Author: Paul Myerberg / Source: USA TODAY
SportsPulse: They’ve been on a collision course all year and will finally clash in Santa Clara. From Hard Rock Stadium, Trysta Krick and our college football experts preview the annual juggernaut matchup. USA TODAY
Nothing ever goes as planned in the world of college football.
And the 2018 season was no exception.Teams expected to contend were out of the College Football Playoff race by September. Others expected to struggle found themselves in the thick of things for most of the season.
Coaches that appeared to have job security ended without jobs. Some entering their first year with new programs were expected to provide and immediate impact, but ended out of the postseason.
Players anticipated as Heisman contenders didn’t make the trip to New York. Another thought to be unable to replace last year’s winner ended up taking home the award.
A comprehensive look at the top 25 things we got wrong this season:
1. Kyler Murray won’t be able to match Baker Mayfield’s impact at Oklahoma
This was a pretty common refrain during the summer: Oklahoma will still be very good but not quite as good as in 2017, and definitely not as productive at quarterback without last year’s Heisman Trophy winner. As it turned out, Murray matched Mayfield’s numbers as a passer and added 1,001 yards on the ground in winning his own Heisman.
2. The Big Ten will be the toughest conference in college football
It’s a strong league but still second fiddle to the SEC. As a whole, the Big Ten was shut out of the playoff for the third year in a row. The conference’s best team, Ohio State, was playing as well as anyone in the season’s final few weeks but couldn’t overcome an earlier loss to Purdue.
3. UCF won’t go unbeaten again in regular season with new coaching staff
No Scott Frost, no problems for the Knights. Josh Heupel entered and led the program to 12 consecutive wins to start season, resulting in its second consecutive New Year’s Six bowl.
4. Brandon Wimbush is ready to lead Notre Dame into the playoff race
Wimbush was part of a team that reached the Cotton Bowl, but he lost the starting job to Ian Book in September and has announced that he’ll transfer for his final season of eligibility.
5. Bryce Love is the clear favorite for the Heisman Trophy
Entering the season, Love was looking to improve one spot after he averaged yards per 8.1 yards per carry and finished as runner-up to Baker Mayfield. Injuries and poor play from the Stanford offense slowed him and the team. He managed just 739 yards and the Cardinal finished third in the Pac-12 North.
6. LSU starts the season as the fourth-best team in the SEC West
As it turned out, the Tigers were the third-best team in the SEC in the regular season. LSU had one great win against Georgia and won 10 games overall, including the Fiesta Bowl against previously unbeaten UCF.
7. Washington State will be held back by questions at quarterback
Enter Gardner Minshew. The East Carolina graduate transfer immediately took control of the offense and became a hero in Pullman. While the Cougars narrowly missed out on the Pac-12 North title, Minshew led the team to 11 victories and was fifth in the Heisman voting.
8. The ACC Coastal will come down to Miami (Fla.) and Virginia Tech
The Hurricanes and Hokies couldn’t even win this average (or worse) division, which ended up going to a Pittsburgh team that finished 7-7. The Hokies barely reached the postseason. And Miami had a miserable year and a miserable start to its offseason, with Mark Richt opting for retirement after a Pinstripe Bowl loss.
9. Sam Darnold is gone, but Southern California should win the Pac-12 South
It turns out Darnold was irreplaceable. The Trojans missed out…
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