Andy Staples

Indiana is the favorite to win the national championship among the remaining four teams

I think you'd have to call Indiana the favorite. I mean, they, they've been the most consistent all year long. They've played the best in the biggest games all year long. And that goes back to, to when they went to Eugene and beat Oregon.

If a college coach doesn't show significant improvement by Year 2, the hire was a failure

If your guy's not getting it done by year two, you blew the higher. That's, that's it. In this era, you blew the higher, if your guy's not good by year two... if you've got a coach te begging for patience, that's a coach who knows He's already cooked.

The Tennessee vs Oklahoma game is a playoff elimination game

I'd say the game that intrigues me most is a pure playoff elimination game in Knoxville... Tennessee, Oklahoma, absolute winner is alive, loser is dead. And the Oklahoma fans very down on Brent Venables. They'll love him if he wins.

Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline would be a home run hire for a Big 10 head coaching job

What about Brian Hartline, the offensive coordinator at Ohio State? Best receivers coach in the world. I will say that like the, I'm not being hyperbolic. He's, he's better than anybody else in college and probably better than anybody in the NFL. He's one of the best recruiters ever. Heartline because of who he can recruit to your program probably commands a little bit higher first step.

Iowa could make the 12-team playoff if they run the table

I'll give you a a one that I think is really interesting and they're not even ranked yet... Iowa. Iowa's gotta run the table. But they're if they can beat USC they have to beat Oregon too... if you can beat both those two teams, you can win out and you will make the playoff at 10 and two with that record and that schedule.

LSU is the premier coaching job opening in college football

I had LSU number one and I had Florida number two. And the reason I had LSU number one, three of the last four coaches have won national titles... every kid who lives in the state grows up in the state, wants a, wants to grow up and be a Tiger. LSU has an advantage that only Ohio State really has anywhere else.

Arkansas is a top-4 coaching job because of corporate NIL funding

My number four is, is gonna piss off some people... Arkansas. I looked at the John Calipari hire in basketball. Tyson Foods obviously putting a lot of the money toward that. They have massive corporate support there. Walmart's all over their field and all over their stadium. If they get their corporate money excited, you can be funded very well at Arkansas.

Billy Napier's firing at Florida is inevitable and could happen soon

It feels inevitable that that he'll get fired. But the problem guys is it felt inevitable last year... I don't see a way out of this for Billy because they're gonna lose. You would think most of these games against the good teams.

Arch Manning stinks right now and is a fundamentally different quarterback than we expected

I don't know what the hell this is. It looks like he's throwing from a different arm slot... I thought maybe he could be average at worst. I don't know what the hell this is... it does feel like it's mental. It feels like the yips almost.

Miami is a complete team and a great value at 16-to-1 to win the National Championship

I would put them [Miami] above LSU in Texas. 'Cause it's easier for them to make the playoffs... they fixed the defense. The defense stunk last year... they're a much more complete team.

Alabama will not drop off in talent significantly following Nick Saban's retirement

I'm much higher on Alabama than I think most people are. I don't think they drop off that much. I remember going up there in the spring and just looking at the amount of aliens walking around on the field. It hasn't changed... They're still top three in talent in the whole country.

Tennessee has its deepest defensive line in over 20 years

Deepest defensive line they've had since I was a baby beat writer covering Tennessee. And they had John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth and Will Overstreet. It's been a long time since Tennessee's been that stacked on the D line.

Ohio State has zero excuses and must win the National Title this year

They really is no excuse. Not only should they win the Big 10, they should win the national title. There's no excuse. It is national title or bust. You're not really gonna miss Marv [Marvin Harrison Jr.] because they have Jeremiah Smith.

Nebraska will likely start the 2024 season 6-1 or 7-0

I'm looking at their schedule... six and one or seven and oh going to the Ohio State game is not out of the realm of possibility for Nebraska. I want it so bad because they'll have that little number next to their name.

The Alabama job is still a top three job but harder than Georgia and Ohio State

I still think [Georgia's] the best job. I think it's easier to recruit to Georgia... Ohio State's probably a better job because the way you dominate that state... Alabama is a little bit harder than those jobs. And Nick Saban made it look easy.

Mike Norvell is my guess for the next Alabama head coach

I'm going to say Mike Norvell. That is going to be my guess. He's been recruiting in this area... Florida State has to recruit against Alabama, Auburn, Georgia... You are already in that world. You're just not in the same conference.

Alabama will win the SEC West and recover from their early season struggles

Alabama, we buried Alabama. Unfortunately for us, we didn't look at the schedule because they are gonna win the SEC west... now that they've decided on Jalen Milroe as their quarterback and they're actually building an offense around him running plays that work for him, I think that's gonna help them going forward.

Texas is a legitimate National Title contender because of their improved line play

Texas... I think they're very good now. I think they're legitimate college football playoff legit. The difference with Texas this year versus Texas really since 2009 is there are legitimate NFL players on both sides of the line of scrimmage... they've developed them and these dudes can play.

