College Football
UCF Knights 2023 Preview
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
“When you look at your schedule, there’s no off weeks,” UCF head coach Gus Malzahn said. “You’ve got to bring your A-game every week. That’s really what stands out to me coming in as a new kid on the block.”
Without a doubt, 2023 boasts the toughest schedule in UCF football’s history.
It’s exactly what the Knights want: the chance to play before sold-out crowds on tradition-rich Big 12 campuses.
With the five Big 12 road games and one at Boise State in non-conference play, it’s still a more manageable schedule than any other BIG 12 team.
Let me be clear- it’s not all going to be easy. Those road dates at Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech will keep UCF from cranking out a massive debut season.
Do the Knights have the skill level, depth, and toughness to compete in their new conference?
Head Coach Gus Malzahn has been preparing for UCF’s first season in the Power 5 for two years, with the goal of building a roster that’s able to match up with the Big 12.
Malzahn and his staff dove into the transfer portal, adding 18 new transfers to the 2023 roster. A handful of hot-handed new players come with Power 5 experience and clout.
John Rhys Plumlee (JRP) returns for year two at UCF as one of Malzahn’s most trusted leaders, entrenched as the starting quarterback.
JRP returns with a wealth of talent around him, from receivers Javon Baker, Kobe Hudson and Trent Whittemore to tight end Alec Holler and running backs RJ Harvey, Demarkcus Bowman, and Johnny Richardson.
There’s a new playcaller at UCF. Malzahn brought in offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw this offseason.
Before Malzahn arrived at UCF, the Knights boasted one of the most explosive offenses in the country. The scoring average dropped from 40+ points per game in 2020 to around 32 per game in 2021 and 2022. Big 12 dogfights will happen this season. UCF must keep up.
The Knights defense is okay at best. They need to be a more disruptive force to win games this year.
The run defense got ripped up late last season, the pass defense had issues during the middle of the season. There are enough good veterans back to be better in 2023. Against real competitors, will UCF only be able to perform on one side of the ball?
For the fans: There will be an upset here and there, but there also isn’t a sure win outside of Kent State and Villanova. Are you worried?
Don’t underestimate anything this team and program can do, but figure on at least two losses between the road trips to Boise State, Oklahoma, and Kansas State, and at best the away games against Cincinnati, Kansas, and Texas Tech are 50/50.
With a manageable schedule, will UCF manage a successful season?
My concern is for quarterback health. Rhys Plumlee doesn’t shy away from contact and is regularly on the move behind an offensive line that may be worse than last year’s. Taking hits piles up, and he’s already missed games in his career. If Rhys Plumlee misses games in 2023, UCF is in serious trouble.
UCF could win 8 or 9 game with a healthy Plumlee but if he’s injured or playing hurt 6 or 7 games is the ceiling.
Panthers On The Prowl
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Georgia State football program started in 2010. Head coach Shawn Elliott is entering his seventh season as the head coach in Atlanta. Elliott has led the Panthers to four bowl games and an overall record of 34 – 38.
He had his most wins in a season in 2021, finishing 8 – 5 and winning the Camellia Bowl.
They were not able to carry that momentum into 2022, going 4 – 8. That snapped a streak of three consecutive winning seasons.
Last season did start with South Carolina and North Carolina. Georgia State was tied with the Tar Heels in the fourth quarter and couldn’t get that one extra push in the 35-28 loss.
The pass defense didn’t show up in an inexcusable home loss to Charlotte, and overall the team was 0-5 in games decided by a touchdown or less.
The offense should be good. They are led by senior quarterback Darren Grainger. He passed for 2,443 yards, 18 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He also rushed for 734 yards and 6 scores.
Star receiver Jamari Thrash transferred to Louisville, but the next six top receivers are back. They also added junior Jacari Carter, who transferred from Merrimack. He’s a speedster and he will add more options to the passing game.
Senior running back Marcus Carroll rushed for 622 yards, 7 TD’s and averaged 5 yards per carry in 2022. The offense should increase his workload this season. Senior Freddie Brock transferred from Maine and he adds depth and speed.
The offensive line struggled with pass protection last year. Travis Glover is a 6-6, 323-pound tackle who can work either side, transfers Colin Henrich (South Carolina) and Tyden Ferris (Central Michigan) are good interior presences. The rest of the line is young.
