My long-awaited CFB preview thread 2022

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Okay... Since Alabama and Texas A&M have stopped their petty fighting over the NIL rules (at least for now), it's finally time for us fans to do our jobs. And that is to give praise and hype to teams that may or may not deserve it.

Yep, it's time for my latest CFB preview thread to begin! More details coming tomorrow...

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

As per usual, I'll be doing all of the "Group of Five" conferences on this thread. Then I'll be looking at the "Power 5" on separate threads. Let's just see what order we'll be doing the "minor leagues" in:

This weekend: Independents like New Mexico State, UConn, Liberty, Army, and UMass.
1st conference: The AAC (Last year, the American only had one real "New Year's Six" contender in Cincinnati. This year, this conference could have 3!)
2nd: Mountain West (Quite a few storylines here; Boise wants to rebound, Fresno welcomes back a proud coach, and we even had a QB trade between Utah State and Wyoming!)
3rd: MAC (Let's just say the MAC teams in the state of Ohio will be VERY busy this fall.)
4th: Conference USA (Three teams left in the offseason, but that might not be the craziest thing to happen to this conference this year. At least UTSA is still loaded.)
Last: Sun Belt (I'm still having trouble processing this new-look Sun Belt, so it'll be the last "minor" conference I'll preview this year.)

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

New Mexico State

The first preview segment for the 2022 season: The New Mexico State Aggies

Last season: So why is a team that went 2-10 last year going first in my previews? Because there is some actual optimism surrounding the program. Not only is NMSU going to Conference USA starting next season, but they also hired Jerry Kill as head coach to lead the way.

Good news: NMSU has some options at RB and WR, and the linebacking corps looks to be the strength of the defense.

Bad news: Overall team depth is a huge concern, especially on the O-line; don't be surprised if transfers are counted on to help out.

Key games:
9/10 @ UTEP (Good news/bad news time for this rivalry for NMSU. The bad news is, UTEP is actually starting to do something good. The good news is, at least these 2 will be conference mates soon.)
10/1 vs. Florida International (Hey! Here's a winnable game for the Aggies.)
10/15 vs. New Mexico (The Aggies are hoping to snap a 3-game losing streak in this rivalry.)
10/29 @ UMass (Another winnable game for NMSU.)

Bottom line: Casual fans can ignore New Mexico State again this season, but the local fans should be excited. The new coach is bringing much-needed energy to the program, and getting more than 2 wins in 2022 would be a good sign for the Aggies as they head off to their new home in C-USA.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

UConn

Preview segment: The UConn Huskies

Last season: Yet another god-awful campaign, as UConn went 1-11. This includes their only win being against an FCS school, a coach (Randy Edsall) leaving in the middle of the season, and a loss to Holy Cross!

Good news: Much like New Mexico State, UConn was able to find a coaching veteran (Jim Mora) to help them right the ship. RB and WR looks to be good, and the D-line has some good talent.

Bad news: The O-line could be a season-long problem. And also like New Mexico State, there are depth issues all over the place.

2022 X-factor: QB Ta'Quan Roberson- This guy does have a strong arm, but we'll see if his lack of experience will hurt him.

Key games:
9/3 vs. Central Connecticut State (For UConn's sake, they had BETTER take care of THIS FCS opponent.)
10/8 @ Florida International (Say! UConn does have some winnable games on the later half of their schedule. I mean, FIU is rebuilding as well.)
10/15 @ Ball State (Ball State is also rebuilding, so if UConn's defense stands tall...)
11/5 vs. UMass (Then again, if things go south this game could be a "Pillow Fight of the Year of the Century" as Ryan McGee calls it.)

Bottom line: UConn needed to hit the reset button after the last few years of misery, and they did so by bringing in Jim Mora. Mora may have his work cut out for him, but at least the Huskies should be better as the 2022 season drags on.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Massachusetts

Preview segment: The UMass Minutemen

Last season: A pathetic 1-11, with that one win coming against UConn.

Good news: New coach Don Brown is beginning his second tenure with the Minutemen, and he's brought energy back to the program. The defense should do much better, and Ellis Merriweather has become a dependable running back for UMass.

Bad news: The QB position is up in the air, and the wide-receiver group doesn't install confidence.

Key games:
9/17 vs. Stony Brook (Of the Minutemen's first 5 games, this is the only one they'll get to host. Plus, UMass got embarrassed by Maine last year.)
9/24 @ Temple (Wait. Temple is rebuilding, so maybe UMass will have a chance in this one.)
10/29 vs. New Mexico State (This game...)
11/5 @ UConn (...and this game will determine if UMass will finish in the "Bottom 10" of the FBS rankings again.)

