Official 2023 College Football Thread

[Edward64]

Coaches poll below.

Coaches Poll top 25: Michigan ahead of Alabama, Ohio State in preseason college football rankings - CBSSports.com

Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Georgia (61)
2. Michigan
3. Alabama (4)
4. Ohio State (1)
5. LSU
6. USC
7. Penn State
8. Florida State
9. Clemson
10. Tennessee
11. Washington
12. Texas
13. Notre Dame
14. Utah
15. Oregon
16. TCU
17. Kansas State
18. Oregon State
19. Oklahoma
20. North Carolina
21. Wisconsin
22. Ole Miss
23. Tulane
24. Texas Tech
25. Texas A&M

Others receiving votes: Iowa 169; South Carolina 89; Florida 63; UTSA 59; Pittsburgh 52; UCLA 42; Kentucky 34; Baylor 28; Troy 25; Arkansas 20; NC State 19; Fresno State 19; Boise State 18; Auburn 18; Minnesota 16; Miami 16; Mississippi State 13; Oklahoma State 12; Missouri 11; Maryland 10; SMU 8; South Alabama 8; Illinois 7; Wake Forest 6; Air Force 6; Toledo 5; Washington State 4; Houston 3; Duke 2; Brigham Young 2; Arizona 2; Memphis 1; Kansas 1; James Madison 1

[Edward64]

Some in Hog forum are predicting a 7-5 or 6-6 year. That would be a disappointment for Pittman's 4th year.

Assuming our QB stays healthy (unlike last year), I'm more positive but honestly don't know how we'll do with a new OC and a new DC this year.

[GrantDawg]

Michigan didn't get a single first place vote, but is ranked second. Interesting.

[GrantDawg]

dola: Just to add, two is a good position. Georgia's schedule is softer than Charmin. They have one mediocre game against someone they should beat (and the always do), The number two team can't vault to number one pretty quickly. As much as Georgia has the resume of the past two years, a loss in the season could put them in real jeopardy of not making the playoffs. If that loss keeps them out of the SEC championship, then it definitely will.

[Ghost Econ]

SEC and Big Ten have 10 of the top 12 spots.

[Edward64]

Ouch.

Former Hogs RB Alex Collins has passed away, reports say it was a motorcycle accident. This came on the heels of former Hogs QB Ryan Mallett drowning in June.

Neither made a big impact in the NFL, but both were great Razorbacks and really fun to watch.

Not a good year for Hog fans.

[albionmoonlight]

A good Tulane team is like free money. You don't expect it, so on the rare occasions it happens, you really enjoy it.

[Edward64]

Nice!

Why do players commit so early? It's a long ways till 2026 but nice catch. The Hogs better do well otherwise I can see him go to greener pastures.

Tay Lockett chooses Hogs over 40 other offers | KNWA FOX24

Arkansas has landed San Diego (Calif.) St. John Bosco Class of 2026 defensive back Tay Lockett on Wednesday.

Lockett, 6-0, 175, has committed to Arkansas over offers from 40 other schools including basically all the national powers.

“I chose the Hogs because of the program Coach (Sam) Pittman has already shaped it into, but because I know we can only get better,” Lockett said. “Another big reason I chose the Hogs was because all of my family lives in Arkansas. I get the ‘home’ feeling the minute I get around the coaches and players at the University of Arkansas.”

Lockett is the first pledge for Arkansas in the Class of 2026. He’s a MaxPreps Preseason All-America.

He chose the Hogs over offers from such schools as USC, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Florida State, Penn State, Georgia, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, UCF, Arizona State, Ole Miss, Michigan, Auburn, UCLA and Miami among numerous others.

[Ksyrup]

I kinda felt bad that the Pac-12 was dismantled but now that I'm home and expected to settle in to watch a decent team only to find out the game is on a non-existent network... Fuck the Pac-12, I hope it doesn't last until June 30th.

[bronconick]

Forgot about the new running clock for 1st downs. Army-Navy will be done in 2 hours.

[Edward64]

Another 2026 commit (and stole one from GA).

OT Bear McWhorter from Georgia. Had offers from AL, AU, Cincy, UF, FSU, GA etc.

2026 means he's 18-1-1 = 16 (?) at 6-4, 297lbs.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Another 2026 commit (and stole one from GA).

OT Bear McWhorter from Georgia. Had offers from AL, AU, Cincy, UF, FSU, GA etc.

2026 means he's 18-1-1 = 16 (?) at 6-4, 297lbs.

Well, this is the same kid who "gained national attention as an eighth grader when he rented a billboard on Interstate 49 near Fayetteville which read, "Coach Pittman, I want to be a Hog.”

[Edward64]

First saw this graphic on the Hogs forum discussing recruiting. Take it FWIW

Geography with Goudge: NFL Player Origins per Capita, 2022 | News | kmaland.com

NFL Player Origins per Capita, 2022

[BYU 14]

Honestly not surprising, given the amount of talent in the south. California and Texas are 'hurt' by huge populations, but that 1.25 still equates to a lot of players and Utah, which may surprise some, has a large poly population and Poly's have a higher percentage of players in the league than any other ethnicity.

[albionmoonlight]

New Mexico kind of stands out. I wonder why it is so low relative to its neighbors

[cartman]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

New Mexico kind of stands out. I wonder why it is so low relative to its neighbors

Their high school football system is quite sparse.

[HerRealName]

The data analyst in me wants to throw that map into the ocean. Gradient colors on a heat map would be far less misleading. Dr Ted Goudge show have their Sport Geography phd revoked.

[cuervo72]

What, are the Mormons taking credit for Samoa?

