Sports

The key storyline for every top 25 college football team


All 131 FBS college football programs have a story that will follow them all season. It could be a new head coach or a coach on the hot seat. A breakout player or a Heisman favorite. Culture changes or tweaks to the system. Key factors will form the success each team will have in 2022.

Each of the top 25 teams has interesting storylines. Some are looking to make that next step to be a College Football Playoff challenger, while others are trying to find a way back to national prominence. Plus, there are always the big dogs who seemingly are in the mix every year but have a few questions that need to be answered.

This should be a fantastic season with those big dogs sitting on the porch guarding the entrance to the Playoff while plenty of new names out there feeling a sense of hope after Cincinnati broke through last year. Here are the key storylines for every top 25 team, according to the USA TODAY Sports AFCA football coaches poll.

 

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1. Alabama: Heismans

Alabama: Heismans

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Saban stated that 2021 was a rebuilding year for Alabama, despite them winning an SEC championship, a Heisman trophy, and playing in the national championship game. Such is life at Bama, where winning a title every year is the goal. The main storyline is the Crimson Tide going for their 7th national title in the last 14 seasons. 

Reigning Heisman winner Bryce Young is back and should be back in the running to become the only man not named Archie Griffin to win multiple Heismans. However, linebacker Will Anderson Jr. could become the second defensive player to win the award (Charles Woodson). Anderson finished fifth in the Heisman voting last year and will be scaring opposing offensive coordinators and quarterbacks all season long. The two Tide teammates could siphon votes away from each other, but both bring a historic quality to the race. 

 

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2. Ohio State: Fixing the defense

Ohio State: Fixing the defense

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State went 11-2 last season and won the Rose Bowl, and their loss in the regular season finale to Michigan kept them from getting a playoff spot. That’s called a down season in Columbus. To be blunt, the Buckeyes’ defense failed them. Ohio State finished near the bottom of the Big Ten in passing defense, and there were times during the season when they couldn’t stop anyone. The most notable examples were that loss to Michigan, an early season loss to Oregon, and the season-opening win against Minnesota. A program that has recently filled the NFL with so much talent isn’t used to having offenses walk all over them. Enter new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Knowles orchestrated Oklahoma State’s punishing defense last season and will be tasked to fix Ohio State’s. The offense will be sparkling with C.J. Stroud, TreVeyon Henderson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but that defense will determine if Ohio State can get back to the Playoff.

 

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3. Georgia: Defending their titles

Georgia: Defending their titles

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia doesn’t want to wait another four decades to win their next national championship; the Bulldogs feel they are set up to be perennial title contenders. Kirby Smart has done what Ray Goff, Jim Donnan, and Mark Richt couldn’t do in Athens by winning a championship. The ring caps off what those coaches and Smart have done during that “drought.” They’ve been filling the NFL with loads of talent and been a top-tier program on the field, winning four of the last five SEC East titles. But with winning comes changes. That vaunted Dawgs defense and bruising offensive line saw many players drafted into the NFL, but Smart has created a program that reloads now and is always ready to win. They are better, but the conference as a whole has improved, especially the SEC East. Florida has a new culture with head coach Billy Napier, Tennessee and Kentucky are building on promising ’21 seasons, and South Carolina brings in last year’s preseason Heisman favorite. 

 

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4. Clemson: DJ or Cade

Clemson: DJ or Cade

Ken Ruinard / staff, Ken Ruinard / USA TODAY NETWORK

It’s no secret that the Tigers’ 2021 season was derailed due to quarterback DJ Uiagalelei’s subpar season. Clemson had a nice run of Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence, but DJ’s struggles stagnated an offense that had lost so much talent over the last couple of seasons. If Clemson wants to get back to title contention, Uiagalelei (2,246  yards, 9 TDs, 10 INTs) must hit the ground running, or freshman phenom Cade Klubnik will take the job. Dabo Swinney saw a similar dynamic a few years back when Lawrence, then a freshman, took the starting job from a decently performing Kelly Bryant. With a relatively soft opening against Georgia Tech, Furman, and Louisiana Tech, the quarterback position must be figured out before the Tigers get to the meat of their schedule. 

 

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5. Notre Dame: Marcus Freeman era begins

Notre Dame: Marcus Freeman era begins

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

It is unusual when a school is forced to make a coaching change that everyone (administration, players, fans, boosters) agrees with. While the school tried to lure Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell to South Bend, defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman got the job. Irish administration, players, fans, and boosters are over the moon about their new coach — for a good reason. His arrival last season shored up one of the better defensive units in the country, and he’s an outstanding recruiter. 