Bottom line: Things should be more competitive for UMass this season, but we can safely ignore them unless something big happens.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Liberty

Preview segment: The Liberty Flames

Last season: Honestly, it was kind of a mixed bag for the Liberty Flames in 2021. Yes, they got their 3rd straight bowl victory, and the defense was very impressive. And you can't forget the brilliance of QB Malik Willis.
On the other hand... I kinda expected them to win more than 8 games last year (and also not lose to UL-Monroe).

Bad news: Well, Malik Willis is now with the Tennessee Titans in the NFL, and now we have 4 guys fighting it out to be the new starting QB! Oh, and the secondary has some new faces.

Good news: There is quality depth on this team, as seen by the stout O-line that Liberty has. That means good news for a run game that could be better than it was last year. Oh, and the defense should be good again.

2022 X-factor: Those 4 quarterbacks- But let's get back to the QB problem that Liberty has. Don't get me wrong: Liberty has some good options that they can plug in, like former Baylor QB Charlie Brewer. But Kaidon Salter has great upside, Nate Hampton has a big arm, and Johnathan Bennett has spent 3 years being Malik Willis' backup. There are a LOT of ways that this could go.

Key games:
9/17 @ Wake Forest (Hopefully, Liberty will settle on a starting QB before this challenging game against the defending ACC Atlantic champions.)
10/22 vs. BYU (This is the first time that BYU will travel to Lynchburg to visit the Flames.)
11/5 @ Arkansas (I'm kinda looking forward to this one. By this time, Liberty should be running well and ready to catch the Razorbacks looking ahead to their "Battle of the Golden Boot" game against LSU.)
11/19 vs. Virginia Tech (It's the awaited rematch between the Flames and the Hokies. 2 years ago, Liberty won AT Virginia Tech to make themselves a household name. What will take place when the Hokies visit Lynchburg?)

Bottom line: It's time for Hugh Freeze to flex those coaching muscles of his; he's dealing with a diminished WR group, a new defensive coordinator, and 4 dudes wanting to be the new starting QB. Hugh usually cranks out winners, so I'm pulling for him to find Liberty a 4th straight bowl appearance.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Army-West Point

Preview segment: The Army Black Knights

Last season: The good times continued for the Black Knights, as they got their 2nd-straight 9-win season. They even defeated an SEC team in the Armed Forces Bowl! ...That bowl win wasn't enough to wash out the bad taste of losing to Navy, but beggars can't be choosers.

Good news: The Army rushing game should be great yet again, thanks to runners like Tyrell Robinson and a O-line returning some key players. On defense, LB Andre Carter II is back after becoming Army's first All-American in 31 years.

Bad news: Andre is the only guy on defense I truly trust right now, as that unit is missing 3 captains from the previous year. Oh, and the QB position isn't as deep as Army would like it.

Key games:
9/3 @ Coastal Carolina (Army will get tested right away in 2022, as they'll start with a visit to Coastal Carolina [a new-age power in the Sun Belt].)
9/10 vs. UTSA (And then, the Black Knights will host the defending C-USA champions.)
10/8 @ Wake Forest (This is the only "Power 5" team that Army will face in 2022. Remember, last year Army pushed Wisconsin and defeated Missouri.)
11/5 vs. Air Force (Of course, Army can't forget about beating the Air Force Falcons again...)
12/10 vs. Navy [in Philadelphia] (...and seeking revenge against those darn Midshipmen.)

Bottom line: Army is returning plenty of players from last year's squad, so they should be just fine with another bowl trip in 2022. But in order for Army to get their 3rd-straight 9-win season, some questions on defense has to get answered.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Cincinnati

The first preview segment for the American Athletic Conference: The Cincinnati Bearcats

Last season: Cincinnati's 2021 campaign will never be forgotten. This was the campaign where the Bearcats defied the "Group of Five" stigma and was able to go 13-0 and make the College Football Playoff!
Now, they had the misfortune of facing Alabama once they got there, so they lost. But Cincy DID show the other "Group of Five" schools that it IS possible in this day and age to vie for a national title. Now we need to take a step back and see what Cincinnati has left.

Bad news: Ooooo... The Bearcats had 9 players selected in last April's NFL Draft? That's quite the talent drain, especially on the defense; the secondary in particular lost some great corners. On offense, Evan Prater and Ben Bryant will battle it out in summer camp to see who'll replace Desmond Ridder at QB.

