Imagine each College Football Playoff contender could choose one past great to fix a roster deficiency. Who would lead their former team to a title?
Looking at a composite of the major preseason polls, 16 teams a realistic chance of winning the 2017 College Football Playoff. None of these schools are perfect, though. The nature of college football means that each roster will always find itself lacking depth at one or another position. Even well-stocked contenders are forced to rely on a combination of health, depth, and good luck to win a title.
For some teams, a lack of depth on the offensive line could spell doom. Perhaps there aren’t enough productive playmakers, or the right quarterback to get them the ball. For other teams, it is a defensive deficiency that plagues the front seven or the secondary.
Every school could stand to draw on one of their past greats to plug a hole in the roster. If your favorite school could choose just one player from the past to come in and fill a gap, who would you pick in order to seal up a title?
Imagine you could bring in one NFL star that would lock down a championship. That’s what we have done today. Click ahead to see which player would seal the College Football Playoff for each contender.
With Heisman winner Lamar Jackson back for his junior season, Louisville has a chance to contend in the ACC. But Jackson will need to receive much better protection than he got from his offensive line last year. The Cardinals gave up the third-most sacks in all FBS in 2016. Jackson suffered 46 of those 47 sacks. By the end of the year, the physical punishment took its toll as Louisville faded down the stretch.
An upgrade on the offensive line would be just what Louisville needs to battle for the College Football Playoff. Instead, the Cardinals will try to win an ACC title with untested walk-ons or a freshman anchoring the middle of the offensive line.
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So, if Louisville could pick one Cardinal great from the past to bolster its title chances, Eric Wood would have the greatest impact. A four-year starter at center, Wood would be an immediate upgrade at the position and provide stability all down the line. Since graduation, Wood has been a mainstay for the Buffalo Bills at center and right guard, demonstrating a talent and versatility that would boost Louisville’s title chances.
Last year, Stanford was knocked from its perch atop the Pac-12 North by Washington. The Cardinal still reached 10 wins, but it felt like a lost season in Christian McCaffrey’s final year on the Farm. That said, the running game should still be in great shape with Bryce Love taking over the backfield duties.
Where Stanford faltered last year was in its passing game. In 2016, the Cardinal finished 115th in the FBS in passing offense. Led by Keller Chryst and Ryan Burns, the team finished with just 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the air. Chryst and Burns combined to average less than 160 yards per game.
With a stout defense returning, and other Pac-12 teams either losing a lot on defense or still rebuilding more comprehensively, Stanford is not far from title contention. If they had the greatest quarterback in school history, they wold be in better shape to win their conference and get into the playoff. David Shaw’s crew would be title favorites with two-time Heisman runner-up Andrew Luck leading the Cardinal offense in the Pac-12.
Pollsters seem highest on Georgia coming out of the SEC East this year. The Bulldogs return all but one of their defensive starters from last season. That group already was a top-20 unit in 2016 and could dominate in the upcoming campaign. That leaves questions mainly about who could help transform a Georgia offense that ranked 102nd in points scored.
Jacob Eason is back as quarterback, and he will be pushed by freshman Jake Fromm. It would be tempting for Kirby Smart to bring back Matthew Stafford, David Greene, or other Bulldog greats at QB. But Eason’s struggles in 2016 were due in large part to lacking a real playmaker in the passing game. Top receiver Isaiah McKenzie led the team with just 633 receiving yards last year, and is now gone to the NFL.
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If he could pick one Georgia great to transform his offense, A.J. Green would provide an instant jolt. Green scored 23 touchdowns with the Bulldogs and averaged nearly two more yards per reception than anyone on the team with at least 20 receptions last year. The fourth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Green has made the Pro Bowl every year since going pro. With Green, Georgia’s offense would be as title ready as its defense.
It will be interesting to see how LSU fares in its first full season without Les Miles at the helm since 2004. The Tigers return a dynamic tailback in Derrius Guice, a second-year transfer at quarterback in Danny Etling, and a veteran offensive line. It is a team that will likely focus on the running game out of its pro-style look.
Offense, though, has never really been the most critical component to LSU’s 21st-century success. Rather, defense has been the team’s calling card since the Nick Saban days. Last year, the Tigers held teams under 16 points per game. They also ranked in the top 15 in total yards allowed, rushing defense, and opponent passing efficiency. But with half the starters gone once again, attrition could take its toll.
