbers and would’ve won the Heisman in a walk if Ohio State got past Michigan and if Auburn’s Tank Bigsby had stayed in bounds late against Alabama.

Stroud rolled up over 4,400 yards with 44 touchdowns and six picks last year, hitting 72% of his passes along the way. He’s probably not going to do that again for one simple reason – he won’t have to. He had to keep bombing away at times with the Buckeye defense struggling to be its normal self.

As long as he keeps the completion percentage to around 70%, keeps the interceptions at a bare minimum, and hits his third down throws, he’ll be fine.

Of course, he’ll be better than fine, though.

2022 Preseason CFN Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

LB Jack Campbell, Sr. Iowa

The Iowa linebackers know how to tackle and tackle and tackle some more. Campbell and running mate Seth Benson should combine for over 250 tackles if everything goes right in what should be another big year for the Hawkeye D.

Campbell won’t be as disruptive as Wisconsin’s Nate Herbig, and he might not bring the value like several of the top linemen, but he’ll eat up everything again after leading the nation with 143 tackles with a fumble return for a score, two interceptions – taking one for a touchdown – and with 3.5 tackles for loss.

College Football News 2022 Preseason All-Big Ten Team: Offense

QB CJ Stroud, Soph. Ohio State

RB Braelon Allen, Soph. Wisconsin

RB TreVeyon Henderson, Soph. Ohio State

WR Jayden Reed, Sr. Michigan State

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jr. Ohio State

TE Sam LaPorta, Sr. Iowa

OT Ryan Hayes, Sr. Michigan

OG Tyler Beach, Sr. Wisconsin

C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Sr. Michigan

OG Zak Zinter, Jr. Michigan

OT Peter Skoronski, Jr. Northwestern

College Football News 2022 Preseason All-Big Ten Team: Defense

DE Zach Harrison, Sr. Ohio State

DT Keeanu Benton, Sr. Wisconsin

DT PJ Mustipher, Sr. Penn State

DE Isaiah Mullens, Sr. Wisconsin

LB Jack Campbell, Sr. Iowa

LB Nick Herbig, Jr. Wisconsin

LB Luke Reimer, Jr. Nebraska

CB Denzel Burke, Soph. Ohio State

S Cam Allen, Sr. Purdue

S Sydney Brown, Sr. Illinois

CB Riley Moss, Sr. Iowa

College Football News 2022 Preseason All-Big Ten Team: Special Teams

PK Noah Ruggles, Sr. Ohio State

P Tory Taylor, Jr. Iowa

KR Emeka Egbuga, RFr. Ohio State

PR AJ Henning, Jr. Michigan

College Football News 2022 Preseason Top 30 Big Ten Players

30. Tiawan Mullen, CB Jr. Indiana

29. Taulia Tagovailoa, QB Sr. Maryland

28. Aidan O’Connell, QB Sr. Purdue

27. Jaelyn Duncan, OT Sr. Maryland

26. John Michael Schmitz, C Sr. Minnesota

25. Christian Izien, S Sr. Rutgers

24. Seth Benson, LB Sr. Iowa

23. Luke Reimer, LB Jr. Nebraska

22. Zak Zinter, OG Jr. Michigan

21. Cam Allen, S Sr. Purdue

20. Olusegun Oluwatimi, C Sr. Michigan

19. Zach Harrison, DE Sr. Ohio State

18. Sydney Brown, S Sr. Illinois

17. Dontay Demus, WR Sr. Maryland

16. Keeanu Benton, DT Sr. Wisconsin

15. Jayden Reed, WR Sr. Michigan State

14. Paris Johnson, OT Jr. Ohio State

13. Joey Porter, CB Jr. Penn State

12. Jack Nelson, OT Soph. Wisconsin

11. Ryan Hayes, OT Sr. Michigan

10. Denzel Burke, CB Soph. Ohio State

9. Riley Moss, CB Sr. Iowa

8. Peter Skoronski, OT Jr. Northwestern

7. Mohamed Ibrahim, RB Sr. Minnesota

6. Nick Herbig, LB Jr. Wisconsin

5. Braelon Allen, RB Soph. Wisconsin

4. Jack Campbell, LB Sr. Iowa

3. TreVeyon Henderson, RB Soph. Ohio State

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR Jr. Ohio State

1. CJ Stroud, QB Soph. Ohio State

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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

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11

College Football Win Totals Released: Spring Version. Where Are The Values?

College football win totals released. Where are the possible values months before fall camp starts?