Good news: Linebacker looks to be the best position on defense, and the O-line and TE Josh Whyle will be great comforts for a offense trying to keep the show going.

Key games:
9/3 @ Arkansas (Cincinnati has so many new faces, and yet they're bold enough to go visit a SEC West school in Week 1? You gotta admire Cincy's guts. Much like the Notre Dame game last year, this game will determine where Cincy will stand in 2022 on a national level.)
9/24 vs. Indiana (Oh, and last year Cincinnati defeated Indiana, too. Now it's time for a rematch.)
10/22 @ SMU (Late October will be the toughest stretch for the Bearcats in their final tour in the AAC. Visiting a high-scoring SMU team is never fun.)
10/29 @ UCF (You know what's even less fun? Visiting a UCF team that wants to return to the big dance at your expense.)

Bottom line: ...Oh, NOW I remember! Cincinnati is joining the Big 12 next season, right? Well, I guess all Cincinnati can do now is try to sweep through the AAC one more time before leaving for greener pastures. But they need to choose a new QB quickly and find new faces on defense if they want to win the conference... and ESPECIALLY if they want to crash the "New Year's Six" party one more time.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Southern Methodist

Preview segment: The SMU Mustangs

Last season: Things went so well for the Mustangs in the first half of the season, as they started 7-0 and defeated TCU again. But then they lost close games to Houston and Memphis. A tough break, right? Well, things soon got worse as they then got crushed by Cincinnati, had their Senior Day ruined by Tulsa, and their bowl game (in Fenway Park) then got cancelled. And finally, their coach Sonny Dykes went across the state to coach rival TCU!
So where do the Mustangs go from here?

Good news: The offense should still be very good thanks to a WR group led by Rashee Rice and QB Tanner Mordecai still here. The defense has maturity...

Bad news: ...but not a lot of experience; only 3 starters from last year's unit are back. Also, can the new coach Rhett Lashlee make sure SMU doesn't choke on the back end of their schedule again?

Key games:
9/17 @ Maryland (A "shootout alert" may need to be issued for this game in College Park.)
9/24 vs. TCU (Oh boy. SMU has won the last 2 meetings with the Horned Frogs, and this year they'll be hosting their former coach. This could get ugly.)
10/1 @ UCF (But of course, SMU has to save some energy, because their AAC opener will be a hard one.)
10/22 vs. Cincinnati (Just know that the fur will fly in this big conference game.)
11/5 vs. Houston (These in-state rivals have split their last 6 meetings. And we should savor this one, because it may be a while before they see each other again...)

Bottom line: Rhett Lashlee does know the SMU program inside and out, so don't expect too much drop-off from the Mustang offense. SMU wants to contend for the AAC again this season (and they'll have plenty of chances to wedge themselves into the conversation), but the defense needs to get much better.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Tulane

Preview segment: The Tulane Green Wave

Last season: Tulane was doing fine with Willie Fritz at the helm... until 2021. When they went 2-10. But then again, the coaching staff couldn't really get along, the team was displaced early on thanks to a hurricane, and the hard schedule didn't help out anybody.

Good news: QB Michael Pratt should thrive under his new offensive coordinator, and even if he doesn't he'll have RB Tyjae Spears as a solid backup plan. Tulane's defense actually got better as the 2021 season dragged on, and it should continue it's improvement with people like Darius Hodges coming back.

Bad news: The secondary gave up too many big plays last year, so that has to be fixed. Oh, and let's hope that Tulane's new offensive coordinator can fix a O-line that was crap last year and get the WR's to play better.

Key games:
9/24 vs. Southern Miss (Happily, Tulane's non-conference slate this year is a lot easier than it was last year. Tulane has beaten rival Southern Miss the last 2 times they've met.)
10/8 vs. East Carolina (This could be a "swing-game" for Tulane's bowl chances.)
10/22 vs. Memphis (Tulane almost got the Tigers last year in Memphis before losing 14-10.)
11/12 vs. UCF (Tulane also came close to shocking the Golden Knights last year, too.)

Bottom line: There are a lot of new, happy faces on the coaching staff. And Tulane has some good pieces coming back, so maybe they can have a great rebound season and make a bowl in 2022. But that's only if that offensive line and WR group gets it's act together.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Central Florida

Preview segment: The Central Florida Golden Knights

Last season: For the 1st half of the 2021 season, it was hit-and-miss for Central Florida; they went 3-3 with a stunning loss to Navy and a blowout loss to Cincinnati thrown in. But then they righted the ship to win 6 of their final 7 games, including a proud Gasparilla Bowl win over the Florida Gators. Now in Gus Malzahn's 2nd year in Orlando, they're ready to return to the "New Year's Six" spotlight.

