This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for us. We were supposed to have a couple of losses and not even win the conference championship. We've got a ton of very talented experience coming back on defense. It's going to be difficult replacing Stetson Bennett - his mobility gave us a dimension that we won't have the next year, he played better when the stakes were higher, and the team really believed in him. We do have a lot of talent coming back at QB but there's no telling how the new starteer (probably Carson Beck) will play under pressure. Our TE Washington was a hell of a luxury - a 6'7" TE who could block like hell and run like a deer. We'll miss him but I'm very confident in our OC Todd Monken to use what we've got and keep the offense rolling. The defense will be absolutely lights out.
We are a legitimate threat to threepeat. Alabama's fortunes will depend on their new OC and their new QB. OSU will be right up there again, as will Michigan. Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, Southern Cal, and Clemson are still another really good recruiting class away. Texas A&M has peaked. North Carolina needs a defense in the worst way (as does Southern Cal). LSU will be very good but not great. If our QB turns out well then we'll be in the playoff.
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