College football storylines to watch over the second half of an already chaotic 2021 season

After a 2020 season that was in contrast to any we had skilled in our lifetime, school soccer’s return in 2021 felt greater than regular. The mix of playoff enlargement, NIL and convention realignment saved the dialog going all by means of the summer time. When video games had been lastly on the horizon, the return of followers within the stands introduced a heightened, palpable pleasure. 

Now on the midseason level, it is nice to report that college football has certainly delivered on the promise of a season for the ages. The 2021 CBS Sports Midseason All-America team has highlighted some unbelievable people. Our second-chance picks for the School Soccer Playoff, Heisman Trophy and different nationwide honors mirror the outcomes of a chaotic first half that included 47 video games misplaced by ranked groups.

Now, it is time to flip our consideration to how the second chapter for the 2021 season will conclude. Beneath, we have detailed seven storylines to observe over the second half of the 2021 season: 

Georgia’s declare as among the finest defenses ever

The dialog has already began. Whereas comparisons throughout eras can get a bit sloppy, each extra sport the Bulldogs play appears so as to add to the argument that this unit is among the all-time greats. 

The energy of the argument is that proof comes from all sides. Do you favor to maintain it easy, judging defenses by the influence on the scoreboard? In that case, no protection since Alabama’s in 2011 has held opponents beneath 10 factors per sport, That unit allowed 8.2 factors per sport and this 12 months’s Bulldogs are permitting a mere 6.6. If that is too primary on your tastes, the superior effectivity metrics point out that, at this tempo, Georgia may have a number of the greatest numbers since they began maintaining such statistics. 

How about judging elite school defenses by the longer term NFL expertise assembled in a single place? Whereas it might not take the crown from 2001 Miami, there shall be Sunday afternoons sooner or later once we marvel that coach Kirby Good had each Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter as his high two nostril tackles, with defensive sort out Devonte Wyatt and linebackers Nakobe Dean and Nolan Smith all inflicting havoc as nicely. 

There are two hurdles left to find out Georgia’s place among the many all-time greats: the way it performs in opposition to a top-tier quarterback and whether or not it wins its first nationwide championship in additional than 40 years. The perfect passing assault left on the regular-season schedule could also be in opposition to Tennessee on Nov. 13, however that may solely be the appetizer. Stronger passing assaults certainly await the Dawgs within the postseason, each within the SEC Championship Recreation and, in all chance, the playoff. 

Alabama’s place on Dec. 4

Nick Saban mentioned this week that the id of the 2021 Alabama workforce has but to be determined. It is a group that has exemplified the sort of talent-forward dominance we’re used to seeing from the Crimson Tide in spurts, but in addition a number of the lags and lulls that drive the best of all time to tear off his headset and switch each shade of purple. 

Penciling in Alabama because the No. 1 workforce within the nation was not unfair coming into the season, however the assumption that this workforce can be a continuation of 2020’s dominance was misguided. New faces on the sector and sideline signaled some of the vital overhauls of the Saban period. Finally, it has left a margin for error a lot smaller than we’re used to seeing. 

Florida first uncovered that margin in an early-season scare in Gainesville earlier than Texas A&M seized the chance, upsetting the top-ranked Tide 41-38 within the largest win but in the course of the Jimbo Fisher period. Alabama nonetheless sits in first place within the SEC West and controls its divisional future, however what we are going to study in regards to the workforce’s id over the second half of the season? And what sort of type will the Crimson Tide carry into a possible SEC title sport assembly with Georgia? If the loss to the Aggies was the wake-up name that results in extra constant and environment friendly efficiency on the sector, then Alabama’s greatest soccer is likely to be in its future. 

Who emerges from the Large Ten East? 

Congratulations to the Large Ten league workplace for a convention schedule that’s going captivate the faculty soccer world within the weeks forward. The division has 4 groups within the high 10 of the AP ballot — No. 5 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Penn State and No. 9 Michigan State — with a mixed file of 23-2. All 4 are going to play one another over the second half of the season. 

The divisional title chase begins with a bang on Oct. 30 as Michigan performs Michigan State and Penn State travels to Ohio State. The percentages favor Ohio State rising because the Large Ten’s champion and high playoff contender, and the leaps taken by a more healthy, extra skilled CJ Stroud again up that suggestion. Nonetheless, 2021 is as robust because the division has been in years. Coach Ryan Day’s undefeated file in opposition to convention groups goes to get its hardest check but. 