Bad news: A few solid players left in the offseason, including Kat Bryant (now with the Dallas Cowboys) and Dillon Gabriel (who transferred away to Oklahoma).

Good news: Other than that, everything looks fine. The defense returns 8 starters, the O-line looks great, and Ryan O'Keefe headlines a collection of great skill players. Oh, and when Dillon Gabriel got hurt last season, freshmen QB Mikey Keene stepped in and did better than good (17 TD's and only 6 picks). If Mikey beefs up his arm strength, watch out!

Key games:
9/9 vs. Louisville (UCF lost a heartbreaker to the Cardinals last year 42-35. The newly-named "Bounce House" should be rocking for this one.)
9/24 vs. Georgia Tech (Oooo! UCF gets to host TWO ACC teams this year?!)
10/29 vs. Cincinnati (This could be the biggest AAC game we'll have this year: The defending AAC champions who crashed the CFP party last year, going to Orlando.)
11/5 @ Memphis (This one is big for 2 reasons. One, it's right after the Cincinnati game, so UCF needs to watch out for a hangover. And two, UCF won only 1 true road game last season.)
11/25 @ USF (Careful, UCF! Last year, the lowly Bulls gave you everything you wanted and more in Orlando. Now you'll be facing them in Tampa, and USF might not be putrid this year!)

Bottom line: Like Cincinnati, Central Florida wants to run through the AAC one more time before leaving for the Big 12 next season. But I honestly think that UCF has a better chance of crashing the "New Year's Six" party in 2022 than Cincinnati does. If they stop the Bearcats (and take care of their ACC opposition), one last AAC title will come to Orlando.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

East Carolina

Preview segment: The East Carolina Pirates

Last season: Finally, some good times returned to the East Carolina football team in 2021; they got their first winning season since 2014! And sure, they didn't play in a bowl game, but that was only because Boston College withdrew due to health concerns. Now let's see if Mike Houston and his team can qualify for another bowl... and actually PLAY in it this time!

Good news: QB Holton Ahlers is back for one more year, and he'll have great helpers like RB Keaton Mitchell with him. The defensive front looks very good...

Bad news: ...and it might have to be this season; the secondary could take some time to mesh together.

Key games:
9/3 vs. NC State (This will be a HUGE season opener for the Pirates; NC State have lost the last 2 times they went to Greenville. ECu could jump into the national discussion if they somehow pull it off again.)
10/15 vs. Memphis (A "swing-game" for ECU's postseason chances.)
10/22 vs. UCF (ECU has lost the last 6 times they faced Central Florida, but they'll have a shot this time.)
11/19 vs. Houston (On the Pirates' Senior Day, they could ruin the AAC chances of the Cougars.)

Bottom line: ECU will also have road games against BYU and Cincinnati, so qualifying for another bowl won't be easy. However, if the offense churns along and the defense continues to improve, they'll have a great chance to do it.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Navy

Preview segment: The Navy Midshipmen

Last season: Another tough year for Navy as they went 4-8. But I'm not mad at coach Ken Niumatalolo for that, and that's because of 2 reasons.
One: He KNEW that 2021's schedule was the toughest one that Navy ever went through (all but one of their opponents qualified for a bowl).
And Two: His team DID defeat Army to end the year.

Good news: The QB that led Navy to that big win (Tai Lavatai) is back, and he's got a firm grasp of Navy's triple-option offense. The defense looks to be good again, and so does the kicking game.

Bad news: Well, that's weird; Navy's fullback group is young and inexperienced (don't be surprised if Kai Puailoa-Rojas has to do everything early on). And the Navy defense will be missing Diego Fagot on the D-line.

Key games:
9/10 vs. Memphis (This should be an early tone-setter for the Midshipmen this season.)
10/1 @ Air Force (Navy has dropped 3 of their last 4 meetings against the Falcons.)
10/22 vs. Houston (Can this version of the Navy triple-option trip up the title-contending Cougars?)
12/10 vs. Army [in Philadelphia] (This is always the barometer game for the Midshipmen. ALWAYS.)

