{"id":115,"date":"2012-08-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-08-24T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/college-football-2012\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T19:08:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T19:08:31","slug":"college-football-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/college-football-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"College Football 2012 | What is Hot (What is Not)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What\u2019s hot (and not) for\u00a02012<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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We\u2019ll start the countdown to a legitimate college football playoff when the 2012 season opens in a couple of weeks.<\/p>\n

Of course, we\u2019ll have to wait two more seasons to see it.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s still plenty of intrigue heading into the upcoming season.<\/p>\n

Is Florida State finally back? Is Texas? Is Florida? We know Southern California is back among the sport\u2019s elite programs.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a closer look at what\u2019s hot and what\u2019s not in college football in 2012:<\/p>\n

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WHAT\u2019S HOT AND NOT FOR THE 2012 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
HOT<\/th>\nNOT<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Playoff<\/strong>: College football\u2019s commissioners and presidents approved a seeded, four-team playoff to determine the sport\u2019s national champion, but we\u2019ll have to wait until the 2014 season to see it. We\u2019ll get semifinal games on New Year\u2019s Eve and New Year\u2019s Day and then the first national championship game on Jan. 12, 2015. Can\u2019t wait.<\/td>\n\"\"BCS<\/strong>: The current and much-maligned method for deciding the national championship gets a two-year reprieve from its death. The top two teams in the final BCS standings will play in the Discover BCS National Championship Game in Miami on Jan. 7, 2013, and then at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 7, 2014. Will those titles come with an asterisk?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"SEC\"SEC<\/strong>: College football\u2019s 900-pound gorilla has won the last six BCS national championships, after Alabama defeated LSU 21-0 in the title game in New Orleans on Jan. 9. Five SEC teams are ranked in the top 10 of the preseason coaches\u2019 poll: No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Alabama, No. 6 Georgia, No. 9 South Carolina and No. 10 Arkansas.<\/td>\n\"BigBig East<\/strong>: After TCU and West Virginia bolted for the Big 12, and with Pittsburgh and Syracuse leaving for the ACC, the Big East has been relegated to the ranks of the non-BCS conferences. Its champion still gets a guaranteed spot in a BCS bowl game the next two seasons, but none of its teams are ranked in the preseason coaches\u2019 poll.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"USC<\/strong>: After a two-year bowl ban, USC enters the 2012 season as the Pac-12 favorite and a legitimate BCS bowl contender. With quarterback\u00a0Matt Barkleybypassing the NFL draft to return for his senior season to throw to receivers\u00a0Marqise Lee\u00a0andRobert Woods, the Trojans are back among the sport\u2019s heavyweights.<\/td>\n\"\"UNC<\/strong>: The Tar Heels are among a handful of high-profile teams that are ineligible for the postseason this year, along with Central Florida, Ohio State and Penn State. New UNC coach Larry Fedora will eventually produce a winner in Chapel Hill, N.C., but his first season figures to be a long one, especially with an ongoing investigation into academic irregularities.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Badgers<\/strong>: Wisconsin, the defending Big Ten champion, brings back Heisman Trophy finalist\u00a0Montee Ball\u00a0and another transfer quarterback, former Maryland starter\u00a0Danny O\u2019Brien. With the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions ineligible to play for a Big Ten title, the Badgers might be smelling roses again on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/td>\nHoney Badger<\/strong>: Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season, was dismissed from the team earlier this month by Tigers coach Les Miles. Mathieu, who scored four touchdowns last season, was booted after reportedly failing multiple drug tests.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Realignment<\/strong>: College football keeps spinning its realignment wheels, as several teams are playing in new leagues this season. Along with West Virginia and TCU moving to the Big 12, Missouri and Texas A&M jumped to the SEC. The ACC and Big East get face-lifts over the next couple of seasons, too.<\/td>\nRivalry games<\/strong>: One of the consequences of conference realignment was the loss of several traditional rivalry games. Games we won\u2019t see this season (or in the near future): Texas vs. Texas A&M; Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia; and Missouri vs. Kansas.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hello, again<\/strong>: Several big-name coaches are back in the sport after short hiatuses. Among the coaches returning to college football this season: Urban Meyer (Ohio State), Rich Rodriguez (Arizona), Mike Leach (Washington State), Bob Davie (New Mexico) and Terry Bowden (Akron).