College Football Rivalry Games That Won't Even Be Close in 2015
When it comes to rivalries, it's time to throw out the record books, right?
Not necessarily.
Rivalry games don't always have to be close. Yes, they're filled with emotion and history. That can lend to some great games. But at the end of the day, football is football. Teams with better coaches and more talented players are going to win out more often than not.
Rivalries can be especially one-sided when one program is in a far better place from top to bottom.
Which rivalry games will stay one-sided in 2015? We project a handful of them based on returning and/or incoming players, roster turnover, who's coaching and the overall state of the program.
Michigan-Ohio State
1 of 5
Eventually, head coach Jim Harbaugh should have Michigan competing for Big Ten titles and playoff appearances. His background as a success story in college and the NFL indicates big things are right around the corner for the Wolverines.
However, 2015 could be a tough year in Ann Arbor. There's no clear answer at quarterback, and even the offensive line still has to come together. Ohio State, meanwhile, is looking toward back-to-back national championships.
As a program, the Buckeyes are light-years ahead right now. Last year's edition of the game was interesting for a while but ultimately a double-digit win for Ohio State.
This rivalry is big enough that even bad Michigan teams can hang for a while, but Ohio State's talent will eventually be the difference. Ohio State will be favored in every game next season, perhaps often by double digits.
Next season's game is in Michigan, but the Wolverines are still trying to find who they are. Ohio State is cruising along and could win with multiple quarterbacks. That's not a great recipe for a close game.
Oklahoma-Texas
2 of 5
Yes, 2014 was a disappointing year for Oklahoma, which finished 8-5 despite having preseason playoff expectations. Because of that, the Sooners enter next season under the radar.
However, if the Sooners get their quarterback situation figured out—Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman firmly believes Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield will be the starter—they could be a Big 12 dark horse. Remember, this team returns stud running back Samaje Perine and receiver Sterling Shepard.
The point being, the ceiling for this team is actually pretty high. Texas? The Longhorns could still be going through growing pains.
The main reason Texas went bowling last season was because of the defense, and several key starters from that group have graduated or moved on to the NFL. The offense is still a work in progress. Despite reports that quarterback Tyrone Swoopes has improved, 2015 remains a "show me" year for him.
The Horns staged a late rally in last year's game with Oklahoma to make the box score look presentable, but this was a 31-13 game with 12:50 left in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, this feels like a year when Oklahoma rebounds from a disappointment while Texas is still trying to find itself.
Florida-Florida State
3 of 5
Florida State replaces a lot of NFL-caliber talent from last year's team. For that reason, yes, the Seminoles could have a down season—at least by the standards that have become common around the program. It could mean the close games this program faced a year ago could turn into losses—say, on the road at Clemson or Georgia Tech.
However, the Seminoles also get Florida in the right year. The Gators are breaking in a new head coach, Jim McElwain, who hasn't exactly played up the roster he inherited from former coach Will Muschamp.
"You've got to play the hand you're dealt," McElwain said last month, per Thomas Goldkamp of 247Sports. "And right now, quite honestly, the hand we were dealt is really insufficient at some of the areas."
Specifically, the Gators have depth problems at offensive line and are in the middle of a quarterback battle between Treon Harris and Will Grier. Florida is also replacing arguably its best player, defensive end Dante Fowler Jr.
Both teams have major holes to fill, but the Seminoles have built a program capable of competing for national titles more years than not. By season's end, here's betting head coach Jimbo Fisher has his team clicking on a better level than McElwain's. That's not to say McElwain isn't as good a coach—he is—but the two programs are in different spots.
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Oregon-Oregon State
4 of 5
Oregon has dominated its Civil War series against Oregon State recently. The last time the Beavers beat the Ducks was in 2007. Since then, it's been practically the textbook definition of one-sided. The Ducks have won five of the past seven games by at least 17 points.
That trend, while frustrating for Oregon State, could continue in 2015. The X-Factor for Oregon, of course, will be Eastern Washington transfer quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. There are high expectations for him, but if they're realized, Oregon could once again be in the playoff hunt by November and December.
Oregon State, on the other hand, has a new coach, Gary Andersen, a quarterback competition of its own and will break in a new-look defense. According to Gary Horowitz of the Statesman-Journal, the Beavers defense has been the strength of spring practices. However, the fact remains that this is a unit returning just two starters from last year.
If Adams comes through and is comfortable in the offense by late November, that could be a major problem for Oregon State.
Clemson-South Carolina
5 of 5
Last year, South Carolina went from preseason SEC East favorite to a massive disappointment in a hurry. An underwhelming regular season ended in a 35-17 loss to rival Clemson, the first loss to the Tigers since 2008.
For as intense as this rivalry is, it's been surprisingly full of blowouts. The last time this game was decided by fewer than 10 points was 2007 (a 23-21 Clemson victory).
All trends must come to an end right? Perhaps, but things are setting up for South Carolina to take back control of this game in 2015.
For one, don't think what happened last November isn't on the minds of every returning Gamecock. Along those lines, a good portion of a defense that was burned repeatedly in '14 is back—hopefully better than before.
Clemson loses a ton of talent from last year's team, namely in the defensive front seven. The entire defensive line has to be rebuilt. Vic Beasley and Corey Crawford? Gone. Furthermore, while quarterback Deshaun Watson is the undeniable future of the program, he's had problems staying healthy. In fact, he played last year's game against South Carolina with a torn ACL, an injury from which he's still recovering.
In a wild atmosphere at South Carolina, the Gamecocks take back control of the rivalry.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
