There is no “off” in college football. In today’s game, the off-season sounds more like myth than reality. The time between the last whistle in January to the first kick in late August provides as much drama as a mid-October upset. The myriad of culprits is ever evolving, but this year’s cast included recruiting, the transfer portal, NIL deals, contentious coaches, and conference realignment. Before talking season becomes a distant memory and bold projections become mocking tweets, here is a recap of a few of the biggest off-season storylines and some final predictions for how it all unfolds when the pads crash on the gridiron.

1.       The Saban-Fisher Feud

The Paul Finebaum Show had phones ringing off the hook in May, an unconventional time for the popular SEC Network talk show to garner as much attention as it did. One clip of Coach Nick Saban at a luncheon with business leaders in Birmingham sent football fans into mid-season form with opinions, criticism, and calling for heads to roll. Saban was presenting his concerns on how NIL, specifically collectives, may impact the recruiting landscape. To illustrate his point, Saban referenced the approach taken at Texas A&M, going so far as to allege “A&M bought every player on their team.” As soon as the words left his mouth, the sound bite went surfing the web, ultimately finding its way across the desk of Texas A&M Head Coach Jimbo Fisher. In an attempt to fight fire with fire, Fisher made it personal by attacking the Alabama coach’s character and insinuating skeletons in the closet saying, “We build him up to be the czar of football. Go dig into his past... What he does and how he does it, it’s despicable.”

The dispute came to a head amid claims that Texas A&M senior leadership called upon SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey to punish and suspend Saban. The Commissioner stepped in with a public reprimand to both coaches, and the emotions that boiled over simmered down by the time SEC Media Days rolled around. Despite public intrigue for more fireworks at the Conference’s most public summer function, both coaches walked back their initial words in an attempt to dissuade any sort of bulletin board material lingering into the season.

Alabama linebacker and consensus pre-season All-American Will Anderson noted that it will all be handled on the field. So how does that play out?

Don’t expect a repeat of last year’s Aggieland thriller where a walk-off field goal dethroned No. 1 Alabama and snapped a streak of one-hundred straight wins over unranked opponents. The Crimson Tide will use this game to make a statement on behalf of their coach and roll over the Aggies by a four-touchdown margin.

2.       Arch Goes to Austin

The age-old question: when will Texas finally be back? The return to glory may not be too far away as the No. 1 ranked QB in the class of 2023 committed to the Longhorns. Arch Manning had his pick of the litter with offers from every major college football program at his disposal. The legacy quarterback decided to forgo family ties to Ole Miss and Tennessee, along with ignoring home-state roots to LSU and blaze his own trail at soon-to-be-SEC Texas.

              By the time Arch steps foot on campus, expect Head Coach Steve Sarkisian to be facing one of the hottest seats in college football. The 2022 campaign for the Horns will follow the trend of years past with some exciting wins and inexplicable losses. It is not out of the realm of possibility that UT slips up to a non-conference opponent not named Alabama and starts 1-2, while later breaking the streak in the Red River Rivalry and capturing its first win against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl since 2018.

3.       Transfer of Power

Perhaps the off-season's biggest winner is the University of Southern California, where the football team finally reflects the same flashy lifestyle of the Hollywood Hills – at least on paper. Lincoln Riley, one of the hottest names in coaching, made the journey west to take the head coach role at USC, leaving behind the same position at Oklahoma. Reports circulated about his new destination buying him a 6 million dollar mansion, meanwhile on the message boards fans speculated about his fear of the SEC. One thing is for sure, the coach landed in a pasture loaded with green.

              Caleb Williams, the former No. 1 QB in the 2021 recruiting class and starting QB at Oklahoma following last season’s comeback win against Texas, followed Riley westward via the transfer portal. Joining Williams is Biletnikoff Award-winning WR Jordan Addison, who transferred from Pitt. Rounding out the transfer trio of offensive firepower is WR Mario Williams, also from Oklahoma. It is evident that Riley is intent on building the same juggernaut-style power that he managed at Oklahoma and will look to bring back relevance to West Coast football.

              The resounding boom atop the Trojans' fight for post-season relevance is the move to the Big 10.  The Big 10 Conference sent shockwaves across the college landscape when they poached UCLA and USC from the PAC-12 this summer for a 2024 start, which matches moves made by the SEC last year. Just as a semblance of order flirted with college sports, everyone was sent back into a spiral when news broke of the realignment. It is yet to be seen what pieces will continue to unfold, if, and when additional universities opt to bring their program to a new conference.