Bottom line: Navy has been unable to accept transfers from other schools, so that has cut into the talent pool quite a bit. And a schedule that still has Cincinnati, Houston, Notre Dame, and SMU will not help this team escape the lower half of the AAC standings. Here's hoping that this batch of Midshipmen can surprise some people.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

South Florida

Preview segment: The South Florida Bulls

Last season: A miserable 2-10.

Good news: 19 starters from last year's squad are back, including a salty offensive line and their top 3 WR's. RB Brain Battie is a beast in the return game.

Bad news: Depth on the defense may be a concern, and let's hope that secondary does a much better job. The QB spot is unsettled.

Key games:
9/3 vs. BYU (For the 2nd straight year, the non-conference slate will be a BEAST for USF. At least they'll get to host BYU in their opener.)
10/1 vs. East Carolina (An important conference opener for both of these teams.)
10/15 vs. Tulane (This conference game looks very winnable.)
11/25 vs. UCF (As I said yesterday, Central Florida should be careful the next time they travel to Tampa; the USF offense could surprise them.)

Bottom line: With all of these starters returning, and the offense ready to make a big leap forward, expect South Florida to do much better in 2022 than they did over the last 2 years. Getting a bowl berth might be asking too much, however.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Tulsa

Preview segment: The Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Last season: Once again, we got a occurrence of a recent trend in the FBS: A team that lost to an FCS school, yet still managed to do something great anyway. And in 2021, it was Tulsa who did it; they started the year with a loss to UC-Davis, but rallied and got a bowl victory anyway. Now Tulsa is hoping to just make it to another bowl in 2022.

Good news: Tulsa has a lot of playmakers that can score points like QB Davis Drin, kicker Zack Long, and a trio of solid running backs. Watch for Kendarin Ray to be a difference-maker in the Tulsa secondary.

Bad news: It's all about line play; the O-line is thin on depth and experience, and the D-line will be missing Jaxon Player (who transferred to Baylor in the offseason). Oh, and that Tulsa defense only has 2 starters from last year coming back.

Key games:
9/10 vs. Northern Illinois (We'll see how well Tulsa's line play is early on, as they'll try to take out the defending MAC champions.)
9/17 vs. Jacksonville State (Or maybe the lines should just focus on making sure Tulsa doesn't lose to an FCS team again.)
10/1 vs. Cincinnati (This may be Tulsa's best [or last] chance to take out those darn Cincinnati Bearcats.)
11/5 vs. Tulane (A swing game for Tulsa's bowl chances.)
11/10 @ Memphis (See above game.)

Bottom line: This one is hard to call. I mean, Tulsa is riding a 4-game winning streak and is returning a lot of production from last year's offense. However, they could struggle in the trenches if their line-play is subpar. Tulsa should just focus on reaching bowl eligibility again this season.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Memphis

Preview segment: The Memphis Tigers

Last season: So thanks to health concerns on Hawaii's part, Memphis couldn't play in a bowl in 2021. Ah, it's just as well; Memphis was having a blah 6-6 season anyway. And they started out at 3-0 before the defense ruined everything...

Good news: At least Memphis has the chance to put some points on the board this year; QB Seth Henigan looked good last year and he has some good help at the skill positions. The secondary could be one of the AAC's best this year.

Bad news: Wait. Tulsa is gonna have major line problems as well?! Yep, both the O-line and D-line are missing 3 starters each. And what's THIS? QB Grant Gunnell transferred in from Arizona, and now the starting QB job is up in the air?! Yikes!

Key games:
9/10 @ Navy (This new Memphis defense will HOPEFULLY be ready for this AAC opener against a hopeful Navy team.)
10/7 vs. Houston (If Memphis's offense runs well, they'll have a chance to shock Houston.)
10/15 @ East Carolina (Memphis will be seeking a revenge win against East Carolina after the Pirates beat them in OT last year.)
11/5 vs. UCF (The last time UCF went to Memphis, the Tigers clipped them 50-49. Could it happen again?)

Bottom line: Man, this is just plain creepy. Memphis and Tulsa are looking SO identical right now; they both could have major line issues, they both have QB's that can put up points, and this season they even have to make a trip to an SEC school in the state of Mississippi! THIS IS JUST CRAZY!!
...Okay, in all seriousness, Memphis is my wild-card team in the AAC this year. Coach Ryan Silverfield is facing a critical year in his tenure, but he has some good pieces to work with. It'll be up to the offense to keep it together.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Temple

Preview segment: The Temple Owls

Last season: After the 2021 season, it became clear that Rod Carey at Temple was just not working out. So now he's out, and Stan Drayton is here for his 1st-ever head coaching job.

