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25 biggest college football storylines for the 2022 season

By Michael Thompson

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 10: The National Championship Trophy is seen on the field prior to the 2022 CFP National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 10: The National Championship Trophy is seen on the field prior to the 2022 CFP National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish meets with Kevin Bauman #84 before the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish meets with Kevin Bauman #84 before the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

4. Is Notre Dame vs. OSU a playoff preview?

The main course of a fantastic Week 1, who’s ready to see a top-five caliber matchup where one team will walk away with possibly the best non-conference win of the year?

Ohio State is favored by 14.5 points. This might seem disrespectful to a Fighting Irish squad, but it shows the potential dominance we may see this year from Ohio State.

CJ Stroud, Jackson Smith-Njigba, and TreVeyon Henderson form the most terrifying trio of offensive weapons in the country. All three of these men can win the Heisman, which is why none of them will probably win it. The offense has all-time potential, but can the defense regroup after a disappointing season last year?

The Buckeyes’ defense was smoked by the Oregon Ducks, Michigan Wolverines, and Utah Utes, costing them a CFP appearance and nearly losing the Rose Bowl for it, not for their offense we talked about. Out with the old regime, in with Jim Knowles who led an absolutely stunning turnaround with the Oklahoma State defense, which was inches away from going to the playoff, is now the man in charge of defense in Columbus. Can he take a far more talented roster, and get similar results? If so, OSU is the title favorite, and may make a statement in Week 1.

While Notre Dame may be heavy underdogs, they too feel like they have the pieces for a CFP run. After the shocking departure of Brian Kelly to LSU, new head coach Marcus Freeman has done nothing but elevate the potential of this year’s team, as well as the future of Notre Dame.

The Irish come into this season as a top-10 team. They are loaded for this season with 14 returning starters, including Gronk 2.0 in Michael Mayer, and All-American transfer safety Brandon Joseph from Northwestern. Tyler Buchner will begin the season as the starting quarterback. The mobile sophomore has the legs to get this offense to another gear compared to last year, but does he have the arm?

While this year’s team looks like a New Year’s Six team that can contend for a CFP spot, they also have the top recruiting class in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

Freeman is changing the recruiting dynamic at South Bend. If he can handle the game-day side of the job, there’s a chance Notre Dame makes a jump in the next decade.

I like the Buckeyes to win a competitive game against the Fighting Irish, and don’t be surprised if we see a rematch come New Year’s.

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