Bleacher Report - Articles by Mike Subtelny

2009 College Football Early Look at the Potential Top 5

Mike Subtelny — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:21:33 -0400

The 2008 college football season was one of the most memorable on record with upsets seemingly coming every week. However, 2009 is shaping up to be one of the best on records with no less than 10 teams with a legitimate shot to capture the national championship. Granted that season is still months away but programs are slowly getting back into the rhythm of workouts and practicing with the onset of spring practice. Thus, with spring practices signaling the return of college football, now's the perfect time to take a look at which teams could make up the top 5 rankings in college football.

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College Football Bowl Picture Still a Mystery

Mike Subtelny — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:59:41 -0500

With the college football season entering its final weeks, the bowl picture appeared to be shaping up. That was, however, until No. 2 Texas Tech got blasted by division rival and fifth-ranked Oklahoma 65-21.

Chaos was unleashed upon college football. While Alabama remained the top-ranked team, Florida rose up to fill the second place spot vacated by the Texas Tech Red Raiders by virtue of their 70-19 demolition of FCS school the Citadel.

Oklahoma leap-frogged Texas to occupy the third place spot, while Texas remained at 4th.

What exactly does this mean for the bowl picture? Florida and Alabama, assuming both win their final games, will play for the SEC title as one and two in the polls respectively, the first time any two teams have played for a conference title as one and two since Ohio State and Michigan in 2006.

The Big 12 South is in utter chaos. According to the rules, the team with the highest BCS standing, in the event of a tie, will face Missouri, the Big 12 North champ, in the title game.

The debate is that Oklahoma, which beat Texas Tech convincingly but lost to Texas, will have the higher standing as it has played a tougher schedule and will go. Texas, however, beat Oklahoma and was one dropped interception away from beating Texas Tech.

Also, Utah and Boise State are both in the top 10 and in prime position to grab a BCS bid. However, it appears that one will be selected over the other as other teams begin to complicate the matter.

Utah has beaten Oregon State, the potential Pac-10 champ, while Boise State has proven that it can beat Big-Six schools on the biggest stages such as Oklahoma in 2006.

The availability of these positions is complicated by Oregon State's possible Rose Bowl berth which would mean USC would get an at-large bid and possibly push one of these two teams out.

Factor in Ohio State, the ACC and Big East champs, and the other schools in the Big 12 and SEC and it seems very unlikely that both schools would get a BCS bid.

Thus, with the unpredictability of the college football season, it remains unclear how the bowl picture will shape up. All we can do is sit back and enjoy the great football that is sure to come in the following weeks.

Terrelle Pryor: Talented Freshman Prepares for First Michigan Game

Mike Subtelny — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:04:41 -0500

With his first season nearing its conclusion, Terrelle Pryor looks to continue his dazzling performance against a Michigan—a team that has looked lost at times this year. His team towers above a Wolverine squad that sits at 3-8, and is looking up at an OSU machine that has its eyes on a fourth straight Big Ten title.

The Wolverines come in with the 66th ranked defense in the nation, but one that has been playing tough as of late. The intensity of the rivalry game against the Buckeyes will definitely get them fired up. They are sure to come at Pryor with a ferocious attack.

Scott Shaffer, the defensive coordinator for Michigan, has a talented young mind that will look to exploit the youth and inexperience that Terrelle Pryor still shows occasionally. However, Michigan does not have the talent/skill players need to compete with Ohio State this year.

Look for Pryor to lead a quick drive, or two for a field goal, or touchdown and then be controlled by Michigan for most of the game as old-fashioned power running takes over.

The Wolverine offense is the X-factor here, regarding Pryor's success. If they can sustain drives early and often then look for a more conservative approach from Coach Tressel and Pryor. However, if Michigan's offense plays like they have been playing at times (awful), then look for good field position for Pryor and a long day for the Michigan defense.

Although he will be playing against a lesser opponent, Terrelle Pryor will be bearing the weight of the seniors and the expectations for an entire fanbase. If what has happened thus far in his career is any indication, then he should be prepared to etch his name in Buckeye lore.