Still, this isn’t the easiest job in sport,  and others have been welcomed aboard only to be pushed away. Brian Kelly did a great job stabilizing this program and putting it back in contention for championships. Notre Dame hasn’t won one in 34 years, and with the shifting dynamics of college athletics, it has gotten more difficult for the Irish to dominate as it once did. Freeman looks the part, and we’ll see what he can do. 

 

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6. Michigan: Jim Harbaugh

Michigan: Jim Harbaugh

Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

What a strange year for head coach Jim Harbaugh. Before last season, many people wondered if he would be fired if the Wolverines had another down season. He even took a pay cut. Then, Michigan ran over Ohio State, won their first Big Ten title since 2004, and reached their first College Football Playoff. Michigan then offered Harbaugh a new contract with a raise, but he openly courted NFL jobs — even going to interviews on signing day. He stayed put and signed the deal, saying he’s in Ann Arbor to stay, but his flirting with the NFL certainly put some doubt in that. 

In any event, what does that mean for 2022? The offense should be explosive, but the defense is replacing a lot of talent and their coordinator (Mike Macdonald did go to the NFL, working with Jim’s brother John in Baltimore). The mark of a truly elite program is the ability to lose talent — both players and coaches — reload, and move along. Michigan doesn’t feel like that just yet, and it is up to Harbaugh to keep the momentum up and be consistent contenders nationally and in the Big Ten. Was 2021 just the one shining moment or something that lasts for a long time? 

 

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7. Texas A&M: Jimbo steps into the light

Texas A&M: Jimbo steps into the light

Mickey Welsh/Montgomery Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jimbo Fisher stepped a bit out of Bobby Bowden’s shadow at Florida State by winning the 2013 national championship. Since arriving at Texas A&M in 2018, he’s discovered that every coach in the SEC West lives in Nick Saban’s shadow. Fisher picked away at that last season when he became the first former Saban assistant to beat him in a game and then pushed his way forward by solidifying the nation’s top recruiting class. That drew Saban’s ire in an appearance where he accused Fisher of paying for players. Fisher fired back spectacularly, mocking Saban. Fisher not only wanted to announce that he isn’t scared of Saban, but neither is his program. A&M felt it was snubbed from a playoff spot in 2020, and quarterback issues set them back last year. The Aggies feel they have everything they need to challenge Alabama for championships in the division, conference, and nationally. 

 

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8. Utah: Taking the next step

Utah: Taking the next step

Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Utah won its first-ever Pac-12 title last year (their last conference championship was winning the Mountain West in 2008) and nearly won the Rose Bowl. This program went undefeated and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl back in 2008 and went undefeated and beat Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl in 2005. The Utes have won 14 of their last 18 bowl games and have turned into the most consistently good Pac-12 program. The consistency still exists, as the Pac-12’s top offense remains with quarterback Cameron Rising, running back Tavion Thomas, and a stable of receivers. The Pac-12 has improved with a new-look USC and the elimination of the division format. Their opener at Florida will be vital towards their College Football Playoff hopes.

 

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9. Oklahoma: Lots of changes in Norman

Oklahoma: Lots of changes in Norman

STEVE SISNEY / USA TODAY NETWORK

If there is one word to describe the Oklahoma Sooners program right now, it is change. A year ago, that change was the Sooners eventually leaving the Big 12 for the SEC … but no one saw the kind of overhaul the program would deal with in the twelve months since. Last year’s Heisman frontrunner Spencer Rattler was booed off the field during the season and now plays at South Carolina. His replacement, Caleb Williams, now plays at USC. USC? USC? Oh, the biggest change was Lincoln Riley shocking Sooner nation by leaving for the Trojans job. He is replaced by vaunted Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables, which brings an identity change. Venables’ defensive nature will be a welcome sight for a program that was primarily focused on Riley’s offenses. One thing that hasn’t changed for Oklahoma is the lofty expectations. What exactly will we see in 2022?

 

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10. Baylor: What about the offense?

Baylor: What about the offense?

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Big 12 should be so much fun this season. As you can see by the rankings, there are several challengers to the throne but no elite options. Defending champion Baylor has the defense to win it again but must replace a lot on offense. Running back Abram Smith is gone, and the Bears are looking at a stable of backs (Taye McWilliams, Craig Williams, Josh Fleeks) to fill in that production. 

