1. Embracing change in a new and improved world

We’ve often heard that change is bad. Many claim that the charm and excitement of autumn Saturdays have vanished.

But what if that’s not true?

What if Michigan, after a rough start, steps up against a booming Southern California in their first Big Ten game?

What happens when Tennessee showcases its direction in the new SEC, reminding everyone that the Big Orange Moon is here to stay?

And what about Georgia and Alabama? The top teams in college football during the College Football Playoff era are gearing up for an electrifying clash this week, reminiscent of the legendary fights between Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns.

Look it up if you don’t know, kids.

“I can’t imagine anything giving less significance to a game in this sport,” Georgia’s head coach Kirby Smart shared with me back in July.

So, when has college football’s evolution ever caused harm?

For instance, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) launched in 1998 and initially stirred plenty of complaints, yet it transformed college football from a regional attraction to a national powerhouse.

Fast forward a decade to the onset of the College Football Playoff (CFP), where the “every game matters” skeptics arose again. Yet now, college football ranks just behind the NFL in terms of popularity.

As the CFP expands to 12 teams (and potentially 14 or 16 by 2026), those same persistent doubters are grumbling about the “diminished regular season.”

Consider the excitement around matchups like Illinois vs. Nebraska, Stanford vs. Syracuse, and San Jose State vs. Washington State — thrilling, high-stakes games that took place last week on an ordinary Friday night. Are we really questioning these matchups?

Throughout the last 26 years, college football has weathered major changes: evolving postseason formats, significant shifts in conference alignments that led to the demise of two (yes, just two!) Power conferences (the Big East and Pac-12), and several lawsuits challenging the amateurism ideal, inching the sport closer to resembling a mini NFL.

To that, I say: so what?

With players capitalizing on their name, image, and likeness, along with increased player movement and more postseason games, it doesn’t signify the end of the beloved college football landscape.

Rather, it’s the emergence of something even larger and better.

2. Georgia vs. Alabama: Could we see three encounters?

Not long ago, Alabama vs. LSU was seen as the pinnacle of the 2011 season, even leading to a rematch in the BCS National Championship Game, which shifted public sentiment toward the CFP era.

Now, we find ourselves in a situation where Georgia and Alabama might face each other up to three times this season; the same goes for Ohio State and Oregon.

It’s also possible that Tennessee could match up against either Georgia or Alabama, along with other high-profile matchups in the SEC and Big Ten. We might even witness three epic encounters in the Holy War this season.

Can the state of Utah handle that? It would surely be a fantastic showcase for one of the fiercest rivalries, rivaling Alabama vs. Auburn.

If you prefer Georgia vs. TCU just because it seems “novel,” enjoy your 58-point defeat in the national championship game.

Personally, I’m excited about the potential for a repeat of what happened in the 2021 NFL season when the 49ers and Rams met three times, and those last two games turned out to be among the absolute best of that season.

3. More means more: A closing thought

Let’s clear up a common misconception that has arisen with the new CFP structure: that only a few teams will dominate the wins.

Adding more teams to the playoff means more games, leading to greater chances for outstanding individual performances and for injuries to sway the outcomes.

It’s not guaranteed that winning three or four postseason matches is as straightforward as it might appear. Take a look at the schedule ahead for No. 1 Georgia: matchups against No. 4 Alabama, No. 2 Texas, No. 5 Mississippi, and No. 6 Tennessee (still think the regular season is “lost” in light of the new CFP format?).

If the Bulldogs navigate this challenging path, they would still need to secure another victory in the SEC championship to earn a first-round bye in the CFP. Otherwise, they’d be facing an additional four games to clinch the national title.

4. Army vs. Navy: Could we witness it twice in one season?

I don’t wish to sound alarmist, but we’re approaching a scenario where Army and Navy could face off twice in a single season.

Both teams remain undefeated and could pose significant challenges in the American Athletic Conference.

Navy recently topped AAC favorite Memphis by 12 points last week and still has to play against powerhouses South Florida and Tulane.

Anyone can join in on any of the three.

If Army and Navy make it to the conference championship game, it will take place the week before their traditional match. That’s right, folks, two weeks back-to-back featuring the best rivalry in college football.

The lingering question is: which holds more significance? The conference championship or The Game?

5. The Weekly Five: Ohio State Kicks Off the Season

Here are five essential updates regarding national title contender Ohio State, which faces its first challenge of the season on Saturday against Michigan State.

1. The potent offense boasts an impressive average of 8.6 yards per play, with TB Quinshon Judkins averaging 9.3 yards per carry and WR Jeremiah Smith averaging 20.1 yards per reception.

2. The Buckeyes rank in the Top Five nationally for both scoring offense (52.3 points per game) and scoring defense (6.7 points allowed per game).

3. Their offense has registered seven plays of 40 yards or more, five plays of 50 yards or more, and three plays of at least 60 yards.

4. Ohio State’s three opponents this season (Akron, Western Michigan, and Marshall) have a total combined record of 3-7.

5. The last time Ohio State triumphed over a power conference opponent was on November 18, 2024, when they defeated Minnesota 37-3.