The defense struggled last season. Chad Staggs from Coastal Carolina has been hired as the new defensive coordinator. He will have to figure out how to fix the secondary because they were the weak link.
Top defensive tackle Thomas Gore is a Miami Hurricane now, but hybrid outside linebacker Shamar McCollum and Clemson transfer Kevin Swint have the upside to add plenty of plays in the backfield.
They’ll have to shine with Jamil Muhammad gone to USC, but overall the linebackers should be a strength with the combination of Jordan Veneziale and Jontrey Hunter sure to combine for over 150 tackles again.
The big question is can the Panthers avoid giving away close games? The Sun Belt conference is tough so each week will be challenging.
They will need to get off to a strong start. The season begins with Rhode Island, UConn and at Charlotte. They should be able to win all of these games. They lost to Charlotte last year, 42 – 41 so I expect them to avenge that.
Week 4 is September 23, at Coastal Carolina. This is a pivotal game and the conference opener. The Panthers are 3-3 against the Chanticleers, handing them one of their two losses in 2021 only to get mauled 41-24 at home last year. One interesting fact is the road team has won all six times in the series.
The next games are Troy, Marshall, at Louisiana, at Georgia Southern, James Madison, and Appalachian State. I’m not sure if they will be favored in any of those.
GSU travels to Death Valley to face LSU, November 18. I think we know the outcome of this game.
The season finale is at Old Dominion. I believe Georgia State will have five wins going into that game. Let’s see if they can get back to a bowl game in 2023.
Geaux Tigers
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news service
The phrase “Geaux Tigers” has been said, written, texted and tweeted many times by LSU fans since the 10-4 SEC Western Division Championship season for Brian Kelly in year one in Baton Rouge, and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.
With so many questions around the Tigers going into the 2022 season after the hire of Brian Kelly from Notre Dame, the Tigers answered in a big-time way with 10 wins, an appearance in the SEC Championship, and a victory against rival #6 Alabama thanks to a 2-point conversion in overtime.
That play call and poise from Brian Kelly answered many of those questions surrounding the Tigers and won Tiger fans over for Kelly.
Last season started in a historic way for LSU with it being just the 2nd time since the 1950s that the Tigers had both a new head coach and a new starting quarterback.
Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels took the reins of the offense and absolutely gutted thru the 2022 season for LSU. Battling thru a few different injuries thru the year (missing the second half of the SEC Championship game with a leg injury), Daniels had a quietly historic season for the Tigers.
The first-year signal-caller racked up the 2nd most total yards from an LSU quarterback (only behind Joe Burrow in the National Championship season), as well as setting the record for most rushing yards ever by an LSU QB.
2023 sees 8 starters return for the LSU offense including Daniels, for a team that averaged 34.5 points per game and over 450 yards per game. A big piece that gets overlooked for the Tigers is the O-Line.
Last season had a few growing pains with a lot of young faces on the line (including Will Campbell and Emery Jones to be the first time a freshman had started at both LT and RT in the same game in LSU History). This season, the O-Line returns 4 starters and looks to be a strength for OC Mike Denbrock.
The defense was nasty at times for the Tigers a year ago and looks to be more of the same in 2023, just maybe in a different way.
The D-Line for 2nd year Matt House will look a little different in 2023 after the departures of BJ Ojulari and Ali Gaye. However, House has restocked with five Power 5 transfers to go along with returners Mekhi Wingo and Maason Smith who missed the majority of 2022 with an injury in the season opener against Florida State.
The back seven for the LSU Defense returns many bright spots from 2022, with one of the main ones being rising sophomore Harold Perkins. Perkins burst onto the SEC scene last year garnering all-American honors at linebacker.
A big game for the Tigers kicks off the season with a rematch against the Seminoles of Florida State in Jacksonville.
Last year in the Super Dome, Florida State came away with a 24-23 win over Brian Kelly in his LSU debut.
The schedule is relatively favorable for the Bayou Bengals getting Texas A&M, Florida, Auburn and Arkansas all at Tiger Stadium.
The biggest test of the season, as is in most years, will be the November 4th matchup at Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Most believe that the meeting in Tuscaloosa will be a huge decider in the Western Division race again this year.
I was incredibly impressed with LSU and how they rallied around Brian Kelly in year one.
