Fischer: This Team Is A Darkhorse College Football Playoff Team

Brian, how are you?

I'm doing well. It's week zero, college football is back, so I'm in my happy place. You're in your happy place.

On Saturday at noon, I'll be in my happy place. As an overall, what are you most looking forward to? What are some of the biggest storylines this upcoming football season?

Well, I think there's two. I think if you kind of pulled back and kind of took a 30,000-foot view, I think there's two that I think everybody is really going to zero in on and really, I think, take the first couple of weeks of the season to kind of get used to. And first and foremost, that's the 12-team college football playoff.

I think there's still, even amongst the casual college football fans that maybe just tune in once in a while, maybe it's a big game on Saturday. I still don't know if they're quite getting across that there is this massive change coming at the end of the year in terms of the postseason structure and really, truly, how many different teams at the end of the year are going to be involved in that playoff race. So some of the, I think, tweaks in how the college football playoff actually works is going to get explained a lot to even the most veteran of college football fans, and that's something I think is going to play out throughout the year.

Second is just the realignment. I mean, it's going to be weird seeing Ohio State play in Eugene at Oregon and have that Big Ten logo on the field. It's going to be weird to see Texas run out on the field.

They did a DKR there with that SEC logo. It's just going to seem strange a little bit with some of these matchups, but the flip side is we do get some of those big-time, prime-time type of games that are going to be across the country. And it's going to take a little getting used to for sure, but I think everybody's excited about this upcoming college football season because it kind of does mark a break from kind of the past couple of decades versus moving forward what this sport is going to look like. Well, we know there's going to continue to be movement there. Brian Fisher's joining us from Fox Sports. We know that there's likely going to be an expansion of the playoff as well.

Let me ask you this. Now that we have the playoff expanding, what does this mean for the importance or lack thereof when it boils down to conference title games and bowl games? Do they now become a little moot? Well, I think certainly the non-CFP type of bowl games are even going to be kind of even more of an exhibition game than they already were. Frankly, from the group of five level kind of even up into the power five level, I mean, it is essentially playing freshmen, playing sophomores that maybe they can get a whole lot.

People are entering the transfer portal. It's kind of been a hodgepodge and really kind of, you know, almost like a spring game, if you will, at the end of the season against another team. And I think that's only going to be enhanced by the fact that we're going to have, you know, quarterfinal games. We're going to have games on campus like I think the Bulls system itself outside of the major Bulls are going to take another step back in terms of importance. And, you know, there has been some talk that the commissioners in a group of five did meet in terms of maybe there could be an NIT type of version of the college football playoff where you get a bunch of group of five teams in some of these Bulls.

So the matchups are a little better. Maybe there's a little bit more on the line, but I think that's still a ways off. And so, you know, the Bulls system overall is probably going to take a step back. And, you know, frankly, I think overall in college football, you know, a lot of people are just going to be excited at, you know, kind of how things play out with a lot of these top tier teams and how they're going to move through this system and look forward as well.

Brian Fisher is joining us, football writer for Fox Sports. We know about the usual suspects, even with some of the coaching changes that we've had, the Georgias, the Oregon's, the Ohio States of the world. Now that we have an expansion of the playoff, do you think that there is a team that could kind of say, hey, we're in the dance, we're going to just knock you guys off? Well, I think, you know, a lot, there's a lot of those teams. I mean, you mentioned Oregon.

I think that's definitely one of them that's kind of been knocking on the door of the last couple of years. Obviously they've made it to the BCS title game. So they're no stranger to the national stage, but everybody kind of looks at what Dan Lanning has built there and Eugene in terms of having all those pieces and having the depth to compete with those Ohio States and Georgias of the world and definitely circling that team. But I think off the radar, maybe a team that not everybody truly follows super closely, not the true blue bloods of the sport, I would kind of label Ole Miss in that category.

I mean, they're appearing in a lot of top seven, top tens in terms of top 25 rankings early in the season. They've got a quarterback coming back in Jackson Dart that's put up some phenomenal numbers. He's looked really good in Lane Kiffin's system.

And frankly, they've put their money where their mouth is in terms of stocking up, in terms of the talent. I mean, the impact transfers that they've had, I know everybody really kind of zeroes in on defensive lineman Walter Nolan, and he's going to be a guy to watch. They got from Texas A&M, but really across the board, this is a team that, you know, you kind of want to see how it gels. But in terms of having that depth, in terms of having the schedule in the SEC, and importantly, to where you're missing a few of those big names, but you also got enough to where you can lose one or two, but still get enough big wins to get into the playoffs.