The early college football regular season win totals were released. Where are the potential values before the summer and a few months before fall camp?

Pete Fiutak @PeteFiutak

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And here we go.

BetOnline.ag released its early regular season win totals for 64 Power Five teams. We released our Spring Version of the CFN regular season win total calls several weeks ago – and we’ll do it again just before the season.

Where are the potential values? Where are the lines compared to our first thoughts on the teams and the schedules? Remember, bowls and conference championships aren’t a part of this – regular season games only.

2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

CFN College Football Preview 2021: All 130 Team Previews, Schedules, Rankings

CFN College Football Preview 2021: All-America Teams, Conference Previews, Predictions, Rankings, Schedules, and all 130 Team Previews.

CFN College Football Preview 2021: Team Previews, Conference Previews, Predictions, Rankings

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

College Football Preview 2021

Win Total Projections For All 130 Teams
Preseason Bowl Projections, CFP Predictions

Please Note: Most of the team previews were done earlier in the summer. We’ve tried to update everything as we go, but if we’re missing something please let us know at @ColFootballNews

ACC 2021 Team Previews

ACC Atlantic

ACC Coastal

American Athletic Conference 2021 Team Previews

21 for 2021 Preview Topics
21. Thoughts, Wishes, Hopes for 2021
20. Best Teams To Not Make CFP
19: Teams That Will Rebound Big
18. Teams That Will Fall Back
17: Every Power 5 Team’s Letdown Game
16. Expectations For New Head Coaches
15. Expectations For 2nd Year Head Coaches
14. Power 5 Hot Seat Coach Rankings
13. Key Transfers You Need To Know
12. Group of 5 over Power 5 Upset Alerts
11. 5 of College Football’s New Superstars
10. Group of 5 Teams In New Year’s Six Hunt
9. Power 5 Sleeper Teams
8. Ranking Power 5 Quarterback Battles
7. 5 Teams That Might Disappoint
6. 5 Teams That Might Surprise
5. Group of Five Conference Ranking
4. Power 5 Conference Ranking
3. Top Non-Obvious Heisman Candidates
2. 5 Nutty Predictions That Might Be Right
1. The College Football Playoff call

Big Ten 2021 Team Previews

Big Ten East

Big Ten West

Big 12 2021 Team Previews

Conference USA 2021 Team Previews

Conference USA East

Conference USA West

Independent 2021 Team Previews

MAC 2021 Team Previews

MAC East

MAC West

Mountain West 2021 Team Previews

Mountain West: Mountain

Mountain West: West

Pac-12 2021 Team Previews

Pac-12 North

Pac-12 South

SEC 2021 Team Previews

SEC East

SEC West

Sun Belt 2021 Team Previews

Sun Belt East

Sun Belt West

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Oklahoma State Cowboys: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Oklahoma State season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Oklahoma State season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Oklahoma State Schedule Analysis
– Oklahoma State Cowboys Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

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2020 Record: 8-3 overall, 6-3 in Big 12
Head Coach: Mike Gundy, 17th year, 137-67
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 19
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 22
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 50

Oklahoma State Cowboys College Football Preview 2021: Offense

– The Oklahoma State offense was okay, but it wasn’t anywhere near the high-flying fun show it should’ve been. It struggled with injuries, the running game wasn’t quite devastating enough, and the offensive line struggled mightily in pass protection and when it came to keeping defensive fronts out of the backfield.

The team still went 8-3 with wins over Iowa State, Tulsa, and in the bowl over Miami, but the O can do a whole lot more. There’s plenty of work to do at the skill spots along with some big losses on the O line, but it’s Oklahoma State. The offense is going to be very, very good, but there’s a concern at …

– Wide receiver. The Cowboys lose top three targets Tylan Wallace, Dillon Stoner and Landon Wolf for a passing game that – like the rest of the offense in 2020 – was fine, but wasn’t as good as it should’ve been.

On the plus side, the cupboard is hardly bare with Braydon Johnson back after finishing third on the team with 248 yards leading a corps that should be dangerous with a little time.

6-3 former Washington State Cougar Tay Martin is back for a super-senior season – he didn’t quite blow up with 15 catches after making 143 grabs for Wazzu – and speedy Brennan Pressley showed off his upside with 118 yards and three scores in the bowl win over Miami.

Getting them the ball is junior Spencer Sanders, who was banged up a bit throughout last year but threw for over 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has to cut down on his picks, but he’s a baller. Former big recruit Shane Illingworth got his feet wet last year when – he’s a strong No. 2.

