2018 College Football Preview: Predictions

College football's annually grueling hiatus is almost over. To celebrate, Ski-U-Blog previews and predicts the 2018 season, going conference-by-conference across the country.

After all the conference previews, we wrap up with the usual preseason features: a Heisman watch list, a top 25, bowl projections, and Playoff predictions.

Heisman Watch List

1. Khalil Tate, Arizona QB
2. Bryce Love, Stanford RB

3. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin RB

4. Trace McSorley, Penn State QB

5. Jake Browning, Washington QB

These are not so much the five best players in college football so much as the five players whose talents, positions, and profiles give them the best odds at winning the Heisman. This pretty much limits the field to quarterbacks, running backs, and the occasional wide receiver or two-way player; and it eliminates mid-major stars or players on mediocre teams. This, of course, is stupid, but it's just how the Heisman works.

Tate is as dynamic a quarterback as you can find. His speed and elusiveness would make for an excellent kick returner, running back, or receiver, but he also is a solid passer. Not being an elite passer (and playing for Arizona) may kill his campaign.

Love and Taylor are the two best running backs in the country. Both will put up monster seasons as their offenses' favorite weapons, and either will probably be good choices for the award.

McSorley and Browning don't have Tate's mobility, but each (especially McSorley) pose enough of a threat with their legs to burn opposing defenses with more than just their arms.

Preseason Top 25

Tier 1: National Title Favorites

1. Alabama

2. Ohio State

3. Clemson

Two or three of these teams will probably make the Playoff. They have more talent than anyone in the country, full stop.

Tier 2: Playoff Contenders

4. Georgia
5. Washington

6. Wisconsin

The top three is clear, but there's still another opening (or, if someone slips up, two openings) for the Playoff field. These three teams are in best positions to take the last spot.

Tier 3: Playoff Hopefuls

7. Auburn
8. Michigan

9. Miami (FL)

10. UCF
11. Oklahoma

12. Notre Dame

13. Michigan State
14. Stanford

15. USC
16. Penn State
17. Mississippi State

Any team in this tier has Playoff potential. For most though, making it will be tough. Each has obstacles, like a tough schedule or significant turnover on at least one side of the ball. Ten-win seasons, division titles, and big-name bowls are all on the table.

Tier 4: The Rest

18. Arizona
19. Boise State

20. West Virginia

21. Oregon
22. Oklahoma State

23. Florida Atlantic
24. Wake Forest
25. LSU

At least one team here will probably sneak into a New Year's Six bowl, and most of them are contenders in their divisions or conferences. But there's just something off about them that makes them a half-step or so behind the teams in Tier 3.

Tier 5: The Next Ten

Florida State
Fresno State
Louisville
Memphis

Northwestern

San Diego State

TCU
Texas
Toledo

Utah

During the season, I'll make for myself and to share with a couple friends a week-to-week set of rankings. Every week, I'll feel as if the bottom of the rankings are somewhat underwhelming, or as if I'm shorting some mid-major I know is good.

To ease my qualms, I expand the rankings to 35 teams. These extra teams, for the most part, could all fit into the last few spots of the top 25 in favor of one of the teams that's actually there. Think of it almost as the "Also Receiving Votes" section of the AP or USA Today polls. I do not give numbers to the "Next Ten," as I call them, so as to keep them distinct from the main rankings. Instead, they are sorted alphabetically.

However, I will restate that these teams are not far behind those of the top 25. For example, I consider any of the three Big 12 teams here pretty similar in quality to West Virginia. I just feel more confident in the Mountaineers because of their top-end talent, their recent history, and how much more the other teams might have lost over the offseason. Very slight differences separate them, and they could easily swap places by the season's end.

Bowl Projections

Bowls are listed in chronological order. Participants filling another conference's bid are indicated by an asterisk.

"New Years Six" bowls are indicated in bold.

For these bowl projections, I have removed all names of corporate sponsors. If removing the sponsor's name essentially removes any name whatsoever (making a game just "Bowl"), then I replaced the sponsor with one of the bowl's former names. If it confuses you, go to Wikipedia.

New Mexico Bowl: Army* vs. Utah State

Cure Bowl: Appalachian State vs. USF

Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington State

Camellia Bowl: Toledo vs. Troy

New Orleans Bowl: Arkansas State vs. UAB

Boca Raton Bowl: Florida Atlantic vs. Temple

Frisco Bowl: Houston vs. Northern Illinois

Gasparilla Bowl: Florida International vs. Navy

Bahamas Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Miami (OH)

Humanitarian Bowl: Ohio vs. San Diego State

Birmingham Bowl: Kentucky vs. Tulane

Armed Forces Bowl: Iowa State vs. SMU

Mobile Alabama Bowl: UL-Monroe vs. Western Michigan

Hawai'i Bowl: Marshall vs. Wyoming

First Responder Bowl: Minnesota vs. North Texas

Motor City Bowl: Boston College vs. Nebraska

Cactus Bowl: Colorado State* vs. Kansas State

Independence Bowl: North Carolina vs. Texas A&M

Pinstripe Bowl: Purdue vs. Virginia Tech

Texas Bowl: LSU vs. Texas

Music City Bowl: Duke vs. Missouri

Tangerine Bowl: Notre Dame vs. TCU

Arizona Bowl: New Mexico State* vs. UNLV

Alamo Bowl: Arizona vs. Oklahoma State

Peach Bowl: Miami (FL) vs. UCF

Queen City Bowl: Florida State vs. Memphis

Military Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Louisville

San Francisco Bowl: Northwestern vs. UCLA

Liberty Bowl: Florida vs. Texas Tech

Holiday Bowl: Michigan vs. Oregon

Gator Bowl: Iowa vs. South Carolina

Sun Bowl: California vs. Wake Forest

Hall of Fame Bowl: Michigan State vs. Mississippi State

Citrus Bowl: Auburn vs. Penn State

Fiesta Bowl: Stanford vs. Wisconsin

Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. USC

Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. West Virginia

Playoff Predictions

Semifinals

Cotton Bowl: 1. Alabama over 4. Oklahoma

Orange Bowl: 2. Clemson over 3. Washington

National Championship

Alabama over Clemson