The Tigers look to be ahead of schedule from where most thought LSU would be at this point in the Kelly era, and will not only threaten for back-to-back West Division crowns, but will rival Georgia for the SEC Title in Atlanta.
Trail Blazing
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
In 2022 the Valdosta State Blazers finished the football season with a 5-6 record.
It was their first losing season since 1999.
VSU played for the Division II National Title in 2021, losing to Ferris State.
Tremaine Jackson begins his second year at VSU and hopes to turn things around in 2023. VSU was picked 5th in the Gulf South Conference preseason poll.
2023 GSC Football Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Delta State – 61 pts (6)
2. West Florida – 56 pts (2)
3. West Georgia – 52 pts (1)
4. West Alabama – 44 pts
5. Valdosta State – 33 pts
6. Mississippi College – 32 pts
7. North Greenville – 24 pts
8. Shorter – 13 pts
9. Chowan – 10 pts
*First-place votes in parenthesis ( )
To turn things quickly VSU must improve on the defensive side of the ball. The Blazers gave up 37 points per game in 2022. The stat line must improve drastically if the Blazers want to return to the Division II playoffs.
The road schedule is tough with back-to-back trips to West Florida and West Alabama late in the season. Home schedule has Delta State coming to Bazemore-Hyder in early October.
2023 Schedule/My predictions:
Sat, Sep 2 vs Point University: The Blazers should take care of Point University in the season opener to go 1-0 on the season.
Sat, Sep 9 @ Albany State: If the Blazers struggle in Albany that that could be a sign of trouble ahead. VSU wins this in in a 28-7 type game to go to 2-0 on the season.
Sat, Sep 16 vs Keiser University: Keiser will have athletes, but make the trip to Bazemore-Hyder and come up short 35-24. VSU goes to 3-0 on the season.
Sat, Sep 23 vs North Greenville: The Blazers have had their way with North Greenville and should take this at home. VSU goes to 4-0 on the season with a 38-28 win. Gulf South Conference opener.
Sat, Sep 30 @ Chowan: Chowan is picked last in the preseason poll. Blazers go to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in the GSC.
Sat, Oct 7 vs Delta State: Things get a little tough on the back end of this schedule. VSU gave up 70 points in a 70-31 loss in 2022. DSU is the favorite to win the GSC and come to Valdosta and beat the Blazers 42-31. Blazers drop to 5-1 and 2-1.
Sat, Oct 14 @ Mississippi College: This will be a tough road game for the Blazers, but in the end, they figure out a way to win a close one 34-31. 6-1 and 3-1 on the season.
Sat, Oct 21 vs Shorter: The Gulf South Conference is a tough conference. Shorter will put up a tough fight and come up short 35-21. Blazers go to 7-1 and 4-1 in the GSC.
Sat, Oct 28 @ West Florida: The is a brutal stretch to end the regular season for VSU. Going to West Florida is never a picnic and it will not end well for the Blazers this time around. West Florida wins 38-31. VSU’s conference and playoff hopes get dashed in Pensacola. Blazers drop to 7-2 and 4-2.
Sat, Nov 4 @ West Alabama: Another tough road trip that won’t end well for VSU. Blazers fall to West Alabama 45-35 and drop to 7-3 and 4-3 in the Gulf South Conference.
Sat, Nov 11 vs West Georgia: The football portion of the Red Clay Rivalry has the Blazers hosting the Wolves on Senior Night. West Georgia won big in 2022 and in a hotly contested game West Georgia gets it done against VSU 35-27. Valdosta State finishes the 2023 season with a 7-4 record and 4-4 conference mark.
7-4 and 4-4 just won’t cut it at Valdosta State University. I hope my predictions are way off base. The season rides on the outcomes against the West directional schools in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
Flying Higher
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Year one for Clay Helton in Statesboro saw a ton of buzz around the Georgia Southern program before he stepped foot on the field at Allen E. Paulson stadium.
When he did step foot on the field, he and his crew took a huge step forward to get Georgia Southern back to prominence in the Sun Belt Conference.
Because of an incredible number of injuries, last season turned out to be an up and down affair in Statesboro. The Eagles started on a high by winning three of the first four games including upsetting Nebraska in week 2, after a couple of tough losses against UAB, and rival Georgia State, the Eagles knocked off James Madison, who came into Paulson Stadium ranked in the top 25 after winning their first 5 games as a FBS program.