Miami is 'back' as a 10-win caliber team this year

Miami... Mario Cristobal was singing the praises [of his O-line]. And then you saw 'em against A&M and they protected Tyler Van Dyke very well... I'm thinking maybe Miami's pretty good. I don't think they're that team [from last year] anymore.

Caleb Williams is the most 'can't-miss' QB prospect since Andrew Luck

Caleb Williams is the most can't miss since Trevor Lawrence or Andrew Luck... Because the man makes magic. Mahomes-esque. Very, very similar. Different arm angles that sort of thing.

Penn State is a legitimate national title contender in 2023

Penn State is loaded with freaky talent this year. Like they could really be a Big 10 title contender. And if you're a Big 10 title contender, it means you could actually be a national title contender. So, you know, it's, it's, it's gonna be very strange. Like that one's gonna be wild.

Texas will fail to win 10 games and miss out on a Big 12 title

Texas is gonna be favored to win the Big 12... But I've seen too many times. I need to see them win these games before I can believe. And so like, their total is nine and a half. I picked the under and everybody went nuts. Until we see them do that with the games that they should win, where they are more talented than the opponent. I, I, I can't believe yet.

Kentucky is a dark horse to surprise the SEC in 2023

Kentucky seems to have fixed a lot of the things that caused problems last year... They've got Devin Leary now... They could be quite a bit better. That's one that if you're Tennessee, if you're Florida, if you're South Carolina, you're worried about them right being considerably better than they were last year.

Michigan is the best-positioned team to win the national championship in 2023

Michigan, this is the best chance Michigan has to win a national championship. It feels like this is the culmination of everything Harbaugh's built... Michigan is loaded with NFL talent. Jim Harbaugh told my friend Bruce Feldman, he thinks 20 guys are gonna get drafted off this roster. I don't think Michigan beating Ohio State the last two years is a fluke. No. I need to see Ohio State beat them to prove that they can.

College Football Playoff prediction: Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, and Alabama

I'm gonna go Georgia, Michigan. I'm gonna go Oregon. I'm gonna say Oregon wins the Pac-12. First Pac-12 playoff participant since 2016. And then Alabama. Two Big 10 teams, two SEC teams essentially.

Notre Dame will cover -20.5 against Navy in Ireland

I kind of like Notre Dame to cover against Navy. And I realize it's 20 and a half. But I, I'm, I'm excited to see Sam Hartman in that Notre Dame offense. You have the buffer... hopefully they don't run out of beer like they did last time.

Tennessee is the best they have been since their 1998 national title team

This is the best Tennessee team since the [1998 team] led to a national title. Yep, For sure.

Alabama's dynasty isn't dead, but NIL and depth issues have made them beatable

I don't think it's dead... but what I do think has happened, I blame Kirby Smart for a lot of it. Kirby Smart's been at Georgia now since 2016 and every year he's been there, he's sheared off a few guys that would've signed with Alabama... If you sign 20 of those guys a year instead of 25... your depth suffers.

Brian Harsin will not be the coach at Auburn in 2023

Clearly he will not be the coach at Auburn in 2023. The, the problem for Harsin... his first year at Auburn, they looked at his recruiting and they're like, Did you go after anybody that Nick Saban and Kirby Smart wanted? ... And the answer was no.

Matt Rhule will do TV for a year and then get another big college job

My guess is he does TV and then waits this cycle out and, and sees what's available next cycle... he'll be beloved on tv. Unlike most head coaches at that level, he can have a normal human conversation.

Notre Dame will eventually be forced to join a conference for playoff access

If Notre Dame loses, you know, has their vote diluted for the playoff, they're going to join a conference... The second this happened the other day with the Big Ten adding USC and UCLA, I was like, okay, now this is it. This is when Notre Dame has to join a conference.

North Carolina is the biggest 'tug of war' school for future conference realignment

North Carolina would be the biggest tug of war because the Big Ten and the SEC both want them badly. That's the one... North Carolina has long been coveted by the Big Ten and the SEC.

Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly moved because it's easier to win a national title at USC and LSU

I really do think both of these moves were about finding a place where it's easier to win the national title than where you're at. ... This is more about winning the playoff than getting in the playoff because you have two guys who could get in the playoff, but couldn't win it.

Will Anderson is the best player in the country and should win the Heisman

If a player isn't the best player in his own county, he cannot possibly be the best player in the country. So Bryce Young, not the best player in Tuscaloosa county, that person's name is Will Anderson. Will Anderson has 30 and a half tackles for loss. He has saved the Alabama defense this season. He's the best player in the country. It's not close.

Oklahoma State will beat Baylor and make the college football playoff

I think Oklahoma State just has played so well. The last few weeks they've really hit their groove. So I think they're gonna win. And I think they're gonna make the playoff.

Chip Kelly has UCLA rolling and they can beat anyone in the Pac-12

I think [Chip Kelly] does. I mean, if they can do that to LSU, where the talent gap is pretty big between UCLA and LSU, there's nobody UCLA is going to play in the Pac-12 that has that kind of talent. UCLA can beat anybody in the Pac-12.