They also need a few of their young receivers to emerge as threats, so expect tight end Ben Sims to get a lot of targets. Quarterback Blake Shapen earned the starting gig during the spring over last year’s starter Gerry Bohanon (Bohanon since transferred out). Shapen, if you remember, completed his first 17 passes in last year’s Big 12 championship win over Oklahoma State. The offense won’t be asked to be explosive, but it must be serviceable if Baylor looks to repeat. 

 

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11. Oklahoma State: Cutting down on mistakes

Oklahoma State: Cutting down on mistakes

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma State used defense, the rushing of Jaylen Warren, and quarterback Spencer Sanders’ dual-threat ability to come inches from winning the Big 12 championship and possibly earning a College Football Playoff spot. The defense lost a lot (but new defensive coordinator Derek Mason feels it’s more of a reload than rebuild), and Warren went to the NFL, but Sanders is back in Stillwater. 

Sanders must make another leap and carry this offense for the Cowboys to get back to the Big 12 title game. In last year’s narrow 21-16 loss to Baylor, Sanders threw four interceptions and no touchdowns. In their Bedlam win over Oklahoma the week prior, he threw two picks, and the team had two huge turnovers that gave the Sooners nine quick points. Again, the Big 12 title came down to a goal-line stand, so cutting down on mistakes is crucial to winning championships. 

 

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12. Oregon: Defense, defense, defense

Oregon: Defense, defense, defense

Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Oregon had one of the nation’s best defensive players (edge Kayvon Thibodeaux) but one of the Pac-12’s worst defensive units. Thibodeaux is in the NFL now, but linebackers Noah Sewell and Justin Flowe will be the cornerstones of the future of the Ducks program. Gone are the days of the fast-paced Quack Attack offenses. Sound, physical defense will be the calling card of new head coach Dan Lanning. 

Lanning ran last year’s Georgia Bulldogs‘ historic defense that won the national championship. This defense isn’t built like those Dawgs were, but Lanning has a few things to work with. Remember that Oregon was a playoff team until they got mauled at Utah the week before Thanksgiving, but that game exposed the defense. They would give up 38, 29, 38, and 47 points in their final four games.

 

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13. NC State: Protecting Devin

NC State: Protecting Devin

Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

This is NC State’s shot. The Wolfpack are loaded on defense, have one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC, and should contend for an Atlantic Division title. All of that can be foiled, however, if NC State cannot protect Devin Leary and create a running attack. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is gone to the Carolina Panthers and must be replaced by shuffling the line. The Wolfpack were one of the worst rushing teams in the ACC last year (they averaged a conference-low of 3.3 yards per carry) and lost their top two backs. If they can’t shore up the line, you will see Leary put up big numbers but also expose himself to some punishment. The line will be key to how far the Pack can go.  

 

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14. Michigan State: Replacing Walker III

Michigan State: Replacing Walker III

Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kenneth Walker III was the biggest key to the Spartans’ 11-2 record last season. He had eight games where he ran for at least 125 yards and four where he topped 170 rushing yards. His 197 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Michigan will go down in Sparty lore. As quickly as he arrived on the scene (he transferred in from Wake Forest), he’s gone to the NFL. Can the Spartans replace a bulk of his production? Two new transfers, Wisconsin’s Jalen Berger and Colorado’s Jarek Broussard, will be tasked to do so. 

Berger was supposed to be the next big Badger back but was dismissed from the program last October. Broussard was the Pac-12’s Offensive Player of the Year back in 2020 and led the Buffaloes in rushing last season. Despite Walker III gaining the nation’s second-most rushing yards, Michigan State was just sixth in rushing in the Big Ten and 43rd nationally. They need to get that production from their backfield, or the Spartans take a step back in a competitive Big Ten East.  

 

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15. USC: Riley effect

USC: Riley effect

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

USC got a huge jolt of energy when Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma to take over the Trojans program. Since then, there has been a ton of player movement, a buzz in the fanbase, and the university pledging itself to the Big Ten in a couple of years. But how long will it really take Riley to turn a team that went 4-8 last year (and lost six games against a relatively weak Pac-12)? 