I think Ole Miss is looking at this as a make or break type of season, and one of the ones that they think this could be a historic year there in Oxford. Yeah, Brian, you talk about some of the quarterbacks and the names that are going to be leading these teams. Who do you think is kind of lead dog when it comes down to the Heisman? I mean, we had a shock last year with Jayden Daniels. We saw what that did for him, and now he's in the NFL with Washington, selected number two overall.

Who do you think can kind of take that next jump and maybe go home with some hardware? Well, you know, I think you definitely start with a lot of the quarterbacks, but for my money, in terms of the best overall player in college football, I mean, you try to start with Travis Hunter. And just the ability to impact the game on really over 100 snaps. I think he played over 100 snaps in like six of his eight games last year. I mean, playing both ways at a high level as a true downfield threat at wide receiver, plus being a lockdown corner. I think his conditioning is going to be even better this year. Hopefully he can stay healthy, but we all know everything going on surrounding the Coach Prime show, and I think that has kind of taken the spotlight off him just a little bit. But when you talk with NFL scouts, when you talk with folks in terms of just talent evaluation, I mean, this is a kid that could be a top five pick at either corner or wide receiver.

So I think there are going to be a lot more people that are going to be excited over him, especially if he can stay healthy. I do think it's just going to be interesting because there is not that like truly top tier elite quarterback. Maybe Carson Beck is that guy at Georgia. But, you know, I mean, there's there's a ton of you look at the running back position over the years and certainly there's a two headed monster there at Ohio State.

But both of those guys are going to be splitting carry. So maybe they're not going to get the kind of numbers that you would expect from a top tier team or a top tier player on one of those college football playoff contenders. I think that's the other thing that makes this a really wide open Heisman race.

There's not really kind of that that true favorite. There's a stack of guys and I think it is going to come down to late in the year who's making that big play to get their team into the playoff or maybe knock another team out of the playoffs. Brian Fisher is joining us from Fox Sports. You talk about Travis Hunter. We've had this conversation this week knowing that he's going to be a high pick in next year's draft. What does he say?

Like, what does he declare? Is he trying to be the Shohei Ohtani? It's impossible to do both. You have to kind of balance, outweigh it one way more than the other. Is it going to be offense or is it going to be defense?

What would you do? Well, if I were in his shoes, I'd be looking at those contracts that all the wide receivers have been signing in the NFL and all the extensions that the Justin Jeffersons of the world have been signing and comparing that to some of the cornerbacks and saying, you know what, maybe wide receiver might be the way to go at the next level. And he is such a threat, whether it's inside of the slot at wide receiver, even down in the red zone, I mean, he's a threat to go up and just out leap corners at the college level and I think even at the next level as well. And to me, that probably is where he could probably have the longer career. But I mean, he does have that elite kind of quick twitch in terms of being a cornerback. And, you know, I think when he gets tired, you know, that is probably when he kind of gets beat at times. And so that's probably something that he has to work on. Obviously, if you could focus on just one side of the ball, I think he could be one of those elite, you know, throw him out on an island type of corners.

But, you know, at the end of the day, it's going to be what Travis wants to do. And I'm sure he's going to talk with teams at the next level, you know, after he comes out this year in terms of saying, hey, I do want to play both ways for you. I do want to return kicks.

I want to be that kind of all around threat. And I'm going to be curious to see, especially those teams knowing how much they're going to invest in some of those top 10 picks, whether they're going to say, no, you can't do that or absolutely want to almost save a roster spot because of your versatility. Well, Brian, when it comes down to Colorado, are we looking for a lot of the style and less substance? Are we going to get a lot of noise but no results on the field?

What do you think? Well, you know, it's interesting about Colorado. I do think that talent wise, they have upgraded from last year. You know, this is not the bus team that we saw kind of had that collapse last year. And I think, you know, the depth is improved slightly. I do think they've gotten some some impact transfers and especially on the offensive line that they think that they're they're really going to help them.