The lull came when the Eagles lost 3 straight and had to win the regular season finale against Appalachian State to become bowl eligible. Georgia Southern did just that against their rivals by pulling out a 51-48 overtime victory.
While the record came out of 2022 reading 6-7 after falling to Buffalo in the Camellia Bowl, the Eagles made huge strides with a completely new system.
When Clay Helton and offensive coordinator Bryan Ellis arrived in Statesboro, the days of option football in the ‘Boro’ were halted but brought a new life to the passing offense for Southern with the help of Buffalo transfer Kyle Van Trease who set most passing records in Georgia Southern history.
In 2023, Van Trease has graduated (now the director of business development for the newly formed Eagle Nation Collective), and now time to pass the reins of the offense again to a new arm.
The transfer portal was the answer again for Helton going and getting Davis Brin from Tulsa, and Beau Allen from Tarleton State (after starting his career at Kentucky).
Brin looks to be QB1 and is impressing those in Statesboro in the first days of fall camp after leading the nation in passing after 3 games last year at Tulsa before going down with injury.
The Eagles will also turn to other weapons on the offensive side, including Jalen White, OJ Arnold, Kaleb Hood, and Derwin Burgess.
White and Arnold will be a huge threat for the Blue and White coming out of the backfield. In years past, White has been overshadowed by older backs in Statesboro, but this year it’s his show to run with (literally).
Kaleb Hood and Derwin Burgess thrived in the new spread offense for GSU. Burgess missed the final 3 games of the year with injury in 2022, but still managed to be the 2nd leading receiver for the Eagles a year ago.
One aspect of the new Eagle offense that gets lost in the shuffle is the offensive line, which proved to be a key to the success.
Last season, the offensive line only allowed seven sacks all season on 611 pass attempts. This unit returns 3 starters and adds transfer Bryson Broadway from Georgia State and should be a key group again.
Defensively the Eagles don’t necessarily return the numbers Clay Helton would hope with just four returning starters, but the depth is more than in years past.
Two of the four starters returning land in the linebacking core. Marques Watson-Trent looks to have a huge 2023 after 114 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss last season. The other familiar name is former North Carolina transfer Khadry Jackson who started 11 games for the blue and white last year.
Georgia Southern looks to build off a terrific first step last year, but the schedule doesn’t want to cooperate. Most of the toughest games for GSU will come away from Statesboro with matchups with Wisconsin, James Madison, Marshall, and App State all on the road.
Look for the Eagles to turn some heads in the Sun Belt Conference this year and be ahead of schedule in year two under Clay Helton.
Rough Winds
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Miami should be better than they have shown- this program has big talent that is worth getting excited about.
With that being said, The Hurricanes took a big step backwards during Mario Cristobal’s first season as head coach. Does this team have what it takes to change their downward trajectory?
On one hand, Cristobal underachieved at Oregon in addition to Miami. I have no confidence in his ability to turn around a program that has managed one double-digit win since 2004.
The Hurricanes bring in new coordinators on both sides of the ball and a flurry of transfers, but is it enough? A lot will hinge on Tyler Van Dyke reverting to 2021 form following his 2022 injury-riddled season but, even then…
Shannon Dawson, unlike Miami’s previous offensive coordinator, doesn’t believe the Hurricanes have a talent problem. Of course, Dawson, a former assistant to Hal Mumme and Dana Holgerson, had more talent to work with than Josh Gattis did. Sounds like Dawson’s speaking from experience.
Coach Cristobal beefed up the Canes offensive line with two huge transfers and two five-star offensive tackle recruits. He added much needed depth at running back, wide receiver and tight end through the portal and incoming freshman class. I mean, how hard is it to sell Miami to a high school senior?
Dawson said he’ll be on the field to call plays so he can look his quarterback in the eye.
The position belongs to Van Dyke, with Brown set as backup after Jake Garcia transferred to Missouri. Freshman Emory Williams, a former Elite 11 Finalist, looked good in the spring game, but the feeling is Brown and his break neck speed is on pace to replace Van Dyke.
Last year, Miami’s season spiraled when Van Dyke sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder in a home loss to Duke.
