College Football: 5 bold predictions for the 2021 season

Jan 11, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood (70) celebrates with the CFP National Championship trophy after beating the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood (70) celebrates with the CFP National Championship trophy after beating the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next

This fall is an “if not now, when” season for the top of college football. With Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, and Notre Dame all breaking in new quarterbacks, can a team emerge and make their first trip to the College Football Playoff?

Georgia got the two best transfer players from the portal in LSU tight end Arik Gilbert and Clemson defensive back Derion Kendrick.  J.T. Daniels and offensive coordinator Todd Monken have an entire offseason to work together. Now the Bulldogs have an elite perimeter player in Gilbert. Can they knock off Alabama?

If Georgia does not win the SEC and get to the playoff this season, 2022 is even more difficult with the class the Tide brought to Tuscaloosa this fall.

The Big 12 is Oklahoma’s to lose. The next step for the Sooners is to make the Playoff and win a game. Can they? Has defensive coordinator Alex Grinch developed a defense good enough to keep an SEC offense at bay?

The Pac-12 and the USC Trojans had a huge win this offseason keeping number one overall recruit Korey Forman in California and the Pac-12. But can the Trojans or the Oregon Ducks find a way to make the College Football Playoff?

Here are five bold predictions for the 2021 college football season.