              Despite the looming changes in competition, USC opens the 2022 season at No. 14 in the AP Poll. They will have some ground to cover to catch up to No. 11 Oregon and No. 7 Utah but expect the Trojans to get hot late and find their way to Las Vegas for the PAC-12 Championship Game. A test against Notre Dame at the end of the regular season will likely make or break College Football Playoff hopes for both teams.

4.       Notable NIL

Aside from the millions of dollars tied up in collectives, it appears NIL is serving its purpose for Nebraska WR Decoldest Crawford. The former LSU commit from Shreveport, La., epitomizes brand integration through his partnership with Omaha-based SOS Heating & Cooling. In the commercial, Decoldest tells viewers who to call to keep their air conditioning cool. This local partnership is a welcome respite for fans agonizing over the future of NIL.  

Crawford and his fellow Cornhuskers have some work to do in helping cool down their head coach’s not-so-frosty seat. Scott Frost is entering his fifth season at the helm of the Huskers and has yet to post a winning record for the program. Once lauded as the next Tom Osborne, Lincoln has only been left with disappointment. Nebraska is hoping their luck will change as they open the season in Dublin, Ireland, during Week Zero action. A light first half of the season paves the way for bowl eligibility by the end of October and springs a program in need of positivity to their first Bowl Season since 2016.

 

Talking season is over. Voices will soon be lost as either faint whispers of pre-season expectations or cheers in stadiums by jubilant fans celebrating victory. Though it was never really “off,” football is finally here again.

 

 

It’s June and while we wait for football to return, all we can do is look at projections and predictions. Today, we’ll look at some of the VERY early TaxAct Texas Bowl projections to see who the experts think will take the field at NRG Stadium on December 28.

Last year’s matchup featured lots of purple with the K-State Wildcats facing off against the LSU Tigers. K-State took home the hardware after a 42-20 victory over LSU that featured four Deuce Vaugh touchdowns. With the 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look at some predictions for the 2022 game.

 CollegeFootballNews.com

Bowl Projection: Baylor vs Auburn

The first projection features a matchup between two teams that haven’t faced off on the gridiron since 1976. Previous matchups have resulted in two Baylor wins, one Auburn win, and one draw. The Baylor Bears are 1-1 in their two TaxAct Texas Bowl games while the Auburn Tigers don’t have an appearance yet. With this being only their fifth matchup ever and their first in almost 50 years it makes for an interesting Bowl game.

 

247sports.com

Bowl Projection: Texas vs. Kentucky

This is another matchup that hasn’t happened in quite some time. These two teams last met on the field back in 1951 with the win going to the Longhorns by a score of 7-6. Now that Texas joining the SEC in the next couple of years this would be one of the last chances for these two to meet before becoming conference mates. Texas has one TaxAct Texas Bowl appearance while Kentucky is a fresh face for this Bowl game. With one team looking to bounce back after a down year and another looking to continue their success from the previous season this looks like a pretty good matchup overall.

 

Actionnetwork.com

Bowl Projection: Texas vs. Tennessee

Once again, we have Texas and a new face to the Bowl game. With these two teams in the game, it becomes a battle of orange schools whose names start with a ‘T’. It’d be the perfect follow-up to the purple vs purple matchup of the K-State vs LSU Bowl game. These two haven’t faced each other since 1969 and the current score is two Texas wins to one Tennessee win. It’s been a long wait but if this is the matchup then Tennessee finally has a chance to tie the series up.

            Join the waitlist to stay informed on all things TaxAct Texas Bowl. 

TaxAct, a leading provider of affordable digital and downloadable tax preparation solutions, will continue as the title sponsor of the Texas Bowl as part of a multi-event, multi-year college football agreement with ESPN Events. TaxAct will be featured throughout 2022 and 2023 ESPN Events bowl telecasts across ESPN networks.

“TaxAct again will have a significant presence across our ESPN Events bowl portfolio throughout the college football postseason as a result of this renewed, unique and comprehensive agreement, including title sponsorship of the Texas Bowl,” said Clint Overby, vice president, ESPN Events. “We are delighted to have TaxAct’s continued support and look forward to working with them, along with our local event organizers, in preparation for these upcoming events.”

 “We are thrilled to announce the renewal of our sponsorship of this prominent bowl game and continue connecting with football fans nationwide,” added TaxAct President Curtis Campbell. “Being a part of Bowl Season last year provided an exciting opportunity for us to support the college football community and bring all consumers affordable tax filing products that allow them to file with confidence and celebrate maximizing their refunds. We look forward to seeing the competition and excitement play out on the field this year as well.”

 

 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl

The Texas Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment, an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. The 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl will be played Wednesday, Dec. 28 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas and will air at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Entering its 17th year, the Texas Bowl features teams from the Big 12 Conference and the SEC.

 

About TaxAct

TaxAct is a savvy, tax-filing solution that provides filers with affordable DIY tax software to successfully navigate the U.S. tax code. As a pioneer in the industry, TaxAct enables all users – regardless of their profession, tax bracket or complexity of return – to quickly and accurately file their taxes, all while discovering new ways to leverage their tax situation and improve their financial well-being. At TaxAct, taxes are our expertise, but we don’t see them as the end goal. Rather, we believe taxes are a stepping-stone to possibilities. Possibilities that are unique as every filer. Possibilities that help each hardworking American not only claim the money they deserve, but also enable them to make smart money decisions. We deliver the power of possibility through straightforward technology to help filers secure their best tax outcome and elevate their financial lives.

 

To learn more about TaxAct, a business of Blucora, Inc.® (NASDAQ: BCOR), visit www.taxact.com or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter. For more information on Blucora, visit www.blucora.com.

About Blucora®

Blucora, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOR) is a provider of data and technology-driven solutions that empower people to improve their financial wellness. Blucora operates in two segments (i) wealth management, through its Avantax Wealth Management and Avantax Planning Partners brands, with a collective $86 billion in total client assets as of March 31, 2022 and (ii) tax software, through its TaxAct business, a market leader in tax software with over 3 million consumer users and approximately 24,500 professional users in 2021. With integrated tax-focused software and wealth management, Blucora is uniquely positioned to assist our customers in achieving better long-term outcomes via holistic, tax-advantaged solutions. For more information on Blucora, visit www.blucora.com.

ESPN Events

ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In 2022, the 32-event schedule includes three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, and a college softball event, which account for approximately 400 hours of live programming, while reaching nearly 64 million viewers and attracting over 800,000 annual attendees. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

 

-30-

 

Media Contacts:

TaxAct: Amy Roepke – pr@taxact.com

ESPN Events: Bill Hofheimer – bill.hofheimer@espn.com

Houston – The 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl will be played on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 in primetime at NRG Stadium in Houston. Entering its 17th year, the game will air at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN and ESPN Radio, with a local radio broadcast on Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM) and will feature a matchup of Big 12 and SEC schools for the ninth consecutive year.

 

Through the years, the TaxAct Texas Bowl has been a tremendous success both on and off the field. Since 2014, the game is the most attended Bowl in the country outside of the “New Year’s 6” games.  The Bowl has also generated an average of over $30 million annually for the Houston economy and has contributed over $2.1 million in financial support to DePelchin Children’s Center, The Bowl’s official charitable beneficiary and one of the oldest children’s organizations in the city.

 

The 2021 TaxAct Texas Bowl matched the Kansas State Wildcats against the LSU Tigers in the eighth year of the Bowl’s partnership with the Big 12 and the SEC. Kansas State jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half and rolled to a 42-20 win in the 15th installment of the Bowl game. Former Kansas State and current Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson was named the 2021 TaxAct Texas Bowl MVP after finishing 21-for-28 for 259 yards and three touchdowns.

 

TaxAct^®, a leading provider of affordable digital and downloadable tax preparation solutions, will continue as the title sponsor of the Texas Bowl as part of a multi-event, multi-year college football agreement with ESPN Events. TaxAct will be featured throughout 2022 and 2023 ESPN Events bowl telecasts across ESPN networks.

 

The TaxAct Texas Bowl is one of 17 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment.  To be the first to get ticket updates and for more information around the game, fans can sign up for the TaxAct Texas Bowl wait list at www.taxacttexasbowl.com.

 

About Lone Star Sports & Entertainment

 

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Since its founding, LSSE has established itself as the leading sports event promoter in Houston. In addition to producing major annual college football events like the TaxAct Texas Bowl and other leading entertainment properties, LSSE has emerged as a premier promoter for international soccer matches, including Copa America Centenario, the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. tour, the International Champions Cup, the 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2019 and 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cups.

 

About ESPN Events

 

ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In 2022, the 32-event schedule includes three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, and a college softball event, which account for approximately 400 hours of live programming, while reaching nearly 64 million viewers and attracting over 800,000 annual attendees. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

 

About TaxAct

 

TaxAct is a savvy, tax-filing solution that provides filers with affordable DIY tax software to successfully navigate the U.S. tax code. As a pioneer in the industry, TaxAct enables all users – regardless of their profession, tax bracket or complexity of return – to quickly and accurately file their taxes, all while discovering new ways to leverage their tax situation and improve their financial well-being. At TaxAct, taxes are our expertise, but we don’t see them as the end goal. Rather, we believe taxes are a stepping-stone to possibilities. Possibilities that are unique as every filer. Possibilities that help each hardworking American not only claim the money they deserve, but also enable them to make smart money decisions. We deliver the power of possibility through straightforward technology to help filers secure their best tax outcome and elevate their financial lives.

 

To learn more about TaxAct, a business of Blucora, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOR), visit https://www.taxact.com/or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. For more information on Blucora, visit www.blucora.com.

 

About Blucora^®

 

Blucora, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOR) is a provider of data and technology-driven solutions that empower people to improve their financial wellness. Blucora operates in two segments (i) wealth management, through its Avantax Wealth Management and Avantax Planning Partners brands, with a collective $86 billion in total client assets as of March 31, 2022 and (ii) tax software, through its TaxAct business, a market leader in tax software with over 3 million consumer users and approximately 24,500 professional users in 2021. With integrated tax-focused software and wealth management, Blucora is uniquely positioned to assist our customers in achieving better long-term outcomes via holistic, tax-advantaged solutions. For more information on Blucora, visit www.blucora.com.

 

Media Contacts:

 

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment: Jackson Riebel – jackson.riebel@houstontexans.com

TaxAct: Amy Roepke – pr@taxact.com

As spring football comes to a close and teams prepare for the final stretch before the season starts let’s take a look at some rankings. With no actual action on the field, all we can do is argue about where all our teams rank. Here are some post-spring football power rankings for both the BIG 12 and SEC.

In the first set of SEC rankings, there’s the usual Crimson Tide in first place followed up by the defending national champions, the Georgia Bulldogs. Bryce Young and Will Anderson leading their respective units have the Tide as the favorites to claim the National Championship after a one-year drought. With Georgia having 15 total players drafted they’ll be looking to reload and at worst be in the mix for a CFB playoff spot again. The Aggies are coming in hot this season after assembling the greatest recruiting class in CFB history. Anything other than a CFB Playoff birth will be seen as a wasted year. All those four and five-star players should be able to get the Aggies into their first-ever CFP.

 

Full rankings:

1.       Alabama – Crimson Tide

2.       Georgia – Bulldogs

3.       Texas A&M – Aggies

4.       Kentucky – Wildcats

5.       Arkansas – Razorbacks

6.       Tennessee – Volunteers

7.       Mississippi State – Bulldogs

8.       LSU – Tigers

9.       Ole Miss – Rebels

10.   South Carolina – Gamecocks

11.   Florida – Gators

12.   Auburn – Tigers

13.   Missouri – Tigers

14.   Vanderbilt – Commodores

 

The Big 12 rankings by USA Today have Oklahoma as the current favorites to claim the conference title. Even after taking some considerable loses at various coaching positions and some players transferring OU has done a lot of work to prove they’re still in contention. With Dillon Gabriel out of UCF stepping in at QB and Brent Venables taking over as HC the Sooners will most likely contend for a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl once again. Behind the Sooners are both Oklahoma State and Baylor who both had very successful seasons last year. After facing off for the conference championship last year both teams will look to contend with OU for the Big 12 title this year.

 

Full rankings:

1.       Oklahoma – Sooners

2.       Oklahoma State – Cowboys

3.       Baylor – Bears

4.       Kansas State – Wildcats

5.       Texas – Longhorns

6.       West Virginia – Mountaineers

7.       Iowa State – Cyclones

8.       TCU – Horned Frogs

9.       Texas Tech – Red Raiders

10.   Kansas – Jayhawks  

 

The incoming crop of QBs doesn’t have the usual one or two prospects that blow experts away. This means that we’ll end up seeing the next GOAT taken in the first round when no one was expecting it. Where do the experts think all the top QB prospects are headed?

Read on to see where the experts think these top QBs are headed and give us your opinion on the latest @TexasBowl tweet.

These are the consensus top 5 QBs in the 2022 draft in no particular order.

1.       Kenny Pickett, Pitt

2.       Malik Willis, Liberty

3.       Matt Corral, Mississippi

4.       Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

5.       Sam Howell, North Carolina

There might not be a first overall pick at the QB position but lately there’s been a lot of noise around Malik Willis. As we approach the draft it seems like Willis is the favorite to be the first QB taken off the board or at least that’s what Twitter says.

 

In CBS Sports latest mock Malik is the first QB taken at #6 while the rest of the QBs fall into the second half of the first round. They even left Ridder out of the first round while other’s have Ridder going first. Without a consensus top QB opinions vary widely, so we’ll see the QBs move around quite a bit.

#6 Panthers – Malik Willis

#18 Saints - Kenny Pickett

#26 Titans – Matt Corral

#32 Lions – Sam Howell

 

Up next is the PFF mock which has just two QBs going in the first round. With two of the top four QBs going in the 40s PFF shows that they’re not very confident in the upcoming class. Just one top ten pick and a top 20 means all the others will have to wait until the second night to hear their name called.

#8 Falcons- Desmond Ridder

#20 Pittsburgh – Malik Willis

 

This one really decides to shake things up like no other. The Ringer’s draft has not just one but two QBs going in the top ten and then nothing for the rest of the first. For most of the draft process QBs haven’t been considered top three worthy but with his recent combine and pro day performances The Ringer believes that Willis is worthy. Pickett doubters believe that his hands will be a problem because QBs with smaller hands usually don’t find success in the league. Will hand size really matter to a team enough to stop them from picking Pickett?

#2 Lions – Malik Willis

#6 Pittsburgh – Kenny Pickett

 

Last one up is the Bleacher Report mock featuring a single QB picked in the top ten. This one is like your average mock draft with 3 QBs going in the first spread out around the mid and late round. Once again it features Willis as the top QB off the board showing that he’s probably seen as the top QB by most people. He’s at least a favorite for those who make mock drafts so that must mean something.

#9 Seahawks – Malik Willis

#11 Commanders – Desmond Ridder

#20 Steelers – Kenny Pickett

       With no surefire top overall QB who do you think will be the best pro of the bunch?

 

 

It seems like for this upcoming draft QBs might have to wait a bit longer than usual to hear their name. There isn’t a consensus top QB among the experts which means that a group of EDGE and OTs have taken over some of the top spots in many prospect rankings. Who do the experts think sits on top?  

Coming into the season Kayvon Thibodeaux from Oregon was considered the top prospect by most, but as the season went on a serious contender began to emerge in Aidan Hutchinson out of Michigan. It seems that most experts agree that the top five prospects for this draft consist of two EDGE, two OTs and one safety. 

Bleacher Report

1) Kayvon Thibodeaux | EDGE | R-Soph. | Oregon

2) Ikem Ekwonu | OT | R-Soph. | NC State

3) George Karlaftis | EDGE | Jr. | Purdue

4) Evan Neal | OT | Jr. | Alabama

5) Drake London | WR | Jr. | USC

6) Kyle Hamilton | S | Jr. | Notre Dame

7) Jordan Davis | DL | Sr. | Georgia

8) Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | Jr. | LSU

9) Tyler Linderbaum | OC | R-Jr. | Iowa

10) Chris Olave | WR | Sr. | Ohio State

Bleacher Report is an odd ranking because it doesn’t feature Hutchinson in the top ten and it also has Drake London out of USC in the top five while not many others have him that far up. It does feature a Big 10 EDGE in the top three but this one is a boilermaker, George Karlaftis, who not many place as a top five talent in the draft. Not believing Hutch is a top three player is one thing but dropping him to the mid-teens at number 14 is far out there and different from the rest. 

Pro Football Focus

1) Aidan Hutchinson | EDGE | Sr. | Michigan

2) Kayvon Thibodeaux | EDGE | R-Soph. | Oregon

3) Kyle Hamilton | S | Jr. | Notre Dame

4) Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | Jr. | LSU

5) Evan Neal | OT | Jr. | Alabama

6) Charles Cross | OT | Jr. | Mississippi State

7) George Karlaftis | EDGE | Jr. | Purdue

8) Ahmad Gardner | CB | Jr. | Cincinnati

9) Tyler Linderbaum | OC | R-Jr. | Iowa

10) Garrett Wilson | WR | Jr. | Ohio State

 PFF has a similar top 3 to many others with the Hutchinson and Thibodeaux duo sitting in the top two spots. They change it up by moving Stingley into the top five and taking Ekwonu out of the top ten. Another big difference with other rankings is that George Karlaftis, an EDGE out of Purdue is number seven for PFF while many others don’t consider the Junior a top ten prospect.                                            

