Normal college football is back... we hope! (2021 CFB Preview thread)

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Brigham Young

Preview segment: The BYU Cougars

Last season: One of the benefits of the 2020 season was that some schools discovered scheduling muscles they never knew they had. That was what happened at BYU; the athletic director had to recreate the 2020 schedule almost from scratch, and he did.
And it ended up being a wonderful year! BYU would finish with their highest ranking in 24 years, all thanks to QB Zach Wilson and his brilliance. 11-1 records don't grow on trees, you know!

Bad news: Sadly, Zach Wilson is now gone to be chewed up by the New York Jets in the NFL. Also gone are their offensive coordinator, their O-line coach, their best O-lineman, and WR Dex Milne. The defense is also inexperienced on the line.

Good news: Thankfully, overall depth is getting better and better in Provo. The WR's BYU still has are great, the kicking game is strong, and the defense can always lean on it's linebackers.

Key games:
9/4 vs. Arizona [at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas] (The Vegas "death star" [as the sports networks call it] will be home to this game, where 2 western teams look to get 2021 off to a good start.)
9/11 vs. Utah (Back to the old grind; the Cougars will not only deal with their old "Holy War" rivals this year, but also other PAC-12 teams like Arizona State, Washington State, and USC.)
10/9 vs. Boise State (This version of this series might be in Provo, but Boise will certainly remember BYU crushing them 51-17 last year in Boise.)
10/16 @ Baylor ("Why this game", you ask? Hmm, I heard that Jeff Grimes [that offensive coordinator] and Eric Mateos [that O-line coach] now call Waco, Texas home.)
10/30 vs. Virginia (Awww! Here's another touching reunion. BYU gets to see their old coach [Bronco Mendenhall] again!)

Bottom line: BYU and their coaching staff have insisted that they're just rebuilding after the 2020 season. But another front-loaded schedule? 7 "Power 5" teams on the slate? No more Zach Wilson? And 2 awkward reunions with some of their former personnel?
Just admit it, BYU! You're rebuilding! A winning season and a bowl berth would be a success for these batch of Cougars in 2021.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Houston

The first preview segment for the American Athletic Conference: The Houston Cougars

Last season: They may have found a bowl berth, but Houston still didn't have the season they wanted last year as they went 3-5. Now coach Dana Holgorsen is hoping to get the Cougars back to some serious winning.

Good news: Houston's defense was actually pretty good last year, and it returns 10 starters including some great linebackers. The special teams unit could be the best in the whole AAC.

Bad news: The Houston offense needs to be WAY more consistent, but the O-line will have 4 new starters. And that defense will miss Payton Turner (who was a 1st-round NFL Draft pick last April).

2021 X-factor: QB Clayton Tune- For the offense to be more consistent, it begins and ends with the QB. Clayton was all over the place last year, but he should benefit from a full spring training program.

Key games:
9/4 vs. Texas Tech [from NRG Stadium in Houston] (The Cougars will start the year with a in-state throwdown against the Red Raiders, and it should be a good one.)
10/1 @ Tulsa (Houston has beaten Tulsa 5 out of the last 6 times they played. But in order for Houston to beat Tulsa this year, they'll HAVE to break that awesome defense of theirs.)
10/30 vs. SMU (Houston didn't get to play SMU last year, so they'll relish this chance to regain control of this rivalry.)
11/19 vs. Memphis (It's a longshot, but this may be an elimination game in the AAC title race.)

Bottom line: Hmm... Houston has a good defense, the coach has motivation, and their AAC schedule is perfect (no UCF or Cincinnati). So all Houston has to do is stabilize their offense, and they're due for a move up the AAC standings in 2021. But Holgorsen will be on a REALLY hot seat in 2022 if the Cougars struggle again.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

South Florida

Preview segment: The South Florida Bulls

Last season: A tough 1-8.

Bad news: The defense has to get a lot better, no doubt about it. The QB spot is also unsettled...