Coach O could face a Gene Chizik-style quick firing if LSU doesn't improve

Let me remind you of a name, Gene Chizik. Gene Chizik won a national title in 2010, went undefeated, was fired in 2012. So it is possible that this happens [to Ed Orgeron]. And what was disturbing about LSU was the defense... They're either going to get this worked out... or we're having the Gene Chizik conversation midseason.

Iowa will go into Ames and beat Iowa State

I got a feeling Iowa is going into Ames and beating Iowa State. And that's not a knock on Iowa State. I just think Iowa is going to be really good.

Mayonnaise makes the most moist chocolate cake

I had this chocolate cake once in Mississippi... Mayo. It's mayo. It makes the most moist chocolate cake you've ever had in your life.

The best path for Texas A&M into the playoffs is an Alabama blowout of Florida and a Notre Dame win over Clemson

I think A&M has one path and one path only, and that is Alabama clobbers Florida and Notre Dame beats Clemson. But the thing is if Notre Dame does beat Clemson, I think they're gonna be in, I think A&M would be in because I just can't picture who else they put in.

Hugh Freeze would jump at the Tennessee head coaching job

I think he'd like to be the next coach at the University of Tennessee. I think that's the job he's wanted for quite some time, probably since before he became a college coach... if that opportunity came available, he would jump at it.

Alabama will beat Florida by 40 points in the SEC Championship

I actually think they'll win by 40. A lot better game out of Florida than we saw last week. I just don't know that they are talented enough to beat Alabama.

LSU's roster depth will prevent them from falling off a map despite losing starters

They do have some really good players coming back because they recruited well... You'll be able to see how deep their recruiting has been in the last few years because they're going to roll out a 2D defensive line that they feel very comfortable with. I mean they've got talent, it's not like they're going to fall off the map.

Mike Leach will have the most talented roster of his career at Mississippi State

This is still a better roster than from a talent standpoint than Mike Leach has ever had either at Texas Tech or at Washington State... smart quarterback [Costello] can come in and learn the Air Raid. I do think they're going to come along pretty fast.

The 2018 College Football Playoff will include Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson, and Michigan

The Final Four, if I'm projecting it out at the end of the season, would be Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson, in some order... And then Michigan. My top four now are Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson, LSU. But I'm projecting, obviously, that Alabama beats LSU.

Clemson is the only team that can go toe-to-toe with Alabama

Clemson feels like the only team that could go toe to toe with Alabama. And I'm not sure. Cause if you get Clemson, when they hit kill mode, I don't think Notre Dame or Michigan or LSU would be able to hang with him.

Georgia is becoming the new Alabama

I think Georgia is becoming the new Alabama. And I actually filmed a video where I say, I think Georgia's going to win the SEC this year. Because I think Georgia, by the end of this season, they have to replace so many guys that you know. But the thing is... the guys they have coming in might eventually be better.

Clemson will win the National Championship

National champion, Clemson. I think they wind up going with [Trevor] Lawrence... if the guys are equal again, you're going to go with the higher ceiling guy.

LSU finally has a legitimate starting quarterback in Joe Burrow

I think LSU has a quarterback now. Because the Ohio State coaches and Ohio State players, I don't think they were blowing smoke when they said Burrow was fairly close to Haskins... This dude could start most places. And if Burrow is pretty good, well, guess what? It's a totally different end.

LSU will beat Miami in the season opener

I still, with the pass rush that LSU should be able to generate, I like LSU in that game [against Miami].

The over on West Virginia's 7.5 win total is a lock

West Virginia, their over-under is 7.5. Oh, wow. I want to hammer that... Will Grier is maybe the best quarterback in the country... They're going to put up sick numbers on offense.

The National Championship TV ratings are going to suck

The ratings are going to suck. There's no question the ratings are going to suck. Because outside of this quarter of the country, people just don't care.

Georgia is the best coaching job in America

For the last five or six years, I've said Georgia's the best job in America. And the person who convinced me of that is Nick Saban. He always thought that Georgia was the best job in America if you really got it rolling because there's so much talent in the state.

Willie Taggart will be a recruiting monster at Florida State

I will go Willie Taggart because I don't think people understand how well Willie Taggart is going to be able to recruit in the state of Florida. That dude comes in with an FSU logo on his polo shirt. There are going to be guys jumping to sign with him.

Baker Mayfield is the best quarterback in the draft

Baker Mayfield. I take Baker Mayfield over any of them. I was the same way with Deshaun Watson last year. ... That dude, he operates as quick as the good NFL quarterbacks when you watch the guys you watch on Sunday.

Lamar Jackson has a similar skill set to Michael Vick

his skill set is actually kind of similar to Michael Vick's. And it's funny because other than Josh Allen, he's the only other one who's run in kind of a pro-style offense.

Wisconsin will win a national title in Big Cat's lifetime

Wisconsin will win a national title in your lifetime. It will happen. ... I actually think football is a better chance probably, because basketball is a real lightning bolt.

The College Football Playoff won't expand to eight teams for another eight years

There's eight more years of this TV contract right after that. ... the old guard, the old guys, are going to try to keep the Rose Bowl relevant. ... I think in eight years you'll have that.