Alabama, UCF headline list of football hits, misses
Damien Harris burst out of the Alabama locker room moments after the Crimson Tide captured the national championship. Harris had joined his teammates following their thrilling 26-23 overtime win over Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but the junior running back had a message for those who doubted this team.
“People said we weren’t supposed to be here but we won this [EXPLETIVE]!” Harris screamed while racing past media members who had assembled outside the team’s locker room.
Alabama captured its fifth national championship in the past nine seasons, and while the Tide weren’t my pick to win it all this season (see Ohio State), they were my No. 2 choice in my preseason 2017 Orlando Sentinel college football top 130 rankings.
Now that the season is over, let’s take a look back at some of my hits, my misses and some of my way-off predictions. HITS Alabama Crimson Tide Where they finished: 13-1
Where No. 2
Alabama has finished ranked either first or second in the final Associated Press top 25 rankings each of the past four seasons making it a safe bet to put the Tide near the top of my predictions. Oklahoma Sooners Where they finished: 12-2
Where No. 3
Oklahoma secured a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals for the second time in the past three seasons thanks to the stellar play of Heisman Trophy quarterback Baker Mayfield. ranked ranked them: them: Wisconsin Badgers Where they finished: 13-1
Where No. 8
The Badgers have been close in their hunt for a spot in the semifinals, finishing eighth in the playoff rankings in 2016 and in the poll this season despite making it to the Big Ten title game. MISSES Florida
Where 7-6
Where No. 4
There was so much optimism surrounding the Florida State program heading into 2017, but that all went out the window after the first game. It started with the season-ending injury to Deondre Francois and ended with the contentious departure of coach Jimbo Fisher to Texas A&M. Georgia Bulldogs Where they finished: 13-2
Where No. 13
It’s amazing how quickly Kirby Smart was able to propel the Bulldogs into the national title game in just his second season at Georgia. The team fell just short in the national championship to Alabama, but you can believe this team will be back soon enough. ranked State they finished: ranked ranked them: Seminoles them: them: UCF Knights Where they 13-0
Where No. 48
Nobody could have predicted the type of season that UCF underwent in 2017. Hurricane Irma may have disrupted the team’s schedule, but the players bonded together on their way to a conference championship and a win in the New Year’s Six bowl game. WAY OFF Florida Gators Where they finished: 4-7
Where No. 18
Florida’s season had more ups-and-downs that an episode of The Bachelor, and in the end it left nothing but heartbreak for the Gators, who saw Jim McElwain resign late in the season as the team capped off its worst season since 2013. FAU Owls Where they 11-3
Where No. 106
When FAU hired Lane Kiffin, I had my doubts. It’s hard to blame me when you consider Kiffin’s past, but the enigmatic coach proved me wrong by leading the team to its best season in school history. I admit it, I’m now all aboard the Lane Train. finished: ranked ranked finished: ranked them: them: them: