2021 College Football Predictions

By: Weston Swift



    We are officially less than a week away from Week 0, which doesn't offer many overly intriguing games, but on the bright side it means it's officially football season. Nebraska vs Illinois, or UCLA vs Hawaii might not get your spine tingling but we are all going to watch every second of it. This year is much needed after last season, with shortened schedules and dialed down stadium capacities. Though, this year is bring back the normal, this season is going to be anything, but normal in terms of predictions. So lets get to it below I will break down the Power 5 conference champions and end it with my playoff predictions. 



    Let's start with the conference that has made all kinds of headlines before the season has even started. To me this conference is going to come down to 4 teams, with a solid shot to get 2 teams in the playoff, I know you could say that every year. But with so much quarterback / coaching turnover this season it will be a fun one without a doubt. 

SEC WEST

The Favorite: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

Notable Players: QB Bryce Young, OT Evan Neal, WR John Metchie, LB Will Anderson

Notable Games: SEP 4: MIAMI, SEPT 18: FLORIDA, OCT 9: TEXAS A&M, NOV 6: LSU

Final Record: 12-0

RUNNER-UP: TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Notable Players: TE Jalen Wydermyer, RB Isaiah Spiller, DE DeMarvin Leal, RB/WR Anias Smith, 

Notable Games: OCT 9: ALABAMA, NOV 6: AUBURN, NOV 13: OLE MISS, NOV 27: LSU

Final Record: 11-1

WILD CARD: OLE MISS

Notable Players: QB Matt Corall, RB Jerrion Early, WR/RB/QB John Rhys Plumlee, WR Dontairo Drummond

Notable Games: OCT 2: ALABAMA, OCT 23: LSU, NOV 6: LIBERTY, NOV 13: TEXAS A&M, NOV 25: MISSISSIPPI STATE

Final Record: 8-4

SEC EAST

The Favorite: GEORGIA BULLDOGS

Notable Players: QB JT Daniels, DT Jordan Davis, LT Jamaree Salyer, WR Jermaine Burton

Notable Games: SEP 4: CLEMSON, OCT 30: FLORIDA, NOV 13: TENNESSEE

Final Record: 11-1

RUNNER-UP: FLORIDA GATORS

Notable Players: QB Emory Jones, DB Kaiir Elam, LT Richard Gouraige, WR Jacob Copeland

Notable Games: SEPT 18: ALABAMA, OCT 16: LSU, OCT 30: GEORGIA, NOV 27: FSU

Final Record: 9-3

WILD CARD: TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

Notable Players: WR Velus Jones jr., DB Warron Burrell, WR Jack Jancek, QB Harrison Bailey

Notable Games: SEPT 25: FLORIDA, OCT 23: BAMA, NOV 13: GEORGIA

Final Record: 6-6

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREDICTION: ALABAMA 42 VS GEORGIA 31




    This year the BIG 10 has a lot of unknowns, whether it be new coaching hires, coaches on the hot seat or historic programs needing a big year. The only real known in this conference is Ohio State will be great. Though, a major question is will there be another contender in the entire offense? Will Wisconsin break-out an above mediocre offense this year, or will Harbaugh finally give the wolverines a capable QB, there is a lot of questions in regards to this conference and not a lot of answers. The one thing I can guarantee is I'm about o give some great predictions.  

BIG10 EAST

The Favorite: OHIO STATE 

Notable Players: WR Chris Olave, WR Garrett Wilson, DT Haskell Garrett, QB CJ Stroud

Notable Games: SEP 11: OREGON, OCT 30: PENN STATE, NOV 27: MICHIGAN

Final Record: 12-0

RUNNER-UP: PENN STATE

Notable Players: DB Jaquan Brisker, QB Sean Clifford, DB Joey Porter JR., RB Harry Wilson

Notable Games: SEPT 4: WISCONSIN, OCT 30: OHIO STATE, NOV 13: MICHIGAN

Final Record: 9-3

WILD CARD: MICHIGAN

Notable Players: QB Cade McNamara, WR Ronnie Bell, RB Hassan Haskins

Notable Games: NOV 13: PENN STATE, NOV 27: OHIO STATE, SEPT 11: WASHINGTON

Final Record: 9-3

BIG10 WEST

The Favorite: WISCONSIN

Notable Players: QB Graham Mertz, TE Jake Fergurson, LB Jack Sanborn, RB Jalen Berger

Notable Games: SEP 25: NOTRE DAME, OCT 2: MICHIGAN, OCT 30: IOWA

Final Record: 9-3

RUNNER-UP: IOWA

Notable Players: QB Emory Jones, DB Kaiir Elam, LT Richard Gouraige, WR Jacob Copeland

Notable Games: OCT 9: PENN STATE, NOV 13: IOWA , OCT 30: WISCONSIN

Final Record: 8-4

WILD CARD: MINNESOTA

Notable Players: WR Dylan Wright, DB Terrell Smith, QB Tanner Morgan

Notable Games: SEPT 2: OHIO STATE, NOV 27: WISCONSIN, NOV 13: IOWA

Final Record: 8-4

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREDICTION: OHIO STATE 56 VS WISCONSIN 20


    
  
    The ACC, a one team conference, or at least that's the way it has been in the College Football Playoffs era. At least last year they had Notre Dame, now the ACC has added a National Championship coach in Mac Brown. With a potential #1 pick at QB they could give a Lawrence-less Clemson a true test this season. Hopefully one of the historic Florida schools with old QBs will show some signs of life as well to really make this season fun. 

ACC Atlantic

The Favorite: Clemson 

Notable Players: QB DJ Uiagalelei, WR Justyn Ross, DE Xavier Thomas, WR Joseph Ngata

Notable Games: SEP 4: Georgia, OCT 30: Florida State, NOV 27: South Carolina

Final Record: 11-1

RUNNER-UP: Boston College

Notable Players: WR Jalen Gill, QB Phil Jurkovec, TE Trae Berry 

Notable Games: SEPT 25: Missouri, NOV 5: Virginia Tech, OCT 2: Clemson

Final Record: 7-5

WILD CARD: Florida State

Notable Players: QB Jordan Travis, QB McKenzie Milton, DE Jermaine Johnson, WR Andrew Parchment

Notable Games: Sep 5: Notre Dame, Oct 9: North Carolina, Oct 30 : Clemson, Nov 2: Miami 

Final Record: 7-5

ACC Coastal

The Favorite: North Carolina

Notable Players: QB Sam Howell, CB Tony Grimes, TE Nelson Hurst

Notable Games: Oct 16: Miami, Oct 30: Notre Dame, Nov 26: NC State

Final Record: 10-2

RUNNER-UP: Miami (FL.)

Notable Players: QB D'eriq King, DB Bubba Bolden, WR Mike Harley, TE Will Mallory

Notable Games: Sept 4: Alabama, Sept 18: Michigan State, Nov 2: Florida State, Oct 16: North Carolina

Final Record: 9-3

WILD CARD: Virginia Cavs

Notable Players: QB Brennan Armstrong, WR Lavel Davis Jr.

Notable Games: Sept 18: Miami, Sept 30: North Carolina, Nov 13: Notre Dame

Final Record: 8-4

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREDICTION: Clemson 37 vs North Carolina 24





 The Pac-12 is desperate for some national attention, and not the kind they get for Pac-12 after dark. the problem is they haven't had a dominate team since the Chip Kelly Oregon Ducks, now they got Chip back at UCLA, but the results are nowhere near the same. Hopefully Ucla or Arizona Sate surprise us this year, like some have predicted. But with not a lot of promise don't expect any of these teams to be true contenders. 

Pac-12 North

The Favorite: Oregon 

Notable Players: DL Kayvon Thibodeaux, QB AJ Brown, DB Mykael Wright, RB CJ Verdell

Notable Games: Sep 11: Ohio State, Oct 23: UCLA, Nov 6: Washington, Nov 20: Utah

Final Record: 10-2

RUNNER-UP: Washington

Notable Players: TE Cade Otton, OL Jaxson Kirkland, DB Trent McDuffie 

Notable Games: Sept 11: Michigan, Oct 16: UCLA, Nov 6: Oregon

Final Record: 9-3

WILD CARD: Cal Berkley

Notable Players: QB Chase Garbers, LB Kuony Deng, RB Christopher Brooks

Notable Games: Sep 11: TCU, Oct 15: Oregon, Nov 13: USC
 
Final Record: 7-5

Pac-12 South

The Favorite: USC

Notable Players: QB Kedon Slovis, WR Drake London, LB Drake Jackson

Notable Games: Oct 23: Notre Dame, Oct 9: Utah, Nov 20: UCLA

Final Record: 9-3

RUNNER-UP: UCLA

Notable Players: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, RB Zach Charbonnet, DB Mo Osling III

Notable Games: Sept 4: LSU, Oct 23: Oregon, Nov 20: USC

Final Record: 10-2

WILD CARD: Arizona State

Notable Players: QB Jayden Daniels, RB Rachaad White, LB Kyle Soelle

Notable Games: Oct 2: Ucla, Nov 6: USC, Nov 27: Arizona

Final Record: 8-4

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREDICTION: Oregon 24 vs UCLA 20



    It's sad to think this could potentially be the last time writing about this conference, yet again as a Texas A&M alum. id  be okay seeing this conference crash and burn. Just kidding that was a little harsh, but if they renamed themselves the Southwest conference I'd be all over that. But we know this conference will live or die by OU and hope for another team like Iowa State or TCU to emerge and make some noise. 

BIG 12 

The Favorite: Oklahoma 

Notable Players: QB Spencer Rattler, RB Kennedy Brooks, WR Marvin Mims

Notable Games: Oct 9: Texas, Nov 20: Iowa State, Nov 27: Oklahoma State

Final Record: 11-1

RUNNER-UP: Iowa State

Notable Players: QB Brock Purdy, RB Breece Hall, LB Will McDonald 

Notable Games: Sept 11: Iowa, Nov 6: Texas, Nov 20: Oklahoma

Final Record: 10-2

WILD CARD: Texas

Notable Players: QB Hudson Card, RB Bijan Robinson, WR Jordan Whittington

Notable Games: Sep 4: Louisiana, Sept 11: Arkansas, Oct 9: Oklahoma

Final Record: 8-4


CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREDICTION: Oklahoma 37 vs Iowa State 20



    I'll give this team credit since technically they are a legit playoff contender, Notre dame is having a little it of a rebuild this year. But they have a lot of talent, they have started to learn how to reload not rebuild. They have a veteran average QB, but he does have a track record of success at Wisconsin so let's see just how good of a coach Brian Kelly is. 

NOTRE DAME

Notable Players: QB Jack Coan, DB Kyle Hamilton, RB Kyren Williams, TE Michael Meyers

Notable Games: Sep 25: Wisconsin, Oct 2: Cincinnati, Oct 23: USC, Oct 30: North Carolina

Final Record: 10-2

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