By: Eric Michael (University of Miami)
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College football teams have already started their preseason practices. All the work in the offseason is now headed to the field. Games start as early as September 2nd and, with that in mind, here are five storylines to watch for as we head towards the start of college football.
5. Jeremiah Masoli at Ole Miss
Masoli, the former starting quarterback and Heisman contender at Oregon was kicked off the team for his second arrest in the last 6 months. This landed Masoli at Ole Miss as a walk on where he will more than likely be the starter replacing Jevan Snead. If Masoli can prevent his off the field troubles from affecting his game, Ole Miss could be a sleeper team in the SEC West.
4.Lane Kiffin at USC
Every time this man gets a job, there is always controversy around him. After Kiffin left Tennessee for USC, the Trojans were strapped with major NCAA violations and were banned from postseason play for two years. This news caused a bunch of players to transfer and left Kiffin to clean up Pete Carroll’s mess. Kiffin could have a rough first season in LA.
3. Is John Brantley the Real Deal?
Brantley has the fun task of taking over for everybody’s hero, Tim Tebow. All Tebow did at Florida was win two Maxwell awards, a Heisman trophy, and was a part of two National Championship teams. No pressure John.
2.Is This the Year of the Big 10?
Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin are all preseason top 15 teams. Ohio State and Iowa are coming off BCS bowl wins, and Wisconsin is fresh off a dominating performance in the Champs Sports Bowl against Miami. All three of these teams are loaded and if one of them runs the table, they will be playing at the title game in Glendale at the end of the season.
1.Will Alabama Repeat?
Loaded. The one word to describe an Alabama team that features, Marcel Dareus, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, and a guy who hasn’t lost since high school in quarterback Greg McElroy. The SEC will more than likely be a two horse race between Alabama and Florida, with the winner headed to Glendale.
