Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Keep your eyes on these underdogs
Everyone likes underdogs, including college football fans.
As college football season kicks off this week, here is a look at some teams from each conference that could be pleasant surprises: AAC USF: Willie Taggart is creating a culture of winning at USF, and the Bulls appear to be embracing that mentality. Last season, the program finished with eight wins and a bowl appearance for the first time since 2010. This year’s team is drawing preseason praise, including being picked to win the East Division in the American.
USF nearly doubled its offensive output from 2014 thanks to Taggart’s Gulf Coast offensive scheme, which showcases quarterback Quinton Flowers and running back Marlon Mack. The defense saw marked improvement after switching to a 4-2-5 scheme, with coaches pushing the Bulls to attack rather than react. USF registered 25 takeaways and a plus-10 turnover margin. ACC Louisville: The Cardinals return 46 lettermen, including key contributors on defense in linebackers Devonte Fields and Keith Kelsey and safety Josh Harvey-Clemons.
Lamar Jackson is the strongest quarterback no one is talking about. His quickness and athleticism are creating all sorts of nightmares for defensive coordinators. Bobby Petrino’s team will be favored in all but two contests (FSU, Clemson), with a top-10 finish easily on the horizon. BIG TEN Nebraska: Nebraska was the Charlie Brown of the college football world last season. The Huskers suffered through a tough-luck year that saw them lose seven games for the first time since 2007. Five of those losses were by five points or fewer.
Mike Riley’s team should be much, much better in 2016 with the leadership of quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., who has improved his overall passer rating each season. Nebraska should be favored in all but two conference tilts (Ohio State, Wisconsin), making a division crown well within its grasp. BIG 12 Texas: This could be a make-or-break season for Charlie Strong at Texas after the Longhorns underachieved during his first two seasons in Austin. In an effort to jumpstart a program that was last ranked in 2013, Strong brought in Sterlin Gilbert as the new offensive coordinator.
The new fast-paced offense relies on a great quarterback and it appears Texas may have found one in freshman Steve Buechele. It will be his job to add stability to a position that’s lacked consistency since the Vince Young days. A Big 12 crown maybe out of the question, but a seven- or eight-win season could be just what this program needs to bounce back. CONFERENCE USA Middle Tennessee: Middle Tennessee averaged more than 400 yards and 30 points per game the past three seasons, with the Blue Raiders becoming the most consistent offensive teams in Conference USA. That should be the case again this season after Rick Stockstill brought back former offensive coordinator Tony Franklin in the offseason.
Franklin should help develop Brent Stockstill into a prolific passer. The big question is can MTSU stop anybody on defense? If not, at least we can expect some raucous shoot-outs for the Blue Raiders this season. MID-AMERICAN Northern Illinois: Northern Illinois has won more games (65) than any other team in the MidAmerican Conference since 2010, with the Huskies claiming three conference championships. Injuries last season ended any chances of the program reaching its seventh consecutive MAC title game, and Rod Carey’s team is looking to bounce back in a huge way.
Quarterback Drew Hare blew out his ACL after 10 games in 2015 and his return will be crucial if the team wants to get back on top. It’s not far-fetched to believe a healthy NIU squad could win the West again. MOUNTAIN WEST San Diego State: Rocky Long has done an incredible job of turning San Diego State into a consistent winner during the five seasons since he’s taken over the Aztecs program. An 11-win mark in 2015 could be just the beginning.
Running back Donnel Pumphrey enters 2016 as the nation’s active leader in rushing yards (4,272) and all-purpose yards (5,145) and would be a Heisman Trophy candidate if he played at a Power 5 program. The defense was second in the Football Bowl Subdivision in takeaways (34) last season, making this team as one of the most opportunistic in college football. PAC-12 Washington: Chris Petersen’s hire in 2014 was expected to usher in a new era for Washington football, but the first two seasons have been punctuated with disappointment.
That could change this season as the Huskies feature one of the deepest teams in the Pac-12 with 54 returning lettermen, including key contributors in quarterback Jake Browning, running back Myles Gaskin and free safety Budda Baker. Optimism is high as Washington found its way into the Associated Press preseason top 25 poll for the first time since 2014. SEC Arkansas: The Razorbacks have shown marked improvement in the three seasons under Bret Bielema, going from three wins in 2013 to seven in 2014 to eight in 2015. A key component to the team’s success has been the rushing attack, which featured a 1,000-yard rusher each of the past three seasons.
Austin Allen steps into the shoes vacated by his brother, Brandon , at quarterback, and he’ll lead an offense that features several new faces. An oversized defensive front presents offensive line coaches with the daunting task of blocking up front. The challenge for the Hogs is navigating an SEC West schedule that features matchups with Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU. SUN BELT Georgia Southern: Few teams have made as smooth of a transition up from the Football Championship Subdivision as Georgia Southern. The Eagles have won nine games each of the past two seasons while winning a Sun Belt title in 2014.
New coach Tyson Summers is sticking with the triple option offense. It’s a good decision for Matt Breida, who has rushed for more than 3,000 yards combined during the past two seasons while being featured in the offense. This team’s biggest challenge is keeping up with rival Appalachian State, which is the favorite to win the Sun Belt.