Good news: ...but at least there's some clarity over there after spring ball (Cade Fortin has a slight lead in the race). There's some good WR's on offense, and maybe some new starters on defense will help the unit out.

Key games:
9/11 vs. Florida (The preseason magazines are freaking out over USF's schedule for the year. Oh well, at least this'll be the first time that USF will get to host the Gators.)
10/16 vs. Tulsa (The Bulls will get another chance to host Tulsa and maybe knock them out.)
10/23 vs. Temple (This game also looks winnable.)
11/26 @ UCF (USF will try to get some winning vibes back into this rivalry, as they've now lost 4 in a row to the Golden Knights.)

Bottom line: Coach Jeff Scott never really got a chance to get comfy in Tampa in 2020 due to the pandemic, but now that it's winding down he's hoping to start anew this year. 2021 could be a long season for the Bulls, but I'm pulling for them.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Central Florida

Preview segment: The Central Florida Golden Knights

Last season: A little disappointing for UCF as they went 6-4 thanks to a crap defense. I mean, the offense was tremendous, but still! Now Josh Heupel is coaching the Tennessee Vols and former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn is stepping in.

Good news: The O-line is very deep, and the defense is eager to get better. QB Dillon Gabriel to WR Jaylon Robinson is a lethal combination in the passing game.

Bad news: The running game is missing it's top two rushers from last year, and the defense is also missing some good men like Richie Grant (their leading tackler) and Aaron Robinson (an all-AAC player in the secondary).

Key games:
9/4 vs. Boise State (Two of the most famous "Group of Five" schools out there, going one-on-one for the first time ever. ESPN will be SO there to see it happen.)
9/17 @ Louisville (Huh. I thought these two schools had played each other already. Anyway, here's another chance for UCF to do some damage nationally.)
10/16 @ Cincinnati (The Knights lost a tough one to Cincy last year 36-33. Could this be a preview of the AAC championship game?)
10/22 vs. Memphis (Here's another tough loss from 2020 that UCF can get revenge for. Memphis nipped them 50-49 last time they met.)
11/13 @ SMU (Careful! SMU is another team that can trip UCF up.)

Bottom line: People have been hailing UCF's hiring of Malzahn, and he seems to have a new spring in his step. But he'll be hard at work in the summer, trying to get that defense going. If it does, there's no excuse for UCF to not have another fun year... including maybe a chance to reclaim the AAC title.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

SCOTUS Sides With Ex-Athletes Over NCAA

The unanimous ruling will help determine whether schools decide to offer education-related benefits like computers, tutoring, study abroad and internships.

www.si.com

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Navy

Preview segment: The Navy Midshipmen

Last season: The Naval academy was another program that got f--ked over by the pandemic; a midseason pause caused the offense to go south (thanks to a terrible offensive line) and Navy finished 3-7. And yes, they lost against both of their military rivals.

Good news: At least the defense got better as the season wore on, and it should be the strength of this year's team as well.

Bad news: The O-line could have another rough year with 4 new starters. Also, FB Jamale Carothers may be back for one more year, but he has to get back to the form he had in 2019.

2021 X-factor: QB Xavier Arline- He showed a bit of promise last year, so hopefully with a full spring practice he'll be a competent starting QB for the Midshipmen.

Key games:
9/4 vs. Marshall (Wait. Navy is NOT starting the season against a Patriot League team? That's weird.)
9/11 vs. Air Force (...Let's just say that emotions will be running high in this patriotic contest.)
10/2 vs. UCF (Wait a moment. Navy had a bad 2020 season, and they didn't even play UCF OR Cincinnati?! Oh, that's not a good sign. Well, at least Navy will get host both the Knights...)
10/16 vs. Cincinnati (...AND the Bearcats.)
12/11 vs. Army [in East Rutherford, NJ] (Last year, Navy actually visited the Black Knights! ...And they lost 15-0. I guarantee you Navy doesn't want that to happen again.)

