We haven't seen our guy Chip Scoggins around the office much lately. We think he might be breaking in a new college football couch, or practicing his channel flipping. That man loves himself some college ball. Chip surfaced just long enough to send us his annual treatise. Here are 17 thoughts from him on the 2017 season:
With a bang
The most wonderful time of the year is upon us and college football isn't fooling around with its welcome. How about No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 3 Florida State this Saturday night for openers? This could be a preview of the national championship game. How can you not love the new emphasis on scheduling marquee matchups early in the season instead of feasting on cream puffs?
Not so fast, ACC
The ACC has a compelling argument in declaring itself the nation's toughest conference. Maybe it's my SEC bias, but I still put that conference No. 1, though I moved the ACC up a spot this season. My Power Five conference rankings by strength: SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12, Big 12.
Money talks
I hate the idea of Big Ten games being played on Friday night, the night for high school football, but TV money wins every battle. No sense in complaining, because athletic departments and conferences are dependent on television revenue as a primary income source.
Big Frank
Arkansas center Frank Ragnow, a Chanhassen product, is an All-America candidate and is expected to be a high NFL draft pick next spring.
Ann Arbor blues?
Not sure what to make of Michigan. Coach Jim Harbaugh's team lost three of its final four games last season and returns only five starters. Ohio State and Penn State are a notch better in the Big Ten East.
Big jobs, hot seats
Two coaches sitting on the hottest seats: Notre Dame's Brian Kelly and Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin. Kelly turned over his coaching staff after a disastrous 4-8 season. He's out of excuses if things go south again. Sumlin has posted three consecutive 8-5 records. That's not going to cut it anymore.
Another sport that's trying to speed up
The average time of game in college football last season was 3 hours, 24 minutes, according to Big Ten coordinator of officials Bill Carollo. He said the Big Ten average game was 3:21. Pace of play in football doesn't bother me nearly as much as baseball, but the length of some games feels absurd. Carollo said officials will take steps to shave off time, including a strict 20-minute halftime.
Herschel — remember him?
Athlon Sports preseason magazine ranked the top 50 college players since it began publishing in 1967. Herschel Walker was No. 1. Here are my top five that I have watched play in person (in no particular order): Bo Jackson, Peyton Manning, Reggie White, Vince Young, Reggie Bush.
