2017 College Football Preview: Predictions

College football is here. To prepare for the season, Ski-U-Blog is previewing the whole of FBS. With all the conferences done, it's time to finally close the long offseason with a Heisman watch list, a preseason top 25, and bowl and Playoff predictions.

Heisman Watch List

1. Sam Darnold, USC QB

2. Lamar Jackson, Louisville QB

Jackson is probably still the best player in the sport, but an All-American quarterback at a likely Pac-12-winning USC will be too much for many voters to resist.

3. Saquon Barkley, Penn State RB

4. Trace McSorley, Penn State QB

Barkley and McSorley run one of the country's most potent offenses. Barkley is getting more attention, and rightfully so, but his quarterback has the capability to make big plays too, both with his arm and with his legs.

5. Ed Oliver, Houston DT

There is no way the voters would give the award to A. a defensive player who doesn't contribute on offense or special teams, B. a defensive tackle, or C. a Group of Five player. But Oliver is the most dominant and attention-grabbing defender in the country. Even if a sliver of that is undoubtedly due to his level of competition, he still deserves to be acknowledged as a truly great player. Those preferring a different defensive candidate, like Alabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick, Penn State's Marcus Allen, or Florida State's Derwin James, may go right ahead.

Preseason Top 25

Tier 1: National Title Favorites

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Florida State

These three are the best teams in the country. Nobody looks as talented both ways as they do, and if at least one of them does not end up in Atlanta on January 8, it will be a great surprise.

Tier 2: Playoff Contenders

4. USC
5. Penn State
6. Oklahoma
7. Washington
8. Clemson
9. Wisconsin
10. Auburn

Some conference leaders, some division leaders, and some teams that are a difficult schedule away from the Playoff.

Tier 3: Playoff Hopefuls

11. Louisville
12. LSU
13. Florida
14. Stanford
15. Michigan
16. Oklahoma State

If they fill their respective holes and get a few breaks, any one of these teams could find themselves in or just outside of the Playoff. Something about them though, whether it be roster turnover, one weak side of the ball, or one weak position group, makes me think they all face steep odds.

Tier 4: The Rest

17. Texas

18. Notre Dame

19. Miami

20. Virginia Tech

21. Georgia

22. Kansas State

23. TCU

24. South Florida

25. Georgia Tech

Your one-dimensional teams, your recovering blue bloods, your conference dark horses, your best Group of Five team – you don't want to play any of these teams, but elite they are not.

Next Ten:

• Boise State
• Colorado State
• Houston
• Memphis
• NC State
• Northwestern
• Tennessee
• Texas A&M
• Washington State
• Western Kentucky

I could have squeezed a handful of these teams into the top 25. Arguments can be made for any of them, and they're not far behind most of Tier 4.

Bowl Projections

Below are projections for all 37 non-Playoff bowl games. The only spot where a team is filling in for another conference's representative is in the Cactus Bowl, where independent BYU takes a Big 12 spot.

December 16:

Camellia Bowl: Arkansas State (Sun Belt) vs. Ohio (MAC)

Cure Bowl: Georgia Southern (Sun Belt) vs. Tulsa (American)

Las Vegas Bowl: Colorado State (Mountain West) vs. Utah (Pac-12)

New Mexico Bowl: San Diego State (Mountain West) vs. UTSA (Conference-USA)

New Orleans Bowl: Air Force (Mountain West) vs. Appalachian State (Sun Belt)

December 19:

Boca Raton Bowl: Central Florida (American) vs. Middle Tennessee State (Conference-USA)

December 20:

Frisco Bowl: South Alabama (Sun Belt) vs. Tulsa (American)

December 21:

Gasparilla Bowl: Marshall (Conference-USA) vs. Temple (American)

December 22:

Bahamas Bowl: Northern Illinois (MAC) vs. Southern Mississippi (Conference-USA)

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Eastern Michigan (MAC) vs. Wyoming (Mountain West)

December 23:

Armed Forces Bowl: Army vs. Minnesota (Big Ten)

Birmingham Bowl: Houston (American) vs. Kentucky (SEC)

Dollar General Bowl: Miami (OH) (MAC) vs. Troy (Sun Belt)

December 24:

Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii (Mountain West) vs. Navy (American)

December 26:

Cactus Bowl: BYU vs. Oregon (Pac-12)

Heart of Dallas Bowl: Louisiana Tech (Conference-USA) vs. West Virginia (Big 12)

Quick Lane Bowl: Indiana (Big Ten) vs. North Carolina (ACC)

December 27:

Foster Farms Bowl: Iowa (Big Ten) vs. Washington State (Pac-12)

Independence Bowl: Missouri (SEC) vs. Pitt (ACC)

Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse (ACC) vs. Nebraska (Big Ten)

Texas Bowl: Texas (Big 12) vs. Texas A&M (SEC)*

*Just make it happen.

December 28:

Alamo Bowl: Stanford (Pac-12) vs. TCU (Big 12)

Camping World Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State (Big 12)

Holiday Bowl: Colorado (Pac-12) vs. Northwestern (Big Ten)

Military Bowl: Memphis (American) vs. Pitt (ACC)

December 29:

Belk Bowl: Georgia Tech (ACC) vs. Mississippi State (SEC)

Music City Bowl: Georgia (SEC) vs. Louisville (ACC)

Sun Bowl: NC State (ACC) vs. Utah (Pac-12)

December 30:

Arizona Bowl: Boise State (Mountain West) vs. Idaho (Sun Belt)

Gator Bowl: LSU (SEC) vs. Michigan (Big Ten)

Liberty Bowl: Baylor (Big 12) vs. South Carolina (SEC)

January 1:

Citrus Bowl: Miami (ACC) vs. Tennessee (SEC)

Outback Bowl: Penn State (Big Ten) vs. Virginia Tech (ACC)

New Year's Six Bowls

Cotton Bowl: Auburn (SEC) vs. Kansas State (Big 12)

Fiesta Bowl: Washington (Pac-12) vs. Wisconsin (Big Ten)

Orange Bowl: Florida (SEC) vs. Florida State (ACC)

Peach Bowl: Clemson (ACC) vs. South Florida (American)

Playoff Predictions

Sugar Bowl: 1 Alabama over 4 Oklahoma

Rose Bowl: 2 Ohio State over 3 USC

National Championship: 1 Alabama over 2 Ohio State

Florida State misses out on the Playoff after dropping one or two games on a really difficult schedule. Oklahoma and USC, winners of their respective conferences, make it in. Alabama coasts against the Sooners, but Ohio State narrowly defeats USC. The Tide continues its perpetual roll.