CBS Sports

1) Kayvon Thibodeaux | EDGE | R-Soph. | Oregon

2) Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | Jr. | LSU

3) Kyle Hamilton | S | Jr. | Notre Dame

4) Aidan Hutchinson | EDGE | Sr. | Michigan

5) Tyler Linderbaum | OC | R-Jr. | Iowa

6) Evan Neal | OT | Jr. | Alabama

7) Garrett Wilson | WR | Jr. | Ohio State

8) Charles Cross | OT | R-Soph. | Mississippi State

9) Ikem Ekwonu | OT | R-Soph. | NC State

10) Jameson Williams | WR | Jr. | Alabama

This CBS Sports ranking it quite different from many of the others. While it does feature some familiar names it also shakes up the order compared to most others. Having Stingley Jr. as the second-best player available with no Gardner in sight shows that they believe one is far superior to the other. Who the top corner and where they rank is a debate all on its own with no one in agreement. Something else that sticks out on this ranking is that it features more offensive players than defensive players which most other rankings do. 

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.

1) Aidan Hutchinson | EDGE | Sr. | Michigan

2) Kayvon Thibodeaux | EDGE | R-Soph. | Oregon

3) Evan Neal | OT | Jr. | Alabama

4) Kyle Hamilton | S | Jr. | Notre Dame

5) Ikem Ekwonu | OT | R-Soph. | NC State

6) Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | Jr. | LSU

7) Drake London | WR | Jr. | USC

8) Devin Lloyd | LB | R-Jr. | Utah

9) David Ojabo | EDGE | R-Soph. | Michigan

10) Nakobe Dean | LB | Jr. | Georgia

This is THE draft prospect ranking by Mel Kiper. This ranking is heavy on the defensive side of the ball showing that there’s lots of talent on that side of the ball. This doesn’t necessarily mean that there’ll be a run on defensive players early on but with some elite prospect sitting there some teams might be more inclined to take a chance on the best available instead of need. 

No one really knows who the best will be, but it’s always interesting to look at rankings years down the line. Being a top pick doesn’t guarantee success in the same way that being undrafted doesn’t mean a player will never be an All-Pro. With the combine starting this week there’s still a lot of changes to rankings coming and even more changes after pro days happen. Nothing is certain until the names start being called up on draft day. 

Is 12 the magic number? Leading minds in the college football space can’t seem to decide. But big things are happening in collegiate sports right now.

Coming off the NCAA Convention in January, the move to decentralize the management of Divisions, schools and athletes might get the wheels turning on an expanded playoff. Keep reading to see a breakdown of where things are headed and how we might just see the future of college football come to fruition this off season.

Don’t forget to give us your opinion on where college football is heading by joining the conversation on our latest TaxAct Texas Bowl Twitter post.

The expanded playoff is a topic that isn’t new in the college football world. And most can agree that an expanded playoff has the potential to positively affect football schools around the country—so why aren’t we there yet?

Power Struggle

When it comes to the extended playoff discussion, there are two major factors: how do we get more teams involved, and how do we make more money. By far the loudest voices are coming from Power Five conferences, who for the most part stand to reap most of the benefits from an expanded format.

The ACC signed their fledgling commissioner in February 2021 and are concerned with the timing of a playoff that extends a full 12 games. Their proposal says let’s expand to eight, it makes things easier. One could also make the argument that they don’t have the consistent talent to extend more than one team to a field of 12 so eight looks like a better fit for Clemson to climb to the top.

Still fresh in the college football landscape, the Big Ten commissioner is hung up on requiring the top teams from all Power Five conferences receiving an automatic bid regardless of ranking. The automatic qualifier precludes a one or two-loss Big Ten Champion being left out  the Big Ten from having a Big Ten champ that isn’t ranked in the top five like the 2017 and 2018 Ohio State and Wisconsin teams. Ope.

The Pac-12 and their shiny new commissioner signed this past July, seems to just be happy with whatever you want, so long as there is expansion. They just don’t want to be left out again. Kind of like going to dinner with someone who is indecisive but really doesn’t feel like a burger, or Chinese food, or tacos, or…

The Big 12 and the SEC are by far the most supportive of the 12-team format and pushing the decision to be made before the current format comes to an end in 2026. A 12-team playoff is most conducive to getting two to three teams in annually coming off the heels of their conference expansions. Both conferences also tout well-tenured commissioners who have both seen and led change. Don’t anticipate either backing down from advocating for what they see as the best path forward.

Fighting the Power

Beyond the disruptions in football the past few years, there is a lot happening in collegiate athletics right now. The NCAA Convention held this past January welcomed in a new, simplified NCAA Constitution. The goal of the new legislation is to decentralize the management of conferences, teams and ultimately players. As proven by NIL legislation and adjustments to Transfer Portal requirements, collegiate athletics is moving to give the power to the student athletes that it looks to serve.

