THE NATION'S TOP QUARTERBACKS
Johnny Manziel
Much has changed since Johnny Manziel was racing through the Oklahoma defense at the Cotton Bowl. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner's eligibility remains up in the air and, with that, the conference and national championship hopes for Texas A&M may be vanishing.
1. Aaron Murray, Georgia
Perhaps the nation's top passer, Murray will be tested with a road game at Clemson and home games against South Carolina and LSU among the first four contests.
2. A.J. McCarron, Alabama
McCarron may not have the pizzazz of many other quarterbacks, but one thing this man can do is win national championships.
3. Braxton Miller, Ohio State
The athletic quarterback helped the Buckeyes go unbeaten while producing 28 touchdowns last season.
4. Marcus Mariota, Oregon
The Ducks went 12-1 last season with him taking snaps. His 2012 stats (3,429 total yards, 37 total touchdowns) are nice considering he only played all four quarters only twice last season.
Storylines
1. Last year of the BCS
Participants for the BCS Championship game will be decided by computers and humans for the final time. Next year, there will be a four-team College Football Playoff. College football's highest level will finally crown a champion like other sports.
2. Alabama dominates again
It's good to be king, and that's where the Crimson Tide sits these days. Alabama deserves credit for making it through the country's toughest conference and coming out with back-to-back national championships. Odds are they will be in the hunt again in 2013.
3. What league are you in again?
Pitt and Syracuse go to the ACC, the American Athletic Conference (mostly ex-Conference USA schools) makes its debut. C-USA rebrands itself after raiding the Sun Belt and WAC. The Mountain West added two schools. The Sun Belt falls to eight teams. What happened to the WAC? Well, it's gone.
Five games to watch
1. Alabama at Texas A&M (Sept. 14)
The Crimson Tide will be looking for revenge after last year's home loss to the Aggies.
2. Oregon at Stanford (Nov. 7)
A Thursday night clash, the visiting squad has won the past two games between these teams.
3. LSU at Alabama (Nov. 9)
A good, old-fashioned SEC game that will dictate what happens in the national championship race.
4. Ohio State at Michigan (Nov. 30)
There's a good chance Ohio State could be unbeaten going into the Big House.
5. Georgia at Clemson (Aug. 31)
Two of the nation's top quarterbacks hook up in Aaron Murray (Georgia) and Tajh Boyd (Clemson).
TOP 25 POWER POLL
1. Alabama: So this must
be what it felt like during the
Bear Bryant years of dominance.
2. Ohio State: The Buckeyes
paid off their penalty last year.
Now they are ready to compete
for a national title.
3. Oregon: Don’t adjust your
television set. New coaching
staff, same dazzling uniforms.
4. Stanford: Physical football
meets the West Coast. Mark
your calendars now for that
Nov. 7 game vs. Oregon.
5. Georgia: Schedule sets up
nice. No Alabama, get South
Carolina and LSU at home in
September.
6. South Carolina: Steve
Spurrier-coached teams are
known for offense. Now
everyone watches Jadeveon
Clowney bring the hammer.
7. Clemson: Remember
when Chad Morris was
Tulsa’s OC? Now he’s the
country’s highest-paid assistant
($1.3 million).
8. Louisville: Cardinals
will dominate the AAC
(formerly Big East) before
jumping over to the
ACC next year.
9. Florida: Will Muschamp
has instilled a
defensive mindset at
Florida. The Gators just
need the offense to follow
suit.
10. Oklahoma State: Will
the Cowboys adjust to
another offensive coordinator?
Smart money appears
to be on yes.
11. Florida State: Expectations
were reached last year
with ACC crown, BCS Bowl
victory.
12. Notre Dame: The Irish
will try to regroup after the
loss of last year’s leaders in
Everett Golson, Manti Te’o.
13. LSU: How’s this for a
test? Road trips to Alabama
and Georgia combined with
visits from Texas A&M and
Florida.
14. Oklahoma: Maybe a
blessing in disguise for OU
this year — the program is the
hunter instead of the hunted.
15. Michigan: Will the Wolverines
have another five-loss
season in 2013? Not likely.
But this year’s road isn’t easy.
16. Texas A&M: If Johnny
Football gets to play this
season, move the Aggies up
about 10 spots in this poll.
17. Texas: Too much talent
on Texas’ roster to leave them
out of Top 25; During the last
few years, they’ve knocked
themselves out with poor
play.
18. Nebraska: The Huskers
have gone 13 years without
hoisting a conference championship
trophy, a long stretch
for tradition-rich program.
19. Boise State: The Broncos are once again good, but will they be that same dominant,
BCS-buster program of years
past?
20. TCU: Horned Frogs
could make huge statement
in opening game against SEC
power LSU.
21. Wisconsin: Badgers are
looking for fourth straight
Rose Bowl trip; last Big Ten
team to do so was Ohio State
(1973-76).
22. Baylor: The Bears used
to be overlooked by Big 12
opponents. Not anymore.
This is a dangerous opponent,
especially at home.
23. UCLA: The Bruins have
taken advantage of rival
USC’s recent NCAA problems,
winning two consecutive
Pac-12 South titles.
24. Oregon State: The Beavers
won nine games in 2013,
more than the previous two
seasons combined (eight).
25. Northwestern: Last
year’s 10-win campaign has
set expectations sky-high in
Evanston.