Imagine if Orgeron, a guy who loves to build from the lines outward, could plug up the center of his defense with one of LSU’s most dominant nose tackles in school history. Glenn Dorsey was a two-time All-America selection and a key member of the Tigers’ BCS title-winning side in 2006. As a senior in 2007, Dorsey became the only player ever to win the Outland, Lombardi, Nagurski, and Lott Awards in the same season along with the SEC defensive player of the year.
The past few years have been seasons of flux in Madison. Two coaches bolted the program since 2012, and the identity of the team has suffered as a result. Corey Clement restored order somewhat last year, beginning a new streak of 1000-yard rushers that was broken in 2015. But the offensive line has been nowhere near as strong as it has performed in past seasons.That might not improve much in 2017, especially given the departure of tackle Ryan Ramczyk to the NFL.
Quarterback play has been down the past few years, as the offensive line has gone from a top-15 unit to a sub-40 ranking in terms of sack rate. Erratic rushing numbers, once the stalwart of the Badgers offense, has been another issue since Paul Chryst took over coaching duties at his alma mater. Imagine if Chryst could bring back the greatest offensive tackle in school history.
Joe Thomas was a three-year starter for the Badgers between 2004 and 2006, going 31-7 as a starter at left tackle. Thomas anchored a line that opened holes 1500-yard rushers Brian Calhoun and P.J. Hill. He also helped Wisconsin reach its highest win single-season win total in 2006 as a senior as the Badgers went 12-1. He would immediately improve the confidence of Alex Hornibrook and make Wisconsin the clear favorite out of the Big Ten West and a national title contender.
No team considered among this year’s title contenders lost more talent this offseason than Michigan. Though Wilton Speight returns at quarterback, the team lost its top two receivers and tight end Jake Butt. Three offensive linemen graduated as well. Speight is going to be working with a relatively new cast of characters this year.
That said, the offense is still in far better shape than Jim Harbaugh’s defense. Only tackle Maurice Hurst and linebacker Mike McCray have any real college experience. The secondary was especially hard hit, losing players like cornerbacks Jourdan Lewis and Jeremy Clark and safety Jabrill Peppers. Harbaugh is expected to begin the year with three freshmen and a sophomore patrolling the defensive backfield.
Imagine what a difference Michigan’s greatest defensive back could make as the Wolverines chase a Big Ten title. Charles Woodson won the Heisman in 1997 as a two-way star in Ann Arbor, leading the Wolverines to a share of the national title as a junior. His 18 interceptions and 30 pass breakups eclipse the stats of everyone left in Michigan’s secondary, and Woodson would make an immediate impact on his alma mater’s title hopes.
With most of last year’s offense returning, Gus Malzahn has the experienced roster that could make waves in the SEC West this season. Auburn also adds transfer quarterback Jarrett Stidham, formerly of Baylor, to what could be a high-scoring attack. Stidham could be just what the passing attack needs to recover from a 112th-place showing in 2016.
Thus the question falls to exactly what Auburn’s defense needs to contend for the SEC title in 2016. The Tigers fielded a relatively strong defense to advance to the Sugar Bowl last year. They were hit hard by losses on that side of the ball, though, especially in the secondary. Given the importance of the last level in the team’s 4-2-5 defense, Auburn would benefit immensely from the opportunity to call upon an all-time great.
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For the Tigers, there was no greater cornerback than Carlos Rogers. A four-year starter on the Plains, Rogers was part of the undefeated 2004 team that was shut out of the BCS title game. That year he won the Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in the country and was also a consensus All-America selection. If Malzahn could call upon Rogers to bolster his defense, a title would be much closer in reach.
Few teams return as potent an offense as Oklahoma State. The Cowboys return a talented receiving corps, running back Justice Hill, a veteran offensive line, and quarterback Mason Rudolph. Mike Gundy’s team will once again be in contention for the Big 12 title thanks to the high-octane attack. But the defense could let the Pokes down against the best competition.
As it is, only five starters return from last year’s defense. That could be a blessing in disguise. After all, Oklahoma State finished in the bottom third of every defensive category in 2016. It is tempting to look at the large number of losses in the secondary and think about how a former great like R.W. McQuarters or Perrish Cox could elevate the Cowboys to title status. But pressure on the front end is especially critical.
