The Greatest Story Ever Played: College Football Noise 2024

The wind hums of an approaching tempest. It’s coming. Tailgating, grilling, cheerleaders and reunions. Word is that the singer Jelly Roll’s song, “Get By” is the official College Football anthem this fall. “I could tell some stories about some things you won’t believe.” That’s right and each season is full of em, so let’s add to the noise.

Change is constant but the changes in College Football this year are seismic. Prodding along ever closer to an AFC/NFC paradigm, we say goodbye to the Pac-12 Conference and gaze upon sidelines that are eerily missing Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh. The former holding the most titles and the latter holding the current title.

I don’t know but it just seems like we lost a lot of marquis coaches in the last couple years – think Mike Leach, Jimbo Fisher, Saban and Harbaugh. Just so you know, those departures leave Kirby Smart, Dabo Sweeney and Mack Brown as the only active football coaches that have ever climbed Mount Niitaka. And then there be three.

Last year we saw an undefeated Florida State showcase all that was wrong with the old 4-team finale, but we’ve procured a tonic for that now. This year we’re expanding the college playoff to 12 teams starting just before Christmas — and ending a month later over the MLK holiday. Lotta good television headed our way.

Overview: the new 12-team College Football Playoff field will include the five highest-ranked conference champions, which will receive automatic bids. The seven highest-ranked teams remaining will round out the 12-team format. The top four teams will receive a first-round bye to the quarterfinals. Change is good.

The Big Ten is the largest conference in the country with 18 teams, and the ACC — with the additions of SMU, Cal and Stanford – follow with 17 teams. The SEC and Big 12 have 16 teams. Gone is the concept of divisions. Now, the two top teams in each conference will face off in their conference championship games. More good TV. No more Michigan versus hapless Iowa. This time it could be Oregon versus USC for the Big Ten title. Say what. Wouldn’t that be poetic.” Welcome to the new world Captain Ramius.” More likely, it will be Oregon versus Ohio State for the second time. It’s a safe wager that the pundits will go ape in October, when Oregon beats OSU and the world turns upside down in the northeast.

Then there’s the Harbaugh news: As you recall, the NCAA hounded Jim Harbaugh last season – forcing him to watch half of the Wolverine games from his house. That wasn’t enough to impede Big Blue’s title aspirations, but the rumors of further harassment sent Jimmy into NFL exile. Just in time too. Reminds me of Pete Carroll’s stage left exit back in 2010. The NCAA threw the penalty flag at Jimmy for, “violating recruitment rules, engaging in unethical conduct, stealing the other team’s signs and harboring a fervent dislike for the NCAA rules committee.” Harbaugh has departed Ann Arbor and was last seen kicking it down on Rodeo Drive.

Meanwhile, the NCAA flexes its muscles occasionally by stripping titles and erasing history but refuses to raise a hand to combat the ungoverned NIL and runaway transfer portal. And no, I’m not a Wolverine fan…but I do share a dormant disdain for the NCAA rules committee. Maybe one day we’ll get a tonic to remedy them too. Enough bad blood.

Twelve Strong: So, who’s getting invited to the dance – the new College Football Playoff dance – The CFP. Based on the accumulation of five-star talent and transfer portal acquisitions – Georgia holds the preseason pole position followed by Ohio State and Texas – although I suspect Texas and Oregon will be atop the pack by late October. Last year the Dawgs were ridiculed for having a soft schedule but that’s old news. They have a serious schedule this season. If they are undefeated in December – it’s because they deserve it.

The SEC eats their young but look for the Dawgs, Texas, Bama and Lane Kiffin’s Rebels to still be standing in ‘The Last Month.’ The usual suspects will show from the Big Ten along with Oregon and Michigan but minus Penn State. USC will beat the Nittany Lions out west in the coliseum and ruin their swagger. The Seminoles will win the ACC, but Dabo’s Tigers will not see the CFP after losing to the only ranked teams they face this season (Georgia and the Noles). In fact, neither of the Tiger teams (Clemson or LSU) will show in post season play. Utah and Cam Rising will win the Big 12 and secure a seat at the table. As for the others – well, I expect the Irish will show up and perhaps a lone wolf from the Big 12 or ACC but it’s pretty much certain that the SEC and Big 10 will comprise the lion’s share of the finalists.

As for the rest of college football, look for “The Giant Killers’ of App State to victimize Clemson and roll up ECU to steal the September headlines. NC State will beat Carolina for the fourth straight year and send Mac Brown into retirement. There’s minimal hype from Colorado these days and if Prime’s son gets hurt the sun will set early on the Buffs. Meanwhile, as I say every year, this will be Lee Corso’s finale’ especially since Saban is postured to succeed him as the venerable coach on the Game Day panel.

The big prediction: Somewhere during the next four months, Lee Corso will tip his hat to the GameDay faithful and call it a day. On the gridiron we’ll see Texas and Oregon meet in the National Championship. Nouveau times and tailgating parties loom ever nearer. Happiness is College Football. It’s coming.