Bottom line: Navy also must deal with Notre Dame (after a year off from seeing them), SMU, Tulsa, and Memphis. No wonder the coach has called this schedule "the toughest we have faced in my 14-year tenure". If the Midshipmen wants ANY chance of surviving this slate (or at least get back to beating Air Force and Army), the triple-option offense needs to wake up. And wake up FAST.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Cincinnati

Preview segment: The Cincinnati Bearcats

Last season: The only thing that stopped Cincinnati from completing a marvelous 2020 season with a Peach Bowl win was a 53-yard field goal by Georgia. But a 9-1 record, an AAC title, and a #8 ranking in the final AP Poll is still a great resume to have.
And Luke Fickell is still at Cincinnati?! I guess he wants to see if Cincy can take the final step to awesomeness: A spot in the CFP.

Bad news: Cincinnati is missing some guys from 2020's defense; chief among them are the coordinator (who's now at Notre Dame) and 2 studs named Jarell White and James Wiggins.

Good news: QB Desmond Ridder is back for one more go-around at Cincinnati, and he's got a deep receiving core to back him up. If Jerome Ford stays healthy, the running game should be fine as well. And Cincy still has a LOT of talent on the defensive side.

Key games:
9/18 @ Indiana (For the experienced AAC team, a road game like this is a chance to enhance the conference's profile. But if you raise the stakes [Cincy wants a playoff berth, and Indiana has actual expectations], a game like this turns into a national attraction.)
10/2 @ Notre Dame (Yes! The biggest game for Cincinnati in 2021 by a country mile. Cincy is facing a school that made the CFP last year, who now has their former defensive coordinator. If the Bearcats win this one, the playoff committee can't ignore them anymore.)
10/16 vs. UCF (As Cincinnati finally enters AAC play, who should they see but their #1 contender for the crown?)
11/6 vs. Tulsa (A rematch of last year's AAC championship game that Cincy won 27-24)
11/20 vs. SMU (Careful! The Mustangs could trip up Cincy here!)

Bottom line: Expectations are sky-high now for Cincinnati; can they do what UCF and Boise State couldn't do and compete for a national title? If they can get past SMU and UCF, they're a shoo-in to win the AAC again.
And if they can get past Indiana AND Notre Dame, what could happen next?

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Tulane

Preview segment: The Tulane Green Wave

Last season: Average offense, average defense, average record (6-6) for the Green Wave. Tulane was a straight "blah" student in 2020. But, hey! At least it's still an improvement from when Willie Fritz wasn't here.

Good news: The linebackers look OK, and QB Michael Pratt (if he builds on last season) should give the Tulane offense much-needed balance. RB Tyjae Spears can also be a difference-maker...

Bad news: ...if he can stay healthy. Depth is not good at the WR position, and the secondary can stand to do a LOT better.

2021 X-factor: New offensive coordinator Chip Long- Recently, Tulane's opponents have done a good job of stacking the box, which have proven disastrous for Tulane's offense at times. Maybe with Chip Long as the new offensive head, that will change.

Key games:
9/4 vs. Oklahoma (Hey! This is the first time ever that Tulane is hosting the Sooners! Good luck in defending Spencer Rattler, guys!)
10/7 vs. Houston (The last time these two teams met in New Orleans, Tulane won a wild 38-31 contest.)
10/21 @ SMU (Maybe Tulane's biggest failure in 2020 was losing most of their close games. They almost got SMU last year 37-34.)
10/30 vs. Cincinnati (Tulane actually leads their series against the Bearcats... even though they haven't beaten them since 2002.)
11/13 vs. Tulsa (Tulsa was another team Tulane couldn't finish off [they lost in double-OT 30-24].)

Bottom line: Tulane is my "wild-card" team for the AAC this year. If the offense can improve, the Green Wave could move up the AAC standings. If it doesn't, Tulane will be stuck just fighting for a bowl berth.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Tulsa

Preview segment: The Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Last season: Some good vibes reentered the Tulsa program in 2020, as they won quite a few close games to go 6-0 in the AAC. That resulted in a spot in the AAC title game, and now Tulsa is hoping against hope that they can do it again.

