Countdown to College Football Kickoff 2015, Day 1: Our picks for number one
Jan 24, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; The Ohio State Buckeyes sing Carmen Ohio at the end of the National Championship celebration at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Schmidt – Editor
Patrick is one of the editors at Saturday Blitz, and has also been a part of FanSided.com as well as a former editor for our LSU site, DeathValleyVoice.com. His picks have some sound reasoning, which is pretty standard for Patrick. Give him a follow at @PatrickASchmidt
Four Playoff Teams: Ohio State, TCU, Auburn, USC
National Championship Game: Ohio State vs. TCU
National Champion: Ohio State
"“Ohio State waltzes into the Playoff after getting past Michigan State in the Big Ten East and knocks off Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. They have the best roster in college football with the game’s best coach, so barring season-ending injuries to multiple starters, this team is a lock to make it back to the Playoff and the national championship game with either Cardale Jones or J.T. Barrett leading the way, but I think it’ll be Barrett. TCU may score 50 points per game this year with Trevone Boykin in his second year in Doug Meacham/Sonny Cumbie’s aerial attack. The Horned Frogs return 10 starters off last year’s No. 2 scoring offense and should be only better this year. Outside of Baylor, who beat them last year, TCU won’t be tested. I believe in Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson who could lead the SEC in passing in his first year as the starter. And I’m a believer in Will Muschamp turning the defense into a top-five unit in the SEC. USC has a Heisman candidate in quarterback Cody Kessler who could break some program records this year operating behind what’s arguably the nation’s best offensive line led by Max Tuerk. The Trojans are loaded with potential after back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes that’s produced future superstars in wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and cornerback/receiver/return man Adoree Jackson. Su’A Cravens is a do-it-all linebacker-safety hybrid who will be the leader of the Trojans defense that overcomes the loss of Leonard Williams”"
Next: Michael Collins