Thus Gundy would be wise to consider a former Cowboy great like Leslie O’Neal. A two-time All-America selection, O’Neal was also the Big Eight defensive player of the year in 1984. He was then selected eighth overall in the 1986 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He was part of Oklahoma State teams under Jimmy Johnson and Pat Jones that went to three straight bowl games, then won the NFL defensive rookie of the year award in 1986.
Last year Oklahoma went 11-2, narrowly missing out on the College Football Playoff. Instead they took down Auburn by two scores in the Sugar Bowl to cap their Big 12 title season. The Sooners bring back plenty of talent, especially on offense. Their biggest loss is not a player but head coach Bob Stoops, who suddenly retired this spring after 19 seasons in Norman.
Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley took over for Stoops. If it were up to Riley, perhaps he would call upon someone like Adrian Peterson or Billy Sims to replace Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. With a veteran line and Baker Mayfield returning, though, the new coach has little to worry about on that side of the ball. The bigger questions come on defense, where three-year starting inside linebacker Jordan Lewis has moved on to the NFL.
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What if Riley could call upon Oklahoma’s most destructive inside linebacker in school history? Brian Bosworth twice received unanimous All-America selections for the Sooners, helping them win the 1985 national title. He was also the only player ever to win the Butkus Award twice. Though he was brash and opinionated, Bosworth would undoubtedly push the current Sooner defense to the next level.
As the defending Pac-12 champion, Washington has a lot going for it. The offense returns a large amount of its 2016 production, beginning with quarterback Jake Browning and tailback Myles Gaskin. John Ross is gone to the NFL, but Dante Pettis and Chico McClatcher both return to the receiving corps. The one place where the Huskies might regress, though, is on defense.
The biggest issue facing Chris Petersen’s team is the loss of three mainstays in the defensive backfield. Cornerbacks Kevin King and Sidney Jones were both selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Huskies safety Budda Baker was also a second-round pick. That leaves Petersen and his defensive staff dependent on a redshirt freshman at one cornerback spot and a sophomore at Baker’s spot.
That is a scary proposition for a title hopeful. What if Petersen could retool with an in-his-prime Lawyer Milloy instead of relying on green talent? Milloy racked up over 100 tackles a season in both 1994 and 1995. As a junior, he was a consensus All-America selection. He went in the same overall draft slot in the 1996 NFL Draft as Baker did this spring. Beginning with New England, Milloy spent 15 highly productive years as a pro and went to four Pro Bowls as a Patriot.
The defending College Football Playoff champion has almost all the tools to compete for a repeat title in 2017. The defense should be as stout as it was in 2016 with seven starters returning. And the offensive line brings back all five starters, and most boast multiple years of starting experience. Though the team lost several key playmakers such as Wayne Gallman, Mike Williams, and Jordan Leggett, players like Ray-Ray McCloud and Hunter Renfrow are back.
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The one thing Clemson will miss most is its star quarterback, Deshaun Watson. Among the 16 teams on this list, only the Tigers lost their starting passer from last season. Dabo Swinney will turn to either junior Kelly Bryant or early-enrolled true freshman Hunter Johnson. Between them, they have all of 18 college passing attempts — all of which belong to Bryant.
Swinney and Clemson fans must wish they could have convinced Watson to come back for his final season of eligibility. With a veteran behind projected center Justin Falcinelli instead of either Bryant or Johnson, Clemson would instantly become the title favorite. The Tigers would be much higher in the preseason polls, and that could make all the difference as they look to defend their championship.
The defending holder of the Big Ten title enters 2017 with a clear shot at reaching the College Football Playoff. There are few deficiencies on their roster, as most of their key players return. Nine starters are back on offense, led by quarterback Trace McSorley. Running back Saquon Barkley is also back for the Nittany Lions, as are four of five starters on the offensive line. Chris Godwin is perhaps the biggest loss on offense, but plenty of receivers are ready to step up.
On defense, seven starters return. The most glaring issue, though, is depth in the front seven. Linebacker U has plenty of experienced talent at the second level. But five of the top eight linemen on the post-spring depth chart are redshirt freshmen or sophomores. What if James Franklin could draw upon one defensive lineman from past Penn State rosters?
To seal up a title on the defensive end, this year’s Nittany Lions team could really use Courtney Brown. A three-year starter at defensive end, Brown still holds school records in career sacks (33) and tackles for loss (70).