Good news: Tulsa is optimistic that RB Shamari Brooks will come back and be great in the fall, and he'll have a proud O-line to help him. The secondary Tulsa has is DEEP, and it's NASTY.

Bad news: However, the defense will be missing Zaven Collins (a 1st-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals last spring). And also gone is super QB Zack Smith.

2021 X-factor: New QB Davis Brin- With Zack Smith gone, the QB spot is now a worrisome place for Tulsa. Davis showed some promise last year, but can he handle the grind of a full season?

Key games:
9/25 vs. Arkansas State (After tough road trips to Oklahoma State and Ohio State, we'll see how the Golden Hurricane recovers against the Red Wolves.)
10/1 vs. Houston (Tulsa will start AAC play against 2 teams they didn't get last year. One is a Houston team that wants to move up the standings.)
10/8 vs. Memphis (And the other one is Memphis, a school that Tulsa has beaten only once since the American was created.)
11/6 @ Cincinnati (This is a glamour game in the AAC, for sure. But the last time Tulsa won at Cincinnati was in the Jimmy Carter days [1977].)

Bottom line: With that awesome defense coming back to Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane will have as good a chance as any to make the AAC title game... IF their new starting QB doesn't mess it up.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Memphis

Preview segment: The Memphis Tigers

Last season: With everything that was going on in 2020, I thought Ryan Silverfield did a great job in his 1st year as Memphis coach. Sure, the defense wasn't great, but the Tigers still got 8 wins and a bowl trophy. Now Memphis is hoping to stay in AAC contention this season.

Good news: On offense, let's start with WR Calvin Austin III and work our way up. The right side of the O-line looks great, and the defense returns 9 starters including some good people in the secondary.

Bad news: But that secondary got burned WAY too many times last year, so hopefully it'll be better this time. Oh, and QB Brady White has finally left the building. That wouldn't be so bad if Memphis didn't have, oh, I don't know, 4 people fighting for the starting spot right now!

2021 X-factor: The new left tackle- Sounds weird, I know. But with a new QB under center, this spot is key to keeping the new guy upright. This wouldn't be a problem if Obinna Eze didn't leave Memphis to go to TCU! Man, I hope that position doesn't mess things up.

Key games:
9/18 vs. Mississippi State (These two are facing each other for the first time in 10 years. Maybe Memphis' defense can silence the Bulldogs' "Air Raid" offense here.)
10/9 @ Tulsa (You know what? Had Memphis faces Tulsa last year, I'll bet they would have beaten them. Hopefully Memphis has a consistent QB going by this time.)
10/22 @ UCF (See my UCF preview.)
11/6 vs. SMU (This could be an AAC elimination game for Memphis if things go their way. The Tigers had beaten the Mustangs 6 times in a row before last year's 30-27 loss.)

Bottom line: Memphis got a boost from the NCAA's "super senior" rule for 2021, and now they're looking to use it to compete for the conference title. But they'll need to get over some very big personnel losses if they want to do it.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Southern Methodist

Preview segment: The SMU Mustangs

Last season: A 5-0 start kinda petered out for SMU in 2020 thanks to a below-average defense.

Bad news: QB Shane Buechele has left the building, and I'm wondering just how much the Mustangs defense can truly improve.

Good news: In terms of overall talent, this is the best that SMU has looked before the "Death Penalty" days of the mid-80's. The O-line is deep and experienced, the kicking game got a big boost when Blake Mazza came over, and it's hard to imagine the offense falling off too much. As for the defense, they did have a strong showing in spring ball.

2021 X-factor: New QB Tanner Mordecai- How did SMU get Shane Buechele, you ask? Through the transfer portal after Shane lost the starting job at Texas. I bring this up because Tanner Mordecai is now at Dallas after he lost the starting job at Oklahoma to Spencer Rattler. Will Tanner have the same amount of success Shane had at SMU? We'll see.