Miami’s defense last season finished 10th in the ACC in points allowed per game (26.8), 11th in yards allowed per rush (4.0) and next-to-last in passing efficiency defense, allowing a league-worst 8.3 yards per attempt. The Hurricanes also finished 98th nationally in third-down defense (42 percent). Isn’t there a saying about defense and championships? What’s not clicking on this side of the ball?
Lance Guidry (new defensive coordinator) isn’t the type of coordinator who believes you need to dive deep into your bench for help. His philosophy is to play his best players — a lot.
Let’s face it, this is a program that’s wallowed in disappointment for a while now. Miami has won 10 games once in the last 19 seasons, a once unfathomable statistic for a program that had won 10 or more games in nine of 10 seasons from 1985-94. It feels their teams always have potential, but never enough to break the downward trend.
Then there’s the schedule. Miami’s already been listed by DraftKings as a 6-5-point underdog at home vs. Texas A&M, gives up 10 points at Clemson and is a double-digit underdog at FSU as well, plus the Canes are likely going to be underdogs at North Carolina. It’s not easy being an elite football program without an elite football team.
With those considered probable losses, there also will be matchups against pretty good NC State and Louisville teams. Those could go either way.
Miami was atrocious as a unit on both sides of the ball, especially when you look at their talent. Sure, that talent raises the floor, but last year was such a disaster that it’s hard to project them getting eight wins.
Kings Of The ACC?
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
2022 Record: 11-3 overall, 9-0 in ACC
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney, 16th year: 161-39
How far Clemson goes in 2023 will depend on the QB position.
Cade Klubnik is now the man. A former 5-star recruit is in the spotlight now. Klubnik does not have to be a superstar he just needs to be productive.
Let us be honest Clemson fans you have become spoiled with the QB position. Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence will not suit up for the Tigers ever again.
Klubnik cannot fold under the pressure of trying to live up to standards in the position that may never be met again at Clemson. He played well in the ACC Championship game last season with 280 yards passing and passed for over three hundred yards in an Orange Bowl loss to Tennessee but had some growing pains in that contest.
Can he lead Clemson back to the College Football playoffs? Clemson has missed the playoffs for the last two seasons. The expectations now at Clemson are playoffs of bust.
Will Shipley is a great all-purpose running back with 1,182 yards and 15 TDs in 2022. He also caught thirty-eight passes.
Clemson always has good WR talent and a solid physical offensive line. Swinney has recruited great over the years.
On defense the secondary must improve. What separates Clemson from the rest of the ACC is what they produce along the defensive line. The combination of Ruke Orhorhoro and Tyler Davis might be the best in the country at defensive tackle.
I am hearing a lot of talk about how FSU has surpassed Clemson in the ACC. Well talent-wise that is not the case. Clemson has talent all over this roster and are the kings of the ACC until someone knocks them off the mountain top.
Schedule and my predictions:
9-4 * at Duke: Conference game opener for the Tigers on the road at Duke. Not important because Clemson will handle Duke 38-13 to go 1-0 on the season.
9-9 Charleston Southern: Home opener and CSU will be nothing more than a sacrificial lamb here. Clemson 49-7. 2-0
9-16 Florida Atlantic: Another beatdown at home for the Tigers. 55-10 and 3-0 on the season.
9-23 * Florida State: Ok FSU here is your chance to be the new kings of the ACC. There will be mega hype surrounding this one.
FSU will claim that they are a 1990’s version of the Seminoles, but at the end of the day you will be standing there watching Clemson touch that rock and run down that hill and the realization will set in that you are not there yet. Clemson wins 24-17. 4-0 on the season. Memorial Stadium will be rocking.
9-30 * at Syracuse: Upset alert for the Tigers. Be careful here. Clemson 24-21. 5-0.
10-7 * Wake Forest: Wake should be a bowl team but that will not matter. Clemson 34-20. 6-0.
10-21 * at Miami (Fla.): Tigers enter the teeth of their schedule. Could they fall here?
The pundits will try to create a narrative by predicting it, but it will not happen. 27-17. 7-0.
10-28 * at NC State: This one has me worried if I am a Clemson fan. 17-14 win. 8-0.
11-4 Notre Dame: After what happened last year in South Bend this one is circled on the Clemson schedule. Clemson wins big 34-17. 9-0
11-11 * Georgia Tech: Jackets are still rebuilding. Clemson 35-13. 10-0.