6. An NFL Scout’s Perspective: Michigan CB Will Johnson

An NFL scout shares insights on a draft-eligible player and requested to remain anonymous to protect the team’s draft strategies.

“He’s got physicality and length, plus he’s an excellent athlete. His awareness of game situations is greatly underestimated. He knows how to manipulate quarterbacks and receivers, which shows he studies his opponents closely. A highly intelligent football player who is also an elite athlete, he has been making impactful plays in crucial games since his freshman year. He’s expected to be the first player chosen at his position.”

7. Power Play: Utah Makes an Entrance

This week’s College Football Playoff ranking includes one significant takeaway.

1. Texas: Their defense stands second in the nation for fewest points allowed (5.5 ppg), limiting opponents to under six plays of 10+ yards per game (5 per game) and is fourth in third down conversion rate allowed (21.8%). They also rank 15th in forced turnovers (8).

2. Ohio State: The scoring defense rankings among Ohio State’s three opponents show: Akron ranked 130th in the nation, Western Michigan ranked 129th, and Marshall ranked 92nd.

3. Miami: The Hurricanes lead the nation in sacks (16), while their opponent in Friday’s ACC opener, Virginia Tech, ranks 110th in the nation for fewest sacks allowed (10).

4. Utah: If QB Cam Rising (recovering from a finger injury) is fit to play, expect the Utes to dominate the Big 12 this season.

5. Georgia: Under coach Smart, Georgia has only beaten Alabama once while the Tide was missing its top two receivers in the second half of the 2021 national championship.

6. Alabama: A comparison of quarterbacks in the Georgia series since 2016 (Smart’s first year at Georgia): Alabama QBs have thrown for 15 TDs and 6 INTs, whereas Georgia QBs have thrown for 11 TDs and 7 INTs.

7. Tennessee: The Volunteers’ defense has achieved a three-and-out, turnover, or safety in 37 out of 54 drives — that’s a striking 68.5% success rate.

8. Ole Miss: The total record of the Rebels’ initial four opponents (Furman, Middle Tennessee, Wake Forest, Georgia Southern) stands at 5-10.

9. Oregon: The Ducks won’t face a new Big Ten rival until October 4 (Michigan State) and won’t hit the road against a new conference rival until October 16 (at Purdue).

10. Missouri: Despite having three legitimate deep threats (WRs Luther Burden III, Theo Wease Jr., Mookie Cooper), QB Brady Cook is managing only 7.1 yards per attempt.

11. Clemson: The offense is starting to hit its stride and will likely not face serious challenges until facing Louisville in the first week of November.

12. Boise State: Washington State is likely to be the most challenging game on the Broncos’ schedule, currently sitting 84th in the nation for run defense. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty leads the nation in rushing with 193.7 ypg and an impressive 10.5 yards per carry.

8. Mail Call: Penn State’s Initial Challenge

Matt: I’ve yet to see Penn State in any College Football Playoff projections. Is there no admiration for the Nittany Lions? — Paul Davidson, Richmond, Va.

Paul: It all begins with their schedule. The victory over West Virginia felt disjointed due to weather delays and ended up being overlooked. Then Bowling Green nearly toppled Penn State in Week 2, followed by a rout of a poor Kent State team last weekend after their bye week.

The bottom line: the Nittany Lions aren’t capturing attention, at least not yet.

This week, we’ll gain more insight into Penn State as they face an unbeaten and rising Illinois team. Both teams share similar strategies (heavy on running and play-action passing while emphasizing a strong defense), potentially leading to a classic Big Ten grind.

Whether fair or not, CFP projections, as well as weekly polls, are influenced by offensive performance. It’s essential for Penn State’s offense to shine in a significant game.

9. The Numbers Game: Nebraska’s Decline

34. When Nebraska lost to Illinois in overtime last Friday, it marked the Huskers’ 34th one-possession loss since the 2017 season.

This figure is far greater than any other team in the country and underscores why Nebraska has missed the postseason for the last seven years.

The Huskers have experienced losses in almost every possible way, including six in overtime, three times to Group of Five teams (Northern Illinois, Troy, Georgia Southern), and five losses to their arch-rival Iowa, by a mere 22 combined points.

Looking ahead: the desperate Purdue team is next on the schedule after suffering heavy defeats against Notre Dame and Oregon State. Purdue has edged Nebraska in three games since 2017 by a collective 15 points.

10. Final Thoughts: Caution, LSU

Under the direction of new defensive coordinator Blake Baker, LSU ranks 14th in the SEC for scoring defense and total defense, giving up an SEC-high six yards per play.

This brings us to South Alabama, LSU’s opponent this Saturday, representing a potentially tough challenge for a defense struggling to hold opponents at bay. Redshirt freshman QB Geo Lopez has yet to throw an interception this year, racking up nine touchdown passes and averaging 9.2 yards per attempt.

Viewers can expect an interesting session with the Brian Kelly isolation camera on SEC Network.