The Solid Verbal: Pass/failing 2017 college football narratives
It’s quite simple: Is this thing ... a thing?
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• After Deshaun Watson’s dominance and Dabo Swinney’s emergence as a top national coach, is Clemson entranced as a 10.5+ win program that should have annual College Football Playoff aspirations?
• Speaking of which, with Clemson, Florida State, and Louisville all coming off of successful seasons of varying degrees, and every team but Syracuse finishing with a winning record, will the ACC Atlantic remain the best overall division in college football?
• Even with Willie Taggart heading to Oregon, Matt Rhule to Baylor, and Tom Herman to Texas, is the AAC still the best Group of 5 conference, staying ahead of Boise State, San Diego State, and the entirety of the Mountain West?
• Is there any reason — perhaps other than the dominant recruiting of Kirby Smart at Georgia thus far — to believe that the SEC East will be anything other than a division of uneven disappointment?
• Is Washington, with continued great coaching from Chris Petersen and staff, and continued great QB play Jake Browning and beyond, a perennial Pac-12 and somewhat routine College Football Playoff contender?
• With Baylor and Texas overhauling everything and TCU in a holding pattern, does the Big 12 run through the state of Oklahoma? Can West Virginia mount a big year with Florida QB transfer Will Grier or is the consistent success of Bob Stoops and Oklahoma, as well as Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State too much to overcome?
• Will Jim Harbaugh and Michigan continue to come this close to breaking through or is something just missing from a Wolverine squad searching for consistent QB play and answers to a number of holes on both sides of the ball?
• Following disappointing seasons, are host favorites Notre Dame and Oregon firmly positioned behind the national pack? Will a new staff and new look defense pay dividends for the Ducks in the short-term? Can Brian Kelly, new coordinators, and presumed new starting QB Brandon Wimbush jump-start things in South Bend to at least approach 10 wins in 2017?
... and more!