11-18 * North Carolina: Carolina is horrible on defense. Clemson wins 48-35. 11-0.
11-25 at South Carolina: The Gamecocks now have confidence in this series. I am calling for the upset. South Carolina wins 21-17. Clemson finishes the regular season at 11-1. The loss will not affect Clemson’s playoff chances, as the Tigers win another ACC title the following week.
* – ACC regular-season game.
A 12-1 Clemson gets in the College Football Playoff as the ACC champion along with Georgia, Michigan, and Texas or USC.
Killer Cocks
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The SEC East has an odds-on favorite to take the crown for the third straight year in the Georgia Bulldogs, but one team that looks to rival the Dawgs comes up third in the SEC preseason media poll in the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Head Coach Shane Beamer begins year three at the helm in Columbia looking to build on the 8-5 record a year ago.
After the Gamecocks totaled 6 wins in 2019 & 2020 combined to end Will Muschamp’s tenure, “Beamer-ball” has brought in a seven win and an eight-win campaign.
The 2022 season embodied the old adage “Play your best ball at the end of the season”. The Gamecocks round out the year winning three of their last four games including demolishing #5 Tennessee 63-38 (albeit a Vols team without QB Hendon Hooker) and knocking off the in-state rival and then #7 Clemson 31-30.
A huge reason for the resurgence of the Gamecocks squad in the back half of 2022 was transfer quarterback Spencer Rattler from Oklahoma. Rattler finished the season with 438 yards and 6 passing scores against Tennessee and threw for 360 yards against Clemson.
The offense for South Carolina seems to have picked up where it left off to finish last season with Rattler along with 5 other starters back on the offensive side of the ball that helped South Carolina average 44 points per game in their last 3 regular season games (all against top 25 opponents).
Defense has been a struggle for Beamer’s club the past few years and gave up an average of over 400 yards per game last year. The rush defense is going to have to step up after opponents netted almost five yards per rush in 2022.
The schedule is not favorable for Beamer’s bunch with Phil Steele rating the Gamecock’s 2023 schedule as the 2nd toughest schedule in FBS football (only behind Florida).
The season gets kicked off with the battle of the Carolinas on September 2nd in Charlotte against the Tar Heels.
After a week 2 matchup with the FCS Furman Paladins, the Gamecocks hit the meat of the schedule in week three when they head between the hedges in Athens, Ga.
The first month of the season is no joke with that week three matchup at Georgia, then after a home game against Mississippi State, the Tennessee Volunteers will welcome South Carolina into Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
After the trip to Knoxville, South Carolina will get a much-needed bye week to start October. Then it’s a homecoming matchup with Florida at Williams-Brice Stadium, before back-to-back weeks on the road at Missouri and Texas A&M.
The saving grace of the schedule for South Carolina comes in November where the final four regular season games are in Columbia starting with the first ever Gamecocks vs Gamecocks meeting with Jacksonville State coming to Williams-Brice.
Meetings with Vandy and Kentucky will sandwich the four-game home stretch before finishing off the regular season against Dabo Swinney and Clemson.
If South Carolina is going to have a successful 2023 season they will have to go about it a different way than 2022.
Last season began 5-2 and the national polls had the Gamecocks ranked for the first time since 2018, but I don’t see that happening in 2023.
I do expect Rattler to have a huge year leading the Gamecock offense, and to give Georgia more of a run than the 48-7 routing that the Dawgs handed the Gamecocks last year, but the schedule is brutal.
This team can take a huge step forward on the field and still end up with less wins than the 8-win 2022, but South Carolina will be in that 7-9 win range. The difference between the 7 and 9 depends solely on the defense.
ACC All Gone?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The SEC and Big Ten (right now) don’t want to expand and steal someone from the ACC or Pac-12, both commissioners Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti have stated that publicly.
The potential implosion of the ACC or Pac-12 might change that. If the Pac-12 collapses or big names like North Carolina, Florida State, Clemson and the like find a way out of the ACC Grant of Rights, the Big Ten and SEC would be concerned about the other scooping up another big market name, and that changes the dynamic.
Sankey has maintained that the SEC only added Texas/Oklahoma because the schools approached the conference and SEC would have been foolish to pass. (And yes, Notre Dame is the only obvious TV additive right now if you’re the SEC or Big Ten, sorry).