Key games:
9/25 @ TCU (It's the 100th edition of the "Battle for the Iron Skillet" rivalry! And remember: The last time these two met, SMU defeated the Horned Frogs.)
10/30 @ Houston (This is where the schedule gets REALLY tough for the Mustangs. After visiting their old rivals in Houston, SMU must go to Memphis.)
11/13 vs. UCF (Then, SMU must host the Knights of UCF. The Mustangs has only beaten UCF once all-time.)
11/20 @ Cincinnati (Another glamour game on the AAC calendar for 2021.)
11/26 vs. Tulsa (And finally, the Mustangs will have Tulsa as their Senior Day opponent. And Tulsa wants an AAC title shot, too!)

Bottom line: SMU is certainly capable of being a Top-25 team, what with all of the new guys coming in. And if Tanner Mordecai lives up to his billing, they'll be in the AAC race until the very end. The question is, will that tough late schedule ruin their grandiose plans?

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Temple

Preview segment: The Temple Owls

Last season: Another team that got f--ked by the pandemic, Temple went 1-6 and had medical issues all year.

Bad news: Two of Temple's best players from 2020 transferred out (QB Anthony Russo is now at Michigan State, and RB Re'Mahn Davis left for Vanderbilt), and continuity could be a BIG problem on the Owls defense with only 2 starters returning there.

Good news: At least the offensive players Temple has left can put up points; the O-line is experienced and the skill positions look strong.

Key games:
9/4 @ Rutgers (D'Wan Mathis is now the starting QB at Temple after spring ball. Hopefully he can do great against a Rutgers program that's starting to get better.)
10/2 vs. Memphis (It's Temple's AAC opener, and it is a big one against the Tigers.)
10/23 @ USF (If Temple loses this one, they may be doomed to finish last in the AAC this year.)
11/6 @ East Carolina (See above game.)

Bottom line: Fans in Philly are hoping for a rebound season in 2021, but that won't happen unless some transfers step up big time... especially on that defense.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

East Carolina

The last preview segment for the AAC: The East Carolina Pirates

Last season: A tough 3-6. But at least ECU finished with back-to-back conference wins.

Good news: It's a big ask, but if the O-line protects him better then Holton Ahlers can have a better year as the Pirates QB. The running game has a good 1-2 punch, and ECU has some good linebackers on defense.

Bad news: The pass blocking could be better on offense, and defensive improvements must be made. ECU will also need a new kicker, as record-setter Jake Verity is gone.

Key games:
9/2 vs. Appalachian State [in Charlotte, NC] (It's a showcase game in the Carolinas, and one where's ECU defense must be ready right away.)
10/2 vs. Tulane (ECU's conference opener will be a tone setter for the Pirates to see if they're ready to push for a bowl.)
10/23 @ Houston (Another "swing-game" for the Pirates.)
11/26 vs. Cincinnati (The 2nd half of ECU's schedule is actually pretty easy. Excluding this hard Senior Day game, of course.)

Bottom line: ECU is hoping that 2020 was just a hiccup in their rebuilding plans. The schedule's not too bad, though, so maybe all ECU has to do to make the postseason is to make some simple upgrades.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

AAC Predictions

And so I'm off to pick up my brother from Albany. But first, here's how I see the AAC in 2021:

1. Cincinnati (Conference champs, "Group of Five" favorite)
2. Central Florida
3. SMU
4. Houston
5. Tulsa
6. Memphis
7. Tulane
8. East Carolina
9. Navy
10. Temple
11. South Florida

Oh! And I'll be starting Sun Belt previews tomorrow.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Troy

The first preview segment for the Sun Belt Conference: The Troy Trojans

Last season: The stat-lines for Troy was actually pretty good, but they kept losing close game after close game. And that's why Troy finished at 5-6 last year.

Good news: Running-back and wide-receiver will be strong for the Trojans, and their O-line might just be the Sun Belt's best. LB Carlton Martial could be an NFL prospect next year.