– Chuba Hubbard wasn’t able to recreate the magic of 2019, and now he’s off to the Carolina Panthers. 222-pound senior Dezmon Jackson and 200-pound senior LD Brown combined for close to 1,000 yards with six touchdowns. The backfield is good, and it’s getting better with Jaylen Warren coming in from Utah State.

Star OT Tevin Jenkins is a Chicago Bear, but three starters are back on the line, and there’s help from the transfer portal.

It might not be splashy, but getting center Danny Godlevske from Miami University is a big deal. There’s enough depth to come up with a few good position battles around the former RedHawk and former West Virginia guard Josh Sills.

– What You Need To Know: Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Oklahoma State Schedule Analysis

NEXT: Oklahoma State Cowboys College Football Preview 2021: Defense

Pages: 12345

Purdue Boilermakers: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Purdue season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Purdue season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Purdue Schedule Analysis
– Purdue Boilermakers Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

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2020 Record: 2-4 overall, 2-4 in Big Ten
Head Coach: Jeff Brohm, 5th year, 19-25
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 61
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 58
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 103

Purdue Boilermakers College Football Preview 2021: Offense

– The offense continues to be a blast. The passing game will keep on cranking, the production will still be among the best in the Big Ten – Purdue was No. 1 in the Big Ten in passing offense – and the production is more effective than the 370 total yards and 27 points per game.

Yeah, you are what your numbers are, but this is a dangerous attack that gets back nine starters.

– Jack Plummer and Aidan O’Connell can each run the offense. It’s going to be an ongoing battle for the starting job, and there’s no wrong answer.

They both threw for over 900 yards in their three games of work, Plummer threw eight touchdown passes and two picks, and O’Connell threw seven scoring passes with two picks, and neither one is a dangerous runner – although Plummer is more mobile.

– Rondale Moore might be an Arizona Cardinal, but the receiving corps is still outstanding. David Bell is a 6-2, 205-pound No. 1 target who led the team with 53 grabs with eight touchdowns, and he’s not along with 6-3 Milton Wright, tight ends Payne Durham and Garrett Miller, and the quick Jackson Anthrop all going to get in plenty of work.

– The running game has parts, but they’re not used enough. Zander Horvath led the team with 442 yards and two scores – and he can catch, making 30 grabs – but the team only ran 150 times in the six games.

There’s sneaky-good star power on the O line around Gus Hartwig somewhere on the inside and Greg Long at one tackle spot. Getting Tyler Witt from WKU for somewhere in the interior is a plus.

– What You Need To Know: Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Purdue Schedule Analysis

NEXT: Purdue Boilermakers College Football Preview 2021: Defense

Pages: 12345

Illinois Fighting Illini: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Illinois season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Illinois season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Illinois Schedule Analysis
– Illinois Fighting Illini Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

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2020 Record: 2-6 overall, 2-6 in Big Ten
Head Coach: Bret Bielema, 1st year (97-58 overall)
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 71
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 70
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 69

Illinois Fighting Illini College Football Preview 2021: Offense

– What’s the Illinois offense going to be under new head man Bret Bielema? Will he try to make it the Champaign version of Wisconsin? Bielema would love to create a pounding attack that controls games, but that’s not going to be the Illini early on. There’s plenty of work to do for an O that averaged just 349 yards and 20 points per game.

Offensive coordinator Tony Petersen is a veteran who’s about getting the passing attack going and coaching up quarterbacks, and …

– The Illinois quarterback situation is a plus. Brandon Peters only seems like he’s in his 14th year of college football, but the 6-5, 220-pound former Michigan transfer has the passing ability to ease the new coaching staff into the first year.

Third-year freshman Isaiah Williams was a super-recruit for the program who finished second on the team in rushing, but he struggled way too much with his accuracy when he got his shot – now he’s listed as a wide receiver. On the way is Artur Sitkowski from Rutgers to make things even more interesting, but he’s likely an option for next year.

There’s an exodus of wide receivers from the program, and there’s going to be an overhaul.

Leading target Josh Imatorbhebhe is a Jacksonville Jaguar, his brother – tight end Daniel Imatobhebehe – left for Kansas State, fourth-leading receiver Casey Washington is on Wake Forest, and 2018 top target Ricky Smalling is in the transfer portal, too.

