11. Our Lady of the Perpetual Tie
Several of the teams I have discussed above have to work through two or three games against top flight competition, as so does OLotPT.They are a good team, but they play three of the teams in my Functionally Top 10, The, USC and ClemSIN. I am giving them this slot because they have the most doable schedule, after that, of those teams. Tough enough to impress watchers, but not so tough as they should not be big favorites in most games. I assume Sam Mary Hartman is the new starter, with the loss of Buchner. Inconsistent QB play was a huge problem for them in 22, but if they can get good play from that position, the rest of the pieces are there. They just need to win one of those three big games.
10. the Florida State
They have one of the better returning QBs and good returning skill players on offense. It has been a dry spell since the height of the Jimbo Fisher years, but the return of Jordan Travis gives them at least stability at the QB position, if not high level excellence. Their receiving corps was bolstered by the addition of a damned traitor to bolster an already deep position. They had a strong running game last year, and despite losing a top back should be solid there as well. Defensively, they had some problems along the line last year, but have used the transfer portal well. Tough schedule, though, with both LSU and Florida OOC.
9. ClemSIN
So now we find out, was it just Ukelele or is there something else that makes ClemSIN less than it had been with Watson and Jennifer Lawrence as QB. Fran Kubelik returns as QB, Shipley at RB, and Baby Riley heads in from TCU as the new OC. Could be a fun O. The secondary needed work in its first post-Venable year, although there is, of course, talent. Schedule includes OLotPT and South Carogod etc as functionally OOC. But I cannot escape the nagging feeling that ClemSIN had success all those years because they had a superior QB, and they have lacked that success because they cannot work fully around a pretty good one.
8. Alabama
Something about Bama last year just seemed off, especially for a Satan coached team, and they never seemed to gel despite Young being great. They are breaking in a new quarterback and they still do not know who, which is pretty late, decision making wise. Still, they do have some good options, and. I am more worried about the receivers, who last year did not meet previous expectations, and the number of new O Line players. They have the same issue on Defense. They have been in reload mode for so many years now, it is hard to think they will struggle with any of this, but it almost feels like there are more cracks in the foundation this year.
7 The
My guess is that one of the three IINB10E teams will lose twice. Two might end up in the playoffs, though, depending on the breaks. Stroud is a big loss, but whoever gets the position has the advantage of perhaps the best skill position talent in CFB. As with Alabama I still worry that The does not have the next guy already in mind, but The really has become Wide Receiver U the last few years, and their two most productive receivers from 2022 return, as do Williams and Henderson in the backfield. I am more concerned about losing both tackles and their center than who will be the QB. The returns most of their defense, for better and worse. They have three easy games to break everyone in before that trip to OLotPT. I have them 3 of the IINB10E teams because The has become susceptible to the big play on defense. That needs fixing, or they are the IINB10E team with the two losses, especially since of the three The plays the only difficult team OOC.
6. Meatchicken
Blake Corum returning is pretty helpful, and Donovan Edwards gives them probably the third best backfield tandem in the IINB10E, but I am not convinced they have the passing game to win the Championship. McCarthy scorched The, but that was more big plays than a sustained excellence; even against The he was a 50 percent passer. The receivers were merely solid last year, with no one threat to elevate the air attack. Defensively they had some significant losses, but they were hit harder after 2021, so provided their DC does not also get caught uploading whacking materials on a work computer, I think they will be fine. Or, well, did you see that TCU game? Either that was a huge anomaly or there is something rotten in the City of Ann Arbor. They do have a pathetic OOC schedule once again, with no Power 5 teams for two years in a row, which helps them in the Top 5 battle. I mean unless they lose to Directional Carolina
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