Bad news: The run defense and pass-blocking are areas on the defense that needs to be fixed. 3 QB's are fighting for the starting spot, and Troy lost proud kicker Jack Martin in the spring.

Key games:
9/11 vs. Liberty (Hopefully Troy will have a starting QB locked up by this time, because the Trojans could shock the Flames if they do.)
10/9 vs. Georgia Southern (Only 7 points separated these 2 teams last year.)
10/28 @ Coastal Carolina (Troy gave the Chanticleers all they wanted last year, as CCU only won by 4 against the Trojans.)
11/20 vs. Appalachian State (App. State whipped the Trojans hard last year. Thankfully, this year's installment is in Troy.)

Bottom line: It looks like the Sun Belt East can be a battleground in 2021. Thankfully for Troy, they have the team to stay in the fight until the end... IF they can win some more close games this time.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Texas State

Preview segment: The Texas State Bobcats

Last season: Good news! Texas State had a full 12-game season in 2020! Bad news! They struggled for most of the year and finished 2-10.

Good news: QB Brady McBride is a solid performer, and the top 3 running backs from last year all return.

Bad news: The defense looks like crap, with a suspect pass-rush and the run D looking terrible.

Key games:
9/11 @ Florida International (This looks like a winnable non-conference game.)
10/9 vs. South Alabama (The Bobcats will be looking for a good start in conference play.)
10/16 vs. Troy (If the Bobcats defense gets better at all, this game looks winnable.)
11/13 vs. Georgia Southern (Texas State almost defeated the Eagles last year.)

Bottom line: Texas State is hoping to do what Coastal Carolina did in 2020, which was turning more close losses into close wins. But a losing record looks certain unless that awful defense does something.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Louisiana-Lafayette

Preview segment: The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns

Last season: The Sun Belt conference had a feast in 2020, and the Cajuns were one of the teams who reaped the rewards. They started with a win against future Fiesta Bowl winners Iowa State, and ended with a bowl victory. All while they became co-Sun Belt champions (That's what Lindy's is doing, and I want you guys to do it too).
Now in 2021, the odds of them getting a shot at another conference title is great.

Good news: The offense has literally everyone coming back, including QB Levi Lewis, a proud O-line, and options galore at RB. The defense has some good pieces also.

Bad news: Sadly, that defense doesn't have big-play guy Joe Dillon anymore.

Key games:
9/4 @ Texas (You know what would be funny? If the Cajuns defeats a Big-12 team for the 2nd year in a row? You know what would be even funnier? If the Cajuns ruined Steve Sarkisian's big debut at Texas.)
10/12 vs. Appalachian State (Yes! The monkey's off the back of Louisiana; last year they defeated App. State for the first time ever!)
10/21 @ Arkansas State (If ANYONE is gonna take away the West division from the Cajuns, it'll have to be the Red Wolves.)
11/4 vs. Georgia State (Everyone almost forgot this part of 2020, so here goes: Louisiana's joyride almost died against Georgia State before they escaped 34-31.)

Bottom line: Louisiana is SO gonna win the West division again in 2021, which would most likely get them a rematch with fellow 2020 co-champion Coastal Carolina. Last year's Sun Belt title game may have gotten shitcanned, but I can't wait to see the Cajuns try to win this year's edition!

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

UL-Monroe

Preview segment: The UL-Monroe Warhawks

Last season: Not even the craziness of 2020 was enough to hide how inept the Warhawks were last year, as they went 0-10 and got Matt Viator fired.

Good news: The school got some veteran coaches like new offensive head Rich Rodriguez and new head coach Terry Bowden. And with R-Rod running the offense, the new QB should do well. The Warhawks also has some young talent at receiver.

Bad news: The O-line could be all over the place this year, and the defense needs to do WAY better at forcing turnovers and sacks.