However, 6-3, 210-pound former Miami transfer Brian Hightower has the size and deep ability to grow into a No. 1 target. 6-4, 250-pound junior TE Daniel Barker was second on the team with 19 catches for 268 yards and two scores, and in comes WR Jafar Armstrong from Notre Dame to potentially make a big splash right away. Throw in former Georgia transfer TE Luke Ford, and there’s sneaky-good talent here.

– The offensive line loses Kendrick Green to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but everyone else is expected to be back on a veteran front full of super-seniors. There isn’t a star like Green – 6-6, 320-pound senior OT Veteran Lowe will be a factor – but there are a whole lot of options to play around with.

It’s a Bret Bielema offense – the running game is going to work.

Chase Brown is a slippery 5-11, 200-pound former transfer from Western Michigan who ran for a team-high 540 yards and three scores, and Mike Epstein is a good veteran who averaged over five yards per carry and led the team with four scores. Chase Hayden was a nice get from East Carolina for the rotation, and 5-11, 190-pound Reggie Love can move.

– What You Need To Know: Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Illinois Schedule Analysis

NEXT: Illinois Fighting Illini College Football Preview 2021: Defense

Pages: 12345

Fresno State Bulldogs: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Fresno State season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Fresno State 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
– Fresno State Bulldogs Schedule Analysis
– Fresno State Bulldogs Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

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2020 Record: 3-3 overall, 3-3 in Mountain West
Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer, 2nd year 3-3
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 96
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 77
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 91

Fresno State Bulldogs College Football Preview 2021: Offense

– The Fresno State offense in the first year under head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb came up with a solid first season for an offense that finished No. 1 in the Mountain West and fifth in the nation in passing.

– It all starts with QB Jake Haener, a Washington transfer who got better as the year went on and with four 300-yard performances in the six games. He’s got all of his main receivers back with the top five wide receivers returning led by Jalen Cropper, who caught a team-high 37 passes for 520 yards and five scores. There’s a terrific blend of experience, size, and quick options in the group that should be among the best in the Mountain West.

– It only seems like Ronnie Rivers has been around since the David Carr era. The 5-9, 195-pound senior is back to provide the perfect balance to the big passing game as the leader and star of a deep and strong group of backs.

Rivers led the way with 507 yards and seven scores, and he’s once again joined by Jordan Mims who brings a bit more power. Helping the cause is Utah transfer Jordan Wilmore to make a good situation stronger.

Now the offensive line has to be stronger to give the group room to move. Rivers and Mims each averaged over five yards per carry, but there were too many problems in pass protection and keeping teams out of the backfield. Three starters are expected back, but top blocker Syrus Tuitele is gone at right tackle.

– What You Need To Know: Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Fresno State Bulldogs Schedule Analysis

NEXT: Fresno State Bulldogs College Football Preview 2021: Defense

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UConn Huskies: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the UConn season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the UConn season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– UConn Huskies Schedule Analysis
– UConn Huskies Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

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2020 Record: Didn’t play in 2020
Head Coach: Randy Edsall, 6th year, 6-30
2020 CFN Final Ranking: Not Ranked
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 130
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 126

UConn Huskies College Football Preview 2021: Offense

– Welcome to life as an independent, even if it’s a year late. The team that ended up doing next to nothing offensively in its last year in the American Athletic Conference still has a whole lot of question marks and work to do, and not being able to do much this spring didn’t help, either. So …

– The Huskies have several options all in the mix for the quarterback gig. Anyone who can provide a spark – and not throw a bazillion interceptions – will likely get the call. Sophomore Jack Zergiotis was thrown to the wolves in 2019 and threw for 1,782 yards and nine scores with 11 picks, 6-4, 225-pound junior Micah Leon comes in from NC State to make a push, and 6-4, 216-pound sophomore Steven Krajewski are all in the mix.

Leading receiver Cameron Ross returns after making a team-high 60 catches two years ago. Second-leading receiver Ardell Brown is gone, but just about everyone else of note in the receiving corps who caught a pass returns, but …

– Running back Art Thompkins is gone – he was the second-leading receiver with 39 catches – but leading rusher Kevin Mensah is back after running for over 1,000 yards and nine scores. The rest of the backfield is unproven, but Mensah will be the workhorse.

The offensive line didn’t do much for the ground game and was even worse in pass protection. On the plus side, it was a very young group in 2019 that had a full year in the weight room. However, the one good blocker from two years ago – Matt Peart – is off being a New York Giant, and there’s not a ton of size up front.

– What You Need To Know: Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– UConn Huskies Schedule Analysis

NEXT: UConn Huskies College Football Preview 2021: Defense

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