Past the Buckeyes, there are much more fascinating storylines. Michigan will strive as soon as once more to beat Ohio State for the primary time beneath coach Jim Harbaugh. Penn State and Michigan State are having fun with successes with in-demand coaches who’re being named as potential candidates for different jobs. The Cowl 3 Podcast lately ran a SEC West vs. Large Ten East head-to-head problem akin to those we see in school basketball. Whereas the SEC West received that debate, the highest 4 of the Large Ten East gives sufficient juice to make it probably the most attention-grabbing division in school soccer. 

Caleb Williams continues late Heisman Trophy run 

Oklahoma‘s freshman quarterback has only one profession begin as we enter Week 8. Nonetheless, Williams has been spectacular sufficient to rocket as much as fourth within the Heisman Trophy odds behind Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral and Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud. Whereas the nationwide storyline shall be centered round his argument as a Heisman contender regardless of his small pattern measurement, Williams’ story is among the many most vital due to his significance to Oklahoma’s nationwide championship competition. 

One of many huge storylines coming into the season was that Oklahoma was poised not simply to make the sector fo 4, however decide up this system’s first playoff win. That dialog was sparked from the presence of QB Spencer Rattler, the preseason Heisman favourite. However when Williams took over for Rattler in opposition to Texas, the story of Oklahoma’s season modified dramatically. If the Sooners make a run on the title, the theater of what is transpired in Norman is likely to be sufficient to seize the eye of voters trying to fill out these three spots on their poll for school soccer’s most excellent participant.   

Cincinnati‘s high-wire act reaches its climax

The Bearcats beat Indiana and Notre Dame in consecutive video games to arrange some of the intriguing conundrums of the playoff period. Now as much as No. 2 within the AP High 25 and No. 3 within the Coaches Ballot, it stands to motive that the Bearcats are as well-positioned as any Group of 5 workforce could possibly be to complete the season within the high 4 of the playoff committee’s rankings. To take action can be historic and shatter the notion that the door is closed to these outdoors the facility conferences, irrespective of how the season goes. 

Cincinnati was an undefeated convention champion when the choice committee revealed its last rankings in 2020, sandwiched at No. 8 between a three-loss SEC runner-up Florida and a two-loss Georgia. The Bearcats by no means made it greater than No. 7 that 12 months, but when they proceed this run, it may be awfully robust for the committee to place them outdoors of the highest 4. 

Whereas there are elements of Cincinnati’s playoff push which might be nicely outdoors of this system’s management, like whether or not SMU is ranked once they play in November, it has a say in its personal outcomes. Because the stress mounts for making playoff historical past, every week will change into a high-wire act to make it to the top of 60 minutes with one other win. Based mostly on the place Cincinnati ranks now and what’s already been completed, an important stat for nationwide championship competition just isn’t margin of victory or energy of schedule, however that “0” within the loss column.   

Clemson tries to maintain at the least one streak alive

With the playoff out of attain, Dabo Swinney and this Tigers program have refocused on their targets of profitable a seventh straight ACC championship. Florida State holds the league file with 9 straight convention crowns from 1992-2000, however two of these titles had been shared since they occurred earlier than the championship sport period. 

The hardest a part of profitable one other ACC title is likely to be making it to the ACC Championship Recreation. The Tigers have a loss to a divisional foe in NC State, and the Wolfpack at the moment have the within path to profitable the division in the event that they win out. Undefeated Wake Forest may be a highway block heading into the second half of the season. Within the fast future, Clemson’s ACC title hopes shall be on the road because the Tigers head to Pittsburgh as underdogs in opposition to the Panthers. 

Excessive-profile teaching carousel swings

USC, LSU and Washington State have already got vacancies that shall be coveted by different coaches within the occupation, possible sparking a busy teaching carousel for the headline-worthy packages. Moreover, a number of different Energy 5 packages with coaches on the recent seat should make robust choices based mostly on the outcomes over the second half of the season. It won’t be a typical teaching carousel of sheer quantity, however it may be one with the potential to change the panorama due to the blue-blood colleges already concerned and ones that could possibly be within the hiring enterprise quickly.