<\/td>\nSo long<\/strong>: Here are a few of the big-name coaches we\u2019ll miss seeing on the college sidelines this coming season because they retired, were fired or jumped to the NFL: Howard Schnellenberger (Florida Atlantic), Dennis Erickson (Arizona State), Pat Hill (Fresno State), Rick Neuheisel (UCLA), Mike Sherman (Texas A&M) and Greg Schiano (Rutgers).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kickoff games<\/strong>: The first weekend of the regular season offers a buffet of intriguing, neutral-site games. Notre Dame plays Navy in Dublin, Ireland. Alabama plays Michigan at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. NC State plays Tennessee and Auburn plays Clemson on consecutive nights at Atlanta\u2019s Georgia Dome.<\/td>\nKickoff returns<\/strong>: In an attempt to keep players safer, the NCAA moved kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line starting this season, which it hopes will lead to more touchbacks. Players on the coverage team will get only a 5-yard running start, and touchbacks will move from the 20- to 25-yard line.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Uniform changes<\/strong>: Teams from coast to coast are breaking out new uniforms this season. Among the wardrobe changes we can\u2019t wait to see: Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers, West Virginia and Wisconsin.<\/td>\nFlying helmets<\/strong>: Under new NCAA rules, any player who loses his helmet will have to spend the next play on the sideline. The only exception is when a player\u2019s helmet is ripped off as the result of a penalty, like a face-mask infraction. If a player\u2019s helmet comes off, the play is immediately whistled dead.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Transfers<\/strong>: Along with O\u2019Brien, several high-profile players changed schools during the offseason: QB\u00a0Dayne Crist(Notre Dame to Kansas), QB\u00a0Garrett Gilbert\u00a0(Texas to SMU), QB\u00a0Ryan Williams\u00a0(Memphis to Miami), RB\u00a0Silas Redd\u00a0(Penn State to USC) and QB\u00a0Ryan Katz\u00a0(Oregon State to San Diego State).<\/td>\nDismissals<\/strong>: Along with Mathieu, here are a few of the players we won\u2019t see this season because of their off-the-field issues: FSU CBGreg Reid, Georgia RB Isaiah Crowell, Auburn (and Arkansas State) RB Michael Dyer, TCU LB Tanner Brock, Michigan WR\u00a0Darryl Stonum\u00a0and Ohio State LB Storm Klein.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clowney<\/strong>: After being named SEC Freshman of the Year by the league\u2019s coaches in 2011, South Carolina defensive end\u00a0Jadeveon Clowneyseems ready to explode in an expanded role this season. He had 36 tackles, eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss as a freshman.<\/td>\nClowns<\/strong>: With coaches like Bobby Petrino (Arkansas), Ron Zook (Illinois) and Mike Locksley (New Mexico) getting fired since the end of last season, who are college football fans going to pick on now? At least Arizona State\u2019s Todd Graham is still working.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Week 10<\/strong>: Circle Nov. 3 on your calendar. That\u2019s the weekend the BCS national championship race will really begin to take shape. Alabama plays at LSU. Oregon plays at USC. TCU plays at West Virginia. Go ahead and set your DVRs.<\/td>\nWeek 2<\/strong>: With most of the sport\u2019s powers playing FCS or directional opponents, there\u2019s only a small handful of intriguing games: Florida at Texas A&M, Georgia at Missouri, Oklahoma State at Arizona and Washington at LSU.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ego Ferguson<\/strong>: LSU\u2019s deep and talented defensive line is a big reason it enters the season ranked No. 1 in the coaches\u2019 poll. Ferguson, a 6-foot-3, 308-pound sophomore, was a backup last season but steps into a bigger role this season. Also returning areBarkevious Mingo,\u00a0Sam Montgomeryand\u00a0Bennie Logan. The Tigers will be nearly impossible to block.<\/td>\nEgo<\/strong>: There\u2019s no other explanation for Petrino\u2019s boorish off-field behavior, which led to a motorcycle wreck, infidelity and his firing as Arkansas\u2019 coach. Petrino leaves behind a top-10 team to interim coach John L. Smith, who will try to close the gap between the Hogs and Alabama and LSU in the rugged SEC West.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shoelaces<\/strong>: Michigan quarterback\u00a0Denard Robinsonenters the season as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate after throwing for 2,056 yards with 18 touchdowns and running for 1,163 yards with 16 scores in 2011. His goal this season: a Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl trip.<\/td>\nIrish shoes<\/strong>: Notre Dame will wear special shoes that are designed to look like Ireland\u2019s flag in its opener against Navy in Dublin. While we\u2019re all for fashion and tradition, the green, white and orange stripes seem to be a bit much. Are the Irish playing football or sprinting in the Olympics?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pac-12 coaches<\/strong>: The league\u2019s roster of coaches is a lot more colorful after Washington State hired Leach, Arizona snagged Rodriguez and UCLA landed former Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora Jr. They join, of course, USC\u2019s Lane Kiffin and Oregon\u2019s Chip Kelly. The Pac-12\u2032s weekly coaches teleconference might be full of sound bites.