Key games:
9/25 vs. Troy (UL-Monroe didn't get Troy last year, but they'll have them in their conference opener in 2021.)
10/23 vs. South Alabama (This Sun Belt game looks winnable.)
11/6 @ Texas State (See above game.)
11/27 @ Louisiana (The Warhawks will finish the year with 2 brutal in-state games: One in Baton Rouge and LSU, and the other against a Cajuns team that's shooting for more big things.)

Bottom line: I'm guessing that by hiring Bowden, UL-Monroe is hoping that Terry can do what he did at Akron: Turn a downtrodden team into a viable one. It might work in the long haul, but you can ignore the Warhawks in 2021 as Terry begins to rebuild things in Monroe.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

South Alabama

Preview segment: The South Alabama Jaguars

Last season: It started out okay for South Alabama in 2020, but a 3-2 start petered out and they finished 4-7. Oh, and Steve Campbell is now out as USA's head coach, replaced by Kane Wommack in his first head-coaching gig.

Good news: Some new additions on offense (like new offensive head Major Applewhite and transfer QB Jake Bentley) should get the Jaguars passing game going. Wommack is a defensive-minded coach, so that side of the ball should get better as well.

Bad news: There's no big RB that jumps out on this roster, and the O-line could be a major problem... again.

Key games:
10/2 vs. Louisiana (South Alabama has a good early schedule, with most of it's early games at home. This conference opener might be good if the Jaguars defense holds firm.
10/14 vs. Georgia Southern (Take heart, Jaguars! You almost got the Eagles last year.)
10/30 vs. Arkansas State (And the Jaguars DID get the Red Wolves last year 38-31.)
11/26 vs. Coastal Carolina (The month of November could be a LONG one for the Jaguars; they'll visit Troy, App. State, and Tennessee. All this before hosting the Chanticleers on Senior Day.)

Bottom line: South Alabama could be better this year, but any shot at the postseason will hinge on how well Jake Bentley jives in this new offense.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Coastal Carolina

Preview segment: The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Last season: Amongst all of the sadness that most of us went through during the 2020 season, a true Cinderella story emerged from little Conway, South Carolina. Just look at what Jamey Chadwell and his Chanticleers did last year: they won at Louisiana-Lafayette! They got their 1st-ever win over App. State! They handed Zach Wilson and BYU their only loss in 2020! And their only loss was to fellow Cinderella team Liberty in the Cure Bowl.
They even got a couple of mentions on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd"! ...Okay, it was mostly Colin mocking them, but that still counts! Now what can the Chanticleers do THIS year?

Good news: Well for starters, they might start the season in the preseason polls with all of these starters returning. The defense looks solid again, and Grayson McCall emerged as a duel-threat QB to fear last season. RB Reese White also emerged as a threat...

Bad news: ...but Reese is not CJ Marable, who is now gone. And that solid defense will also miss someone big: new Philadelphia Eagle Tarron Jackson.

Key games:
9/18 @ Buffalo (Apologies to Kansas, but this could be CCU's toughest non-conference game this season.)
10/7 @ Arkansas State (Just be careful, Coastal! Arkansas State will be hungry to get back to the Sun Belt elite this year.)
10/20 @ Appalachian State (Easily the biggest game for CCU this season. The Mountaineers will be determined to smite you guys and to take away your crown as class of the Sun Belt.)
11/6 @ Georgia Southern (Oh, and don't forget. Teams like Georgia Southern...)
11/13 vs. Georgia State (...and Georgia State will take you much more seriously in 2021.)

Bottom line: About the only people that saw Coastal Carolina doing anything in 2020 were the guys at Mark Lawrence's Playbook (and I have the magazine to prove it). But now? All of the preseason magazines has the Chanticleers doing more awesome things in 2021. And I think CCU could walk away with another 10-win season easy.
But any big goals they may have will hinge on that rematch with App. State. And if they get past THAT, they'll almost certainly have the Ragin' Cajuns waiting for them in the Sun Belt title game. Good luck on your quest, you fine roosters, you!