Again, the offense was rebuilt via the transfer portal with a new quarterback in Riley’s old Oklahoma QB Caleb Williams, running backs (Oregon’s Travis Dye; Stanford’s Austin Jones), receivers (Oklahoma’s Mario Williams; Colorado’s Brenden “Jerry’s son” Rice; Washington’s Terrell Bynum), and linebackers (Kansas State’s Tyrone Taleni; TCU’s Earl Barquet Jr.). Riley has undoubtedly done well with bringing transfers in and having them immediately be effective. Remember that USC went undefeated and played for the Pac-12 championship just two years ago, so the Trojans aren’t that far removed from success. Riley will have this team competing at a high level.

 

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16. Pittsburgh: A whole new offense

Pittsburgh: A whole new offense

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest change from last year’s ACC champion Panthers team is behind center. Kenny Pickett (4,319 yds, 42 TDs) is off to be the future of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and USC transfer Kedon Slovis will try to replace him. Slovis has had quite an interesting career already. He was coached by Hall of Famer Kurt Warner in high school, replaced injured JT Daniels at USC, and set the school record for touchdowns by a quarterback in his first start. He was a Heisman candidate entering the 2020 and 2021 seasons but greatly regressed last season.

Slovis takes over a dynamic Pitt offense but one that won’t have Jordan Addison, who, ironically, transferred from Pitt to USC, or last year’s offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. Slovis isn’t the same kind of QB as Pickett, but he will be playing within a more run-first scheme under Frank Cignetti. Still, Slovis’ Trojans history shows he has the chops to make plays and can open it up.

 

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17. Miami: Commitment to excellence

Miami: Commitment to excellence

im Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Miami has had one of the more interesting histories in college football. A program that nearly was dropped in the late 1970s blew up into an absolute football and cultural powerhouse in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. The Canes’ play on and off the field during that time is legendary. The Miami that has existed since the Hurricanes moved to the ACC in 2004 has fallen short of that standard. They haven’t won the ACC in their 18 seasons in the league (they had won the last four Big East titles before the move), and the program isn’t producing the high-end NFL talent it once did. 

This past winter, the administration decided to do something about it. They nabbed Dan Radakovich from Clemson to be their new athletic director. They spent a lot of money to pull Oregon’s Mario Cristobal to be their new head coach, and they are committed to doing what it takes financially to make Miami an “it” program again. The NIL opportunities are flowing, and there’s talk of building an on-campus football stadium. While that seems like more off-the-field stuff, we will see how all this attention affects what they do on the field. They weren’t that far off, as they won five of their last six games last season after back-to-back heartbreaking losses to Virginia and North Carolina. The Turnover Chain may be history, but this program wants to be a serious national title contender. Let’s see. 

 

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18. Texas: Quinn and Bijan

Texas: Quinn and Bijan

Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Is it now that Texas is back? We know that running back Bijan Thompson will be a Heisman candidate. He ran for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching 26 passes and adding another four touchdowns in the passing game. He’s money and is ready to be a star. 

Quarterback Quinn Ewers is also ready to become a star, but are we finally going to see what all the hype is about? Ewers, who initially committed to Texas, reclassified in 2021 and spent last year on the sidelines at Ohio State (he did take two snaps, but no throws). He then transferred to Texas and should hold off last year’s opening week starter Hudson Card for the starting job. He’s got the arm that makes scouts drool and the confidence to use it. He was a No. 1 overall prospect for a reason. Of course, the 2023 top QB prospect — Arch Manning — will arrive next year and spark some interesting decisions at the position. Ewers has a great opportunity to show the college football world what he’s made of in 2022. 

 

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19. Wake Forest: Sam Hartman’s absence

Wake Forest: Sam Hartman's absence

Corey Perrine / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sam Hartman had a spectacular season (4,228 yds, 39 pass TDs, 11 rush TDs) and is back to defend the Demon Deacons’ Atlantic Division title. He is among the favorites for ACC Player of the Year and has the Deacs in the top 25. So, the news on Aug. 10 of him being out indefinitely due to a non-football medical condition is heartbreaking on a personal and football level. Hartman is the heart and soul of the team, and his absence will be sorely missed in Winston-Salem.  

 

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20. Wisconsin: Hello, Braelon Allen

Wisconsin: Hello, Braelon Allen

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

After getting only 12 carries in Wisconsin’s first four games last season, freshman Braelon Allen exploded for 131 yards on 18 carries the following week against Illinois and would run for over 100 yards in eight of the season’s final nine games. He’s the constant in an offense that really needs quarterback Graham Mertz to show why he was one of the highest-rated recruits to ever arrive in Madison. If Mertz can limit the poor plays and turnovers and rely on Allen and that defense to win games, Wisconsin can challenge for a Big Ten championship. But it is all about Allen. 