<\/td>\nHot-seat coaches<\/strong>: Among the coaches who need to win this season: Tennessee\u2019s Derek Dooley, California\u2019s Jeff Tedford, Boston College\u2019s Frank Spaziani, Central Florida\u2019s George O\u2019Leary, Maryland\u2019s Randy Edsall, Central Michigan\u2019s Dan Enos, Idaho\u2019s Robb Akey, Kentucky\u2019s Joker Phillips and Texas Tech\u2019s Tommy Tuberville.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Quarterback battles<\/strong>: A handful of teams are still trying to determine their starting quarterbacks in preseason camp. Notre Dame has a four-man race between\u00a0Tommy Rees,\u00a0Everett Golson,Andrew Hendrix\u00a0and\u00a0Gunner Kiel. Sophomores\u00a0Jacoby Brissett\u00a0and\u00a0Jeff Driskel\u00a0are battling for Florida\u2019s starting job, and\u00a0Joe Southwick\u00a0and three other players are vying for the unenviable task of replacing Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore.<\/td>\nQuarterback injuries<\/strong>: Maryland hasn\u2019t even played a game yet, but the Terrapins are already scrambling in Edsall\u2019s second season. After going 2-10 in the coach\u2019s first season, Maryland lost starting quarterback\u00a0C.J. Brown\u00a0to a season-ending knee injury in practice earlier this week. With O\u2019Brien leaving for Wisconsin, freshmen Perry Hillis and\u00a0Caleb Rowe\u00a0are left to start under center.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Notre Dame\u2019s schedule<\/strong>: The Fighting Irish might be better in coach Brian Kelly\u2019s third season, but their results might not improve. Notre Dame plays arguably the country\u2019s most difficult schedule, with road games at Oklahoma, Michigan State and USC, home games against Michigan, Stanford and BYU, and neutral-site contests against Navy and Miami (in Chicago).<\/td>\nGeorgia\u2019s schedule<\/strong>: The Bulldogs\u2019 soft schedule is a big reason they enter the season ranked in the top 10 and as favorites to repeat as SEC East champions. The Bulldogs\u2019 nonconference schedule includes games against Buffalo, Florida Atlantic and FCS foe Georgia Southern, and it doesn\u2019t play Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State or Texas A&M from the SEC West.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Comebacks<\/strong>: Several top players are coming back from injuries that caused them to miss all or most of last season, including: South Carolina RB\u00a0Marcus Lattimore, Arkansas RB\u00a0Knile Davis, Tennessee WR\u00a0Justin Hunter, Pittsburgh RB\u00a0Ray Graham, Washington State QBJeff Tuel\u00a0and Texas A&M RB\u00a0Christine Michael.<\/td>\nSeason-ending injuries<\/strong>: A handful of important players have already been lost for all or most of the season, including Florida DERonald Powell, Missouri RB\u00a0Henry Josey, Oklahoma G\u00a0Tyler Evans, Oklahoma C Ben Habern, USC DEDevon Kennard, Georgia Tech LB Julian Burnett, Louisville WR\u00a0Michaelee Harrisand Ole Miss DT\u00a0D.T. Shackelford.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Impact freshmen<\/strong>: A large number of freshmen might play big roles on championship contenders, including RB Jonathan Gray (Texas), RB\u00a0T.J. Yeldon(Alabama), RBs\u00a0Keith Marshall\u00a0and\u00a0Todd Gurley(Georgia), WR\u00a0Dorial Green-Beckham\u00a0(Missouri), RBMichael Holmes\u00a0(Virginia Tech), WR\u00a0Trey Metoyer(Oklahoma), OT\u00a0D.J. Humphries\u00a0(Florida) and QB\u00a0Wes Lunt\u00a0(Oklahoma State).<\/td>\nImpact suspensions<\/strong>: More than a few teams will play the first few weeks short-handed because of suspensions. Among the significant players expected to miss action: Clemson WRSammy Watkins, Boise State WR\u00a0Geraldo Boldewijn, Georgia CB\u00a0Sanders Commings, Michigan RB\u00a0Fitzgerald Toussaint, Notre Dame QB Tommy Rees and Ohio State TE\u00a0Jake Stoneburner.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Originally Published:\u00a0August 17, 2012<\/div>\n

By\u00a0Mark Schlabach\u00a0| ESPN.com<\/cite><\/p>\n

THIS IS A REPOST OF AN ARTICLE I FOUND BY MARK SCHLABACH:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s hot (and not) for\u00a02012 We\u2019ll start the countdown to a legitimate college football playoff when the 2012 season opens in a couple of weeks. Of course, we\u2019ll have to wait two more seasons to see it. But there\u2019s still plenty of intrigue heading into the upcoming season. Is Florida State finally back? Is Texas? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":703,"featured_media":116,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4,5,6,7,8,9,2],"tags":[12,351,352,353,354],"class_list":["post-115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aflac-articles","category-aflac-claim-forms-georgia","category-aflac-product-brochures-ga","category-banners-broker","category-blogging-tips","category-empower-network","category-funny-stuff","category-sports-stories","tag-college-football","tag-espn","tag-football","tag-mark-schlabach","tag-sec-football"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/703"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=115"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115\/revisions\/139"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/powerkeg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}