I mean, sure. Sanders, it seems like every drop back last year, he was getting sacked or at least getting pressured. And I think that will be slightly improved for the bus this year. And to me, you know, the thing is, they're going to the big 12 that, you know, coming out of the Pac 12 historic year out west conference, there really were no breathers for them. The big 12. I mean, I feel like every game in that league this year is going to be a coin flip. And so that almost kind of plays into Colorado's hands. Yes, they got tough games. They got to play Utah and Kansas State and Oklahoma State at the end of the year. But, you know, some of those other games that they can take advantage, maybe surprise teams.

Yes, they're going to get everybody's best shot. But at the end of the day, this is a league where pretty much every game you walk out into the field, it's a 50 50 shot. And when you got impact players like Travis Hunter, when you got maybe a top 25 type of quarterback going in next year's first round and Intruder Sanders, you're going to be in those games and you're going to have the opportunity to make the place to win the game. And so it wouldn't surprise me at all if we're talking about not only making a bowl game at a minimum for Colorado this year, but maybe, you know, seven, eight wins, which would be a market improvement, not just in terms of what they happened last year.

But I think the overall direction of the program, really the past decade. Brian Fishee here with us from Fox Sports. You think about the matchup that's going to get us all set and started this upcoming Saturday. We got Florida State with D.J.

Ouyangole now on his third team. We got Haynes King for Tech, which has certainly gotten better over the past year and change. What should we look forward to? I mean, that'll be the game that the country is watching this Saturday. I think both teams, especially a Florida State, they have a chance to make a big impact. Yeah, I mean, you know, the newness at Florida State, I think is what a lot of people are going to be keeping an eye on, you know, especially D.J. Ouyangole and what he can do at quarterback. But, you know what, there's a lot of receivers that are new there at Florida State. The defensive line, I think, is also going to have a big impact on this game and really controlling the tempo. You know, we've seen Georgia Tech, they've been really pretty good against, you know, ranked teams in the past, especially since those new staffs have taken over. I'm curious to kind of see that battle against D.J. Ouyangole.

You know, Haynes King, the Tech's A&M transfer, had some flashes last year, but he's a guy that can make some plays downfield. So it wouldn't surprise me at all if we end up getting a pretty good game there in Dublin. And I know a lot of people can't wait.

It is the first one. There's going to be the excitement around it. But I think there's a pretty solid ACC matchup, and we'll certainly see whether Florida State can elevate themselves and make sure that they're consistently in that college football playoff conversation, not only initially, but throughout the season. Oh, Brian, we got some news today. I don't want to call it hilarious, but we got Kirk Ferentz. He's getting suspended for one game for recruiting Cade McNamara too early.

You flip the page and go up to Miami of Ohio. You got Chuck Martin complaining about Nicholson being stolen by Alabama. Do you think there should be harsher punishments? Like, should Ferentz be punished more than just one game, or is this much to do about nothing? Well, I think it's important to keep in mind that Kirk Ferentz's punishment, that was self-imposed by the school. That's totally on them. They are going through an NCAA case in terms of potential tampering violations.

And they said they were not going to comment beyond some of his comments today at the press conference. But if you talk with coaches, they would say, yes, we want them punished. We definitely want tougher penalties, and we wish the NCAA would investigate them more.

If you kept that conversation going, you'd say, yeah, we'd probably end up doing it too. Whether it's somebody talking to a high school coach, hey, you got anybody that might be thinking about transferring, that happens all the time. So there are those two sides of the coin. Coaches are getting mad, especially at the lower levels of the non-elite programs. But at the end of the day, this is about football.

You're going to have to re-recruit your roster essentially kind of every week, and certainly every season. So that's just part of the job now, and that's why a lot of these coaches are getting paid the big bucks. And Kirk Ferentz is certainly one of them that is cashing that expensive check for a lot of these reasons. Yeah, I can hear Mike Gundy complaining again after you just said that. But I guess just par for the course is why they get paid. Absolutely, and I think it is going to be interesting to see, especially amongst that old guard in college football, the Kirk Ferentz's, the Mike Gundy's, the Kyle Whittingham's of the world, see how they kind of navigate these next couple of years, because the changes are not stopping any time soon, that's for sure. Yeah, they'll cash the checks and then they'll leave like Saban did. Hey, Brian, thank you so much for the insight and the time. Where can people follow you? You're writing all of your work. At Brian D. Fisher on Twitter is the best spot, and yeah, looking forward to another exciting college football season.