In 1999, he was a consensus All-America selection and the Big Ten defensive player of the year. Though he never lived up to being the first overall selection in the 2000 NFL Draft, Brown in his college prime would boost Penn State’s title chances.
Once Sam Darnold took over at quarterback for USC in 2016, the team transformed into a title contender. The Trojans capped their season last year with a thrilling win over Penn State, giving Southern California its first Rose Bowl victory since 2008. As a result, USC enters 2017 as a trendy pick for the Pac-12 title and to play in the College Football Playoff.
But there are some issues throughout the roster. The defense was hardest hit in the secondary, losing Adoree’ Jackson and Leon McQuay III to the NFL. Darnold returns for 2017, though he loses a lot of the offensive stars around him. It would be tempting to pick a star like Reggie Bush to provide Darnold with a dynamic playmaker. But there is an even bigger hole on offense. That comes along the line, which loses three starters from last year’s unit.
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Darnold was so successful, in part, because he rarely hit the turf. If Clay Helton could choose one past Trojan great to protect his quarterback, Bruce Matthews would be the right choice. He was an All-America selection as a senior, then went ninth to Houston in the 1983 NFL Draft. With the Oilers/Titans franchise, Matthews went to 14 Pro Bowls in 19 seasons and played every position along the line. Helton could use that kind of versatility to propel USC to title favorite.
Florida State returns the bulk of a talented defense to Tallahassee in 2017. They also get back starting quarterback Deondre Francois, though he lost a lot of his favorite playmakers to the NFL Draft. The Seminoles lost four of their top six pass catchers. That includes Dalvin Cook, the Florida State backfield star who was a threat on the ground as well as in the passing game.
Losing Cook to the NFL was inevitable. But, considering how much Francois relied on his running back, it will be quite impactful. Jacques Patrick is slated to take over the rushing duties for the Seminoles in the upcoming campaign. The junior has certainly earned his chance at the starting role. But what if Jimbo Fisher could instead upgrade the position with the greatest FSU running back in school history?
Dunn was an immediate game changer when he came to Tallahassee in 1993. He posted 7.5 yards per carry on 68 attempts and caught another 25 passes, scoring 10 times as a freshman. Over his career he scored 49 times for the Seminoles and racked up over 5000 yards from scrimmage. If anyone could provide an upgrade over Cook, it would be Dunn. He would immediately provide the surest option for Francois on this season’s roster.
If there is one place where Ohio State could use some help next season, it is the defensive backfield. The team lost both starting cornerbacks, Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley, in the first round of the NFL Draft. Perhaps more impactful, though, will be the loss of another first-round pick. In his only season as a Buckeyes starter, safety Malik Hooker was dominant in a way that will be hard to replicate.
Hooker racked up seven interceptions, returning the picks for 181 total yards while scoring three times. The performance earned him a spot with the San Francisco 49ers. What if Urban Meyer could replace his departed star with a former great who also made his professional name in the Bay Area?
That great, of course, is Jack Tatum. The Oakland Raiders star finished in the top 10 in Heisman voting in both 1969 and 1970 before moving on to the NFL. Originally recruited as a running back, Tatum moved to the defense as a freshman and never looked back.
As a national champion in 1968, a vintage Tatum would provide the veteran leadership his alma mater needs to get over the hump to win a national title in 2017.
Alabama enters every season as a favorite to win the SEC and play for a national title. That has been the case pretty much as long as Nick Saban has been in Tuscaloosa. Under Saban, the Crimson Tide have won four BCS and CFP championships. Every year the Tide lose plenty of talent to the NFL, and every year Saban seems to retool the team for another run at the crown.
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Saban certainly has a few linebackers stashed on his depth chart that can step in and perform in 2017. But the losses of Reuben Foster, Ryan Anderson, and Tim Williams will undoubtedly have an impact on a defense that was already susceptible to giving up points.
Imagine what would happen if Saban could resurrect the greatest Tide linebacker and bring him back to Tuscaloosa in his prime, though.
Derrick Thomas remains the single-season FBS record holder in sacks after posting 27 for the Tide in 1988. From Alabama, Thomas went on to a highly productive 11-year NFL career, amassing more than 100 sacks for the Kansas City Chiefs. That career was cut short when Thomas was paralyzed in a car accident in January 2000 and died two weeks later. He would thrive in Saban’s defense and elevate the Tide to clear title favorites.