This adjustment in power does a few things for our expanded playoff hopes. 

First, it may slow things down a bit while the world of collegiate athletics attempts to find this new, decentralized identity. Commissioners and Athletic Directors have major hurdles to conquer this offseason including NIL guidelines, transfer portal aftermath and more. 

With this shift in power, we may also see student athlete voices rising with opinions on how the expansion should work—not unlike the nation-wide leadership we saw during the beginning of COVID. Now that students stand to profit from their national exposure in an expanded playoff, we would expect those voices to be pushing for the extension. 

The Power of Football 

Regardless of where the playoff map goes this offseason, the power of college football still stands. Through COVID, transfer portal chaos, a crazy coaching carousel, NIL uncertainties and countless more drama, the magic of college football remains stronger than ever. We will still be on the edge of our seats until the first kickoff this September, we will still be screaming at the top of our lungs when things go right (or wrong) with our favorite team, and we will still keep making epic memories watching our favorite sport unfold each fall.

 

HOUSTON – Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the leading publication for all things football in Texas, and the TaxAct Texas Bowl are proud to announce China Spring quarterback Major Bowden as the recipient of the 2021 Mr. Texas Football High School Player of the Year. Bowden will be honored on the field at the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Tuesday, January 4th at NRG Stadium in Houston, where the Kansas State Wildcats will face the LSU Tigers. 

Mr. Texas Football annually recognizes the most outstanding high school football player in the state of Texas. 

Bowden, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound quarterback, emerged as perhaps the most valuable player in Texas high school football as a senior, running for 1,866 yards and 23 touchdowns — averaging 8.4 yards per carry — while completing 67 percent of his passes for 1,432 yards and 27 scores. His herculean efforts led China Spring to previously unreached heights: the fourth undefeated regular season in program history, the first 16-0 season in school history and China Spring’s first state championship since 1978, where Bowden earned Offensive MVP honors. The driving force behind the Cougars’ meteoric rise, Bowden led China Spring to wins over heavyweights Carthage, West Orange-Stark, Cuero and Gilmer in the final push for the 4A Division II title. Bowden’s remarkable toughness and incredible play make him a worthy recipient of the 2021 Mr. Texas Football Player of the Year award.

Former winners of the award include 2018 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick QB Kyler Murray (2013 and 2014 winner, Allen), 2012 Heisman Trophy winner QB Johnny Manziel (2010 winner, Kerrville Tivy), former Texas Longhorns RB Johnathan Gray (2011 winner, Aledo), former Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Jacquizz Rodgers (2007 winner, Lamar Consolidated), current Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders (2017 winner, Denton Ryan) and former Dallas Cowboys QB Garrett Gilbert (2008 winner, Lake Travis). Hallettsville and Texas Longhorns RB Jonathon Brooks took home the award in 2020.

For more information on the Mr. Texas Football Award, visit TaxActTexasBowl.com or TexasFootball.com.

About the TaxAct Texas Bowl

The TaxAct Texas Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment. The bowl has showcased teams from the Big 12 and the SEC, two of the country’s premier conferences, since 2014. The TaxAct Texas Bowl has been a tremendous success both on and off the field over its first 14 years as it is the fifth-most attended bowl game in the country since 2016. The bowl generates over $30 million annually for the Houston economy and has donated over $2 million in financial support and millions more in promotional support to DePelchin Children’s Center, the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary.

About Dave Campbell’s Texas Football

For more than 60 years, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has been “the bible” to millions of football fans across the Lone Star State. The annual summer edition of the magazine remains a rite of passage for all Texans, previewing every football team in the state — from the rabid world of Texas high school football, through the college ranks, and into the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans. Over the course of six decades, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football remains the undisputed leader in Texas high school football, Texas college football and more.

TexasFootball.com is the online home of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, covering high school football, college football and recruiting all across the Lone Star State. From thought-provoking commentary to videos to podcasts to its daily live show, nobody covers football in Texas like TexasFootball.com.