Good news: The offense needs a jolt, so the fact that the RB and WR positions are well stocked is a relief for Temple fans.

Bad news: If you take away Xach Gill, we basically have no proven playmakers on the Owls defense.

Key games:
9/2 @ Duke (Duke is also starting a big rebuilding project, so this game isn't impossible for Temple to win.)
10/1 @ Memphis (Temple did clip the Tigers last year 34-31.)
10/21 vs. Tulsa (If Temple's offense is running well by this point, this game is winnable.)
11/5 vs. USF (Another winnable game.)

Bottom line: As you have probably already guessed, Temple is basically starting over with this new coaching staff. The culture change should produce good things for Temple, but we can probably ignore them in 2022 as the rebuilding begins.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Houston

The last preview segment for the AAC: The Houston Cougars

Last season: Entering the 2021 season, Dana Holgorsen's seat at Houston was getting warm, and he KNEW he and his team had to take advantage of a good schedule. And did they ever! Houston would make the AAC title game, defeat Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl, and finish 12-2 overall. Even better, Houston is now on their way to the Big 12 next season!
Now... what about the 2022 season?

Good news: QB Clayton Tune found his groove last season, and he's back for one more round. He'll also have more great WR's to throw to (like recent newcomer Matthew Golden). The defensive line of Houston (now known as "Sack Avenue") should be brilliant once again.

Bad news: The secondary will be missing a couple of good corners from last year. Marcus Jones is also gone. But the biggest worry is on the O-line, where 3 starters have left.

Key games:
9/5 @ UTSA (Houston's first 2 games of the season should be fun, as they are both in-state showdowns. Houston will first visit the defending Conference USA champions...)
9/12 @ Texas Tech (...and then visit the only team that defeated them in last year's regular season. But Texas Tech IS breaking in a new coach.)
11/5 @ SMU (Houston ended the undefeated run of SMU last year by the score of 44-37. Yay, memories!)
11/19 @ East Carolina (This one could be tricky; Houston needed OT to beat East Carolina last year.)

Bottom line: Hmm... all of the key games I listed are on the road. So this means Houston should have an easy home schedule. And Houston will miss UCF and Cincinnati AGAIN on the AAC slate? Sheesh! With all of this going for them, Houston had BETTER take advantage of this and get to the AAC title game again. But can they win it this time?

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

American predictions

Well, let's just find out, shall we? Here's where I think everyone will finish in the AAC this season:

1. Central Florida (Conference champs, maybe "New Year's Six")
2. Houston
3. Cincinnati
4. SMU
5. Memphis
6. East Carolina
7. Tulsa
8. Tulane
9. South Florida
10. Navy
11. Temple

And don't forget to tune in tomorrow, when the Mountain West previews will begin.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Nevada

The first preview segment for the Mountain West conference: The Nevada Wolfpack

Last season: Nevada was expected to compete for gold in the 2021 season. And for the most part, they did with headline wins over California and Boise State to start them off. Sadly, they couldn't finish off the big games as they lost 3 conference games by a total of 6 points.
Their disappointment showed in their bowl loss to Western Michigan, but the most shocking part came when head coach Jay Norvell left to coach a conference rival in Colorado State! NOW what does Nevada do?

Good news: The new head coach (Ken Wilson) wants to run a more-balanced offense, which would be perfect for RB's like Toa Taua and Devonte Lee. The secondary returns 3 starters.

Bad news: It's all about the lack of bodies that Nevada has; 45 people left the team between December and April, and 20 of them transferred (11 of them is with Norvell at Colorado State)! This squeeze could be most felt on the passing game; the starting QB is not known and Nevada's top 6 pass catchers from a year ago are gone.

Key games:
9/17 @ Iowa (Thankfully for Nevada, their non-conference slate is very easy. Maybe Nevada can be 3-0 by the time they visit the Iowa Hawkeyes.)
10/8 vs. Colorado State (Wait. Nevada gets to host their former coach in Reno this year?! Yes! This will be a dandy.)
10/22 vs. San Diego State (Nevada is hoping to avenge a 2-point loss they suffered last year against a division rival.)
11/19 vs. Fresno State (See above game.)
11/26 @ UNLV (Whoops, can't forget this one.)

Bottom line: Man. Ken Wilson has a HUGE rebuild to handle in his very first head coaching job, what with all the new faces and everything. But the schedule is very good, so if by some miracle the offense does well, maybe Nevada can find a bowl game this year.