[GrantDawg]

The ACC was supposed to have a meeting today on adding Standford, Cal and SMU. It has been postponed due to the UNC shooting.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

What, are the Mormons taking credit for Samoa?

Are you thinking Hawaii?

[JPhillips]

Per capita?

So there are around 37 million NFL players from Texas?

[henry296]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Per capita?

So there are around 37 million NFL players from Texas?

Probably per million people?

[albionmoonlight]

It says "national norm = 1.0" so I think that it is all relative to that.

[Edward64]

Hogs are favored by 37.5 over Kent State. We covered last week, but our RB1 is probably not going to play this Sat so not as confident.

On other news, AP has Hogs at #28. Woohoo! Let's have a couple upsets, Hogs play really well and we might sneak into Top-25.

[Edward64]

Okay, nvm. I'm a little more confident now.

Kent State's three returning starters, all on defense, tie Colorado for the fewest overall returning starters in the country.

Central Florida outgained the Golden Flashes 723-240 in total offense as Kent State's lone points came on field goals of 45 and 43 yards by junior Andrew Glass.

[cartman]

In a long line of massively stupid decisions made by the NCAA, this one might just be the worst.

North Carolina WR Tez Walker denied appeal, ineligible for '23 - ESPN

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by cartman

In a long line of massively stupid decisions made by the NCAA, this one might just be the worst.

North Carolina WR Tez Walker denied appeal, ineligible for '23 - ESPN

And I just figure it's a rare case of sanity shown by the NCAA.

[RainMaker]

I don't know much about the Tez Walker situation but that is some response by Mack Brown. Can't remember the last time a coach went that hard at the NCAA.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

And I just figure it's a rare case of sanity shown by the NCAA.

He wanted to move closer to his ailing grandmother who raised him.

[bronconick]

They should've said one free transfer, everything else costs waiting a year. No waivers. Period. By giving some, they opened the barn door and now they're chasing horses around.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by bronconick

They should've said one free transfer, everything else costs waiting a year. No waivers. Period. By giving some, they opened the barn door and now they're chasing horses around.

100% agree

[bob]

Is it just me or is Lee Corso doing a bit better this year?

[GrantDawg]

Georgia offensive line looks like crap. Playing teams they should dominate, they are getting pushed around. If you a SEC East team, you have to be licking your lips watching the film. Georgia is looking very beatable in the early season.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by bob

Is it just me or is Lee Corso doing a bit better this year?

Maybe.

But Joe Namath hasn't aged gracefully, need to blend in his grey.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Georgia offensive line looks like crap. Playing teams they should dominate, they are getting pushed around. If you a SEC East team, you have to be licking your lips watching the film. Georgia is looking very beatable in the early season.

The Dawgs have a relatively easy schedule this year (I mean, it's not as if they are in the SEC-W). Only 2 ranked teams (as of this week) on schedule with #9 Tennessee and #20 Ole Miss, and both are later in the season.

I wouldn't panic yet.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

The Dawgs have a relatively easy schedule this year (I mean, it's not as if they are in the SEC-W). Only 2 ranked teams (as of this week) on schedule with #9 Tennessee and #20 Ole Miss, and both are later in the season.

I wouldn't panic yet.

No panic, just observation. I know how easy their schedule is, but what that translates to is they have no room for error. The offense isn't looking great but especially the offensive line is just getting pushed around. That is not going to translate well once they start playing SEC level defenses unless they clean it up.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

No panic, just observation. I know how easy their schedule is, but what that translates to is they have no room for error. The offense isn't looking great but especially the offensive line is just getting pushed around. That is not going to translate well once they start playing SEC level defenses unless they clean it up.

... and now they're getting their mojo

[JPhillips]

Colorado hasn't looked good, but Nebraska, at least on offense, has been terrible.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

... and now they're getting their mojo

Getting three interceptions will help. The OL does seem to have wore on their DL. Let's see what they look like to start the second half. Teams like this don't have the depth to rotate talented DL to keep them fresh like better teams will.

[GrantDawg]

Georgia always seem to have a undersized walk-on that just comes out of nowhere to shine. Mekhi Mews is this years version. That little guy is shifty and has great eyes for the hole.

[GrantDawg]

That interception that Beck just threw was just a horrible series of mistakes on the Refs. They quick snap because the defense encroached and Beck forced a ball thinking it was a free play. The Refs didn't through a flag on the obvious penalty there or on the pass interference that cause the pass to bounce out to the other defender. Just garbage.

[Edward64]

The Hogs are sucking big time.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Edward64

The Hogs are sucking big time.

Ole Miss and Kentucky say hi

[Edward64]

Can't be as bad as 20 yards of offense by mid 2Q.

We really, really suck.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Can't be as bad as 20 yards of offense by mid 2Q.

We really, really suck.

Kentucky was trailing EKU until about a minute ago. At least you've been ahead.

Ole Miss meanwhile, minus WR Tre Harris since early (undisclosed injury), can't do jack shit with the ball. The OL has apparently been replaced by the Oxford HS JV

[Edward64]

Alright, scored just before the half and now up 14-6.

Sure hope they come out PO’d at their performance.

[GrantDawg]

Carson Beck could be rented out to haunted houses to scare the children.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Carson Beck could be rented out to haunted houses to scare the children.

Hell, best I can tell he scares ADULTS

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Hell, best I can tell he scares ADULTS

My wife said he looks like he was put together in a lab.

[Galaril]

Colorado defense played much better but to be honest Nebraska some what handed them the blowout. I was at the game and it was no way as close as the score. It will be interesting when CU plays USC in a few weeks at Boulder. The Oline is terrible.