 

Kansas State Offense v. LSU Defense

Kansas State Offense

Passing Offense - 194.6 ypg (98th in the nation)

Rushing Offense - 160.7 ypg (70th)

Total Offense - 355.3 ypg (100th)

Scoring Offense - 26.3 ppg (82nd)

Key Players to Watch

RB #22 Deuce Vaughn - The Most Exciting Player in CFB in 2021

QB #7 Skylar Thompson - Injured throughout 2021, he’s apparently trending in the right direction to play

OT #50 Cooper Beebe - 1st Team All-Big 12 OL in 2021, physical with excellent technique and a masher in the run game

LSU Defense

Passing Defense - 234.9 ypg (75th in the nation) 

Rushing Defense - 137.3 ypg (43rd)

Total Defense - 372.2 ypg (60th)

Scoring Defense - 25.3 ppg (57th)

Key Players to Watch

DT #97 Glen Logan - Returned after missing first six games to make an impact in the middle

LB #23 Micah Baskerville - Should take over as the leader of the defense with Damone Clark opting out of the bowl game to focus on the NFL Draft

Edge #8 B.J. Ojulari - 6.0 sacks, has immense potential but hasn’t produced a sack since October

Ford Keys to the Game

1. Beebe v. Ojulari will be a future draft prospect studying dream, but also a key matchup given the injury status of Thompson at QB. Beebe has handled a ton of physical rushers in the Big 12, but Ojulari has some twitch and speed that could be tough to corral.

2. Vaughn will be a major thorn in the side of the LSU defense given the fact that tackling is the one thing that doesn’t get worked on much in bowl practices or a lot of other times, actually. Then again, when Vaughn has the rock in his hands out in space, all the tackling work in the world doesn’t help opposing defenders.

3. Can Kansas State hit some explosives over the top of the LSU defense? The Tigers are a bit more aggressive on defense having switched to more of a 3-4 look that paid off as the Tigers gave up no more than 24 points in any of the last four contests. With a few weeks to prepare, can Kansas State’s interim OC Collin Klein make the adjustments needed against the revamped LSU defense?

LSU OFFENSE VS K-STATE DEFENSE

LSU Offense

Passing Offense - 264.1 ypg (32nd in the nation)

Rushing Offense - 109.4 ypg (117th)

Total Offense - 373.5 ypg (88th)

Scoring Offense - 27.1 ppg (78th)

Key Players to Watch

RB #21 Corey Kiner - With RB Tyrion Davis-Price seemingly opting out of the bowl, Kiner should see his fair share of carries.

WR #80 Jack Bech - True freshman finished with 43 catches for 489 yards and three TD.

QB #5 Garrett Nussmeier - Will LSU burn his redshirt? He was the only scholarship QB on the roster after Max Johnson decided to transfer until Myles Brennan returned. But, Brennan probably won’t play. It’s a conundrum to say the least but I really hope we see Nussmeier.

Kansas State Defense

Passing Defense - 221.7 ypg (57th in the nation)

Rushing Defense - 126.3 ypg (29th)

Total Defense - 348.0 ypg (36th)

Scoring Defense - 21.1 ppg (26th)

Key Players to Watch

Edge #91 Felix Anudike-Uzomah - 1st Team All-Big 12 in 2021, 11.0 sacks

LB #22 Daniel Green - led Wildcats in tackles (83), had 14.0 TFL

S #2 Russ Yeast - 1st Team All-Big 12, FLIES around and makes a ton of plays

Ford Keys to the Game

1) Kansas State #91 is a problem, a major, MAJOR issue. He’s relentless with length and tons of twitch and power. His bend is outrageous. With an inexperienced QB under center, FA-U could easily take over the game.

2) If Nussmeier does in fact take the lead and start, how does LSU’s offensive staff protect him without stifling him? Against Ole Miss, Nussmeier didn’t look as if he needed his hand held. He can throw on the move. He can stick the ball into tight spaces. He can throw with touch. LSU can’t hold him back but they can’t let him hang in the wind, either.

3) Kiner is a taller, bigger Vaughn. So, Kansas State’s defense won’t be shocked to see the twitchy, electric freshman Tiger runner. That said, #21 has absurd twitch and shake in space.

Overall and Prediction
This bowl game has so many different story lines, starting with the quarterbacks. Thompson does appear as if he’s going to find a way to play in this game and his presence changes things for the Wildcat offense. Look, he’s not Bryce Young, but he’s experienced, tough and the point man for that offense. With Nussmeier on the other side, I could see him actually have some success early, but the Wildcat pass rush, led by FA-U, will eventually put pressure on the young LSU gunslinger that forces a key turnover that turns the game. Vaughn v. Kiner will be fun to watch, but Vaughn will make a couple of key plays, along with an important Thompson completion late in the game, that’ll give the Wildcats a win to end the 2021 season.

Kansas State - 21 vs. LSU - 17