If I’m the ACC, increasing my value is top priority, therefore I wouldn’t fall far behind the Big Ten and the SEC, and keep it that way until at least the end of the decade. Smart conferences will already find new revenue streams in a new and ever-evolving market.
Would a smart conference stay in contact with the Pac-12? Would some sort of scheduling alliance or partnership be available? An eye on the Pac-12; if anyone follows Colorado out the door, it could lead to total collapse.
Already, Florida State, Clemson and others have made it clear that they believe they deserve more (money). Do they see themselves splitting the pie by another four slices? Is it evenly shared? Probably not. Could you do a tiered revenue split and add a western wing? I know things are never as simple as they sound on paper, but I’d explore any option to preserve the brightest future for the program.
Of course, there is always the possibility that someone challenges the ACC’s grant of rights and tries to exit the league. Florida State has a virtual board of trustees meeting soon.
The Seminoles would have to give notice of their withdrawal from the ACC by Aug. 15 in order to compete in a new league by fall 2024 (where would they go? How much is the exit fee?).
If the ACC breaks open, we’ll have a different conversation. The ACC could keep its current membership and become an aggressor in the media profit landscape if 1) they want a fight; and 2) they don’t open up an escape for FSU or Clemson or anyone to get out of the grant of rights.
The ACC corner of realignment is the most intriguing off-field action. The more I watch, the more questions surface. The result of this conflict will set the tone and trajectory for the future of a historically competitive conference.
Who? KSU!
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s hard to believe Kennesaw State started playing football in 2015.
During that time, they have made four playoff appearances. The Owls have a record of 68 – 24 (.739).
KSU won the Big South Conference and went 11 – 2 in 2021. They were ranked No. 8 in the 2022 preseason poll. The season did not go as planned and they were 5 – 6, which was their first losing season in program history.
Kennesaw State is making the transition from FCS to FBS. This is the final season in FCS before they join Conference USA in 2024.
“This is a great day for all of Owl Nation as our ascent into Conference USA will help the Owls soar to new landmarks. I am most excited for our student-athletes, coaches, and staffs that have worked so hard to represent KSU. Our student-athletes will have an opportunity to showcase their talent on a larger stage. President Schwaig’s leadership played a pivotal role in this opportunity, and I am grateful for her and all those that made this possible. I look forward to new opportunities and achievements for KSU within a conference that has a history of growing the brands of its members,” KSU Director of Athletics Milton Overton said.
FBS-transitioning Kennesaw State’s 2023 schedule features five FCS opponents, three non-D1 teams, and one FBS opponent at Sam Houston.
The leading returning rusher is graduate student quarterback Jonathan Murphy. He rushed for 468 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. He became the seventh player in KSU history to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards.
Wide receiver Isaac Foster is also a returning starter and grad student. In 2022 he rushed for 450 yards and 4 scores. He was also the leading receiver with 27 catches, 314 yards and 2 TD’s.
Junior running back Preston Daniels rushed for 423 yards, 4 touchdowns and he averaged 5 yards per carry.
Grad student defensive back Markeith Montgomery led the team in solo tackles last season. In 2022 he had 37 tackles, 5 interceptions, 7 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles. He is a leader on defense and he should have another great season in 2023.
The season kicks off on Thursday, August 31 against Tusculum. The Pioneers are a Division II team so this will be an easy win.
Week 2 is at Tennessee-Chattanooga. The Mocs were 7 – 4 last season so they are a good team. I think UTC will win this game.
The next game is home against Furman. The Paladins were 10 – 3 last year. Furman should win this game.
Week 4 is at Tennessee Tech. KSU is a better team than the Golden Eagles.
The second consecutive road game is at Charleston Southern. They played last season and Kennesaw State won, 30 – 20. I expect a similar result this year.
Week 6 they return home to face Tennessee State. The Tigers are coached by former Tennessee Titan great, Eddie George. This will be an easy win for the Owls.
Surprisingly, KSU has a two-week layoff before the play Division II Lincoln. This is another W.
KSU travels to Sam Houston State next and this is a loss.
The season finale is home against Division II Virginia-Lynchburg. Pencil this in as a victory.
Kennesaw State should win six of their nine games this season.