 

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21. Kentucky: Run, run, run

Kentucky: Run, run, run

Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Quarterback Will Levis is becoming a star, but he most certainly is affected by the losses of his top three receivers from a year ago, especially Wan’Dale Robinson. What Kentucky does have is their usually solid defense and a fantastic backfield that can pound the ball. Chris Rodriguez Jr. led the Wildcats in rushing with 1,379 yards and 9 TDs in 2021. Kavosiey Smoke (one of the best names in sports) averaged 5.1 yards per carry and will look to eclipse those totals. Levis is also a capable runner, with his nine rushing scores matching Rodriguez for the team lead. Kentucky finished fifth in the SEC in rushing last season and should improve with new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello. 

 

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22. Cincinnati: Replacing Ridder

Cincinnati: Replacing Ridder

Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Bearcats crashed the College Football Playoff party last season and gave hope to all the Group of 5 (and lower-tiered Power 5) schools. What does Cincy do for an encore? Well, that will depend on who will step in and replace QB Desmond Ridder. Ridder was a two-time AAC Offensive Player of the Year and the unquestioned leader of this team. Under head coach Luke Fickell, the defense will be able to regroup after losing so much talent, but he needs either Eastern Michigan transfer Ben Bryant or sophomore Evan Prater to take the reins and make the offense their own. Gone is running back Jerome Ford and several receivers, so there may be a rough start to the season. That’s not ideal since the Bearcats’ first game is at Arkansas. 

 

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23. Arkansas: Reaching the ceiling

Arkansas: Reaching the ceiling

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

I want to make this perfectly clear: Arkansas is one of the teams everyone should pay attention to all season. Are they going to win the national championship? Slim chance, but they’re so fun to watch and will play an absolutely brutal schedule that will keep your interest week to week. KJ Jefferson, a physical specimen for a QB, led the Hogs in passing and rushing last season and totaled 27 touchdowns. Arkansas won four of their last five games in 2021, with the lone loss being 42-35 to Alabama. They have a linebacker named Bumper Pool, for crying out loud — and he led the team in tackles last season. 

The schedule? They open against Cincinnati and will have Texas A&M in Arlington, Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, and Liberty at home and travel to BYU, Mississippi State, Auburn, and Missouri. Seriously, the Razorbacks play in the most challenging division in college football and still scheduled a non-conference slate of Cincinnati, BYU, and Liberty. Even their FCS opponent is Missouri State, a playoff team.

A question must be asked: how long will this last? Jefferson is a redshirt junior. Sam Pittman was a head-scratcher of a hire three years ago that has paid off. Defensive coordinator Brady Odom and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles will likely be sought after for head jobs or lateral moves to bigger programs in the near future. Could this be the last ride for a staff and class that dug the Arkansas program out of the gutter and completely changed the culture? 

 

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24. Ole Miss: Getting all the transfers on the same page

Ole Miss: Getting all the transfers on the same page

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Lane Kiffin knows how to spit. He’s been a fine recruiter everywhere he’s been, and he’s building a fun program at Ole Miss. You can argue that no one was more active in the transfer portal than Kiffin this offseason. They got a new quarterback (USC’s Jaxson Dart), running back (TCU’s Zach Evans), receivers (Louisville’s Jordan Watkins, Mississippi State’s Malik Heath, UCF’s Jaylon Robinson, USC’s Michael Trigg), and added to the defense (guys from Auburn, Georgia Tech, Iowa State and Central Michigan). Transfers are key to lessening the learning curve of replacing starters, but it doesn’t always work out. Kiffin is all in and may need to be to keep putting up 10-win seasons in a brutally competitive SEC West. 

 

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25. Houston: Tune to Dell

Houston: Tune to Dell

Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

There’s a lot of excitement in Houston’s program right now. Somehow, the Cougars quietly went 12-2 in 2021, beat Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl, and are in their final season of AAC play before jumping to the Big 12. They also watched AAC (and soon Big 12) rival Cincinnati reach the Playoff and feel they can do the same this year. So keep your eye on the combination of Clayton Tune to Nathaniel Dell. That quarterback-receiver pairing may be the most dynamic in the country and the reason Houston will be a factor in the playoff race. Tune threw for over 3,500 yards and 30 TDs last season, with Dell catching 16 TDs and nearly 1,000 yards. Their production may go up due to losing running back Alton McCaskill to an ACL injury during the spring.  





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